Vehicles sped along the road, none showing any intention of slowing down.
Li Qiang glanced at the passenger seat. Zhang Jin’an, who had looked tense just moments ago, was now grinning so widely his smile practically reached his ears. Li Qiang couldn't help but ask, "What’s up with you? Did you win the lottery?"
Zhang Jin’an smoothed out his trench coat and leaned back, looking utterly satisfied. "I wouldn't even be this happy if I’d won the lottery."
"Then let me guess—Siyang’s dad agreed?" Li Qiang said nonchalantly.
Zhang Jin’an gave him a thumbs-up. "Impressive, Qiang-ge. Sharp as always."
Li Qiang looked out the window and chuckled. "It wasn't exactly a hard guess. You don't have anything else to be this happy about right now."
Zhang Jin’an smiled but said nothing more.
The car was a rental Li Qiang had picked up, and it didn't compare to Zhang Jin’an’s personal vehicle. The pungent smell of leather had forced Li Qiang to roll down both back windows.
Normally, Zhang Jin’an would have found it unbearable too, but the good news made everything seem wonderful. Even the smell of cheap leather had become tolerable.
Zhang Jin’an opened Weibo, his entire body relaxing. "Let’s see if there’s anything interesting..."
He headed straight for his own Super Topic. The latest photos were from his appearance at the airport earlier that day, mostly short videos taken on phones.
This was understandable; Zhang Jin’an’s itinerary was never made public. If anyone wanted a photo, they usually had to rely on a chance encounter. Since people didn't typically walk around with "big cannons"—professional long-lens cameras—every day, phone captures were the norm.
"I have to say, kids these days really know how to take photos. Even a candid shot looks good," Zhang Jin’an praised.
[@ZhangJinAnNumber1SportsFan]: #ZhangJinAn# 20151205 So lucky! Ran into Big Brother at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport! [Video]
[@DidYouFollowTheWebNovelToday] replied to [@ZhangJinAnNumber1SportsFan]: Does anyone know what his schedule in Shanghai is?
[@ZhangJinAnNumber1SportsFan] replied to [@DidYouFollowTheWebNovelToday]: Who cares about the schedule?! He’s handsome, and that’s all that matters!
[@SuperwomenUseBlueMoon] replied to [@ZhangJinAnNumber1SportsFan]: Aaaaah, I just took off from Hongqiao—!
[@DidYouGoToTheBathroomToday] replied to [@ZhangJinAnNumber1SportsFan]: I’m floored. What kind of superstar is this? Compared to the passersby, his aura is just in his bones.
[@StopDreamingYourCPisBE] replied to [@ZhangJinAnNumber1SportsFan]: Me, me, me! I was there! I’m the girl in the red hat! I got to shake his hand!! Big Brother’s hands are seriously gorgeous, I’m fainting.
...
Zhang Jin’an was enjoying the comments when he suddenly heard Li Qiang say, "Jin’an, look at that silver-white car behind us. It’s been following us since the airport. I’m afraid..."
Zhang Jin’an glanced in the rearview mirror. Sure enough, a silver-white car was trailing them, maintaining a consistent distance.
If they were just heading the same way, it was a bit too coincidental to stay behind them for nearly an hour without overtaking.
Zhang Jin’an gave a disdainful smirk and returned to his phone. "It’s the end of the year. They’re starting to push for their performance targets."
Li Qiang clicked his tongue. "If only Siwen hadn't resigned, they wouldn't dare try to hit their targets using you. By the way, I haven't seen him in a while. Where did he go?"
Huo Siwen was a magazine editor-in-chief Zhang Jin’an had known for years. He had an incredibly wide network and a stellar reputation, but he had resigned the previous year. His farewell banquet had even trended on social media, with netizens commenting: "Aside from award ceremonies, this is the only banquet that has gathered half the entertainment industry."
"He went to start his own business—opened a small PR firm," Zhang Jin’an said.
"Oh... so what’s the plan? Should I take some detours and shake them off?" Li Qiang asked.
From cursing the first time he was ever tailed to now being able to chat about it calmly, Li Qiang truly embodied the saying: "When a man reaches middle age, his heart settles."
Zhang Jin’an had already thought of a countermeasure. He shook his head. "No need. Let them follow."
"Let them follow?" Li Qiang frowned.
Zhang Jin’an simply asked, "Qiang-ge, do you think a report about going to a friend’s house for dinner would get any views?"
"Of course not. Netizens aren't looking for—" Li Qiang paused, his frown relaxing into a smile. "Oh... I get it. Going to a friend’s house for a meal is perfectly normal. Any reporter with half a brain wouldn't use that as gossip, so they definitely won't publish it. And if they do, it’ll just show us which company they’re from. Our company adding one more name to the blacklist won't hurt."
Zhang Jin’an nodded. "As expected of a gold-star manager. You catch on quick."
"Stop flattering me," Li Qiang laughed, then turned back to business. "Still, being secretly filmed rubs me the wrong way. Whether these people publish the news or not, they don't lose anything. It’s still letting them off too easy."
