Chapter 17: Then What Do You Want From Me?

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Consequently, none of the friends surrounding Xing Lin could be trusted.

This was Tao Jiang’s unspoken implication, clear to anyone who heard it.

Zhou Bie was not angered by these words; instead, he watched the scene before him with interest. However, Shen Que was displeased, his tone sharp and cold. “If your friends are the ones insisting on entering Guyang City with Xing Lin’s guidance, and you don’t trust us, it’s still not too late to call it off.”

Tao Jiang sneered upon hearing this. “Whether or not we trust you has nothing to do with entering Guyang City. That’s why our people need to come along. After all,” she fixed her gaze on Shen Que, her eyes poisoned with venom, “there’s a kidnapper in this group, isn’t there?”

Shen Que’s eyes grew icy. “Who are you calling a kidnapper?”

Tao Jiang’s expression shifted to realization. “To put it mildly, you’re not just a kidnapper, you’re a murderer. If my Juyi’s skills had been even slightly inferior, she wouldn’t have survived. Seven bodyguards against a girl barely in her twenties—what were you thinking? Or do you, Young Master Shen, believe that money can solve everything?”

Shen Que’s face darkened considerably, but Tao Jiang’s words were irrefutable, leaving him speechless for the moment.

The atmosphere grew tense.

It was Qiao Ruyi who broke the silence. “There’s no need to worry. You don’t have to risk your life following me. It’s better for someone to stay outside as backup.”

Tao Jiang’s gaze shifted back, landing on Qiao Ruyi’s face. “You don’t need to worry about the backup. I’ve already arranged it. In any case, I must enter Guyang City with you.”

Yu Renyou was eager to prove himself. “Ances—”

Seeing Qiao Ruyi’s glance, he swallowed the last character. “Don’t worry about backup. A Long and A Hu are standing by.”

Qiao Ruyi raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Yu Renyou looked awkward under her gaze and cleared his throat to defend himself. “A Long and A Hu’s skills and abilities are quite good; it’s just they haven’t had the chance to show it before.”

Qiao Ruyi didn’t pry into just how capable A Long and A Hu truly were. After a moment of thought, she turned to Xing Lin. “Boss Xing, let’s talk outside.”

—

It was already sunset.

The dusk blurred the horizon, a faint red glow dimmed by the swirling sands, layering the sky with deeper hues.

A mature poplar tree stood at an angle by the shop’s entrance, its thick trunk weathered by age. When the wind and sand passed, its dense branches could block a large troop.

Xing Lin stood beneath the tree, patches of filtered light flickering across his brow, his eyes seeming to sink into shadow.

“They’re your friends, so you decide,” he said calmly.

Fortunes shift with the tides, though Qiao Ruyi hadn’t expected the turn to be so swift.

She furrowed her brow and asked Xing Lin, “What are the chances something will go wrong entering Guyang City?”

Xing Lin looked at her but offered no reply.

Her unease grew as he remained silent. “Boss Xing, what do you mean by not answering?”

His gaze darkened, thickening into an impenetrable mist that made him inscrutable. After a long pause, he spoke, but not to her question. “You never thought about this before?”

Qiao Ruyi was momentarily stunned.

Seeing this, Xing Lin’s eyes darkened further. “You went into Guyang City alone without a second thought, but only considered the danger when your friends came along? Qiao Ruyi, are you overly confident or just don’t care about yourself?”

He said her full name.

She was taken aback, not because of his words, but due to his sudden attitude.

Whether she was too confident or careless, what did it matter to him? He seemed… upset?

Upset that she hadn’t considered her own safety?

“Boss Xing, I can go alone without worries, but having friends with me changes things. Naturally, I have to be more cautious,” Qiao Ruyi said calmly, meeting his gaze. “When Shen Que and Zhou Bie asked to come along, didn’t you have concerns then?”

Xing Lin didn’t follow her lead, replying with displeasure, “Alone without worries? Then why come to me?”

Qiao Ruyi frowned slightly—was Xing Lin on edge?

“Is he worth you risking something for?” His expression was darker than the twilight.

Qiao Ruyi couldn’t understand why he was fixated on this question. She smiled helplessly. “Boss Xing, he’s my fiancé. We plan to marry. So, do you think it’s worth it or not?”

Xing Lin’s displeasure seemed to freeze suddenly; his eyes widened as if surprised by her straightforwardness.

