Chapter 16

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“Stop the car.”

Qiao Ziman’s voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Cheng Peng’s eyes flashed with a hint of panic as he quickly pulled over to the side of the road. Turning to her, he hurriedly explained, “Qiao, that’s not what I meant. If I was being presumptuous, I apologize. I definitely didn’t mean to imply anything malicious like what Lu Yu and the others were saying about you two. It’s just that… I feel like Boss Chi’s feelings for you are…”

Before he could finish the words “not ordinary,” Qiao Ziman cut him off with a wave of her hand. “That’s not important. You’re a good person, but I’ve said many times that I won’t date anyone from work. It doesn’t matter who they are—it’s not going to happen.”

“And whether I’m straight or not, whether Boss Chi is straight or not, has nothing to do with anyone,” Qiao Ziman continued as she grabbed her bag and opened the car door. “I’ve made myself clear—there’s no chance between us. I hope we can maintain a professional relationship, just like before, but nothing more.”

With that, she got out of the car.

“Qiao, let me give you a ride home.”

“No need, goodbye!” Qiao Ziman walked away without looking back, heading straight toward the nearby subway station.

She took the escalator down to the ticket gate, lining up while rummaging through her bag for her subway card. After searching for a while, she suddenly remembered that a few days ago, she had tossed the card into a drawer along with other rarely used items.

Forced to step out of line, Qiao Ziman headed over to the self-service ticket machine. After fumbling with it for a bit, she finally selected the station closest to her home, scanned her phone to buy the ticket, and gripped the blue subway card as she made her way back upstairs to catch the train.

She followed her usual route, but when she looked up, she realized she had arrived at the wrong platform—going the opposite direction.

Qiao Ziman stood there, dazed. In just half a month, she felt as though she had regressed this much. That woman…

She wondered if she had made it home by now.

Squeezing into the crowded train, Qiao Ziman clutched the handrail with one hand to keep her balance, while with the other, she fumbled for her phone. She opened WeChat and scrolled down, only to be reminded once again that the two of them still hadn’t re-added each other—a contact that symbolized allowing the other back into their personal lives.

“Miss,” a white-haired elderly woman waved her hand in front of Qiao Ziman’s face, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Qiao Ziman snapped back to reality and bent down. “What’s wrong, Grandma?”

The elderly woman, trembling as she gripped the handrail to stand up, said, “Dear, you don’t look well. Why don’t you sit down and rest for a bit?”

Qiao Ziman hesitated. Had she really become so weak that even an elderly lady was offering her a seat?

“Thank you, Grandma, but I’m fine,” she replied, helping the old woman sit back down. Just then, her phone buzzed in her hand.

Her eyes shifted to the screen. A message from Chi Yin, sent from her work number, appeared on the screen:

[I put some cold medicine in your bag. I also ordered chicken soup, side dishes, and yam porridge from Chunsheng Restaurant. It should arrive at your apartment complex around the time you get home. Don’t forget to answer the phone and eat something. Take the medicine and get some rest.]

Qiao Ziman carefully read the message, word by word. Cheng Peng’s unfinished sentence suddenly echoed in her mind.

[I just think that Boss Chi cares about you…]

She silently completed the sentence in her thoughts: cares about you a lot.

But then, she corrected herself. It wasn’t just a lot—it was extremely much.

She kept giving herself convenience, opportunities to learn, and time and again stood up for herself. She even just risked another warning of “Stay out of each other’s business?” to break the boundaries and show concern for herself.

A key question began to surface in Qiao Ziman’s mind. Did that woman really mean it when she said “I hate you”?

Or maybe, “I don’t hate you that much anymore”?

If it no longer holds true, should she take the initiative?

After the subway arrived at the station, Qiao Ziman started walking toward her neighborhood. Because she hadn’t exercised in so long and was suffering from a severe cold, her legs became weak and her steps unsteady after just a short walk. So, she decided to make an exception and hail a cab.

It was rush hour, and after standing by the roadside for over ten minutes without finding an empty taxi, she glanced up at the sky, which hadn’t yet completely darkened, and made a bold decision.

— Take a shortcut.

By cutting through a half-finished building site and then passing through a chaotic urban village, she would reach her street, saving herself half the distance.

Qiao Ziman had taken this route many times during the day to save time. But now it was nighttime, and she felt a bit uneasy. She glanced into the narrow alley leading to the abandoned building. It was dark and deserted, not even a single streetlight in sight. In an instant, her heart started racing, and her feet seemed rooted to the spot.

“Good luck to you, wishing you good luck~”

The sudden ringtone startled Qiao Ziman, making her shudder all over. She took a deep breath to calm herself and glanced at her phone. The screen prominently displayed two words: “Boss Chi.”

Qiao Ziman: “…”

It was the second time today. That woman had broken the boundaries for the second time today. Hesitating for a moment, Qiao Ziman reluctantly pressed the answer button. “Hello, what is it, Boss Chi?”

From the other side, the sound of a car driving could be heard. Chi Yin paused briefly and asked, “Where are you?”

Qiao Ziman kicked a pebble by her feet and, with a stuffy nose, replied in a muffled voice, “Just got off the subway.”

“I’m leaving the office. Wait for me at the subway station; I’ll come pick you up.”

