Chapter 24: How Wonderful

After hanging up, Lin Wanbai glanced sideways at Fu Juxing before heading downstairs.

It was only then that she realized she hadn’t logged into her email on her phone. Once she did, she found several unread messages waiting for her—reports from the private investigators she’d hired, each sent at different times.

She read them all, but nothing stood out as particularly important.

After a short wait, a new email arrived. Her fingers paused over the screen. She hesitated for a long moment before finally opening it.

Inside were two photos. The first was taken at a hospital—Fu Juxing, wearing a mask and cap, was accompanying a woman into the gynecology department. In the second, dressed the same way, he was leading the same woman into a residential complex.

The name of the complex was clearly visible: Green Court.

Such a fitting name—it seemed everything about it was verdant, even glowing.

Gynecology—truly a sensitive department.

She took a deep breath to steady herself, pulled up the number from earlier, and was just about to call back when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Fu Juxing coming down the stairs.

He was rubbing his eyes, freshly woken, his hair still tousled—a rather endearing sight.

Her phone vibrated, but she hung up without thinking.

Fu Juxing asked, “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You seemed so tired, I thought you could use more sleep. Did I disturb you?”

“No, I woke up on my own.” He sat down beside her.

Feigning nonchalance, Lin Wanbai turned toward him, her gaze unwavering. “Maybe we should skip the food tasting. You look exhausted—it’d be better to rest. Or, if you trust me, let me handle it—I’ll go, and you can stay here and recover.”

“Of course I trust you, but I still have to eat. It’s not much trouble to taste the dishes. It’s not tiring.”

She nodded. “Alright then. Go take a shower, and afterward we’ll head out for dinner together.”

She smiled sweetly, her attitude so warm and accommodating, she might as well have been wagging her tail at him.

They exchanged a look, and Fu Juxing smiled softly, patting her head. “I’ll go shower, then.”

“Go ahead.”

Once he’d gone upstairs, Lin Wanbai stepped outside and returned the call.

The line was picked up quickly. “Miss Lin, what do you think?”

She glanced back toward the second floor, considered for a moment, then walked out of the courtyard, putting more distance between herself and the house. “Did Fu Juxing pay you off?”

“He did, but not enough. He went back on his word. In that case, I can’t cover for him.”

“How much do you think you can get from me now?”

Du Qi chuckled. “I admit I was wrong. How about half the price from last time?”

“Find out everything about that woman—her background, her life, everything. Do that, and I’ll pay you double what I did before. You are not to breathe a word of this to anyone. If I find out these photos end up in someone else’s hands, I’ll gouge your eyes out.”

Her tone was cold, deadly serious.

Du Qi’s laughter vanished instantly. “Of course. That’s the code of a private investigator. As long as the money’s good, I won’t say a word. Not even under threat of death.”

She hung up and gazed into the distance. The little villa perched on a hillside, with a mountain at its back and a lush green lawn spreading out around it—solitary, undisturbed, a winding path leading straight to the resort’s central garden.

A country bicycle stood by the path, its basket filled with flowers.

Everything here was exactly as a young girl might dream—the grass, the trees, every detail.

...

When Fu Juxing finished his shower, he couldn’t find Lin Wanbai anywhere—inside or out, she was gone.

Her phone was off as well.

He activated the resort’s security system, bringing up every surveillance camera to search for her. After about half an hour, he finally found her.

He hurried over. Lin Wanbai was at a small snack shop, trying to buy something to eat but, without any money, had been detained by the owner. By the time Fu Juxing arrived, she was washing dishes and seemed perfectly happy.

Looking closer, he realized the shop owner had a handsome son, home for his school break and helping out.

At that moment, Lin Wanbai was focused on charming the young man, and the two were flirting openly.

Fu Juxing didn’t speak right away. He watched for a while before calling her name.

“Wanbai.”

She stopped smiling and looked up at him. He stood in the doorway, his hair tousled by the wind, dressed in a white shirt and light gray slacks, looking fresh and clean.

The owner noticed and came over. “Are you her friend?”

“I’m her husband.”

At those words, the young man’s face changed, a look of disbelief and disappointment settling in. He stared at Lin Wanbai, clearly upset. “You’re married?”

She raised an eyebrow, wiped her hands with a napkin, and, without answering, walked over to Fu Juxing. With an innocent look, she said, “I didn’t bring any money.”

“Why was your phone off?”

“Probably ran out of battery.”

He paid, apologized to the owner, and led Lin Wanbai away.

They walked in silence. Lin Wanbai took out her phone and, as if nothing had happened, began chatting with friends about tomorrow’s birthday party. She also told Yang Ruyue to bring Han Chen along.

Fu Juxing walked ahead, silent, the sound of her phone ringing every so often behind him—a lively conversation, clearly.

As for the food tasting, they never went. Lin Wanbai was already full. After dropping her at the villa, Fu Juxing went to the restaurant alone to taste the dishes.

When he returned, she’d gone off to the caverns for a spa session.

Though exhausted, he followed and waited for her in the lounge.

He waited for five hours. It was past midnight when she finally emerged, moving slowly and collapsing into his arms. “I’m so tired. I don’t want to walk.”

“I’ve called a car.”

“I don’t want to take a single step.” Eyes closed, she clung to him.

In the end, he carried her out.

Back at the villa, Fu Juxing placed her on the bed. She kept her arms around him, eyes half-closed, and asked, “Are you tired?”

“Not really.”

“Are you angry?”

“Why would I be?”

She smiled, pinching his ear. “You’re wonderful.”

With that, she let go, lay down, and sank into the soft bed, grabbing a pillow to hug. “Good night. I hope tomorrow will be a beautiful day.”