Chapter 31 - 31 Inescapable Person 031

Chapter 31: Inescapable Person 031 Chapter 31: Inescapable Person 031 He Xing stayed behind alone, touching his chin, which bore a light and fine stubble, somewhat prickly to the touch, “How else would I let you know that I live right next to you?”

The door shut, and Nan Qing paced excitedly around the room, “What on earth does He Xing want to do, haunt me like a persistent ghost?”

“Whatever he wants to do, it’s none of my business.” Fu Han said as she walked towards her darkroom without looking back. The preliminary submissions for the competition were due soon, and she had to finish them tonight.

Nan Qing squeezed in before she could close the door, “Miss, don’t you feel creeped out being watched all the time? How can you still be so calm?”

“What good would panicking do?” Fu Han had already started preparing to wash the photos again, her tweezers holding the pristine photo paper as she shook it in the developer, patterns gradually emerging, “In City A, as long as he wishes, I can’t evade him even if I were invisible.”

Nan Qing opened her mouth to say something but ended up sighing deeply instead.

…

Early in the morning, Fu Han got up. Today, she was still dressed in her usual attire: a white short-sleeve shirt paired with washed denim jeans, a light coffee-colored ankle-length trench coat, and a pair of Martens on her feet. Her mid-waist curly hair was casually tied into a ponytail.

Today was the day she was to submit her preliminary work for the “Journey through the World Photography Competition” at Jiangshan Gallery, and it was also the last day to register for the contest.

Journey through the World Photography Competition took place every three years. Although it was always held in City A, the location varied. This year, the organizers had chosen Jiangshan Gallery as the venue.

Jiangshan Gallery was well-known; many reputable photographers, painters, and artists chose to hold art exhibitions there. However, one rule stood: those who wished to host exhibitions there had to meet certain standards of style and fame.

Three years ago, although Fu Han was fond of photography, He Xing was far more important to her than her hobby.

Back then, she had begged He Xing to accompany her to Luo Qinghe’s photography exhibition at Jiangshan Gallery, only to be refused because Xia Ning needed him.

Through the subway window, Fu Han saw her current expression, unabashedly ironic.

Indeed, the irony. Three years ago, He Xing put Xia Ning first in everything, treating her with extreme coldness, ignoring the fact that she was bullied by those young masters and mistresses. And now, he had the nerve to say he never had Xia Ning.

Unless she was a fool, how could she ever believe such nonsense?

…

Jiangshan Gallery was located in the suburbs, an extremely remote location, but it was this seclusion that provided such an untainted view.

Fu Han got off at the last subway stop, intending to bike the rest of the way, but she found no shared bicycles in this desolate place and had no choice but to hail a cab.

But to her dismay, there were no taxis to be found either. She had been waiting by the roadside for nearly half an hour, with sweat beading on her forehead, yet the endless road remained empty of cars.

Finally, she heard the sound of tires rubbing against the ground in the distance. She perked up, without a second thought ran to the middle of the road, spread her arms wide with her eyes closed, determined to stop a vehicle at all costs.

The roar of the car grew louder, climaxing in a sharp screech of brakes.

An angry voice rang out, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Fu Han knew she had succeeded, and as she opened her eyes and ran towards the passenger side, she said, “I would indeed die if I didn’t stop the car.”

But when she realized what kind of car she had stopped, her hand on the door handle began to tremble.

A Mercedes-Benz Unimog, a top-of-the-line off-roader, worth not too much less than He Xing’s Lamborghini and, in some ways, even more eye-catching.

This model was tall and roomy, and rumor had it that some people even modified the back into a bedroom, earning it the nickname ‘off-road RV.’

She had already opened the passenger door but hesitated to get in.

The previously angry voice took on a mocking tone, “Are you risking your life to flag down a car? Why are you afraid to get on now?”

Hating to be coerced, Fu Han huffed and took her seat in the passenger side confidently, “Why should I be scared? Take me to Jiangshan Gallery, and I’ll pay you double the taxi fare.”

As she spoke, she sized up the man in the driver’s seat for the first time. Even seated, his tall stature was evident, dressed in black workwear, with shoulder-length curly hair and exaggerated sunglasses that covered much of his face, leaving only his sharp chin and thin lips, which wore a mocking smile, visible.

Ever since she was old enough to remember, Fu Han had disliked men with long hair, stemming from being harassed multiple times by long-haired men outside her school.

She turned her head stiffly, pondering what she should do if the man was unwilling to drive her, or whether she should just get out of the car. Getting into a strange man’s car so rashly was too dangerous.

However, before she could make up her mind, the Mercedes-Benz Unimog was already speeding ahead.

The vehicle transitioned from gas to go without a gradient, and Fu Han, caught off guard, hit her forehead on the dashboard.

Rubbing her forehead in embarrassment, she fumed, certain he had done it on purpose.

Fortunately, ten minutes later, the outline of Jiangshan Gallery came into view. Despite the rough ride, she had arrived smoothly.

The car braked sharply again, but this time Fu Han was prepared, braced herself, and prevented another forehead injury, “I don’t have cash on me. How should I pay you? Is Whatsapp okay?”

The man in the driver’s seat dismissed her coldly, “Trying to add me on Whatsapp? In your dreams! Aren’t you gonna get out now?”

Fu Han had always thought people like He Xing were annoying enough, but the man she encountered today was even worse. He was the epitome of self-righteousness.

She wanted to argue according to her usual temper, but thinking about how she had just brazenly flagged down his car and demanded a ride, she felt like she might be in the wrong.

Still feeling indignant, she got out of the car and said emotionlessly while clutching the door, “I think you might be living in the past. Nowadays, you just have to show a payment code to make a payment; there’s no need to add someone on Whatsapp.”

After saying this, she walked away without looking back.

The man in the driver’s seat paused for a second, chuckled, then drove the car into the parking lot.

…

Come evening, as Fu Han cooked, she recounted her grievances about the events of the day. Nan Qing, who had no stake in the tale, laughed so hard she couldn’t straighten up, “The great beauty is mistaken for seeking attention, and to top it off, you got rejected. I’d love to see what this guy who turned you down looks like.”

“Who?” An angry voice came from the doorway, followed by a tall figure appearing at the kitchen entrance, “Fu Han, who were you trying to pick up?”

Fu Han glared at Nan Qing, “Did you forget to close the door again?”

“It was you who came in last. Clearly, you forgot to lock the door,” Nan Qing retorted, her face full of triumphant smugness.