Chapter 405: Chapter 404: Han Yi Returns
"Yes, Ye Qing is not around during the day, only at night... Oh, right, there’s a house over there that seems unoccupied."
"Which one?"
"The one next to Mei Langchi’s house."
Su Ling excitedly slapped her thigh and said, "Let’s go have a look."
"The door’s locked, we can’t get in."
As Lin Wan spoke, Su Ling pulled her along, cautiously going to the snow-covered entrance to take a look.
Through the gap in the door, they could only see desolation in the yard, completely covered with snow. Three tile-roofed houses, a kitchen, nothing else.
"Sigh, we’re not familiar with this area, we don’t even know whose place this is. If we knew, maybe we could stay for a few days."
"True."
The more they looked, the more suitable this place seemed for surveilling Ye Qing and Mei Langchi.
Just as they finished speaking, they suddenly heard a shout from behind, "What are you two up to?"
Startled, Lin Wan and Su Ling quickly hugged each other and turned around, seeing a fat woman standing behind them.
"Who are you? What are you sneaking around in front of my house for?"
The fat woman’s words made them both extremely happy, and with grins, they said, "Sis, is this house yours?"
"Ah, whose else could it be if not mine?"
Lin Wan nearly burst out laughing. She looked at the fat woman as if she had seen a savior. After some bargaining, the two managed to rent it for twelve bucks a month.
The fat lady mentioned that no one had lived there for two or three months, but the electricity was still connected, only no firewood. Electricity was free, but they had to arrange everything else themselves.
As long as there was electricity, the rest wasn’t a problem. Both she and Su Ling were pregnant and couldn’t do heavy labor, so they couldn’t clear snow from the yard, but tidying up the rooms was manageable.
They were distressed about how to move things over when surprisingly, Yin Peibai came by in the afternoon. In an alley, they happened to run into him as they returned from eating at a restaurant.
"Oh wow, our savior is here." Su Ling, seeing Yin Peibai, was overjoyed and quickly pulled him into the yard where the three of them stayed closed up in the house for an hour, whispering something. Finally, only Yin Peibai left, riding away on a bike. Afterwards, Su Ling and Lin Wan also left.
On their way back, they were followed by someone on a tricycle.
Vegetables, rice, a coal stove, pots and pans, coal balls, coal bricks, everything was there.
Just as they’d finished putting things away, Yin Peibai showed up with two comforters on his bike, clicking his tongue. How women can be crazy when they get together. Just look, in one afternoon, they’d set up a simple household.
The walls of this courtyard were taller than a person, preventing Mei Langchi from seeing into their yard.
Lin Wan placed a wide stool next to the wall, climbing up stealthily to take a peek.
The light in Mei Langchi’s house was on, and the faint sound of a radio could be heard from inside.
Sneaking a look past Mei Langchi’s yard, Ye Qing’s could be clearly seen. Under the dim light of Ye Qing’s kitchen, her busy figure was visible.
Uncertain if she could get a clear shot, Lin Wan cautiously pressed the shutter.
"Xiao Wan, dinner’s ready. Let’s eat first," Su Ling whispered, carrying a few empty bowls from the kitchen to her side.
Seeing Ye Qing would be busy for a while longer, Lin Wan climbed down from the stool and nodded to Su Ling.
The three of them didn’t dare speak loudly in the yard, afraid Ye Qing might hear her voice.
Only inside the house did they relax enough to chat and laugh.
"Thanks to both of you, things went so smoothly today," Yin Peibai helped with the bedding and cooking while Lin Wan and Su Ling tidied up the house and yard.
"No need to thank us. We’re friends, aren’t we?" Yin Peibai replied with a grin.
"Yeah, no need to be formal with us. By the way, Xiao Wan, what will you do once you’ve gathered evidence?"
"Once I’ve gathered evidence, I’ll hold onto it. Someday it will come in handy. Mei Langchi doesn’t like Han Yi, and since they’re both in the military, he could easily make a move against Han Yi. Ye Qing, with her baseless hatred, is unfathomable. Having this evidence might turn the tables one day."
