Chapter 35: Embrace

Qin Zheng was uneasy about Tang Wan being alone. After dropping off his things at his aunt’s house, he didn’t stay long before saying goodbye.

Qin Zheng didn’t come to the city infrequently; besides visiting his aunt, he always went to see Tang Wan.

He stayed there for about an hour. But when he later went to the department store, Tang Wan was nowhere to be found.

Qin Zheng carefully searched the department store twice to confirm she wasn’t there.

Realizing something was wrong, Qin Zheng immediately asked the sales clerks.

Fortunately, Tang Wan was quite distinctive; almost as soon as Qin Zheng described her, a clerk said she had already left.

Hearing this, Qin Zheng couldn’t sit still.

The city was full of mixed crowds, and Qin Zheng knew well how dangerous that could be.

Since Tang Wan had already left the department store, finding her would be much harder.

Coincidentally, while Qin Zheng was on his way to look for her, he overheard a few thugs squatting by the roadside, smoking and talking.

“Junzi, what do you think? How did that woman just suddenly disappear? Could it really be…?”

“No way. We saw her come out of the department store with stuff in her hands. And it’s broad daylight!” The rough voice answered, squatting in the shadow of the wall, pointing to the blazing sun above.

“Isn’t it said that good-looking people aren’t really human? Otherwise, how could this be so strange? That woman looked so pretty, it didn’t seem like she was alive.”

“…”

Qin Zheng was drawn by the meaning behind their words.

“Where’s the woman who came out of the department store?” Qin Zheng stepped forward into their group, casting a shadow over them.

“Who the hell are you?” The men stood up, throwing down their cigarette butts, faces hostile.

In broad daylight, cries of pain echoed from a nearby alley next to the department store. Moments later, Qin Zheng, wearing a fierce expression, walked out from the alley and headed to the place where they said Tang Wan had disappeared.

Inside the alley were only a few figures sprawled on the ground, groaning and wincing in pain.

Qin Zheng appeared again inside the alley: “Come with me.”

Although reluctant, the few had no choice but to follow Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng often roamed the city, so when he asked, they all knew exactly where to go without needing directions.

Though he didn’t believe the story about Tang Wan vanishing into thin air, Qin Zheng could not get any other information and had to assume they were telling the truth.

Meanwhile, Tang Wan had already packed up and, after confirming no one was outside, emerged from her space.

The timing was such that as Tang Wan just came out and was still inside the alley, Qin Zheng and the others arrived at the alley’s mouth.

Tang Wan froze in place.

The few men with bruised and battered faces stared at Tang Wan like they had seen a ghost.

After soaking in the spiritual spring water, Tang Wan’s skin had become even paler and more captivating than before. The men stared at her for a long time before one finally said, “I-it’s a female ghost, right?”

No one was sure who said it exactly.

But after those words, the men completely forgot Qin Zheng’s intimidating presence and all fled at once.

Only Tang Wan remained, locked in a staring contest with Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng ignored the few fleeing behind. Since Tang Wan was found, those men were useless now.

Tang Wan noticed those men too; the injuries on their faces clearly showed they had been beaten.

Qin Zheng’s gaze was unhidden, scanning Tang Wan inch by inch as if checking for injuries.

Tang Wan felt uneasy under such unabashed scrutiny and grew nervous about how to explain her sudden appearance there — especially since Qin Zheng had brought those men, who likely already told him about her sudden disappearance.

“Did you hit them?” Tang Wan tried to change the subject.

“Yes.” Qin Zheng admitted directly, his expression unchanged.

“That’s good. They were following me just now…” Tang Wan tried to explain.

But Qin Zheng didn’t wait for her to finish. He quickly stepped forward, pulled Tang Wan into a tight embrace.

Tang Wan’s head pressed against Qin Zheng’s chest. She could hear his heart pounding rapidly and anxiously.

Each beat thumped into her ear. Strangely, hearing Qin Zheng’s frantic heartbeat calmed Tang Wan down.

She stayed motionless in his arms, without resistance.

Qin Zheng tightened his hands behind her, holding her firmly, so she couldn’t move at all.

Something quietly blossomed in this peaceful moment.

This was a dead-end alley, and no one came by.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Zheng finally loosened his grip.

Neither of them mentioned the embrace just now.

“How come you weren’t at the department store?”

“I wanted to find the scrap yard to buy something first, then meet you at the department store. But I realized I was being followed, panicked, and ran here,” Tang Wan had already prepared this explanation.

Qin Zheng accepted her explanation: “The city isn’t very safe, especially for someone like you. Don’t wander around alone.”

“Someone like me?” Tang Wan raised an eyebrow.

“Good-looking.” Qin Zheng held her shoulders, looking into her eyes. “These thugs usually just steal stuff, but when they see someone as pretty as you, they tend to get the wrong ideas.”

It was the first time Qin Zheng talked to Tang Wan like this, and they were very close.

Tang Wan was so surprised by his serious attitude that she dared not meet his gaze at once.

Qin Zheng didn’t intend to look away. His hands stayed on her shoulders, insisting she look at him before continuing, “So don’t wander alone. If you want to go somewhere, just call me and I’ll go with you.”

“Okay.”

Qin Zheng seemed unconcerned about what those thugs said about Tang Wan’s disappearance, showing no sign of questioning.

After Tang Wan agreed, he released his hold.

“I’ll take you to the scrap yard.”

Qin Zheng knew the city well and took a shortcut, leading Tang Wan straight to the scrap yard.

Only an old man was there, lying in a rocking chair.

When Tang Wan said she wanted to buy some newspapers to paste on the walls, the old man waved them in.

Of course, buying newspapers to paste on the walls was just an excuse; it wasn’t the right time to openly say she wanted to buy books.

Tang Wan rummaged through the piles of scrap paper for a long time.

All those novels claiming you could find antiques or calligraphy at scrap yards were lies — even at times like this, such things wouldn’t appear there.

After choosing the books she wanted, she also symbolically grabbed a thick stack of newspapers.

At checkout, the old man wanted to ask why Tang Wan needed those useless old books.

But Qin Zheng’s intimidating gaze made him keep quiet.

And so, Tang Wan successfully bought two sets of high school textbooks.