“The whole karaoke trip was for him anyway… Hey, when did you take such a pretty photo?”
Wang Chunyue caught sight of the photo on the screen.
At her words, Fang Yu and Liu Ying also gathered around.
“Yeah, that makeup style doesn’t really match you?”
“But you look really good with that makeup—more lively and cute!”
The tips of Zeng Keqin’s ears burned. “It’s nothing, just a random shot.”
She glanced at the photo again. Her base makeup was light, with soft pink blush and matte red lips, gentle and bright. But deep down, she felt something was off, yet she couldn’t pinpoint it.
“Alright, alright, we won’t ask.”
Wang Chunyue winked, not teasing further. The others returned to their own beds.
The WeChat icon in the bottom right of the computer screen flickered.
She clicked it open, and her expression instantly cooled.
Jiang Shiyu: [Free?]
She didn’t reply.
After a while, her phone rang. The caller ID showed—
[The Arrogant Redhead]
She pressed silent and turned the phone over.
After a brief pause, a new message popped up on WeChat.
Jiang Shiyu: [I found a new lead. Meet at the library.]
Zeng Keqin pressed her lips together. She finally closed the chat window, shut the laptop, and chose to ignore it.
*
Night fell. The warm lights of J University’s library held a soft glow against the darkness. Occasionally, students walked out, all unable to resist a second glance at the tall figure at the entrance.
Jiang Shiyu stared at his phone, as if trying to bore a hole through it.
For the first time, someone hadn’t replied to his message, didn’t answer his calls, and kept him waiting this long. Just as he was about to call again, a shadow fell before him.
He looked up.
That serene face was right in front of him, expression indifferent. The anxiety in his heart miraculously vanished.
Zeng Keqin hadn’t wanted to come, but the word “lead” had gotten the better of her. She got straight to the point: “What lead?”
Jiang Shiyu tilted his chin toward the convenience store not far away. “Let’s talk over food.”
Zeng Keqin followed his gaze—it was the convenience store where they had taken shelter from the rain.
“Welcome.”
At this hour, the store was nearly empty, and the staff had changed.
Jiang Shiyu quickly scanned the shelves, grabbed a cup of instant noodles and a bottle of water, and walked to the counter.
“I’ll pay for hers too.”
Zeng Keqin stood behind him in line holding a bowl of oden.
The convenience store had hot water, and there were tables and chairs near the window for customers.
Jiang Shiyu tore open the instant noodles while pulling out his phone. “This is the new lead I found. ‘Qi Yu’s social account once bought a camera on a second-hand platform. The shipping address was W City.”
On the screen was a screenshot of the transaction order from a year ago—a Canon DSLR, 80% new, priced at 3,500 yuan.
The delivery address was: J University East Gate Package Station.
Zeng Keqin: “Can we contact the seller?”
Jiang Shiyu lifted the noodle lid and took a big bite—he really seemed hungry. Mumbling indistinctly, he said, “Yes, but I’ve never seen the buyer in person. The whole transaction was online.”
Zeng Keqin poked a piece of radish with her skewer. “The camera was bought last November. The surveillance at the package station only keeps footage for ninety days. Looks like this lead is a dead end.”
Jiang Shiyu looked up. “Got a tissue?”
Zeng Keqin pulled a pack from her bag and handed it over.
The next second.
A warm fingertip lightly brushed the back of her hand.
Jiang Shiyu wiped his mouth, unhurried. “Only half dead. When the buyer picks up a package, they have to show the pickup code. The station’s system doesn’t delete that record.”
Zeng Keqin’s eyes widened in surprise. “You can access the system?”
“No. But the school compiles a logistics report each semester by counting the packages at each station. The data is stored on campus servers.”
“So if we get the pickup records, we can trace the phone number and find out ‘Qi Yu’s real identity.”
“Exactly. But there’s a problem.”
“What problem?”
“During Double Eleven, the package volume at the east gate station alone was over a thousand a day. If I do this alone, I probably won’t finish even by next year.”
So that was his trap.
“Fine. I’ll help you check. When can you get the data?”
“Earliest the day after tomorrow.”
Zeng Keqin stood up, tossed her empty oden cup into the trash, and said, “I’m heading back to the dorm then.”
Jiang Shiyu also stood. As he tidied the noodle cup, his movements slowed. His gaze fell on his index finger, as if he still felt a tingling electric touch there.
He frowned and threw the cup into the trash.
“I’ll walk you back.”
“No need.”
Zeng Keqin had already pushed open the store’s door.
The two walked one behind the other along the campus path, the dim streetlights embedded in the night like scattered stars.
They were almost at the girls’ dorm building.
“About what happened earlier…”
Jiang Shiyu’s voice came from behind, as if he was choosing his words carefully. “I wasn’t targeting you. But the real culprit might be around you. I’m afraid if he gets too close, you’ll be in danger.”
Zeng Keqin stopped walking and turned around.
The moonlight streamed from behind her, outlining a soft silhouette.
“But the person closest to me right now is you.”
Jiang Shiyu’s pupils contracted. He opened his mouth: “I… I’m different.”
Zeng Keqin’s interest was piqued. She stared at him without blinking. “How are you different?”
Those eyes were so bright they were almost hard to look at, but he couldn’t look away.
“I’m not afraid of him.”
Jiang Shiyu turned around, his voice muffled. “I’m leaving.”
His steps were a little off. What was more chaotic than his steps was his heartbeat.
Author’s note: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Squealing like a groundhog!!!!