After eating, the three tidied up and headed home.
In the following days, Lin Wan went out early and came back late, neglecting her own business, which her mom was managing for her. Lin Wan spent all day monitoring Ye Qing and Mei Langchi.
The photos taken at night were all dark. Only during the day was she able to capture anything.
But her watch wasn’t in vain; she managed to capture subtle intimate gestures at crucial moments.
For instance, Ye Qing accidentally leaning her head on Mei Langchi’s shoulder. Or Ye Qing "accidentally" grabbing Mei Langchi’s hand. Or Ye Qing "accidentally" falling right into Mei Langchi’s arms. She couldn’t help but marvel at Ye Qing’s seductive skills, something she couldn’t match.
She wondered where Ye Qing had learned such tactics.
Beyond that, Lin Wan overheard something crucial - she’d indeed been deliberately bumped into in recent days, orchestrated by their people.
The people they hired to deal with her hadn’t succeeded because they couldn’t find her.
They were plotting other ways, and from Mei Langchi’s comments, it seemed he wouldn’t be around much longer.
Lin Wan had stayed there for a week. That night, as she was about to go home, having packed her camera and ready to close up, a green silhouette suddenly appeared in the courtyard, startling her so much she almost fell.
Luckily, the green figure moved quickly, rushing over to steady her.
Looking at Han Yi now, Lin Wan felt not just puzzled but also somewhat guilty.
Lin Wan didn’t dare speak loudly, nor did Han Yi, who pulled her back into the house. The door slammed shut tightly.
"How... how did you know I was here?" Lin Wan finally dared look directly at Han Yi, but his face was dark and terrifying.
Suddenly, memories of the past flashed in Lin Wan’s mind—the way Han Yi looked at her in the hospital.
Fearful of Han Yi misunderstanding, Lin Wan quickly lowered her head, anxiously pulling at his sleeve. "Ai Yi, let me explain. I haven’t done anything to betray you. Really, I just came here, just here..." Lin Wan found herself at a loss for words.
Han Yi sighed deeply, "From the moment you left this morning, I’ve been following you. I stayed in this house, your carelessness with security is astounding. Attempting to spy on an experienced soldier was a reckless move. It’s your luck you haven’t been exposed yet."
"Han... Yi, you?" Lin Wan struggled to make sense of his words.
But the next moment, Han Yi embraced her, both pained and helplessly murmuring, "Silly."
"Han Yi, you were here all day? Hiding in the house?" Embraced by Han Yi, Lin Wan finally grasped he wasn’t misunderstanding but was angered by her recklessness.
"I came back at dawn, intending to surprise you. But just as I approached the door, I saw you sneak out... However, I went home briefly at noon to ask Mom some questions. I hadn’t expected you to hide everything from her too."
"I was afraid she’d worry. Ai Yi, I had no other choice but to come here."
"Thankfully, Mei Langchi hasn’t noticed anything amiss. If he knew you were spying, you’d be in serious trouble. Xiao Wan... You don’t need to worry about the issue between me and him. I can handle it myself."
Han Yi thought Lin Wan was tracking Mei Langchi due to the previous incident against him.
"How did you run into him here?" Han Yi was full of questions.
Lin Wan shook her head, wrapping her arms around Han Yi’s waist, unwilling to let go.
"I didn’t run into him; he and Ye Qing are plotting against me..." Lin Wan recounted the recent events to Han Yi.
"Are you saying they’re targeting our child?" Although Han Yi asked, he was already certain in his heart. Unexpectedly, Mei Langchi had designs on their child, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Though there’s no concrete evidence, from what I’ve overheard, it clearly seems to be their doing."
Han Yi furrowed his brows, puzzled by Ye Qing’s motives. "You say that woman is from your village? Then why would she want to harm you?"
"I don’t know. I’m just as baffled by this. I can’t figure it out, but she seems to know you," Lin Wan said, face falling. She pouted, glaring at Han Yi, "And..."
"And what?" Han Yi raised an eyebrow, unsure how he was involved.