Chapter 41: A New Member Joins

The night was as dark as ink, and the neon lights flickering outside the bar added a touch of mystery and clamor to the city’s evening.

A tall woman with a cold expression hurried out of the bar’s side door. She quickly slid into a black sports car parked at the curb. As soon as Yun Qiuya sat down, she pulled the earpiece from her ear and tossed it onto the seat beside her. Inside the car, it was deathly silent; she could only hear the sound of her own heart—thumping, its rhythm exceptionally rapid. She closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm the turmoil within.

A moment later, she slowly opened her eyes and noticed Wen Wan’er in the passenger seat, watching her with nervous, anxious eyes. Wan’er’s face was pale, her gaze fixed intently on Qiuya, her expression taut with worry.

Yun Qiuya forced a smile to ease the tension in the car. "I'm fine, Wan’er. It was just too intense inside. After all, that kind of environment keeps your nerves on edge. Now that we’re out, it takes a moment for the tension to dissipate."

However, Wen Wan’er did not relax. She frowned, unable to hide her worry any longer. Tears welled up in her eyes until she finally broke down into sobs.

"Qiuya," she said, her face full of regret, "should I have agreed to this request of yours? You are still recovering, and you were hurt by that scumbag just last night. How could I have been so foolish as to agree to this?"

As she spoke, her tears flowed even more freely. Covering her face with her hands, she trembled, "If something were to happen to you, how could I ever face Qing’er’s spirit? It’s all my fault, all my fault..."

Seeing Wen Wan’er so full of self-reproach, Yun Qiuya felt a surge of panic. She fumbled for tissues in the car while trying to comfort her. "Wan’er, please, stop crying. I am also responsible for Qing’er’s death. If it weren't for investigating the cause of my own 'death,' Qing’er wouldn't have been dragged into this danger. We cannot let this lead go cold."

Yun Qiuya finally found the tissues and handed them to her. "Besides," she continued, "I am the only one who can handle this. After all, I am a 'living ghost' now; no one will suspect me. The power of the headhunting firm is not to be underestimated, and we must proceed with caution."

Hearing this, Wen Wan’er’s guilt eased slightly. She took the tissues, wiped her tears, and as her sobbing subsided, she was finally able to speak calmly. She grasped Yun Qiuya’s hand tightly, her eyes filled with resolve. "Qiuya, this is the last time for something so dangerous. Once we drag out the murderer who killed Qing’er, we will never do anything this risky again, okay?"

Yun Qiuya nodded, her tension gradually fading.

"Gurgle..."

Yun Qiuya awkwardly rubbed her empty stomach and laughed. "Wan’er, I’m starving. Let’s go grab a bowl of noodles."

At these words, a glimmer of mischief flashed in Wen Wan’er’s eyes. She patted Yun Qiuya on the shoulder and chuckled softly, "Alright, but you have to guess who is sitting in the driver's seat first."

Yun Qiuya turned in confusion, only to find a man in a baseball cap behind the wheel, not Wanru. She looked at Wen Wan’er, her eyes full of bewilderment.

Seeing her reaction, Wen Wan’er gave a knowing smile. "This is our new member, my brother, Wen Yun’an. He really wanted to join us and help avenge Qing’er."

A look of surprise crossed Yun Qiuya’s face.

Wen Wan’er raised her hand, making a gesture as if taking an oath. "Qiuya, don't worry. My brother is the person closest to me; he is absolutely trustworthy."

Wen Yun’an took off his cap and extended a hand toward Yun Qiuya, smiling, "I’m not helping you for free. We are helping each other, each getting what we need."

Yun Qiuya was completely baffled. She turned to Wen Wan’er, her eyes demanding an explanation. Wen Wan’er smiled again, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. She leaned in, cupped her hand beside Yun Qiuya’s ear, and whispered something.

After listening, Yun Qiuya shook her head vigorously. She waved her hands in refusal, "No, no! I’m engaged to someone else—how could I pretend to be someone else’s girlfriend?"

Wen Yun’an laughed even more brightly at her reaction. "Yun Qiuya, you’ve misunderstood. I was forced into this as well. I don't have anyone else I can trust, and you happen to be the perfect solution to my urgent problem. This way, I’m not just helping you two for nothing, and you’ll be solving your current predicament as well."

Yun Qiuya thought for a moment, then lifted her head to look at Wen Wan’er. "Wan’er, get out for a second. I need a word with you."

Once outside, Yun Qiuya placed her hands on Wan’er’s shoulders. "Wan’er, with Wanru’s help and the clues we have on those thugs, the truth behind Qing’er’s death is slowly coming to light. We don’t need another person involved."

Wen Wan’er understood the implication. She pouted and whispered, "Qiuya, it wasn't me who brought him in; he found out about our activities. Plus, our parents have been pressuring him to go on blind dates, so he used you as a shield in a moment of crisis. Since he already told our parents, we can't just drop it now."

She looked at Yun Qiuya with sincerity. "But he will definitely stand by us. I know his character well. Please, just trust him this once."

Looking at the blurred figure through the car window, Yun Qiuya sighed helplessly. Seeing the sincerity in Wan’er’s eyes, she couldn't bring herself to say more. She patted Wan’er on the shoulder and said, "Fine, let’s go get those noodles. We can talk while we eat."

With that, Yun Qiuya stepped into the car, and Wen Wan’er followed. The car drove slowly into the night.