"Alright then, my name is Xia Yunjie—Xia as in 'summer,' Yun as in 'white clouds,' and Jie as in 'outstanding.' If you come to the bar, just tell them my name," Xia Yunjie said with a nod, seeing Qin Lan's insistence and considering his own tight finances, which made frugality a necessity.
"My name is Qin Lan—Qin as in 'Qin Shihuang,' and Lan as in 'misty clouds.'" Hearing Xia Yunjie introduce himself, Qin Lan instinctively did the same. However, as soon as she said her name, she regretted it.
She was the deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Although she rarely appeared on TV or in newspapers, her name and photo were listed under the leadership section of the Public Security Bureau's official website. While the photo there differed significantly from her current casual appearance, if Xia Yunjie happened to frequent the website, he might connect the dots and figure out her true identity. That would be a disaster!
Fortunately, Xia Yunjie didn't show any reaction after hearing her name, which eased her nerves slightly. "By the way, where's my bag?" she asked.
If Qin Lan hadn't mentioned it, Xia Yunjie might have forgotten about the bag entirely. Hearing her question, he quickly responded, "Actually, I was planning to take you to a hotel last night, but I couldn't find your bag. That's why I had no choice but to bring you here. Were there any valuables in it? If there were, you should report it to the police right away!"
Hearing that the bag wasn't with Xia Yunjie, Qin Lan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Her bag contained some cash, her phone, and crucial documents like her ID card and police badge. If Xia Yunjie had gotten hold of it, her identity as the deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau would have been exposed. As for anyone else taking it, she wasn't worried.
After all, her position as deputy director wasn't for show. Jiangzhou's street thieves were well aware of her reputation. Stealing her bag would be tantamount to asking for trouble. No one daring to remain in Jiangzhou would take that risk.
"Got it. Thanks, and goodbye!" Since her bag wasn't with Xia Yunjie, Qin Lan had no intention of staying in his apartment any longer. After a quick sigh of relief, she briskly said her goodbyes.
She turned and headed toward the door. The hem of the T-shirt she wore swayed as it hugged her curvaceous hips, exuding an alluring, mature charm.
Watching Qin Lan open the door and leave without looking back, Xia Yunjie couldn't hide his surprise. He had thought she'd ask him a few skeptical questions about the missing bag, but she acted as though losing it didn't bother her at all.
What a strange woman, Xia Yunjie thought, shaking his head as he watched her leave. Just as he was about to close the door, he heard the sound of footsteps coming back up the stairs. Qin Lan appeared again, her chest bouncing visibly under the loose T-shirt, like two little rabbits trapped inside.
"Is there something else?" Xia Yunjie asked, his gaze momentarily drifting over her ample chest before snapping back to her face.
"Can I borrow some money?" Qin Lan asked, her cheeks tinged with red.
She felt like she had never been more embarrassed in her life—drunkenly carried home by a young man, waking up naked in his apartment, wearing his clothes, and now asking him for money.
She was the deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, famously known as the "Cold-Faced Rakshasa" in Jiangzhou's underworld. Yet here she was, completely broke and needing to borrow money to get home.
Realizing her predicament, Xia Yunjie couldn't help but smile bitterly. Being a good Samaritan sure is tough—first carrying her up the stairs, then giving her clothes, and now lending her money.
Despite his thoughts, Xia Yunjie didn't hesitate. He pulled out a 100-yuan bill from his wallet and handed it to her. "Here you go."
"Thank you! I'll repay you with the money and the clothes as soon as I can," Qin Lan said, taking the money. Her composure had returned.
"No need to thank me. Helping others is its own reward," Xia Yunjie replied with a polite smile. After a brief hesitation, he added sincerely, "But next time, don't drink so much. It's dangerous for a woman to be that drunk on the streets late at night. Did you know that last night, two thugs nearly carried you off?"
Even as a seasoned police officer accustomed to dangerous situations, Qin Lan turned pale at those words. A cold sweat broke out as she imagined the horrifying consequences if she had been assaulted.
It took her a while to regain her composure. She looked at Xia Yunjie solemnly and said, "Xia Yunjie, thank you. I will remember this favor."
At that moment, Qin Lan fully realized the gravity of what could have happened if not for Xia Yunjie's intervention. While she still felt a bit resentful about him seeing her unclothed, her heart was now filled with genuine gratitude.
