Chapter 89: You Did Not Ask Me Out in the Dead of Night Just to Stare at the Stars, Did You?

Li Gang lay there coughing uncontrollably, unable to get back up for a long while.

Song Kai paid him no more attention at all. To Song Kai, men like that were even more detestable than street thugs.

So when he had kicked him just now, he had shown no mercy at all. That blow was enough to keep Li Gang coughing in bed for half a month.

Song Kai drove off with Liu Ying and Huang Yun.

Liu Ying sat in the backseat. When she drew her gaze back from the window, it settled, almost unconsciously, on Song Kai in the driver’s seat.

In her heart, a very special kind of joy seemed to rise.

She could not put it into words, but it was a feeling of pure happiness, of quiet bliss.

Liu Ying did not know what was wrong with her. She had never felt this way before.

At first, back at the gym, when Song Kai had suddenly rushed out and beaten Tang Fu until he was looking for his teeth on the floor, Liu Ying had only felt grateful.

Later, when she learned that Song Kai had even gone to prison because of it, her gratitude toward him only deepened.

But it had been gratitude alone. She had merely wanted to repay him, nothing more.

Yet tonight, Song Kai had stood in front of her and taken the drinks for her, casually downing a full liter of liquor.

He had protected her again, blasting Li Gang, the gaming expert, right between the eyes.

And during the dance, the way he had teased her with such confidence.

Then there had been that last kick, so handsome and decisive, sending Li Gang sprawling.

All of it left Liu Ying a little dazed, and somewhat... moved.

Oh. So this was what it felt like to fall for someone.

An irresistible urge to get closer, an equally irresistible urge to smile, the heart always brimming with a warm sense of happiness and safety.

Liu Ying could not help smiling again.

"Hey, Liu Ying, what are you thinking about?" Huang Yun nudged her from the side.

"Huh?" Liu Ying came back to herself and looked at Huang Yun.

"Hee hee, this is bad, this is bad. Looks like our academy goddess is finally going to have a mortal crush!" Huang Yun laughed.

"What nonsense are you talking?" Liu Ying reached out to grab her.

Huang Yun burst out laughing. "Isn't it? Come on, Liu Ying, are you trying to turn a fake act into the real thing? Hey, Song Kai, you're a lucky man. Don't miss your chance."

Song Kai said nothing from the front.

The two girls in the back went on making a racket.

Song Kai’s lips curved into a smile. This, too, counted as a kind of small happiness.

Huang Yun had drunk alcohol, so she had Song Kai drop her off first, then drove back to Liu Ying’s home.

Anyway, Huang Yun’s brother would not need the car for the time being, and Huang Yun said she would come by Liu Ying’s place the next day to pick it up.

Song Kai sent Huang Yun home, then drove back to Liu Ying’s house.

Liu Qian still had not come home.

Liu Ying stepped inside and smiled brightly at Song Kai. "Song Kai, you were amazing. Thank you so much for tonight."

"No problem."

Liu Ying said, "Then I’ll make you a cup of tea."

"No need."

"Yes, you do need one. You drank so much alcohol."

With that, Liu Ying brewed him a very light cup of Longjing tea.

"I’m going to take a shower first. Song Kai, make yourself comfortable." With that, Liu Ying bounced into the bathroom.

Watching her adorable manner, Song Kai felt his heart stir a little too.

So this was what life as an undercover agent was like—pretty wonderful, actually.

He was still mulling over the thought when his phone rang.

It was nearly midnight. Who would be calling at this hour?

Song Kai glanced at it. It was Xu Ling’s number.

His spirits lifted instantly. He quickly picked up. "Oh? Could it be that you can’t sleep tonight and want to invite me out to look at the stars with you?"

"Yes. Are you free now?" Xu Ling’s amused voice came through.

Song Kai froze, then was instantly overjoyed. Her one word of agreement made him forget Liu Ying in the bathroom completely. He grabbed his car keys and headed outside.

"Of course I’m free. I’m always at your service. Where are you?" he asked.

"I’m at home. You can come pick me up now, hee hee," Xu Ling said.

Song Kai felt as if he were dreaming. "Wait for me. Eight minutes. No—at a time like this, three minutes is enough."

After saying that, Song Kai hung up, grabbed Huang Yun’s car keys, and roared out of the neighborhood, racing toward Xu Ling.

It was almost midnight, and there were very few cars on the road, so traffic was excellent.

Not long after he reached the area outside her neighborhood, Xu Ling walked out wearing a pale red long coat.

"Huh? Whose car is this?" Xu Ling asked curiously as she got in.

Song Kai smiled and said, "I’m undercover these past couple of days, so I can’t drive my own car. I drove this one out from the undercover place. But it’s fine—the interior’s soft enough, and it can still keep you company while we go look at the stars. Of course, if you want our relationship to advance a bit further, say, into backseat antics or whatever, this car can handle that too."

"Shut up," Xu Ling said, lifting her handbag. "If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll knock your head in."

Song Kai quickly hunched his shoulders. "All right, all right. I won’t say another word."

Xu Ling pointed ahead. "Just find some late-night food stall or a café or something. I’ll treat you to a midnight snack."

"Okay."

Song Kai drove Xu Ling forward.

Not far away, there was a late-night coffee shop still open for business.

