Chapter 195: 106. He smelled her scent and left a kiss (2nd update, 2).
After the morning classes, Shi Nian received a text message from Tang Yanqing, asking her to go to his office.
On the way, she passed by the office building of the university board of trustees. After a moment’s thought, Shi Nian decided to go in.
The secretary of the board came out to greet her and politely asked what she needed.
Shi Nian responded respectfully, "I was saved by Chairman Zhou Guanghan the other day. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to get his contact information at the time, so I can’t express my gratitude. Would it be possible for me to leave him a note in the office to convey my thanks?"
The secretary hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Alright. You write it, and give it to me. I’ll pass it along when there’s a chance to see the Chairman."
He said with an apologetic glimmer in his eyes, "But forgive me for being straightforward, I can’t guarantee when I’ll see the Chairman, so I can’t promise when this note will reach him."
"That’s okay." Shi Nian smiled, "I just wanted to express my gratitude, so no matter when it reaches him, it doesn’t matter."
Having said that, she took out her notebook, and as it wasn’t convenient to go directly into the school history exhibition hall, she simply sat on the stairs at the entrance. She placed the notebook on her knee and began to write.
Her long hair mischievously slipped down from her temples, covering half of her body.
After brief consideration, she chose the most straightforward way to express her feelings: "Thank you for saving my life. If fate allows, I will certainly repay your kindness."
"Student: Nana."
After writing, she neatly tore off the piece of paper.
For some reason, she imagined that someone like Huangfu Huazhang would always use a silver letter opener or a ruler when tearing off a piece of notepaper so that the edges would be neat and as straight as if cut by a knife.
Shi Nian handed the note to the secretary, bowing slightly, "Please, take care of this."
The secretary nodded, "Don’t worry."
Shi Nian then turned and descended the steps. As she turned, her long hair swirled around her, like unfolding a fine piece of silk. Soft and shimmering.
As she stepped down the stairs, she suddenly stopped and looked back at the window on the third floor.
She judged that window should probably be where the Chairman’s office was last time?
But the window was empty and there was no one there.
She frowned slightly, perhaps the previous feeling of being watched—was just her imagination. She then smiled broadly and continued forward.
.
The secretary stood on the porch, holding the note, watching her walk away before turning back and going inside. He carefully locked the large crystal glass door and then ascended the red mahogany stairs to the third floor.
He knocked lightly on the door, "Sir."
The frameless glass door opened silently, and the secretary walked in, his footsteps muffled by the long plush carpet, until he reached the desk where a tall man sat with his back to him, bowing slightly, "It’s a note left for you by that female student."
"Leave it. You may go." Without even turning around, the man issued the order simply and plainly.
The secretary complied silently and retreated, leaving the space in tranquility once more.
Only then did the chair swivel around. Huangfu Huazhang reached out with his long, slightly pale hand and picked up the note from the desk.
But instead of rushing to read it, he brought the note to his nose and took a deep breath.
It still carried her unique scent.
Like a lotus quietly blooming, even that serene fragrance seemed to carry a shy smile.
He sighed silently and unfolded it to read.
It was just a thank you. A small disappointment.
But fortunately, this note also brought her fragrance, her shyness, the glance she cast as she left... more than the words themselves.
He then took the note and stood by the window, at the spot where he could see her before, squinting his eyes, recalling the silken light and shadow of her long hair swirling as she turned.
His eyes darkened, and he couldn’t help but bring the note to his lips and gently kiss it.
.
Shi Nian arrived at Tang Yanqing’s office.
After the intimacy of the morning, now the two of them were alone in the empty office again... Shi Nian felt a bit guilty and chose to sit on the sofa furthest from his desk.
But unfortunately, this was in vain because he immediately got up and walked around the desk, coming to sit beside her.
He was holding two newspapers, the morning editions of "Black Curtain" and "Deep Throat."
She blushed slightly and snatched the Deep Throat manuscript: "Don’t look at my draft. Rest assured, I haven’t disclosed any clues that haven’t been confirmed by your police."
He, however, looked serious: "Comparing the two reports, I prefer yours. This isn’t out of favoritism, I’m just expressing my true feelings. It’s just—you understand, don’t you? This draft could put you at risk of exposing your identity."
"Why?" She looked at him.
