169: Chapter 169 Encounter in the Rain

A faint crimson blush instantly bloomed on the tips of Shen Xi's ears, like the evening glow of late autumn. She lowered her eyes and subconsciously began tidying the cups on the tea tray, but the heartbeat in her chest had already lost its rhythm, thumping incessantly.

The soft, slightly cool sensation of her palm still lingered on Jiang Chen's fingertips, and a lazy, indifferent smile rippled in his eyes.

He didn't point out the subtle atmosphere of this moment, only raising his hand to take a sip from the celadon teacup. The gentle fragrance of the tea washed over his throat, adding a touch of leisurely indolence.

He leaned back slightly against the large leather office chair, his gaze falling lightly on Shen Xi in front of him. His tone was steady: "You've worked hard."

After a brief pause, he lifted his chin and said calmly, "Come here, squat down and listen to what I have to say."

Shen Xi's figure paused slightly, her heart trembling gently. She subconsciously stole a glance at him before quickly lowering her eyelashes again.

She thought to herself, is it going to be this exciting?

He wants to do it at the office?

This is the company, after all...

I like it.

But Shen Xi didn't refuse; on the contrary, she enjoyed the excitement as well.

She understood his hint instantly. Without hesitation, she slowly bent her knees and squatted on the carpet beside the office chair, very close to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen showed a meaningful expression.

And then...

Fifteen minutes later.

Jiang Chen felt refreshed and invigorated.

It felt as if something had flowed away from him.

Shen Xi, her face flushed bright red, wiped her mouth. Wiping once wasn't enough; her mouth still felt a bit sticky. She had to wipe several times before it felt better, gargling several times in between.

After the two of them gradually returned to normal.

The atmosphere in the office finally began to normalize.

Jiang Chen looked at her composed expression and continued to arrange work in a deep voice: "From now on, when the business department deals with external investment and financing intermediaries, you will be the first line of defense. For anyone with an unknown origin or a murky background, decline them across the board. No need to worry about saving face."

"I understand," Shen Xi replied in a soft, gentle voice, not daring to meet his eyes casually again.

Once he finished speaking, she slowly stood up, found a decent excuse, and quietly withdrew from the CEO's office.

The heavy solid wood door was gently closed, and the vast office instantly returned to silence. Only the river wind outside brushed past the floor-to-ceiling glass, bringing a faint, soft rustling sound.

Not long after, in the exclusive parking space downstairs, a top-of-the-line black lexus lm came to a steady stop.

The driver, Lu Zheng, stood tall. After getting out of the car, he held a black umbrella and walked quickly into the office building, heading straight to the CEO's office and knocking lightly on the door.

After receiving permission, Lu Zheng pushed the door open and entered, bowing slightly as he reported in a low voice, "President Jiang, the car is ready and waiting downstairs."

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, stood up to straighten his collar, and stepped out of the room with composure. He took the exclusive elevator directly to the underground garage and sat in the back seat of the lexus lm.

Days flowed by peacefully, and in the blink of an eye, four or five days had passed.

Jiang City had entered late autumn, and the chill in the mornings and evenings was biting.

That evening, near the end of the workday, the sky was as gloomy as ink. Heavy clouds hung low over the city, and before long, a pitter-patter of cold rain began to fall. The raindrops turned from sparse to dense, instantly enveloping the entire Binjiang Business District.

The Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Detachment building wasn't far from the Binjiang Office Building, but the main roads were completely gridlocked during the evening rush hour. The subway required a detour and transfers, and the buses were so crowded there was nowhere to stand.

Officer Leng finished her day's work of sorting through case files and reviewing case details. She packed up her materials, changed out of her sharp and solemn police uniform into a simple and elegant dark trench coat, and walked downstairs with her briefcase.

Looking at the pouring cold rain and the long, motionless line of traffic on the road, she couldn't help but frown slightly.

Usually, she commuted by car, but it just so happened that her car had been sent to the 4S shop for scheduled maintenance today, leaving her without a vehicle.

On rainy days, the queue for a taxi often exceeded a hundred people, stretching out of sight. It would be impossible to get a ride anytime soon.

She stood still under the canopy at the building's entrance, hesitating as she gazed at the vast curtain of rain.

Her gaze inadvertently swept across the intersection and happened to see that highly recognizable black lexus lm slowly approaching, driving toward the Binjiang Office Building.

The window was halfway down, and that handsome, lazy profile came into view. Officer Leng recognized him at a glance—it was Jiang Chen.

The car reached the intersection and hit a red light, stopping steadily diagonally across from the main gate of the Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Officer Leng felt a slight hesitation in her heart.

She was naturally cold and aloof, and had always been reluctant to trouble others. She and Jiang Chen didn't have much interaction and weren't exactly close or familiar.

But at this moment, with the heavy downpour and the traffic completely paralyzed, there was no hope of getting a taxi, and she truly had no other choice.

After a moment's hesitation, she still took two steps forward and lightly signaled with her hand toward the lexus lm in the traffic flow.

