Wang Chaihong's gaze suddenly shifts to seriousness "Was he a good person? Did you believe he voluntarily did it?"
Taken aback by her question, he replied sincerely "He is a good person. I don't believe he would have done it on his own."
She shifted her gaze elsewhere, satisfied with his answer "Then, that's good enough. Have you asked for his side of the story yet?"
"He refused to talk about it. I can't force it." voicing out his frustration, he then turns to Wang Chaihong "Are you hesitating to join us because of the allegations?"
She shakes her head timidly "No, I was just trying to get to know Heavenly Jade better."
Zhang LiQiang relaxes his shoulder and casually switches the topic "Which station are you getting off at?"
"Anyang," she said quietly, trying to keep her voice steady.
Zhang LiQiang's brow lifted slightly. "Anyang? Same here."
Wang Chaihong tensed instinctively. Coincidence or not, she felt her anxiety flicker back to life. He seemed to notice, his tone softening as he added, "Relax. I'm just headed to a shop nearby. Nothing weird."
The train eased to a stop at Anyang, its doors sliding open with a hiss. Wang Chaihong hesitated before following Zhang LiQiang, keeping a few steps behind as they exited onto the platform.
The station was quieter than the others—no rush-hour crowds, just scattered commuters moving about. Zhang LiQiang kept his pace steady as he walked ahead but kept glancing back to ensure she wasn't uncomfortable.
"You're headed somewhere nearby?" he asked casually after a few moments.
"A cafe," Wang Chaihong answered cautiously, trying not to sound defensive.
Zhang LiQiang gave a small nod. "Same direction. The shop I'm going to is just down the road."
Wang Chaihong narrowed her eyes slightly at his back, suspicion stirring again. Was this some strange coincidence, or was he trying to make her feel at ease? As if sensing her doubt, he added, "I promise I am not following you. And I won't force you to make a decision now, like I said, you can answer me by the end of the week"
The unexpected reassurance caught her off guard. " You remember the guy I was with yesterday? He wanted a Wabibi blind box. I heard it's a limited edition."
She stared at his back for a moment before looking away, her lips twitching faintly, though she didn't let him see it.
When they reached their destination, Wang Chaihong slowed her steps. The cafe she was headed to came into view, its cozy interior visible through the large front windows. At the corner of her eye, she spots Ahn Zixin. Zhang LiQiang stopped just a little further down, turning toward a storefront that sported bright posters and merchandise displays.
"See?" he said with a faint grin, gesturing toward the shop with a tilt of his head. "Told you—it's the same way."
Ahn Zixin spots her best friend from inside. She stood up after seeing Wang Chaihong struggling to find the right words
Ahn Zixin practically burst out the door before they could even enter, her sharp gaze darting between Wang Chaihong and Zhang LiQiang. "Who's this?" she demanded, her tone suspicious, as she positioned herself slightly in front of Wang Chaihong.
Zhang LiQiang held himself from laughing, it was like looking at a mother tiger guarding her cub.
Wang Chaihong sighed, reached out and held her arm. "Ahn Zixin, calm down," she said quickly, stepping around her. "He helped me earlier. That's all."
Ahn Zixin's narrowed eyes flicked to Zhang LiQiang, scanning him for a long moment before her expression softened. "Helped you?"
"Yes," Wang Chaihong confirmed, trying to keep her voice steady. "There were some high schoolers… being annoying. He stepped in."
Ahn Zixin's posture eased, guilt flickering across her face. "Ah, I see," she muttered, glancing at Zhang LiQiang again, this time with a hint of embarrassment. "I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. Thank you for helping her."
Zhang LiQiang recognised that face even though she was wearing a mask. Zhang LiQiang turned around and waved off the apology "Anyone with common sense would do the same."
Ahn Zixin hesitated before taking another step back and gesturing toward the cafe. "Well, since you're here, why not join us? We were just about to have lunch to celebrate."
Zhang LiQiang rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, looking at his watch. "I appreciate the offer, but I can't. I'm on my way to pick up some limited-edition merch, and if I don't hurry, someone will cry to sleep"
"Oh, I see," Ahn Zixin said, her tone light but understanding. "Still, thanks again for helping her."
Zhang LiQiang nodded once, turning his attention briefly to Wang Chaihong. "Take care," he said simply, before heading off toward the shop.
Wang Chaihong watched him leave for a moment before Ahn Zixin nudged her lightly. "Who was that?" she asked, her tone curious now that the initial tension had disappeared.
"I will tell you later"