Gradually, the light in his eyes changed—fading, pained, restrained. Standing close, Qiao Ruyi caught that fleeting pain and her heart stirred.

Had she misread him?

He shouldn’t be looking at her that way, especially since they were mere acquaintances.

“Alright,” Xing Lin said, his voice dry.

He seemed to be suppressing some emotion. Though he appeared calm, his slightly hoarse voice gave him away. Qiao Ruyi wasn’t sure what his “alright” meant—compromise or resignation?

Just then, Xing Lin looked up at her, his expression steady, and answered her earlier question. “The chances of something going wrong are very high.”

Qiao Ruyi’s face grew grave.

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“But your friend,” Xing Lin pondered aloud, “obviously, like Zhou Bie and Shen Que, has made up their mind. You can’t shake them off, so it’s better to have more people for strength.”

Qiao Ruyi remained silent, but she knew his words were true.

“Can that fat man who came with your friend and your friend themselves take care of themselves if danger arises?” Xing Lin asked again.

Qiao Ruyi replied, “They can take care of themselves.”

She only feared Tao Jiang might do something reckless for her sake.

As for Yu Renyou, she wasn’t close to him and wouldn’t say she didn’t care at all. After all, his physique was obvious; Tao Jiang wouldn’t bring him along without cause.

Xing Lin nodded and after a long pause said, “Alright.”

—

Thus, a group of six formed a team to enter the city—one more than the legendary journey to the West.

Previously, Xing Lin had prepared equipment for two; now, with more people, not only did the gear have to increase, but transportation as well.

Zhou Bie offered to help prepare, but Xing Lin asked, “Do you have money?”

This left Zhou Bie feeling emo.

If he had money, would he be groveling in a café?

“Have Shen Que prepare it,” Xing Lin decided.

Shen Que agreed and acted quickly, making calls immediately.

After finishing arrangements, he told Qiao Ruyi, “I’ve prepared all your gear. I may have offended you before, but let’s call it even.”

Qiao Ruyi accepted without hesitation, confident that Shen Que wasn’t capable of much mischief.

Tao Jiang snorted coldly, “Owe you?”

Shen Que frowned at her but said nothing, unwilling to stir conflict needlessly.

The equipment and vehicles weren’t ready yet, so Xing Lin planned to take them to the stables first.

Except for Shen Que, no one understood why.

Though Zhou Bie knew horses would be used inside Guyang City, he still asked, “Aren’t we using vehicles? Must we use horses?”

Xing Lin nodded.

He gave no further explanation.

Others had doubts, but as the guide, they followed his lead.

They would visit the stables early the next morning. After setting the meeting time, Tao Jiang left with Yu Renyou. Before leaving, she asked Qiao Ruyi, “Coming with me?”

She stayed at a hotel outside the county, where Yu Renyou, A Long, and A Hu also stayed. The conditions weren’t great, but it was clean.

Qiao Ruyi declined, “Too much hassle.”

Tao Jiang glanced at her meaningfully.

After Tao Jiang left, Zhou Bie asked Qiao Ruyi, “How’s your friend’s skill?”

Qiao Ruyi thought a moment. “So-so.”

Zhou Bie was impressed; nowadays, girls really had guts.

Soon, Tao Jiang sent a WeChat message.

Qiao Ruyi expected she’d have something to say; otherwise, Tao Jiang wouldn’t have had that look before leaving. Sure enough, Tao Jiang got straight to the point—

“Are you trying to seduce Xing Lin?”

Qiao Ruyi chuckled silently and sent a question mark.

Tao Jiang replied: Entering Guyang City is under Xing Lin’s control. Only by earning his trust can one be safe. So if you want to use a beauty trap to bind him, I understand.

Qiao Ruyi rolled her eyes at the vivid imagination.

She quickly answered: Xing Lin already knows why I’m entering Guyang City.

Tao Jiang sent a surprised emoji: Jiang Cheng’an?

Qiao Ruyi responded with a wildly nodding emoji.

The other side showed “typing…” but no message came, clearly Tao Jiang was carefully choosing her words.

After a long while—

Maybe this would provoke his possessiveness even more?

Qiao Ruyi nearly choked and texted back: Did Pinduoduo hit you on the head?

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Tao Jiang gave her a quick tip: I have a sharp eye and see people clearly. Xing Lin isn’t a good man; he’s strong-willed and not easy to manipulate. If he agreed to take you into Guyang City, his motives are likely not pure.

