These words came out of her mouth almost without thinking, startling even Zhou Luming himself.
Xu Yan frowned. "I let you stay at my house because your Zhou family has been supporting me for a long time. In addition to the generous reward, this commission is also a way for me to repay this favor. That's all. Please don't flatter yourself. Instead of wasting your time, you should think about how to protect yourself."
Zhou Luming was doused with cold water, and the fire that had just risen was ruthlessly extinguished in an instant.
Xu Yan continued walking upstairs back to the study and had a quiet moment, but then heard Zhou Luming's voice behind her shouting, "Xu Yan, I don't care what you think, I've decided on you! I don't need anyone to protect me, I can protect myself, I'm not a hothouse flower that needs to be protected all the time."
Xu Yan stumbled and almost fell down the stairs. But she managed to grab the railing in time, paused for a moment, and continued walking up the stairs back to her study. After closing the door, Xu Yan looked at the doorknob, recalling Zhou Luming's "declaration" just now, shaking her head while smiling down at the same time.
She has quite a temper.
Zhou Luming was like a ball of fire, with an unknown source of so much energy and passion, and an unknown source of such confidence that he would definitely melt away the flames.
Xu Yan used to hate fire and passion, but this time she felt warm and cozy, and it didn't seem so bad.
Zhou Luming returned to his room, turned on his laptop, and intended to check the progress of the bounty on Lu Qi's case, but the screen went black, and a contact box specifically for QQ popped up. This startled Zhou Luming.
Xu Yan's house is full of surveillance cameras and tight security networks. With an expert like Wang Anjing in charge, isn't he afraid of being caught and exposed?
Q's cursor flashed, and soon a line of text appeared: "Watch out for Luke."
Chapter 35
===================
"Watch out for Luke."
The four short characters kept flashing on the black screen, and Q seemed to be waiting.
Zhou Luming pondered for a while before slowly replying, "I'm still on Xu Yan's territory. Won't Xu Yan find out if you contact me? Also, what are you trying to tell me by calling me 'Careful Luke' out of the blue? What inside information do you know?"
Q replied, “Although it’s quite difficult, I’ve found a way to bypass Xu Yan’s firewall. You don’t need to worry about our communications being exposed; we’re very safe and discreet. As for Luke, I just learned that he has opened the USB drive he bought. There were no clues or evidence in it, but you have successfully attracted Luke’s attention. He’s trying to arrange a meeting with you; he’s going to make his move on you.”
Zhou Luming raised an eyebrow and said casually, "That depends on whether he has that ability."
Q's cursor blinked for a moment. "Indeed, compared to your excellent emotional skills, his tricks are nothing. But if you are arrogant and underestimate your opponent, you are also likely to stumble."
Zhou Luming curled his lips into a smile, staring at the bright Q on the computer screen. He narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to see through the cold screen to the face of the person hiding behind it. "Okay, so this is what you call caring about me?"
Q: "I am concerned that your arbitrary and arrogant behavior will affect our cooperation."
Zhou Luming smiled, saying with a slight headache, "Compared to Luke, I'm more worried about Xu Yan. Xu Yan is indeed very difficult to win over; she's almost impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Lately, she's given me the illusion that her plan has been exposed because she's always intentionally or unintentionally trying to send me away, even wanting to send me to the Zhou family's old house. Q, I shouldn't have given anything away, so why is she suddenly so wary of me?"
Q replied: "It's probably because you seemed too eager and your interest in her was too obvious. There's still a power relationship between you and her. She's not stupid; she can sense your intentions and won't take your confession seriously."
Zhou Luming shrugged and said helplessly, "Xu Yan doesn't like taking the initiative, it seems I have to try a different approach."
"What new tactic should we use?"
"Keep it a secret."
After a while, Q went offline.
Zhou Luming lay back on the soft bed, hugging his pillow and staring blankly at the ceiling. His mind was filled with images of Xu Yan's every word and action, every slight movement, and every indifferent expression.
In previous missions, she would subconsciously observe the target, ponder the meaning behind his or her every action, understand the target's preferences and style, disguise herself as the type the target liked, get close to the target, and ultimately complete the mission.
Everything was going according to plan, and everything was proceeding smoothly. Occasionally there would be a few minor mishaps, but they were insignificant. When getting close to her targets, when playing hard to get with them, Zhou Luming could always accurately calculate and gauge the appropriate level of intimacy. On the surface, she seemed engrossed, but in reality, she was methodically and clearly analyzing the situation, carrying out the mission according to her own rhythm.
The same was clearly true for Xu Yan. She also devised a plan, figured out Xu Yan's preferences, and then slowly approached her step by step to gain her favor.
However, during certain interactions, Zhou Luming suddenly realized that his heart was beating erratically, and that he was gradually losing his composure and sense of planning.
Her thoughts were a little disorganized and out of control.
The instant the escalator stopped in the mall, her body acted before any precise calculations. She barely had time to think; she chose to protect Xu Yan, and her subsequent move into his home was entirely unplanned.
