After the Divorce, I Went Back to My Hometown, Pregnant and Became the Sheriff - Chapter 17

Zhou Lexuan let out a snort. “Whatever test you’re doing, take it back to the bureau! What are you doing in my house? Look what time it is. If you don’t sleep, fine, but I want to!”

“Does Mr. Zhou usually go to bed this early?” He Xianxing glanced at the time on his phone. “The testing equipment we brought can produce results in two hours at most. It’s midnight now; everyone can rest in the living room for a while.”

He made a gesture to the forensics colleague who was calibrating the detector. Su Wan gripped Zhou Lexuan’s hand and gave a silent, subtle shake of her head.

The group sat on the sofas. Before long, Shen Yucheng’s phone rang. He answered it, and every eye in the room fixed on him. He listened in silence before adjusting his perfectly smooth cuffs. “The support from the Mobile Search Unit has arrived at the gate.”

At those words, Zhou Lexuan bolted upright again. “What Mobile Search Unit?”

A rustling sound came from outside. He hurried to the window and saw over a dozen uniformed officers exiting unmarked cars, surrounding the villa. His temper flared instantly. He turned and pointed a finger at Shen Yucheng, cursing. “Shen Yucheng, who do you think you are? You’re really treating us like criminals, aren’t you?!”

Shen Yucheng remained seated. “Mr. Zhou Lexuan, show some respect. I haven’t even settled the score with you for assaulting an officer yet.”

Zhou Lexuan’s face went pale, and his words died in his throat. Su Wan pulled him back down.

“Team Leader Shen, there must be a misunderstanding. Xiaoxuan is just a child; there’s no such thing as ‘assaulting an officer.’ Xiaoxuan, sit down. If you’re tired, go to your room and sleep for a bit. Your Aunt will handle things here.”

Zhou Lexuan sat back down sullenly and stopped speaking. Time ticked away, and the large living room was filled with nothing but the low hum of the machinery.

Jiang Xu looked at his watch, signaled his departure, and stepped out the front door.

He walked to the front courtyard and leaned against the outer wall, lighting a cigarette in the dark. The nicotine numbed his nerves, making the wound on his arm feel less unbearable.

While he was lost in thought, wondering if Tongtong was asleep, Shen Yucheng followed him out.

“When did you start smoking?” Shen Yucheng asked, looking at Jiang Xu’s face partially hidden behind the smoke.

Jiang Xu glanced at him and looked up at the moonless sky. “During the time I was suspended.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke.

Shen Yucheng stared in silence. Jiang Xu’s face was as handsome and calm as it was five years ago, his sharp profile flickering in the red glow of the cigarette. He didn’t look away. “How are things on your end?”

“Don’t worry, it’s been handled.”

“I was asking about your arm,” Shen Yucheng said, leaning against the wall to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiang Xu. “How is it?”

“Oh, it hurts a bit,” Jiang Xu took a breath. “But it’s not too serious.”

“Let me see.”

Jiang Xu extended his arm. Shen Yucheng took it, looking down as he rolled up Jiang Xu’s blood-stained sleeve. The forearm showed obvious bruising and a gash; the muscles were taut, and a vein snaked along the skin, pulsing slightly before being hidden by the bunched fabric.

“The medical van is at the foot of the mountain. Once we’re done here, don’t go back to the bureau. Get your wound treated at the van and go straight home to rest.”

“Understood, thanks.”

“Also, how did you two escape?”

“We jumped from the observation deck and followed a pre-scanned route to the next platform. Zhou Lexuan had thugs waiting there, but we took care of them and contacted you immediately.” Jiang Xu’s other hand, holding the cigarette, hung at his side. Shen Yucheng didn’t smoke, and Jiang Xu didn’t want to blow smoke in the face of someone who hated nicotine.

“Jiang Xu,” Shen Yucheng’s blue eyes were as quiet as the sea. “If you have other plans in the future, I hope you’ll inform me in advance.” He was referring to Jiang Xu scouting Camphor Mountain beforehand.

“Many things are unpredictable,” Jiang Xu said helplessly. His intention had only been to familiarize himself with the mountain roads; he hadn’t expected Zhou Lexuan to act so recklessly. His casual precaution had become their breakthrough for escape.

“That’s an order,” Shen Yucheng released his hand. “Furthermore, stay away from He Xianxing. He has ulterior motives regarding you.”

“Is that an order too?”

“No, it’s a piece of advice.”

Jiang Xu wanted to take a drag, but Shen Yucheng showed no sign of leaving. This was his second cigarette of the night. It was nearly burnt out, yet he’d only had one puff; he felt a twinge of regret.

“Did you two do it?”

“What?” Jiang Xu had been daydreaming and didn’t catch the words. He took a step to the side, widening the gap between them, and put out the cigarette.

“With He Xianxing,” Shen Yucheng clarified.

“Oh. Just once.”

A complex mix of emotions rose in Shen Yucheng’s eyes, his gaze flickering over Jiang Xu’s face. “Over these years, I have only thought of you.”

