Chapter 109: A Riddle

The once-flat ground had sunken significantly within just a few minutes.

Jing Xi instinctively turned to rush outside, but Long Yue Zhi immediately grabbed her wrist.

“Stay here. Don’t go out.”

Soon after, Yu Er and the others were also called inside by Long Yue Zhi.

“What happened?”

A man unfamiliar to her spoke up, “Fourth Master, it seems the elevator collapsed, causing a minor ground subsidence. From the looks of it, the depth of the collapse doesn’t exceed five meters. There shouldn’t be any major issues.”

Long Yue Zhi nodded. “Go find out the progress. How much longer until the coal seam is fully extracted?”

“Understood.”

Two people left the room.

The waiting felt unbearably slow.

About half an hour later, the two men returned with news.

“Fourth Master, the fastest estimate is still ten hours.”

Long Yue Zhi gave a quiet acknowledgment, then sat on the sofa, closing his eyes for a brief rest.

The man hesitated before speaking again. “Fourth Master, we just ran into Miss Xu. She wants to see you.”

Long Yue Zhi didn’t move. “Let her in. You all can leave.”

“Understood.”

The group filed out of the room.

Jing Xi also wanted to leave with them.

But just as she passed by, a strong hand suddenly grabbed her, catching her off guard and forcing her to sit down beside him.

She nearly fell into his embrace.

Quickly correcting her posture, she noticed Liang Chen looking at her with an amused smile.

Her face grew even redder.

“Um, I should probably go out too—”

Long Yue Zhi tightened his grip on her, refusing to let go. “You’re staying here. You’re not going anywhere.”

“????? Why?”

Long Yue Zhi opened his eyes, locking onto her bright, innocent gaze. His thin lips moved slightly.

“Just do me a favor.”

Just do me a favor.

His tone was soft, his eyes filled with a rare trace of vulnerability.

Jing Xi felt as though she had been bewitched. Her thoughts were no longer under her own control.

She agreed without thinking.

Only when she heard the click-clack of high heels approaching did she snap back to reality.

The moment she met Xu Jin’s gaze, she wasn’t surprised to see the deep loathing and anger in her eyes.

Xu Jin didn’t cause a scene. Instead, she asked in a low voice, “Long Yue Zhi! What exactly is your relationship with her?”

Her finger pointed directly at Jing Xi, trembling slightly.

Jing Xi couldn’t help but feel—was she… jealous?

But…

She was a married woman. What was there to be jealous about?

Long Yue Zhi met Xu Jin’s eyes with an indifferent expression. “Do I need to report to you about my relationship with her? You’re overstepping.”

“Long Yue Zhi, don’t forget who you are! She’s just a lowly girl working in a bun shop—does she even match your status?”

Jing Xi found the words incredibly grating.

What was wrong with working in a bun shop?

She earned her living through honest labor and intelligence.

Meanwhile, some people thought a bit of money gave them the right to point fingers at others.

Long Yue Zhi, who had been holding her wrist, suddenly shifted his grip to her shoulder.

The next moment, he pulled her entirely into his embrace.

She instantly felt the warmth radiating from his body.

Wanting to escape and maintain some distance, she struggled slightly, but his firm arm only tightened around her.

She gave up.

Xu Jin didn’t miss the interaction.

Her eyes burned with fury.

Yet Long Yue Zhi remained calm, even disdainful. “Status? What status? We’re all just people. Do you really think some are inherently superior to others? When disaster strikes, do you think it cares what kind of house you live in? Whether you eat well or not? Will that spare you?”

Xu Jin’s eyes turned red. “Long Yue Zhi, are you deliberately trying to anger me?”

Long Yue Zhi remained unfazed. “Not at all. What benefit would I gain from making you angry?”

Xu Jin clenched her fists. “Then why are you keeping her here?”

Long Yue Zhi glanced at Jing Xi, who was watching the drama unfold with amusement.

Then, in a place where Xu Jin couldn’t see, he extended a single finger and playfully poked Jing Xi.

