They said it was a vacation for four people.

In reality, though, it was a series of romantic dates, with pairs holding hands. Xiao Hu took Lin Xi’s hand, while Jiang Feng linked arms with Ming Yue; each couple headed off in the direction they preferred—watching the flowing water among the mountains and the rosy clouds in the woods, letting all their fatigue melt away into the forested hills.

When evening fell and they returned home, both Lin Xi and Ming Yue collapsed onto the living-room sofa, staring at one another before bursting into laughter.

It had been a long time since Ming Yue last saw such a joyful smile on Lin Xi’s face.

Of course she was happy for Lin Xi.

Yet amid her happiness, Ming Yue detected a subtle, different undertone.

Still, she didn’t ask a single question, her little face still wearing that lovely smile.

That very night, Gu Yanxing replied to Ming Yue, saying he would send over the information from the private detective Lao Zhang had hired—details about Liu Qingqing and her family—for her to take a look.

Ming Yue flipped through it briefly, then quickly texted Gu Yanxing back, telling him to go ahead and send it as is.

Gu Yanxing simply replied with a single “Okay,” and there was no further word.

Ming Yue put her phone down.

Just then, Jiang Feng happened to finish his shower and stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped only in a towel, drying his damp hair. Catching sight of Ming Yue’s unusual mood, he asked:

“What’s wrong? Did that Gu Yanxing guy say something to you? Did he not do his job properly for you? Just you wait—I’ll go straight over and give him a piece of my mind!”

“No.”

As Jiang Feng reached for his phone, ready to call Gu Yanxing, Ming Yue grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

Jiang Feng looked down. “What’s up?”

Ming Yue gave a faint smile. “It’s not Gu Yanxing. He handled everything really well for me—don’t go picking a fight with him. It’s just…”

It was simply that Gu Yanxing had suddenly reminded her of another man—one who got along famously with Gu Yanxing and had once been very close to her as well.

Fu Qiancheng.

These days, Fu Qiancheng had been relentlessly searching for her, calling her every day without fail and asking around among everyone who knew her, trying to track down wherever she might be… She actually knew all about it.

Lately, Fu Qiancheng’s life had been anything but easy. There had been a man who’d once collapsed physically after she suddenly disappeared, and now, because of her latest disappearance, he’d ended up back in the hospital again—on and off, over and over. Each time he felt a bit better, he’d go out looking for her; when things got too bad, someone would have to rush him back to the hospital.

Ming Yue knew all this, too.

There were even times when she couldn’t help but want to meet him in person.

But for the sake of her grand plan, she ultimately held herself back.

If you hesitate when you should act, you’ll only end up worse off.

As for her relationship with Fu Qiancheng—no matter how it began or how it fluctuated—it had reached a point where it simply had to be severed.

Still, sometimes when she thought about it, her heart would feel uneasy.

Yet she would never let that unease show in front of the man right beside her—especially now that she was slowly realizing she might have developed feelings for him that were different from before. She certainly wouldn’t let him see any of it.

So when Jiang Feng sat down next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and asking, “Just what is it?” Ming Yue curled her lips slightly, took the towel he was using to dry his hair, and, as she helped him dry his locks, spoke softly:

“I just feel a bit guilty toward everyone—because of my own petty little affair, I’ve caused so much trouble for all of you.”

“We’re friends; helping each other is only natural. Don’t overthink it,” Jiang Feng said, pulling her close and gently cooing in her ear.

Ming Yue curled her lips again, offering a faint smile, and continued drying Jiang Feng’s hair. “I know that’s true, but sometimes when you finally have some free time, it’s hard not to start thinking more—and the more you think, the more guilty you feel.”

End of Chapter 203: Counterattack 130