Eavesdropping

On the April night, sheets of rain lashed against the leaves, and thin mist pressed against the transparent glass.

Ye Mian walked over to the built-in refrigerator, opened the door to take out a bottle of peach-flavored sparkling water, took a small sip, and casually switched off the living room lights.

Only then did she notice that the study door was ajar, emitting a faint glow of light.

Stepping closer and closer, Ye Mian could see through the gap between the door panel and the frame that the man was sitting beneath the bookshelf, speaking on the phone with someone whose identity was unknown.

His profile was slightly lifted, his elbow resting on the armrest, as a wisp of smoke slowly exhaled from his thin lips. His slender fingers tapped rhythmically and methodically on the chair.

His voice was as detached as the cigarette in his hand.

"Mhm. Since he's touched that kind of filth, he won't be returning to the country. Call your people back."

Ye Mian had no idea who Jiang Chen was referring to, but since it was Jiang Chen's private affair, she found it improper to continue eavesdropping.

She had just turned and taken two steps.

The voice from inside sounded once more.

"Have your men return to the country, keep an eye on the construction project in Huacheng, and leave two people watching Zhong Qian to prevent him from running around."

Hearing this name, which had not been spoken aloud for a long time, Ye Mian froze slightly.

Her footsteps came to a halt as she frantically analyzed the information she had just intercepted.

...

Watching Zhong Qian?

Zhong Qian had been released from prison?

...

This was something Ye Mian had anticipated long ago.

That sort of crime could not carry a lengthy prison sentence under the law, especially since she had not suffered any catastrophic physical harm.

Yet judging by his words, it sounded as though Jiang Chen had arranged for people to keep tabs on him all this time?

Had he actually been tracking the exact date of his release from prison?

It took Ye Mian a long time to calm herself down as much as possible.

She turned around soundlessly.

Jiang Chen had already stood up from the chair beneath the eerie, cold lamplight.

Beside him lay a string of Buddhist prayer beads, and the bookshelf held handwritten scriptures copied by Buddhist monks.

Every single item on his person and in his vicinity was a token of Buddhism.

Yet his gaze was so chillingly dark that he bore not the slightest resemblance to a devout believer.

Someone on the other end of the line must have said something.

Jiang Chen slowly closed his eyes, his voice low and deep: "Then let him stay forever—"

As he spoke, the man's fingers involuntarily brushed against the sharp edge of the bookshelf partition, applying a fraction too much pressure. Fresh blood oozed steadily from his fingertip, staining the prayer beads crimson.

His voice cut off abruptly, and the corner of his gaze flickered toward the left.

Acting as though he felt no pain whatsoever, completely indifferent to the blood on his hand, he reached up and adjusted his glasses.

In the thick of the rainy night, the gentlest facial features clashed discordantly with the coldest, most merciless voice.

A few droplets of bright red blood fell onto the floor.

He looked like a deity, yet simultaneously like a king of the underworld.

"Hang up."

...

The overwhelming volume of information left Ye Mian's heart leaping into her throat.

Terrified of being caught eavesdropping, she unconsciously stepped backward.

On tiptoe, she crept stealthily back to her bedroom.

---

Inside the study.

The air was completely stagnant.

The scene seemed frozen in place by an invisible hand.

No one spoke, save for the tireless wind and rain outside battering the damp steps. The cup of hot tea had long since gone cold; the man picked it up and poured its contents into a potted plant.

On the cobblestones outside the courtyard, tender shoots beaten down by the torrential storm littered the ground.

There was a deathly silence.

Jiang Chen's narrow, deep eyes stared out at the rain beyond the window.

Moments later, his gentle and merciful expression closed off.

He recalled the shadow that had flickered and vanished near the door just moments ago.

Had she heard?

Why didn't she come in?

Was she afraid of him?

No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than the blood-stained prayer bracelet in his hand suddenly snapped.

The sound of the beads scattering and rolling across the floor was crisp and lingering.

For the very first time, a trace of faint helplessness appeared between his brows.

---

Ye Mian, having retreated to her room, was in no mood to admire the rain.

She stood frozen beside the bed.

Her mind was entirely occupied by Jiang Chen's unfinished sentence.

