The weather had been cloudy for some time, and at some unnoticeable moment, the sun completely disappeared. Just as Zhou Wang chuckled and leaned back in his deck chair, the soft "drip-drip" of rain began to fall on the Jing-Hang Grand Canal.
Enjoying the sudden cool breeze from the river, Zhou Wang took a sip of cold beer. He watched the city through the veil of rain, its hazy appearance adding a unique charm. With his head resting against the back of the chair, he sighed and said,
"Spring water is clearer than the sky, listen to the rain on a painted boat... No wonder ancient poets loved to write about Jiangnan. I finally get a glimpse of a cultured person’s mindset."
...
After waiting out the rain for a while and being delayed by a certain matter, it was already past 7 p.m. when Zhou Wang and Jiang Qingkui got back into the Rolls-Royce Phantom to head home.
Miao Ying, who had been waiting in the car, didn’t join them for their outing. Instead, she had spent the afternoon listening to audiobooks, which evidently brought her more joy than shopping could.
After the two got into the car, Miao Ying took off her headphones and, looking somewhat puzzled, asked, "Sister Qingkui, are you okay? You look a bit off..."
"I’m fine, let’s go."
Though Jiang Qingkui’s cheeks were flushed, she showed no particular expression. However, if you listened closely, there was a slight tremor in her voice.
Miao Ying didn’t press any further, silently starting the vehicle.
"Isn’t there a soundproof partition? Could you switch it on..."
As the Rolls-Royce began to move, Jiang Qingkui, seemingly unable to endure it, whispered to Zhou Wang.
"Miao Ying’s not an outsider; it’s just us three. There’s no need for that, is there?"
Seeing Zhou Wang speak earnestly, Jiang Qingkui was so frustrated she could almost grit her teeth but felt helpless. All she could do was endure and feign calmness to prevent Miao Ying from noticing anything unusual.
Soon after, Zhou Wang asked Miao Ying to turn on the radio and switch to the news channel.
When the broadcast began, Jiang Qingkui sighed slightly in relief, with a faint breath escaping her lips, as if trying to release pent-up emotions.
However, a mere minute later, due to the car’s bump, Jiang Qingkui unexpectedly let out an "Ah."
"Sister Qingkui, was I driving too fast?"
Miao Ying instinctively hit the brakes, thinking she had startled Jiang Qingkui while overtaking.
"No... no, it’s fine. You’re driving well. It’s... it’s my own issue."
Jiang Qingkui covered her mouth, murmuring her response, then glared fiercely at Zhou Wang. Yet, her gaze was devoid of any menace, instead giving off a watery charm that made Zhou Wang’s heart flutter.
Just as Zhou Wang was about to tease Jiang Qingkui again, something caught his ear. He paused and turned up the radio volume.
"...So far, it’s been seven hours since the jailbreak at Jing City Second Prison. Of the six escaped prisoners, four have been captured, one was shot dead after resisting arrest, and one remains missing. The police in Yunan Province are advising residents..."
Jing City had a prison break?
Zhou Wang was a bit surprised. No wonder it made national news. In this day and age, such an event was indeed sensational, especially a group escape...
He pulled out his phone to check, and sure enough, the news had already claimed the top spots on social media platforms. Many silly netizens were clamoring to team up and capture the fugitives for the reward.
His parents weren’t in Jing City, so even if there were escapees, it didn’t seem like he had much to worry about. So, after listening to the news for a while, Zhou Wang changed the channel.
...
More than half an hour later, the Rolls-Royce pulled into Misty Rain Village No. 9 at Green City Peach Blossom.
Miao Ying got out and opened the car door for the two of them. Upon seeing Jiang Qingkui, whose face was as red as a tomato and who seemed a bit weak in the legs, she wanted to help her, but Zhou Wang stopped her.
"It’s okay, I’ve got it."
Zhou Wang intercepted Miao Ying with a smile. Although Jiang Qingkui didn’t want Zhou Wang to touch her at this moment, she was even more afraid of letting others get close. Unable to walk properly, Jiang Qingkui begrudgingly held on to Zhou Wang, leaning on him as they made their way inside with difficulty.
Luckily, no one else was around the house at that time. Though Jiang Qingkui felt ashamed, she also felt a quiet sense of relief.
With Zhou Wang half embracing Jiang Qingkui, this intimate contact allowed Zhou Wang to feel the explosive figure that Sister Qingkui had, through the thin material of her long dress, for the first time.
Thanks to her workout routine, even a light press of his fingertips could sense the astonishing elasticity.
Jiang Qingkui was powerless to stop Zhou Wang’s frequent minor movements, and she realized for the first time that a large house wasn’t always beneficial. From the entrance to the guest room in the annex, Jiang Qingkui felt as if they had walked a century-long distance...
When they finally reached the guest room and the door closed, Jiang Qingkui pushed Zhou Wang away with all her might and stumbled back, leaning against the hallway wall, gasping for air.
The repressed sounds of her voice came from her throat as she glared at Zhou Wang... even though her face was flushed and her anger was ineffectual.
"Get out!"
"Sister Qingkui, I know you’re anxious, but let’s not rush."
Of course, Zhou Wang didn’t obey. He moved a bit closer, cornering Jiang Qingkui against the wall with his arm, and chuckled,
"I told you, that respectful front with me was all an act, wasn’t it? Now your true nature is showing."
"Work, it’s work... that’s, that’s different!"
Jiang Qingkui struggled to suppress her unusual feelings, responding haltingly.