Jiang Chen, in the back seat, had intended to go straight home to rest. During the interval of the red light, he accidentally glimpsed that tall, cold figure under the canopy. Just as he was momentarily dazed, he saw Officer Leng signaling him.

He raised an eyebrow slightly and lowered the window, his gaze falling upon the woman in the hazy curtain of rain.

Without the sharp edge of her police uniform, the trench coat made her figure appear tall and lithe. Her long hair was tied back, and her features remained cold and indifferent.

Against the damp and cold atmosphere of the autumn rain, her cold features instead took on a hint of fragility and loneliness.

Jiang Chen's voice cut through the pitter-patter of the rain, reaching her clearly and gently: "Officer Leng, didn't drive today?"

Officer Leng walked slowly to the car window, her tone polite and restrained, with a touch of appropriate euphemism: "The car was sent for maintenance. It just so happened to run into this sudden heavy rain. I can't get a taxi, and the roads are too congested to move."

She paused briefly, neither being deliberately polite and distant nor deliberately trying to get close. Her tone was frank and natural: "Your car happens to be going this way. If it's convenient... could you give me a lift? Just drop me off at the next intersection where I can get a taxi."

There was no affectation or coyness, no deliberate flattery—just a straightforward and honest request for help in a predicament.

Jiang Chen chuckled upon hearing this and said casually, "It's no big deal, no need to talk about whether it's on the way or not. Get in. The rain is so heavy; standing out there for too long makes it easy to catch a cold."

Officer Leng nodded slightly, whispered a "thank you," and bent down to sit in the spacious and comfortable back seat.

The interior was filled with warmth, steadily sealing out the damp and cold wind and rain outside. A faint woody fragrance lingered around her nose, and the space was quiet and pleasant.

"Getting off work so late?" Jiang Chen looked at the rainy scene outside the window and chatted casually, his tone relaxed and natural, without any hint of deliberate prying.

"Yes, an illegal fundraising case I'm working on has reached the closing stage. The files are complex and trivial, so I stayed late to organize them."

Officer Leng placed her briefcase lightly on her lap, her sitting posture upright and calm. "No one expected the weather to change so suddenly; the cold rain started without any warning."

"The late autumn rain in Jiang City has always been like this, coming as it pleases without ever giving notice," Jiang Chen replied indifferently.

The driver, Lu Zheng, drove steadily and skillfully, smoothly avoiding the congested main roads and choosing a riverside side road to drive slowly.

The carriage fell into a temporary silence, leaving only the rustling sound of the windshield wipers swaying back and forth, and the faint, blurred sounds of traffic and people outside the window.

The two weren't very well-acquainted, so they didn't have many common topics, yet there was no awkwardness of forcing a conversation. They just quietly accompanied the hazy rainy scene outside the window, the atmosphere peaceful and carrying a touch of appropriate restraint.

Officer Leng turned her head to look out the window. The rain and mist blurred the neon lights on both sides of the river into gentle, mottled patches of light, and a sense of stability inexplicably arose in her heart.

Usually, her nerves were always tight while working on cases, and she remained alert at all times, never daring to relax for a moment.

Sitting in the steadily moving car now, she rarely let down all her guard and found a moment of peaceful relaxation.

She quietly used her peripheral vision to glance at the boy with the indifferent expression beside her. His profile lines were sharp yet soft, and his temperament was composed and calm.

He had neither the calculating nature of a businessman nor the frivolous oiliness of someone deliberately trying to strike up a conversation. He always handled things with exactly the right amount of propriety.

After driving slowly for a while, they soon emerged from the congested section.

Jiang Chen didn't drop her off nearby. Instead, he softly instructed Lu Zheng to quietly turn into the side road leading to Officer Leng's residential community.

"There's no need to take a detour; you can just drop me off at the intersection ahead," Officer Leng quickly spoke up to stop him.

"I don't have anything urgent anyway, so I'm in no hurry to get back," Jiang Chen's tone was casual and indifferent.

"It's not safe for a girl to wait for a car alone by the roadside on a rainy night. I'll take you directly to the community gate to save you from getting rained on again."

This consideration was gentle without overstepping, heartwarming yet without giving her any psychological burden.

A trace of warmth rose in Officer Leng's heart, so she no longer insisted on refusing and said softly, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

"It's just a small favor, don't take it to heart."

Before long, the lexus lm came to a steady stop under the canopy of the community's main gate.

The rain still hadn't stopped, and the cold wind swept fine silken rain past the eaves.

Officer Leng unfastened her seatbelt and turned to look seriously at Jiang Chen, her eyes frank and sincere.

She was naturally clean-cut and decisive, and she disliked owing favors to others. Thanks to him helping her out today, she kept this gratitude in mind.

"Thank you so much for today. Otherwise, I really don't know how long I would have had to wait in the rain."

Her tone was sincere and earnest. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke, "I'll remember this favor. Some other day when I have time, I'll pick a nice riverside restaurant and officially treat you to a big meal to properly thank you for your help this time."