Chapter 26

Song Qingdai was suddenly stunned, her moist eyes staring blankly at him.

A wave of emotion surged in her heart, difficult to conceal.

“Eat up—it won’t taste good if it gets cold,” he said gently.

He had brought back a lot of food: braised chicken drumsticks, red-braised pork, stir-fried shredded meat—an entire box packed to the brim, as if afraid she wouldn’t have enough.

“It’s too much. I can’t finish it…” Song Qingdai took a bite of the chicken, the savory flavor blossoming in her mouth.

Gao Han looked at her cheeks puffed up with food—she looked just like a little squirrel.

Bright and striking in appearance, yet also delicate and elegant.

“Just eat what you can. You’ll need the strength to go shopping later.”

“Mm.” Song Qingdai nodded and, while eating, asked, “You still haven’t told me—why are you living in Peace Courtyard?”

Everyone who lived here was a high-ranking military officer—or a state-protected scientific talent. Each one was an important figure.

She truly couldn’t understand it. Could it be that Gao Han also held a military rank?

That couldn’t be.

If he did, why would he be working at the brick factory in Hongxing Town, carrying bricks?

Though the past few days had taught her that Gao Han wasn’t the unruly scoundrel he appeared to be on the surface…

Still, to link Gao Han to a military officer? That just seemed absurd.

“You’re really that curious about me?”

The corner of Gao Han’s mouth curled slightly, a roguish air and a dangerous aura suddenly radiating from him.

His gaze on her was one of possession—like a wolf eyeing an innocent rabbit.

But what Gao Han didn’t know was, maybe Song Qingdai used to be a little white rabbit… but not anymore.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered—especially a rabbit who had already died once.

Her past had taught her how to fight back.

Even so, being stared at like that still made her nervous.

Seeing the tension and unease in her expression, Gao Han realized she still didn’t fully trust him. He withdrew that sharp, interrogating look.

Then, he reached out and ruffled her hair playfully.

Her hair was soft.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me. I don’t eat people,” he said lightly.

“As for why I live here—you’ll find out once we’re married. Everyone has their secrets.”

Song Qingdai had hers, and he had his.

She understood what he meant—he was implying that they would eventually exchange their secrets.

But coming back from the dead, reliving the past… that in itself was a secret far too absurd to explain.

“Can’t eat anymore?” he asked.

Song Qingdai nodded and rubbed her stomach. “Too much… and all meat. I’m stuffed.”

She really was full.

“But there’s still so much left. It would be a waste to throw it away.”

As soon as he said that, Gao Han reached over and took her lunch box, then started eating with the same chopsticks she had just used.

“Ah-Han, maybe you should use a different pair of chopsticks…” Song Qingdai quickly said. After all, she had already eaten with them—didn’t he mind?

Gao Han frowned. Why was she being so hung up on this?

They were about to become husband and wife, and she was worried about chopsticks?

“We’ve already slept together—are you still worried about something like this?”

Song Qingdai’s cheeks turned a bright red. Just as she was about to respond, a sudden knock came from the door.

Gao Han quickly finished the food, tossed the lunchbox aside, and went to the door.

He opened it just a crack.

“What is it?”

Song Qingdai remained seated on the sofa, facing the fan. She couldn’t see the visitors clearly, only catching glimpses of two or three men through the crack in the door.

“Han-ge, is there someone inside?” one of the young men outside asked, eyes catching the hem of a skirt on the sofa and a glimpse of pale ankle.

They were surprised.

They had heard rumors that Gao Han had brought a woman into the compound, but hadn’t believed it—until now.

How bizarre. Truly bizarre.

They had known Gao Han for years. And never—not even once—had they seen him near a girl. Not even a female mosquito, let alone a woman.

Unless it was for official work, Gao Han always kept to himself. No men, no women—he kept his distance from everyone.

Gao Han stepped to the side, blocking their view into the house.

“Yeah, it’s my fiancée.”

“Your fiancée? For real?”

“If you came here just to ask about my fiancée, you can leave now.”

His tone wasn’t pleasant, and his expression was even darker.

As expected—he didn’t play nice.

“We came to talk business, of course.”

But clearly, Gao Han had no intention of inviting them in for a chat or even a drink of water.

They were used to it. Someone like Gao Han was a rare asset—even Mr. Ren treated him like a treasure.

Plus, his personality wasn’t easy. He was a bit of a recluse. Though many in the compound had heard of him, few had actually seen him. Most of his personal files were confidential.

Aside from Mr. Ren, no one in the entire compound had access to his personnel file.

Gao Han glanced back at Song Qingdai inside the house.

She smiled at him, indicating that she wouldn’t eavesdrop.

Gao Han closed the door behind him and stood outside.

The sunlight stretched his shadow long across the ground.

The three young men now wore serious expressions.

“Han-ge, we found out that Liu Bingzhi’s information is false. His wife and children—they’re fake.”

“All of it’s fake?”

Gao Han’s expression darkened. “Go on.”

“He regularly visits a barbershop and a dental clinic in the provincial capital. His ‘son’ just started college and is involved in a research project at the provincial university. That project…”

The more the youth spoke, the worse Gao Han’s face became.

If Liu Bingzhi really was a spy, then his ‘children’ were likely part of it too.

And now, they had infiltrated a scientific research project at this time—no need to spell out the implications.

“I understand. Don’t alert him yet. Track his movements. The next time he goes to the barbershop—take him down.”

“And keep a close eye on that dental clinic. Don’t let Mr. Ren find out yet.”

“By the way… where’s Ren Nana?”

Gao Han hadn’t forgotten what Song Qingdai said—that Liu Bingzhi would kidnap her.

“Miss Ren went to the movies with a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Liu Bingzhi’s daughter—Liu Yaru.”

Gao Han’s fist instantly clenched.

Just as Song Qingdai had said—Liu Bingzhi’s target was Mr. Ren’s entire family.

To think someone like that had been lurking at Mr. Ren’s side for years—and even infiltrated through his ‘children’… it was terrifying the more you thought about it.

Gao Han took a deep breath. “Find a way to separate them.”

Ren Nana was notoriously difficult—people in the compound avoided her at all costs.

The three young men gave a bitter smile. “Han-ge, we think you’re the only one who can pull that off. If we try, she’ll curse us into the ground.”

“Just tell her… I need to see her.”

Their eyes lit up. “That’ll work!”