“Pick me up?” Qiao Ziman repeated, then quickly declined, “No need to trouble yourself.” After all, she had already interrupted this person’s “date” twice today—how could she bear to take up more of her private time?

Just as Chi Yin was about to say something, Qiao Ziman’s phone automatically powered off due to a dead battery.

Qiao Ziman: “…”

At this point, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and move forward.

Gritting her teeth, she quickened her pace and plunged into the alley. It was desolate and eerily quiet. The half-finished buildings stood tall in the wind, their windows like dark, gaping holes, as if hiding some unknown terror.

With just one glance, Qiao Ziman’s hair stood on end, and cold sweat began to flow.

Without realizing it, she picked up her pace. Just then, a gust of cold wind swept through, rustling the leaves. Amidst the sound, Qiao Ziman thought she heard footsteps that didn’t belong to her.

!!!

Her sweaty hand clutched her bag tightly as she slowly twisted her stiff neck, glancing back with the corner of her eye.

It was just a cardboard box being blown toward her by the wind.

Qiao Ziman let out a long sigh. Making a fuss over nothing!

She continued striding toward the light ahead.

Perhaps the tension in her heart had been wound too tight, but every little movement had her on edge, even imagining terrifying scenes in her mind. By the time she reached her neighborhood, her clothes were soaked with sweat. Finally, after twisting and turning through several paths, she arrived at her building.

To her horror, she found that the already unreliable stairwell light had completely given out at this critical moment.

Now, she regretted it. If given another chance, she definitely wouldn’t have refused Boss Chi.

After waiting in vain for a neighbor to walk with, Qiao Ziman braced herself, mentally shouting, “Demons and ghosts, go away!” Rolling up her sleeves, she charged into the building.

The stairwell was pitch dark, with only faint light filtering through the windows at each landing. Qiao Ziman felt her way up the stairs, her senses heightened. The sounds of her breathing, echoing footsteps, and pounding heartbeat blended together, making her blood run cold.

Suddenly, the iron gate downstairs creaked open, followed by heavy footsteps approaching rapidly. Her chest tightened as her heart raced. Panicking, she fumbled for her keys and sprinted toward the top floor. The footsteps behind her sped up, and she could hear the heavy breathing of someone closing in.

As she turned the corner, in the dim light, she saw a familiar face—twisted and menacing.

“Lu Yu?” she gasped, coming to a sudden halt. “You followed me?” Qiao Ziman asked.

“Heh,” Lu Yu’s laugh was eerie and sinister. “Weren’t you so tough this afternoon, Qiao Ziman? Why are you scared now?”

Backing up against the wall, Qiao Ziman refused to show weakness. “What exactly do you want?”

“You and that Chi woman ruined my life,” Lu Yu snarled. “Do you know I was just about to turn things around with a bit more money? Now I’ve lost my job, got kicked out of my house, and my girlfriend dumped me, calling me a loser. Those people are after me—they’ll kill me!”

He laughed darkly, standing a few steps below her, his expression murderous. “What do I want?” He suddenly roared, “To destroy you!”

So, he was a gambling addict—how was any of this her fault?

Suddenly, Qiao Ziman snapped. Summoning all her strength, she swung her bag hard at Lu Yu’s head.

Crash!

The contents of her bag—papers, bottles, and containers—spilled down the stairs. Lu Yu stumbled to the ground but quickly scrambled up, pulling a gleaming knife from his waistband. His bloodshot eyes locked on her. “Do you want to die?!”

At that critical moment, a beam of light shone up from the stairwell below. Chi Yin’s tense voice echoed up the stairwell. “Qiao Ziman?”

The sudden sound startled Lu Yu, causing him to flinch. His threatening posture weakened, and he struggled to keep hold of the knife. “Stay there, don’t come any closer,” he stammered. “Don’t push me.”

But Chi Yin gave him no chance to react. In just a few quick steps, she was in front of him, delivering a sharp kick to his stomach, slamming him hard against the wall. Lu Yu’s face turned white as a sheet.

Without hesitation, Chi Yin raised the heavy takeout bag she was holding and smashed it down on him. Boiling hot soup splashed all over Lu Yu, drenching his face and eyes. He let out a pained howl, clutching his head.

Chi Yin seized his hand holding the knife and slammed it against the wall—once, twice, three times. With a sharp clang, the knife fell to the ground, accompanied by the sickening sound of cracking bones. Lu Yu’s screams became even more agonized.

Some brave neighbors peeked through their doors, cracking them open slightly to check on the situation. Chi Yin turned to the dazed Qiao Ziman and firmly said, “Call the police!”

Upon hearing the words “call the police,” Lu Yu scrambled to his feet, desperately shoving Chi Yin aside before stumbling and crawling his way out. Chi Yin rubbed her shoulder, which had hit the wall, then crouched down to gather Qiao Ziman’s scattered belongings. Turning back, she gently asked, “Are you okay?”

Qiao Ziman still looked shaken and unsettled. Chi Yin took Qiao Ziman’s cold hand in hers, softly rubbing her thumb over it to soothe her. “It’s over now. Let’s go home.”

Qiao Ziman slowly came to her senses and repeated, “We…? Home?”