Liang Jiankong could tell she was someone who valued her privacy. That night, he made sure no one else entered her house. He went in to check on his own.

Her home wasn’t spacious, and it was a bit of a mess from being ransacked. However, amid the chaos, you could still see its minimalist decor and refreshing color palette, just like her personality—cool and distant, yet strangely appealing. The kitchen was the coziest spot, with all the pots, pans, and utensils bearing the marks of frequent use. As he stood there for a moment, he couldn’t help but imagine her in an apron, her face aloof yet deeply engrossed in cooking—a subtly heartwarming scene.

Then, he found the clock.

At this moment, he had that person’s face in his mind – a young man, to be precise. He was incredibly good-looking, much younger and full of charisma compared to what he remembered. She cherished a photo of this young man who bore a striking resemblance to Cheng Ran. He couldn’t quite put into words what he felt about it.

Xu Qingyan maintained a stern expression. She had no intention of delving into this matter with Liang Jiankong. She could tolerate being used as a pawn but could not stand someone intruding her personal space and expecting her to be friendly

She was someone who protected her privacy fiercely. What she did not wish to discuss, she would not utter a single word about.

Her main concern was straightforward: “Is the photo still inside the clock?”

“I didn’t touch it,” he said.

After getting the answer she wanted, Xu Qingyan chose not to respond to his previous question. Instead, she asked, “How long will I have to stay here?” 

Liang Jiankong stated plainly, “I already mentioned it, three days.”

“I got it.”

As Xu Qingyan started to get up, Liang Jiankong stopped her. She stood still, turned slightly, and waited for him to continue.

Liang Jiankong stood up, towering over her. He could see her indifferent profile and delicate earlobes as he spoke unexpectedly, “If you still want a normal life, it’s best to leave Z City.”

Xu Qingyan was slightly surprised by his sudden remark. Her brow furrowed instinctively, “I won’t leave this place.”

Everything she held dear and all her memories were here. She hadn’t left in the past, despite the pain, and she was even more unwilling to go now.

Liang Jiankong couldn’t help but smile at her stubbornness, like a child refusing to admit they were wrong. However, his smile quickly faded as he said, “If you choose to stay, be prepared for more situations like this.”

Xu Qingyan understood his point rationally but couldn’t quite accept it. “Why?”

“Because you’re still alive. When I spared your life, everything changed.”

He stated this harsh reality in a low, steady tone.

Xu Qingyan’s expression changed a bit. “But I have no connection to you…is it really that special just because you spared me?”

She remembered Ryuzaki’s words and the curious, suspicious, and envious looks from the members of the Woodland Gang.

Then, she recalled Liang Jiankong’s question from last night. She took a deep breath, as if making up her mind, and asked, “Would you still want to kill me?”

As the words left her lips, she felt a tingling sensation. Liang Jiankong didn’t answer right away. She waited for a moment, unable to resist looking at him. He gazed back at her with a deep, inexplicable silence, his dark pupils darkening slightly.

Mark desperately signaled to Ah Bao, making a neck-slashing gesture. Ah Bao looked puzzled but kept his eyes on Liang Jiankong.

Xu Qingyan felt the numbness creeping from her tongue, and her fingertips started to tingle. She maintained her composure, though, keeping her gaze fixed on him. Suddenly, Liang Jiankong raised his hand, and Xu Qingyan instinctively took a step back, fearing the worst. To her relief, he was just reaching for his iPad. The fear of his potential violence still lingered, making her uneasy.

“You seemed calmer when Ryuzaki forced you into being a hostage,” Liang Jiankong said. He held his iPad with one hand and gripped the chair’s backrest with the other. His enigmatic look from earlier had faded. “Do you not sense whether I will kill you or not?”

Xu Qingyan was taken aback.

Liang Jiankong continued calmly, “If I wanted to kill you, would you still be alive now?”

Ah Bao and Mark were both bewildered. Liang Jiankong’s words left them in shock, wondering if he meant that he wouldn’t kill her. They exchanged cautious glances and couldn’t hide their astonishment.

Xu Qingyan couldn’t shake off the lingering unease from the sudden fear that had overcome her earlier. However, Liang Jiankong’s assurance that he wouldn’t kill her surprised her. She couldn’t understand why he, who clearly avoided close interactions with others, had spared her life.

Meanwhile, Liang Jiankong fell silent for a moment, as if contemplating something important. He carefully chose his words, “I have a proposition.”

Xu Qingyan was unsure about what he might suggest.

