Chapter Seventy: Blossoms Bloom and Wither

After Liu Jingye’s harsh interrogation, it became clear the man was telling the truth—he was nothing more than a petty street thug. The man in the suit had impersonated an investigator, instructing him to drug and kidnap Chen Yuxin. Since Chen Yuxin hadn’t brought the original account book, the man in the suit must have hired a small-time hoodlum to avoid getting his own hands dirty, or perhaps because he considered abduction beneath him; whatever the reason, it no longer mattered.

“What did you see just now?” Liu Jingye asked coldly, his face shadowed.

“I didn’t see anything, nothing at all,” the thug answered smartly.

“Then what about the wound on your wrist?”

“I came to this abandoned lot hoping to dig out some rebar from the walls to sell, and I got hurt when it pierced through my skin…”

“Reasonable enough,” Liu Jingye said. “Let me see your ID and give me your phone number. If I get into any trouble, you’ll be the first to hear about it.”

The thug really did carry his ID with him; Liu Jingye noted down his name, address, and phone number, then rode off on his little scooter. In this deserted area, no one ever passed by; there was only a terrified thug, hardly worth mentioning.

Back home, Liu Jingye tore off his shirt. The wounds were superficial but gaping, with some areas burnt, and the deepest cut still bleeding. His left shoulder and back had also taken a beating. He rinsed the wounds with clean water and left them to air dry, unconcerned.

Just then, the door swung open and Chen Yuxin rushed in. At the sight of his injuries, she froze in shock and hurriedly asked, “Is there a first-aid kit?”

“It’s just a scratch,” Liu Jingye said indifferently.

But Chen Yuxin suddenly shouted in fury, “The first-aid kit!”

Startled, Liu Jingye pointed under the TV stand.

Chen Yuxin fetched the kit, dabbing his wounds gently with an alcohol swab. The sting made Liu Jingye suck in a sharp breath.

“Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry,” Chen Yuxin said, as timid as a frightened rabbit. She gazed at his wounds, then bent down, her rosy lips pursed, blowing softly to cool the stinging skin.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked, noticing his involuntary shudder.

“It doesn’t,” Liu Jingye replied truthfully. It didn’t hurt anymore—just tingled in a strangely pleasant way.

Her petal-soft lips, fluttering so close to his arm, gave Liu Jingye a feeling he’d never known before. How could he not be moved?

“I’m so sorry I got you hurt,” Chen Yuxin said, eyes brimming with tears, her face full of remorse. With her delicate beauty glistening with tears, no one could bear to blame her.

Liu Jingye smiled slightly. “It’s nothing, just a minor scratch. But things didn’t go as planned—I didn’t catch the man, and now have no way to uncover the big boss’s secret.”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters,” Chen Yuxin said, shaking her head so hard that tears flew free.

She wiped her face and carefully tended to his wounds, applying ointment and wrapping them in bandages, tying two cute bows for good measure.

“If this isn’t resolved, your life will always be in danger,” Liu Jingye said.

Chen Yuxin was momentarily stunned. Then, without warning, she threw her arms around him, clutching him tightly, her face pressed to his chest as she burst into sobs. “You have no idea how scared I was. I always knew journalism was dangerous, but this is the first time I’ve felt death so close—and I nearly dragged you down with me. And now, you still care about my safety. No one’s ever cared for me like this. Why are you so good to me?”

“Uh…” Liu Jingye found himself at a loss for words. He could understand Chen Yuxin’s feelings—the gratitude of someone snatched from the edge of death, deeply moved by the one who saved her. If a doctor confessed to a female patient he’d saved, most would probably agree, and that was their current state. But Liu Jingye wasn’t about to take advantage of her vulnerability.

So, after a moment’s thought, he said, “You’re leaning on my wound.”

“What?” Chen Yuxin, still emotional, had been almost expecting a confession.

He pointed to his shoulder, still held in her embrace. “You’re pressing on my injury.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Chen Yuxin let go at once, her impulsive gesture making her cheeks flush red. Liu Jingye, too, was left awkward and unsure.

After a long silence, Chen Yuxin suddenly said, “Oh, I almost forgot—I have good news.”

“What good news?”

“When I ran home just now, a former supervisor from National Television got in touch!” she said excitedly. “She always appreciated me, but later transferred to the Internet Administration Center as deputy director. Their department is now assisting the government’s anti-corruption campaign, reviewing whistleblower posts online. She noticed my post, and since some high-level figure called asking for it to be removed, she called me herself.”

