Chapter 79: Under Currents

Pei Xi presented the dishes from the Fang Pavilion one by one, and Lin Zhiwei’s gaze was almost glued to the plate of tender, delectable Tatar beef in front of her. She licked her lips, poised to dive in.

Ling Ziheng pushed the beef closer to her, satisfied. It was always wise to appease a foodie; if food could resolve a problem, then it wasn’t a real problem at all.

Without another word, Lin Zhiwei began to eat. After all, neither good food nor love should be wasted, and besides, the Tatar beef at S City’s Fang Pavilion required a reservation a week in advance.

Ling Ziheng, preparing for his upcoming performance, had already embarked on a strict regimen of diet and exercise. Tatar beef was, in fact, an excellent slimming salad. He hadn’t anticipated that this girl would be so fond of this dish.

The texture of raw beef could easily deter people—even at its freshest and most tender, it retained a primal hint of blood and ferocity.

Lin Zhiwei savored each bite, though she herself didn’t know why she’d cherished this dish since childhood. She always preferred lighter fare, never touching anything raw except for this Tatar beef, which carried a wild freedom and primal chewiness. As it melted in her mouth, it brought a familiar yet exhilarating sensation.

In front of Ling Ziheng were only eggs and some vegetables, which he chewed at a measured pace. Suddenly, he asked, “Zhiwei, when did you start liking raw food?”

He recalled that Lin Zhiwei had always preferred light dishes, never raw food except a few desserts.

Lin Zhiwei tried to remember. “I don’t really like it, only this Tatar beef. I’ve loved it since I was little.”

Ling Ziheng regarded her thoughtfully. “Are you sure it was since childhood?”

Lin Zhiwei seemed struck by the question, laying down her knife and fork. Her eyes flickered uneasily as she replied, “I... I’m sure, but I can’t recall much from when I was young. Maybe it’s been too long, and I’ve forgotten...” Her smile froze, her mind racing, but nothing came back to her.

“Don’t overthink it. I was just asking. There’s nothing odd about being partial to a couple of dishes,” Ling Ziheng said warmly.

Lin Zhiwei finally relaxed, the shadowy emotion that had threatened to engulf her receding as Ling Ziheng pulled her back at the last moment.

Noticing her unease, Ling Ziheng placed his hand over hers. “Silly girl, eat up. You’re lucky to have something delicious,” he said, glancing at his own meager meal.

Lin Zhiwei looked at the scant leaves and half an egg before him, suddenly feeling immensely fortunate. Her earlier doubts vanished.

“By the way, your company’s been busy lately. Should we postpone rehearsals for the next few days? Otherwise, your body might not keep up,” Lin Zhiwei suggested, worried about his fatigue.

Ling Ziheng replied, “My stamina isn’t that poor.”

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Well... I guess I spoke too soon. Lin Zhiwei was silenced.

“Let’s finish eating and go home to rest. It’s been a long day,” Ling Ziheng said, gently patting the furry little head beside him, watching her adorable, tongue-tied expression.

“You’re not going home?” Lin Zhiwei asked, popping a piece of pickled cucumber into her mouth.

“Why? Do you want me to go with you?”

A crisp crunch echoed as Lin Zhiwei bit into her cucumber...

Ling Ziheng, with his seductive eyes and affectionate gaze, whispered softly in her ear like a victorious hunter, making Lin Zhiwei’s cheeks burn.

“I’m telling you, you know your own limits best,” Lin Zhiwei said, ignoring the flirtatious man and chewing her cucumber as if it were him she was biting into.

The conversation was impossible to continue...

Full and satisfied, Lin Zhiwei wanted nothing more to do with the charming troublemaker. She hurried home to rest—tomorrow she’d be inspecting the stage layout and rehearsing the process, so she needed to seize her last moments of leisure.

After Lin Zhiwei left, Ling Ziheng called Pei Xi in. “Pei Xi, contact Country M and check where Zhiwei was studying six years ago.”

Pei Xi paused, uncertain. “Six years ago? But finding out where Director Lin went to school shouldn’t be difficult. Do we need to involve Country M? That might alert the lord over there...”

Ling Ziheng shook his head, his gaze deep and calm. “If my guess is correct, not even that person could find out.”

Pei Xi was stunned. How could that be? Director Lin was personally chosen as a branch heir by the lord. Surely her childhood school couldn’t be that hard to trace.

“Go,” Ling Ziheng said, lowering his eyes. Pei Xi withdrew.

Zhiwei, I hope the things you’ve been through are not painful memories... Ling Ziheng’s thoughts whirled, and he clenched his fists.

Mao Yue Hotel, Presidential Suite.

Empty bottles littered the floor. Chu Chuo watched the drone footage from earlier repeatedly. Though he couldn’t hear any sound, the sight of the slender figure in the night stirred a phrase in his mind, echoing over and over:

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“So there’s still hope for you.”

And that fleeting, careless glance, as the last word “hope” was spoken, pierced straight into the softest part of his heart, leaving him defenseless.

He wanted to appear calm and indifferent, as if nothing mattered, but Lin Zhiwei’s words had unsettled him deeply.

He needed no redemption, no understanding. It was just the law of survival in this world—survival of the fittest. His narrow, phoenix-like eyes were tightly shut, trembling as if struggling against something unseen.

A sudden, urgent ring pulled him back to reality. His sharp, eagle-like eyes snapped open.

“Mr. Chu, any progress?” The voice on the other end was cool and casual, but laced with a chilling undertone.

Chu Chuo returned to his usual nonchalant manner, smirking, “If your aim is to kill through another’s hand, I’m not foolish enough to target the lord’s successor from the Nameless Domain.”

“Hahaha, that’s just like you, Mr. Chu. Didn’t you already have someone in mind?” The other man laughed darkly, his tone frank.

Chu Chuo stayed silent; he knew all too well how dangerous the other man was—his laughter only signaled greater peril.

“Let me remind you: if you don’t move against her, she’ll destroy you anyway. Don’t forget how you got here,” the man continued, still maintaining a graceful composure despite the threat, and hung up elegantly.

Chu Chuo’s hand trembled as he gripped the phone, his phoenix eyes narrowing. The man was right...

He sighed softly, dialed another number, and his deep voice echoed in the empty suite, “Ye Linyun, we’ve found out who kidnapped Yin Mi’er.”

...

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