Love Assault - Chapter 14

Zhao Xiaomao’s home was in Stone Village, J City, about a seven- or eight-hour drive on the highway. Chen Mo set out early, planning to check into a hotel in J City first to avoid alerting anyone to her presence before proceeding with her next move. It was already past one in the afternoon when she exited the highway and turned onto a poorly maintained dirt road. A black SUV suddenly cut her off, forcing her to pull over to the shoulder.

Chen Mo leaned back in her seat, quickly pulled the handbrake, and tilted her head to observe the black Land Rover parked beside her. It was clear they had come for her. She had worried someone might have anticipated her solo mission and tried to stop her, but her habitual composure remained unshaken. Her expression remained calm and collected. If they were here to block her, she’d send them back. If not, her foul mood from the past few days wouldn’t spare them any courtesy. Yet encountering a familiar face in a snowstorm far from home was unexpected. Rather than the poetic meeting an old friend in a foreign land, Chen Mo felt the phrase enemies always cross paths more fitting for the situation. She watched indifferently as Lin Che, dressed in loose jeans and black sneakers, sauntered out of the driver’s seat and approached her window, grinning widely to reveal a row of white teeth. You can’t hit a smiling face, she thought, reluctantly suppressing her simmering irritation and lowering the window halfway.

Lin Che, draped in a camel-colored overcoat, removed his glasses and used the temple to flick a stray strand of hair from his forehead. He winked at Chen Mo and said, Captain Chen, finding you is harder than tracking down a suspect.

Chen Mo glanced at the brand-new Land Rover, its license plate gleaming with the numbers 66888. Could Lin Che be any more ostentatious? she thought with a hint of exasperation.

Lin Che grinned at Chen Mo’s profile and pointed to the car. Just got it yesterday afternoon. What do you say, Captain Chen? Want to take it for a spin?

No need. We’re probably not going the same way, Chen Mo replied, shaking her head. She turned to face forward and began to roll up the window, but Lin Che reached out to stop it, his voice taking on a pleading tone. Chen Mo, why haven’t you replied to my texts or answered my calls?

As the window threatened to trap her hand, Chen Mo quickly stopped rolling it up and lowered it again, looking at Lin Che with confusion. General Manager Lin, I don’t think we have that kind of close relationship. She gestured to Lin Che’s hand still resting on the window. And I certainly don’t think you’re a child.

Lin Che pursed his lips and furrowed his brow slightly, as if pondering her words. Yet there was no anger in his expression, and he didn’t withdraw his hand. Is it because of what I said to you before? Has that given you a bias against me? He blinked, as if already seeing the affirmative answer in Chen Mo’s face, and sighed. Ah, is it just because I’m a woman?

Chen Mo took a deep breath, determined to end this pointless conversation. General Manager Lin, we’re both adults. We should learn not to intrude on each other’s lives. I left my phone with you for emergencies, not for casual chats. Now that the matter is resolved, I hope you’ll resume your own life and refrain from appearing where you shouldn’t. You’re the heiress of a major corporation if anything were to happen to you, a small police officer like me couldn’t bear the responsibility.

Lin Che seemed not to hear Chen Mo’s words, his brow furrowed in thought as he continued, Is it because I put sleeping pills in your soup? I only did it because I was worried about you and wanted you to rest. You’re not that petty, are you?

Chen Mo’s already dwindling patience was nearly exhausted by Lin Che’s leisurely, carefree demeanor. She exhaled coldly, her voice strained, General Manager Lin, I have urgent matters to attend to. Please stop following me. Thank you. Without rolling up the window, she released the handbrake. As the car began to move slowly, Lin Che gripped the window frame, refusing to let go, and walked alongside the vehicle. Hey, hey… Come on, don’t be so cold-hearted! If you don’t like my way of making friends, then… then let’s just be friends first! Don’t push people away like this—you’ll miss out on so much fun…

I don’t need that much fun, Chen Mo said, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Because of Lin Che, she dared not accelerate, the speedometer needle barely registering 10 kilometers per hour. In reality, the needle barely moved at all.

No, no, don’t say that! Life’s too short to waste. Look how beautiful the world is! I’m not a bad person, what are you afraid of? Lin Che hurried alongside the car, leaning sideways to squeeze through the gap between Chen Mo’s vehicle and his own Land Rover. Officer Chen, Captain Chen, Chen Momo, Xiao Momo… Look at how destined we are! ‘Fate brings us together from a thousand miles away.’ Be my friend, okay? he called out, his voice loud enough to carry. He gripped the car window, jogging alongside the slowly moving vehicle as it gradually pulled away, leaving only the massive Land Rover parked by the roadside, blocking the view ahead. Given the already secluded location with few cars, this scene would have been quite a spectacle on a midday street.

