I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 36: Chapter 34: Returning Home, Cai Qinglian Pays a Visit

September departed, taking the last of the summer heat with it.

During the holiday in early October, Cheng Jue couldn’t come home due to his closed-off training camp.

Su Miaoyi had a cold for a few days at the beginning of the month, so she didn’t go back either.

So, she planned to make a trip back in mid-October.

The evening before she was set to go home, Su Miaoyi stood in front of a shopping mall, handing out flyers.

She turned and saw Zhuang Yanzheng striding toward her.

He was dressed in a sharp suit.

She hadn’t seen him for a while, not since Cai Xi’s case had concluded.

Looking at him now, Su Miaoyi had a sudden realization.

’If a guy has the face and the figure to back it up, there are no limits to his style.’

’He looks good in anything.’

She decided then and there. When she got back tonight, she would have the male lead in her novel dress just like that.

Just as she was thinking this, Zhuang Yanzheng walked up to her.

The words tumbled out of Su Miaoyi’s mouth, ”Getting married today?”

Zhuang Yanzheng glanced down at his clothes and replied, ”It’s my eightieth birthday banquet.”

Su Miaoyi looked at his face. ”Well, you look pretty young for your age.”

Zhuang Yanzheng chuckled and looked at the flyers in her hand. ”Found a job?”

Su Miaoyi handed him a couple of flyers. ”You’re not leaving empty-handed. Take two.”

Zhuang Yanzheng took them and glanced at the text. ”Combat Muay Thai Club?”

Su Miaoyi nodded.

”You started working here?” Zhuang Yanzheng asked.

Su Miaoyi said, ”Nope, I signed up for a few classes. If I help hand out flyers, I get one class free.”

”How long have you been taking them?” Zhuang Yanzheng glanced at her.

”Almost a month now,” Su Miaoyi said.

Zhuang Yanzheng let out a laugh. ”How’s it feel? Think it’s useful?”

”I don’t know.” Su Miaoyi shook her head.

She truly didn’t know.

All she knew was that coming to class gave her more peace of mind than anything else.

The moment she even thought about slacking off and taking a break...

...a voice in her head would start berating her.

’Look at your arms and legs. Someone could snap them with just a little force. How dare you think about slacking off?’

’Your body is useless right now, just a liability.’

’If you rest now, what will you use to fight him the next time you see him?’

As soon as she rested, these voices would bubble to the surface.

It felt like if she rested for even one more minute, she would just drop dead.

Only by staying in motion could she find peace.

The nightmares at night would also become less frequent.

”Boss Zhuang, you should buy a few classes,” Su Miaoyi suddenly pitched. ”Look at your line of work. It’s easy to get into... dangerous frictions with criminals. An extra skill means extra safety. You can never have too many skills. Don’t you agree?”

”Why? If I buy them, will you get a commission?” Zhuang Yanzheng asked.

”Commission or not, he’ll definitely have to give me a few free classes.” The thought of the class fees made Su Miaoyi’s heart ache.

”Not buying.” Zhuang Yanzheng handed the flyers back to her. ”I’m afraid if I go, the instructor will feel so insecure he’ll lose his job.”

Su Miaoyi stared at him. ”...”

She handed him a few more flyers. ”If you’re not buying, at least help me throw these away. And throw them far away.”

Zhuang Yanzheng took them. ”...Give me a few more. I’ll have my parents help you throw some out too.”

Su Miaoyi gave him a few more.

”There’s a family gathering. I’m here to buy a gift,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

”For your eightieth birthday banquet?”

Zhuang Yanzheng clicked his tongue.

Su Miaoyi started to laugh.

Zhuang Yanzheng looked at her. ”You only have a few left. Just have everyone help you ’throw them away’ and go home early.”

”Okay.” Su Miaoyi nodded.

Zhuang Yanzheng went into the mall. By the time he came out again, Su Miaoyi was already gone.

He glanced at the dessert he was carrying.

’She sure left fast.’

...

The next day, Su Miaoyi returned to the old district.

