Love Assault - Chapter 19

Though Lin Che said they were leaving, he remained uneasy. He pulled Jian Dan’s car to a nearby spot and watched as the police arrived, cordoned off the chaotic scene, and confirmed Chen Mo’s safety before finally driving away.

The heavy rain and snow have closed the highway. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been driving so slowly, Jian Dan said, gripping the steering wheel. She glanced at Lin Che’s bloodstained, soaked clothes and asked, Are you alright?

Lin Che lit a cigarette and exhaled heavily. I’m not going to die. It just hurts.

Jian Dan paused, glancing at the roadside. It’ll take a long time to get back. We need to treat your wound quickly. Delaying it could cause complications.

I know, Lin Che nodded, reaching into the glove compartment with his right hand. Ah, you still have this old habit. He pulled out a small medical kit and gestured toward the side of the road. Pull over. You handle it.

Jian Dan pulled the car to the side, a playful smirk on her face. Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?

Lin Che had already stripped off the left side of his shirt, revealing a bl00d-red bullet wound on his pale shoulder. The surrounding flesh looked gruesome and somewhat frightening. He handed the medical kit to Jian Dan. You love me too much to let me die.

With practiced efficiency, Jian Dan opened the medical kit and slipped on medical gloves, chuckling as she did so. You seem to be in a good mood. What’s up? Did things progress with that policewoman?

Lin Che mumbled into his clothes, I guess you could say that. He then crooked his finger at Jian Dan, signaling her to begin. Jian Dan grinned, her hands moving with practiced ease. Just bear with it, she said before starting. Lin Che bit down on his clothes, sweat instantly beading on his forehead. He let out a muffled groan and shakily turned up the car stereo. Jian Dan laughed. It must be tough without anesthesia. Don’t worry, I’ll try to be as gentle as possible.

Lin Che glared at her, but Jian Dan was too focused to notice. He could only grimace and turn his gaze out the window to distract himself.

Yet, his mind was consumed by sixteen words

The process was long, his shoulder ached terribly, his stomach churned, and his head swam.

When Jian Dan finally finished, Lin Che collapsed weakly against the seat, spitting out the clothes and gasping for air. Damn it, he rasped, I regret not shooting that bastard dead. One shot… one shot wasn’t enough…

Jian Dan quickly removed her gloves and started the car. You need to see a doctor right away. An infected wound will only make things worse. Rest for now. I’ll drive fast. We’re not going back to Dingsheng. We’re heading to Ma Qiang’s place—he has a house here. I’ll call him to find a doctor.

Can we trust him…? Lin Che leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, his voice barely audible. Don’t mess this up…

He’s my contact. You can trust him, Jian Dan replied, her expression hardening as she accelerated. She glanced sideways at Lin Che. Even if he’s unreliable, it doesn’t matter. If he dares breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll make sure he never speaks another word again.

Lin Che chuckled weakly. This isn’t Jian Family territory. Keep a low profile…

Oh? Jian Dan clicked her tongue. I know you’re a law-abiding citizen. But I’m not. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything.

Lin Che vaguely registered her words, his mind drifting back to his earlier conversation with Chen Mo. He remembered asking her what she would do if he accidentally broke the law, and the look on her face. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as exhaustion pulled him into sleep.

It was late at night three days later when Chen Mo finally finished handling all the matters. She sat in her office, massaging her aching temples, staring fixedly at a document on her desk. The lengthy document clearly detailed the entire incident from beginning to end, concluding with Guo Haitao’s signed approval and her own signature.

Yes, she shook her head helplessly. The situation had escalated dramatically, even involving a gunfight. Fortunately, the highway had been closed due to severe rain and snow, preventing any civilian casualties. However, Chen Mo’s unauthorized investigation of the case without police approval constituted a disciplinary violation. She had expected severe consequences, but the higher-ups had instructed her to provide a full account of the incident, complete the mission handover, and then be suspended for a month to reflect on her mistakes at home.

A lenient punishment. Quite lenient, actually. Guo Haitao had visited her earlier that day, patting her shoulder earnestly and saying, In the future, you must report such matters to the organization. After Chen Mo explained why she hadn’t reported it, Guo Haitao frowned, nodded, and assured her he would handle the internal police matters himself. He told her to simply go home and rest.

She gathered her belongings, put on her coat, and turned off the lights. With her hands tucked into her pockets, she slowly walked out of the police station, her mind replaying Guo Haitao’s words and his expression.

It was clear that Guo Haitao had already uncovered some leads. His words, both explicit and implicit, urged her to relax and rest. When she mentioned the possibility of disciplinary violations within the police station, his reaction was surprisingly calm.

But who could have informed him?

She opened the car door, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine to warm it up. Suddenly, those pale eyes and that cynical smile flashed through her mind again.

Lin Che.

The Lin Family had a close relationship with Guo Haitao. If Guo Haitao had received information, it was likely either Lin Che or Lin Zhili, who was currently in the United States, had leaked something. So… the lenient treatment she had received now made sense.

A few days earlier, after the J City police had taken the captured criminals into custody, she had called Lin Che—the first time she had ever called him.

But no one answered.

When she tried again, the phone was switched off.