Song Kai and Xu Ling went inside.

Song Kai said, "You called me out in the middle of the night, and it wasn’t for some car thing or to look at the stars, so what is it exactly?"

Xu Ling sat across from him and smiled faintly, with a hint of pride. Her smile was like a breeze crossing ten miles of spring scenery, leaving Song Kai intoxicated.

"Well, there is indeed good news," Xu Ling said after taking a sip of coffee and nibbling on a piece of cake. "I told you before, because of that image-recognition algorithm issue, I fled the United States and never got my diploma or degree certificate. A couple of days ago, once that hot potato had been sent off, I tried contacting Harvard to see whether they could reissue it for me. And then... they just agreed. They replied to my email and said they could give me another thesis defense, and if I pass, that will be enough."

"That’s all?" Song Kai was a little speechless. "What good is some broken degree going to do you anyway? Aren’t you still going to have to run your family’s company?"

Xu Ling glared at him. "Of course it matters. I’m only twenty. I don’t want to spend my days dealing with those hypocrites in business. If I can, I plan to go to Northern Yan University and study history, to do things I truly like. Maybe in a few years my grandfather will really be ready to retire. By then I can take over the company, and that would at least make up for a regret."

Song Kai nodded. "Mm, that sounds pretty good. If that’s the case, then I have to congratulate you. But that lousy school in the States is really too much—replying to people only at midnight. Their work attitude is obviously terrible."

Xu Ling shot him a look. "If you don’t understand, don’t talk nonsense. The States are on the other side of the earth; right now it’s just their working hours."

"Uh... no wonder." Song Kai scratched his head.

Xu Ling rested her forearms on the table and looked at him. "Song Kai, in a few days, can you accompany me to the States?"

"Absolutely." Song Kai said excitedly. "By the way, you’ll have to cover food, lodging, and travel expenses."

"Of course. No matter what, thank you, Song Kai. If it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t dare go back to that school alone."

"I’m protecting my wife. Isn’t that only right?"

At that moment, the door of the late-night coffee shop opened with a soft click.

At this hour, the whole café only had the one table occupied by Song Kai and Xu Ling.

A woman in a long dress, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a backpack, walked over.

Xu Ling looked up at her, frowned, and immediately rose, shooting Song Kai a quick glance.

Song Kai hurriedly stood as well and took position in front of Xu Ling, sizing up the woman approaching them.

This woman... yes, she was tall and slender, and her style was a little off, the backpack making her look rather odd. But however odd she looked, why had Xu Ling become so tense?

Xu Ling immediately whispered, "Be careful, Song Kai. She’s the female assassin from the last massage parlor."

"Huh?" Song Kai blinked.

The woman stopped in front of him.

Only when she came closer did Song Kai realize that this woman was indeed Gu Ying, the one who had slipped through the net from the Vulture Mercenary Corps.

Song Kai nodded at Gu Ying. "Why are you here?"

"I have to leave," Gu Ying said. "Oh, aren’t you two going to sit down? Buy me one last cup of coffee before I go."

"Fine. Oh, and tonight Xu Ling is paying," Song Kai said with a smile, then pulled Xu Ling over to sit across from him.

Xu Ling found it a bit strange, but with Gu Ying there, she could not ask too much.

Gu Ying drank a cup of coffee and said, "Song Kai, thank you. I have to go now. Oh, and I wore the clothes I borrowed from your friend’s house. They’re a little small, but quite comfortable."

Gu Ying smiled, and in that smile there was a trace of hardship and weariness.

Song Kai nodded at her. "Then I wish you a safe journey. If the outside world is too dangerous, don’t keep forcing yourself to live that kind of life. Go back to the country and enjoy a stable, ordinary life."

"I’ll think about it. Goodbye."

Gu Ying finished her coffee in one gulp, turned, and left.

Watching her back recede, Song Kai felt a little emotional.

"How do you know a female assassin?" Xu Ling asked, staring at him in surprise.

Song Kai smirked. "It’s a long story. Anyway, I happened to save her, and she came to say goodbye. But Xu Ling, how did you recognize at a glance that she was the female assassin from last time? Her appearance, bearing, and looks are all so different."

Xu Ling snorted. "I’ve spent four years working on image-recognition development. I’m pretty good at reading people, too. All right, let’s head back as well. The date hasn’t been set yet, and I’ll discuss it with you when the time comes."

"No problem. I should get back too and continue being an undercover agent," Song Kai said.

When Xu Ling got out of the car, she said to him, "Be careful. If it’s too dangerous, then stop doing all this messy nonsense."

"Don’t worry. Thanks for caring about your husband. You’re so good to me," Song Kai said with a smug grin.

Xu Ling waved him off, exasperated. "I’m only worried that if something happens to you, I’ll have to find a new bodyguard. I’m leaving." She turned and walked toward the neighborhood.

Song Kai stared after Xu Ling’s back and let out a foolish little chuckle. Then he drove quickly back to Liu Qian’s home.

Liu Qian still had not returned. He did not know why that woman worked so desperately, night after night.

Liu Qiang’s room was still brightly lit; that guy was probably staying up all night gaming too.

Song Kai rolled his neck and headed toward his own bedroom.

Inside the bedroom, on his bed, a woman in a nightgown was lying on her side...