Love Assault - Chapter 33

Yun Xi seemed genuinely angry this time, which Lin Che found utterly amusing. The angrier Yun Xi got, the clearer it became how much she cared about this person. Lin Che nodded with a placating smile, but couldn’t resist teasing, Alright, alright… I’ll do as you say… But if you don’t see her for too long, you might start to miss her…

Before she could finish, Yun Xi lunged forward and clamped a hand over her mouth. Lin Che, say another word and I’ll cut ties with you! I’ll leave with nothing! I don’t care anymore!

Lin Che blinked her innocent, wide eyes and nodded repeatedly. Yun Xi released her and crossed her arms, settling back onto the sofa. Alright, spill it. What urgent matter brought you here personally? Shouldn’t you be with your precious Xiao Momo?

Sigh… Lin Che rubbed her hands together and sat beside Yun Xi, awkwardly opening her mouth. To be honest, last night… we… almost…

Oh… heh, Yun Xi sneered. No wonder. I was right all along. You two, Jian Xiaobai and you, are a pair of devils. One climbs into my bed under the guise of drunkenness, while the other takes advantage of someone else’s drunken state to sleep with a girl.

Lin Che sighed. Sara… I didn’t… I told you, it was just a close call…

A-Fi must have been truly captivating. It’s astonishing how someone who’s been gone for six years can still have such a profound impact on you all. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Sara, A-Fi is dead. Please don’t… Lin Che shook his head. I can’t find Chen Mo. No one’s home, and her phone is off. I’m worried something’s happened to her. Will you help me look for her?

Look for her? Yun Xi raised an eyebrow, studying Lin Che. No. Why should I always clean up your messes? I’m enjoying the drama too much to care. I’m not getting involved. As he spoke, he crossed his legs, folded his arms, and smirked at Lin Che.

Lin Che took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he grinned at Yun Xi. Fine, you don’t have to help. Then I’ll just tell Xiao Bai that you’ve been secretly in love with her for years. I’ll add fuel to the fire and fan the flames to help you two finally be together. Just doing my part for the greater good.

You… dare… Yun Xi gritted his teeth, glaring at Lin Che, but his gaze faltered under the intensity of Lin Che’s stare. He knew Lin Che was capable of anything, willing to do whatever it took.

After a long pause, he could only shake his head weakly and reach for the phone, muttering helplessly, Did I owe you something in my past life or what?

Let’s not talk about past lives right now… Lin Che propped his chin in his hand, looking troubled. Let’s focus on resolving things in this life first…

However…

Resolving things in this life wouldn’t be easy either.

Lin Che, who had barely slept the previous night, leaned his head against his hand, fighting waves of drowsiness until dawn. Yun Xi stared at him, slumped on the sofa, already half-asleep.

Still no news.

Yun Xi kicked Lin Che’s leg. I bet she’s deliberately avoiding us… Why not just let her cool off alone for a few days? Why are you so desperate to find her? Can’t you even spend a day without her?

Lin Che shook her head irritably. No… I just… I just… She struggled to find the right words to explain her current mood, but nothing came.

Couldn’t bear to be apart from Chen Mo for a day? No, their relationship hadn’t reached that point. Though she knew Chen Mo had likely turned off her phone—eighty percent because of their less-than-successful encounter the previous night, and twenty percent because of Lin Che’s boastful claims that morning. Fine, one hundred percent because of me.

Yet logic told Lin Che that someone trying to make Chen Mo suddenly disappear from the city wouldn’t be easy, unless Chen Mo herself wanted it. But Lin Che was stubborn, unable to let go. This was because her proud and somewhat arrogant nature had never faced such repeated setbacks, and no one had ever been able to navigate the clash between emotion and reason with more control than she.

Until Chen Mo. Lin Che felt utterly defeated in their repeated, bloodless exchanges.

Holding her breath, Lin Che was determined to find Chen Mo, even though she knew she was acting childishly. She stubbornly indulged her temper, sulking and betting against herself.

Yun Xi, squinting at Lin Che, had long seen through her petty thoughts. He stood up, sauntered to the bathroom to wash his face, and returned with a cold, wet towel, which he tossed onto Lin Che’s face. The shock of the cold water instantly jolted her out of her daze. She yanked the towel off and snapped, Did you check the airport?

The airport? Yun Xi frowned slightly. You think she went somewhere else? Where would she go?

Lin Che bit her lip, her eyes darting uncertainly. Yunnan…

A flicker of surprise crossed Yun Xi’s face as he stared at Lin Che in disbelief. Yunnan? You think she went to investigate A-Fi’s death?

No… probably not, Lin Che said, wiping her face with the towel again. Just check first. Don’t ask questions yet.

As it turned out, Lin Che had guessed correctly.

