Chapter 7, Reunion

She gazed out at the fleeting scenery outside the window and, for some reason, suddenly recalled a conversation she had with Luo Luo during her graduate school days

In recent years, she has been stubborn in everything, only at this moment does she show weakness, allowing him to conquer and occupy. He then fiercely penetrates her once more, kissing her at the same time, his voice almost gritting his teeth: "Zhong Zhilü, why can't you just let me worry less?"

This was the first time Zhi Lu had seen him so angry, and she had encountered it once or twice more afterward. His entire face had become rigid and stiff, with the veins on his forehead clearly visible, and the intense light in his eyes resembled lightning that had split the sky, about to lose control. Anger is a terrifying emotion, a feeling that instills fear, harboring an extremely strong power. It must be said that she was indeed a little afraid of him. Ye Zhongke, to be honest, even after sharing a bed for two or three years, she still did not fully understand him. Anger is a terrifying emotion, a feeling that instills fear, harboring an extremely strong power. It must be said that she was indeed a little afraid of him. Ye Zhongke, to be honest, even after sharing a bed for two or three years, she still did not fully understand him

Not responding to her words, Ye Zhong'e looked at Lu Jianzhong and said in a tone that both understood: "Officer Lu, let's talk privately"

Lu Jianzhong pondered: "I have a plan."

Deng Muhua furrowed her brow and stared at her for a while, then sighed and said, "Go back, take a break," and added, "You haven't taken the blood tonic that Qingning prescribed for you, have you? Your face is as pale as can be. You should rest well, or should I give you an extended leave?"

Her eyes suddenly sparkled, shimmering with light, which left Deng Muhua momentarily stunned and somewhat emotional. He shook his head and said, "I thought that the Zhong Zhilü from back then had returned. At that time, you truly had no inkling of the taste of sorrow. Now, despite feeling so fatigued, your editorial work is still quite commendable. When you were a reporter, I had no idea you would excel so remarkably."

Ye Zhong'e pressed down the corners of his mouth, the scene of the two entangled and unable to part still vivid in his mind. At that time, he thought that their icy relationship would thaw and return to normal. However, upon waking from a dream, everything had changed, as if he had become a venomous snake, to be avoided at all costs.

After arriving home, I drank half a bottle of rich and fragrant white liquor and completely passed out on the sofa

In a mining disaster, she went to report and nearly lost her life underground. Returning from a remote interview site in the middle of the night, the vehicle was involved in an accident, hanging precariously on a few trees at the edge of a cliff, swaying as if it were a thrilling Hollywood blockbuster—she loved being a journalist and wanted to prove that she could be a successful reporter without relying on Ye Zhongke. However, no matter how hard she tried, it was merely a soap bubble; once it burst, nothing remained. She wanted to prove that she could be a successful journalist without depending on Ye Zhongke. Yet, despite her efforts, it was just a soap bubble; when it shattered, there was nothing left.

Zhi Lu has never been someone who is good at justifying herself. She did not say, "I have never used his money." In that moment, she was somewhat shocked to realize for the first time that as long as Ye Zhong'e was around, everything she did, everything around her, including herself, would take on a different flavor; she was no longer herself. So she thought for a moment and replied with a bitter smile, "I cannot get used to his life. Our social circles are too different. I forced myself to adapt for two or three months, accompanying him to friend gatherings, class reunions, and playing golf. But I still cannot get used to it. His friends are successful people in the business world, and his classmates and friends have achieved great success, at least eight or nine years older than me. The topics they discuss and the people they mention are completely beyond my understanding. Perhaps I could deliberately cater to them, but I do not want to."

Ye Zhong'e did not make a direct statement, only saying: "Please feel free to ask when you need my help." Lu Jianzhong understood that this was already a stance.

Opening her eyes, she saw the people around her gazing intently at her, and for a moment, she felt as if the past had returned. She was momentarily stunned, then quickly sat up while clutching the blanket and retreated a considerable distance.

