Cold Dependence - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Qi Wenxi was quietly held by a cold hand pressing tightly on the back of her neck.

She stared in shock, watching the strange head-to-head gesture of the other person.

The others in the police station were initially surprised by their intimate actions, but after realizing the barefoot woman seemed mentally unstable, they were no longer shocked. They just assumed she was very dependent on Miss Qi.

Qi Wenxi could feel the curious yet understanding gazes directed at them, but she couldn’t care less.

She even suspected that if the other person applied more force, they could easily snap her fragile neck.

Fortunately, those golden-brown eyes showed no dangerous intent. The next second, the hand released her neck, and the eyes stared straight at her, as if urging her to take the next step with their gaze.

What on earth was this person trying to say?!

Qi Wenxi frowned, quickly touching her neck, then stumbled back a step.

Jing Lian saw that Qi Wenxi still looked clueless. Clearly, her mental waves hadn’t reached this human woman, which was completely unexpected.

She didn’t want to think too much about it. If mental waves didn’t work, calling her “darling” was useless too!

So, she simply grabbed the other’s arm and started walking out.

She couldn’t stand staying in this place for another minute. They dared to give her food like mud blocks!?

It was completely an insult to her identity.

“Hey, you… wait a second, hold on, why are you dragging me!?” Qi Wenxi felt a bit overwhelmed inside. She watched this seemingly unstable woman forcefully pull her outside.

Clearly, the other was the crazy one who needed to stay here.

Jing Lian stopped dragging because she noticed Qi Wenxi’s expression looked a bit pained, reminding her of the time the other fell into the deep sea.

She didn’t like that expression.

If mental waves didn’t work, she could only use words to remind her of her promise.

“You… promised me, hungry, food.”

A hoarse, grating voice, like a broken tape, came from the woman’s throat, making listeners’ spines crawl uncomfortably.

Even though she had an enviably beautiful face, her voice was extremely unsettling.

Jing Lian was now glaring at Qi Wenxi accusingly, blaming this human woman for her inaction.

“Miss Qi, we… we have a lot of other things to deal with here. Your sister said she’s hungry, so take her home. What family issue can’t be resolved that you have to make a scene at the police station for everyone to see?”

Captain Li looked at the black-haired woman beside Qi Wenxi with pity. So, her vocal cords were severely damaged, no wonder she was so quiet.

What a pity, suffering both mentally and physically.

Though he found the sister’s suggestion of eating shark a bit absurd, Captain Li was willing to play peacemaker, persuading this heartless woman who insisted on leaving her sister here.

Besides, they were too busy to take in another mentally troubled patient.

Just then, another group of people came in from outside, dealing with family issues too. With accidents frequent on rainy days, some officers were already out, and the station was short-staffed. Seeing Qi Wenxi say nothing more, Captain Li quickly instructed others to go check with him.

Qi Wenxi looked down at the woman wrapped in her coat, still tightly holding her hand. After a long pause, she knew staying here with her was pointless.

She didn’t even know this black-haired “sister.” No one would believe her talk of seaside adventures, and there was no surveillance to prove her story.

“Fine, I’ll take you to eat shark.”

Yes, she had promised food to coax the other to come here, but that didn’t mean she was someone who broke promises. On the contrary, she sighed inwardly at being forced to meddle.

If she had just left this woman behind at the sea and driven off while the other wasn’t paying attention.

Would all this trouble have been avoided?

Not necessarily. This mysterious girl might have followed her anyway, with her astonishing lung capacity and running speed.

It might even make the news.

Qi Wenxi felt utterly depressed. Even as she was forced to hold the other’s hand and leave the station, she didn’t notice the sudden storm had turned into a gentle drizzle.

Jing Lian saw Qi Wenxi forget the black umbrella on the rack by the door. As they left, she decisively grabbed it.

She was in a great mood, very great.

Because this human woman was finally taking her to enjoy good food, instead of boringly staying here watching dull humans come and go.

Mimicking how Qi Wenxi had held the umbrella for her, she fumbled and opened the handle, shielding Qi Wenxi’s head with the black umbrella.

