You're my wife, don't doubt it!

Xiao Yao called Shen Jie again, but this time the call was hung up, and he waited for five minutes without receiving a text message.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted." Yu Luying glanced at him.

"No, it's nothing." Xiao Yao scratched the back of his head. "I was just thinking that you look so beautiful today."

The two walked side by side into the "Helen Road" subway station on Line 4.

"Tell me, what would your mother do if you suddenly didn't come home for two days?" Xiao Yao asked her.

“We will use all resources to search tirelessly,” Yu Luying replied without hesitation.

"She must be going crazy with worry. She won't be able to do anything until she finds you."

"We'll also prepare a sturdy rope..." Yu Luying said.

"Hello, please let me through." The security guard extended an arm, then immediately lowered it.

Yu Luying seemed not to hear, and walked inside with her head down.

The security officer didn't stop her, but just said weakly to the next passenger with a bag, "Hello, please let my bag through."

Xiao Yao quickened his pace to catch up and took out his bus card.

The subway security checks in Shanghai are usually designed to keep honest people out of trouble, but not to pickpockets. Yu Luying always goes through her bag check properly, so what's wrong with her today?

“So,” Yu Luying said again as they were getting off the escalator, “it’s been so many days, I can’t even imagine how Zhou Qi’s parents must feel.”

As suggested by the editor, I'll be trying a two-update update today... There will be another update at 3 PM, please keep reading. (I'll see if the readership improves then... and then adjust the update schedule accordingly.)

Chapter 44 Chance Encounter

2023-07-31

"really."

“We really shouldn’t have dragged this out for so many days,” Yu Luying complained.

"Are you and Zhou Qi on good terms?" Xiao Yao couldn't help but ask.

“No, just ordinary classmates,” Yu Luying replied, “but no matter what, they are classmates and people around us, so we can’t just leave them like this.”

“At first, I thought you would advocate calling the police,” Xiao Yao replied, looking in the direction the train was coming from.

"What should I say when I call the police? Uncle, I found my missing classmate in the mirror at the karaoke bar?"

The subway arrived, and perhaps because it was a weekday, there weren't many people, so Xiao Yao successfully grabbed two seats.

“Speaking of which, you are really kind,” Xiao Yao said, following Ouyang Qianqian’s instructions. “This reminds me that the first reason I fell in love with you was because of your kindness.”

“Yes, I know,” Yu Luying subconsciously brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, “Actually, I’m not that kind.”

"It's indeed a good way to test the waters," Xiao Yao thought. Before, every time he said "I like you," Yu Luying would tremble and seem very disgusted. Now, by focusing his words on "you are very kind," she accepted it calmly.

This allowed Yu Luying to openly discuss their relationship, gradually circumventing her "anti-slut defense"...

Yu Luying suddenly glanced at him.

Xiao Yao's heart tightened. Had she overheard his inner monologue again? He quickly stopped overthinking!

Fortunately, Yu Luying didn't seem to receive the signal this time and continued to focus on Zhou Qi's affairs: "Actually, I know that you have never really wanted to get involved in Zhou Qi's affairs, after all, she hurt you."

"Actually, no," Xiao Yao said frankly. "I'm not really enthusiastic about this, after all, she's not a good friend of mine. But, even though we don't get along, if something were to really happen to her... that's not what I'd want."

“Yes, I believe you,” Yu Luying pursed her lips. “I remember you like knights, right? Helping the weak and fighting the strong, going on adventures, you should be very interested in that… Moreover, judging from the current situation, the person who took my things must have obtained information from Zhou Qi before launching a series of conspiracies. Whatever his real purpose is, we cannot sit idly by.”

“Yes,” Xiao Yao nodded, not understanding the logic behind it, “but more than those things, I care about your safety, and my own. Because I’m not alone anymore…we’re already…”

Xiao Yao wanted to say "we are one," but was afraid of offending the other party. While he was considering the right words, the girl had already taken over the conversation: "Yes, I know."

Then she said, "Thank you."

Atmosphere—this is what Ouyang meant by creating a good atmosphere first. Xiao Yao thought.

Yu Luying tapped her backpack with her fingertip, then brought her mouth close to his ear, her breath tickling Xiao Yao: "I've made thorough preparations for today."

Xiao Yao was startled—you refuse to go through security, could it be that there's something in your bag...?

Just as he was about to speak, Yu Luying suddenly stood up.

?

"Ah, thank you, thank you." The old man nodded repeatedly and sat down in Yu Luying's seat.

"Uh..." Xiao Yao was a little embarrassed; he hadn't paid any attention to his surroundings.

Yu Luying is always like this.

“Come on, take my seat.” Xiao Yao stood up.

"No need, please sit down."

"Sit down." Xiao Yao pressed the girl down with an unquestionable and forceful attitude.

He held the handle with his hand, and when he looked down, he could see the two little deer on the girl's chest.