*Then let him stay forever—?*

Connecting the context, a hypothesis flashed through her mind.

*—Then let him never be able to run away.*

Ye Mian started, somewhat frightened by her own deduction.

Yet she vaguely felt that she had uncovered something terrifying.

Jiang Chen had gone to such great lengths to have people watch Zhong Qian.

If she guessed correctly, was it because of her?

And considering what Zhong Qian had done before...

Could it possibly mean...

That Jiang Chen had killed someone back then for her sake?

...

After a long while.

Ye Mian bit down on her lip until she left a faint, bloody imprint.

The idea was utterly absurd.

Yet it also left a trail of traceable clues.

This immense sense of disbelief drove her to constantly search for reasons to overturn the theory.

For instance, that Jiang Chen and Zhong Qian had a prior enmity.

Or that Zhong Qian had discovered one of Jiang Chen's secrets.

No matter how she guessed, however, her initial thought continued to linger stubbornly in her mind.

Ye Mian felt as though she were on the verge of tears.

She had no idea what was wrong with her, but she simply dared not admit that Jiang Chen had done it for her.

Because if that were truly the case...

Jiang Chen...

Would be far too pitiful.

She was certain of one thing: in her past life, she had definitely never loved Jiang Chen.

Even in her dreams, when she begged Jiang Chen to hypnotize her, she used the most distant and terrified tone of voice.

It was only in this lifetime, knowing Jiang Chen's ultimate fate, that she had intentionally or unintentionally approached him.

And only then had she fallen in love with him.

Ye Mian took a deep breath.

She had no idea how to obtain the answer she sought.

...

The heavy rain concealed all the lights in the city.

That night, Ye Mian hardly slept a wink.

When she woke up the next morning, she discovered that she had been crying again.

Wiping away the tear tracks from her cheeks, she panicked, wondering if she might have developed some bizarre ocular condition.

Retrieving her phone from beneath her pillow, Ye Mian opened her browser and searched.

[What does it mean when you wake up and find you were crying in your sleep?]

The answer below:

Doctor: Li Ping

Case Analysis:

Hello, based on the symptoms you described, crying while waking up from a dream may be caused by dreaming of something sad or grieving. It is recommended that you maintain a reasonable diet, drink plenty of water, eat more vegetables and fruits, appropriately supplement nutrition, keep warm, balance work and rest with a punctual schedule, take a walk or listen to music to relax your mood before sleeping, and perhaps drink a cup of warm milk to aid digestion.

The answer was completely irrelevant.

Ye Mian paid it no further mind.

Checking the time, she saw it was only seven o'clock in the morning.

Stepping out of her room, she found the entire villa completely empty.

Assuming Jiang Chen had already left for work, she passed by the courtyard and caught sight of the black sedan parked right outside the front gates.

This meant... he hadn't left yet!

Ye Mian's eyes lit up, and without even bothering to change her shoes, she rushed outside.

The morning sun was just beginning to rise at this hour.

The previous night's torrential rain had indeed left its mark on the city; there were several shallow puddles on the streets, and a large portion of the spring leaf buds that had struggled to grow were beaten down onto the mud.

The air was fresher than the day before.

Almost the moment Ye Mian appeared, Jiang Chen noticed her.

His slender fingers pressed the button to roll down the car window.

Looking aloof yet serene, he spoke as if nothing were out of the ordinary: "Good morning, little Ye Mian."

His profound gaze landed on the young woman's face, attempting to detect any micro-expressions.

Ye Mian's early-morning lethargy was shattered by the dazzling glare of the sun, and she asked softly, "Morning. It's so early—where are you going?"

Jiang Chen replied, "To the company."

Ye Mian tilted her head: "Where is your company?"

Jiang Chen named an address.

Ye Mian had never heard of it, but she knew it was located within the commercial district.

Seeing her look as though she half-understood, the corners of Jiang Chen's lips curled into a faint smile: "Care to come and take a look?"

Yes!

Ye Mian desperately wanted to agree right then and there, but she simply couldn't; she had classes today, and that particular professor was exceptionally strict—the kind who took attendance by calling names and taking photos.