A Good-for-Nothing

196. Two Women (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

He Zheng shook his head, biting his lower lip. Actually it wasn’t Li Zong but himself that he was annoyed with. Had Li Zong not promptly stopped him when he’d impulsively got out of the van to carry out his rash plan, he would definitely have got himself into trouble.

When he’d been Childe He, getting into trouble had been what he worried about the least often. He used to be the kind of person who would stir up trouble on purpose whenever he had nothing else to do. But now things were different. He was no longer that He Zheng who had no misgivings whatsoever about doing anything. He was now a member of an organization.

And in every organization, there were rules. He Zheng had actually never finished his transition to another role, because he was Li Zong’s marriage partner and had never come to the realization that Li Zong was also his superior, so naturally he’d forgotten the fact that he was supposed to obey Li Zong’s orders.

But to give him his due, He Zheng had never labeled anything as “must be obeyed” in his life.

But he was willing to change and smooth off some of his rough edges on Li Zong’s account. He wanted to better integrate into this organization.

“Are you mad at me?” Not having heard his reply, Li Zong asked another question.

He Zheng shook his head again, looking at Li Zong calmly. “I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself.”

After a few moments’ pause, he continued in a somewhat dejected tone, “Li Zong, was I a total jerk in the past?”

Li Zong slightly turned up his lips. He Zheng took it for an answer in the affirmative and went even more despondent.

“Never mind. From now on, I promise I’ll unconditionally comply with all directives from this organization and I’ll never let my emotions get the best of me again, okay?” said He Zheng tentatively, eyes on Li Zong.

Li Zong gazed at him for quite a while. Eventually, he reached out his hand and ran his fingers through He Zheng’s hair. “You grew up.”

On hearing this tone, He Zheng came to know that Li Zong had never been mad about this matter, so his worry instantly dissolved and he felt much more relaxed. “Drop that avuncular tone, will you?”

“Becoming more mature is a good thing.” Li Zong gave a smile. “But I still hope you’ll mostly remain who you really are – of course, you need to obey orders. If you do anything impulsive like that again, I will punish you.”

Though he was being lectured, He Zheng didn’t feel unhappy. Instead, smile reappeared on his face, and his eyes were very bright, in which there were still negative emotions like rebelliousness, scorn, conceit and so on, but which were also suggesting that he was touched by the warmth.

Eyes are windows to the soul and lead straight to one’s heart. Li Zong liked He Zheng very much for what he was like at this moment. He stroked He Zheng’s eyes and with that the minor disagreement He Zheng had unilaterally thought they had had instantly vanished. He Zheng, who had been dejected for quite some time, started an animated discussion with Li Zong about the details of the case.

“Tell me – why that damn Chen Qianlin guy kept trying to strike up a conversation with you on our way here? How could someone be so insensible? He’s like a chirpy bird. Even rice couldn’t make him stop talking.”

As one of the most famous scenic spot in Hang City, the West Lake received large numbers of tourists on a daily basis. I would liken the West Lake to Xi Shi (a beauty of the Yue Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period), who’s always charming with either light or heavy make-up. There were numerous visitors reveling in the beautiful view of the West Lake both in the daytime and at night.

Xiao Lü and Xiao Li were two young girls working in a small county near Hang City. It was weekend and they didn’t have to work, so they came to Hang City for a sightseeing tour to blow off some steam.

Having had their fill of food and drink, the two girls walked out of a food court of a lakeside resort. Xiao Lü suggested, “Xiao Li, how about we go for a stroll around the West Lake and enjoy the nightscape in passing?”

“Great idea!” Xiao Li agreed immediately. “Pity today’s weather is not very good. Otherwise we’d be able to see the moon and the scenery would definitely be more enjoyable.”

Clouds and fog blocked people’s view of the glistening white Milky Way in the night screen, making the sky seem even darker.

“Alas, it’s not the view but the one enjoying the view with you that matters the most. Why feel regretful about the moonscape when you have me by your side?” Hand in hand, the two of them made towards the West Lake not far away.

“He–Help… Someone help me…” A faint cry for help emanated from the dark.

Xiao Lü’s chuckle abruptly stopped. Seeing Xiao Lü’s strange reaction, Xiao Li asked, “What’s wrong, Xiao Lü?”

“Listen, Xiao Li.” Xiao Lü’s happy face went a little nervous.

“Um? What is it?” Xiao Li furrowed her brows.

“Help… Help me… Someone help me…”

Xiao Lü and Xiao Li exchanged looks. “Somebody’s crying for help?”

Although the moon was not very bright, there were road lamps on both sides of the path and it was not very dark, so the two of them soon caught sight of a crumpled black figure at the entrance of a small alley, which was the very source of the cry for help.

“Let’s go and check.”

Xiao Lü and Xiao Li walked up and saw a young girl lying on the roadside. Xiao Lü exclaimed in alarm and was just about to run over to her when Xiao Li quickly grabbed her arm. “Wait up, Xiao Lü! This could be a scam!”

“Well…”

“Here’s what we’re going to do – We’ll help her, but I’ll film the whole process with my cellphone so that we’ll have evidence to defend ourselves if it turns out to be a scam.”

“You’re so smart.” Xiao Lü patted Xiao Li’s arm. “Turn on your cellphone camera. I’ll go and help her.”

Xiao Lü rapidly rushed up to that girl, who had a ghastly white face and was wearing scarlet lipstick. By the light of the road lamps, Xiao Lü caught a glimpse of her and was almost scared out of her wits. It was a few moments before she collected herself and asked, “Are you okay, Miss?”

There seemed to be nothing wrong with the girl aside from her unduly pasty complexion.

She suddenly gave a smile, her mouth a somewhat set curve. “I’m fine. Thank you for coming to my help.”

Xiao Lü felt an inexpressibly weird sensation, gazing at that girl, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end.

“You’re such a good person…”

This was the last remark that Xiao Lü heard.