Chapter 1486: You Go Out First/ Getting Awkward Again
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Chapter 1747: You Go Out First
Jing Xiaolu still felt Yang Ming’s searing gaze even though she didn’t raise her head. This made Jing Xiaolu lower her head even more…
During the time when she was very polite with Yang Ming, she used to hope that something ambiguous would happen one day which would improve their relations.h.i.+p
Jing Xiaolu always complained that the heavens wouldn’t help her. Why didn’t a suitable chance appear? When she heard about the accidental kiss between Yang Ming and Zhou Jiajia, as well as the resort’s pipe bursting from Chen Mengyan, Lin Zhiyun and Zhou Jiajia’s conversation, Jing Xiaolu felt amused but also a little envious. Why couldn’t this kind of thing happen to her?
Of course, this kind of thing would only work if it happened by chance. It would lose all meaning if it was done on purpose. Jing Xiaolu also didn’t want to do that kind of thing either. Even though she could create something on purpose, Yang Ming didn’t like girls who constantly schemed. Jing Xiaolu believed that Yang Ming wasn’t gullible. Yang Ming would notice it no matter how well she hid it.
However, Jing Xiaolu didn’t know what to do when the moment really arrived. Not to mention it was such an awkward moment. What a misfortune that Yang Ming witnessed me doing my business. I would much prefer to change it to a kiss or a pipe bursting.
Yang Ming’s heart was also racing. His ability triggered unconsciously. He heard Jing Xiaolu’s thoughts by chance.
Yang Ming was in an intense struggle originally. Should I look, or should I not? However, Yang Ming’s evil thoughts were extinguished when he inadvertently learned Jing Xiaolu’s real thoughts.
Yang Ming couldn’t really bring up these wicked thoughts when facing such a careful and shy girl! Jing Xiaolu was actually still thinking about the progress of their relations.h.i.+p at this moment. Yang Ming was touched by this and was disgusted by his thoughts of taking advantage of someone in a dilemma.
After knowing Jing Xiaolu’s thoughts, Yang Ming knew that Jing Xiaolu wouldn’t say anything even if he peeped at her openly. However, Yang Ming couldn’t do that…
Yang Ming suddenly felt ashamed when he thought about actually having such wicked thoughts earlier.
“I actually just wanted to come in to help you, but I didn’t expect you to be doing your business…,” Yang Ming suppressed his impure thoughts and explained. “And you didn’t even lock the door…”
“How would I know that you would barge in?” Jing Xiaolu complained. “Besides, I also bolted the door…”
“But you didn’t lock it…” Yang Ming came to a sudden realization. The bathroom’s door was really bolted earlier. I just pushed the handle down to open it when I found that I couldn’t open it earlier.
“This is my personal office. I don’t have the habit of locking the door…” said Jing Xiaolu. “Besides, I thought you were waiting for me there. Who could know that you would follow me…”
Yang Ming thought, You didn’t tell me that you were going to do your business earlier. Or else I wouldn’t follow you, no matter how shameless I am. In reality, Jing Xiaolu felt awkward about telling Yang Ming that she would be doing her business. Both of them weren’t so close as to be discussing such a topic. Jing Xiaolu thought that she could make the excuse of retrieving a wiping cloth to clean the office to go to the bathroom. Yang Ming didn’t know it was an excuse either. This was why this awkward scene happened.
“Okay then…it’s my fault. I’m sorry,” Yang Ming smiled bitterly. “Then how can I make it up to you…but I really didn’t see anything…”
“That…,” Jing Xiaolu still had her head down. Her face was burning.
“Just say what’s on your mind…you can’t be thinking about asking me to take responsibility [1], right…?” Yang Ming joked when he noticed the strange atmosphere.
“That…,” Jing Xiaolu was still stammering.
“Xiaolu, you aren’t usually like this. Why are you so reserved today?” Yang Ming got jumpy when he heard Jing Xiaolu say two “That” consecutively. Jing Xiaolu wouldn’t take this chance to make things difficult for me and ask me to take responsibility, right?
Even though he also held some feelings toward Jing Xiaolu, both of them wouldn’t feel comfortable if they got together because of this matter. There would always be that shadow on their relations.h.i.+p.
