"Hey, handsome. Someone's paid a fortune for your life. But unfortunately for them, you've caught my eye."
The Jokergirl strutted forward on her high heels. The crisp clicking of her heels against the ground, while usually pleasant, carried an eerie and sinister undertone in the night.
Shen Jianyi curled her lips.
She never expected that a mere 500,000 yuan contract would attract Hongxiu, the fourth-ranked bounty hunter on the wanted list.
But it was just as well. If Ke Yi'an was really Xu Wenji, Hongxiu alone would be no match for him.
She then turned her gaze towards Ke Yi'an.
Ke Yi'an clutched his computer bag tightly and took step after step back. His face was deathly pale, and his voice trembled with fear.
"What... what are you talking about? I don't want to die. I can give you money."
"Sorry, handsome. I've already taken the contract. If I took your money, I'd be breaking the rules."
Hongxiu let out a coquettish laugh.
Shen Jianyi frowned in annoyance.
Hurry up and fight! All this dilly-dallying. No wonder she's only ranked fourth.
As if the heavens had heard Shen Jianyi's complaints, Hongxiu stopped wasting time.
The purple whip in her hand whipped through the air in a beautiful arc, aiming straight for Ke Yi'an.
Hongxiu's whip was no joke.
Shen Jianyi had heard that her whip was coated with poison. One strike from it would be enough to cause serious trouble.
But the more dangerous it was, the better it would be to test Ke Yi'an's true abilities.
If he really was Xu Wenji, he should be able to dodge Hongxiu's whip.
If not... at the last moment, she was confident she could rescue Ke Yi'an.
She watched intently.
The whip came hurtling towards Ke Yi'an.
The terrified expression on Ke Yi'an's face vanished in an instant. He took off his suit jacket and grabbed the whip.
"Wow, handsome. You're quite the fighter."
Hongxiu's interest was piqued, but a glint of killing intent flashed in her eyes behind the clown mask. "But I'm here for the money. Otherwise, I'd have some fun with you."
With that, she yanked the whip back and lashed out at him again.
Sure enough!
A cold glint flashed in Shen Jianyi's eyes, and a sneer curled her lips.
You've been hiding your true strength well, Xu Wenji.
Now that she had her answer, Shen Jianyi didn't want to stay any longer. Hongxiu was no match for Xu Wenji.
She stood up and prepared to leave.
But soon, a familiar figure flashed by below.
Shen Jianyi froze.
GUN... Why is he here again!
Gritting her teeth, Shen Jianyi reluctantly crouched down again. She watched the situation while cursing GUN in her mind.
Why does this guy always steal other people's prey?
Is he a dog or something?!
"GUN, don't tell me you're going to take on such a small bounty contract?"
Hongxiu's smile vanished, and her face was filled with caution as she looked at the man in the black mask.
The man replied coldly, "I'm in a bad mood. I just want to kill someone for fun."
Hongxiu: "..."
Damn you! You're in a bad mood, so you steal other people's prey?
"Don't go too far!"
Hongxiu retorted.
GUN ignored her and strode towards Ke Yi'an.
Ke Yi'an seemed to know the man's strength. He took two steps back and surveyed the surroundings with his gloomy eyes.
The moment GUN was about to attack him, a stone came hurtling down from the sky and hit Hongxiu square on the head.
"Damn it! Who the hell is that?!"
Hongxiu was furious.
She had finally managed to get a contract, but not only was the prey stolen by GUN, but she also got hit by a stone.
Was she really that unlucky?
GUN and Hongxiu both looked up at the roof. There, a black figure stood, her long hair fluttering in the windless night.
She pointed at Ke Yi'an and then at her own chest.
The three people below instantly understood her meaning - this guy is mine.
Hongxiu was almost fuming with anger.
First GUN showed up, and now Honghu?
Do they all think she's easy to bully?
"Damn it! You two lovebirds are here to bully me, aren't you? One after the other. People might think you two have something going on."
Hongxiu cursed. Suddenly, she felt two cold and cruel gazes on her. She then realized what she had said.
Everyone knew that GUN and Honghu were bitter enemies. In her anger, she had blurted out what was on her mind.
"Tsk. Today's prey is him. It has nothing to do with me. You two can play as you like. I don't want the money. Okay?"
With that, Hongxiu put away her whip and made a hasty exit.
GUN looked up at the roof.
The black figure still stood in the distance. Her face was obscured by the night.
He was about to speak when his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He took it out, glanced at it, and then smiled. He turned around and left.
On the roof, Shen Jianyi heaved a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness. On a whim, she had canceled the bounty contract. Although she had to pay a 100,000 yuan penalty, it was worth it compared to Xu Wenji's life.
After all, they still hadn't found the whereabouts of the chip.
And Xu Wenji's fate should be decided by the professor.
She glanced at the people in the alley, smiled, and then disappeared into the night.
...
When Shen Jianyi returned, it was almost eleven o'clock.
She climbed over the wall with ease and slipped into her room through the window.
She changed her clothes and left the bedroom. Only then did she realize that Lu Jinsheng wasn't at home.
"The young master received a call and went out."
Sister Gu explained.
"Okay."
Shen Jianyi replied lazily and sat on the sofa, waiting for him to come back.
When Lu Jinsheng returned, he saw Shen Jianyi curled up on the sofa with a pillow in her arms. Her small body was hunched up, and her hands were clenched into fists as if she was feeling insecure.
He sighed and picked her up.
"You're back."
She leaned against his chest and sniffed. She smelled the fresh scent of body wash.
Her drowsiness instantly vanished.
She looked up at his handsome profile with a scrutinizing gaze.
Lu Jinsheng looked down at her. "What's wrong?"
Shen Jianyi didn't say a word. The strange look on her face grew stronger.
"Hmm?"
Seeing that she didn't answer, Lu Jinsheng asked again.
He sat down on the bed, looking puzzled. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
After a long while, Shen Jianyi frowned and said stiffly, "Lu Jinsheng, have you been having an affair?"
"..."
Lu Jinsheng looked completely bewildered.
Shen Jianyi snorted and sniffed his chest.
"The smell of body wash. You took a shower outside and changed your clothes. You were wearing a white striped shirt today, not a black one or a plain one. Come on, Lu Jinsheng. Confess."
Shen Jianyi jumped out of his arms in a huff, looking as if she wouldn't talk to him until he confessed.