Although it wasn't large, its shape was full and round, and wrapped in a white shirt, it rose and fell slightly with her breathing, which was quite cute.

Yu Luying raised her face and kicked him in the shin with her toe, making Xiao Yao wince in pain.

After changing stations and exiting the subway, the two walked to Qian Gui KTV. Qian Gui was much quieter in the morning than at night; there were almost no people and only a handful of cars. Therefore, a person peeking out from the crowd stood out conspicuously.

The man was wearing a baseball cap backwards, sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt, and a T-shirt underneath, looking every bit the gangster. Unfortunately, his chubby baby face and short stature betrayed him.

“Xiong…Xiong Ji?” Xiao Yao hesitated as he tried to identify the person who had come.

"Xiao Yao?... Yu Luying?" Little Bear also looked surprised.

"Oh, oh...! Oh!" Then, the little bear exclaimed, "You guys are progressing so fast? Coming to a KTV during the day is indeed a good choice."

"Don't make wild guesses!" Yu Luying rushed forward two steps: "We're not...on...on a date."

"Oh dear." The little bear turned to look at Xiao Yao: "Xiao Yao and I are like family, we won't tell anyone."

"No!" Yu Luying's face flushed red. "I really didn't come here with Xiao Yao... to... a place like this to have fun..."

Xiao Yao felt displeased: Are you still so afraid of others seeing you with me? Is it really necessary?

"Little Bear, what are you doing at the KTV all by yourself in broad daylight?" Xiao Yao chimed in.

“Uh, here’s what happened…” Little Bear’s expression turned serious: “I went out to buy something today and I think I saw Zhou Qi.”

"Where is it?" Yu Luying asked quickly.

"What do you mean by 'seems like'?" Xiao Yao frowned as well.

“She was on North Sichuan Street. From a distance, she looked like someone, but her clothes and appearance were completely different from before. Her hair was styled like that, like a tuft at the back of her head.” Little Bear gestured with his hand on his head as he said, “She was wearing a suit, skirt, and high heels, looking like one of those female executives on TV, but I’m not entirely sure.”

"This doesn't look like it at all. Besides, what female executive wears a bun?" Xiao Yao grinned, remembering the hairstyle Shen Jie wore when they went to the park together.

"That's called a bun. Zhou Qi is really good at styling his hair. Xiao Yao, don't interrupt." Yu Luying tugged at Xiao Yao, then asked Xiao Xiong, "So what are you doing here? Did Zhou Qi come here too?"

"Yeah, I wanted to catch up and see if it was really her, but she walked so fast that I followed her all the way here." Little Bear put his sunglasses on his forehead and said somewhat dejectedly.

This is really weird.

"When I got here, I saw her go into the KTV and she hasn't come out yet. I was just thinking about whether to call the police when you two showed up." Little Bear shrugged, indicating that he had nothing else to say.

"We're here because Xiao Yao said he saw Zhou Qi at a KTV a few days ago, and we wanted to confirm it," Yu Luying said to Xiao Xiong after listening.

"Me too, I think so too. I didn't check at the time to make sure," Xiao Yao quickly added.

"Damn, Xiao Yao, you dressed up so smartly last month, and you came here to spend money? Well, uh..." Xiao Xiong realized that his focus had wandered a bit, so he quickly brought it back: "If Xiao Yao also saw that it was Zhou Qi, then there's no mistake. We can't both be mistaken, right? Let's call the police, shall we?" As he spoke, he reached into his pocket for his phone.

Chapter 45 Money Box

2022-12-22

"No." Yu Luying reached out and pressed down on the teddy bear.

The little bear looked at the two of them, not understanding what was going on.

Xiao Yao originally wanted to send the bear away, but before he could figure out how to bring it up, Yu Luying had already invited the bear to join them.

"More people means more strength. Let's find Zhou Qi and then make further plans," Yu Luying said.

"Uh... okay," the little bear agreed.

The die was cast, and Xiao Yao couldn't find a legitimate reason to send Xiao Xiong away, so he had no choice but to accept the fact that the three of them would be traveling together.

"How do we get in? That guy at the door doesn't look like someone to mess with." Little Bear began to finalize the details of the operation.

“Let’s sneak around first, you on the right, me on the left, and we’ll go around from behind,” Xiao Yao replied seriously. “Then from behind, three, two, one!” Xiao Yao put his hands on his neck and made a “twist” motion.

Little Bear and Yu Luying just stood there, watching him.

“Nonsense, of course we just walk in. They’re open for business, why can’t we go in?” Xiao Yao said.

"Did you two bring anything for self-defense?" Yu Luying suddenly asked.

"For self-defense? No, I don't have any." Xiao Yao was taken aback.

Yu Luying pulled a can from her bag and shook it in her hand: "How can you come to a place like this without something to defend yourself? I brought pepper spray."

Is this what you meant by "preparing for today" on the subway?