Chapter 277: Reunion

Around eleven o’clock at night, Qin Yi received a call from Lin Fang. Her voice was very soft: “Brother Qin, I’ve been following a suspicious person and am now on the back hill of the Normal College. I’ve knocked him out. You need to come quickly.”

Qin Yi was startled. He grabbed his gun and was about to rush out the door when Xiao Fei asked him what was wrong. “Something’s come up,” he said urgently.

“What’s going on?” Xiao Fei asked while quickly grabbing his own gun and following Qin Yi out the door.

After hearing about Lin Fang’s call, Xiao Fei joked, “Did we just run into a heroine or something?”

Qin Yi had no time for banter. He just hoped Lin Fang would be safe.

The two of them had been taking turns monitoring Fu Hongxia’s movements and were staying across from the Normal College, so they quickly made their way to the back hill. There were several paths up the hill, and in the darkness, they weren’t sure which one Lin Fang had taken. As they debated which route to take, Lin Fang suddenly appeared before them.

“Brother Qin, Brother Xiao Fei, this way,” she said before disappearing into the woods. Qin Yi followed closely behind.

Xiao Fei wanted to turn on his flashlight, but Qin Yi stopped him. It was obvious that any light could attract unwanted attention, especially from the college’s night patrols, who loved catching students sneaking around in secluded spots. Reluctantly, Xiao Fei fumbled through the darkness behind Qin Yi, frequently tripping over branches and vines along the way.

Though Qin Yi no longer had night vision in this world, his experience from another life made navigating dark forests no problem. He followed Lin Fang for a while before doubling back to help Xiao Fei.

“We’re here,” Lin Fang said. The darkness posed no issue for her, and she quickly led them to where she had hidden the unconscious man. She pointed at a motionless, shadowy figure on the ground.

Qin Yi and Xiao Fei crouched down, covering the flashlight beam with their hands to minimize the light. Using the faint glow seeping through their fingers, they examined the man. When they discovered he was armed, Qin Yi felt a chill run down his spine. If this man had confronted Lin Fang directly, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

After their inspection, Lin Fang handed Qin Yi a recorder and explained, “I drugged him. Even if you douse him with cold water, he won’t wake up anytime soon. Based on the timing, he won’t regain consciousness until around four in the morning. What you do next is up to you. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

Qin Yi quickly spoke up, “Lin Fang, wait. There’s something I need to ask you.”

“I’m in a hurry. I’ll find you after I’m done,” she replied before swiftly disappearing down a path through the woods.

“Xiao Fei, I can’t let Lin Fang leave like this. It’s too dangerous. You stay here and watch this guy,” Qin Yi said urgently before rushing off after Lin Fang.

No matter how fast Lin Fang moved, she couldn’t outpace Qin Yi, who soon caught up to her.

Blocking her path, Qin Yi said anxiously, “Do you have any idea how dangerous this was? Even with your night vision and heightened senses, you can’t hide your own presence. Fu Hongxia’s people are professionals—some are even better than elite guards. If one of them had detected you, you’d have had almost no chance of escaping.”

After his outburst, there was no response from Lin Fang. Qin Yi grew impatient. “Did you hear anything I just said?” he asked.

“Who are you?” came Lin Fang’s icy reply.

“I’m Qi Biao. Tan Xuyi. Your Yi-ge,” Qin Yi realized he had slipped up in his urgency and decided to reveal his true identity.

“How can you prove it?” Lin Fang asked calmly after a brief silence.

“Look at this. Is this us?” Qin Yi pulled a wooden figurine from his pocket—a carving he had made in his spare time, depicting the moment he had forcefully kissed Lin Fang in another life.

Lin Fang didn’t take the figurine but stared at it intently.

The carving was incredibly lifelike, capturing the likeness and demeanor of her and Qi Biao from that other world.

After a few moments, Lin Fang turned and walked away without a word.

It had been over three years since she returned to this world, and the longer she was here, the more she missed Qi Biao. Now that he stood before her, she knew Qin Yi wasn’t lying—only he knew about her night vision and heightened senses. Moreover, ever since meeting Qin Yi, his actions had shown an uncanny familiarity with her habits. His harsh words when she mentioned bringing Pi Xinhong back were exactly Qi Biao’s style.

