Hidden Assassin 244

The wind howled, cars weaved through the streets, and pedestrians on both sides of the road huddled in their coats. The snow was so dense that figures across the street were blurred and almost indistinguishable. She stood there for a long time, but the figure she expected did not appear.

“Gu Jia Ming, just don’t let me find you…” she muttered through gritted teeth, a hint of grievance in her voice. She reached out to smooth her slightly disheveled hair, then strode towards a certain direction.

If he was willing to kill that man for her, then he would definitely be by her side… I just want to see you, I won’t say anything, I won’t pester you, just to confirm that you’re here. You’re being so unreasonable… she thought to herself, her eyes scanning the surroundings. You want to follow me but also hide, I don’t believe I can’t find you!

Just a glance, a single glance would be enough. Then, I could go back to the hospital willingly and never come out to shop again…

*********************************************

Across the street, a figure in a yellowish-grey down jacket emerged from a store on the street, carrying a bag. They walked in the same direction as Ya Han. When they passed a car parked on the side of the road, they tapped on the window.

It took a while before someone inside opened the window. There were four people in the car, three men and a woman, their faces filled with surprise. “Um, do you need anything?” the man wearing glasses in the front passenger seat finally spoke.

“Suyan Jie asked me to bring this to you. Be careful, it’s still hot.” He handed them the bag of milk tea and smiled. “She said thanks and to not get too tired.”

His demeanor was calm and composed. Qiao Guorui, sitting in the front, took the bag with a complex expression. When Jia Ming nodded and turned to leave, he called out, “Jia Ming Xiao Di.”

“Hm?”

“Can you meet your Suyan Jie?”

“Uh…” Jia Ming hesitated for a moment and shook his head. “Suyan Jie said it’s not yet time for everyone to be introduced.”

“Oh.” Qiao Guorui nodded with a slight regret. “Well, if you need anything, just let us know.”

The car window was closed, and the figure disappeared into the snow. Qiao Guorui opened the bag. “Come on, one for each of you. Wow, it’s so hot… There’s also a box of egg tarts. This is probably the first time anyone in Yan Huang Jue Xing has gotten something from Jian Suyan. Don’t be shy.”

“Should we follow Zhang Yahán?”

“No, we don’t need to.” Qiao Guorui took a bite of the egg tart. “Gu Jia Ming is following behind, which basically means that Jian Suyan will also appear anytime. Zhang Laoshi will be fine. Just eat. However, I think Zhang Laoshi will probably come back to find her…”

“Mantou said Zhang Yahán is looking for Jian Suyan, and it seems like Jian Suyan refuses to see her. Why?”

“To maintain her mystique and deterrence. Didn’t you see that Gu Jia Ming wouldn’t show himself? They’re both in the shadows now. If one of them joins forces with Zhang Yahán, they only need to watch out for the other person in the shadows to make a move. With two people in the dark, there are more variables. I just didn’t expect this Jia Ming Xiao Di to have received professional training. Isn’t this a testament to the saying, ‘behind a great leader, there are no weak soldiers?’”

“More like behind a strong wife, there’s no weak husband?” Fang Guolin, who was driving, laughed. “Didn’t they say that Jian Suyan is Gu Jia Ming’s adopted daughter-in-law?”

“You believe that?” The other three men laughed at the same time. One of them in the back said, “Why are Gu Jia Ming and Jian Suyan not even willing to meet Zhang Yahán? Even if they don’t stay together, there’s no reason to avoid seeing each other. They’re such good friends.”

Jian Suyan’s first entry into the Yan Huang Jue Xing files was with Zhang Yahán, as her friend during her time abroad. Because of their relationship, no one had any suspicions for now. Qiao Guorui shook his head. “I don’t know. Are they having a fight?”

“Could they be… you know…” Yu Guoqing in the back had a strange look on his face. “Two women fighting to the point where one is crying and begging to meet, while the other refuses to come out no matter what… No, think about it, why doesn’t she just follow Zhang Yahán herself? Why would she have Gu Jia Ming follow her instead?”

*Bang*! Fang Guolin smashed a tin foil egg tart on Yu Guoqing’s head. “Impossible. Your mind is too dirty. Jian Suyan… how could Jian Suyan be that kind of person?”

