Lin Xiaoxiao’s lips curled slightly, and she suddenly felt an inexplicable fondness for Lei Ziyi.
Just then, there was a knocking at the door.
"Who could it be at this hour?"
Lei Ziyi shook his head. "I don’t know."
He didn’t have many friends in Huang City, and even if he had a few close members within the organization, they mostly interacted over the internet or occasionally chatted on the phone.
Just like he did with Du Jiahao.
Moreover, he had only given the password to this small apartment to Lin Xiaoxiao.
"Could it be Brother Hao?"
As the words were uttered, Lin Xiaoxiao hurriedly stood up to open the door, and sure enough, it was Du Jiahao.
The man was clad in a black suit, his brows deeply furrowed.
After shaking off Bai Long and the others, he had run all the way, driving for five hours. By now, he was beyond hungry.
Which is why he was carrying two pounds of soy sauce beef.
When Du Jiahao saw Lin Xiaoxiao, he paused slightly, then asked, "Is Little Lei Zi here?"
Hearing this, Lin Xiaoxiao was startled, thinking to herself, so you are actually that familiar with each other after all—turns out the rumors about members not interacting are false.
"He’s here, come in."
Lei Ziyi, upon hearing it was truly Du Jiahao, immediately showed an indescribable expression on his face, thinking that tonight was meant to be just for him and Lin Xiaoxiao.
However, he quickly adjusted his mindset because after all, Du Jiahao was the only friend he could really talk to.
"Brother Hao, congratulations on your successful escape!"
"All these dishes! And liquor?" Du Jiahao glanced at the small dining table, handing over the two pounds of soy sauce beef to Lei Ziyi with a shocked look.
"That’s great, another dish to add to the meal!"
"Brother Hao, come, please sit down." Lin Xiaoxiao quickly invited, and brought out a new set of bowl and chopsticks.
The three of them then took their seats in succession.
"I’ll have a drink too."
Lin Xiaoxiao said with surprise, "A clear one?"
As the words were spoken, Lin Xiaoxiao immediately filled up a cup for Du Jiahao, even though she was still somewhat puzzled.
The rumor about him being a teetotaler was also false?
Meanwhile, Du Jiahao was full of joy and blessings, and suddenly he remembered the shopping trip the two had snuck off to take a few days ago.
So this guy was in such a hurry to buy new clothes because of the secret date planned for today.
Ah, it seems I’ve come at a bad time!
But... perhaps, I can give him a hand.
Seeing the skeptical look on Du Jiahao’s face, Lei Ziyi quickly raised his glass and said with a smile, "Come on, let’s drink to Brother Hao’s successful getaway."
And so, the three of them drank and chatted.
Who would have known, after a few drinks, the usually reticent Du Jiahao started to become chatty.
He looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and raised an eyebrow, saying, "You know... our Little Lei Zi... how long he’s admired you?"
Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head. "I don’t know!"
Seeing the girl unmoved, Du Jiahao immediately added with a smile, "Since the day you joined the organization, he’s been paying attention to you, asking everyone what your name was. But no one knew you, so Little Lei Zi gave you a code name... calling you ’that someone,’ haha."
Lin Xiaoxiao appeared somewhat surprised.
She had never expected that Lei Ziyi had started paying attention to her back then.
However, Du Jiahao’s words made Lei Ziyi feel quite embarrassed. After drinking a cup of the clear liquor, he said in a low voice, "Brother Hao, it’s not that exaggerated, let’s just eat, hurry up and eat."
"Little Lei Zi, don’t be embarrassed, everyone remembers it, no one has forgotten."
Lei Ziyi glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao, then quickly lowered his head, his hesitating demeanor like that of a shy, newlywed bride, embarrassingly adorable.
Seeing this, Du Jiahao burst into laughter.
"Alright, no time like the present," he crowed, "Let’s do it now, go on and confess. I can be a witness for you guys, how great is that, haha."
In fact, Lei Ziyi had seen such intimate scenes online many times and had even secretly rehearsed them a few times.
But now, with the person he admired right before him, his mind went blank, and he was a bundle of nerves.
"Hurry up now, come on, be quick about it!" Du Jiahao urged again.
Then, Lei Ziyi cleared his throat.
"That someone, oh, no, Xiao Xiao, I like you. I’ve liked you since the first time I saw you. I know I’m not good enough for you, may not be able to give you that kind of... stable life others can, but I’ll do my best, I won’t let you... it’s just, I’ll make it as good as possible... I hope you’ll give me a chance."
After he spoke, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a flood of emotion.
She knew Lei Ziyi was a good man, but unfortunately, they were not on the same path and could not plan together.
Therefore, after giving it some thought, she responded with difficulty, "W, thank you for your affection, you’re a good person, but I... I’m sorry."
Lei Ziyi nodded, showing understanding. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel※fire.net
He knew that love couldn’t be forced; as long as Lin Xiaoxiao didn’t dislike him, there was still a chance for redemption.
Sensing the awkwardness in the air, Du Jiahao quickly tried to smooth things over, "Let’s eat before the food gets cold."
However, he was internally puzzled.
She doesn’t like the guy but still cooks for him, even making dishes? And they drink together, and it’s spirits?
He really didn’t understand the way a girl’s mind worked and suddenly thought of Tang Xiaowan, the girl who called him "big brother" but took the chance to run away.
Hmph, you little brat!
Just let me catch you, daring to fool me!
But what he seemed to forget was Tang Xiaowan had jumped from the third floor of 66 Chunlei Street with a weapon pointed at her, forced by circumstance, and she was the hostage who was supposed to fetch him two billion yuan in ransom from Li Zishen.
Why wouldn’t she escape when she had the chance?
Soon after, the three of them continued drinking and chatting, and the atmosphere gradually eased.
Even though Lei Ziyi hadn’t received Lin Xiaoxiao’s answer, he felt sweetness in his heart because at least he had bravely expressed his feelings.
"What made you join the organization in the first place?" Du Jiahao suddenly asked.
He sure knew how to put his foot in it!
If Lin Xiaoxiao had a knife in her hand right then, it would likely have flown straight at him.
"Because it’s profitable and the money comes quick!"
This response stunned Lei Ziyi.
Du Jiahao looked even more skeptical and immediately pressed, "Is it really that simple? Isn’t there something else?"
"You’re not in it for the money?"
Du Jiahao fell silent for a moment before nodding, "Oh, that’s true, but this line of work is pretty dangerous, haven’t you thought about... maybe..."
"I haven’t thought about it. I live one day at a time; in the end, we all die."
Lei Ziyi sighed, his concern evident. "Have you thought about leaving? You can’t go on forever, you know. The boss is pretty reasonable."
Suddenly, he felt a pang of empathy, sensing that she wasn’t telling the complete truth, as if hiding something.
Could it be for revenge?
Without delay, Lin Xiaoxiao picked up her glass, downed her drink, then smiled and answered, "I really don’t know. Maybe when I’ve made enough money... I’ll leave. Who knows, let’s just go with the flow."
"How much money? What’s your goal?"
"Then I’d have to do some calculations."
The three of them continued drinking and talking, the atmosphere growing warmer and their conversation flowing freely.
However, what Du Jiahao and Lei Ziyi didn’t know was that somewhere, a pair of penetrating eyes were watching them through the internet.