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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Ran began to work overtime frequently, returning home late at night. His dark circles grew heavier, and he appeared utterly exhausted, struggling even with eating and sleeping. Liu Qingqing speculated that perhaps Milly had made excessive demands, or that the mysterious shop boss was manipulating things from behind the scenes.
Taking advantage of Lin Ran's overtime, Liu Qingqing visited the small town again. The café's door was tightly shut, with a notice posted saying the owner was out for an unspecified period. She had imagined more than once how this person might help her—whether as a private detective gathering evidence of Lin Ran's infidelity or by undermining his proud reputation from a professional standpoint.
Another weekend of overtime arrived, and unable to contain her curiosity, Liu Qingqing drove to his workplace without notifying Lin Ran. Since it was the weekend, the entire building was eerily quiet; the security guard was asleep in the lounge, and the front desk was unattended. She remembered Lin Ran's office was on a certain floor, but when she went up, she found the door firmly locked.
A janitor was mopping the floor and noticed her standing at the door. She knew the situation but still asked if anyone was working overtime today. The middle-aged woman thought for a moment before confidently answering, "Someone came in this morning but left about an hour ago. If you need to reach him, you can call."
"Thank you," Liu Qingqing replied as she turned to leave, heading straight to the underground parking lot. Lin Ran had his own car but rarely drove it; this morning he mentioned he would take it for maintenance after work, so he had taken it with him. Although she approached it with a sense of trial and error, Liu Qingqing decided to check the parking lot.
The weekend parking lot was desolate, filled only with support columns and flickering lights. She walked slowly along the edge, and after failing to spot her target in two areas, she planned to leave. Just as she reached her parking spot at the exit, she heard a car driving in.
The occupants of that car did not notice her hiding in the shadows, but she could see clearly—it was indeed Lin Ran's car. The person in the driver's seat smiled brightly, while Milly sat in the passenger seat, cradling a large bouquet of vibrant red roses.
How lovely. Liu Qingqing couldn't help but sneer as she took several photos with her phone until the car disappeared from view. Instead of going home, she found a café to sit down in. The café offered a wide variety of coffee options; she browsed through the menu multiple times before finally ordering an iced Americano.
Bitter and cold—just like her current mood.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated; a new email notification appeared from an unknown sender. The content was simple: several intimate photos of Lin Ran and Milly hugging in the office, with the last two showing them disheveled as they headed toward the restroom. At the end of the email was a small coffee cup icon that immediately reminded Liu Qingqing of that mysterious man.
She wanted to reply but found that the send button was unclickable; clearly, the sender had used some special method.
She repeatedly examined the photos and realized that none of them appeared to be taken from a hidden camera or surveillance angle; they were high-definition images captured from perfect perspectives. How had he managed to get these? Had he really become a private detective?
Sipping her black coffee, Liu Qingqing suddenly pondered a troubling question: how did he find her email address? During her dealings with that man, she had never disclosed her phone number or social media accounts; even payments were made in cash. Had he investigated her thoroughly?
As this thought crossed her mind, those deep green eyes flashed in her memory, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.
Around four in the afternoon, Liu Qingqing finally received a message from Lin Ran. He first apologized for just finishing up some overtime work, then sent her a reservation for a restaurant, asking if she would like to join him for dinner, mentioning that they had some great dishes. Liu Qingqing searched for the restaurant online and found that the average cost per person was around five hundred, with keywords like "trendy," "exquisite," and "Instagram-worthy."
They had never gone to such places before; according to their spending habits, such restaurants were both expensive and unappetizing, suitable only for taking photos to post on social media. She asked Lin Ran about this, and after a while of typing, he replied that a colleague had given him a coupon, so it would be a waste not to use it.
"Come on, this time it's my treat, okay?" Lin Ran's voice message popped up, his tone playful and endearing. Liu Qingqing thought for a moment and replied that she would head over right away. Upon receiving her confirmation, Lin Ran immediately sent a flurry of cute emojis, all ones he had never used before.
If even the slightest hint of something being off was discovered, all subsequent anomalies would become evidence. Liu Qingqing felt a wave of nausea wash over her, as if she had swallowed a fly.
The restaurant was lavishly decorated, with each table adorned with a crystal-clear ornament that looked quite expensive. The waitstaff wore suits with black bow ties and white gloves, gracefully weaving through the guests while carrying trays. When she entered, a waiter immediately bowed and asked if she had a reservation.
Since she was unfamiliar with the process, she arrived about half an hour earlier than Lin Ran. Just as she was about to call him for clarification, a gentle male voice called out from inside. A young man sitting at one of the tables waved at her; he clearly recognized her. However, Liu Qingqing couldn't recall where she had seen him before.
The waiter guided her to her seat, and only after sitting down did she ask who he was. The young man looked like a college student; his soft black hair fell gently over his forehead, and he wore a loose hoodie that gave him a gentle aura. He pushed an adorable rabbit-shaped dessert toward her and smiled as he introduced himself.
