Chapter 39: A Thousand-Watt Lightbulb  

Zhou Tiantian stood silently, holding her cup, feeling utterly alone. The police station was bustling with noise from drunken men, people coming and going, making the place lively.

Yet, Lin Zhizhi and Lu Yi seemed completely isolated from the chaos—one sitting, the other standing, holding each other as if they were the only two people in the world.  

If not for the warmth of the cup in her hands reminding her that she was still in a peaceful and civilized society, Zhou Tiantian would have thought she had stepped into a novel, watching the male and female protagonists fall in love up close.  

Alright then. She might as well make a grand sacrifice and play the role of a thousand-watt lightbulb, plus a utility pole, to shine so brightly that their romantic bubble would burst, bringing them back to reality.  

With determination, Zhou Tiantian took large strides forward, her steps exuding the aura of someone who had severed all familial ties. She quickly reached the two of them, took a deep breath, put on a standard polite smile, and looked at them.  

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds…  

What the—!  

Damn!  

These two didn’t even spare her a glance!

Zhou Tiantian took a deep breath.

Maybe her wattage wasn’t high enough?  

She widened her smile even more and continued to stare at them.  

Surely this would work now!?  

Lu Yi had actually noticed Zhou Tiantian approaching, but since she merely stood by the table separating them, he assumed she was just passing by or perhaps a staff member. Since she didn’t say anything, she probably wasn’t looking for them, so he paid no mind.  

Lu Yi felt Lin Zhizhi’s slight movements and inwardly sighed. It seemed she wasn’t physically hurt, but she was still shaken. The lingering fear was evident.  

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly felt an increasingly intense gaze burning into him from the side.  

Lu Yi turned his head slightly, lazily lifting his eyelids, and saw Zhou Tiantian grinning like a fool, her mouth stretched so wide it looked like it might split open. Was something wrong with this person?  

So, out of kindness toward those with cognitive impairments, Lu Yi gave Zhou Tiantian a small nod before shifting his gaze away, even adjusting Lin Zhizhi’s position slightly in the process.  

Zhou Tiantian: …  

The smile on Zhou Tiantian’s face instantly froze.

What Was that nod and turn about?  

“Zhizhi!” Zhou Tiantian had had enough. She raised her voice, ignoring Lu Yi entirely as she called out to Lin Zhizhi.  

Hearing her name, Lin Zhizhi followed the sound and finally noticed Zhou Tiantian standing nearby. Zhou Tiantian extended a paper cup toward her, speaking gently but loud enough to be heard over the noise. “Zhizhi, do you want some water?”  

Lin Zhizhi genuinely hadn’t realized when Zhou Tiantian had returned. The surroundings were chaotic and loud, but Lu Yi’s embrace was warm—so warm that she had nearly dozed off. Lately, she had been feeling a little drowsy all the time.  

She loosened her arms around Lu Yi, gently pushed him away, creating some distance between them, and then stood up. Walking over to Zhou Tiantian, she took the cup and obediently thanked her. She didn’t forget to introduce the two of them to each other either.  

As Lin Zhizhi took small sips of water, she stood between the two of them, watching as they exchanged polite handshakes like colleagues making small talk in a workplace. In the end, they even exchanged phone numbers.  

By the time Lin Zhizhi realized what was happening, she was already being led by Lu Yi to the entrance of the police station.  

Lu Yi looked at the dazed Lin Zhizhi and let out a silent sigh. It seemed like asking for her friend’s number earlier had been the right move. The last time, the only thing he could do was wait outside her building with no other way to contact her. Now, at least, he had another means of reaching her.  

Lu Yi went to get the car, opened the passenger door for Lin Zhizhi, and shut it after she got in—only to find that Zhou Tiantian had already helped herself to the back seat. Lu Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, then walked around to the driver’s seat. Casually, he placed the plastic bag he had been carrying in the center console before starting the car and driving off.  

The bag wasn’t properly sealed. Lin Zhizhi could clearly see what was inside—medical alcohol, band-aids…

Lin Zhizhi tilted her head slightly, glancing at Lu Yi. He was focused on the road ahead, his sharp profile illuminated by the passing streetlights. The glow accentuated his refined features—his high nose bridge, clean and fresh complexion, and the composed look in his eyes.  

After Lin Zhizhi averted her gaze, Lu Yi glanced at her briefly before looking straight ahead again. His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.  

From the back seat, Zhou Tiantian, who had been watching their subtle interactions the entire time, rolled her eyes dramatically.  

Lin Zhizhi suddenly recalled Lu Yi mentioning that this car was a recent purchase. She found it odd—wasn’t he still in the early stages of his startup? Where did he get the extra money to buy a car? This one didn’t look cheap either.

But after a moment’s thought, she reasoned that even though he was still in the startup phase, he needed a car for meetings and contract negotiations. Not having one would be inconvenient. Besides, most guys wanted their first car to be something decent.  

Considering that Lu Yi’s business was still in its early stages and likely required heavy financial investment, Lin Zhizhi figured that splurging on such an expensive car was a bit extravagant.

She started thinking about how she could discreetly pick up the tab for dinner later—something that wouldn’t hurt his pride but would still help him save some money. After all, at this point, the only thing she had in abundance was money.  

If Lu Yi knew what she was thinking, he would probably tell her that it was completely unnecessary. This car was indeed a recent purchase, but it was just that—a new addition.

He actually owned several cars already. This was simply the one that had caught his eye lately.