Ten minutes later, they came down from upstairs, and nothing could be discerned from the expressions of the two. Lu Jianzhong greeted Zhi Lu and Yang Li, saying that he had to leave first

It was almost 2:00 AM, and the rain had mostly stopped. He had arrived in a police car, and it was close to his return. Zhi Lu expressed her gratitude repeatedly and politely escorted him to the door. The last thing she saw through the crack of the door was his strange expression and the hint of a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth. She was somewhat surprised, but in the end, she did not ask anything.

Dai Liu parked the car under a nearby tree and said, "What’s this? The former Lady Ye doesn’t even have a car? If others see this, they might think that Zhong E is treating you poorly."

Everything that followed seemed so natural. Most of the pajamas and underwear of the two were thrown by Ye Zhongke onto the floor, and Zhi Lu trembled beneath him, feeling a river within his body break through the dam, spreading everywhere, flowing into her body, running wild.

Ye Zhong'e silently began to get dressed, while Zhi Lu rummaged through the wardrobe, just as they used to. However, compared to before, there were slight changes; they both tacitly remained silent, and until just before leaving, neither of them spoke another word.

She only woke up the next day at noon. After flipping through her phone, she found several calls from former colleagues, who were indeed concerned about her. However, she did not have the energy to face them. After replying to each one, she changed her phone number that very night

After that conversation, for a long period of time, she wanted to break up with him. It was completely different from the silence during the divorce; at that time, he was furious. After they watched the movie, he drove her back to school, and in the car, she finally expressed the words that had been accumulating in her heart for months. In return, he shot her a cold and piercing glance, slammed the car door shut with a bang, and his face turned pale with rage. His words came out like thunder, ringing in her ears, "Zhong Zhilü, is this how you treat me? Do you know how much I care about you? Do you know that I love you? But you planned to break up with me from the very beginning, didn't you? You didn't say a word and just proposed the breakup like this! How could you do that! Is it because I have money and power that I embarrassed you? Everything I have, every bit of it, I earned through hard work; does that damage your self-esteem and confidence?"

Although she has no expertise in cars, she can still sense that this vehicle is definitely not cheap. Having worked in journalism herself, Zhi Lu is well aware that whether as a news anchor or in her current position at the television station, the gray income is quite substantial. Just inserting a bit of advertising into the news can yield an income comparable to her annual salary. This is the current state of society. During her student days, Zhong Zhi Lu was somewhat dissatisfied with this, feeling indignant; however, as she grew older, she gradually came to terms with it. Having worked in journalism herself, Zhi Lu is well aware that whether as a news anchor or in her current position at the television station, the gray income is quite substantial. Just inserting a bit of advertising into the news can yield an income comparable to her annual salary. This is the current state of society. During her student days, Zhong Zhi Lu was somewhat dissatisfied with this, feeling indignant; however, as she grew older, she gradually came to terms with it.

Do you suspect Yang Li?" Lu Jianzhong raised his eyes

She stood at the bus stop waiting for the bus, and casually bought a few newspapers. At first glance, without her Southern News, the publication seemed to be thriving as usual. The sections she used to oversee were now managed by others, adhering to a conventional focus on news, with no apparent errors to be found. Holding the newspaper in her hand, she stood by the roadside lost in thought

Knowing her stubborn temperament, after a pause, Ye Zhong'e spoke up: "What do you not want to say?"

The two of them have been "squeezed" together on that bed for several years now, so there is no longer any need for shyness. It is not like the past when Zhong Zhilü, before getting married, would rather sleep on the sofa or the floor than share a bed with him. Moreover, she is indeed afraid; her insomnia has not improved, and she is exhausted, so tired that she can hardly lift her head. If having him nearby could help her get a good night's sleep, that would be nice

Deng Muhua shot her a glance and said, "Resign? You are doing your job very well, why would you resign?"

That is good, Ye Zhong'e got straight to the point, "This incident is related to the murder of Xu Huishu. The murder of Sister Xu can only be connected to Li Fan and Wanbo Company. If we are to investigate, we can only start from this angle; it is a breakthrough point."