It wasn’t until Jing Xi shot him a warning glance that he finally spoke. “She has a name. She’s not just ‘that woman’ as you call her. Besides, whether she’s here or not doesn’t matter. The most important thing right now is the 113 lives trapped below the shaft.”

Long Yue Zhi’s words were light, but in Xu Jin’s eyes, they were a warning.

Jing Xi noticed Xu Jin’s expression darken, her fingers tightening. “You think I did this?”

Long Yue Zhi paused, his sharp gaze cutting into Xu Jin like a blade. A cold chill spread around her.

“Who did it isn’t important. What matters is that it happened here.”

Xu Jin bit her lip.

Her gaze unconsciously fell on Long Yue Zhi’s hand, which was wrapped around Jing Xi.

She really wanted to pry him away and throw that woman out for a beating!

Jing Xi couldn’t quite figure out what kind of mind games they were playing, but she was certain their words carried hidden meanings.

And from the looks of it, this situation wasn’t simple at all.

Could it be that this “accident” was actually intentional, and Xu Jin knew about it?

She turned to Xu Jin with a more scrutinizing look in her eyes.

Xu Jin noticed her stare. “What are you looking at?”

Jing Xi waited for a moment, realizing that Long Yue Zhi had no intention of speaking. So, she finally replied, “If you don’t want to be looked at, then hide. You’re standing here out in the open—of course people are going to look at you.”

Xu Jin: “You’ve really got some nerve! Do you know how many people in my life have dared to talk to me like this? I would’ve ripped their tongues out! And yet, you keep pushing my limits, again and again!”

Jing Xi: “Mhm. Then keep listening and maybe you’ll finally learn a lesson.”

“Long Yue Zhi, let’s not even talk about us right now. But as for me and her? This isn’t over. I’m telling you in advance—if you can keep an eye on her, then do it. But there will be a moment when you can’t, and when that time comes, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

With that, she turned and stormed off, slamming the door so hard that the entire room seemed to shake.

Jing Xi flinched from the noise.

Then, quickly standing up, she stepped away from Long Yue Zhi’s embrace. “I mean, why is she always targeting me?”

Long Yue Zhi rubbed his forehead. His exhausted face looked even paler due to his lack of rest. “Maybe because she thinks you’re prettier than her.”

Jing Xi: ???

Prettier than Xu Jin?

That’s what he thought?

He said it so casually, but she was definitely overthinking it.

Still, her face turned red.

And for some reason, she ended up explaining what had just happened.

“Uh… Just now, I argued with her in the restroom. She tried to hit me, so I pushed her away.”

Hearing this, Long Yue Zhi lifted his gaze. There was no fear in her eyes.

“In the future, stay away from her, especially when there’s no one around. That woman is ruthless—she’s capable of anything.”

Jing Xi: “You could’ve told me that earlier! What if she really becomes a threat to my safety…”

Long Yue Zhi: “Funny, I don’t see even a trace of fear in you.”

Jing Xi: “Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean I’m not scared!”

“Fine. If you’re scared, then just keep your distance.”

Well, that was about as helpful as saying nothing.

Jing Xi shut up.

She walked to the window and saw that the collapsed section of Shaft No. 4 had already been sealed off. The area was now completely empty.

Shaft No. 3 was still transporting people out, and so far, everything seemed normal.

The harsh sunlight poured through the window.

When she turned back, she saw Yu Er carrying a bowl of something dark and murky into the room.

No surprise—it was medicine again.

She frowned. Long Yue Zhi was seriously never off his meds.

“Fourth Master, breakfast is here. We’ve also sent meals to your family, the city government, and the mine director. The rescue team, public security, and firefighters have all been provided with food and water as well.”

Long Yue Zhi nodded. “Good. Keep an eye on the shaft area.”

“Understood.”

Three minutes later, breakfast was set in front of Jing Xi and Long Yue Zhi.

She hadn’t expected it to be buns and porridge from Zhao’s Bun Shop.

As Long Yue Zhi ate, he didn’t even look up. “I took care of your leave request at the bun shop. And don’t worry—I’m not eating for free. I paid for the buns.”