"Your perspective, and the way you describe things." Tang Yanqing pointed out between the lines: "Your words create a vivid picture, making people feel as if they’re right there. Besides your high writing ability, it easily makes people think—at that moment, you were at the scene."
"Understood." Shi Nian lowered her head but just smiled lightly: "If that’s the case, it’s something I can’t avoid. If my identity is exposed, so be it. Since I’m in this field, I’ll have to face it sooner or later."
Tang Yanqing raised an eyebrow slightly: "So brave?"
"What good is being timid?" Shi Nian looked up at him: "Sitting at home, maybe a plane will fall from the sky. This kind of risk for uncovering the truth is something I must face, I’m not afraid."
As she spoke, she even stretched out her arm to show her bicep: "I’m a police officer’s daughter, a strong woman you know."
He burst out laughing, couldn’t help but press a finger on her bicep, applied a downward force, making it a bit too much for her to bear, and she withdrew her arm in frustration and glared at him.
"I said I’m a strong woman, didn’t say I’m a pure man. Who’s competing with you?"
He laughed, leaning back against the seat, lazily appreciating the expression on her face.
"Guess what I discovered last night?"
Shi Nian was immediately intrigued, forgetting to keep her distance, she leaned in and asked with bright eyes: "What?"
Tang Yanqing smiled lightly: "Her computer."
Shi Nian narrowed her eyes: "She went online before bed last night..."
"That’s right," Tang Yanqing became serious too, his eyes sparkling behind the black-framed glasses: "I found her login record to Zhou Guanghan’s forum. I’ve already verified with Guan Liang, and Guan Liang cracked her username, which turns out to be a name I’m very familiar with on that forum. That name is a loyal follower of Zhou Guanghan, often grabbing the first post."
.
Shi Nian widened her eyes, covering her mouth.
"So, she could very well be the informant?"
Tang Yanqing nodded: "In pursuit of Zhou Guanghan, she tried every means to find out all of Zhou Guanghan’s movements in both the real and virtual worlds, and then create opportunities to meet."
"Especially after being repeatedly rejected by Zhou Guanghan in reality, she depended more on the two-dimensional world. She desperately tried to increase her charm in the two-dimensional world, hoping to let Zhou Guanghan discover her goodness, hoping to change her dire situation in the three-dimensional world."
Shi Nian paused for a moment: "But didn’t you say that forum is a place where people consume Spirit Mushrooms...but there’s been no sign of Spicy Girl having that addiction. Plus, her financial situation wouldn’t support it."
Tang Yanqing nodded: "So, she turned to others for help."
Shi Nian narrowed her eyes: "...Could it be S?"
"S also uses drugs, so he might be a member of that forum too. Through S, she had prior contact with Zhou Guanghan online, knowing who he is in real life as well. Spicy Girl was eager to enter that forum to catch Zhou Guanghan, so she sought help from S. That’s why she endured S’s bullying for two years, because only by doing so, S would help her get into that forum?"
Tang Yanqing nodded slowly: "Otherwise, knowing Zhou Ping’s fiery character, why else would she tolerate it in silence for two years?"
Shi Nian’s heart couldn’t help but sink.
"In that case, could S also have a connection with Zhou Guanghan? S prefers forbidden Eastern men, wouldn’t Zhou Guanghan’s traits fit her perfectly?" Sean had also once said this to her, but back then, she was wary of Sean and didn’t think much of it.
He spread his hands: "S naturally had this idea, but unfortunately, Zhou Guanghan wasn’t into her type."
Shi Nian nodded: "Yeah, Zhou Guanghan likes shy Eastern girls, akin to the role of a child bride."
Tang Yanqing then laughed: "So given S’s character, do you think she would just swallow her pride after being thwarted?"
Shi Nian shuddered: "Correct, she would seek revenge. But do you really mean that S killed Zhou Guanghan?"
Tang Yanqing didn’t answer directly, just stared into Shi Nian’s eyes.
"Now tell me, why did S choose to have such wild s-e-x with Jack in Zhou Guanghan’s room?"
Shi Nian inhaled sharply: "Because in that room, she could imagine Jack as Zhou Guanghan, which made her especially excited."
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[This weekend, I’ll try to add more updates, don’t worry, alternating between the two～]
Thanks to Lan, Cai for the red envelopes＋monthly votes
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