Fang Guolin, who had always admired Jian Suyan, spoke. But the next moment, the group’s undisputed strategist, Qiao Guorui, nodded. “Ah, Guolin, you can’t ignore a clue right in front of you. This is just making reasonable deductions, okay? Guolin, have you ever thought that your admiration for Jian Suyan might involve… those emotions? You hit me! As the ancient saying goes, ‘Lilies are beautiful too.’ What did Xi Murong’s poem say? When spring comes again, the lilies forgotten in the wild will still bloom in the same valley. Hey, don’t hit me! Haha… ”

“I think you’re both just twisting things!” Fang Guolin looked displeased. “Lilies, lilies! Why don’t you say that Zhang Yahán is crying and begging to be with Gu Jia Ming?”

“That doesn’t make sense. Our deduction makes sense.” Yu Guoqing said with a smile. “Look, Zhang Yahán and Jian Suyan are lovers, that’s why Zhang Yahán treats Gu Jia Ming like her own brother. Occasionally, when Jian Suyan is away… Don’t the investigation files say she disappears often? They communicate through Gu Jia Ming. See, it all makes sense.”

“But it makes even more sense if she likes Gu Jia Ming!” Fang Guolin argued.

“I don’t think so…”

“I’d rather believe that two women are lovers. At least they’re mature women…”

“Yeah, I think it must be them, two lesbians. Gu Jia Ming is only sixteen now. How could they possibly be in love to the point of being heartbroken and crying in public? I heard that the love between lesbians is the strongest.” Qiao Guorui stroked his chin. “Guoqing, you go write a report on this possibility and submit it.”

“No, Boss…”

The car was filled with laughter. Fang Guolin muttered, “I think Gu Jia Ming is pretty good too.” Seeing her three companions looking at her like she was a monster, she turned her head and decided to ignore these three self-centered pigs. She leaned on the steering wheel for a moment, and then, on the other side of the road, Ya Han’s slightly lost figure appeared again in the snow. The four people in the car watched listlessly.

She walked and stopped, her gaze sometimes lingering, sometimes scanning back and forth. From afar, she looked like an abandoned cat, helpless and lost. She had been going back and forth for over ten minutes. It was clear that she had not found the person she was looking for. Even through the heavy snow, the four people in the car could see the disappointment and sadness on her face. Soon, she turned and walked towards another direction. The three males in the car nodded at each other. “They’re lovers.”

In the midst of the crowd, Jia Ming’s figure trailed behind, not too far away. He chose his position cleverly, able to see Ya Han clearly. But whenever she turned around, he would quickly disappear into the crowd. This was mainly due to the fact that even in the middle of a blizzard, the streets of Manhattan were still crowded.

She walked through the street and turned into a smaller alleyway. Before going too far, Ya Han stopped abruptly and turned her head back. Jia Ming quickly pressed himself against a recessed doorway. Soon, she finally turned back, disappointed, and then crouched down, holding her knees.

She was alone, crouched on the snow-covered street of Manhattan.

About a minute later, a car pulled up beside her. Ya Han’s stepmother got out, standing by the car door and holding her purse. Ya Han stood up, and the two looked at each other for a moment before the stepmother spoke. “Didn’t you find him?”

“I’m sorry, maybe I… saw wrong…”

“Forget about him.” The stepmother smiled and reached out her hand. “Let’s go home.”

“Mm.”

A moment later, the car drove off into the distance, disappearing into the snow. Jia Ming shook his head and gave a wry smile. It was unclear whether he was smiling at himself or at someone else. As he was rounding the corner of the alley, he froze suddenly.

From the opposite direction, a woman with fiery red hair, Jian, in a black leather jacket, led a group of people towards him. Due to Joseph’s appearance, she was now in a very bad mood, and it was obvious… she had recognized Jia Ming…

They were only three or four meters away from each other. The redhead suddenly stopped, and everyone behind her stopped in confusion. She met Jia Ming’s gaze, her eyes narrowed. She ran her fingers through her fiery red hair and laughed. “Alone?”

Jia Ming shrugged. “Just shopping.”

“Get… him… for me.” The redhead pointed at Jia Ming. “I want him dead!”

Jia Ming turned and ran.

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