"Of course we can't let them off that easily," Zhang Jin’an said. "Do you know what the most crucial thing for these people to make money is? They need 'the latest exclusive news.'"
Zhang Jin’an looked at the rearview mirror. "Haven't we been looking for the right time to go public? Now that someone has created an opportunity for us, why wouldn't we use it? I’ll discuss it with Siyang. If he doesn't agree, then the plan is off."
Li Qiang silently praised Zhang Jin’an in his heart. He truly was his artist—just like him, a man of action who didn't waste words. He had real guts.
Before Li Qiang could finish praising himself as well, a voice drifted over from the passenger seat.
"Siyang... I’m being followed... it’s so scary..." There was even a faint sob at the end.
Li Qiang: "..."
If it weren't for the red light that had forced him to brake early, Li Qiang really would have slammed the accelerator to the floor.
Li Qiang took a deep breath and looked at Zhang Jin’an. "Zhang Jin’an."
Zhang Jin’an looked back at him with a smile. "What is it, Qiang-ge?"
Li Qiang: "How do you manage to say those things with such a straight face?"
Zhang Jin’an: "Basic skills of an actor."
Li Qiang’s mouth twitched, but in the end, he only managed to squeeze out four words: "You’re something else."
***
"Tsk tsk, truly a sin. Such cruel methods, a total menace to society. If you ask me, they should just get the death penalty."
The security guard pushed the newspaper toward Jiang Siyang, his finger tapping heavily on the largest headline: *Shocking 'Stranger Murder Case' Finally Solved, Killer Apprehended.*
"That guy is a real lowlife. You saw it just now, right?" As he spoke, the guard pulled his hand out of his hand warmer, opened his thermos, and took two large gulps. "Haa—"
The December weather was freezing. People entering and leaving the community were all bundled up in scarves and gloves, their breath visible as they spoke.
Perhaps because he had grown up there, the elderly residents in the community were very fond of Jiang Siyang, and the guard in the security booth was no exception. Usually, when Jiang Siyang had friends coming over, the security staff would invite him inside to sit.
Jiang Siyang had initially declined, but the guard insisted that not coming in would be a slight against him, and that he wouldn't go easy on Li Guo’an during their next mahjong game.
Jiang Siyang’s first thought upon hearing that was: *So my dad’s mahjong skills are so bad that he needs people to let him win.*
The air conditioning was on in the security booth, making it much warmer than outside. Jiang Siyang kept one hand on the newspaper and the other wrapped around a warm bun. His eyes scanned the lines, and he finished the news report in short order.
Thinking as he spoke, Jiang Siyang said, "Actually, many people turn to crime because certain factors twist their psyche. They are pitiable for having experienced hardships others haven't, but they are detestable for taking it out on innocent people. Doing that makes them no different from those who pressured them in the first place. As for the victims, all one can say is may they rest in peace. I think people who say 'it’s just fate, you can't blame anyone else' are too cold-blooded. If someone had stepped forward to stop it at the time, it might not have ended this way."
"I was just thinking, if you were there, you definitely would have stepped up to help," the guard said.
"Of course. It’s just a small effort, but if you can save one person, you should," Jiang Siyang replied.
The guard shook his head with a click of his tongue, his eyes full of praise. "Truly Old Li’s son. You two are exactly the same. Having been in the military really makes a difference. The way your dad caught that thief—tsk, fast, ruthless, and precise."
Jiang Siyang froze. "What? What thief?"
The guard was also stunned. "You didn't know? Old Li didn't tell you? Just two weeks ago, a girl had her bag snatched right at the community entrance. Old Li was eating at that breakfast place over there," the guard pointed to the pan-fried bun shop across the street. "Your dad was halfway through his meal when he just charged out and kicked the thief right in the back. Fast, ruthless, and precise. Later the police came, and so did the reporters. Old Li wanted to be an unsung hero, but several people eating breakfast knew him and gave the reporters his name. The owner of that breakfast shop admires your dad so much that now, whenever your dad goes there, the owner gives him free food."
Jiang Siyang thought of the two or three bags of food on the dining table. It turned out he hadn't just bought extra; some of it was a gift.
Thoughtfully, Jiang Siyang said, "No wonder. I was wondering why he bought so much."
"You should go back and ask your old man why he didn't tell you about such a good deed," the guard said.
Jiang Siyang shook his head. "It’s fine. My dad choosing not to tell me is his own decision. Since he didn't want to say anything, I’ll just keep it in mind. There’s no need to go and interrogate him."
Jiang Siyang checked his phone and stood up. "Ah, my friend is here. I’ll head out now. Thanks, Uncle Zhou. I’ll come by your place to see your daughter when I have time."
"Alright then! If you’re coming, call ahead. Your big sister will prepare Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish for you," the guard said.
"Will do," Jiang Siyang nodded in agreement.
He opened the door and stepped out. The cold air hit him instantly, making him shiver. He stood by the gate and waved toward Zhang Jin’an’s car.
***