Zhou Luming closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, the chaotic emotions in her heart had calmed down slightly. Perhaps she had become too immersed in playing the role of Zhou Luming, and thus been affected. Essentially, she needed to detach herself a bit, giving her true self a chance to breathe and rest; otherwise, she might lose her original self.
What was I like before?
Zhou Luming couldn't help but recall the dark basement, the damp bedding, the rats and cockroaches scurrying around, the moldy bread slices, the stinking water, the moldy washbasin, the smelly wooden bucket in the corner, and—the iron chains that bound his hands and feet…
I'm so hungry, so thirsty, and my body is so itchy...
There was no sunshine, no warmth, and I was starving, cold, and damp.
That's not the human world, that's hell.
Hearing the rhythmic knocking at the door, Zhou Luming was abruptly pulled from the dark abyss back to the human world.
She rubbed her eyes, feeling dazed for a moment. The soft blankets and the clean, tidy surroundings told her that she was no longer in hell and had returned to the sunlight.
She will never go to such a cold and gloomy place again, to live a hellish life.
All of this was achieved through her patience, struggle, and perseverance. She vowed to take her life and destiny firmly into her own hands, never to entrust them to anyone again, and never to develop genuine feelings for anyone—if she still had any of those feelings.
By becoming Zhou Luming and successfully passing Xu Yan's test to obtain a billion-dollar inheritance, she will be reborn, never having to do tasks again, and never returning to her previous nightmarish days.
She patted her face, got out of bed, and opened the door with a gentle smile to greet Xu Yan who was standing there.
"You've already missed me?" she teased.
Xu Yan, used to her teasing, said seriously, "There are two things: someone responded to Wang Anjing's bounty notice and agreed to deliver the video after meeting."
She paused for a moment, glancing at Zhou Luming.
Zhou Luming noticed her hesitation and pressed, "There's one more thing I need to guess. Hmm, is it because Luke wanted to meet me and you wanted to use that opportunity to investigate Luke, so you didn't directly refuse to meet him for me?"
Xu Yan nodded. "Luke is hosting a ball and has specially sent over invitations to invite you and me to the banquet."
"A ball?" Zhou Luming raised an eyebrow. "Then I'll pick out a nice dress."
"Are you planning to go?"
"Why not go?" Zhou Luming chuckled, raising his hand to poke Xu Yan's shoulder. "Are you worried that Luke might take advantage of me?"
Xu Yan frowned as she looked at Zhou Luming's finger. It seemed that Zhou Luming always liked to touch her inappropriately, and she did this to everyone.
“I’m afraid you’ll impulsively beat him up,” Xu Yan said.
Zhou Luming smiled confidently, "I'll resist." He paused, then looked at Xu Yan curiously, "Aren't you going to the ball?"
Xu Yan nodded, "I need to go to the meeting to get the video recording. The ball time happens to clash with the agreed meeting time, and the other party doesn't agree to change the time, so I have to go get the video recording, and you go to the ball."
"It's not entirely impossible, but I have a condition. I'll only meet with that guy to investigate and restrain him so he can't interfere with your work if you agree to my conditions."
"What are the conditions?" Xu Yan asked, looking at Zhou Luming.
As if the fishing hook had been cast out with ease, attracting fish to take the bait, the fisherman Zhou Luming, who had unexpectedly succeeded, now had his eyebrows curving up and his eyes gleaming with cunning.
"Give me a kiss." Zhou Luming's eyes gleamed with even more cunning.
She was prepared for Xu Yan to ignore her and say "boring," but Xu Yan didn't leave. Zhou Luming suddenly realized that Xu Yan had suddenly moved closer to her, and she took a half step back guiltily. Her heart was pounding. She had been passionate in love before and had escaped unscathed many times, but this time she seemed uneasy and a little unable to control herself.
Fortunately, Zhou Luming had a strong mental fortitude and suppressed the overwhelming feeling of unfamiliarity, standing firmly in front of Xu Yan without backing down.
Xu Yan didn't actually comply with Zhou Luming's condition to kiss her. Instead, he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, his pale pink lips barely touching her skin, "We're not children anymore. Don't waste time playing these games, Miss Zhou. You don't like me; you just want to mislead me with your feelings so I'll willingly hand over the Zhou family's inheritance to you sooner. I've already seen through your scheme. Please don't waste your time—"
Xu Yan's mouth was suddenly covered, and she stared wide-eyed at Zhou Luming's face, which suddenly loomed large in front of her. She saw that Zhou Luming's eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and that Zhou Luming was pressed close to her, even lightly biting her upper lip.
Before Xu Yan could utter a harsh and cold rejection, Zhou Luming struck first—striking first with his lips, sealing her silence with a kiss. Although Xu Yan's voice was pleasant, her tone was extremely unpleasant. Zhou Luming first cupped Xu Yan's face, then used one hand to reach around the back of her head, forcefully and domineeringly pressing her against himself…
“I know you’re smart, and you’re good at analyzing complex things, but you can’t analyze emotions like that—” Zhou Luming pointed to his head, then pressed his chest, his eyes sparkling as if they were filled with starlight, “but rather you feel them through this place.”
