Though shy, Wang Keyan made sure Li Ming heard her confession loud and clear.
But Li Ming was utterly conflicted.
Feeling blood rush to his head, he hastily pulled the car over, unbuckled his seatbelt, and fled outside.
Gulping the fresh forest air, he finally calmed down slightly.
He never expected Wang Keyan—who usually acted as timid as a quail around him—to blurt out such bold, provocative words!
Li Ming had rushed out of the car to avoid accidentally triggering a "mission."
Inside the car, Wang Keyan giggled from the passenger seat, watching Li Ming flee in panic.
She suddenly found it endearing how Li Ming, despite his habit of sneaking glances at her feet, would get flustered and blush when she actually showed them to him. Her fondness for him grew even stronger.
"Brother Li! Are you done yet? Don’t you have urgent business? Come back already~ I won’t tease you anymore!" Wang Keyan called after his retreating figure.
Li Ming took a few more deep breaths before returning to the car and resuming the drive.
"Keyan, you’re still young. There are things you don’t understand yet. When you’re older, you’ll regret saying what you did today."
Wang Keyan smiled and nodded, not bothering to argue.
"Sure, sure, Brother Li, you’re always right! But I’ll only say these things to you and show myself to you! Other men aren’t worth my time. And I’ll never regret anything I say to you!"
Li Ming shook his head helplessly. There was no winning with Wang Keyan. He stepped on the gas, stealing glances at the pair of slender legs resting against the windshield while pressing harder on the accelerator.
What should’ve been a half-day trip was cut in half—not because he wanted to speed, but because the temptation before him was too much. After just a short while, his body began reacting, and he had to clench his jaw, fighting off wild thoughts until he finally dropped Wang Keyan off at her destination.
After helping her find the apartment her mother had bought—a dusty, outdated two-bedroom unit—Li Ming arranged for a cleaning service and took her shopping for essentials before making his exit.
"Brother Li! I know you have things to do, so I won’t keep you. But… when I miss you… can I call you?" Wang Keyan clung to the car door, her eyes pleading.
"Sure. If you miss your mom, you can call me too. If there’s a chance, I’ll arrange for you two to talk." Li Ming patted her shoulder, relieved.
"Thank you, Brother Li! Next time you’re in town, don’t forget to visit me!" Wang Keyan waved as he started the car.
"I won’t! Take care!" Li Ming waved back before driving off.
Alone on the city streets, he found himself missing the delicate feet that had once rested against the windshield.
Shaking off the absurd thoughts, he checked his phone.
Lin Xi’s profile picture flashed on the screen.
He’d known in her office that she wanted him to bring her something, but she’d been too embarrassed to say it outright.
True to his hunch, she’d sent a message:
"Jade Pavilion. Spicy crayfish, chili chicken, spicy clams, and dry pot duck head—extra spicy, please!"
Li Ming facepalmed.
Seriously?
He’d thought Lin Xi had some deep, unspeakable request. Turns out she was just a spice-obsessed foodie! No wonder she was always so irritable—like a gas tank ready to explode at the slightest spark.
He rolled his eyes but sent back an "Ok" sticker.
With Wang Keyan gone, he could finally focus on his real mission:
Buying the pill.
Luckily, there was still time. If he hurried, he could make it back to the prison by evening.
After placing the takeout order at Jade Pavilion, he wandered around the area.
After the bleakness of prison, the bustle of the city felt almost overwhelming.
A pharmacy wasn’t hard to find.
The street had been crowded, but the pharmacy was even worse—packed with elderly folks shuffling forward in a painfully slow line.
Li Ming clicked his tongue at the sight, muttering "Life’s tough," before joining the queue.
As he waited, his eyes landed on a poster on the wall:
"Qingcheng Pharmaceuticals seeks partners! Join us in building a brighter future!"
The signatures at the bottom read "Chairwoman Tan Chengcheng" and "CEO Tan Qingqing."
Two strikingly beautiful women stood back-to-back in the photo, arms crossed, smiling confidently at the camera.
Li Ming rubbed his eyes and looked again.
Tan Qingqing—no doubt about it! That was the inmate he’d met just that morning.
And the other woman, Tan Chengcheng, must be family—maybe even her sister, given their resemblance.
He recalled Tan Qingqing’s file: smuggling, bribery, and financial fraud.
Was the smuggling related to pharmaceuticals? And the fraud—had she scammed her business partners?
It made sense. She’d been so sure her family would get her out. If Tan Chengcheng was her sister, she wouldn’t leave her rotting in prison.
Li Ming noted down Tan Chengcheng’s number from the poster.
Tan Qingqing had deleted the call log after using his phone to contact her family, so he had no way of knowing which number she’d dialed.
This one might be it.
Tucking his phone away, he focused back on the line—only one person left before his turn.
"What medication do you need?" the clerk asked briskly.
"Uh… emergency contraceptive. The one that works fast," Li Ming muttered.
"20. Anything else?"
"No, just that."
He paid, popped the pill out of its packaging, tossed the box, and strolled back to Jade Pavilion.