The “elite guards” Qin Yi had mentioned? Qi Biao himself had been among the best. If he chose to conceal his presence, even Lin Fang wouldn’t detect him.

Yet, Lin Fang felt no joy at this reunion.

She didn’t know how to face Qi Biao’s sudden appearance, so her first instinct was to leave.

Qin Yi didn’t chase after her this time. Instead, he called out softly to her retreating figure, “Fang’er, I know you heard what I said to Ji Xiaorong in Qiyue County. My words stand—the only woman who can call me Yi-ge is you. That will never change.”

Their entire exchange had been hushed, and Qin Yi’s declaration was no exception. Lin Fang didn’t pause, but the plans she had for the night were postponed—her mind was in turmoil.

Since the day the head nurse had entered the hospital room, Lin Fang had been coming to the Normal College every night after dark, tracking Fu Hongxia. Though she couldn’t get too close, it didn’t matter—she could hear Fu Hongxia’s conversations and observe her interactions from dozens of meters away. Obstacles sometimes complicated things, but they also allowed her to move closer.

Tonight, she had followed Fu Hongxia to the back hill and hidden in the woods. As long as she remained silent, she was nearly invisible. By chance, the man meeting Fu Hongxia had stopped less than two meters from her. Though risky, she had managed to record their conversation—a discussion about eliminating Pi Xinhong.

Pi Xinhong had been discharged two days after her scare and was now staying with Guo Hongping under Lin Guicheng’s care. He personally tended to her health, accompanying her on short walks to aid her recovery.

Though Pi Xinhong had no memory of the past and behaved like a child, Fu Hongxia refused to let go. She wouldn’t rest until Pi Xinhong was gone, but she also couldn’t act recklessly—her scouts had reported that Lin Guicheng’s residence was heavily guarded by skilled individuals.

Fu Hongxia and the man had plotted to strike when Pi Xinhong was out walking, finalizing their plans for personnel and timing.

After Fu Hongxia left, the man lingered, making a flirtatious phone call. The moment he hung up, Lin Fang struck, embedding a fine needle into his neck.

The needle was so thin the man barely noticed it, cursing as he stumbled downhill before collapsing.

Lin Fang left him there and called Qin Yi.

The needle had been specially crafted by Ma Miao according to Lin Fang’s specifications, laced with a potent anesthetic based on a formula from another life. Only Lin Fang had the antidote. She had already removed the needle.

After Lin Fang left, Qin Yi and Xiao Fei listened to the recording. Qin Yi decided to leave the unconscious man where he was, returning his belongings so he’d assume he’d simply fallen asleep in the woods—unless he froze to death overnight. They then hurried back to mobilize a team, preparing to ambush Fu Hongxia’s operatives.

Qin Yi texted Lin Fang about his plan, and she quickly replied, agreeing to coordinate.

Lin Fang called Lin Guicheng to align with Qin Yi’s strategy before returning to Caixing Foodie. Though she rarely slept there, the shop had a room reserved for her, which Sister He had been using since her arrival.

Sister He had been helping Lin Guicheng watch over Pi Xinhong and wasn’t at the shop. With the dormitory gates locked by the time Lin Fang returned each night, she had been using the room.

She had expected tonight’s encounter with Qi Biao and the impending operation to keep her awake, but exhaustion overtook her the moment she lay down.

She slept so deeply that when she woke, she had no sense of time.

Opening her eyes, she found Ma Miao’s annoyingly handsome face hovering above her. “Sleeping Beauty, back from the dead?” he teased.

“What time is it?” Lin Fang asked lazily, still not moving.

“Time? You should be asking what day it is,” Ma Miao replied, helping her sit up and pressing a glass of water to her lips.

After a few sips, Lin Fang pushed the glass away. “What do you mean? Why would I ask what day it is?”

Ma Miao eased her back onto the pillow. “You’ve been asleep for three days and two nights. It’s dinnertime now. What’s going on with you? First, you were gone all night, and now you’re sleeping day and night. I almost called the school doctor.”

Lin Fang’s mind cleared, and she smiled weakly. “Almost? So you didn’t. How heartless—what if I’d never woken up? And how did you get into my room?”

The effort of speaking and smiling left her feeling drained.