Chapter 144
Chapter 144
Qiu Ziyu tried every roundabout way he could think of to probe into Wen Miao and Nan Mu’s relationship, but Wen Miao brushed him off every time.
That only made him even more curious. He couldn’t help sneaking glances at Wen Miao and Cheng Jiamin from the corner of his eye.
As Qiu Ziyu led the two of them inside, he tested the waters. “So, between you two… which one of you is closer to Nan Mu?”
Wen Miao’s smile was perfectly composed. “About the same, I guess. Cheng Jiamin is Nan Mu’s classmate.”
Qiu Ziyu’s doubtful gaze shifted between them. When they reached the door and he saw Wen Miao step forward to enter the passcode, he said, “If she’s Nan Mu’s classmate, why are you the one entering the code?”
Wen Miao smiled faintly. “Does it matter who enters it?”
Qiu Ziyu didn’t buy it. After Wen Miao opened the door and moved to close it behind her, he stuck one foot in the way. “Wait a second. Why do you look kind of familiar?”
From behind them, Cheng Jiamin said timidly, “Wen Miao was on the trending searches before. She’s the youngest physics award winner in the country.”
Qiu Ziyu froze in surprise. Then he suddenly remembered the person who had caused such a stir around campus, and his expression turned respectful. “I remember now. The discoverer of that new element… You’re Wen Miao from the Materials Department!”
Bringing Cheng Jiamin along was like bringing a walking résumé announcer. Wen Miao couldn’t help rubbing her forehead. “Yes, I’m Wen Miao from the Materials Department.”
“Well, well. What an honor.” Qiu Ziyu let go of the door and turned to run off. “I’ll pour you some tea.”
…
Nan Mu’s secret lounge was actually very simply furnished.
A desk, a bookcase, a recliner…
On the small table beside the recliner sat a book that had been read halfway through. Clearly, the last time he left, he had left in a hurry.
In the corner stood an easel, covered with a scarf.
Curious, Wen Miao lifted the scarf. But halfway through the motion, her hand suddenly stopped. In disbelief, she rubbed her eyes.
The person in the painting beneath her hand… was her?!
How could that be…
Wen Miao’s heart seemed to skip a beat. The next instant, it began pounding wildly, stirring up a wave of emotion inside her.
“There’s no coffee left. How about something else? A drink? Or tea?”
Qiu Ziyu’s voice suddenly sounded behind her. Wen Miao jumped and instinctively let go. The scarf fell back down, covering the easel again.
Wen Miao turned around and saw Qiu Ziyu standing in the doorway with a teapot in one hand and two bottled drinks in the other. He didn’t seem to have noticed what she’d just done.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “Anything is fine with me.”
Then she turned to Cheng Jiamin. “What about you?”
“I… I’m fine with anything too. Thank you.” As Cheng Jiamin spoke, she quickly stood and went over to help, taking the teapot from Qiu Ziyu.
Qiu Ziyu handed the teapot to Cheng Jiamin, then passed one of the bottled drinks to Wen Miao.
Probably because Wen Miao was standing right beside the easel, he added casually, “Make yourselves at home, but it’s best not to touch that easel.”
Wen Miao paused and asked instinctively, “Why?”
“Nan Mu won’t allow it.” Qiu Ziyu shrugged. “The last time I came in, all I did was take one look at him painting, and he got mad. See? He even went out of his way to cover it with a scarf. He probably thinks his painting is bad and doesn’t want anyone to see it.”
At those words, two patches of red abruptly bloomed across Wen Miao’s cheeks.
She had seen it just now. The painting was clearly excellent. But she could probably guess why Nan Mu didn’t want anyone to see it…
And she suddenly understood why Qiu Ziyu had said earlier that she looked familiar.
===
Nan Mu arrived alone at the address Cheng Jiamin had given him.
This place was rather interesting. The area it was in was not remote at all; in fact, it could even be considered part of the busy downtown district.
Five years ago, this area had been designated as part of the city’s pilot program for comprehensive tourism reform. Since there was already a small hill here, nearly twenty meters tall, the Municipal Tourism Bureau had simply built a park around it.
The hill was small and not particularly high, so no one had lived there before. The only building on it had once belonged to the forest ranger.
Later, after the area was included in the city’s pilot program for comprehensive tourism reform, the woodland was no longer allowed to be logged in order to preserve the park’s appearance. As a result, the forestland that had previously been leased out to private individuals was taken back into collective ownership.
Naturally, that house was left vacant.
At some point afterward, no one knew who had rented it and remodeled it into its current state.
…
To go up the hill, one had to pass through the park entrance.
Before coming, Nan Mu had specifically rented a Maserati and hired a driver.
The driver pulled the car up to the entrance of the house. At a glance, Nan Mu saw three burly men sitting there in tank tops, cracking sunflower seeds and chatting idly.
The three men were startled when they suddenly saw a sports car stop at the entrance, and they sprang up from their chairs.
“Why is someone here today?”
“No idea. Director Wu didn’t say anything…”
The three of them hurriedly kicked the sunflower seed shells off to the side. Before they could go over, they saw a driver wearing white gloves step out of the Maserati.
The driver then went to the rear door, opened it, and held one hand above the doorframe.
“Who is it? That driver doesn’t look familiar. Old Cai, do you know him?”
“No. Did they change drivers?”
“Then look and see who’s getting out of the back.”
“Are you kidding me? It’s not like you don’t know how these people usually look down their noses at us. I don’t even dare lift my head. How would I know who’s who?”
Even so, the two of them still cautiously peered at the man stepping out of the back seat.
The man wore an ink-black turtleneck, black slacks, and a dark camel cashmere coat. Every movement he made carried an overbearing, intimidating presence.
“He doesn’t look familiar. Should we call Director Wu?” one of them asked Old Cai hesitantly.
Old Cai was still trying to figure out who the newcomer was when he happened to meet the man’s cold, heavy gaze. For some reason, despite being a hulking brute himself, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back, an inexplicable coldness rising inside him.
He saw the man lift a hand to adjust the watch on his left wrist, then walk toward him with unhurried composure.
A fawning smile instinctively appeared on Old Cai’s face, but before he could ask anything, the man spoke first. “I heard from Director Wu that the people I want are here?”
The man’s arrogant voice vibrated faintly from deep in his chest. His tone was slow and measured, carrying a powerful sense of control that made Old Cai unconsciously follow his lead.
“The… the people you want?” Old Cai stammered.
“What, they’re not here?” The man let out a scoff.
His voice was slightly hoarse, and his obsidian-black eyes gleamed. He seemed to be smiling, yet not, the low tail of his voice laced with danger. “Is Director Wu trying to fool me?”
At that moment, there was no warmth in the man’s eyes. His cold, oppressive gaze made Old Cai’s scalp go numb.
Almost on reflex, Old Cai replied, “They are, they are! How would he dare fool you… Two people were brought back yesterday, and they’re locked up inside…”
As Old Cai spoke, he ushered him in. The man calmly followed, asking in a mild voice, “A man and a woman?”
“Yes!” Old Cai’s face lit up. Seeing that the man even knew that much, he let go of the last of his doubts. “They’re inside.”