Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Friday arrived.

Chen Yan had borrowed a private jet to bring his canary to Hong Kong.

He even went through the trouble of applying to air traffic control for a cross-border flight route. Apparently, he didn’t find it bothersome at all.

Afraid of losing face, I bought Meng An a Patek Philippe watch to help prop up our side.

Chen Yan and I agreed to meet at a rooftop café.

I hadn’t seen him in two months. He looked as aloof and aristocratic as ever, dressed in a crisp suit, waiting for me with an air of careless indifference.

His fingers rested on his coffee cup, slowly tapping the rim.

On his cool, pale wrist was an exquisite watch.

Good. At least it wasn’t more expensive than the one I bought.

Before we went in, Meng An grabbed me. “What if my brother-in-law hits me?”

I soothed him. “It’s fine. I’ll hold him back, and you run.”

He stared at me for a long while, then said mournfully, “Sis, I make a living with my face.”

“I’ll pay you double for lost wages.”

Only then did Meng An obediently follow behind me.

“Chen Yan, where’s your little canary?” I struck first.

Chen Yan looked utterly puzzled. “Why are you so interested in it?”

From the seat beside him, he lifted a bamboo birdcage.

Inside the cage perched a small bird. It tilted its head, looked at me, and pecked around every now and then.

I was completely dumbfounded.

“This is the canary you’re keeping in the old house in Beijing?”

Wasn’t this a little too trust-fund-Beijing-circle of him?

“No, seriously, Crown Prince, you were raising an actual bird?”

It really was snow-white, and its song was lovely too.

“Yes. A Furong Baiyu. Very precious.”

Chen Yan was speaking to me, but his gaze had shifted to Meng An.

Meng An sensed danger. “Is it too late for me to run now?”

Chen Yan suddenly stood up.

My heart leapt into my throat.

But he only pulled me into his arms. “Lin Nan, I missed you.”

With his arm around my waist, he raised his eyes to Meng An. “Nice watch.”

Meng An glanced at me guiltily.

I lifted my head and looked left and right, pretending this had nothing to do with me.

Three people, three different expressions.

One nervous, one panicked, and one completely baffled.

Chen Yan let go of me, his brows tightly furrowed. “Didn’t you say you were bringing me to see a dog? Where’s your dog?”

I froze on the spot and repeated, “Right. Where is my dog?”

Meng An: “?”

Chen Yan took hold of my wrist. “Who is he?”

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I swallowed.

“Uh, well, he’s… he’s the one I mentioned. The person I hired. To walk the dog.”

I was so quick-witted. I looked at Chen Yan and nodded firmly. “Yes. He’s the dog walker I hired.”

“Your family’s dog walker must be very well paid, if he wears an eight-million-yuan watch.”

“You know how it is. The pet industry has huge profit margins these days.”

Chen Yan folded his arms across his chest, looked at Meng An and me, and let out a scoff.

“No, seriously, princess. You came to walk a dog without bringing the dog?”

I looked at Meng An and desperately signaled with my eyes. “Exactly. What’s wrong with you? Where’s the dog?”

Meng An understood.

He slapped his forehead. “Miss, I forgot the dog. I’ll hurry back and get it!”

“Stop right there.”

Chen Yan pointed at the two of us, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

“I’m going to count down from three to one. You two answer me at the same time: what breed is the dog?”

Danger!