Chapter 267

Chapter 267: 260: Xie Shang is completely eaten up (second update) Chapter 267: 260: Xie Shang is completely eaten up (second update) Due to the blizzard, flights were suspended, so Xie Shang and Wen Changling stayed in Linbei City for three days, two of which they spent in the hospital on an IV drip. On the 17th, they were returning home, but Wen Changling didn’t leave with her colleagues. When asked why, she candidly admitted that a family member had come.

Xie Shang had booked a flight for 10:20 in the morning. It was almost nine o’clock, and Wen Changling had not yet gotten up.

Xie Shang was making a phone call in the hallway outside.

The person on the other end was Ke Shaoqing, an old classmate from Xie Shang’s days as a student abroad, who now worked at the provincial Public Security Bureau: “The medical staff at Anding Hospital all have alibis. There’s no suspicion of homicide.”

Xie Shang had previously suspected that Jiang Rucai wasn’t truly insane, but now there was no evidence to prove it since he was dead.

Ke Shaoqing asked, “Why are you so interested in the case in Linbei?”

“I’m more interested in Jiang Chengxue as a person,” Xie Shang said.

“Him?” Ke Shaoqing had also heard of Jiang Chengxue’s reputation, “I have a classmate in the political and legal system of Linbei City who mentioned him to me; many people think there’s something off about him, but no one can seem to pinpoint what it is.”

“Xie Shang.”

Wen Changling was awake and calling out for Xie Shang.

Xie Shang hung up the phone and went back to the room to see Wen Changling in her pajamas, rummaging through the throw pillows on the couch. He placed the breakfast he had packed from the hotel restaurant on the table.

“What are you looking for?”

Wen Changling got off the couch and started to rummage through the table, not even sparing the takeout boxes: “Where’s my hair tie? I can’t find it anywhere.”

Hair ties are such things that even if you have ten, eight will always seem to go missing.

Xie Shang found a black one under the pillow; Wen Changling had placed it there herself the previous night but had forgotten.

She took the hair tie from Xie Shang and started tying her hair while heading to the bathroom to wash up.

She urged Xie Shang, “You better pack your luggage quickly; we’re going to be late.”

“It’s all packed.”

“What about the car?”

“I called for one.”

Knowing that Wen Changling had a habit of oversleeping, Xie Shang had everything arranged already.

After brushing her teeth, she scooped some water in her hands and was about to splash it on her face.

Xie Shang caught her hand, “This is cold water.” He turned the faucet to the hot water, “No need to rush; we have plenty of time.”

“Oh.”

Wen Changling finished breakfast before they set off.

While waiting in the lounge, Wen Changling received a phone call from an unfamiliar number that wasn’t saved in her contacts.

She stepped away from Xie Shang to take the call outside the lounge.

The caller was Mr. Liu, the former secretary to Jiang Rucai and also the cousin of Jiang Rucai’s wife.

“The forensic autopsy report is out; there are no signs of homicide, and there’s nothing suspicious at the scene or in the surveillance footage.”

Wen Changling asked, “What time did the police confirm the death?”

“Around 5 p.m. on the 13th.”

At 5 p.m. on the 13th, Jiang Chengxue was in a car with Wen Changling.

Why did Jiang Rucai jump off the building? Was it an accident, or was it because she had visited him? Wen Changling couldn’t act as though nothing had happened; she couldn’t help but feel guilty and introspective.

She returned to the lounge, somewhat distracted.

“Changling.”

“Hmm?”

Xie Shang asked, “Who was that?”

“A colleague.”

Xie Shang knew her too well and knew that she wasn’t telling the truth, “Why were you on your own that day?”

“I got off the car to get some air, and then I got lost.”

Wen Changling didn’t want to involve Xie Shang with Jiang Chengxue. Jiang Chengxue was a dangerous person; it didn’t matter to her if she died, but Xie Shang had to live a long and healthy life.

“Besides the access road leading to the resort on Huanshan Road, there are no other detours. How did you get lost?”

Wen Changling scrambled for an excuse, “I have no sense of direction.”

“Dai Qiu and the others didn’t wait for you either.”