“Oh? What did you tell her?” Liu Jingye’s eyes lit up. Thank goodness Chen Yuxin had connections in the capital—it made things much easier.

“I trust my old supervisor,” Chen Yuxin said, brimming with excitement. “After I told her everything, she asked me to bring the evidence to the capital. She’ll review it and hand it over to the inspection team herself. I’m preparing to leave right away.”

“Leaving immediately is the best option,” Liu Jingye nodded. “The secretary general probably thinks his plan was flawless and that you’ve already been dealt with, so he won’t be watching you closely. You should go as soon as possible. But I have to ask one more time—can you really trust your old supervisor?”

Chen Yuxin took out her phone and sent Liu Jingye an audio file. “This is the recording of our call. If I don’t come back, release it online. You can never be too careful. But I still believe there are more good people than bad in this world.”

“I also believe this anti-corruption campaign is no mere formality,” Liu Jingye said, maintaining his faith in the authorities.

“Then I’ll go now.” Chen Yuxin stood, but hesitated at the sight of his wounds. “What about you?”

Caught off guard, Liu Jingye put on an air of pitiful helplessness. “Right, you can’t just leave! What’ll I do without you? I can’t live without you…”

“Why does this sound like a funeral lament?” Chen Yuxin said, exasperated. Seeing his antics, she knew he was fine. Before he could grab her leg to keep her from leaving, she hurried out, pausing safely at the door. “Take care of yourself. As for repaying your kindness…”

She hesitated, and Liu Jingye’s eyes widened in anticipation.

With a blush, she gritted her teeth and said, “I’ll repay your kindness in my next life!”

With a thud, Liu Jingye fell off the bed. He’d thought she was going to say, “I have no way to repay you but to give myself to you. Please accept me.”

Watching her sneak away, he called after her, “Pushing repayment off to the next century? That’s not fair…”

Chen Yuxin didn’t reply. She wanted to act before her courage and hope faded, to do something that would forever strengthen her convictions. Matters of the heart were left far behind.

After she left, the room grew cold and quiet. The grand country inn, resembling a mansion, once again fell into silence. Liu Jingye, used to the chaos of battle and the camaraderie of his comrades, despised silence. In stillness, he always felt a lurking sense of danger.

“Women!” he sighed, lighting a cigarette. “This lonely inn has been lively lately, all because of women. But they come and go like the blooming and withering of flowers. Are they purposely toying with my fragile heartstrings? Can’t one of them just stay?”

Women, he mused—when you keep your distance, they seem unremarkable. But once you get close, it’s like lightning igniting the earth, impossible to stop. That’s what he was experiencing now. Yuan Xiaoying, Wei Xiaorou, Lin Shengnan, and most recently Chen Yuxin—they were like stones cast into a river, sending up ripples only to sink and leave the water still once more.

Wouldn’t just one woman stay and be a lotus blossom, floating on the surface?

As Liu Jingye was lost in thought, the landline phone suddenly rang. Thinking it was business, he answered quickly. “Hello, Bijiamei Inn, phone reservations get a twenty percent discount!”

There was a brief pause, then a sweet voice chimed, “Sir, are you in need of room service? Reasonable rates, a wide variety, satisfaction guaranteed, no time limits.”

Liu Jingye nearly choked on his smoke. After coughing, he replied, “Ma’am, you must have the wrong number. This is an inn, yes, but I’m the owner.”

“Hello, boss,” the woman replied, her tone unchanged. “Do you need service?”

“I’m the owner of this inn.”

“Boss, nice to meet you. Can we cooperate?”

“Cooperate?” Liu Jingye asked in surprise.

The woman was straightforward. “With the recent crackdown, I’m temporarily out of work. I’m looking for a place to stay and maybe make a little money. If you don’t mind, I could become a regular at your inn.”

A regular? He had just been lamenting about wanting a woman to stay and keep him company, and now one was calling—was this fate?

“Don’t worry, boss. I’m well-equipped, my service is five-star, my rates are fair and reasonable, and I guarantee safety and hygiene. Plus, we can split the profits sixty-forty—you get forty percent, just like the best hotels.”

“So, you want to offer services at my inn?” Liu Jingye asked in astonishment.

“Yes.”

“But this is just a remote country inn.”

“No problem—as long as there are guests, there’s demand.”

“But… but…” Liu Jingye was at a loss for words.

The woman continued cheerfully, “How about this, boss? I’ll come over now for an interview, or you can try my ‘skills’ if you like. If you’re satisfied, I’ll stay; if not, I’ll leave right away. How does that sound?”