Liang Jiankong continued, “Since you’re currently unsafe, how about becoming my personal physician?”

To say that she was surprised would be an understatement. Xu Qingyan scrutinized Liang Jiankong’s expression, trying to understand if he was serious.

Ah Bao was stunned. He had to pinch Mark’s arm to control his facial expressions. He couldn’t help but recall the events earlier that day when they returned to their gang’s hideout. 

Their fellow gang members had gathered around them, acting like they’d never seen a woman before. They wore suggestive grins and made all sorts of speculations. Was Liang Jiankong romantically involved with Xu Qingyan? Was she going to become his wife? It was all nonsense, and the Second Young Master had brushed off those rumors. But now, things had taken a bizarre turn. Liang Jiankong was proposing that Xu Qingyan become his personal physician?

Her sense of unease grew stronger. Was his proposal really about protecting her? Xu Qingyan found it hard to believe he had such noble intentions. Her life was already messed up by this man, and now he wanted to change her path entirely. Leaving aside other concerns, if Cao Jin ever found out about this, it would lead to trouble.

“But you’ve never had a personal physician before,” she pointed out.

“That was before. There’s no saying it won’t change in the future.”

Xu Qingyan was sure she didn’t want this. Becoming his personal physician would essentially mean practicing underground medicine. Did this mean her future work and life would always be hidden from the public eye?

“Why? You’ve told me to stay away from you, but now you want me as your personal physician. I don’t understand,” Xu Qingyan questioned.

Liang Jiankong didn’t consider it a problem. “Times have changed. After all, you’re the only one who’s ever examined my body.” He paused amd smiled with a meaningful look. “Besides, everyone knows about it now. I thought it might be simpler to stick with someone familiar rather than going through the trouble of finding a new doctor each time.”

Xu Qingyan, however, was more straightforward. She said earnestly, “My medical experience is limited, and I lack surgical experience. The last time I managed to save you was practically a miracle. There might not be a next time.”

Liang Jiankong still didn’t see it as an issue. “It was also a miracle to let me get hurt to that extent, and there won’t be a next time. So, it’s not like we need surgery every day. What do you think this place is, where people die every day?”

“……” Xu Qingyan fell silent. Truth be told, she did have such thoughts.

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” 

Liang Jiankong was left speechless when he saw her serious expression.

“I have limited skills. You should find someone else,” she insisted.

Her refusal was entirely expected. If she had readily accepted, he would have found it strange.

Liang Jiankong remained calm despite being rejected. “It’s just a suggestion, Dr. Xu. After what happened to you this time, you should understand that someone is targeting you.”

Xu Qingyan furrowed her brows. Her initial thought was to suspect Cheng Ran. Last night, after calming down, she had started to doubt Cheng Ran’s involvement with the Japanese. She even suspected that her very existence might have been revealed to the Japanese by Cheng Ran, considering she had mentioned her trip to Nepal to him.

But Cheng Ran appeared to be an ordinary person running a legitimate company. It could have been a mere coincidence, and deep down, she didn’t want to lump Cheng Ran together with the likes of the Japanese and Liang Jiankong.

In her heart, there was still a small glimmer of goodwill towards this person who resembled Yue Chu at first glance.

Liang Jiankong must know something, and she hoped he would be straightforward about it. “Who is targeting me?” She had always been the type to confront things head-on when necessary, without hesitation.

Liang Jiankong squinted as he gazed at her unadorned face, “I’m referring to someone specific, and I believe you know who it is. I won’t say it outright, but when I saw that photo, I thought you might have some ideas. I just didn’t want to disappoint you. But I assume you’re not the type to have unrealistic expectations.”

Xu Qingyan’s expression soured. Liang Jiankong’s words hit the mark, and with this approach, he made it clear to her: 

He knew about her meeting with Cheng Ran.

He warned her not to idealize Cheng Ran, as he was not the kind of people she might expect.

They belonged to the same world.

“I can give you the freedom to choose. Take your time to think about it,” he said.

For the next three days, Liang Jiankong was rarely at home, which relieved Xu Qingyan. In the house, apart from her room, all the other rooms remained locked. A young man named Qin Tai delivered her meals. She noticed guards outside, making escape almost impossible. Fortunately, her composed nature kept her from going crazy. It was only on the third evening when Liang Jiankong suddenly called and told her to pack her things; he would send her back home.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingyan quickly packed her things. When Liang Jiankong opened the door, she was ready. He couldn’t help but chuckle, “Are you that eager to go?”