"Miss Qin, you're being too kind. It was just a small gesture," Xia Yunjie said, blushing with embarrassment at her serious expression.
Seeing the bashful expression on Xia Yunjie's face, Qin Lan's heart inexplicably fluttered. The thought that he had seen her completely naked lingered in her mind as she brushed her hair aside and said, "Let me see your phone."
Though puzzled, Xia Yunjie handed over his second-hand mobile phone. It was an older model from BoDao, a budget brand.
Qin Lan took the phone, entered her number, and dialed it. After hearing her phone's ringtone, she ended the call and handed the phone back to Xia Yunjie. With a faint smile, she said, "I've added my number to your phone. If you ever need help, feel free to call me."
Although Xia Yunjie had no intention of seeking assistance from Qin Lan—preferring to live a quiet, ordinary life—he appreciated her gesture. Smiling faintly, he replied, "Thank you."
Qin Lan, perceptive from years in the bureaucracy, noticed that Xia Yunjie didn't seem to take her offer seriously. However, she didn't press the matter and merely smiled lightly. "Alright then. Remember, having one more friend means having one more path. Maybe I can help you someday."
With that, she turned and descended the stairs, her curvaceous figure swaying under the T-shirt's hemline, radiating effortless allure.
Xia Yunjie watched until she disappeared from view. Thoughts of her pale, voluptuous figure and her parting words stirred a fleeting impulse in him to use his unique Wu Clan divination skills to uncover her past—what could have driven such a woman to drink herself into oblivion.
But he quickly dismissed the idea with a shake of his head.
Life's mysteries are what make it interesting. Why rush to uncover everything?
"Sometimes, ignorance is bliss," Xia Yunjie murmured with a wry smile. Satisfied with his decision, he turned and headed back to the bathroom.
The fleeting thought, and his ability to dismiss it so easily, was a reflection of his mastery in divination. Practitioners of lesser skill often couldn't resist the urge to probe into every person or situation they encountered, trapping themselves in a cycle of curiosity and verification. Xia Yunjie, however, had reached a higher level, able to resist such impulses.
After washing up, Xia Yunjie grabbed a simple breakfast from a nearby shop. It was past 8 a.m., and he decided to buy a bicycle for commuting. The bus routes between his neighborhood and Nanshan Road were inconvenient, requiring a transfer, and bus fares added up over time.
He spent 240 yuan on a Forever-brand bicycle at a local supermarket, officially becoming part of the "bike-owning" crowd. However, the purchase left his wallet noticeably thinner. Thankfully, he had prepaid his rent for the quarter, still had a gold necklace stashed in his drawer, and his part-time job at the bar provided some income.
Riding his new bicycle, Xia Yunjie took a leisurely tour of the neighborhood before returning to his apartment. With no TV or computer at home, he decided to spend the day studying English.
Many of the bar's drink menus were in English, and the clientele included a fair number of foreigners. Determined to be a diligent worker, Xia Yunjie saw this as an opportunity to improve himself. Moreover, he planned to take a self-study exam next year to earn a college diploma, for which English was a required subject.
Although his English skills were weak, and reading sentences proved challenging, his strong memory allowed him to quickly build his vocabulary. Compared to the complex and profound Wu Clan techniques, learning English felt trivial.
By the end of the day, Xia Yunjie had made notable progress, significantly expanding his vocabulary. Though far from fluent, he felt more confident.
At 5 p.m., after a quick dinner at a local eatery, Xia Yunjie leisurely cycled toward Nanshan Road. As he passed Jianming Road, he noticed a graceful woman hurrying out of a café. It was the BLUENIGHT bar's owner.
However, before she got far, a disheveled man emerged from the café and grabbed her arm.
"Lu Hong, I have nothing to do with you anymore. If you don't let go, I'll call for help!" The bar owner, Shao Lihong, struggled to free herself, glaring at the man with fiery determination.
"So, Shao Lihong, now that you've made it big, you won't acknowledge your husband anymore? You weren't like this back then, were you? Back then, you were quite wild!" Lu Hong sneered, a sinister glint in his eyes. He pulled a photograph from his pocket and waved it in front of her with a lecherous grin.
Shao Lihong's defiance crumbled as her face turned pale. Snatching the photo, she saw herself, naked, straddling Lu Hong. Her body trembled violently, her ample chest heaving with rage and shame.