Chapter 29: Cold Yan Qingxin.

On the empty highway at night, a motorcycle sped under the streetlights.

A man and a woman rode it—the man handsome and dashing, the woman with flowing hair.

Back in the day, the Suzuki RG500 sold like crazy because of this image.

Of course, that was with the woman in the back, arms around the man’s waist, her hair fluttering in the wind.

Not like now…

“Sister Rong, slow down! We’re not wearing helmets! Pfft—your hair’s in my mouth!”

The racing bike’s horsepower was no joke, and its speed was insane.

As soon as they started, Lu Zhao regretted it.
He’d rather have walked back—this heart-pounding speed was no less terrifying than running into drunks at night.

At least with drunks, the worst was getting messed with.
This felt like actual life-or-death stakes.

“Scared? Then hold on tight. I don’t do slow and steady.”

“…” You’re nuts! Anyone racing a motorcycle is a maniac.

Afraid of being thrown off, Lu Zhao pressed against her back, arms tightly around her waist.

His arms felt the firm yet supple texture of her waist—hard to tell through her clothes that she was this toned.

No wonder she ran a nightclub; her physique could probably take on two of his past-life selves.

A half-hour trip took less than five minutes with the engine’s roar.

As soon as he got off, Lu Zhao’s legs nearly gave out.

Zhao Rong reached to steady him.

“No need, I’m fine… I’m fine.”

Lu Zhao waved her off, gripping the railing to stretch his legs and recover quickly.

Zhao Rong raised an eyebrow.
She didn’t like weak people, man or woman.

But this guy—whether he was faking it or not—she found him easy on the eyes.

A year ago, Lu Zhao had met her gaze calmly, a rare kind of composure even among women.

Glancing at the nearby hotel, Zhao Rong pulled out a cigarette.

Click.

Puff—

“Back for the holidays?”

The red-dressed, red-haired woman leaned against the motorcycle, exhaling a smoke ring.

Lu Zhao turned, seeing her like this.
“Pretty” wasn’t the right word—more like… this sister was badass.

Maybe that was the vibe of this world’s underworld?

It suited her, adding a unique charm.

“Yeah, brought my girlfriend to see where I grew up. Didn’t expect a late-night stroll would… run into that mess.”

“Girlfriend, huh… You probably didn’t tell her what you used to do, right?”

Lu Zhao froze, blurting out the truth.
He’d forgotten this sister knew him inside and out.

He gave a wry smile, the meaning clear.

Zhao Rong’s sharp gaze held a trace of disdain.

Lu Zhao knew why.
Doing that kind of work before, then hiding it while dating someone in college—it wasn’t exactly honorable.

“Tsk, whatever. I’m not one to talk. I’m the one who got you into it.”

An awkward silence lingered until she finished her cigarette.

Stubbing it out, she hitched up her skirt and swung a leg over the motorcycle.

Tucking her hair back, she suddenly asked out of nowhere, “By the way, you still in touch with Yan Ruyue?”

The question startled Lu Zhao.
He shook his head.
“No.”

He wasn’t sure about Zhao Rong’s relationship with Yan Ruyue—only that they’d done business together.

“Oh.” Zhao Rong nodded.
“Alright, treat your girlfriend right. I’m off.”

Lu Zhao snapped out of it only when the taillights vanished down the road.

“Guess she really was just asking casually.”

Her unfiltered disdain showed she was the type to say what she thought and do what she wanted—straightforward and bold.

Lu Zhao hurried into the hotel, his mind still on today’s events.

Overall, he’d spotted two potential landmines.

Yun Shuiyao knew about a certain woman but didn’T know she was Yan Qingxin’s mother.

Zhao Rong knew he had a girlfriend but didn’t know that girlfriend was Yan Ruyue’s daughter.

“Hiss… If Senior and Sister Rong ever cross paths and compare notes, I’m screwed.”

“But come on, what are the odds? What could they possibly have in common?”

Lu Zhao laughed at himself.
“Scaring myself for nothing.”

bay Community.

Zhao Rong parked her motorcycle in the garage and took the elevator to the 35th floor.