“That…can you go out first?” Jing Xiaolu finally mustered her courage and said. “I…I need to pull up my pants…”
“Hah?!” Yang Ming’s mouth turned into an O shape in embarra.s.sment. Jing Xiaolu stuttered for so long because she wanted him to go out so she could pull her pants up! Him staying there must have caused Jing Xiaolu to misunderstand that he wanted to keep on looking. Yang Ming’s face felt inexplicably hot when he thought about this. “Xiaolu, ugh…I wasn’t actually thinking of staying here to look. I didn’t think that it would be because of this…”
“En…I know,” Jing Xiaolu naturally didn’t think that Yang Ming did it on purpose. In her eyes, Yang Ming was an indomitable man even if he was a bit of a playboy. He couldn’t possibly do these dirty things or have wicked thoughts.
“Then I’ll go out first…call me when you’re done…,” Yang Ming backed out from the bathroom hurriedly as he said this. He didn’t forget to remind Jing Xiaolu after he closed the door, “Why don’t you lock the door, okay?”
“There’s no need…,” Jing Xiaolu couldn’t think of locking the door now. Wouldn’t that show that she didn’t believe in Yang Ming? Besides, Jing Xiaolu was actually quite happy that Yang Ming was interested in her. It would actually be a tragedy if Yang Ming didn’t have any interest in her body.
After a short time, the sound of water flus.h.i.+ng came from the bathroom. Jing Xiaolu’s voice sounded, “I’m done, Yang Ming. Come in, okay?”
“Okay…,” Yang Ming didn’t dare to be reckless now. He opened the door carefully and glanced inside. Yang Ming only went in when he saw that Jing Xiaoluhad already pulled up her pants.
“I’ll wash the cloth first, then I’ll wipe the table… Can you mop the floor?” Jing Xiaolu requested Yang Ming after seeing him dumbly enter to break the awkwardness between them.
“Oh…okay,” Yang Ming glanced around the bathroom. He then took the mop and dipped it in water before he marched out of the bathroom to mop the floor.
Yang Ming used to do similar ch.o.r.es at home. Naturally he was attuned to it. Jing Xiaolu followed Yang Ming after she washed her wiping cloth and started wiping the table and chairs.
The company’s staff would probably be shocked if they came in at this time. The chairman and the vice president of the company were actually working as janitors.
However, most people would actually think along the lines of. This is probably how they improve their relations.h.i.+p.
Both of them didn’t say anything to each other while they were cleaning up because of that earlier episode. They continued that way until they finished cleaning up and the office looked as good as new. They both returned from the bathroom and plopped down on the sofa.
“Ahem… Let’s talk about business now,” Yang Ming also felt that this atmosphere was suffocating. The earlier scene played in his mind whenever he saw Jing Xiaolu. The sound of water still seemed to flow inside his ears. This made Yang Ming feel reckless. He wanted to lower his head and look through Jing Xiaolu’s clothes with his ability.
“En…,” Jing Xiaolu was actually nervous too. She felt worried. Did my relations.h.i.+p with Yang Ming improve because of this? Or did we drift even further apart because of awkwardness?
“Ugh, look at this portrait,” Yang Ming handed the portrait sent by Pu Daniu to Jing Xiaolu. “A friend of mine is a local underworld boss. He is in the business of smuggling in Bianhai City. Thanks to him, I already know that Liu Xiaolei sought him out with another guy after he escaped to smuggle himself into Russia. However, that guy shot Liu Xiaolei to death on the smuggling boat. He then dumped Liu Xiaolei’s body into the sea. That guy then came back to Bianhai City and vanished afterward.”
Yang Ming briefly explained the ident.i.ty of the guy in the portrait to Jing Xiaolu. Yang Ming’s tone became stern when it came to serious business. The awkward atmosphere earlier was alleviated significantly.
Chapter 1748: Getting Awkward Again
Jing Xiaolu was relieved when she saw that Yang Ming didn’t deliberately distance himself from her because of the earlier episode. It seemed that that earlier thing wouldn’t at least affect their relations.h.i.+p, even if it didn’t improve it.
Jing Xiaolu a.s.sumed her usual professionalism when she thought about this, “Liu Xiaolei is dead?”