The bus arrived, just a few meters away. Zhi Lu glanced at the bus, then at Dai Liu, and after a brief moment of contemplation, got into the latter's car

Dai Liu rested one hand on the car window, her nails a bright color. She smiled, her voice melodious: "Is that so? I thought you might be interested in knowing why you have been turned away by major news outlets."

Sitting in the taxi, her stomach was in turmoil. After that argument, she went on a trip for several days, and when she came out of the train station, the first thing she saw was him waiting for her at the exit. In an instant, her heart melted, and she foolishly threw herself into his arms. Then, right after graduation, he pulled her into marriage, and without understanding anything, she got married, feeling dazed and confused. The relationship continued to develop, and eventually, they divorced. She gained nothing, no, she did gain a house, a house that many people would never earn back in their lifetime. Then, right after graduation, he pulled her into marriage, and without understanding anything, she got married, feeling dazed and confused. The relationship continued to develop, and eventually, they divorced. She gained nothing, no, she did gain a house, a house that many people would never earn back in their lifetime. Isn't it quite a bargain?

I thought you would say something different. It is not that I am not desperate inside; it is still the same. The words he wants to hear, she has always refused to say, at least while in a conscious state, she has always refused to say. Knowing one is wrong and correcting the mistake are two different matters

Upon careful calculation, the director suddenly mentioned his intention to dismiss her, precisely one week after she agreed to divorce Ye Zhong'e. In the previous month or two, he had asked her to resign, but she refused. It turns out that he had already made plans at that time, so he maintained a facade of indifference while secretly taking action. With a single word, a phone call, or perhaps even a call not made by him personally, he effortlessly brought an end to the job she loved, and moreover, he did so so thoroughly that her remaining self-esteem, confidence, and pride were utterly shattered, leaving only fragments behind. With a single word, a phone call, or perhaps even a call not made by him personally, he effortlessly brought an end to the job she loved, and moreover, he did so so thoroughly that her remaining self-esteem, confidence, and pride were utterly shattered, leaving only fragments behind

Ye Zhong'e shook his head, "I am not referring to economic cases, but to other aspects. Do you think Li Fan and others would personally come forward to commit murder? Hiring a hitman necessarily involves indirect contact with the perpetrator."

In an instant, my entire body stiffened, blood surged, and my vision suddenly became blurred. Yet, the inertia remained, and my footsteps could not be halted. I reached the roadside and hailed a taxi.

In the darkness of the night, beneath the thin duck down quilt, she closed her eyes and, guided by instinct, pressed her face against his ear. His hair still held a hint of moisture, making it feel soft and exuding a faint fragrance. The familiar scent returned, and enchanted by this aroma, she cautiously reached out her hand and wrapped her arm around his waist. This small gesture suddenly unraveled everything.

Zhi Lu waved her finger in the room and said, "The house is yours; you can sleep wherever you want." After saying this, she remembered that he only ever slept in the bedroom, so she hurriedly added, "Um, you sleep in the master bedroom, and I will go upstairs to sleep."

The days are as comfortable as a fairy tale

Ye Zhong'e looked at him with a serious expression, "During this period, there will certainly be much restraint, but I believe that by continuing to monitor and using stillness to counter movement, there will eventually be gains"

Zhi Lu said: "I am not available"

I know she is in trouble, but I did not expect it to be such a serious matter. Regardless of whether that shadow truly exists, this trouble will not be minor. However, it has nothing to do with the incidents when Zhi Lu was a reporter. I have already resolved some minor troubles she caused in the past. Even if I have overlooked certain aspects, I can conclude that no one would sneak into someone else's home during such a thunderstorm and leave without taking anything. There are no signs of forced entry on the door, no signs of climbing on the windows, and no water stains inside the house. This indicates that the person entered before the rain and had a key. There are three keys here: mine, Zhi Lu's, and Yang Li's.