Chen Mo had taken the last flight to Kunming.

Lin Che stared at the wall clock, its hands about to strike 300 AM. After a long moment of stunned silence, she actually smiled.

Are you crazy? Yun Xi asked, utterly bewildered. What are you laughing about?

Sara, I think I might actually have a chance, Lin Che said, leaning back on the sofa and stretching comfortably. This day has been exhausting…

What chance? Yun Xi kicked her in the side. Hey, stop being so cryptic! You said earlier she wasn’t investigating A-Fi’s death. So what’s she doing in Yunnan?

Lin Che took a deep breath and sat up straight. She witnessed A-Fi’s death firsthand. The cause of death is clear—no investigation needed. After all these years, finding the person who killed A-Fi would be nearly impossible. Since A-Fi died and the police couldn’t contact her family, she was likely buried in Yunnan. I bet after everything that’s happened these past few days, Chen Mo has finally figured things out. With her personality, she wouldn’t let herself stay on the wrong path for long. Yesterday, she got Xiao Bai drunk and returned her pendant. Today… Lin Che chuckled again. She’s probably going to settle another matter.

Yun Xi stared intently at Lin Che. And what about you? Are you going to look for her?

Lin Che chuckled. She’s avoiding me like the plague. Why would I run headfirst into that? He stood up and walked to the water dispenser to pour himself a drink. I’m not going. She’ll come back on her own once she’s finished.

Oh… Yun Xi drawled, stretching the word out with a seductive hum. Not so restless anymore, huh? Suddenly so relaxed?

Not relaxed at all. Lin Che took a sip of water, finally feeling his breathing ease and his body relax slightly. That’s why I need you to find out where she went to pay respects to A-Fi. I’m going back to sleep. I have work tomorrow.

If you’re not going after her, why bother investigating?

Lin Che, already dressed and with his hand on the doorknob, paused at Yun Xi’s words. He said gravely, I want… to take Xiao Bai to visit A-Fi after she gets back.

Yun Xi leaned back on the sofa, silent. Lin Che continued, If you ever get to be with Xiao Bai, you wouldn’t want her previous relationship to end so abruptly, without closure, would you? At least… she deserves a proper farewell.

Lin Che left, and the sound of a car engine starting drifted in from outside. Yun Xi stared at the tightly closed door, suddenly understanding why Lin Che had said she had a chance.

Lin Che didn’t go home. Instead, she returned to Dingsheng and threw herself onto the large bed where Chen Mo had slept the previous night. She turned off the lights and lay in the darkness, eyes wide open. The pillow and blanket still carried Chen Mo’s scent—a faint, refreshing fragrance. Lin Che smiled, stripped off her clothes, and burrowed into the covers, burying her face in the pillow and inhaling deeply. After a day filled with passion, struggle, disappointment, entanglement, worry, and panic, she finally found a sense of security and peace on this bed, surrounded by the comforting scent. This was the most tranquil moment of her day.

The moment Chen Mo fabricated a lie to return the pendant to Jian Dan and used A-Fi’s dying words to urge her to live well, Lin Che had foreseen that Chen Mo would eventually visit A-Fi’s grave. Even if Chen Mo hadn’t gone, Lin Che had planned to find a suitable opportunity to ask about it and pay her respects personally. However, the sudden events of the previous night had clouded her judgment, and Chen Mo’s departure had been far too abrupt.

Undoubtedly, Chen Mo was fiercely devoted to her emotions. Yet, when she realized things were veering off course, her cold, decisive, and somewhat cruel handling of the situation had been remarkably effective. One had to admit, Chen Mo was ruthlessly harsh with herself in this regard.

Lin Che loved Chen Mo precisely for this. Her ruthless self-discipline, severing emotional ties with unseen, icy blades until she bled, only proved the depth of her feelings. She was far from the cold, aloof, and unapproachable facade she presented to the world.

Only those with deep emotions hurt themselves. Those without such feelings only hurt others.

Chen Mo’s rejections and evasions were simply because she didn’t want to hurt anyone.

Lin Che should have understood this long ago, but now she was even more certain. She felt an overwhelming urge to fly to Chen Mo first thing tomorrow, to embrace her after finally bidding farewell to her previous, somewhat chaotic relationship, and then to formally and slowly enter her life, showing her a different kind of happiness, a joy, and any vision she wished to see.

But now wasn’t the time.

Going now would only force Chen Mo’s fortress, which had just lowered its steel spikes slightly, to reactivate its full defensive systems. Lin Che needed to wait—until Chen Mo recognized her genuine sincerity, until she lowered her inner barriers and gradually accepted her.

Ah…

She exhaled heavily and slammed her hand into the soft pillow. Chen Mo, you maddening little enchantress…