Lin Wan watched Su Xiao's retreating figure, her brows knitting together.
Was Su Xiao merely curious…
—or had she noticed something?
Or worse—
Was she acting under someone's instructions?
A cold nose nudged Lin Wan's fingers.
Er'gou.
He flicked his gaze subtly to the side.
Their follow-cam operator was leaning against a pillar, sipping water.Camera powered down. Red light off.
Safe window.
Lin Wan understood instantly.
Using the tablecloth as cover, she slipped out the battered old phone Chen Lin had modified — the one capable of receiving temporary encrypted messages.
The screen blinked once.
A new line appeared:
"East side Rose Garden. Third row. Under the white bench.There's something.Avoid marked blind spots (highlighted red).Could be bait. Could be a clue.Use your judgment."
Rose Garden.
East side.
Lin Wan's heartbeat ticked up a notch.
She looked at Er'gou.
He was already watching her.
Blue eyes calm. Focused.
He gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Afternoon Segment – "Garden Tea & Pet Social Hour"
Location: Main lawn.
White-clothed tables. Lace umbrellas. Artificial elegance.
Pets roaming freely. Owners laughing for the cameras.
Perfect chaos.
Perfect distraction.
Lin Wan clipped on Er'gou's leash and smiled at the nearby staff.
"Taking him to… you know."
Universal pet-owner excuse.
No one questioned it.
They strolled casually along the lawn's edge.
Er'gou played his part flawlessly:
Stop. Sniff. Step. Sniff again.
A husky in deep contemplation of territorial diplomacy.
In reality—
Every sense he had was scanning.
East Rose Garden
Quieter.
Fewer tourists.
Endless blooms of crimson, ivory, pink.
The heavy perfume of roses saturated the air, drowning lesser scents.
A natural olfactory smokescreen.
Following Chen Lin's instructions, they located it:
Third row. White bench.
Half-hidden behind a dense cluster of red roses.
Lin Wan's pulse hammered in her ears.
She glanced left.
Right.
No footsteps.
No shadows.
No obvious cameras aimed this way.
Chen Lin's marked blind spot held.
Er'gou moved first.
He sat beside the bench like a stone guardian.
Ears raised.
Eyes sharp.
Body still.
Only his nose moved — sampling the wind like a silent sensor array.
Lin Wan crouched.
Hand sliding under the rough wooden slats.
Dust.
Splinters.
…then—
Contact.
Cold.
Metal.
Her fingers closed around a small object taped beneath the bench.
She tore it free in one swift motion.
A tiny metal USB drive.
No markings.
No labels.
No mercy.
Pocketed.
Smooth.
She rose casually, bending halfway like she was adjusting her shoe.
"Woof!"
A short, razor-edged bark cut the air.
Lin Wan froze.
Er'gou was on his feet now.
Muscles taut.
Eyes locked on the garden entrance.
Soft footsteps.
Light humming.
Sweet, airy, utterly misplaced.
Su Xiao.
Cradling Pudding.
Walking straight in.
Her expression brightened in theatrical surprise.
"Oh? Wanwan-jie? Enjoying the roses too?"
Lin Wan forced a smile.
"Yes. Just walking him."
Inside—
Her nerves screamed.
The USB drive burned in her pocket like molten iron.
Su Xiao approached slowly.
Too slowly.
Her gaze flicked between Lin Wan…
…and Er'gou.
…and finally—
The bench.
"Beautiful spot," Su Xiao murmured.
Then—
She stepped toward it.
Er'gou moved.
One silent stride forward.
Blocking her path.
No growl.
No bared fangs.
Yet the warning was unmistakable.
Low stance.
Tail level.
Blue eyes cold and steady.
A presence that said:
"Not. Another. Step."
Su Xiao halted.
Smile unchanged.
But something flickered behind her eyes.
Calculation.
Irritation.
Recognition?
Pudding shifted uneasily in her arms.
A soft, uncertain mrrp escaping the cat's throat.
"My, Er'gou is very protective," Su Xiao said lightly.
Lin Wan laughed stiffly. "He's just… wary of strangers."
Su Xiao studied the husky.
That gaze again.
Searching.
Measuring.
Then—
She stepped back.
Graceful retreat.
"Well, I won't disturb your walk."
Turning away.
Leaving as elegantly as she'd arrived.
Only after her figure vanished behind the rose hedges did Lin Wan exhale.
Her back was slick with cold sweat.
Er'gou relaxed slightly, but his ears continued to track the fading footsteps.
His nose lifted.
Sniffed.
Toward the direction Su Xiao had gone.
Lin Wan lowered her voice.
"…Did she see anything?"
Er'gou hesitated.
Then shook his head.
Not certain.
But his eyes—
His eyes were clear.
Sharp.
Decisive.
That woman… was trouble.