3. Digging Three Feet Deep

A piercing scream from a woman jolted Jun Lingche awake.

That wild girl, so full of energy—clearly, last night hadn’t been enough for her. Jun Lingche mused inwardly, yet he could not suppress a surge of delight.

He opened his eyes, expecting to see Tong Zhenzhen’s delicate, lively face. Instead, the space beside him was empty.

Following the direction of the sound, he looked up—only to be astonished to find Mo Chuchu, the neighbor’s daughter, standing at his bedroom door.

What was going on? Dissatisfaction welled up within Jun Lingche. He sat up straight.

What was wrong with him, that his powers of deduction had deserted him? If it had been the wild girl, would she have screamed like that? Jun Lingche’s reason quickly returned. He frowned, looking at Mo Chuchu, who was still shrieking and covering her eyes.

Where was the blanket for his waist? He realized, to his dismay, that he was completely unclothed, and even worse, the evidence of his arousal was plain to see. Cursing inwardly, he snatched the thin quilt from the floor, wrapped it quickly around his lower body, and stood up.

A pity, really, that Tong Zhenzhen had left before witnessing this awkward scene—her effort to pull back the blanket had not been in vain.

Jun Lingche’s face was as cold as still water, his voice edged with chilling displeasure. “Chuchu, why are you here?”

Blushing fiercely, Mo Chuchu lowered her hands, her voice barely more than a mosquito’s hum. “Brother Che, your door was open. I was worried something had happened to you, so I came to check… I didn’t expect…”

Her gaze landed on his half-naked, lean figure and she was momentarily dazzled, her eyes filled with infatuation. Even so, she deliberately omitted any mention of meeting Tong Zhenzhen at the door.

“I’m fine. Chuchu, you can go now.” Jun Lingche’s words were curt, his tone dismissive.

Mo Chuchu left reluctantly, glancing back at his stern features with every step, her heart full of longing.

As he watched her leave, Jun Lingche caught sight of the chaos Tong Zhenzhen had left behind. Usually so composed, even he felt a spark of anger.

That wild girl—after all these years, she hadn’t changed a bit! He stared at the mocking, crimson scrawls of “Beast” all over the room, clenching his fists.

Did she think she could just mess with him and walk away unscathed? Not a chance! Jun Lingche had thought Tong Zhenzhen would stay and make a scene, especially after he’d taken her first time.

But she’d simply left? Was it really so inconsequential to her?

He didn’t believe it. If she were that frivolous, how could she have remained so untouched?

Long-buried feelings, long ignored, were suddenly reignited, and Jun Lingche could not accept her silent departure.

Now that she’d returned to his life of her own accord, this time, he was determined not to let her slip away.

The long-forgotten impulse surged within him—he had to find Tong Zhenzhen. He dialed his cousin Qin Xiangyang’s number.

“Xiangyang, I need you to find someone for me.” Jun Lingche didn’t realize the trace of excitement in his voice.

Such a subtle wave of emotion did not escape Qin Xiangyang, who had grown up with him. On the other end, Xiangyang’s voice shot up in volume, “Oh my, big brother, who on earth has caught your interest like this? Let me guess—must be a woman? Wow, this is huge…”

Jun Lingche frowned, wishing he could silence his cousin’s endless chatter.

This guy, in front of others, was a stern police captain, but with him, he turned into a gossiping old woman, never stopping once he started.

“Find Tong Zhenzhen,” Jun Lingche interrupted, his head pounding.

“Tong Zhenzhen?!” As expected, Qin Xiangyang shouted, then fell silent for a moment.

Within seconds, though, the flood of questions resumed, as rapid-fire as a machine gun. “Is it the same Tong Zhenzhen who was my desk-mate in junior high? Where did you meet her? Do you have any clues? What does she look like now…”

What does she look like? Instantly, last night’s events flashed through Jun Lingche’s mind.

Last night, he’d been dragged by old friends to “Joy Bar.” On the way to a private room, a disheveled young woman suddenly ran toward them.

She rushed up to him, crying out, “Please, save my friend Zhenzhen! She’s being cornered by a group of thugs!”

Jun Lingche was not one to meddle, especially in such a chaotic place. But the name “Zhenzhen” made him pause.

Moreover, just moments before, he’d glimpsed a woman in the crowd with a red mole between her brows—it had startled him.

Could it really be her, back after all these years?

“Zhenzhen?” He repeated the name inwardly, memories and the image of a vibrant, lively face rushing back.

“Yes, my friend Tong Zhenzhen!” the woman declared clearly.

Perhaps it was the flickering lights, but Jun Lingche sensed something calculating in her eyes, which he disliked. Yet the name “Tong Zhenzhen” compelled him to check it out.

“Lead the way,” he said coldly, sidestepping her attempt to grasp his arm.

The woman broke into a beaming, almost eerie smile through her tears and led the way enthusiastically.

Jun Lingche and his companions followed her into a private room.

Sure enough, several men had surrounded a limp young woman, their hands roaming.

Before Jun Lingche could say a word, his friends had already dragged the men away.

Though the lighting was dim, Jun Lingche instantly recognized the red mole between the rescued woman’s brows.

It was her—Tong Zhenzhen, whom he had known! Though her attire was now alluring and her expression dazed, the curve of her brows was just as he remembered, only more mature and gentle.

As she nearly slipped from the sofa in her stupor, Jun Lingche strode forward and caught her in his arms.

The soft feel of her stirred something within him, brushing the dust off long-buried feelings.

Why was this wild girl wearing such a short skirt? Seeing her exposed pale skin, he felt a surge of discomfort, as if his precious treasure was being shown off to everyone.

So, he gathered Tong Zhenzhen into his arms, bade his friends farewell, and hurried out of the bar.

Outside, the fresh breeze lifted her hair, sending a playful strand to his nose, its unique fragrance awakening all his longing.

Jun Lingche tried to rouse her, but she wrapped her arms around his neck, lips parted invitingly.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Jun Lingche fought his desire and took her home.

What happened next, he only remembered losing control. Whether it was her scent or something else, in the end, he possessed her.

If the previous missed chances had been due to poor timing, this time, he was determined to keep her by his side.

It had been a sweet, unforgettable night.

Recalling the events of last night, Jun Lingche’s lips, usually pressed into a straight line, curved slightly.

“Big brother, are you listening?” Qin Xiangyang’s anxious voice came through the phone.

“Take down this number. Let me know when you find something.” Jun Lingche, almost unconsciously, didn’t want to share anything about Tong Zhenzhen with anyone. He dialed his own number from the phone she’d left behind, capturing her number.

After Qin Xiangyang repeated it, Jun Lingche hung up. For some reason, the delight in his cousin’s voice left him feeling slightly annoyed.

“Tong Zhenzhen, don’t even think of running away!” Jun Lingche muttered fiercely, staring at the carefree, smiling photo on her phone screen.