Chapter 020 Which Man Gave This to You?

Night had deepened.

Jiang Yao returned home and, as usual, sat at her desk and opened her backpack. She rummaged through it, left and right, her frown deepening the more she searched. The black wallet was missing again!

At some point, someone had even sliced a large hole into her backpack. Jiang Yao tapped her forehead, trying to recall the details, and the memory of walking out of the snail noodle hotpot restaurant surfaced in her mind. A man in black, head lowered, had accidentally bumped into her.

Suddenly, Jiang Yao slapped the table. Most likely, she’d encountered a pickpocket, and her wallet had been stolen by that man.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Yao hurried out the door once more. It took some effort to flag down a car and rush back to the snail noodle hotpot restaurant. When the car stopped at the entrance, Jiang Yao got out to find that the restaurant’s large neon sign had already gone dark.

Closed for the night.

Clinging to her last shred of hope, Jiang Yao knocked tentatively on the door. “Is anyone inside?”

Inside, all was silent; no one responded.

She had no choice but to pull out her phone and dial the police. “Hello, I’d like to—”

Before she could finish, a soft crunch of footsteps sounded behind her.

Instinctively, Jiang Yao glanced over her shoulder, still holding the phone up. Under the dim streetlight, He Yunqing stood quietly, his shadow stretching long and thin beneath the light. Snowflakes drifted down, landing on him and cloaking him in a layer of cool radiance.

It was a scene of rare beauty—like a photograph carefully polished with a vintage filter.

The man looked at Jiang Yao, the corners of his mouth lifting in a subtle, unhurried smile. He stretched out a hand, holding something delicately between his fingers, examining it in the streetlight as if there were no one else in the world.

It was a wedding ring, its diamond glinting brilliantly under the lamp.

“No need, I’ve found it.” Joy surged through Jiang Yao. She ran toward him at once.

“So it was with you,” she said, reaching out to retrieve the ring from He Yunqing.

But his hand deftly curled, closing over the ring and drawing it back into his palm, his gaze utterly at ease as he watched her.

“Do you want it?” he asked.

Jiang Yao couldn’t fathom his intentions but nodded. “It’s very important to me. Please give it back.”

“And what if I don’t?” With that, He Yunqing raised the hand with the ring high above her reach.

Jiang Yao leapt up, trying to grab it. “Give it back to me.”

Just as her fingers nearly grazed the ring, the man suddenly twisted aside, shifting the hand holding the ring out of her reach.

Jiang Yao missed and, in her desperation, threw her arms around He Yunqing, hoping to pin him in place and snatch the ring. The move was rather like someone hugging a tree to climb it.

“What are you doing?” The man bent his head, his sculpted features inches from hers, his breath warm and close.

Jiang Yao froze, glancing down at her own actions. Even through thick winter clothes, she could feel the faint warmth radiating from him.

Perhaps it was the falling snow, or simply the nearness, but the scent of cedar on him seemed even cooler and crisper.

“Ah!” Embarrassment flooded her, and she let go at once. But the ground was slick, and in her panic, she lost her footing. She toppled backward, about to hit her head on the pavement.

At the crucial moment, He Yunqing reacted swiftly, reaching out one long arm to catch her.

Jiang Yao’s body was drawn back, her head bumping straight into He Yunqing’s chest. His chest was firm and taut; she could hear his heart thudding, and felt as if her own heart began to beat in time with his.

“We’re not even friends, and yet you cling so close,” his voice came from above.

Jiang Yao looked up, meeting the mockery and mischief in his eyes.

She hastily stepped back, smoothing her hair and clothes, and said earnestly, “That ring is truly very important to me. Please give it back.”

“Which man gave it to you?” He Yunqing tilted his head, eyes narrowing, the smile at his lips undiminished.

Jiang Yao couldn’t withstand his gaze; she turned away, refusing to answer. “It doesn’t matter—just give it back.”

“Jiang Yao.”

He Yunqing took a few slow steps forward, turning his back on her. “You want to draw a clear line between us?”

Jiang Yao lifted her chin, staring at his back. In front of him, she felt transparent, as if he could see through her every thought with those sharp eyes.

She bowed her head, fingers curling into tight fists.

A boundary had always existed between her and He Yunqing—there was no need to draw it.

Seeing her silent, He Yunqing turned, raising his brows with a wild, unrestrained smile. “But I have no intention of drawing any lines with you.”

Jiang Yao stared at the gentle curve of his smile, unable to decipher his thoughts.

“If I don’t wish to draw a line, then you can’t either,” he said, his tone tinged with possessiveness.

He flicked his hand, sending the black wallet sailing into her arms with a casual, practiced motion.

Jiang Yao caught it quickly, still hoping for the ring.

“The wallet’s yours,” He Yunqing said, “but the ring stays with me.”

“He Yunqing!” Jiang Yao bit her lip.

He Yunqing showed no irritation; in fact, he seemed to relish the way she called his name in anger.

“I told you last time, don’t lose it again.” He ran his long fingers gently over the diamond. “Lost things aren’t so easily found.”

Jiang Yao clutched her hair in frustration. “What will it take for you to give it back?”

He Yunqing arched a brow and strode ahead, speaking leisurely. “I’ll have to give it some thought.”

Jiang Yao’s stride was no match for his; she trotted after him. “I’ll pay you. I can buy it back from you.”

A faint smile played on He Yunqing’s lips. “Not for sale.”

Jiang Yao followed, more deflated than before. “What do you want, then?”

“It’s for your own good,” he teased, glancing at her, his eyes alight with laughter. “What if you lose it again and, in your panic, end up hugging some random man?”

“You—” Jiang Yao’s cheeks flushed crimson, but she could find no retort.

He Yunqing tucked his hands into his pockets, as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh, and tell that friend of yours, Ye—”

“What?”

“I don’t smoke, I rarely drink, I pay my taxes on time, obey the law, have a simple romantic history,” He Yunqing stopped and looked at her, his expression suddenly more serious than ever, “and I won’t ever let you down.”