Qiao Ruyi: He has his goals, I have my mission. Though I don’t fully trust him, for now, we’re allies. The rest is up to fate.

Tao Jiang was silent for a long moment before asking: Jiang Cheng’an can’t possibly still be alive.

Qiao Ruyi stared at that line in the chat, the suffocating sadness wrapping around her like a rope, making it hard to breathe.

She replied: If that’s true, I’ll carry his body out myself, letting fallen leaves return to their roots.

—

Later that evening, Zhou Bie prepared a simple supper. Qiao Ruyi had no appetite and stayed upstairs. The three men downstairs were quiet, peaceful even.

Before eleven, after supper was cleared, Xing Lin returned to his room. Five or six minutes later, Qiao Ruyi knocked on his door.

After a few knocks, the door opened.

“What is it?” Xing Lin asked, one hand on the door handle, the other drying his hair with a large towel. He kept his head down, avoiding her gaze.

Warm breath carried the crisp scent of cedar, briefly warming Qiao Ruyi’s eyes.

Xing Lin had just showered; his upper body was exposed to the air. Water droplets slid down his neck onto his rising and falling chest. His inverted triangle physique gleamed honey-gold in the warm light. Water trails marked the hollow of his collarbones, winding down the defined ridges of his abs with each breath.

His towel hung loosely at his waist, hinting at a faint V-line beneath. As he grabbed the towel to dry the back of his neck, his robust biceps flexed smoothly. He caught sight of Qiao Ruyi in the doorway.

Startled, he froze, the towel pressed against his neck. After a long moment, he realized and said, “I thought it was Zhou Bie…”

Qiao Ruyi’s eyes traced the sensual curve from his adam’s apple to chest muscles, the tension raw and primal. She thought, his physique is incredible.

“No worries, you don’t have to be nervous.” She crossed her arms casually over her chest.

His words left Xing Lin momentarily speechless. Clearing his throat, he said, “You have business here?” Realizing of course she did, he stepped aside. “Come in.”

Qiao Ruyi entered without hesitation.

As the hem of her clothes brushed his towel, Xing Lin suddenly realized his forwardness—how did he let her in?

He seemed uneasy. “Wait here a moment.” Then he stepped into the bathroom.

Qiao Ruyi smiled faintly, amused by his bashfulness.

She looked around. His room was dark and somber, unlike the study’s feel, with a colder, harder edge. The space was generous, furnished with a solid wood Chinese-style bed. Where a bedside lamp would usually sit, there was a candlestick instead.

Curious, Qiao Ruyi approached and gently picked one up to examine it.

What she saw startled her.

She glanced at the other candlestick on the nightstand—it confirmed her suspicion.

They were a pair of wedding candlesticks, traditionally used on the wedding night in ancient times.

These were crafted from white jade, one painted with a phoenix, the other with a male phoenix. Qiao Ruyi, often dealing in antiques, had a keen eye.

Judging by its age—the candlesticks were over a thousand years old.

Estimating the dynasty, Qiao Ruyi was astonished.

There was a white jade vermilion bird-shaped lamp from the Western Han dynasty sold for over nineteen million. These candlesticks were likely Hetian jade, of superb quality.

Yet…

The more she examined them, the more doubtful she became. If they were genuine antiques, they should show signs of age. How were they so well preserved?

If they were replicas… no, they weren’t replicas. She never misjudged such things.

Besides, these were even more valuable than that white jade vermilion bird lamp.

“Like them?”

A sudden voice startled Qiao Ruyi, breaking her concentration. Her hand trembled, and the candlestick slipped.

She reflexively reached out, but the man’s large hand was faster, catching it securely. At that moment, her heart finally settled, and she exhaled deeply.

There was no carpet on the floor. If the jade candlestick hit the ground, it would shatter into pieces. Regardless of value, breaking someone else’s precious item was never good.

“Sorry,” Qiao Ruyi turned to him.

Their proximity suddenly felt intimate.

To catch the candlestick, Xing Lin’s chest nearly pressed against her back. Now, face to face, the distance between them was minimal.

Behind Qiao Ruyi was the nightstand, allowing no room to step back, but Xing Lin had ample space behind him.

Yet he didn’t move. Holding the candlestick, he lowered his head to look at her. His thick lashes drooped, shadowing a faint emotion in his eyes.

After a long while, he said, “It’s alright.” Then, leaning forward slightly, he placed the candlestick back in its place.