“You don’t need to stay celibate for me,” Jiang Xu rubbed the soft cigarette butt between his fingers, feeling agitated. “If you want, we can sign the divorce papers again tomorrow.”

“I didn’t stay celibate for you. I just wanted to.”

The surroundings were quiet and dark, yet Shen Yucheng’s breathing drew closer.

Jiang Xu knit his brows. He thought perhaps the man was going to kiss him, but then he felt that, given the other’s personality, he wouldn’t let such a thing happen in a place like this, especially with colleagues from the search unit patrolling nearby.

Yet, those cool lips pressed down anyway.

Jiang Xu’s eyes widened. Shen Yucheng wrapped an arm around his neck, his long, thin fingers sliding into Jiang Xu’s hair.

Their lips met softly, carrying the lingering scent of tobacco.

Jiang Xu turned his head away, but Shen Yucheng’s hand held the back of his head firmly. “What’s gotten into you…” Jiang Xu muttered. He caught a glimpse of Shen Yucheng’s face and thought it looked even more refined than it did years ago.

The wind blew through the grass and trees with a rustling sound.

Shen Yucheng pressed nearly his entire leg between Jiang Xu’s thighs, their bodies melding together. Even through the fabric, they could feel each other’s rising temperatures.

“Don’t, Shen Yucheng.” Jiang Xu struggled to breathe under the pressure.

Shen Yucheng raised a hand to touch Jiang Xu’s thick, dark brow, his thumb stroking back and forth slowly with a kneading pressure. Then he lifted Jiang Xu’s chin and resumed the kiss.

Those cool lips gave way to a tongue that was startlingly hot, invading Jiang Xu’s mouth with a practiced, forceful familiarity, capturing Jiang Xu’s trapped tongue.

The subtle sounds of the kiss were amplified by the night. Jiang Xu’s hand, still holding the cigarette butt, rested on Shen Yucheng’s shoulder. The expensive suit fabric beneath his palm made him daze; it felt as though their intimacy was back in the year they shared the most passion.

Gasping, he pushed Shen Yucheng away, but the man only retreated half a step.

Their foreheads rested against each other. Jiang Xu lifted his trembling lashes, and Shen Yucheng met his gaze.

Even now, Jiang Xu still loved those blue eyes. He had always been a shallow person; he loved Shen Yucheng’s eyes, his face. Such an unreliable love could be picked up easily and put down just as simply.

In his bewildered past and muddled present, love was insignificant. The same was true for Shen Yucheng; whenever faced with an important decision, love was always the first thing to be discarded.

Unconsciously, Jiang Xu’s hand on Shen Yucheng’s shoulder gripped the well-crafted tie. Driven by some inexplicable impulse, he yanked the fabric, pulling Shen Yucheng closer.

Shen Yucheng looked up in surprise.

Jiang Xu lowered his eyes and tilted his head, leaning forward slowly to draw near Shen Yucheng’s breath, his heartbeat, and those pale lips.

Their hot breaths mingled, but then the sound of footsteps reached them. Jiang Xu stopped his advance and pushed Shen Yucheng away. “Someone’s coming,” he said, steadying his voice.

“Mhm.” Shen Yucheng raised his hand to straighten his tie, his fingertips brushing Jiang Xu’s wrist. He reached out to touch Jiang Xu’s palm and finally took the extinguished cigarette butt from his fingers. “Quit when you can. It’s bad for your health.” With that, he turned and walked back toward the living room.

He Xianxing stood in the light of the doorway, his usual smile on his face. “Too much! What are you two saying behind my back again?”

Shen Yucheng brushed past him. “Just checking on the injury on Jiang Xu’s arm.”

He Xianxing leaned in, cupping his own face. “Why doesn’t the Team Leader care about me? Look, my face got scratched too. What if I’m disfigured?”

Shen Yucheng ignored him and entered the villa. Jiang Xu straightened his messy shirt. When he looked up, he saw He Xianxing watching him intently.

“Jiang Xu, come in quickly,” He Xianxing waved. “The results are almost out.”

Jiang Xu gave a small nod, and the two entered the living room.

The lead technician, a senior forensic pathologist, called everyone over to the computer used for data analysis. “Thank you for your patience, everyone. The results are coming up now.”

The progress bar on the screen reached 98%. Jiang Xu glanced at Su Wan, whose face had turned slightly pale.

After a brief lag, the bar filled up. The screen flickered, and then a black-and-white report appeared before everyone’s eyes.

The old pathologist pushed his thick glasses up and leaned in to explain. “Rapid DNA testing technology is based on STR typing principles. Compared to traditional laboratory testing, there is a margin of error, but it is less than one in a billion, negligible.”

He scrolled down the page, and the mouse pointer stopped at the end of the report:

“Identification result: Does not support a biological relationship between Zhang Yongfeng (Sample A) and Zhou Lexuan (Sample B). Paternity Index (PI) is 0; Probability of Paternity (RCP) is 0%.”

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