Coming to Myself

You Mingxu picked it up quickly.

Before long, she was hitting a beautiful arc. Squinting slightly with a hint of a smile, she looked up. Luo Yu stood behind her with his arms crossed, watching.

Applause came from ahead.

It was Xing Yanjun and another person walking over together.

When You Mingxu saw clearly who the other person was, her eyes widened slightly before she quickly lowered her head to stare at her feet. At that moment, she felt like hitting him over the head with a club—why was he here? And why was he with Xing Yanjun?

A thought struck her, and she glanced at Luo Yu beside her. Luo Yu had clearly seen that person too, his expression shifting between light and shadow, though he refrained from acting out for now.

The one applauding was Xing Yanjun. The person beside him had left You Mingxu’s home disheveled just this morning. She had an operation today, yet he hadn’t contacted them at all or mentioned coming. Now, dressed in golf attire and casually holding a club, he walked alongside Xing Yanjun, both exuding the same refined, intellectual air of privileged young men.

Yin Feng didn’t even glance at You Mingxu. Instead, he smiled, leaned in to say a few words to Xing Yanjun, and patted his shoulder. Xing Yanjun grabbed his arm and shook his hand before Yin Feng turned and walked away. Xiao Yan followed a few steps behind like an attendant, also ignoring You Mingxu.

Xing Yanjun then approached You Mingxu and Luo Yu, first saying to her, “You learn fast, as expected of a police officer!”

You Mingxu smiled. “You flatter me.” Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the figure in the distance continuing to play.

Luo Yu had regained his composure. He wrapped an arm around You Mingxu’s shoulders and said, “I taught her well.”

Xing Yanjun laughed and added, “I just met a very interesting person—three years my senior. Though he went to Peking University and I to Tsinghua, we discovered we’d both been in the same intercollegiate literary club, so we’re practically schoolmates. He said he’s a writer now but didn’t tell me his pen name. Did you see him? He’s quite the gentleman!”

Luo Yu twitched his lips but said nothing. Clearly, he had no intention of mentioning his own complicated history with Yin Feng to the Crown Prince. He merely glanced at You Mingxu with a faint, mocking smile, and she immediately caught the cold glint in his eyes.

You Mingxu, however, wondered if this Crown Prince was genuinely open-hearted and kind, living entirely in a normal, upright world. But for someone of Yin Feng’s abilities, orchestrating this “chance” meeting on the golf course to win Xing Yanjun’s favor would be child’s play.

When neither of them responded, Xing Yanjun didn’t seem to mind. He sat down, drank some water, then went over to play with Yin Feng.

You Mingxu continued hitting balls with Luo Yu half-heartedly, but her gaze kept drifting in that direction. It was a strange feeling. She had been here alone, with no idea where Jing Ping and the others were ambushed. She wasn’t afraid, but her entire body had been tense the whole time; even while acting out this charade with Luo Yu, she hadn’t dared relax for a second.

Yet now that he was here—even if he didn’t look at her, leaving only his back in her view—her heart suddenly settled. It was like that night when he’d suddenly appeared in the trunk of the car and whispered to her: Don’t be afraid.

She wasn’t really one to feel fear, but he always showed up. And in a way completely unlike the police—always unconventional, audacious, almost divinely inspired…"Do you usually bring your ex-boyfriend along when you're dating?" Luo Yu said with a sarcastic tone beside her, "Buy one get one free? You Mingxu, do you even have me in your eyes?"

Without looking up, You Mingxu replied, "I didn't know he would be here today either. It was just a coincidence. He and I are over, but you and I aren't dating either. Get a grip."

Luo Yu fell silent for a moment before coldly stating, "Stay away from him."

You Mingxu turned and walked back to sit at the table, noticing that Xing Jifu had left at some point, leaving Huang Long and Guo Feirong playing. Luo Yu followed and said, "The boss is getting on in years, probably went back first. Tired? Shall we go eat?"

You Mingxu nodded.

They packed up their things and headed out of the golf course. Passing by Xing Yanjun and Yin Feng's spot, Xing Yanjun waved at them. Luo Yu smiled and nodded without even glancing at Yin Feng. You Mingxu's eyes briefly met Yin Feng's from a distance, and she suddenly noticed his gaze was gentler than usual. He quickly flashed her a slight smile before turning back to his game.

You Mingxu recalled how he had silently left that morning, feeling strange inside.

Luo Yu drove them to a meal.

It was an upscale restaurant overlooking the river—spacious, quiet, and elegantly decorated. Luo Yu softly ordered from the menu while You Mingxu, aware that her team was likely still tailing them covertly, gazed idly outside.

She had no clear idea what intelligence she could gain by accepting Luo Yu's conditions and staying with him. Even now, she strongly suspected he might just be toying with her.

If it had been the Luo Yu from six months ago making such an absurd request, she would have refused outright. But that night, he had shot Ah Hua right in front of her, saving her no matter what; and he had covertly appeared at the scene of Guo Xing's disappearance and murder. Instinct told You Mingxu that Luo Yu definitely had ulterior motives. He wouldn't have brought her before Xing Jifu just to mess with her.

This man might even be connected to the Punisher Organization. He was shrouded in mystery from head to toe.

After ordering, Luo Yu asked, "Same as before? Medium-well steak?"

You Mingxu hated it when he used that tone and replied, "Whatever."

They were in a private room. He lit a cigarette, smiled, and said, "Don't be so irritable. How was my game today?"

Though You Mingxu knew nothing about golf, she could tell he was an expert. She answered, "No idea."

Luo Yu pressed, "Between me and Yin Feng, who played better?"

You Mingxu said, "Probably both terrible."

Luo Yu laughed and didn't press further, changing the subject: "Work busy lately?"

You Mingxu: "Not really. You?"

Luo Yu raised an eyebrow. "I'm alright too. With you willing to keep me company, I'd drop any work."

You Mingxu smiled faintly: "I'm truly flattered."

Luo Yu: "You should be." His voice suddenly dropped very low: "The boss is having people investigate Ah Hua's disappearance."

You Mingxu glanced at him, said nothing, and slowly sipped her water.He leaned back in his chair and said, "For you, I've taken such great risks—how can any other man compare to me? You Mingxu, I remember very clearly that when we first got together, we could talk about anything. You liked me too. The feelings I had back then haven't faded even now. If you'd give me a chance, if you'd consider me worthy, I'd be willing to drop everything I'm doing now for you. I'd become an honest... lawyer. I'd stay away from all this and never live this kind of life where death could come at any moment again. I could also help you appropriately with whatever you're trying to achieve. I hope you'll think it over carefully."