Standing up, Liu Yifan flashed an elegant smile at the pair, saying, “Wishing you both a pleasant evening!”
As Liu Yifan walked away, Lin Wan released Lu Zheng’s hand.
“So arrogant. Is this the overseas returnee you mentioned last time?”
Lin Wan nodded, “That’s him.”
“What did he do?” Lu Zheng couldn’t help asking, then shook his head, “Never mind, I know, discipline.”
“Yeah, ignore him,” Lin Wan nodded, forcing herself to calm down and continue the date.
But while Lu Zheng and Lin Wan tried to ignore him, Liu Yifan kept raising his glass toward them, his smug smile unstoppable. His female companion, meanwhile, shot jealous glances at Lin Wan.
“Damn, too cocky!” Lin Wan’s eyes narrowed, her temper flaring.
“You swore,” Lu Zheng reminded her helplessly, “Police shouldn’t curse.”
His teasing didn’t quell Lin Wan’s anger, “He’s showing off!”
Lin Wan hissed, “He’d never flaunt at the station, but running into us today, he’s rubbing it in! Bragging about his cleverness, mocking our incompetence!”
“I’ll go teach him a lesson,” Lu Zheng nodded, starting to rise.
“Stop it,” Lin Wan sighed, pressing him back down, “If you start a fight, it’ll escalate. He’s worth billions, can hire top lawyers, and drag you through the mud.”
“But he’s upsetting you!”
Lin Wan couldn’t help but chuckle, diverted by Lu Zheng, “So smooth-talking, you really never had a girlfriend?”
“You’re the first!”
Lu Zheng wasn’t lying; Lin Wan was indeed his first official relationship.
A moment passed.
“Forget it, we’re done eating, let’s go.”
Lin Wan wiped her mouth with a napkin, resigned.
Though Liu Yifan stopped toasting them, his occasional intimate gestures with his companion and smug glances still carried thick arrogance.
…
“I’ll catch him.”
Outside the restaurant, Lin Wan couldn’t forget Liu Yifan’s look, “Even if the case priority drops, I’ll keep investigating!”
“If you need anything, just say.”
Lin Wan linked arms with Lu Zheng, “No need, I’m a cop!”
“Alright!”
Solving cases was Lin Wan’s expertise; Lu Zheng didn’t need to worry.
Instead of fretting over her case, he was more concerned about her mood tonight.
Just then, Lin Wan’s phone rang.
“Hello, Captain Li?”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, a bad feeling creeping in.
“Yes!”
Lin Wan hung up, looking at Lu Zheng apologetically.
“A case this late?”
“The boss is leading a raid on a pyramid scheme hideout. Everyone’s needed.”
Lu Zheng gave a wry smile and flagged down a taxi for her.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
The taxi stopped beside them.
Lin Wan, unhesitating, hugged Lu Zheng and gave him a deep kiss.
“Thanks for understanding. Wait for my call!”
“Okay!”
Lu Zheng pulled the skincare set from his backpack and handed it to her, “Happy birthday!”
“I love you! Mwah!”
Watching Lin Wan leave, Lu Zheng touched his lips, still warm.
Turning, he saw Liu Yifan exit, arm around his companion, pointing to a driver waiting at the restaurant door, then waving at Lu Zheng before driving off.
“What kind of case needs criminal police?” Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, shook his head, and walked away.
…
The next day, a call with Lin Wan revealed they’d cracked a big case last night, and she’d be busy for a while.
So Lu Zheng did his boyfriend duty, reminding her to drink more water.
Then he resumed crossing into the Jing Dynasty to study medicine.
…
“Lu Lang, you’re free today?”
Seeing Lu Zheng visit again, Liu Qingyan asked, surprised and delighted.
“Yeah, all good,” Lu Zheng smiled at her.
“That Taoist…”
Lu Zheng sighed, “I’m a skilled cultivator, yet I got duped by an old fraud for days.”
“A fraud?” Liu Qingyan gasped, covering her mouth.
That Taoist, with his deep, eerie gaze and imposing aura, was all an act?
Lu Zheng nodded, “A fraud, knew some minor tricks. Good thing I know a bit too, or I wouldn’t have noticed and might’ve lost a fortune.”
“Oh, what happened next?”
Learning the Taoist was a talentless conman, Liu Qingyan’s interest piqued.
“Of course, I exposed him,” Lu Zheng laughed, “The guy’s something else. I flashed my sword, and he dropped to his knees without a word, clearly practiced. Bet he’s been caught before.”
Liu Qingyan’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
“But he only scams the rich, never harmed anyone, so it’s not a capital crime.”
Lu Zheng continued, “I gave him a lesson, took his tools, and let him go. He’s probably scammed enough to live comfortably for life.”
“Lu Lang, you’re so kind,” Liu Qingyan said softly.
Lu Zheng blinked, kind?
Actually, if he’d turned the Taoist in, he couldn’t have kept that bell!
The Taoist only scammed the wealthy anyway—let others take the hit, not the poor.
Infinite Heavenly Venerate!
…
Today, he continued learning.
When no patients came, Liu Qingyan taught Lu Zheng about herbs’ properties and the diagnostic methods and medicinal theories in the *Qingtian Book*.
When patients arrived, she combined theory with practice, showing him how to diagnose and tailor acupuncture or medicine to the patient.
The day passed quickly.
Evening came.
Lu Zheng tidied up, changed into dark clothes, and headed to Peach Blossom Plain.
A few days ago, spooked by shadows, he’d warned Shen Ying at Peach Blossom Villa, only to find it was a misunderstanding.
Now, with the issue resolved, he needed to visit Peach Blossom Plain again to ease Shen Ying’s fears.
…
Peach Blossom Plain.
After hearing Lu Zheng’s tale, Shen Ying was speechless, then relieved, her gaze toward him carrying a faint, teasing smile.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m not laughing~”
“You are!”
Shen Ying: ^ω^
“I’m really not~”
“You’re totally laughing at me!”
“Pardon me, Young Master, pfft, I just didn’t expect someone of your skill to be fooled by an old conman, pfft~”
“Oh, you dare laugh? Let’s see if I can make you cry!”
“Ah, Young Master, what are you doing, um, not here, I was wrong, please spare me, I’ll cry, whimper~”
