Be proactive about relying on your ex

Influenced by his memories from just before he died in his previous life and his own guesses, Jiang Nian had jumped to a conclusion. He figured that Cheng Jing had only just left the military and was busy catching up on his studies while building a career, so he had to be single...

But what if he wasn't?

Jiang Nian had only dared to come over and shamelessly ask for Cheng Jing's support because they'd once been together, but why should Cheng Jing accept him?

What made him worthy of someone so wonderful?

Sure enough, even after being reborn, he still didn't have enough brains. He was an idiot!

His heart ached, but Jiang Nian didn't feel wronged. He accepted the reality that Cheng Jing didn't want him around, and after lying on the couch thinking for a long time, he sent Cheng Jing a message:

[Sorry, Brother Jing. I was too forward earlier. How about this? I won't bother you, but could I ask you to help me find an apartment to rent in your complex? A two- or three-bedroom on a middle or upper floor would be fine. If anything happens, you can just look out for me. I don't mind if the rent is a bit expensive.]

If he couldn't move in and rely on Cheng Jing, he could be his neighbor instead. Then Cheng Jing surely wouldn't stand by and watch him die.

Cheng Jing was probably busy. He still hadn't replied by the time Jiang Nian woke up from a nap.

It was already evening. Looking at the chat, Jiang Nian resolved to be proactive about relying on Cheng Jing and sent two more messages:

[Brother Jing, what complex do you live in? If you're busy, I can look for a place myself.]

[Brother Jing, Brother Jing, are you done yet? Let me treat you to dinner~]

But whether he was being perfectly serious or acting cute and silly, Cheng Jing didn't reply.

When Jiang Nian picked up the room service QR code to order food, he suddenly felt a pang of sadness, so he ordered himself sour pickled fish.

Right now, he was sour, useless, and unwanted.

The sour pickled fish tasted great, but the more he ate, the sadder he felt, until tears welled up in his eyes. To avoid wasting it, he could only polish off two bowls of rice through his tears and finish the fish.

It wasn't until the room service attendant had taken away the tray that Cheng Jing sent a reply:

[No need. You eat on your own.]

Jiang Nian read it several times, then typed and deleted several messages. Forget it. Cheng Jing was obviously ignoring the earlier messages on purpose, and it would be rude for an adult to keep pressing for answers.

He'd find an apartment to rent himself, then. Anywhere in the same city would do, and as he thought it over, he already had a place in mind.

His vision suddenly blurred. Jiang Nian didn't know why his tears came so easily, but it hurt so much to remember Cheng Jing holding his broken body and crying out until his voice was hoarse in his previous life.

If only he'd been reborn a little earlier...

Meanwhile, in an office in a commercial building, Cheng Jing leaned back in his chair, looking down as he flipped through a document. His focused expression was a little stern.

His assistant, Huang Qian, sat patiently waiting in a chair in front of his desk. She wore a black business suit, with her hair pinned up and her makeup immaculate. With her bright eyes and white teeth, she looked like a typical urban office worker.

About ten minutes later, Cheng Jing closed the document and looked up:

"All the criminals involved in smuggling and fencing stolen goods have been arrested. The authorities have made their move, and our security assignment is complete too. When is Yang Kai returning to the team?"

Huang Qian glanced at him with a subtle expression and answered:

"I arranged two options: the day after tomorrow or five days from now. He chose five days from now, but the final decision is yours. After all, you have to go back to North City with him and give the boss at headquarters a full report on this assignment."

Cheng Jing glanced at his phone and made his decision:

"The day after tomorrow. The sooner we go, the sooner we'll be back."

He didn't want to go at all unless he had to. Something about Jiang Nian's visit this time felt a little off, and he couldn't put his mind at ease. It was a professional instinct.

That was why assignments involving the authorities were such a hassle. They were the ones who came to ask for help, yet all the procedures and reports afterward were maddening, and he couldn't even turn them down.

Huang Qian shrugged.

"You'll have to tell Yang Kai yourself. The young master wants to spend a few more days with you..."

Yang Kai wasn't just an undercover agent for the authorities. He was also said to be a second-generation heir with connections.

Cheng Jing looked up at her and scrutinized her.

"Assistant Huang, I've noticed you've been making snide remarks a lot lately."

Huang Qian had been his university classmate, wilder than the boys when they were students. She later passed the assessment at the North City headquarters and became his assistant. She looked like a pretty vase, but her abilities matched her looks, and most men couldn't compare.

This time, he had personally worked with the authorities. As an undercover agent, Yang Kai had used their security business to infiltrate an overseas smuggling ring, pretending to be Cheng Jing's lover in the process.

It hadn't been a big deal, but lately, Huang Qian had been talking nonsense nonstop for some reason.

Huang Qian spread her hands.

"What snide remarks? I'm just concerned. You've been widowed for two years, so are you getting ready to remarry?"

Cheng Jing gritted his teeth. "Get lost!"

After Jiang Nian dumped him, he'd changed his social media profile to say he was widowed, making himself a joke among his close friends. This woman had laughed the loudest of all.

"Don't be so fierce..."

The woman leaned forward, eager for gossip.

"It's just that Yang Kai's been asking me about you lately, so I was wondering, after spending months together day and night, could you two have turned your fake relationship into a real one?"

Cheng Jing glared at her.

"You think you can just make up rumors? Spreading rumors about an agent of the authorities like that could land you an iron rice bowl, you know?"

What nonsense. The more of an old hand she became, the less professional she was!

"But I think Yang Kai likes you. It doesn't look like an act. A woman's intuition is never wrong."

Huang Qian sat up straight again, speaking with a ringing conviction that made her sound just like one of those pyramid scheme leaders brainwashing people.

Cheng Jing waved her away in disgust.

"All right, you can go. You get a month of paid leave now that this assignment is over. Hurry up and find someone to date. Your hormones are about to go through the roof."

Huang Qian didn't move. She stared at him for a moment, then put on a serious expression and asked:

"If Yang Kai really does like you, how are you going to handle it? If you handle it badly, it could affect our future cooperation with the authorities."

Cheng Jing answered without hesitation:

"Kill him."

"..."

The capable assistant tactfully got to her feet.

"Your concubine has spoken rashly. Pure love is invincible."

With that, she swayed gracefully out of the office.

Only after the office door closed did Cheng Jing pick up his phone and reply to Jiang Nian:

[I'm going on a business trip in a couple of days. It'll probably be about a week before I'm back. You'd be better off staying at the hotel.]

Quite a while later, Jiang Nian replied with just three words:

[Oh, thank you.]

Staring at the chat, Cheng Jing thought Jiang Nian might be a little unhappy, but his own situation was unusual. He'd deal with it when he returned from the trip.

Besides, they'd only just met again. What harm was there in keeping the little bastard hanging for a bit?

With that thought, he used his security credentials to contact the hotel and asked them to keep an eye on Jiang Nian.

Once everything was arranged, he got up and left the office. Just then, Yang Kai messaged him to say he was waiting downstairs.