Xie Shang was very smart and not easily fooled.

Wen Changling didn’t want to elaborate on the issue, “If I said I got lost, then I got lost, don’t ask anymore.”

“Changling—”

The lounge staff came over to remind, “Sir, madam, the MU3421 flight you’re taking has started boarding, at gate 245.”

Wen Changling walked ahead first.

“Thank you,” Xie Shang said his thanks and then hurried to catch up with Wen Changling.

Gate 245 was just to the left of the lounge, visible as soon as you stepped out. Wen Changling got on the plane, her seat in the second row. She took out her cell phone and placed her bag in the overhead compartment.

Xie Shang took her bag and stowed it properly.

She sat on the inside, fastening her seat belt.

“Are you angry?”

She turned her head to one side, “I am not angry.”

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

She feared Xie Shang would ask, for she had some matters she couldn’t mention, such as Jiang Chengxue and her plans that could hurt the enemy but harm herself even more.

“Don’t be angry,” Xie Shang carefully tugged at her sleeve, “I’m not trying to control you, I’m just really worried about you and don’t trust the people around you.”

“I’m not a child,” Wen Changling turned her head back, her attitude firm, “don’t interfere with my work matters, okay?” She was referring to Jiang Chengxue.

What else could Xie Shang say when the initiative in this relationship had always been in Wen Changling’s hands?

He could only nod.

However, how could he really not worry?

“You don’t need to worry so much,” Wen Changling clasped Xie Shang’s hand, extending an olive branch, “you know, I am not easy to bully.”

She sniffled, her nose blocked, unable to breathe easily.

Xie Shang used a handkerchief to wipe her nose and didn’t mind getting infected, leaning in to kiss her face.

Miss Wen was an adventurer, accustomed to a solitary life on a desert island. Xie Shang was always on edge, constantly worried about her, afraid she would get hurt, afraid she would take risks alone. He wanted to be as close to her as possible while fearing he might startle her.

Xie Shang had just tucked in Wen Changling with the blanket when she stood up, trying to press the call button above her, but she couldn’t reach it.

Xie Shang pressed it for her, “What do you need?” he adjusted the blanket over her again.

“Coke.”

The flight attendant came over.

Xie Shang said, “Could I get a Coke, please?”

“Certainly, sir.”

The Coke the flight attendant brought was at room temperature, but because the weather was so cold, even room-temperature beverages felt icy. This time Wen Changling got severely chilled due to a blizzard; her cold was taking a long time to pass, and she had intermittent fever for two days, with inflammation still in her lungs, only slightly improved that day.

Xie Shang warmed the bottom of the cup with a hot towel, “You’re still coughing, this is too cold, wait a while before drinking it.”

“Yeah.”

When the towel got cold, Xie Shang summoned the flight attendant, “Sorry to bother you, could you warm up the towel again for me?”

The flight attendant, noticing the perfectly matched and attractive couple, smiled, “Of course, sir.”

Xie Shang was truly patient, warming up the drink like that before letting Wen Changling have it.

After drinking the Coke, Wen Changling removed her hearing aid and leaned on Xie Shang to catch up on sleep. She kept coughing, and Xie Shang, concerned, asked the flight attendant for a thermometer.

A passenger seated to their right quietly turned off the video recording on their phone, added a blur effect over the faces of the two main subjects in the shot, and posted it to social media.

An anonymous fairy: “[I saw a couple on the plane; the guy upset the girl and kept trying to make it up to her. It was so satisfying to watch. Why are all the beauties around me settling for ugly guys? And those ugly guys are both dreadful and arrogant. I finally got to see a handsome guy, cool and elegant (even though I blurred their faces, I swear he’s really handsome! Super handsome!

And his girlfriend is beautiful too!!) Hahahaha, come on, my male peers, live up to this standard.]”

This post, while ostensibly calling on the male peers to step up, was actually a hint from the anonymous fairy to her friends to stop dating ugly men!

Her friend was truly beautiful, but she got herself an unattractive boyfriend who was not only broke but also slick, and to make matters worse, she was so lovestruck that she paid him money and supplied resources.