Chapter Nineteen: I’ve Got You Right Where I Want You!

Wang Zheng walked through a park near Jinghua Television Station, his hands buried in his pockets. Brilliant sunlight, fresh air, a lake shimmering with emerald ripples before his eyes, and birds chirping ceaselessly in his ears—a rare haven nestled within the bustling city.

Summer, with its hint of exposed flesh, was every man's favorite season. Camisoles and short skirts became commonplace, and couples in the park openly flirted and exchanged intimate gestures, a sudden burst of spring in full bloom. Yet, the white underwear always seemed to conceal the dark allure beneath, bringing to mind a saying: One may not be rich or cool, but one must wear underwear.

It is precisely this hint of whiteness that stirs limitless imagination—like sashimi dipped in wasabi, hoping for more flavor but ending up with tears streaming down, though some crave that very sensation.

Thus, the beauty of ambiguity is born.

“Can you stop following me?” Having a tail behind him—even a voyeur—had become a luxury for Wang Zheng. For him, Bai Bing was the lingering cloud over his head, ruining the scenery.

“Come home with me,” Bai Bing replied naturally, as if Wang Zheng were a lost child who couldn’t find his way home without her.

“Stop pestering me right after lunch, will you? I told you, I’m not coming back; I have my own home!” Wang Zheng said, impatiently looking at her. Words failed to capture his helplessness—he felt as if a restless soul was haunting him, unaware of what sins he’d committed in a past life.

“Let me clarify: ‘finishing lunch’ and ‘pestering you’ are two entirely different things, unrelated. You won’t come with me? Fine, then I’ll follow you. You say you have a home? Good, I’ll go to your place. That should settle it, right?” Bai Bing looked at Wang Zheng, her expression saying, “I’ve got you cornered.”

“What kind of woman are you? Wait, are you even a woman? Who would dare marry you like this?” Wang Zheng had already exhausted every argument over lunch—sweet words, harsh words, all spent. He wanted to curse in the native tongue, but feared she wouldn’t understand, wasting his breath. Besides, Bai Bing had already consumed enough of his patience for one day.

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m not worried about marriage. Do you really think I, Bai Bing, can’t find a husband? That’s something I’ll consider only after I finish my ‘mission.’” Bai Bing replied calmly. She was unhurried, but Wang Zheng was desperate; he didn’t want to spend the entire afternoon wandering the park.

Wang Zheng looked at Bai Bing, who seemed to say, “What can you do to me?” He considered knocking her out and leaving her in the park. But he quickly dismissed the idea—if she encountered a thug and suffered unspeakable harm, it would be a disaster.

Wait, since when did I become so merciful?

“Fine, I’ll go back with you!” Wang Zheng decided abruptly.

Just then, Bai Bing’s phone rang. She answered with a couple of murmurs, then pocketed her phone.

“No need. I’ll go home myself. Goodbye!” Bai Bing smiled at Wang Zheng, turned, and left.

Huh?

Wang Zheng was stunned. What did she mean? He had agreed, yet she suddenly said it wasn’t necessary. What game was she playing?

An empty city ruse?

He’d finally made up his mind—go to Bai Bing’s place, knock her out, and leave. But now, Bai Bing acted out of character, saying she’d go home alone. Had she sensed his intentions? Wang Zheng began to suspect, but watched as Bai Bing climbed into a taxi and left without looking back, leaving him bewildered. Was the sticky candy unstuck? That was new!

Regardless, the “tail” was gone. To guard against Bai Bing’s tricks, Wang Zheng wandered the park for five minutes, then strolled through the nearby shopping district, buying household items—he had nothing else to do at home, so he seized the chance to see whether anyone was following him.

Shopping can be addictive. Maybe it was all novel to Wang Zheng; he gained new insights and saw plenty of beauties. In the end, he was reluctant to leave this place teeming with lovely women. Jinghua City truly deserved its reputation as an international metropolis, dazzling Wang Zheng’s eyes.

A man alone, shopping the commercial street for over three hours, and enjoying himself immensely—such a thing was rare, but Wang Zheng was tireless. If not for his evening meeting with Su Xue, he might have had dinner here.

Around four o’clock, Wang Zheng hummed a little tune, carrying bags full of purchases, stepping lightly toward home.

Ordinary folks, today’s truly a happy day!

As Wang Zheng cheerfully stood before his apartment door and inserted his key into the lock, suddenly the security door trembled and swung open from inside.

“Why are you just getting back? I’ve been waiting for you forever!” The voice was clear and pleasant, tinged with grievance and urgency—like a lonely wife anxiously awaiting her husband’s midnight return.

What? Wang Zheng froze outside the door. He looked at the woman inside, then at the apartment number. This should be his new home, where he’d moved in that very morning. But how did Bai Bing appear here? Didn’t she leave by taxi?

“Why are you standing there? Come in, don’t be shy!” Bai Bing greeted him warmly, reaching for his shopping bags. She was now the enthusiastic hostess, while Wang Zheng had become the guest.

Wang Zheng had forgotten how he entered this familiar yet strange home. He watched Bai Bing, dressed in casual clothes, moving confidently through each room, and finally carrying two glasses of juice from the kitchen to his side, sitting down.

“What’s wrong? Three hours apart and you don’t recognize me?” Bai Bing laughed, looking at Wang Zheng’s dazed face.

Wang Zheng shook his head hard, rubbing his aching eyes. Surely it was an illusion—when he opened his eyes, reality would return. Yet when he opened them again, Bai Bing was still beside him, her expression perfectly natural.

“How…how did you know I lived here?” Security door—what good was it?

“Jinghua City is my turf. Your name is on the property deed—how could I not find out?” Bai Bing said smugly. “The call I took at lunch was the investigation result, so I left you temporarily.”

“How did you get in?”

“Walked in openly!”

“The door…you just walked in?”

“You mean the security door? Security doors keep out thieves. I’m not a thief; they can’t stop me!” Bai Bing explained, “By the way, you have a lot of spare rooms here—living alone is wasteful. So I’ve moved my luggage in. From now on, I’ll live in the room opposite your bedroom. Best to knock before entering. Of course, if you don’t, I won’t blame you—it’s your house, after all.”

For people in her line of work, a packet of instant noodles could get them into any apartment. Unlocking doors was child’s play for Bai Bing! Perhaps Wang Zheng’s question was idiotic—he’d forgotten how he himself entered government offices.

“You…!” Wang Zheng sprang up from the sofa, strode to his bedroom door, and looked at the room opposite—originally a guest room. He pushed open the door; the once white bedding was now pink, a laptop sat on the desk, and a photo frame held Bai Bing’s picture. Wang Zheng stepped in and opened the wardrobe; it was full of clothes—suits, jeans, T-shirts, camisoles, short skirts, and more. Unwilling to give up, he opened the drawers—bras, underwear, stockings…

The lingering fragrance told Wang Zheng:

It was all real!