Chapter 24: This… Is Your New Home?

Inside the taxi.

Yang Dong sat to the left of Guan Jiujiu; both of them were in the back seat.

"Jiujiu, how did you know I was here?" Yang Dong asked, his brows furrowing as he looked at her.

With such a high level of secrecy, it should have been impossible for anyone else to know his whereabouts. Yet somehow, she had found him.

Guan Jiujiu covered her mouth, laughing softly. "Don't worry about it. I just know, that's all."

"Alright," Yang Dong replied, seeing that she wasn't going to tell him. There was nothing more he could ask.

"Are your injuries alright now?" Guan Jiujiu's face was filled with concern as she gazed at his head and the corner of his mouth.

Though the bandages had already been removed and the wound at his lip had scabbed over, she still worried. That night, after all, Yang Dong had suffered quite a bit for her sake. He had been unconscious the whole night, only waking midday the following day.

Her guilt deepened, knowing his injuries were because of her.

"It's nothing. I'm all better now." Yang Dong smiled and shook his head, even exaggeratedly twisting his back and patting his head. "See? I'm fine."

He did this to reassure her, not wanting her to feel guilty.

When Guan Jiujiu saw he truly was alright, she breathed a sigh of relief. Much of her guilt faded, though it transformed into something else entirely.

"By the way, did you come to find me for something?" Yang Dong finally realized she must have sought him out on purpose, though he had no idea what for.

At his words, Guan Jiujiu wrinkled her nose, pretending to be angry. "What, can't I come find you if there's nothing wrong?"

"Of course you can..." Yang Dong gave a helpless, wry smile. This woman's temperament was certainly mercurial, as women often are. He couldn't help but think of his ex-girlfriend, Han Wen, who had been just the same—laughing one moment, angry the next.

But why think of her now? That woman had nothing to do with him anymore.

"Do you think I'm annoying?" Guan Jiujiu looked at Yang Dong intently, her tone earnest.

She had sensed a trace of annoyance and irritation on his face, and it stung her heart. But she was mistaken—Yang Dong's irritation had been at the memory of Han Wen, not at her.

"Huh? Why would you think that? I don't find you annoying at all," Yang Dong said, surprised at her question.

"It's only normal if you do. I did cause you trouble, and you ended up offending so many city officials because of me," Guan Jiujiu forced a smile, half-comforting herself, half-taking the blame.

"That's getting out of hand. If I found you annoying, I wouldn't have stood up for you back then," Yang Dong frowned. Her words seemed to insult his character.

Seeing he was truly upset, Guan Jiujiu hurried to explain. "My family moved to a new home today. My mom said that the first meal in a new house is special, so she wanted to invite you over for dinner as a thank you."

"Your mom invited me to dinner?" Yang Dong was taken aback; he hadn't expected Guan Jiujiu's mother, Sun Xiufen, to invite him personally.

"What, can't my mom invite you?" Guan Jiujiu lifted her chin, her neck as fair as jade. She glared at him playfully, then smiled. "She said, you saved me. If we didn't invite you for dinner, it would be rude. After all, you risked your life. If you hadn't woken up, my family was even prepared to look after you for the rest of your life."

"Since you were unconscious to save me, if something really happened, we wouldn't just abandon you," she said seriously, though she smiled.

Yang Dong could tell—the Guan family truly meant what they said: if he had never woken up, they would have taken him in. This made him all the more curious about her family.

Every gesture of Sun Xiufen carried an air of wealth and distinction; Guan Jiujiu herself was gentle, intellectual, and graceful, yet still playful—qualities not easily nurtured in an ordinary household. And now she had found him at the city disciplinary committee’s designated hotel, which was no simple feat.

"So, would you be willing to look after me for a lifetime?" Yang Dong asked impulsively, not knowing why the words escaped him.

No sooner had he spoken than he regretted it—the question was laden with ambiguity. He was about to explain when he saw Guan Jiujiu blush and nod. "Yes, I would. I would look after you for a lifetime!"

Her face grew even redder, and she felt flustered. The atmosphere inside the car became awkward, falling silent for a moment.

Adding to the mood, the taxi driver had the radio on, and a song by Rene Liu began to play: "I want to do something for you, something that will make you happier. Bury my name in your heart..."

The already ambiguous air thickened.

Thankfully, the driver was quick, and they soon arrived at their destination.

"Um... let's get out," Guan Jiujiu said, face flushed as she hurriedly pushed open the door and almost dashed out.

Yang Dong scratched his head awkwardly before following her out.

"Ah, young people these days. They're worse than our generation," the driver muttered with a sigh, looking contemptuous as he drove off. "If you like someone, just say it..."

Yang Dong and Guan Jiujiu exchanged glances, both at a loss for words.

Yang Dong quickly turned his attention to the residential complex, intending to change the topic and ask about her new home. But the sight of the place startled him.

"This is... Huanhai Garden?"

Huanhai Garden was among the most upscale residential complexes in Lingyun City. Though not a villa district, its residents were all city leaders—almost all the standing committee members lived here. In addition, deputy bureau-level officials, deputy mayors, the chief prosecutor, the president of the intermediate court—all held residences here.

Essentially, Huanhai Garden was an expanded version of the city's leadership compound.

If Guan Jiujiu got out here, it meant her family lived in this complex.

This realization left Yang Dong unsettled.

"So this is the new house you were talking about? You moved to Huanhai Garden?"

Guan Jiujiu understood what he meant, but she didn't know how to explain. If she told Yang Dong her true identity, would it make him distance himself from her?

"Actually..." Her heart pounded as she considered telling him everything.

But just as she opened her mouth, a voice from behind interrupted her—a man's voice, edged with disdain.

"Yang Dong? What are you doing here?"

Yang Dong and Guan Jiujiu both turned toward the voice.

A BMW was parked at the entrance to Huanhai Garden. A head poked out from inside, its face broad and round with a receding hairline, almost resembling a pig’s head.

Yang Dong's expression changed slightly; he hadn't expected to run into this man at the gate of Huanhai Garden.