Qi Wenxi looked up and met the other’s sparkling eyes.

She seemed very happy, her brows and eyes curved, just because she said she’d take her to eat shark liver?

But Qi Wenxi wasn’t happy at all. She didn’t even know what mood to have while taking the other to eat until she parked the car at a seafood restaurant on the way back.

Shengji Seafood Restaurant

It was the closest restaurant she saw while driving. She’d heard of this place; their seafood was decent, being near the fishing port with fresh products. Her colleagues once planned a gathering here, but it fell through because it was too far.

The weather seemed to reflect the black-haired woman’s mood, as the rain stopped.

Through the car window, Qi Wenxi saw Shengji’s entrance with many parked cars and plenty of customers.

She opened the glove compartment, pulling out four hundred yuan she had left in the car. Luckily, there was some cash, or she’d be stuck.

“Get out, I’ll take you to eat shark.”

Qi Wenxi could even hear the loud growling of the woman’s hungry stomach. No wonder everyone at the station thought she, the “sister,” was neglecting her.

Jing Lian walked ahead, Qi Wenxi behind, their hands stuck together like glue, never letting go.

This gave Qi Wenxi a headache.

Until they entered the restaurant.

Jing Lian suddenly let go of Qi Wenxi’s hand, excitedly pressing herself against a crystal tank in the lobby, her golden eyes gleaming with greedy hunger.

The ornamental fish in the tank, sensing an unprecedented darkness, collectively flipped belly-up.

Fortunately, the restaurant was too busy for anyone to notice the oddity at the display area. Qi Wenxi, called to the front desk, chose a window table for two but only asked for one set of utensils.

She wasn’t eating.

“Hello, do you have any shark dishes?” Qi Wenxi stood at the counter, not bothering with the menu, asking the waiter directly.

Honestly, she’d never eaten shark in her life. Though she knew some were edible, the thought made her uneasy.

“Hello, miss, our farmed bamboo shark requires a one-day advance booking, limited daily. How about trying something else? We have freshly caught sand lance and—”

“Ah.”

A waiter carrying a freshly steamed dish passed by, instantly catching Jing Lian’s attention, who had been “kindly” admiring the tank fish.

Her throat made a single sound, her eyes fixed on the tray in the waiter’s hands.

Seeing Jing Lian completely drawn to the food, Qi Wenxi turned to the front desk waiter, “What was that just now?”

“Oh, that’s the steamed grouper ordered by the front table, two pounds, our signature dish.” The waiter quickly flipped the menu to the right page and handed it to Qi Wenxi.

Qi Wenxi saw the exquisite picture and… the dish’s price, 289 per serving.

If this price could get rid of this burden, Qi Wenxi was willing to pay.

“Order one of these, and this one too.” Qi Wenxi pointed at the menu, informing the waiter.

Then she turned back to see the woman still eagerly following the serving waiter, looking like a hungry little cat.

Even she was surprised that watching Jing Lian like that made her lips curve into a smile. She quickly patted her face, turned back, and prepared to pay.

Her hand was grabbed tightly again by a cold hand.

Qi Wenxi turned, looking at this ancestor who was probably making demands again, “What’s wrong?”

Jing Lian seemed to be gathering her thoughts, opening her mouth but not speaking, as if struggling.

“What… what are you trying to say?” Qi Wenxi looked at her hesitation, completely clueless.

“Ah? Um, thank-you-” Jing Lian mumbled, stuttering a few words. She’d just heard these words on the restaurant’s TV, and they seemed fitting now.

This little nutcase was actually thanking her?

Qi Wenxi hadn’t expected this at all.

“Thank-thank-thank-…” Jing Lian held Qi Wenxi’s hand, repeating the word. Though her voice was creepy, her expression was sincere, touching, and even a bit aggrieved.

Qi Wenxi was forced to accept Jing Lian’s verbal and physical gratitude, even enduring “kind” stares from several pairs of eyes ahead.

The older restaurant aunties at the front desk clucked their tongues: Look at this poor kid, so polite, no shoes, eating a meal, saying so many thank-yous. Her sister is just too mean. What a world!