Not long after, a car sped away like a distant speck, leaving a solitary figure still walking slowly toward the Land Rover, hands tucked into the pockets of a camel-colored coat. Half-long hair, whipped by the wind, nearly obscured the entire face, while the tightly pursed lips beneath oversized sunglasses betrayed deep displeasure. The car door slammed shut with a thud. A sharp turn, reverse, another turn, and then the accelerator roared, nearly kicking up the gravel and dirt. With a final swerve, the car merged onto the highway, leaving a trail of dust and debris in its wake.

The swirling dust settled in a flurry on the gray Audi parked by the highway entrance. The man inside lit a cigarette, took a drag, and muttered, Turned around… looks like he’s heading back?

Inside the room, the man toyed with an exquisite small knife in his hand. Black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, clean clothes, and a pale complexion gave him a refined, scholarly appearance. The Bluetooth earpiece in his ear blinked intermittently, indicating he was on a call. He raised his hand, smoothing out the wrinkles on his shirt, and frowned slightly, his expression tinged with dissatisfaction. She turned back? It seems we overestimated her after all. He scoffed softly. Follow her. See where she’s going.

After ending the call, a glass of red wine was offered to him. He glanced at the woman before him, a faint smile playing on his lips as he accepted the wine and took a sip. It seems you might have been right. Lin Che’s persistence with that female officer… it really does look like she’s smitten. He clicked his tongue twice. When women pursue women, they’re even more relentless than men. To say something so shameless after being rejected… I’m utterly defeated.

The woman sat beside him, a smug expression creeping across her heavily made-up face. It was Lu Qingqing. She flashed the man a seductive smile. If that’s the case, then good. I was worried her easygoing demeanor was just an act. But it seems my fears were unfounded. She’s nothing but a frivolous second-generation heir. Dingsheng’s stock price is plummeting, yet she doesn’t lift a finger. Lin Zhili deserves her misfortune for raising such a daughter.

The man glanced sideways at Lu Qingqing, reaching out to stroke a strand of her hair. Qingqing, you two were quite close. I’m particularly curious about one thing… her bedroom skills…

Lu Qingqing cut him off, rising to sit on his lap. She caressed his forehead, her lips brushing his ear. What nonsense are you spouting? We only held hands, hugged, and kissed. Nothing more.

The man turned his head, pressing a kiss to her lips before exhaling deeply. Is everything in place?

Lu Qingqing giggled. Don’t you trust me to handle things? Next week, Dingsheng will definitely be hit with another drug scandal.

The Yunnan police are sending officers here. I’m worried they’ll keep too close an eye on us and won’t be so easily distracted, the man said, shaking his head with hesitation. I have a feeling Lin Che isn’t as stupid as he looks.

Even if they watch us closely, they have no evidence. Once we successfully divert their attention, we can move the goods quickly. By then, who will be able to trace them back to us? Lu Qingqing’s expression was far more relaxed than the man’s. Her slender fingers smoothed the deep furrow between his brows. Stop frowning. You look like a grumpy old man.

The man chuckled, lifting Lu Qingqing into his arms and rising abruptly to his feet. An old man? Does an old man have this much strength? He carried her toward the bedroom as he spoke. Lu Qingqing wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered against his skin, How would we know if you’re strong or not unless we try?

The man laughed heartily, kicking open the bedroom door. Then let’s find out.

The car was climbing a steep slope. Due to the infrequent traffic, the snow on the road had hardened into a slick, icy surface during the recent cold snap. Chen Mo gripped the steering wheel firmly, inching forward at a snail’s pace of just twenty miles per hour. As they progressed, the road narrowed and became increasingly remote. To make matters worse, the afternoon sky had darkened ominously, thick, dark clouds looming overhead, threatening a heavy snowfall or torrential rain.

Her expression remained focused as she intently watched the road ahead. Fortunately, the navigation system indicated that their destination was just a short distance away. Otherwise, being stranded in such a desolate place would have been far from a pleasant experience.

Just as they turned into the village, she spotted a flat area near the entrance and pulled the car over. A muffled rumble of thunder echoed through the sky, followed by a sudden downpour.

They were now trapped inside the car. Chen Mo glanced at her companion, realizing this was the perfect opportunity to clear the air. She pulled up the handbrake, cranked up the heater, reclined her seat slightly, and leaned back with a sigh. You said you were being followed?