Due to lingering doubts, Jiang Cong ostensibly stayed at the police station as a special advisor while secretly delving into Chen Er's past.
He didn't tell anyone about this matter.
Firstly, he didn't want other forces to interfere, which would complicate the investigation.
Chen Er was extremely intelligent. Once someone from the police station accidentally let something slip, she would surely notice.
By then, it might be impossible to find out anything.
Secondly, it was because of a hint of compassion in Jiang Cong's heart.
Unconsciously, the balance in Jiang Cong's heart tilted towards Chen Er.
Even if he discovered something in the end, as long as it wasn't something immoral or extremely heinous, Jiang Cong would keep it a secret for her.
However, the subsequent development of events far exceeded the control of both him and Chen Er.
"Professor Jiang, something's happened again." Yang Heng rushed in, breathlessly saying to Jiang Cong.
Jiang Cong abruptly stood up, a flicker of unease crossing his heart. "What's going on? Is it Chen..."
Before Jiang Cong could finish his sentence, Yang Heng interrupted, "The authorities in Beijing called Chief Wang. They said there's a rather tricky case and they want you to go back as soon as possible."
Yang Heng learned this news from the conversation among his colleagues at the police station, so he rushed to inform Jiang Cong immediately without noticing Jiang Cong's strange expression just now.
Jiang Cong's heart relaxed slightly. He calmly nodded. "Okay, I see. Please book me a flight back to Beijing tomorrow morning."
"Sure." Yang Heng turned around and walked out of Jiang Cong's office.
Jiang Cong's tense nerves relaxed. He took out his phone and stared at the phone number in his contacts repeatedly, but in the end, he didn't dial it.
Since something had happened in Beijing, the investigation into Chen Er's matter had to be temporarily put on hold.
If it had been the old Jiang Cong, he would have surely overcome all difficulties to find out the truth.
But now, Jiang Cong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He was afraid of getting some bad results.
Once a person was tainted by the word "love", they would become very vulnerable.
Even if that person was once a hero who seemed omnipotent in everyone's eyes, in the face of a beauty, they would willingly humble themselves.
At this moment, Jiang Cong obviously hadn't realized that his feelings for Chen Er were not just simple curiosity.
In the evening, after work, Jiang Cong walked out of the police station and strolled aimlessly on the street.
He didn't know where he was going. He just walked forward instinctively.
Suddenly, Jiang Cong stopped in his tracks.
He looked up and seriously surveyed his surroundings. Then he smiled helplessly. He had unconsciously walked in front of Chen Er's house.
He glanced at his watch. It was seven o'clock.
Jiang Cong let out a non - committal "um", thinking that Chen Er probably hadn't returned from school yet. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he happened to run into Chen Er, who was going out for dinner.
The girl was wearing a light - pink sweatshirt. Her jeans tightly hugged her long and straight legs, making her look young and charming.
When Chen Er saw Jiang Cong, she blinked in disbelief several times. Then she stepped forward and poked Jiang Cong's thick and strong chest with her fingertip, wondering, "Why are you here?"
Looking at the girl in front of him, Jiang Cong had an urge to ruffle Chen Er's hair.
In fact, he did just that.
Chen Er watched as her hair was ruthlessly messed up into a chicken coop by Jiang Cong and complained discontentedly, "You're likely to get punched like this, Professor Jiang."
Jiang Cong didn't care. He still looked as cool and aloof as ever. "I couldn't help it. I used to have a cat, so..."
The rest of the words were self - evident.
Hearing Jiang Cong's words, Chen Er thought he was comparing her to an animal and retorted angrily, "Professor Jiang has such a unique taste. I've really learned a lot today."
Hearing Chen Er's self - reference, Jiang Cong didn't think she was hoolish. Instead, he found this straightforward Chen Er very cute.
She was not at all artificial. She laughed, scolded, and showed her emotions freely.
"I'm leaving." Jiang Cong suddenly said and dropped this sentence.
"What?" Chen Er didn't react at first. She stared blankly and asked, "Why so suddenly? Will you... come back?"
As the girl spoke, her voice gradually lost confidence. Chen Er bit her lip tightly, and her hand in her pocket unconsciously clenched.
Jiang Cong looked rather regretful. "I'll probably be gone for one or two months."
Hearing this, Chen Er let out a long breath. "Gosh, you scared me! Don't talk like that in the future!"
In Chen Er's heart, as long as Jiang Cong was around, she would feel inexplicably at ease and no longer feel lost.
It was as if a person who had been drifting for a long time had finally found their home.
Chen Er couldn't tell whether her feelings for Jiang Cong were more about dependence or... the affection between a man and a woman.
Chen Er shook her head self - deprecatingly. How could there be a possibility between her and Jiang Cong?
He was a high - ranking criminal psychology professor, while she was destined to keep that secret for the rest of her life.
Jiang Cong had been paying attention to Chen Er's every move. He watched her expression change from dazed to determined. Although he didn't know what kind of thought process she had gone through, he somehow felt that this process was related to him.
But Jiang Cong didn't ask directly. He chose to bury that indescribable flutter in his heart.
"Where are you going?" Jiang Cong changed the topic and asked.
Chen Er spread her hands. "I'm going to find something to eat. I'm starving."
After Chen Er finished speaking, just as she was about to leave, Jiang Cong grabbed the collar of her clothes and dragged her back towards her house.
"Junk food is unhygienic. I'll cook for you." Jiang Cong effortlessly grabbed Chen Er and frowned slightly as he felt her light weight.
This girl was really too thin.
Hearing that Jiang Cong was going to cook for her, Chen Er didn't decline.
Anyway, he would do the cooking, and she just needed to eat.
"Do you never cook by yourself?" Jiang Cong asked casually.
Chen Er blew the bangs that had fallen in front of her forehead. Suddenly hearing Jiang Cong's question, she thought carefully. "It seems so. I can't cook, and I'm too lazy to wash the dishes. It's much more convenient to eat out or order takeout. It's so carefree for a single person."
It had been a long time since she had eaten a meal cooked by someone else.
The word "home" seemed very distant to Chen Er.
Jiang Cong didn't say anything else. He just let go of the hand that was grabbing Chen Er's collar.
Chen Er regained her freedom. She skipped along beside Jiang Cong, with a bright smile on her face. She joked, "Jiang Cong, are you caring about me? Hey, do you like me?"
For a moment, Jiang Cong's black eyes froze. He gave Chen Er a look that said "you're overthinking", then quickened his pace, leaving Chen Er far behind.