Jing Xiaolu was shocked upon hearing Yang Ming’s words. Jing Xiaolu didn’t know that Liu Xiaolei was already dead. This information was only known by Pu Daniu who was the local underworld boss of Bianhai City’s pier, and the cops of Bianhai City.
The Bianhai City Police Department didn’t disclose this matter because of Xia Bingbao’s interference. Who knew what kind of cases were handled by the Supernatural Investigation Bureau? The cases handled by this bureau were usually undisclosed. Bianhai City couldn’t simply disclose this piece of news without Xia Bingbao’s orders even if the person was wanted by the Song Jiang Police Department.
“He’s already dead,” Yang Ming nodded and felt somewhat surprised. “What’s the matter? Is this news not released yet?”
“Not yet,” Jing Xiaolu shook her head. “Logically speaking, the Song Jiang Police Department would notify us ASAP if this matter is true. They wouldn’t hide anything, right? You are the chief’s son-in-law…”
“What does this have to do with me being the son-in-law of the chief?” Yang Ming was half amused, half annoyed. “I can roughly guess the reason for this case being undisclosed.”
Yang Ming could already hazard a guess when he heard that Jing Xiaolu didn’t know about this news. It might be because of Xia Bingbao’s interference
“Oh? Why is it?” Jing Xiaolu asked curiously.
“I asked this favor from a friend. He’s from a mysterious organization in the country. They’re special agents,” Yang Ming didn’t hide anything. He had to tell Jing Xiaolu that he was also a member of this bureau sooner or later. Speaking some parts of it earlier would do no harm. “So Bianhai City Police Department naturally won’t announce this piece of news because of his interference.”
“Ah? What kind of organization is this? Are they actually so awesome?” Jing Xiaolu was a girl who slightly wors.h.i.+pped power. She naturally felt envious when she heard about a bureau that was this powerful.
“Awesome, that’s not wrong…but the missions they undertake are extremely dangerous too. Their agents could die,” Yang Ming smiled bitterly.
“I see…,” Jing Xiaolu s.h.i.+vered when she heard that someone could die. She lowered her head and started examining the fax doc.u.ment that Yang Ming handed to her.
“How is it? Do you recall anything? Have you ever seen this person? Is this person related in any way to Mingjiang?” Yang Ming questioned.
“This person…,” Jing Xiaolu frowned, “Why do I feel that he looks familiar?”
“Looks familiar?” Yang Ming was overjoyed when he heard that. “Then that means you have seen this person before?”
“I probably have seen him before. However, I can’t completely remember where I saw him. Let me think…” Jing Xiaolu closed her eyes and fell into a state of deep contemplation. She would open her eyes occasionally to stare at the portrait unblinkingly.
This portrait painted the general outline of the whole person. Pu Daniu wasn’t paying too much attention to this person’s appearance. His subordinate couldn’t see the person clearly either because of the dark sky. That was why this portrait was not clear even when they combined their memories.
Even the best artist could only make a drawing based on their descriptions. It was already commendable to be able to paint such an outline.
Yang Ming didn’t press her. He only sat at the side quietly and waited for Jing Xiaolu’s answer.
“I feel that this person is a little familiar. I should have seen him before. However, because this drawing lacks details, I can’t currently pinpoint who he is!” Jing Xiaolu sighed. “I can say for sure that this person absolutely isn’t someone I’m close with. I should be able to immediately remember who this person is if I’m close with him.”
“Then you’re not familiar with this person. Maybe you have just seen him once or twice?” Yang Ming asked.
“That’s possible. He might not be someone from theMing Jiang Company either,” Jing Xiaolu nodded. “But I don’t usually come across Liu Xiaolei. I don’t really speak with him either. The company is mostly managed e by Sister Huamei. If this guy is Liu Xiaolei’s friend, I can confirm that I wouldn’t feel that he is a little familiar. So I can confirm that I have seen this person, and he isn’t someone by Liu Xiaolei’s side.
“Oh? So that means you have seen this guy on some other occasions?” Yang Ming was puzzled when he heard Jing Xiaolu’s explanation. Yang Ming’s initial guess was that this guy probably had business dealings with Ming Jiang, or was a friend of Liu Xiaolei.