Xu Yan's lips were slightly red from the kiss, and her expression was a little dazed.
This was the second time Xu Yan had been forcibly kissed, and for the second time, he experienced an unprecedented shock.
"Cough—" Xu Yan wiped her lips, confused by her own reaction. She wasn't annoyed or angry; instead, she felt a strange unease. It was as if waves were gently lapping against the sands of her heart, one after another. It was a very unfamiliar feeling, one that couldn't be analyzed rationally.
“You’re wrong. All human emotions, including feelings, are generated and analyzed by the brain, so the emotional center you’re talking about is still here.” Xu Yan’s voice was slightly weak. She quickly glanced at Zhou Luming and guiltily avoided her burning gaze. “Well, since that’s the case, you prepare for the banquet, and I’ll go prepare—to get my things.”
As Xu Yan turned around, he bumped into the wall with a thud.
Zhou Luming couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Xu Yan blushed deeply, lowered her head, and ran upstairs. After closing the door, she leaned against it and touched her lips thoughtfully.
Chapter 36
===================
According to Luke's invitation, Zhou Luming needs to attend the meeting at 7 pm tonight.
Ever since Zhou Luming kissed her last time, Xu Yan has been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding him. Her mind is in turmoil, and until she can sort out her thoughts, she can only temporarily escape.
Xu Yan has always had her own way of handling interpersonal relationships. When she was little, because she was cute, she got along very well with her kindergarten and elementary school classmates. Children don't have many complicated thoughts between them; a sweet candy or a novel toy can bind their friendship tightly.
Xu Yan is the kind of person who is surrounded by admirers, simply because she is cute and well-behaved.
When she entered middle school, Xu Yan gradually noticed that things were quietly changing. Some classmates were pointing fingers at her behind her back and gossiping about her family background. Although she initially tried to build friendships by giving them small gifts, she soon found the situation becoming a bit awkward. Xu Yan gradually realized that she wasn't interested in the topics they liked to discuss, and that they had no enthusiasm for learning.
She didn't fit in with them.
Xu Yan gave up on trying to please them and focused solely on delving into her areas of interest. As a result, she consistently ranked first in exams and secured a full scholarship to a world-renowned university. The price she paid was that she had almost no friends. Later, Xu Yan realized she didn't need so-called friends who shared her values and couldn't work together.
Although she has no "friends," Xu Yan has no shortage of suitors. The earliest can be traced back to a chubby boy from her kindergarten days, and the most recent—
At this moment, what flashed before Xu Yan's eyes was not the school heartthrob who was popular for playing basketball in high school, nor the gentle senior from the debate team in college, but Zhou Luming's face, which seemed to be radiating youthful energy.
Xu Yan let out a breath, calming herself down. Zhou Luming wasn't on any of the monitors in front of her; she figured Zhou was probably in her room changing into her chosen dress, putting on makeup, and wearing nice shoes, waiting for the driver she'd arranged to take her to Luke's ball.
Xu Yan's house was filled with surveillance cameras, both for her safety and to monitor her guest, Zhou Luming. However, she wasn't so perverse as to install cameras in someone's room, nor in a secluded place like the bathroom. While it was her right, she wouldn't do something so outrageous based on her character and morality.
Many men who had just passed by Xu Yan confessed their feelings to her, but when they did, Xu Yan was completely oblivious, even drifting off into unresolved case retrieval problems. She once discussed this with Li Li online, who told her that her lack of interest stemmed from a fundamental lack of attraction.
Xu Yan knew Li Li had a crush on someone, but she didn't care about other people's love lives; that was their private matter. It wasn't until after Li Li's death that Xu Yan realized how difficult his love had been, how unacceptable it was to society. He loved cautiously yet relentlessly, struggling agonizingly, yet ultimately choosing to end his own life—ending his longing.
"What is a heartbeat?" Xu Yan remembered asking Li Li this question once.
Li Li replied to her in a rather mystical way, "You don't understand now, but you will when you experience it. Although you are a genius and very smart, you are still human, and humans can feel their hearts flutter."
Xu Yan didn't take his words to heart, and she had never felt any "heart flutter" all along.
"If the only sign of being moved is a racing heart, then you'll feel it when riding a roller coaster, during an emergency, or when you're sick. How can you tell which kind of being moved is a medical condition and which kind is love?" Xu Yan sincerely expressed his confusion.
Li Li said evasively, "There's a more intuitive criterion: you want to be with the other person. Hearing their name or even their voice makes you genuinely happy, and you might even unconsciously smile like an idiot. You want to know everything about them, their past, and even more so, you want to be a part of their future..."
Xu Yan remained silent, trying hard to think and imagine herself in the shoes of someone, but her mind remained blank. "It's not intuitive enough."