Xu Qingyan remained non-committal. She stopped about two meters away from him, somewhat uncertain, and asked, “Are you giving me a ride?”

Earlier, Liang Jiankong had already sent Ah Bao and Mark away.

He nodded casually, “The others have all left. Let’s go.”

He took a couple of steps closer, seemingly about to help with her luggage.

Xu Qingyan had long abandoned her girlish instincts, suspecting that Liang Jiankong was about to search her. She cautiously stepped back and said firmly, “I haven’t taken anything.”

To her surprise, Liang Jiankong, usually as composed as a mountain, hesitated. He lowered his head to look at his own outstretched hand. Did he look like he was going to give her a hard time? 

Observing his expression carefully, Xu Qingyan saw a faint smile on his face as he straightened up and said, “Forget it.”

Liang Jiankong went out to get the car. Xu Qingyan initially thought of taking the back seat, but to her surprise, Liang Jiankong got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. opening the door for her. He opened the door courteously and gestured for her to get in.

Reluctantly, Xu Qingyan took the passenger seat.

Inside the car, a soothing piano melody filled the air, with a surround sound effect that felt like a gentle hand caressing her anxious heart. Xu Qingyan wasn’t one to strike up conversations, especially not with someone like Liang Jiankong. She looked out of the window in silence, appearing as if she could remain lost in thought forever. 

Liang Jiankong rolled down the car window, letting the evening breeze tousle Xu Qingyan’s hair. She suddenly snapped back to reality and turned to look at him.

“The proposal I mentioned isn’t just talk. Take your time to think it over before giving me an answer,” Liang Jiankong said as they stopped at a red light. He looked at her, anticipating her response. When she seemed about to speak, he quickly interjected, “No need to decide right now.”

“But I don’t need to consider it. I won’t agree,” Xu Qingyan replied firmly. Her voice was clear. “Do you know why I haven’t reported this to the police? Yes, I’m afraid of retaliation, and I’m still holding onto a glimmer of hope for my old life. Lord Liang, if you truly appreciate me for saving your life, let’s not meet again. Let’s pretend we’re strangers.”

The car happened to stop right in front of Xu Qingyan’s apartment building.

At some point, the music faded away, and the car fell into a silence that was almost suffocating. Liang Jiankong stared head, his expression unreadable, not uttering a word.

Xu Qingyan wasn’t sure if he had agreed or not. “Liang Jiankong,” she called him by his full name, perhaps for the first time.

He seemed to be triggered by something and suddenly exited the car. Walking around to her side, he opened the door for her. “You’re home now. Take care of yourself,” 

Xu Qingyan unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped out of the car and grabbed her belongings.

Liang Jiankong offered no further words. He simply got back in the car and drove off. Xu Qingyan stood in silence, facing the intersection, for a while. Only when all sounds had faded did she finally turned around. 

Suddenly, not far off, the car that had just left made a quick U-turn and returned. Xu Qingyan’s eyelids twitched. 

Liang Jiankong stopped the car without getting out and rolled down the window. He said to her, “I forgot to tell you the phone passcode.”

It was only then that Xu Qingyan realized her phone had been unavailable for three days, all thanks to him.

“You still haven’t figured it out?” He asked.

Xu Qingyan’s face remained cold. “No.”

“Your birthday,” 

“I tried that, it didn’t work,” she said.

“Don’t rush, I haven’t finished,” he continued, “Your birthday, read it backward.”

“……”

Seeing her indifferent and patient expression, Liang Jiankong lazily waved his hand. “See you later”

Wait, what did he just say, see you later?

Sometimes, she really couldn’t understand what this man was thinking. What on earth did he mean?!

When Xu Qingyan returned home, the place was still a mess. She stood by the door for a while, not rushing to tidy up her room.  Instead, she walked to the dining table, picked up the cuckoo clock, and carefully examined it inside and out. Everything was in place. The photograph was safely nestled inside.

Inside the clock, there lay only one 2-inch photograph, appearing somewhat dated. The person in the picture had a neat short haircut, double eyelids, and a prominent nose. His expression was enigmatic, seemingly looking down on everything with a hint of disdain.

The face that had faded over time in her memory suddenly regained its vividness, causing a sharp pang in her heart.

Xu Qingyan leaned against the edge of the table and slowly took a seat. She continued to gaze at the photograph at the bottom of the box but didn’t dare to take it out. Instead, she closed her eyes and shut the lid tightly. Her fingertips turned slightly pale from the pressure.

That night, she didn’t bother packing anything. She simply held onto the clock, laid down on the floor, and drifted off into slumber.