Her heels clicked on the tiles, echoing in the empty hallway.

She stopped at 3502, pressed the fingerprint lock, and entered.

Seeing the living room light on, she paused, then remembered she wasn’t living alone anymore.

She slipped off her heels, stepping lightly to avoid making noise.

In the kitchen, a blonde girl sat at the table, propping her face, dozing off, unaware of her return.

Seeing this, Zhao Rong’s face softened with a gentle, helpless smile.

This kid—she’d told her so many times not to wait up.

She gently patted the girl’s shoulder.
“Xiao Yao, Xiao Yao? Wake up, don’t sleep here.”

“Um?”

The girl blinked sleepily.
“Aunt Rong, you’re back. I made porridge. Have some before you rest.”

Yun Shuiyao got up, walked to the stove, and brought the insulated pot to the table, setting out a bowl and chopsticks.

Zhao Rong watched quietly, her expression soft, saying nothing.

She’d told her countless times not to do this, but it never worked.

Yun Shuiyao always waited for her to come home, making sure she ate before sleeping.

“Sigh… If only you were a boy.”

Her sigh caught Yun Shuiyao’s attention.
“What’s wrong, Aunt Rong? Trouble with business?”

“Business” trouble—a polite way to put it.

In Zhao Rong’s line of work, anything called trouble was usually hard to fix.

Zhao Rong shook her head.
“No, just thinking it’d be great if you were a boy. I could adopt you, and you wouldn’t have to go back to that family. But as a girl, the old lady probably won’t let you go.”

Yun Shuiyao lowered her head, her expressionless face unreadable.

Zhao Rong took a sip of porridge.
“Have you eaten? Want some?”

“No, thanks, Aunt Rong. I’m going to bed. Leave the dishes in the sink—I’ll wash them tomorrow.”

Zhao Rong watched Yun Shuiyao walk to her room, then turned back to the porridge.

Her thoughts drifted to their first meeting.

She and Yun Shuiyao’s mother were cousins—she’d call her older sister.

Her funeral was simple, far below what a Yun family member deserved.

The little girl didn’t cry or make a fuss, just knelt quietly in the memorial hall.

That’s when Zhao Rong learned what had happened.

They were close as kids, but as adults, their lives diverged, and contact faded.

After cutting ties with the Yun family, her cousin had gone completely off the grid.

By the time Zhao Rong got the news, she was gone.

The only thing Zhao Rong could do was send that man to join her—something Yun Shuiyao didn’t know.

He was her father, after all.

Yun Shuiyao was an outcast in the Yun family.
As an outsider, Zhao Rong had no say, only visiting when she could.

As time passed, Yun Shuiyao grew up, and Zhao Rong probably felt more like a mother to her.

With age, the Yun family’s restrictions eased.

Starting in high school, Yun Shuiyao stayed at Zhao Rong’s during breaks, and Zhao Rong was happy to have her.

Her home was a bit cold, but it had more warmth than that family where everyone looked down on Yun Shuiyao.

Zhao Rong knew about Yun Shuiyao’s psychological issues but had no good solutions.

“Sigh… What to do? She doesn’t talk, and I can’t bear to push her.”

In her room, Yun Shuiyao looked at a photo on her phone.

It showed a library, nearly empty, with a blurry figure in the corner.

Closing the screen, a faint smile curved her lips as she drifted to sleep.

“Good night.”

Her murmured words, like a dream, weren’t clear who they were for.

Lu Zhao was in trouble, but not because of Yun Shuiyao and Zhao Rong.

As he stepped into the hotel, Yan Qingxin’s call came through.

Guilt-ridden, Lu Zhao hesitated before answering.

“Hello… hello?”

“Where are you? Get back here. I need to talk.”
Her tone was cold.

Before he could ask what was wrong, she hung up.

Not even calling him “baby”—had she found out about that woman?!

In that moment, Lu Zhao imagined the worst, a chill shooting from his heels to his head, every hair standing on end.

He wanted to turn and run, but some things had to be faced, didn’t they?