Tianzhu waved his hand. "Nothing big. We're moving into our new place today, Jiejie."
Xueli blinked. "Where?"
"That's still a secret, Mom." Vera chimed in, looking way too amused. "And trust me, you will be surprised."
Tianzhu chuckled. "Also, it's within walking distance from here."
She exhaled, relieved. That meant he was staying close, after all.
"Fine. So, where is it exactly?" She asked again.
Tianzhu simply smiled. "Follow me."
"Alright, give me a minute. I'll change and come."
Roughly 15 minutes later, Xueli looked all ready up with her low-key outfit, a sweatshirt, a cap on her head, loose jeans on the bottom, simple sneakers, and minimal makeup.
Vera couldn't help but comment, with her eyes widened. "Wow, Mom. One wouldn't even be able to guess that it is Jiang Xueli when they see you now."
Putting up the sunglasses with a smile, she replied. "When you live 20 years in the industry, my darling, you would know what to wear to escape the notice of paparazzi."
"Well, you don't need all that, Jiejie, but anyway, let's go." Tianzhu shrugged as he turned around to walk away. As Vera jumped down from the couch and followed him, Xueli blinked in wonder. "Is it the adjacent building or something?"
However, soon, she realized why.
Instead of pressing the button for the first floor in the elevator, he led them to the top floor, particularly, the one that says 'P' instead of any floor number that goes from 1 to 51.
Realization dawned.
Her eyes widened. "No way."
The elevator climbed smoothly, and finally, the doors slid open to reveal a private entrance.
Xueli turned to him, half-expecting a joke. "You're kidding, right?"
Tianzhu only smirked and stepped forward, punching in a passcode on the sleek black panel.
With a soft beep, the doors unlocked, revealing the duplex penthouse that had been empty for years.
The only unit of its kind in the building.
The penthouse was the epitome of luxury, spanning multiple levels with opulent Italian marble flooring, handcrafted oak cabinetry, and coffered ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers.
Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows showcased a breathtaking panoramic view of the West Lake, while the lower level housed a state-of-the-art home theater, private gym, spa, sauna, bowling alley, wine storage, and a soundproof office.
Upstairs, the grand master bedroom, additional suites, a formal dining area, a plush living room, and a chef's kitchen exuded luxury.
The crown jewel, however, was the two-tiered rooftop terrace, featuring a lush garden, barbecue station, infinity pool, jacuzzi, and sundeck, offering an unparalleled retreat above the city skyline.
Xueli stepped inside, taking it all in: the high ceilings, the expansive windows overlooking the city, the modern and luxurious design that seemed like it was pushed to the peak.
She turned back to Tianzhu, still processing.
"This place…" she started. "This is the one you were moving in?"
Tianzhu nodded. "Mm."
"Did you buy it or rent it?"
Tianzhu shrugged, "I don't have that much money to buy it, Jiejie. It's just a lease."
Xueli exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "Still, this place should have like millions of credits you have to pay for a two-year lease," she said, staring at him. "You must be quite rich to afford this." She squinted in suspicion.
"Not exactly, Jiejie. I was just hunting for houses, and the realtor informed me of this unit, where the owner intends to rent out the lower floor for 3000 credits monthly rent, and asks for 6 months of advance. I found it lucrative and just went on signing the contract." He exhaled, tilting his head toward the sky for a brief second before looking back at her.
Xueli studied his face, wondering whether he was trying to pull her leg so as not to worry her or if it was really the truth. After all, 3000 credits, even in such an affluent neighborhood, no one would be willing to give it. She plans on meeting the penthouse unit owner later on.
But then again, she didn't say anything to her brother but simply patted his shoulder.
The same evening, in Hangzhou City;
Noa's fingers rested lightly on the steering wheel of her unmarked silver sedan as she drove on a rainy night.
She didn't look back too often.
Once every few minutes was enough.
The black car had been behind her since the outskirts of the Sima district. Same model. Same rhythm. Never overtaking, never drifting too far behind.
Noa's eyes slid to the mirror again.
Still there.
A half-smile curled at the corner of her lips. "The fish bit the bait. Come…" She murmured under her breath.
She didn't speed up. Didn't weave through traffic. Instead, her driving remained casual.
Eventually, she pulled into the underground parking of a twenty-story corporate building, dipped under the motion scanner, and smoothly coasted into a visitor slot.
A hooded figure got down from the vehicle and followed her at a distance.
Noa adjusted her dark coat and casually brushed a few droplets from her shoulder before pressing the button of Elevator 4, which was currently on the first floor.
*Ting*
But just as the door reached the parking lot, her footsteps froze in place. Her face was also frozen for a moment, spotting a familiar young man carrying shopping bags in both hands.
"You…"
At the same time, the other party seemed to be just as surprised as she. "Eh? Noa?"
"HAN. SUNG. JUN…" Her voice turned a bit colder as she stressed each word, looking at him. "Such a small word, isn't it?" Her gaze turned sharp.
Sungjun, on the other hand, let out an awkward chuckle. "It's been a while."
Just as she was about to hiss in anger, she felt something behind her. Glancing toward the source where a bald man was walking toward her, she hurriedly stepped forward, pushing Sungjun back into the elevator and pressing the close button before the number 5 was struck.
"Wha…"
"Don't talk about anything. I'm currently in a police operation. Cooperate with me." She said, although in an icy tone.
Sungjun, surprised by her attitude, couldn't say anything to this woman and simply nodded in silence.
Meanwhile, the man rushed forward but missed the timing. The elevator's doors were closed before he got inside. He kept his eye on the floor indicator. It stopped at 5.
He got in the next one and went up.
But just as the doors opened, he found half a dozen men in suits standing behind Noa. The latter had a smirk on her face.
Then she snapped her fingers.
In an instant, the mana pistols were unholstered as they rushed in, glowing faint blue under the flickering panel light. All of them were aimed straight at the man's chest.
His eyes widened. "This…"
"Don't move," one of the suited men said.
Noa stepped forward, smoothly slipping a compact pair of anti-mana cuffs from her coat pocket. They clicked shut around his wrists with practiced ease.
Up close, she studied his face as she spoke. "You think I don't know that Spiritwood Essence in the mall was used in order to kill me? When you missed it, you should have gone underground, but as foolish as you are, you tried to take a second chance. Hmpf…"
He didn't respond and kept his mouth shut.
She let out a smile as she continued. "Honestly, I didn't expect it to work this easily. I planted teams in three buildings, sealed the upper floors, and even had a fake dispatch team nearby just in case you ran. So much effort for one little rat."
Her tone dropped now, and so did her gaze, turning cold.
"So," she said, tilting her head slightly, "was it Twilight who sent you? Or are you working for someone else? Who is your handler? The quicker you answer our questions, the less pain you will experience."
The man swallowed hard.
But in a sudden move, fast and desperate, he lunged, bringing his cuffed hands up toward her throat.