Could it be that Chen Er actually had some unknown secret, and Ji Pei knew about it? Under their mutual restraint, Chen Er had no choice but to keep silent.
Jiang Cong's expression changed several times before finally returning to calm.
Early the next morning.
Chen Er opened her hazy eyes with a splitting headache. Her head was buzzing, and the fragmented memories came flooding back.
Chen Er remembered what she had said after drinking yesterday. Her heart skipped a beat. What if Jiang Cong had noticed something from her words? What if he associated it with that wall...
Chen Er didn't dare to think any further. Her mind cleared up. After calming her racing heart, she forced herself to stay calm and opened the bedroom door.
"Jiang Cong? Jiang Cong?" Chen Er called out one after another, but there was no response for a long time.
Could he have left?
Chen Er muttered to herself. For a moment, she couldn't figure out what Jiang Cong meant.
She slowly sat down on the sofa. The indoor heating was on full blast. Chen Er was bare - footed, idly swinging her legs, absent - mindedly staring out of the window.
"Knock, knock, knock." The knock on the door sounded.
Chen Er quickly jumped off the sofa. This time, she didn't forget to put on her slippers in case Jiang Cong saw and started nagging.
"You're back? Where did you go?" Chen Er naturally took the groceries from Jiang Cong's hand and asked casually.
Jiang Cong sorted the groceries into different compartments of the fridge. Then he turned around and replied matter - of - factly, "Can't you tell? I went grocery shopping. I don't want my stomach to suffer with me."
Chen Er felt a little relieved. She followed Jiang Cong and helped him out. "Okay. I thought you had left. Did you sleep well last night?"
Jiang Cong didn't miss the momentary hesitation in Chen Er's movements. But he continued chopping the vegetables as if he hadn't noticed. "Pretty well. I'm not fussy about beds."
The two cooperated very well. From the back, they looked like a long - married couple who supported each other.
In winter, Chen Er was always lazy and made excuses not to read. Jiang Cong would quietly sit by the window. There was a cup of steaming green tea on the table.
Jiang Cong didn't urge Chen Er. He was immersed in the world of books. Often, when he finished reading and came back to his senses, it was already dark outside. And Chen Er would be lying on the sofa, sleeping sprawled out without any grace.
Days passed like they were copied and pasted, but they didn't feel boring.
Chen Er reluctantly tore off a page of the calendar, mourning the passing of her winter vacation.
The end of the winter vacation meant that she had to go back to school. Chen Er let out a long sigh. "Alas, good times are always so short..."
Jiang Cong helped Chen Er pack the things she needed for school. He glanced at Chen Er, who was already ready, and smiled faintly. "Let's go. I'll drive you there."
Chen Er was wearing a white fluffy scarf. Her small face was buried in it, making her skin look even fairer. Thanks to Jiang Cong's feeding, her originally thin face now had a bit of baby fat.
The after - effects of the Spring Festival still lingered on the streets, exuding a strong sense of the New Year.
What's past is past, but life goes on.
Chen Er briefly recalled the experiences of this year. If there was one biggest gain, it might be meeting Jiang Cong.
She didn't know how long this happiness would last.
Jiang Cong was driving. Out of the corner of his eye, he kept noticing Chen Er. There was a momentary look of melancholy on her face.
"What are you worried about?" Jiang Cong asked directly. He knew that Chen Er wouldn't tell him the real reason, but he still chose to ask.
Chen Er realized she had been distracted. While silently warning herself for being careless in her heart, she pouted and, like all her peers, voiced the common concern: "I don't want to go back to school. I don't want to take the college entrance examination."
Jiang Cong expected Chen Er's answer. He didn't expose her or ask further. Instead, he comforted her and encouraged her not to be discouraged and to study hard.
No matter how long the road is, there will always be an end. In just half an hour, the black Land Rover stopped steadily at the school gate.
Groups of senior - three students were walking into the school with their schoolbags on their backs. While others were still immersed in the joy of the Spring Festival, they had to start preparing for the college entrance examination battlefield.
"I may have to leave for a while for a research trip." Just as Chen Er was about to turn and leave, Jiang Cong's voice came from behind her.
"When will you be back?" Chen Er stopped walking forward, looked up, and stared into Jiang Cong's eyes.
"I don't know. Maybe half a year, maybe a year. This is a necessary further study, and I can't decline it." Jiang Cong had his hands in his overcoat pockets. His eyes and eyebrows showed a cold elegance. The gold - rimmed glasses softened his aloofness and added a touch of refinement.
"I'll wait for you." Chen Er and Jiang Cong smiled at each other. Although the feeling of parting wasn't clearly expressed, it slowly flowed between them and would never fade away.
Missing is silent. May you be safe.
After dropping off Chen Er, Jiang Cong drove back to the police station.
The seventh day of the first lunar month was also the day he returned to work. Although the Chief Wang had told Jiang Cong that he didn't need to come to work usually and the station would notify him when there was something,
Jiang Cong didn't know where else to go. Before he knew it, he had walked to the police - station gate.
"Professor Jiang? Why are you here so early?" Qin An asked in surprise. She thought she had come early enough, but unexpectedly, someone like Jiang Cong was even earlier.
"Got something to do." Jiang Cong was as laconic as ever. After a brief greeting, he walked towards his office.
A moment later, a head sneaked in furtively. Jiang Cong gave Yang Heng a cold look.
"Hehe." Yang Heng wasn't embarrassed at all for being caught. He opened the door. "Brother Jiang, I heard you're going to be sent on an assignment?"
Jiang Cong gave a non - committal "hmm". Yang Heng waited for a long time but didn't hear anything more from Jiang Cong. So, he had to ask actively, "Brother Jiang, how long will you be away?"
Jiang Cong finally shifted his gaze from the computer screen to Yang Heng standing in front of the desk.
"This is an investigation mission assigned by the capital. I can't tell you the details." Jiang Cong gave a vague answer and still didn't tell Yang Heng the exact time.
Actually, this research trip didn't necessarily require Jiang Cong to go. But when he heard the so - called research location, he voluntarily applied for it.
The research location was very close to Chen Er's hometown. Regarding Chen Huan's case, although a private detective was following up, Jiang Cong, adhering to the principle of comprehensively searching for suspicious clues, decided to go and investigate Chen Huan's past in person.
That's why Jiang Cong told Chen Er that he was going on a research trip, just to divert Chen Er's attention and avoid alerting the enemy. It was time to put his long - delayed investigation on the agenda.