Chapter 1588 - 1602: Encountering a Rival in Love

Chapter 1588: Chapter 1602: Encountering a Rival in Love

Lei Xiaojiao’s face flushed in a streak of red. She pinched Zhu Xiaoli and, both shy and annoyed, said, "I—I’m just ordinary friends with him, what happened just now was all because you egged me on, okay?"

"Yeah right, ’ordinary friends’ would buy you that many designer bags? ’Ordinary friends’ would treat you to thousand‑yuan feasts?" Zhu Xiaoli curled her lip in disdain. "And the way he looks at you, it’s obviously full of tender love, feelings rooted deep, so intense he can’t extricate himself but has no idea how to express it..."

Lei Xiaojiao’s heart skipped a beat, but she cut her off with a dark look. "What will it take for you to believe me, huh? There’s really nothing going on between us!"

"Tch, if there’s nothing, then hurry up and make there be something."

Zhu Xiaoli pulled out a limited‑edition LV, stroked it in intoxicated delight for a good while, then lowered her voice. "My dear auntie, good men are a scarce resource these days. Any guy with a bit of money is either butt‑ugly or stingy to death, guarding his measly assets like they’re priceless. They’re just not going to talk real feelings with you."

"And the ones without money, sure, their mouths are full of love and sweet nothings, and they’re all tender caring. But what’s the use? All he can do is put you up in a basement, eat street food with you, and in a whole year buy you one new piece of clothing—some generic stuff fished out of the department store bargain racks. Most importantly, once this kind of broke loser actually makes it, nine out of ten can’t resist the lure of neon lights, money, and beautiful women. You’ve stuck by him through thick and thin and turned into a haggard old auntie, and in the end he just kicks you away. Tsk tsk, just thinking about it feels tragic."

"Wow, your view of love is way too twisted, isn’t it?" Lei Xiaojiao swallowed and stared, dumbfounded.

"It’s not my view of love that’s twisted, it’s that reality is too perverted."

Zhu Xiaoli shook her head, reluctantly slipped the bag back into the shopping sack, and said solemnly, "That’s why, when you run into a good man like Lin Mu—grace, taste, and not blinking at dropping a fortune just to tease out a beauty’s smile—you’ve got to grab hold of him. Miss this village and there’s no next inn."

"Please, you were just saying he had no taste, that he was some miserable loser..."

"What I said just now was just now, this is now... Lei Xiaojiao, what’s with that expression? I’m talking serious business with you here..."

Next, Zhu Xiaoli showed off her "vast erudition," quoting classics and history, enumerating the deeds of King You of Zhou and Bao Si, King Zhou of Shang and Daji, Emperor Tang Ming and Yang Guifei. Her final conclusion: Lin Mu is a good man, with the lingering style of those monarchs who lost their kingdoms.

Screech! Twenty minutes later, the car pulled into the Garden Residential Complex.

Lei Xiaojiao and Zhu Xiaoli weren’t locals of the Pearl River Delta; they only worked here, so they rented a unit together. That was one of the reasons their relationship was so close—after all, living under the same roof for several years, even ordinary friends end up becoming besties.

"Mr. Lin, why don’t you come up and sit for a bit?"

As soon as the car stopped, Zhu Xiaoli stuck her head up front and said in a sugary voice.

Lin Mu glanced back; Lei Xiaojiao deliberately turned her head away, pretending to be cool. He scratched his hair and, tactfully, chuckled. "Thing is, I’ve still got some stuff to deal with, so I won’t go up today. Another time. I’ll be sure to come by and impose when I get the chance."

"Don’t, Mr. Lin. We’re already at the door; if I just go in for a cup of tea it’d sound ridiculous, wouldn’t it?"

Zhu Xiaoli shoved Lei Xiaojiao. Seeing she still wouldn’t speak, she got anxious inside. Her eyes rolled, then she said, "Besides, you bought Xiaojiao so many things, how are the two of us girls supposed to carry them? Just treat it as helping us out—send them up for us, it’s on your way anyway."

"Zhu Xiaoli, didn’t I tell you, all this..."

Lei Xiaojiao’s expression changed; just as she was about to speak, Zhu Xiaoli clapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her out of the car in a few quick tugs.

"What the hell, did I run into some peach‑blossom tribulation lately? Everywhere I go I end up being bossed around by women."

Lin Mu shook his head with a wry smile, but still locked the car, grabbed a dozen shopping bags, and clattered along after them.

"Mr. Lin, don’t mind her. Xiaojiao’s just thin‑skinned—but deep down she really does want to invite you up. Hey, why are you pinching me, am I wrong? Ugh, stop it, we’re on the stairs, you’re going to make Mr. Lin laugh at us..."

Zhu Xiaoli, face flushed, clutched at her skirt, but Lin Mu walking behind still caught plenty of spring scenery.

"Tsk, sexy little leopard print. Girls these days really are wild enough."

Lin Mu turned his head solemnly away, but the corner of his eye kept sneaking glances at Lei Xiaojiao’s round little butt. Unfortunately, the police flower was wearing jeans today—high‑waisted straight‑leg jeans of the triple‑S anti‑wardrobe‑malfunction level. He stared for ages and, aside from those blood‑stirring curves, didn’t manage to catch even a flash of fair skin.

"Xiaojiao!" Just then, a deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded.

At the stairwell entrance, a young man was leaning against the wall. Sword‑brows, starry eyes, jade‑like face, a tall figure that somehow didn’t look skinny. The police uniform on him made him look brimming with heroic spirit, all masculine vigor. Overall, this was a man so handsome it hurt—he perfectly fused the best traits of Goryeo pretty boys and Huaxia tough guys. Any woman who saw him would probably go weak at the knees in seconds, and, unable to help herself, start getting a little damp...

But Lei Xiaojiao was clearly an outlier among women. She frowned and said, "Zhao Tianhao, what are you doing here?"

"I heard you got suspended. I was worried, so I came to see if there’s anything I can help with."

Zhao Tianhao curled his lips into a smile, his tone gentle, but there was a lofty arrogance in that smile that made people uncomfortable.

"No need." Lei Xiaojiao shook her head coolly.

Zhao Tianhao wasn’t a cop in the Pearl River Delta; he worked in the Yangcheng public security system. Strictly speaking, the two shouldn’t have had any overlap. But last year, some leader in Dongguang got a whim and organized a province‑wide police competition. During the unarmed combat event, Zhao Tianhao ran into Lei Xiaojiao, fell for her at first sight, and then launched a frenzied pursuit.

Unfortunately, Lei Xiaojiao had zero interest in this triple champion of the tournament. Several subtle rejections failed, and their relationship settled into this awkward, neither‑here‑nor‑there state.

"Who’s this?"

Zhao Tianhao was already used to Lei Xiaojiao’s attitude. He shrugged and turned his gaze toward Lin Mu.

Lin Mu felt two cold currents sweep across his cheeks, a faint, frosty sting. His heart tightened and his eyes narrowed slightly as he thought, "This guy’s a master too; his Hard Skills are at least at the peak."

Lei Xiaojiao didn’t say anything—it was unclear whether out of disdain or something else. Sensing the atmosphere getting stiff, Zhu Xiaoli laughed and quickly said, "Tianhao, this is Lin Mu, Xiaojiao’s boyfriend. Mr. Lin, this is Xiaojiao’s colleague, Officer Zhao Tianhao. Hehe, we’re all friends here, let’s talk inside. Why are we just standing around?"