Chapter 107: Getting Used to It
Wu Yifan's mind felt like a tangled ball of yarn, each thread a question: Han Shishi or Ding Shihan? How had he missed the connection? Beside him, Fu Junyao's mood swung like a pendulum—frustration, worry, anger—all flickering across her face. She knew Ding Shihan's influence stretched far beyond China, reaching into Southeast Asia and Chinese communities worldwide. If the girl in Eastern Coast really was her, the fallout wouldn't just scorch the club; it would ignite a wildfire across Beitian. As Minhe District's police chief, she'd be held accountable.
"You bastard! Why didn't you tell me she might be Ding Shihan?" Fu Junyao rounded on him, her voice sharp with accusation.
Wu Yifan sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. "How would I know? I saved her by chance. She said her name was Han Shishi. I didn't think twice about it. We still don't even know if she *is* Ding Shihan."
"Han Shishi? Ding Shihan?" Fu Junyao froze, then snapped her fingers. "Reverse the characters—they sound almost the same! Are you really this dense? You didn't notice?" Her fists clenched, as if itching to land a punch.
Wu Yifan blinked. *Han Shishi. Ding Shihan.* Now that she said it, the similarity was glaring. He thought back to Liu Mi's odd reaction when she'd seen Han Shishi—*she'd recognized her*. He'd been the only one in the dark. "Dammit," he muttered. "I don't sweat the small stuff. If I'd cared, I would've dug into it. No need to bite my head off."
"Small stuff?" Fu Junyao scoffed. "This 'small stuff' could blow up into a national scandal! If Ding Shihan's hurt here, Beitian PD'll be under investigation. My dad—" She cut herself off, jaw tight. The thought of her father, a man of integrity, dragged into this mess made her stomach twist.
Wu Yifan was about to fire back when movement caught his eye. Two figures rounded the corner—broad-shouldered, alert, their strides purposeful. Aixin and A Long, from Qian Baoqing's earlier order. Without thinking, he grabbed Fu Junyao, yanking her into a shadowed alcove just as the men passed. Her back pressed against his chest, her breath hitched, and for a heartbeat, neither spoke.
"What—" Fu Junyao started to snap, then saw the two men and clamped her mouth shut. Her shoulder brushed his, and she could feel the steady thud of his heart through his shirt. Heat crept up her neck.
Wu Yifan's mind raced. If Aixin and A Long were sent to handle "Han Shishi," following them was the fastest way to find her. He held his breath, listening as the men slowed, their voices low.
"Aixin, why'd the boss call us?" A Long, the burlier of the two, whispered. His tone was gruff, tinged with curiosity.
Aixin, leaner with a sharp, observant face, shrugged. "Director Zhou's here—must be serious. Probably prepping for the cops. They're raiding at 7:30, remember?"
"Cops again? Big deal." A Long snickered. "They never find anything. Waste of time."
Aixin's lips curved into a half-smile, but his eyes stayed sharp. "Qian Baoqing doesn't take chances. Let's just do this."
They reached Qian Baoqing's door, knocked, and entered. Wu Yifan and Fu Junyao inched closer, ears straining.
"Boss, Director Zhou," Aixin and A Long greeted, voices respectful.
Qian Baoqing's voice boomed. "You two—find that girl. The one who looks like Ding Shihan. Move her. Somewhere off-site. And find out if she *is* Ding Shihan. Use whatever means."
A Long's eyes widened. "She's *really* the star?"
"Hope not. But prepare for the worst." Qian Baoqing's tone was grim.
Aixin nodded. "We're on it."
They left, heading for the stairs. Wu Yifan and Fu Junyao slipped out of the alcove, trailing them at a distance.
A Long chattered the whole way down. "C'mon, Aixin—no way that's Ding Shihan. Stars don't hang out in clubs like this alone. Dresses like a kid, too. Probably a groupie."
Aixin said nothing, his brow furrowed. He kept glancing over his shoulder, as if sensing a ghost. When they reached the first-floor landing, he suddenly stopped.
"You two can stop hiding now." His voice was calm, but there was a edge to it.
A Long jumped. "Huh? Who's hiding?"
Aixin turned, his gaze locking onto the corner where Wu Yifan and Fu Junyao lurked. "You think you're clever, following us? Trying to find the girl?"
Wu Yifan's heart skipped a beat. *He knows?* He grabbed Fu Junyao's arm, pulling her deeper into the shadow. She stumbled, crashing into him, and he wrapped a hand around her mouth to muffle her gasp. Her eyes flared—angry, confused—but she stayed quiet.
Aixin waited, his stare unwavering. A Long shifted awkwardly, scanning the empty hallway. "Aixin, you sure? I don't see anyone."
Aixin's frown deepened. "Maybe I was wrong." He muttered, more to himself. "Strange day."
"Told you!" A Long laughed, clapping him on the back. "Eastern Coast's locked down. No one gets in without us knowing."
Aixin nodded, but doubt lingered in his eyes. "Let's go."
They descended the stairs, their voices fading.
Fu Junyao wrenched free, her cheeks flushed. "How'd you know he was bluffing?" she hissed. If Wu Yifan hadn't stopped her, they would've blown their cover. For a moment, she almost admired his quick thinking—almost.
"Lucky guess." Wu Yifan grinned, but internally, he'd gambled: Aixin hadn't sounded certain. It was a trick to flush them out.
"Lucky guess?" She rolled her eyes, then froze. He was still holding her arm, his fingers warm against her skin. She tugged away, but he didn't let go. "Hey! Let go! You got a kick out of grabbing me now?"
Wu Yifan blinked, realizing he was still touching her. The scent of her shampoo—light, floral—lingered in the air, and her arm was soft beneath his hand. He'd acted on instinct, pulling her close to keep them hidden, but now… heat prickled at his neck. He let go quickly, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry. Got used to it."
The words hung in the air, thick with implication.
"Got used to it?" Fu Junyao sputtered, her face turning scarlet. "Used to what? Manhandling me? I oughta arrest you for harassment!" But her anger felt forced, undermined by the flutter in her chest.
Wu Yifan held up his hands, grinning sheepishly. "C'mon, Officer Fu. It's not like that. Just… reflexes."
"Reflexes my foot!" She turned away, pretending to check the hallway, but her ears burned. *Got used to it.* The phrase replayed in her head, annoying and… not entirely unwelcome.
They stood there, silent, the tension between them thickening like fog. Below, a door slammed. Aixin and A Long were moving the girl—they had to hurry.
"Let's go," Wu Yifan said, his voice softer.
Fu Junyao nodded, falling into step beside him. As they crept down the stairs, she stole a glance at him. His jaw was set, focused, but there was a faint smirk on his lips—like he knew exactly what she was thinking.
She elbowed him, hard. "Quit smiling. This is serious."
He laughed, ducking her next swing. "Yes, ma'am."
But as they followed the sound of Aixin and A Long's voices into the basement, Wu Yifan's mind wandered back to Han Shishi—*Ding Shihan*. Why was a star hiding in a place like this? And what would happen when they found her?
Whatever the answer, he knew one thing: with Fu Junyao at his side, chaos was guaranteed. And somehow, he was starting to get used to that, too.