Chapter Nineteen: Overstepping One's Bounds

Chapter 19: Overstepping One's Bounds

If it weren't for the intermittent streams of people leaving the cinema every so often, Qin Ruonan might well have fallen asleep in the car. Whenever she felt drowsy, the bustling chatter of the crowds exiting drifted through the car windows, instantly snapping her back to alertness. She would hurriedly peer outside, only to find that after a long wait, the person she was looking for was nowhere to be seen. A momentary panic would grip her, but upon closer inspection, she realized that only a little over half an hour had passed since Tao Yinyin walked into the theater.

After the car engine was turned off, the heater stopped working, and the temperature inside the cabin gradually dropped. Qin Ruonan tucked her freezing hands into her sleeves to preserve her body heat, inwardly mocking herself for whatever nerve had misfired to make her sit here doing something so utterly pointless. Officially, she was not staking out a suspect for a criminal arrest; unofficially, she was not here to catch a cheating spouse either, waiting to expose a husband and his mistress. Tao Yinyin’s legitimate boyfriend, An Changpu, was probably resting at home right now, yet here she was, enduring the bitter cold, waiting to see who the man watching the movie with Tao Yinyin actually was—whether their behavior was overly intimate or strictly platonic.

This probably transcended meddling where one’s business wasn’t wanted; it was sheer absurdity, like a dog catching mice—poking her nose into everything!

Yet, even knowing this full well in her heart, she was unwilling to just start the car and leave in such a murky state of ignorance.

Suddenly, another doubt began to nag at Qin Ruonan. If Tao Yinyin and her companion came out after the movie ended and their demeanor and actions appeared completely normal, then the whole matter would naturally be put to rest. At worst, it would just mean her own thoughts were dirty, prone to jumping to uncharitable conclusions about people. But what if there really was something going on? Should she confront them face-to-face, or sneak a look and leave? Should she tell An Changpu, or let him remain blissfully ignorant?

At this thought, Qin Ruonan felt like giving herself a thorough scolding. Why put herself through this misery! It was simply tying herself in knots; it was none of her business, yet she insisted on bringing trouble upon herself, and by the end of it, she might even end up playing the villain!

Why on earth did anything concerning An Changpu compel her to pay attention, over and over again?! She was truly pathetic!

Could she just give up now and make her escape while there was still time?

Qin Ruonan’s resolve wavered. She reached toward the car keys, only to realize that nature was calling. Doing a quick mental calculation, she realized it would still take a while to drive home from here, and since the cinema was right beside her, she might as well use their facilities, immediately get in her car afterwards, and drive home, washing her hands of this meddling business once and for all!

Having made up her mind, she pushed open the car door, hopped out, locked the car securely, and hurried into the roadside cinema.

A screening had just let out, and the restrooms were packed. Qin Ruonan had to wait in line for a long time before her turn finally came. Having finally relieved herself, she walked out of the restroom, lightly shaking the water droplets from her washed hands. As she crossed the lobby, a woman’s voice reached her ears from behind.

"Wasn't it quite good? Why did we have to leave early?"

The voice was very familiar—crisp, dainty, carrying a spoiled, endearing tone.

"Didn't think it was good. It was so boring I fell asleep," a man’s voice answered lazily, sounding quite arrogant.

Qin Ruonan’s brows furrowed. She was familiar with both of their voices, and felt certain her inner answer couldn't be wrong. Thus, she abruptly stopped in her tracks and turned around.

Tao Yinyin and Zhong Han were walking out of the long corridor leading from the screening halls. The clothes Zhong Han wore were identical to the back of the man Qin Ruonan had seen earlier outside the cinema entrance. With both hands shoved into his jacket pockets, he walked forward with long, confident strides. Tao Yinyin had her handbag slung over one arm, while her other hand was linked through Zhong Han’s elbow. She looked somewhat unsatisfied that the movie hadn't finished, chattering away as she was forced to quicken her pace to keep up with Zhong Han’s long strides.

When the two of them reached the lobby, Zhong Han was the first to spot Qin Ruonan standing there staring at them, completely forgetting how she ought to react. His initially blank and expressionless face first revealed a trace of surprise, then his eyes flickered with a flash of shrewd amusement, and his steps gradually came to a halt.

Tao Yinyin hadn't noticed Qin Ruonan at first. Noticing that Zhong Han had suddenly stopped while walking so well, she halted in a hurry as well, and only then followed Zhong Han’s gaze to see Qin Ruonan not far away.

Upon seeing Qin Ruonan, she didn't panic excessively. Instead, she smoothly and unobtrusively withdrew her arm from the crook of Zhong Han’s elbow, smoothed down a stray lock of hair by her ear, cleared her throat, and looked unconcernedly toward a promotional poster for an upcoming movie in the lobby.

At this moment, should she demand an explanation, or turn around and leave? Qin Ruonan was truly vexed. The tangled dilemma she faced earlier hadn't come with a suitable answer, which was why she had wanted to duck into the restroom and slip away early. Who could have foreseen that human calculations fall short of destiny, and that these two would leave before the movie ended, colliding dead-center with her in the lobby?

