C16 Reply

Jee Cheng'an had been waiting outside the dojo since early morning, but even as night fell, there was no sign of Jiang Nuan. He called around and found out she had left work long ago, so he decided to dial her number.

Ring—

"Hello, hello... This is Jiang Nuan, do you copy? Hic... Do you copy? Hic..." came Jiang Nuan's slurred voice from the other end.

"Where are you?" Jee Cheng'an's eyes were cold. Had this woman gone drinking alone?

"I'm on the moon, carrying out a top-secret mission, over!" Her nonsensical reply made Jee Cheng'an frown.

"Stay right where you are, I'm coming to get you." He listened carefully to the background noise on the call, pinpointed her location, and hung up. With a swift turn of the wheel and a sharp drift, his car sped off into the night.

Lee Xiao, who had just stepped out of the dojo, stood in the car's exhaust, watching it disappear. After pondering for a moment, she pulled out her phone and posted on social media.

"Can anyone explain? Was the guy who dropped Nuan off this morning her new boyfriend? He drives a Maserati, so cool!"

Seeing the flurry of responses, Lee Xiao smirked, brows raised in satisfaction. She opened the profiles of those who insulted her, blocked and deleted them, feeling quite pleased with herself.

Street food stall.

Jiang Nuan was never good with alcohol. She found the beer unsatisfying and asked the owner for a bottle of something stronger. By the time Jee Cheng'an found her, she was so drunk she was holding the bottle upside down.

"Jiang Nuan, Jiang Nuan," Jee Cheng'an said, gently shaking her as she lay there, completely inebriated.

"Mmm..." Jiang Nuan mumbled, lifting her head with a dazed expression. Seeing Jee Cheng'an's face, she broke into a bright smile. "Wow, I must be dreaming. There's such a handsome alien on the moon!"

Jee Cheng'an was speechless, a look of exasperation crossing his face. He couldn't fathom where her imagination was coming from. "Jiang Nuan, do you know who I am?"

"Of course, I do!" Jiang Nuan suddenly became animated, waving her hand enthusiastically. She stood up, striking a pose like a soldier. "You're the comrade sent by the party! For the organization! For the people! For world peace! This is our mission!"

The bustling diner fell silent, seemingly unaccustomed to such a spectacle. Jee Cheng'an rubbed his forehead, regretting his decision to come find her.

"Jiang Nuan, let's go home, okay?" Jee Cheng'an said, taking her hand and supporting her shoulder, trying to lead her out. But Jiang Nuan forcefully swung her arm, slamming her hands on the table, her drunken eyes fixed intently on Jee Cheng'an.

"Jiang Nuan, we—" Jee Cheng'an leaned down patiently to meet Jiang Nuan's eyes, as if trying to reason with someone who's had a bit too much to drink.

But Jiang Nuan, lost in her tipsy haze, didn't hesitate. She cupped his face and kissed him.

"Whoa—" The crowd at the diner, caught up in the spectacle, started to cheer. Jee Cheng'an froze for a moment, planning to push Jiang Nuan away, but she pulled back first. She turned to face everyone, striking a victorious pose.

"I! Jiang Nuan! Have awakened the Sleeping Beauty with a kiss!" She nodded earnestly. "Aren't I amazing?"

Jee Cheng'an stood beside her, his mouth twitching. He couldn't bring himself to look at this drunken spectacle any longer, so he scooped her up and headed straight for his car without a word.

After finally managing to get Jiang Nuan into the back seat, Jee Cheng'an's phone rang at just the right moment.

"Speak!" Jee Cheng'an was already in a foul mood, and his tone was anything but pleasant when he answered.

"Sir... the thing you asked me to look into... it's about Mr. Lianjin..." The butler's voice was cautious on the other end.

"Jee Lianjin?" Jee Cheng'an frowned. "Him again! How is he involved with the mob?" he muttered, starting the car and heading toward Autumn Villa.

Since Mr. Lianjin returned to Drasdale, he's been steadily building his influence. From the information gathered, it seems that Laigua and his crew are the bouncers at the Green Pub, which happens to be one of Mr. Lianjin's establishments.