However, this possibility was denied by Jing Xiaolu’s words.
“Can he possibly be someone from the Jiangyan Group?” Yang Ming asked.
“I can’t be sure about this,” Jing Xiaolu only knew some people in the Jiangyan Group. “How about I ask Sister Huamei to come over take a look?”
“Liu Huamei? Sure. Where is she? Is it convenient for her to come over?” Yang Ming asked.
“She’s in the building right next door. Mingjiang is related to this company. They bought the building beside this one,” Jing Xiaolu dialed Liu Huamei’s number on her phone as she explained.
Liu Huamei was currently sitting in her office and handling company affairs. She was frustrated by recent events. Even though the company managed to sc.r.a.pe through the disaster and were back on track, the bank’s hundred million yuan was still lost. Even though the Ming Yang Group and the Jiangyan Group shouldered the burden and compensated the money, this abyss still suffocated Liu Huamei.
Especially when her grandfather who had always loved and trusted her didn’t call her for so long after the incident. This made Liu Huamei quite crestfallen. Was she really abandoned?
Liu Huamei’s phone buzzed. She took a look at the caller ID and picked her phone up, “Did something happen, Xiaolu? Why didn’t you call the company line?”
“Sister Huamei, I’m currently in the Ming Yang Security Company. Are you free now?” Jing Xiaolu asked. “I have some clues about Liu Xiaolei’s case. Can you come over?”
“Oh? There are clues about Liu Xiaolei’s case? Give me a second then. I’ll be right there!” Liu Huamei straightened her back once she heard that Liu Xiaolei’s case had some leads. She put down her work and said quickly.
“I’m in the vice president office on the top floor of the Ming Yang Company’s building,” said Jing Xiaolu.
“Got it,” Liu Huamei said. “Wait for me.”
“Sister Huamei says that she’ll be right here,” Jing Xiaolu said to Yang Ming after Liu Huamei hung up.
Yang Ming nodded.
However, the atmosphere between both of them became awkward again while waiting for Liu Huamei since they had nothing to do. Both of them unconsciously recalled the earlier episode. Jing Xiaolu lowered her head and didn’t dare to look at Yang Ming.
Things would usually go like this. Both sides would forget their awkwardness when there was something to do. They would recall that same awkwardness once they finished their work.
“Xiaolu, please don’t take the earlier things to heart…” Yang Ming could only force himself to say that to relax the atmosphere. “Actually, that episode earlier isn’t really a big thing considering our relations.h.i.+p…”
“So…what is our relations.h.i.+p?” Jing Xiaolu asked after she felt her heart tugging because of Yang Ming’s words.
“Ugh…relations.h.i.+p…” Yang Ming was stumped by Jing Xiaolu’s question. Yang Ming only said that just now to relax the atmosphere. They both knew what kind of relations.h.i.+p they shared, but they could only feel it and not explain it. It was hard to make it clear even if they really wanted to talk about it
“What? Cat got your tongue?” Jing Xiaolu couldn’t help but chuckle with delight when she saw Yang Ming being so abashed, “Heh…”
“It’s not that. It’s because of this relations.h.i.+p…,” Yang Ming couldn’t find any appropriate explanation for it. “It’s enough if you and I understand it tacitly…”
“En…” Jing Xiaolu had only asked on a whim. She didn’t really want Yang Ming to clarify anything. On the contrary, Jing Xiaolu was also enjoying this inexplicably delightful feeling. She nodded obediently and answered softly…
Yang Ming felt the blood rus.h.i.+ng to his head when he saw Jing Xiaolu’s tenderness. He couldn’t help but hold Jing Xiaolu’s hand softly.
“Pa.”
However, the office’s door was pushed open. Liu Huamei blazed in like a storm, “What kind of clues do you have, Xiaolu…ah?”
Liu Huamei had forgotten to knock on the door because she was engrossed with the clues for Liu Xiaolei’s case and came in directly. She didn’t know that there was somebody else in Jing Xiaolu’s office. Jing Xiaolu didn’t notify her earlier. As a result, she was greeted by an awkward scene of Yang Ming holding Jing Xiaolu’s hands right after she pushed open the door.