The first of the three to react was Zhong Han. He walked a few paces toward Qin Ruonan, turned his head, and said to Tao Yinyin, who was standing motionless behind him, "I'm catching a ride with her. You go back on your own!"

Tao Yinyin said nothing. She nodded, didn't look at Qin Ruonan, didn't speak a single word to her, and walked around the two of them, leaving alone.

"Let's go!" Zhong Han remained utterly indifferent to the dagger-like glare Qin Ruonan was about to shoot at him. Maintaining his lazy demeanor, he walked a few paces toward the exit, looked back to find Qin Ruonan hadn't moved, and was forced to stop and urge her on.

"Why should I go with you?" Qin Ruonan glared at him with displeasure, her tone dripping with hostility. In her eyes right now, this fashionably dressed, handsome man was simply a scoundrel in a scholar's garb—possessing a fine shell while his inside was full of rotting, disgusting flesh.

Zhong Han was unfazed by Qin Ruonan’s attitude. In fact, he pouted with a somewhat aggrieved expression, raised an eyebrow, and retorted, "Don't you want to know what I was doing with Tao Yinyin?"

Qin Ruonan froze, struck momentarily speechless by his question. She did want to know—of course she wanted to know, otherwise she wouldn't have foolishly stewed in the stuffy car for so long!

Having one's appetite whetted and being led by the nose by someone she already disliked and now despised even more—this feeling was thoroughly unpleasant. But curiosity killed the cat, and right now, knowing the answer was what mattered most, especially since they had already bumped into each other.

With that thought, Qin Ruonan threw caution to the wind and strode toward the exit. It wasn't until she got into the car that a question popped into her head: "How did you know I drove here?"

"To be honest, I didn't. I just guessed at random. To think I could guess right even like that—ah, behold, the power of wisdom!" Zhong Han sat in the passenger seat and sized up the interior of the cabin. "Is this An Changpu's car? Whoa! He even lent you his prized steed? The relationship between the two of you is really quite extraordinary!"

"He hurt his ankle today, so I drove his car to make it convenient to pick him up and drop him off. Stop trying to turn things around and blame me!"

"Wait a second!" Zhong Han raised a hand to signal Qin Ruonan not to rush ahead, asking with a perplexed tone, "What do you mean by 'turning things around and blame me'? First of all, I don't think what I just said had any aggressive intent. Second of all, did I do something shameful to be bitten by you?"

"Stop playing dumb! Didn't you just ask if I wanted to know what you and Tao Yinyin were doing together? You can answer that question now!" Qin Ruonan crossed her arms over her chest, glaring fiercely at Zhong Han like a tiger eyeing its prey.

Zhong Han didn't speak at first. He looked at her and suddenly chuckled.

"Look, I'm not a criminal, and your role right now outside of work isn't that of a police officer. Do your attitude and stance really need to be so sharply divided between 'us' and 'the enemy'? It's not hard to answer your question. Where did you run into us just now?" he asked.

Qin Ruonan lifted her chin and pointed toward the car window: "The cinema."

"There you have it! The two of us were at the cinema to watch a movie—what else, fly kites?" Zhong Han wore an amused expression.

"You..." Qin Ruonan’s hands clenched into fists, her teeth biting down hard. It took her a few seconds to master her temper so she wouldn't give in to the urge to slap that obnoxious face of hers across the cheek. "Aren't you friends with An Changpu? Why are you watching a movie with his girlfriend, and even letting her hold your arm?!"

"How was I supposed to know she's An Changpu's girlfriend!" Zhong Han asked, looking thoroughly aggrieved.

"How could you not know! You clearly met before in the Major Crimes Unit, An Changpu introduced you to each other, and Tao Yinyin even brought pastries she made herself for An Changpu!" Qin Ruonan’s memory had always been sharp, so she naturally remembered everything that happened that day vividly.

"Hah, looks like you really do remember. Then think back carefully: did she or An Changpu ever say they were in a romantic relationship? If I remember correctly, Tao Yinyin only introduced herself by name, and as for those pastries she brought, didn't she say she made them for everyone in the Major Crimes Unit to share? Am I right?" Zhong Han asked.

Qin Ruonan was rendered speechless. She mentally recalled the scene from that day, and it indeed seemed identical to what Zhong Han had described.

"Speaking of which, it really is a coincidence. The very first time she asked me out, you happened to run into us. Should I say the world is too small, or that the two of us are just too destined for each other?" Seeing that Qin Ruonan remained silent, Zhong Han mused aloud to himself.

Qin Ruonan had no mood for his glib tongue. She put on a serious expression and warned him sternly, "Even if you didn't know before, you know now. Tao Yinyin is An Changpu's girlfriend. Since you're good brothers, you should know to keep your distance from his girlfriend!"

"Stop overstepping your bounds. Isn't it more appropriate to leave that kind of warning for the male lead to deliver to me himself?" Zhong Han said, casting a glance at Qin Ruonan. "Besides, if they were to break up, you ought to be the one feeling happy about it, right?"