Chapter 83: A Sparring Session

Lin Qingxue didn’t say anything.

She just stood there, watching the little white dog disappear into the depths of the neighborhood.

That thought was still turning in her head, could she also be as obedient as that dog?

Not run, not cause trouble, not bite. Follow her quietly, rub against her hand, lick her palm.

She shook her head. No.

She wasn’t a dog.

She was a person.

But could she be as obedient as that “Little Peach”?

The more Lin Qingxue thought about it, the more her head ached.

She pulled open the car door, got in, leaned back in the seat, and closed her eyes.

Zhou Ye glanced at her, wanted to ask something, then swallowed the words.

He started the car and drove off.

The car was very quiet, with only the low hum of the engine and the occasional sound of wind passing by the window.

Lin Qingxue kept her eyes closed, leaning back in the seat, her hair scattered beside her face. The light from the street lamps shone in through the car window, flickering across her face.

Zhou Ye drove, glancing at her from time to time. He wanted to say something, but seeing her like that, he didn’t dare to speak.

He felt the air in the car was a bit cold. He turned the air conditioning down, but it was still cold.

He thought about it and decided he couldn’t stay silent like this. It was too oppressive.

He cleared his throat and tried to make his voice sound a little lighter:

“Uh… Sister Lin, why are you going to my place? You’re not really falling for handsome and charming me, are you?”

He grinned, showing two rows of white teeth.

“I mean, we’re just colleagues, right? Even though when we first met, I asked you out.”

“You turned me down, but hey, it’s not too late to come back to me now.”

Lin Qingxue opened her eyes.

She turned her head and looked at Zhou Ye.

Zhou Ye was still grinning, mouth wide, eyes narrowed, looking like he deserved a beating.

Lin Qingxue stared at him for two seconds, then turned her head away, leaned back in her seat, and closed her eyes again.

She didn’t even want to give him a look.

Zhou Ye’s smile froze on his face.

He felt the air in the car get even colder, so cold it sent a chill down his back.

He shrank his neck and turned the air conditioning down a bit more. Still cold.

He didn’t dare say another word. He just drove obediently.

The car fell silent again, with only the low hum of the engine and Lin Qingxue’s soft breathing.

The light from the street lamps shone in one by one, then went dark again, like film frames flashing by one by one.

Zhou Ye drove, his mind turning, what was wrong with Sister Lin today?

Usually she was cold, but today it felt different.

That look just now wasn’t disgust. It was the kind of, can’t be bothered with you.

And with such cheap talk, she would have hit me already. Why didn’t she?

He swallowed hard and didn’t dare think anymore.

The car drove on. The night wind seeped in through the crack in the window, cool.

After about twenty minutes, the car turned into a villa district.

The tree shadows on both sides of the road swayed. Street lamps were far apart, giving off dim light.

The car stopped in front of a three-story villa. Lin Qingxue opened her eyes, glanced at the villa, white walls and gray tiles, floor-to-ceiling windows, two osmanthus trees at the door.

She shook her head, pulled open the door, and got out.

Zhou Ye parked the car and trotted up to her.

He noticed the look Lin Qingxue gave the villa, scratched his head, and said with a smile:

“Um, Sister Lin, logically speaking, you’re a long-term field agent. You should make more money than me, right?”

“You risk your life. I’m just logistics, lie around in the office, assign a few tasks, occasionally go out with you on missions. There’s no way my salary is higher than yours.”

“So why are you still living in that old, rundown place?”

Lin Qingxue glanced at him, her voice very flat:

“That’s not it.”

“I was thinking, if the organization gave me a mission in a house like this, how would I infiltrate it?”

Zhou Ye shuddered and quickly laughed it off:

“Ah, during off-hours, don’t think about such dangerous things.”

He quickened his pace, pulled out his keys to open the door, then turned around, made an exaggerated gentlemanly bow, bent at the waist, and extended his hand:

“Sister Lin, please.”

Lin Qingxue didn’t even look at him. She walked straight in, her voice floating from ahead:

“Come on. Follow me to the basement.”

Zhou Ye was stunned. Then, as if he thought of something, his face turned pale.

His voice changed pitch:

“Uh… well… S-Sister Lin… I-I-I suddenly remembered that the organization said there’s a mission. I need to go out on field duty. I’m leaving!”

He turned instantly and bolted.

Lin Qingxue reached out, grabbed his wrist, and dragged him toward the basement like a sack of potatoes.

Zhou Ye tried to struggle, his legs kicking against the ground, but he couldn’t break free.

Lin Qingxue’s voice came from above, indifferent:

“Once we get inside, you’ll fight me fair and square. I won’t hit your face.”

“If you dare move now, I’ll kick you in the face right here.”

Zhou Ye stopped struggling. He let his arms hang limp as she dragged him along.

The basement door opened, and the light came on.

Inside was a small command center, several screens hung on the walls, a few computers sat on the desk, and in the corner was a row of server racks with blinking lights.

In the center was a ring, a standard octagon cage with red ropes and padded flooring.

Lin Qingxue dragged Zhou Ye to the edge of the ring and let go.

Zhou Ye immediately scrambled to his feet and neatly climbed onto the ring.

Lin Qingxue took off her coat and climbed onto the ring.

Zhou Ye stood in the center of the ring, shrinking his neck, and asked cautiously:

“R-really not hitting the face?”

Lin Qingxue stretched her wrists, her voice very flat:

“Stop talking. We’re starting the spar now. I’m in a very bad mood, so I suggest you behave.”

She rushed forward and punched him square in the shoulder.

Zhou Ye was ready. He crouched down with his arms over his head and let her hit him.

Lin Qingxue’s fists landed on his back, his arms, his shoulders. She kicked him in the thigh, then punched him in the back. Every hit connected with flesh, the dull thuds echoing in the basement.

Zhou Ye clenched his teeth and said nothing. He just curled up, covering his head.

Lin Qingxue hit him for a while, then caught her breath and pulled Zhou Ye up from the floor.

Zhouye winced and rubbed his arm, looking at it, a large patch of bruise on his upper arm, mainly because that part was protecting his face.

Lin Qingxue’s voice carried a hint of satisfaction:

“All right, I didn’t hit your face. No need to look.”

“Now let’s talk business. I’ve calmed down.”

She got off the ring and walked over to the sofa, lying down.

Zhou Ye dragged one leg, trembling as he climbed down from the ring, and sat down on the chair opposite Lin Qingxue.

His arm was still shaking, and his voice trembled too:

“S-Sister Lin, what exactly is going on?”

“Aren’t we supposed to spar once a month?”

“Didn’t you already spar with me before?”

“Why are we doing it again?”

“Who pissed you off?”

Lin Qingxue pulled a bottle of water from under the sofa.

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