“Miss Qiao had helped us solve a case before,” regarding other identities of Qiao Jing, Captain Zhao dared not say more.
Even so, that was enough to shock Zhan Qipei and the others.
She had that kind of ability? Wasn’t she from the countryside? Spending her days farming, always accompanied by crops, could she even solve cases?
“Pfft!” Zhan Nanqing scoffed dismissively, “She just happened to witness the crime scene by mistake, what’s so great about that.”
Everyone was successfully misled by Zhan Nanqing’s words, how could a country girl possibly solve a case? It must have been just like Zhan Nanqing said.
“The surveillance video has been pulled up,” Captain Zhao opened the file immediately upon receiving it.
Just as Lu Zijiao had said, it was indeed because of the stray cat that Lu Zijiao mistakenly ran into Qiao Jing.
“I’ve explained everything to you, why wouldn’t you believe me? Now you know what I said was true, right? Young Master Zhan really didn’t mean to hit you; anyway, it’s only 100 days, he wouldn’t willingly, after 100 days, go your separate ways with you, he doesn’t need to hit you. Even if it were a hit, he wouldn’t be sitting in the car himself, right? He’s not stupid.” Lu Zijiao looked at Qiao Jing and said.
Qiao Jing stood up, faced Zhan Qipei, “I have something I want to discuss with you alone.”
Zhan Qipei nodded his head, “Good, I also have something to say to you.”
Ten minutes later, the two arrived on an overpass.
By then, night had fallen, and the streetlights were just being turned on.
Looking into Zhan Qipei’s eyes, Qiao Jing no longer showed as much hostility, “Sorry, I misunderstood you just now.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me. Although it was just a misunderstanding, you almost lost your life because of it,” Zhan Qipei said indifferently.
“Alright then, let’s call it even, from now on, neither of us owes the other anything,” Qiao Jing said, facing Zhan Qipei squarely.
Zhan Qipei turned to face Qiao Jing as well, “Fine.”
“This is what I wanted to tell you, your turn now,” Qiao Jing, leaning casually against the overpass railing, waited for Zhan Qipei’s next words.
“What I want to say is simple, I will not like you. In these 100 days, don’t disturb my life,” Zhan Qipei just wanted to quickly end this absurd marriage with Qiao Jing. What if he found the girl who saved him soon, and the girl disliked him knowing he was married?
Qiao Jing lightly arched her elegantly faint eyebrows, “That’s actually perfect, you’re not my type, and I won’t fall for you. Just like that, let’s not bother each other, and after 100 days, we’ll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get a divorce.”
“Fine,” Zhan Qipei agreed instantly.
The night grew darker, and the evening breeze grew colder.
Qiao Jing wrapped herself in the suit jacket, “Now that everything has been said, it’s time to go.”
Zhan Qipei watched Qiao Jing turn and walk away, then he started to follow her. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped, his dilated dark pupils reflected the silhouette of the girl ahead.
In the light of the lamps and the night, the girl’s slender silhouette now completely merged with the one in his memory, the more he looked, the more they resembled each other…
Was it because he was too eager to meet that girl? Hence, causing his mind to be somewhat disordered now?
Zhan Qipei thought it must be the case.
Qiao Jing couldn’t possibly be her; that girl was highly skilled and had exquisite medical knowledge. They couldn’t possibly be the same person.
A night passed.
The next day.
As soon as Zhan Qipei came out of his room, he saw his family gathered around the dining table, ready to eat.
“Brother, you came out just in time, come down and eat,” Zhan Nanqing called out, looking up.
“Hmm,” Zhan Qipei responded and then turned back to look towards Qiao Jing’s room upstairs.
“Did no one call her down to eat?”
“Why bother with her? She never saw this place as her own home anyway,” Zhan Nanqing said and just as Qiao Jing happened to exit through the door. Then, raising her voice intentionally, she continued, “Besides, this isn’t her home to begin with. We are already generous enough not to charge her rent for staying here, and now she wants to eat our food too?”
Hearing Zhan Nanqing’s sarcastic comments, Zhan Qipei frowned displeasedly and glanced towards Qiao Jing, who was descending the stairs.
The girl’s complexion was calm, showing no change in expression, as she walked over to the dining table.
“What are you doing? Who let you sit here? Freeloading, huh?” Zhan Nanqing said irritably.
“Nanqing!” Zhan Qipei said sternly, looking at Zhan Nanqing and signaling her not to provoke further.
“Brother, why are you protecting her? Did I say anything wrong? She —” Zhan Nanqing hadn’t finished speaking when Zhan Qipei interrupted her.
“What? Do you want Grandpa to make you jump off a building too?”
That remark from Zhan Qipei made Zhan Nanqing instantly shut up, though her mouth closed, her eyes fiercely glared at Qiao Jing.
She just wanted Qiao Jing to get the hell out of their house soon, and before that, she was determined to return the slap she had received from Qiao Jing!
Zhan Nanqing’s stare began to pain her eyes, but Qiao Jing ignored it completely, as if she hadn’t seen it. This only infuriated Zhan Nanqing more, like punching cotton with force and receiving no response at all.
It was infuriating!
As breakfast was served, Qiao Jing turned her head to look at Zhan Qipei and pulled out a card, “Here is a million, take it.”
This action by Qiao Jing stunned everyone present.
Especially Zhan Qipei, who throughout his life, except for New Year’s money from elders, had never received money from his peers.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s for the 100 days of board,” Qiao Jing replied.
Hearing this, Zhan Qipei instinctively narrowed his deep set eyes.
“No need, the Zhan family isn’t so destitute that we need your food money.”
“Exactly!” Zhan Nanqing rolled her eyes at Qiao Jing, “And besides, if I’m not mistaken, that million must have secretly come from Grandpa, right?”
Zhan Nanqing felt she had uncovered the truth, after all, Qiao Jing was just a country bumpkin. How could she possibly have a million?
“Oh — I get it now! Qiao Jing, you’re really cunning. You offer us Grandpa’s money, and later you can go complain to him, claiming that we bullied you and stole your money. Qiao Jing, Qiao Jing, you’re really malicious!”
Qiao Jing looked at Zhan Nanqing with her defiant, icily piercing eyes, her slightly raised eyebrows revealing a trace of impatience.
“I’m not sure who just accused me of freeloading, and now that I’m offering money, you call me malicious. It seems you are naturally unreasonable, so I see no point in wasting my words on someone as foul-mouthed as you.”
“You—” just as Zhan Nanqing stood up ready to explode, she was held back by Su Manhan.
“Enough, it’s early in the morning, why seek trouble? Eat your food.”
Zhan Nanqing pursed her lips and sat down.
Qiao Jing shifted her gaze from Zhan Nanqing and looked toward Zhan Qipei, holding out the card to him again.
“Take it.”
Zhan Qipei pursed his thin lips, his face cold and imposing.
“Take it away.”
The two stood off against each other, the atmosphere tense as neither yielded to the other.
After a prolonged silence, Qiao Jing directly grabbed his hand and forcibly placed the card into his palm.