They stood in the messy study, each with a serious expression, yet unsure of what to say. Lu Jianzhong suggested, "I will go ask the community security for the video tape to take a look, and have someone come here tomorrow to collect fingerprints. The lock must be changed. There is also a very important question," as he scrutinized Zhong Zhilü and asked, "Is this person coming for you, or for Yang Li? Have you offended anyone in the past?"

The outcome was unexpectedly surprising; such an outstanding criminal investigator, Lu Jianzhong, found no clues at all in the room. There were no suspicious individuals, no footprints in any of the places he could have gone, no signs of forced entry on the door, and no traces of climbing on the balcony. Aside from the few severed telephone lines and the chaos in the study, it seemed as if that person had never been there at all. Or rather, while they were in a state of panic, that person slipped away. Such a sophisticated method of committing a crime inevitably brings to mind the case of Xu Huishu, which also left no traces afterward. It appears that this individual possesses strong counter-investigation experience, skillful enough to instill fear.

Suddenly recalling the news from past interviews, the marginalized groups truly seem as lowly as ants

There is none.

Zhi Lu raised her eyes to look at her, "Senior Sister, thank you"

Lu Jianzhong naturally understood, "We have considered it, monitored the phone calls, and even sent people to follow, yet we have gained nothing."

At that time, she was uncertain about her feelings for Ye Zhong'e and was inclined to avoid them. Whenever he called, she would find ways to evade him. Luo Luo said to her: "I told you it was enough, such a good boyfriend, you wouldn't be able to find one even with a lantern. I don't know what you are being picky about; what kind of man do you want to be satisfied? Zhi Lu, I used to really admire you, so beautiful and smart, humble and composed, with a bit of an ancient person's temperament. How have you become like this now? Just because you are a few points more beautiful than others, you are making things difficult for your man?" Zhi Lu, I used to really admire you, so beautiful and smart, humble and composed, with a bit of an ancient person's temperament. How have you become like this now? Just because you are a few points more beautiful than others, you are making things difficult for your man?

She wanted to fall asleep again, but she could not. She held her breath for a few seconds and softly said: "Thank you for coming all this way in such heavy rain"

Zhi Lu finally understood a fact that she was unwilling to believe: this group of colleagues had known much earlier that she was going to be dismissed. She had actually fallen to such a state. She left the building of the newspaper group and looked up from downstairs; she saw nothing else but one dark glass window after another, smooth as a mirror.

Ye Zhong'e's chest vibrated slightly, and a deep voice sounded in her ear: "Do you care about the answer?"

In the most tense moments, she became distracted and repeatedly called his name

She admitted that she places considerable importance on spiritual and moral standards, but she would not and could not force everyone to accept her moral views, and she could also look at certain phenomena and individuals with a tolerant perspective. However, now she found it difficult to be tolerant of the beautiful woman beside her. There was little common ground between them. Zhi Lu expressionlessly opened the car door, and as she stepped onto the ground, she heard Dai Liu say from behind: "Zhong Zhi Lu, although I am reluctant to admit it, you are indeed a very talented journalist, and in this regard, you can still have confidence in yourself. Let me tell you the truth, no news organization wants you, and even your dismissal from Southern News was at the behest of Zhong E. He had already spoken to the leaders of the newspaper before you went for the interview, instructing them not to hire you under any circumstances. Oh, that's exactly what he told me."

That day, while at work, I was also distracted. During lunch, Zhi Lu cautiously asked Ye Mu Hua if she could take a leave of absence in the afternoon to go to the Public Security Bureau.

Zhi Lu was taken aback, "What is it?"

I have no doubt about her character; Yang Li is a good child. However, regarding her mother's situation—" Ye Zhong'e paused, carefully choosing his words, "she may know some inside information, and it is also possible that she is being coerced. Even if she is concealing something, it is not out of her own intention. I do not wish for her to suffer any harm.

How could Zhi Lu be unaware of the emotions and desires that these small details of his body continuously conveyed? She reminded herself that they were divorced, divorced... There was no obligation, and it made no moral sense... Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she could not break free, or perhaps she did not want to struggle? She thought of a phrase she had read in some book: how can two bodies in love not become entangled with each other?

