Jiangzhou.
Ye Qiu’s home.
Lin Jingzhi was lounging on the sofa, watching TV.
Her expression was lazy, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, and her hair draped over her ears, exuding a captivating charm.
She had already changed out of her work attire, and her silk blouse perfectly accentuated her alluring figure, especially the top few buttons, which seemed ready to burst open at any moment…
Her narrow waistline.
Long, pale legs.
Exquisite, delicate feet.
Every part of her was perfect!
Any man who saw this scene would surely have a nosebleed—it was simply too enticing.
“Jingzhi, come and eat!”
Qian Jinglan emerged from the kitchen, calling out with a smile as she carried a plate of fragrant food.
Lin Jingzhi immediately stood up and said with a smile, “Auntie, you’ve worked hard.”
“We’re family, no need to be so polite. Let’s eat.”
The two sat down at the dining table and began their meal.
As they ate, Qian Jinglan suddenly asked, “Jingzhi, have you been in touch with Qiu’er these past few days?”
“What’s wrong?” Lin Jingzhi asked.
Qian Jinglan said, “I’ve been calling Qiu’er, but no one answers. I’m worried something might have happened to him.”
Lin Jingzhi’s heart sank.
She had also been trying to call Ye Qiu these past few days, but no one answered, and her messages went unanswered. Moreover, her eyelid had been twitching, which made her feel uneasy.
Qian Jinglan said, “Last night, I had a dream that felt like it was foretelling something.”
“Auntie, what did you dream about? Tell me,” Lin Jingzhi asked curiously.
Qian Jinglan said, “I dreamed that the sea dried up, a tall mountain collapsed, flowers withered, and the sun fell from the sky.”
Lin Jingzhi’s heart sank again.
This dream was not auspicious!
“Jingzhi, this dream feels like it’s foretelling something. Do you think something might have happened to Qiu’er?” Qian Jinglan asked with concern.
Lin Jingzhi naturally wouldn’t say that the dream was inauspicious, as it would only make Qian Jinglan worry more about Ye Qiu’s safety.
“Auntie, you’re overthinking it. To me, this dream is actually a sign of great fortune,” Lin Jingzhi said with a smile.
“Oh?” Qian Jinglan’s face showed a surprised expression.
Lin Jingzhi explained, “When the sea dries up, the dragon emerges. When the mountain collapses, peace is achieved. When flowers wither, fruit forms. When the sun sets, dreams of longevity arise.”
“Auntie, not only is this dream auspicious, but it’s also an extremely rare and extraordinary one. I’d say you’re a person of great fortune, and with a son like Ye Qiu, you’re sure to enjoy a life of ease in the future.”
A smile appeared on Qian Jinglan’s face as she happily said, “Jingzhi, you really know how to talk. It’s Qiu’er’s great fortune to have found you.”
“Auntie, don’t say that. Being with Ye Qiu is also my good fortune…”
Beep beep beep!
Lin Jingzhi’s phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she pressed the answer button and asked, “What is it?”
“Director Lin, Bai Bing and Pei Jie are getting married the day after tomorrow.”
Lin Jingzhi immediately put down her chopsticks, her expression turning serious as she asked, “Is the information reliable?”
“Absolutely reliable,” the person on the other end of the line said. “This morning, the Bai and Pei families sent invitations to various prominent families, political figures, business tycoons, and social elites in the capital, inviting them to attend the wedding the day after tomorrow.”
“I see,” Lin Jingzhi said before hanging up.
Qian Jinglan, noticing the change in Lin Jingzhi’s expression, asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Jingzhi said, “I just received news that Bai Bing is getting married.”
“What?” Qian Jinglan’s face showed an expression of disbelief. “Bai Bing is fine, why would she suddenly get married?”
“Who is she marrying?”
“Does she like him?”
Lin Jingzhi sighed, “Whether Bai Bing likes him or not, she has to marry. In families like hers, marriage isn’t something one can decide for oneself.”
“Then, does Qiu’er know about this?” Qian Jinglan asked.
“I’m not sure. I’ll call Ye Qiu right now,” Lin Jingzhi said, starting to dial.
…
Northwest, Special Forces Company base.
Assembly hall.
Ye Qiu pointed at the memorial portrait and elegiac couplets on the wall and said, “Take these down immediately. They’re annoying to look at.”
“You even made a straw effigy.”
“What are you trying to say? That I’m a straw man?”
Long Ye explained with a smile, “We couldn’t find you and thought you weren’t coming back, so we prepared this.”
Ye Qiu said discontentedly, “Enough with the nonsense. Get rid of this stuff right now, or I won’t let you off.”
Long Ye immediately ordered his men, “Brothers, take it down.”
“Yes!”
Just as the soldiers were about to move, a phone rang next to the straw effigy.
“By the way, after you were buried in the sand, we only found your phone, so we left it here,” Long Ye said, picking up the phone from beside the effigy and handing it to Ye Qiu.
Although there was a crack on the phone screen, it didn’t affect its use.
The phone kept ringing.
Ye Qiu saw that the caller ID showed Lin Jingzhi and immediately answered, saying with a smile, “Sister Lin, did you miss me?”
“If I said I missed you, would you appear in front of me right now?” Lin Jingzhi then asked, “What have you been up to these past few days? Why haven’t you been answering your phone? Auntie was just asking me if something happened to you.”
Ye Qiu avoided answering and asked, “Are you with my mom?”
“Yes, we’re having dinner at your place. Auntie’s cooking is delicious,” Lin Jingzhi said with a smile.
Ye Qiu then explained, “I’ve been on a mission these past few days and didn’t bring my phone. Tell my mom I’m fine and not to worry.”
“Okay.”
After Lin Jingzhi finished speaking, the call fell silent.
Ye Qiu waited for a while, but when Lin Jingzhi didn’t say anything, he said, “Sister Lin, are you all doing well?”
“We’re fine.”
“That’s good to hear. Sister Lin, I still have things to do here, so I’ll hang up now…”
“Ye Qiu!” Lin Jingzhi suddenly called out to him and said, “There’s something I need to tell you. You should prepare yourself.”
Ye Qiu’s heart tightened, and he quickly asked, “Did something happen to my mom?”
“No, Auntie is fine,” Lin Jingzhi said. “It’s Bai Bing.”
Bai Bing?
Ye Qiu instantly understood and asked, “Has the wedding date been set?”
“Yes,” Lin Jingzhi replied.
Ye Qiu’s expression turned cold as he asked, “When is the wedding?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“I see,” Ye Qiu said. “Sister Lin, stay in Jiangzhou for now and don’t go anywhere. Please take care of my mom for me.”
Lin Jingzhi, being clever, immediately understood Ye Qiu’s intentions and reminded him, “The capital is a dangerous place. Be careful.”
“I will. Wait for me to come back.”
Ye Qiu hung up the phone, gave Tang Fei a cold glance, then turned and strode out.
“Ye Qiu, where are you going?” Long Ye called out from behind.
Without looking back, Ye Qiu said, “To the capital!”