"Just call me A Xing. A asked me to wait here for you; he has something to show you."
Liu Qingqing was puzzled. "A?"
The young man smiled and pulled out a napkin from his pocket; it had a black background with a white coffee pattern in the corner that matched the signature from the email she had received earlier. She instantly looked up and met his gaze; he nodded slightly as if confirming her thoughts.
"What does he want to show me?" Liu Qingqing rubbed her nose, already accustomed to this strange name. Just then, the dishes A Xing ordered arrived at the table, and the waiter poured water for her. She declined A Xing's invitation to share the meal, saying she wasn't hungry at the moment. He didn't mind and leisurely began cutting into his steak.
"A little help in escalating tensions," A Xing said slowly as he ate, looking like an adorable little hamster with his cheeks puffed out while chewing quietly. Liu Qingqing didn't understand what he meant by "escalating tensions," but he simply smiled gently and gestured for her to look outside.
Their seats were right by the window, which had one-way glass so that people outside couldn't see in. At that moment, people were bustling by outside when Lin Ran's figure appeared at the escalator entrance; he was looking at his phone while walking and occasionally glanced up.
Just as he reached the glass front, a girl suddenly dashed out from a corner. With long pink hair and wearing a sweet puffy dress, she seemed to be in quite a hurry as she rushed forward without looking ahead. One was focused on his phone while the other wasn't watching where she was going; they collided right into each other.
Lin Ran's phone fell to the ground while the girl stumbled backward from the impact, hitting her elbow on the floor with a dull thud. Thinking it was his fault, Lin Ran hurriedly set aside his phone to help her up.
The girl hurt her hand and tears instantly fell, but she still apologized to Lin Ran, saying it was her fault. She was incredibly cute, with tear-filled almond-shaped eyes and delicate skin that resembled a peeled soft-boiled egg, framed by her pink hair.
"I'm sorry, brother. I wasn't paying attention. But I really have something urgent to attend to. Can I leave you my contact information? I'll compensate you for the phone later; I can cover the repair or replacement costs," the girl said as she stood up, ignoring her swollen arm and repeatedly apologizing to Lin Ran.
Lin Ran's heart softened. Seeing that she was in a hurry, he didn't say much and simply handed her a business card with his number on it. The girl picked up her phone and shoved it into his hand before quickly running off after putting the card away.
Inside, Liu Qingqing noticed a stronger spark of affection in Lin Ran's eyes, a look she had never seen before, filled with primal impulse. After the girl left, Lin Ran didn’t rush away but stood in place checking his phone, then smiled as he sat on a bench outside, seemingly savoring something.
"Not bad, right?" A Xing asked.
Liu Qingqing looked up to see that the boy had finished his steak and was slowly sipping on a cola. She asked what was not bad, and he squinted with a smile, softly replying, "That little girl from earlier."
"Huh?" She was taken aback.
"She is A," A Xing's words made her choke on her drink in disbelief as she pointed outside, unable to speak. A Xing appeared calm and explained that A could disguise herself and change her appearance based on what others liked. Clearly, this colorful cute girl was Lin Ran's favorite type.
Liu Qingqing didn’t pay much attention to his last remark; her mind was still recalling the details of that girl's body. She remembered the man's appearance—though he had a somewhat feminine aura, he could never be mistaken for an entirely cute girl, let alone his height and physical features.
Her confusion went unanswered as A Xing mysteriously told her that A would report back on future developments and would give her a signal when the time was right.
---
The girl crashed into his arms like a gust of wind, bringing with her the sweet scent of fruit candy.
Lin Ran sat on the bench, surrounded by people who seemed to vanish, leaving only the image of that girl in his mind. Liu Qingqing often said she had outgrown the age of trying to be cute; she usually dressed conservatively and didn't want to spend much effort on her appearance. Milly was sexy and had her own understanding of fashion, showcasing every advantage of her body.
But this girl was different; she was like popping candy with her eye-catching hair color and adorable outfit, even adorned with delicate decorations on her face. He noticed she wore a pair of Little Rabbit earrings and colorful acrylic rings on her fingers that read "Love."
The sight of her crying nearly melted his heart. God knew how much he wanted to reach out and wipe away her tears, pulling her into his embrace to comfort her. But she ran away, taking his long-silent soul with her, leaving only the lingering scent of fruit candy in the air—a sweetness that intoxicated him.
Lin Ran began to regret not asking the girl for her contact information. What if she lost the business card, or worse, didn’t want to add him as a friend? A complex mix of emotions swirled within him; he felt as if he were standing in a sea of spring flowers, yet the sky was pouring rain, obscuring everything in a haze. The little rabbit appeared and disappeared, leaving behind only a few soft strands of fur, keeping him rooted in place.