The person being called looked at her face in the dim light, her features delicate and beautiful, with fine beads of sweat clinging to her forehead, eyebrows, and even her long eyelashes

In fact, Zhi Lu had guessed what he wanted her to say, but things were not that simple. According to Zhu Shi, her first failed marriage had already left her somewhat mentally unstable, and she truly lacked the courage to try a second time. If she were to fail again this time, she would be finished, and Ye Zhong'e would no longer have any feelings for her. At that point, she would have nothing left.

Zhi Lu remained silent, engrossed in her meal; despite her outstanding abilities, she was still kicked out the door by someone.

After finishing her conversation with the director of the newspaper, it was already evening, and there were still quite a few people working overtime in the office. She packed her belongings into a small box. When she left, she did so with great presence, even joking with her colleagues before walking out. The director told her that he would publicly state that she had resigned voluntarily, to save her face. She was reluctant to part with her colleagues and had walked quite a distance, but after a few steps, she suddenly turned back to say goodbye once more. It was then that she clearly saw the expressions on their faces: each one bore the marks of pity and sympathy.

Soon, she was undisturbed. While others were busy with their romantic relationships, she was occupied with traveling, working as a tutor to earn some money, and receiving a little financial support from her parents. She traveled with classmates to places such as Xi'an, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Dunhuang. After returning, she wrote tens of thousands of words in travelogues, which were published in magazines, allowing her to earn some fees for her articles

Ye Zhong'e glanced at her inadvertently and said: "It is not you"

How carefree it was during my undergraduate years, as life flowed like a river, consistently and quietly meandering without a care. Growing up, it was the first time my parents were not by my side, with no one to oversee me; I could do whatever I wanted, free as a bird without constraints. If a boy wrote a love letter and pursued me to the dormitory building, I would say: "I have a boyfriend, and he is abroad; I am waiting for him to return."

"No need." Zhi Lu's expression turned cold

Dai Liu was particularly attentive today, suggesting that he take her to a nearby place to sit and relax

All eyes in the room were focused on Zhi Lu, and the atmosphere was tense. She wanted to smile to ease the tension, but no matter what, she couldn't bring herself to do so. Finally, she said: "The number of people I have offended while working as a journalist is probably beyond counting on ten fingers."

Lu Jianzhong pulled out a chair and sat down, his demeanor calm, "You are welcome, it is part of my duty."

Zhong Zhi Lu felt a mix of emotions. He was not wearing a shirt, his upper body exposed to the air, with tight skin and perfect lines, standing out brightly in the dim room, making it hard to look away. The body she once knew, her former husband, whom she once had everything with, but she had destroyed it all with her own hands

As long as he is in this room, she feels at ease. Hearing the sound of water from the bathroom, she relaxes, a sense of security that allows her to entrust her life to him. Her eyes grow heavy, and just as she is about to fall asleep, she feels the bed shift, and the faint light beneath her eyelids disappears; he must have turned off the light. However, it does not matter that there is no light today, for his breath and his scent are right beside her, more effective than any hypnotic drug.

When she woke up, it was already morning. The curtains were thick, and white light struggled to squeeze through the gaps, with slender beams of light outlining the contours of the curtains. The room remained silent and dim. Zhi Lu had not slept so well in a long time and did not want to go to class. She turned over, hoping to continue sleeping, but in doing so, she bumped into someone.

Indeed, marriage and love may be related, but divorce and lack of love may have nothing to do with each other. Zhi Lu suddenly felt a pang of sadness, turned her head away from him, and said: "I am truly a failure as your wife, utterly failing. Sometimes I think, it would make sense for you to divorce me."

As the conversation was drawing to a close, Lu Jianzhong hesitated for a moment, his expression unchanged, and asked, "Aren't you divorced?"

