The wind was getting stronger, Hu Xing hurriedly drove towards Liuying Lane.
The entire Liuying Lane has been demolished, leaving only the building that used to Ruhua Bar. During the day, it serves as the project command center, and at night, Bi Shenghua lives there alone.
That building is an old house. Originally, there were many houses and trees around it, so these low houses weren't too afraid of the wind. Now that it's been demolished and the land is flat, there's nothing left to block the wind. It's a question whether this house can withstand the wind when the Windmill comes.
She notified the engineering department, who arranged for some people to reinforce the house, but she was still worried and planned to bring Bi Shenghua out.
When the car arrived at Liuying Lane, Hu Xing saw a bald man standing on the ruins at the entrance of the lane.
She stopped the car, stuck her head out the window, and the wind blew in with sand and dust, making it hard to open her eyes, but she still managed to see the bald man's face clearly.
" President Hou?" Hu Xing called out to the wind, "What are you doing standing here?"
Hou Biao stood there without moving.
Hu Xing thought he hadn't heard her; the wind was too strong. She moved the car forward, next to Hou Biao, honked the horn, and shouted:
" President Hou! You don't need to be so dedicated, your security company is short-handed!"
She knew that before Qingmu left, he had instructed Hou Biao to take special care of Bi Shenghua. It had been almost three years, and security personnel had been watching the alley entrance 24 hours a day without missing a single day.
However, this area has now been demolished, and apart from construction workers, any unauthorized personnel who come in are immediately visible. Moreover, a wall has been built around it, and there are dedicated security guards at the gate, making it much safer than before. In principle, no special protection is needed.
Hou Biao glanced back, but still didn't say anything. He turned back and stared ahead, in the direction of the old willow tree. Not far behind the old tree was the Ruhua Bar. The tree and the building stood alone, Hou Biao also stood alone, surrounded by ruins made of dismantled bricks and stones.
Hu Xing felt that Hou Biao strangely. He looked silly and blank, especially his eyes, which were very dull, as if he had lost his soul.
But since she wasn't very familiar with him and he ignored her, she didn't know what to say, so she drove off.
Hearing the car, Bi Shenghua came out to greet them, saying, "What are you doing here on this windy day, young lady?"
Hu Xing said, "I was worried, so I came to check."
Bi Shenghua said, "What's there to worry about? I'm here."
Hu Xing said, "I'm just worried about you! If you get blown away by the wind, Master will scold me to death when he comes back!"
Bi Shenghua said, "It's kind of you to still call him 'Master,' it's been almost three years!"
Hu Xing said, "A teacher for a day is a father for life, after all. I formally became a disciple and even presented him with a pork hock."
Bi Shenghua busied herself making tea for Hu Xing. Hu Xing, however, said:
"No need, Sister Hua, I just came to check on things. Why don't you move in with me? I feel really lonely living alone anyway. The house is so big, you can keep me company."
"You should find someone to keep you company," Bi Shenghua said.
"Then you'd better hurry up and get ready," Hu Xing said. "Don't bother making tea; I have plenty of good tea."
Bi Shenghua laughed and said, "I mean, you should find a man to keep you company!"
"Huh? What did you say!" Hu Xing blushed, then her eyes darted around, looking at Bi Shenghua's handsome face and the body hidden under his loose sportswear, and said, "Aren't you just a fake 'man'?"
Bi Shenghua spat and said, "So you've quit being a policeman to become a thug, huh!" Then she added, "You still think about him, don't you? Too bad he's a blockhead; I wonder where he is now."
Hu Xing said, "To say I don't miss him would be a lie, but it's not the kind of thing you're thinking of. From the day I recognized him as my master, I've been very clear about the relationship between us. Even if he's a block of wood, he's your block of wood, and only you can make the block of wood 'bloom.' As for me, I'm an ' Xing'er,' and what I grow will be sour and bitter."
Bi Shenghua was taken aback by Hu Xing's words, and her body relaxed considerably. Since the start of their collaboration on the Mulberry Garden project, the two had become quite familiar with each other and got along very well; now, their relationship had deepened to an even more intimate level.
Hu Xing once asked her whether Qingmu was dead or alive. She was the first and only person to ask such a sensitive question in front of Bi Shenghua, and to ask it so directly.
Bi Shenghua didn't blame her; on the contrary, she admired her straightforward and easygoing nature. Which rich heiresses don't live behind a mask? Very few can live as authentically as Hu Xing.
Looking at the new buds on the old willow tree, Bi Shenghua said with an almost stubborn expression and tone, "He's alive! He won't die!"
Hu Xing was a little distracted while looking at Bi Shenghua, so she patted her on the shoulder and said, "Let's go to my house, and come back after the Windmill has passed."
Bi Shenghua thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, your house is too luxurious, I'm not used to living there."
Hu Xing said, "But it's too unsafe for you to live here!"
Bi Shenghua said, "I'll go stay at the bar for a couple of days. It's been a while since I've seen Xiao Qi and Mo Yu. I'll also see if they've ruined the reputation of my Ruhua Bar."
Hu Xing thought about it and agreed, saying, "Oh dear, I was hoping that with these strong winds keeping me indoors these past few days, I'd have someone to chat with. Now, I'm all alone."
Bi Shenghua said, "You could invite the Beauty to stay with you for a couple of days. The child has grown up now, and her uncle, a criminal police captain, wouldn't know how to take care of a little girl. Besides, I think Shi Dazhuang is a good person..."
Hu Xing said, "They've gone back to Southern Yunnan."
"Oh... we should go back and take a look, it's just a pity..." Bi Shenghua said with a regretful expression.
"What's a pity?" Hu Xing asked, puzzled.
"What a waste of your big house!" Bi Shenghua laughed. " Captain Shi probably has never lived in such a luxurious house."
"That old fogey of his wouldn't live there..." Hu Xing suddenly realized what she was saying, her face flushed red, and she pretended to hit Bi Shenghua, "What are you saying!"
Bi Shenghua laughed and dodged back, "I think you two are a good match!"
Hu Xing chased after her while hitting her, saying, "You're doing this on purpose because you're afraid I'll take the wood from you!"
Bi Shenghua said, "You dare say you have absolutely no feelings for him?"
Hu Xing said, "I have feelings for you, but you won't go even though I've come to pick you up to stay!"
Bi Shenghua said, "I'm not a man."
Hu Xing said, "You're more attractive to girls than men!"
The two chased and joked until they reached the window. Suddenly, Hu Xing glanced at Hou Biao, the bald man, who was already standing under the willow tree.
She stopped, pointed out the window, and said, "Hey, Sister Hua, isn't that Hou Biao? I saw him when I came in just now. I greeted him but he didn't say anything. He looks a bit... well... silly?"
Bi Shenghua walked to the window, sighed, and said, "He's been here for several days now, standing there every day. When I ask him what he's doing, he says Qingmu sent him to protect me. When I invite him in to sit down, he says Qingmu instructed him not to interfere with my life. If I ask him anything else, he won't say anything, as if he's lost his memory."
"Amnesia?"
"Yes, he seems to have forgotten even his own name, only the things Qingmu told him. It's really strange. I asked him what else he could remember, and he only said three words— Yao Jingjing."
Hu Xing was no longer the naive girl she once was. She immediately knew that Hou Biao's consciousness was impaired. The reason he remembered what Qingmu had told him must be because Qingmu had left a deep imprint on his subconscious. As for Yao Jingjing, how much must he care about this woman to still remember her name after his consciousness was damaged!