She planned to stay at home for a week.

For the first five days, everything was calm and peaceful.

She would wake up for a morning run, then go with her uncle and aunt to their stall.

In the afternoons, she would go home to write her novel, go to bed early, and wake up early the next day.

Since signing up for Muay Thai, Su Miaoyi had gotten her daily routine in order.

But on the sixth day, the peace was shattered.

That evening, the three of them were having dinner and chatting.

The cat still kept its distance from Su Miaoyi.

Ge Yu looked at Su Miaoyi. ”Miaomiao, I thought you didn’t eat green peppers.”

Su Miaoyi looked down at the half-eaten green pepper in her hand. ”I didn’t. I’m not sure when I started eating them.”

Cheng Yong smiled. ”People’s tastes change. You used to hate cilantro, but now you eat it.”

He looked at Ge Yu.

Ge Yu nodded. ”That’s true. I love cilantro now.”

”Eat whatever you feel like eating.” Cheng Yong pushed the plate of green peppers closer to Su Miaoyi. ”If you’re craving something, it means your body needs it. Eat up.”

”Okay,” Su Miaoyi replied.

A little while later, a sudden knock echoed from outside.

It was a loud, heavy knock.

Su Miaoyi looked toward the door and was about to get up and open it.

Ge Yu quickly grabbed her. ”Miaomiao.”

Su Miaoyi looked at her.

Ge Yu said, ”It’s probably someone looking for your uncle. Let them talk outside. We’ll go back to the bedroom first.”

”Right, you two go back to the bedroom first.” Cheng Yong stood up to get the door.

Ge Yu pulled Su Miaoyi into the bedroom.

Su Miaoyi felt something was wrong, so she listened to the voices outside.

”She’s back?”

Cheng Yong glanced at the three sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table. ”My son is back. He went for a walk with his mom. I was just about to clean up.”

”You really raised an ungrateful wretch, didn’t you? You don’t even know where she lives, and after all this time, she doesn’t even come back to see you.”

”Kids are busy,” Cheng Yong said.

Su Miaoyi listened from the bedroom.

It was Cai Qinglian’s voice.

She immediately opened the door to go out, but Ge Yu held her back, whispering, ”Miaomiao, let your uncle handle it. She’ll leave soon.”

”This isn’t the first time she’s come, is it?” Su Miaoyi asked, looking at Ge Yu.

Ge Yu’s gaze flickered. ”Let your uncle handle it.”

Su Miaoyi patted Ge Yu’s hand reassuringly.

She opened the door and walked out.

”So you are here!” Cai Qinglian shouted upon seeing her, lunging forward to strike.

Cheng Yong immediately stepped in front of Su Miaoyi. ”What do you think you’re doing!”

His roar made Cai Qinglian back down.

Su Miaoyi squeezed Cheng Yong’s arm, then looked at Cai Qinglian. ”What do you want from me?”

Cai Qinglian gave up on the idea of hitting her and glanced at Cheng Yong and Ge Yu. ”I want to speak with you alone.”

”No. If you have something to say, say it here.” Cheng Yong was worried Cai Qinglian would bully her.

”What right do you have to say no? Who do you think you are?” Cai Qinglian sneered at him.

Cheng Yong fell silent.

Su Miaoyi sat down in a chair. ”And who do you think you are? Coming here, shouting and making a scene? Don’t you have any basic manners when you’re in someone else’s home? My uncle said no, and that means no. Either you say what you have to say right here, or you can leave right now and never say it.”

”Su Miaoyi!” Cai Qinglian screamed.

Su Miaoyi took out her phone and placed it on the table. ”Scream again, and I’ll call the police to have you arrested. ’Madam Ji Arrested After Ungratefully Causing a Scene at Her Eldest Daughter’s Adoptive Home.’ I’m sure plenty of people in Jinghai would love to see a headline like that, wouldn’t they? The Ji Family’s rivals would probably laugh themselves awake in their dreams if they saw that news, don’t you think?”

...