Based on the frequency of Lin Che’s previous calls and texts, it was highly unlikely she would intentionally ignore her calls or messages. Yet for the past two days, her phone remained switched off.

As the car merged onto the main road, the deserted streets prompted Chen Mo to slow down and reflect on the earlier chaos. Despite the confusion, Lin Che’s forced smile and pale face—so unlike her usual carefree, energetic self—clearly indicated she was injured. Though Lin Che vehemently denied it, the borrowed coat and her noticeably clumsy left hand betrayed her. Chen Mo recalled the moment Lin Che had shielded her, firing at the man on the ground. If Lin Che hadn’t intervened, Chen Mo would likely have been either dead or severely wounded.

The truth was…

Lin Che had saved her, gotten injured, and then fled, pretending nothing had happened!

Chen Mo slammed on the brakes at a red light. Lost in thought, she suddenly realized she wasn’t heading home at all, but driving toward Dingsheng.

A peculiar sensation stirred within her—neither annoyance nor fondness, yet deeply unsettling. This woman, who laughed like a rogue, focused like a scholar, and fought like a madwoman, stirred a complex mix of emotions in Chen Mo, successfully disrupting her thoughts. For a fleeting moment, Chen Mo found herself inexplicably worried that this eccentric second-generation heir might vanish from the city.

This is a truly terrible feeling.

The car stopped in front of Dingsheng Building. Chen Mo leaned back in her seat, staring blankly at the brightly lit entrance, reluctant to move. It was already 1130 PM. The employees had long since left for the day, and even if she went upstairs, she doubted she could gather any information about Lin Che. She knew she should go home first and wait a few days before trying to contact him by phone or text.

Yet she remained motionless.

A gentle tap on the car window finally snapped her out of her reverie. She turned to see Yun Xi standing outside, arms crossed and a knowing smile on his face. She rolled down the window, but before she could speak, Yun Xi spoke first

Captain Chen, parking your car in such a conspicuous spot in the middle of the night? That’s hardly subtle surveillance. Don’t you police usually park further away? Yun Xi finished speaking, then chuckled at Chen Mo’s embarrassed expression, leaning closer to the window to study her with amusement. Just kidding. Are you here looking for Lin Che?

Yun Xi’s strong scent of alcohol wafted over Chen Mo, who leaned back slightly. Yes, she replied. Is he here?

Yun Xi pursed her lips. No, he’s not. You knew that already, didn’t you? She laughed again. Team Leader Chen, you looked so funny just now. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were a ‘waiting-for-her-husband’ rock!

Chen Mo, uninterested in further banter, nodded. In that case, I’ll look for him elsewhere. Thank you. She straightened up and reached for the handbrake, but Yun Xi grabbed her arm.

Hey, Team Leader Chen, since you’re here, why not come upstairs for a bit? I have so much I want to talk to you about.

Chen Mo looked at Yun Xi, puzzled. She had only met her a couple of times during the Fang Youfu case. Yun Xi was capable and ruthless, yet spoke with a casual familiarity. Now that she thought about it, everyone around Lin Che seemed to be like that. But she couldn’t imagine what Yun Xi wanted to discuss with her.

Yun Xi shrugged, a hint of resignation in his voice. Alright, alright. Lin Che asked me to pass on some information to you. Now, will you do me the honor of coming up and sitting with me for a bit?

Chen Mo paused, considering, then looked up at Yun Xi. Is she injured?

Yun Xi nodded. Yeah. He rolled his eyes dismissively. Serves her right. She’s always showing off. It’s time she learned a lesson, so she stops acting like she’s invincible. Hey, Captain Chen, you were there, right? You saw it, didn’t you?

Is she doing okay? Chen Mo frowned slightly. Clearly, Lin Che hadn’t told Yun Xi how she was injured. A sudden pang of guilt struck her. Where is she now? I want to see her.

Yun Xi shook his head. I don’t know where Jian Xiaobai took her. But you know how it is with gunshot wounds—there’s always a recovery process. He chuckled. Though if I told her what you just said, she’d probably heal instantly. He opened the car door and waved Chen Mo inside. Come on, let’s talk upstairs. I was planning to find you in a day or two anyway. Since you came to me, I can save myself the trip.

Chen Mo rolled up the car window and turned off the engine. She followed Yun Xi slowly inside, biting her lip and frowning as she pondered his earlier words. Yun Xi glanced at her. Aiyo… why the long face? Lin Che isn’t dead, it’s not that serious. Relax, relax. With that, he pulled Chen Mo into the elevator and pressed the button for their floor.

Dingsheng Building had sixty-six floors. Yun Xi casually pressed the button for the top floor and smiled at Chen Mo. The top floor is Lin Che and Aunt Lin’s private space. She specifically instructed me to bring you here before Monday.

Chen Mo stared at Yun Xi, confused. Today was Friday, which explained why he had mentioned coming to find her tomorrow or the day after. As they stepped out of the elevator, they faced a wide, brightly lit corridor leading to a lavishly decorated door at the end. Yun Xi entered the passcode and led Chen Mo inside. After closing the door, he moved with the familiarity of someone in their own home, switching on the lights and tossing his bag onto the sofa. Team Leader Chen, he said casually, you’ll be staying here this month.