Waiting for the rabbit? He chuckled at himself, putting away his phone, which had only suffered a cracked screen protector, and walked toward the restaurant.
A Xing had already left by the time Lin Ran got up. Liu Qingqing stared at the boy's WeChat account on her phone, somewhat lost in thought. The boy’s profile picture was of A's back, her rose-colored long hair styled into a bun with a red rose pinned on top, making her look like a girl.
The waiter quickly cleared the table in front of her and set it up again with decorations and water glasses. As she looked up, she saw Lin Ran walking in. She waved to him, and he offered a weary smile, explaining that he had been delayed on the way.
If she hadn’t witnessed that earlier scene with her own eyes, Liu Qingqing might have been fooled by his practiced demeanor. She decided to play along, smiling understandingly as she took his hand. “I know you’ve been busy with work lately. You’ve worked hard for our future. But since we’re at such a nice place today, let’s enjoy it. You can order for us, dear.”
With that compliment, Lin Ran immediately became flustered, repeatedly apologizing while quickly grabbing the menu and expertly flipping to a certain page to start ordering.
Earlier when A Xing was eating, Liu Qingqing had glanced at the menu. The restaurant had given each dish an elaborate name for show; even a simple steak had over ten words in its title. She lost interest halfway through but Lin Ran seemed as familiar with it as if he had been there countless times.
Moreover, while ordering, Lin Ran confirmed something with the waiter using his phone. From Liu Qingqing's perspective, it looked like a black card adorned with gold details. Membership and reservations—every detail hinted that Lin Ran’s infidelity had begun much earlier than she had imagined. She smiled in response to his questions while calculating how to completely expose his lies.
She began to miss the coffee from Trouble Cafe; its rich aroma and smooth texture were unforgettable. It was that cup of coffee that had allowed her to see Lin Ran more clearly; her love had faded away, leaving only anger from betrayal. She eagerly anticipated that A would gather enough evidence to deliver a fatal blow, ideally making that third party pay as well.
From Lin Ran’s occasional disappointed expressions while checking his phone, it was clear he was waiting for that girl with pink hair to add him or send him a message. During their meal, both were lost in their thoughts and hardly spoke. Liu Qingqing wondered if Lin Ran sensed her unease but decided to test him.
“A Ran, my friend’s husband is cheating,” she casually remarked as dessert was served. Lin Ran suddenly looked up with exaggerated surprise, gripping his phone tightly as if uninterested in chatting.
Liu Qingqing pretended not to notice and continued, “Yes, they say he’s been cheating with a colleague for several months now. The mistress is trying to take her place and is demanding a divorce.”
Lin Ran’s expression was more dramatic than any actor on television. Liu Qingqing feigned concern and deliberately said what she would do if faced with such a situation.
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Ran grabbed her hand and displayed his most sincere expression of the day: “Don’t worry, my dear. If I ever cheat on you, even if you killed me, I would write in my will that it wasn’t your fault.”
Of course it wouldn’t be my fault. Liu Qingqing smiled back and squeezed his hand. It would always be your fault as the one who betrayed me.
At the checkout, Lin Ran paid the bill. Liu Qingqing pretended not to notice and allowed him to link his arm with hers as they headed out for shopping.
As they passed a jewelry store, Lin Ran went to the restroom, and Liu Qingqing wandered inside. She discovered the necklace that Lin Ran had given her displayed at the counter. The sales clerk explained that the necklace and bracelet were a set, and buying them separately was not cost-effective; purchasing them together meant the necklace would only cost a third of the price.
Anger surged through Liu Qingqing's mind, and she almost wanted to confront Lin Ran right then and there, to slap him in front of everyone.
Just then, her phone vibrated with an email from A. It contained a photo of Milly at a maternal and child hospital, standing next to a strange man, both of them laughing as they looked at her belly.
Milly was pregnant? But from the photo, it seemed the child was not Lin Ran's.
At the same time, A Xing sent her a message, instructing her to go to Lin Ran's company before she finished work on Monday for a significant revelation.
It was as if they had a sixth sense, always appearing with evidence to suppress her anger just when she was about to lose control, even bringing unexpected clues. Liu Qingqing took a deep breath, regained her composure, and walked out of the store.
When Lin Ran emerged from the restroom, he appeared somewhat dazed, as if he had seen something unbelievable. Liu Qingqing approached him and asked what was wrong. The man looked down with a happy smile and said he had just seen an adorable little child in the restroom who wanted to peek into the men's room while being held by his mother.
His expression confirmed Liu Qingqing's suspicion—Milly must have told him about her pregnancy. The earlier conversation about having children was merely a test of his feelings. Whether he truly encountered a child no longer mattered.
Liu Qingqing held Lin Ran's hand and said that one day they would have their own child too, and when that time came, they would dress their little one up adorably and take them out for others to admire.
Lin Ran smiled brightly, insisting that it must be a daughter who could be dressed up like a sweet little princess.
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