A Bad-Hearted Doctor is Unbearably Beautiful - Chapter 86

When Shen Zhao opened his eyes, the sky outside was bright.

Spring sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bedroom curtains. He shifted his arm, feeling a heavy lethargy weighing down his limbs. He stared at the ceiling for a long time in a trance, only gradually regaining his senses.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he realized his memories of last night were fragmented. He couldn’t even recall how he had returned to his bedroom. As for Nine… he had completely slipped his mind!

He lunged for his phone and checked the time.

The screen flashed: [09:24].

The moment the display lit up, a barrage of messages from Lu Xiao popped up. Shen Zhao didn’t have time to read them; he threw open his bedroom door and hurried out.

In the living room, two large, matte-black suitcases stood packed and ready. Nine had changed into a set of casual designer clothes—likely from a brand sponsor—and was sitting leisurely on the sofa listening to music.

Seeing Shen Zhao emerge, Nine slowly removed his Bluetooth earbuds and offered a soft smile. “You’re awake.”

Shen Zhao frowned, though he kept his tone level. “Are you… leaving?”

“Yes. I’m afraid if I stay any longer, a certain policeman might come after my life.” Nine’s tone was light, his expression colored with a hint of theatrical exaggeration. “My assistant is already waiting downstairs. I saw you were still out, so I wanted to wait until you woke up to say goodbye.”

A faint smile played on Nine’s lips, and his eyes curved with a casual, lingering charm. He stood up, meticulously smoothing the texture of his light cashmere coat. When he looked up, his gaze was deep and meaningful, as if he were silently professing his love.

“Be sure to come to my concert. Don’t be late.”

With a flamboyant wave, he turned, grabbed his suitcases, and opened the door.

Shen Zhao couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination, but every one of Nine’s movements seemed to carry a hint of seduction. Or was this simply the professional habit of a superstar?

Before he could process it, Nine was already halfway out. Shen Zhao quickly followed him to the elevator. “I’ll see you down.”

“No need. It’s windy down there, and you… be careful not to catch a cold.”

Nine stood with his right leg crossed elegantly over his left, the toe of his shoe tapping the floor. As the elevator doors opened, he gave Shen Zhao a gentle nudge backward. He then pressed his index and middle fingers to his lips and chin, blowing Shen Zhao a subtle kiss.

The gesture wasn’t oily or over-the-top; rather, because of the look in Nine’s eyes, the kiss felt hauntingly prolonged.

For a fleeting second, the scene reminded Shen Zhao of the first time he had tried to run away as a child, only to return to the orphanage. He remembered the expression Nine had worn then—profound and bone-chillingly cold.

Shen Zhao’s gaze darkened. Something felt off, but Nine’s demeanor was so natural that he didn’t dwell on it. He leaned out the window and caught sight of a man opening a car door for Nine. He couldn’t see the man’s face clearly, but the silhouette felt strangely familiar.

He watched until the car pulled away, then sat back on the sofa and finally unlocked his phone.

A string of messages flooded his screen:

How are things going?

Shen Zhao! Shen Zhao! Calling Shen Zhao!

How did you lose contact the second you got home?

You’re making me really anxious.

Should I come over and check on you?

How about I pick you up tomorrow morning?

As Shen Zhao scrolled through, he saw two missed calls from Lu Xiao. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes; he had unintentionally let Lu Xiao worry all night. Knowing Lu Xiao’s temperament, the man must have been barely containing himself. Usually, he would have called a dozen times or simply stormed over to the apartment.

Shen Zhao could almost picture Lu Xiao staring at his phone, scratching his head in frustration while forcing himself not to call. The thought actually brought a faint sense of amusement to his heart.

He dialed the number, and it was picked up instantly.

“Hello? Are you okay?!”

The voice on the other end was frantic and exhausted, as if he had been awake all night waiting.

“I’m fine… I just didn’t see the messages,” Shen Zhao said softly, his voice tinged with apology.

There was a moment of silence on the other end before a long sigh of relief escaped, followed by a light chuckle. “As long as you’re okay. But why did you suddenly go silent?”

“I’m not sure. I just suddenly fell asleep…” Shen Zhao bit his lip.

Lu Xiao was silent for a few seconds, his brow furrowing at the quiet on Shen Zhao’s end. “I see… and where is he?”

“He just moved out.”

Lu Xiao let out a cold snort. “Fine. At least he knows when he’s not wanted.”

Shen Zhao hesitated for a moment before asking slowly, “Were you… very worried about me last night?”

“Is that even a question! You slept like a log while I didn’t get a wink of sleep because you vanished without a word,” Lu Xiao complained, though there was a hint of a smile in his voice.

“How about we have dinner together tonight?” Shen Zhao suggested.

A moment ago, Lu Xiao had been ready to curse at the morning rush hour traffic. Now, his mood soared. Even the cars cutting him off seemed less annoying.

“Oh, look at that! Our cold beauty finally knows how to care for someone. Wait for me; I’ll pick you up later.”

Lu Xiao’s tone was teasing and playful. It wasn’t until Shen Zhao scolded him a few times that he finally sounded satisfied.

Shanghai Police Department

Lu Xiao sat at his desk, twirling a fountain pen in his hand while a cigarette bobbed between his lips. Spread out before him was the complete itinerary for Nine since his return to the country.

He had pulled out the specific route for the days the kidnapping took place and set them aside. The pen tapped rhythmically against the desk.

In the entertainment industry, Nine went by the name Damien. He had only recently opened a Weibo account, yet his followers already exceeded 60 million and were growing by the second.

Lu Xiao studied the schedule. Fan meetings, luxury brand endorsements, variety show recordings, commercial shoots… He was a busy man.

However, looking closely at the three-day window of the crime, it was difficult to link this man to the kidnapper. For nearly a third of that time, he had a solid alibi. Lu Xiao’s frown deepened.

“Are these schedules confirmed to be authentic?” he asked, looking up at Lin Xue.

“In theory, yes. The itineraries provided by the ‘Fansite Sisters’ are usually accurate, and those commercial contracts aren’t exactly easy to reschedule on a whim.”

Lu Xiao flipped through the files and various paparazzi photos, feeling a surge of irritation. Could I really have the wrong man?

He carefully replayed the scene of the kidnapping in his mind. Initially, the kidnapper—wearing a white mask and acting with a mix of intimacy and madness—never showed his face; he had only used a voice changer. Later, during the time Shen Zhao was held, the kidnapper had appeared in the video feed and remained by Shen Zhao’s side…

What if I only track that specific time window?

Lu Xiao fell into deep thought. He needed more detailed records.