"Marriage may be over, but Zhilu is still my wife," Ye Zhong'e stood up and spoke clearly, word by word, "Many things do not end simply because of divorce"

Lu Jianzhong looked at him with a hint of surprise, a thought flashing through his mind: "No wonder he is so accomplished at such a young age." "What you said should be correct. However, we have already investigated Li Fan, and he was very cooperative, but we found nothing. If we want to conduct a thorough investigation, it may require the involvement of the industrial and commercial department."

Zhi Lu refused, her attitude extremely cold, "Speak quickly if you have something to say"

Two people arrived in the upstairs living room, one in front and the other behind. Ye Zhong'e made a gesture inviting them to sit and said, "Thank you for coming in the rain, Officer Lu"

For some reason, Zhi Lu recalled the soft, tender voice of the woman on the phone, and a question involuntarily escaped her lips: "Was there someone by your side when I called you? Was it Dai Liu? Or someone else?" Even during their closest moments, she had never asked him anything about other women, yet now, after the divorce, she was able to voice it. Immediately, she felt a pang of regret, "Forget that, I was just asking casually."

In fact, prior to this, he had met Ye Zhong'e once by chance, while he was chatting and laughing with his superior's superior, who was also the director of the municipal public security bureau. That encounter did not leave a deep impression on him, and he quickly forgot about it. It was not until more than half a year later that they met again. When he saw him downstairs, he felt that the man looked familiar, but he still could not recall who he was; it was only after hearing Zhong Zhilü's introduction that he remembered they had met before, and he was suddenly taken aback. It turned out that her ex-husband was such an impressive figure. Years of experience as a police officer had honed his ability to read people accurately, often discerning a person's thoughts just from their facial expressions and gaze. However, the man before him was completely flawless. He was reserved, exuding a profound composure, and spoke with an ease that suggested he was handling weighty matters lightly.

Dai Liu said: "Actually, I would like to discuss something with you"

After a moment, Yang Li also went to sleep, leaving her and Ye Zhong'e alone in the living room. They stood under the frosted crystal chandelier, the light and shadow dancing around them. She glanced at him, their eyes met for just a moment, and then, as if they had agreed upon it, they paused for two seconds, already knowing what to say.

Ye Zhong'e seemed to glance at her unintentionally, a cold glint passing through his gaze. "You say 'I'm sorry' to me? Besides reflection, is there anything else?"

Zhi Lu paused and said, "Senior sister, I understand that frequently taking leave is quite inconvenient. I thought about it yesterday, and if anyone has objections, I can resign."

Luo Luo glanced at her and simply said: "You decide for yourself. However, I do not support your decision to break up with him. If my boyfriend were as impressive as yours, I would wake up laughing from my dreams, and being a housewife every day would be no problem. I know you are ambitious, but with someone as capable as him, isn't everything you do a piece of cake? Zhi Lu, you have it too easy; sometimes you don't even realize who is important to you and who is not."

As soon as her words fell, the blanket on her bed was lifted by someone, and a pair of hands swiftly reached over, wrapping around her waist. Another hand stretched from behind her hair, and with a slight exertion of his arms, she fell into the embrace of the person beside her, using his arm as a pillow. The bed was quite wide, and even two people sleeping together would not necessarily feel cramped. Yet he still leaned in closer, holding her as he used to, his warm lips resting on her neck, and he did not speak.

"You're welcome." Ye Zhong'e's tone was particularly flat

"The bedroom upstairs hasn't been cleaned for several months, where can anyone sleep?" He waved his hand and said casually, "Forget it, let's just squeeze in together."

Lu Jianzhong's eyes were bright and penetrating, "Mr. Ye, from what you say, it seems you know some inside information?"

Ye Zhong'e took a step closer to her and said, "I will have someone change the lock tomorrow. Also, where will I sleep tonight?"

A car honked its horn sharply in front of her, the sound piercing. She looked up and saw a white sedan parked by the roadside. Dai Liu leaned out of the car window, smiled at her, and said, "Where are you going? I can give you a ride"

Of course I care, but I really do not want to know. There is a great possibility that this answer will plunge her into the abyss once again, so she said: "No, you don't have to tell me."