Chapter 28: An Inescapable Truth

Jiang Yang certainly could not let her stay at his place; that would be like planting seeds of betrayal for Ruolan. Furthermore, he couldn't be sure if his apartment was bugged with surveillance cameras.

He felt as though he had developed a special connection with Xia Bingbing, sensing that if he were to upset her, he would feel miserable himself. However, he wasn't entirely sure if this feeling was romantic; it felt more like the protective affection a brother might have for a younger sister.

"Let's look for a bicycle with a back seat outside," he said, choosing to compromise. "I'll ride you back slowly."

"All right!" A triumphant smile lit up Xia Bingbing’s face.

Once they left the city square, it didn't take long to find a shared bicycle equipped with a back seat. Jiang Yang climbed on, and Xia Bingbing sat behind him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. Her cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes half-closed, and a faint smile played on her lips as she hummed the melody of the song "Can I."

Passersby offered knowing smiles at the sight. The older ones recalled the fond memories of their own youth, while the lonely singles cast looks of envy, jealousy, and resentment. Yet, Jiang Yang, the leading man in this picturesque scene, could only play the fool. He realized now why Xia Bingbing had been so insistent that he be the first to like and comment on this particular video out of all the others she posted—the song was meant for him. But he simply couldn't bring himself to respond to her blatant hints. Xia Bingbing refused to believe he was married; she wouldn't be convinced unless he brought Ruolan before her and firmly declared, "This is my wife."

He pedaled the bike, delivering this supposedly materialistic girl to her residence, an upscale gated community. The entrance was grand, and peering inside, one could see beautiful landscaped gardens—a stark contrast to the economical youth apartment Jiang Yang lived in.

"You live here?" Jiang Yang felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had been here before.

"Yes. This is where you came to confess your feelings to me last time," she said, tilting her chin toward the complex. "How about it? Want to come up for a glass of milk?"

Going up there would likely involve much more than just a glass of milk. Jiang Yang refused instantly. "It’s getting late. You should get some rest; don't you have work tomorrow?"

Xia Bingbing looked slightly disappointed. "Oh... then be careful on your way home."

"Don't worry, I'm a grown man. Who would try to assault me on the street? I'm heading back now," Jiang Yang said with a wave, mounting his bike to leave.

"Wait," Xia Bingbing called out from behind.

Jiang Yang turned. "What is it?" Before he knew it, a fragrant breeze brushed past, and Xia Bingbing quickly planted a kiss on his cheek. She clung to him, whispering into his ear, "Senior, I know many girls like you. But until you decide who you want to be with, we’re still good friends, right?"

Her voice was soft and sweet, sending a tingling sensation through his heart. In truth, she had been fond of him since their university days, but back then, he had eyes only for Liang Xiaoqing. When the opportunity finally arose after Liang Xiaoqing went abroad, she had gone to great lengths to fake being stranded in S City just to move into his home. But Jiang Yang was a man of principle; his heart was set on Liang Xiaoqing, and despite living under the same roof, nothing had ever happened. It wasn't until that one day, when they nearly crossed the line, that a phone call from Liang Xiaoqing cut the moment short, forcing her to move out.

Now that Jiang Yang had lost his memory, they were back at the same starting line, and she was determined not to miss her chance.

Under the bright moonlight, with a beautiful woman before him, how could Jiang Yang refuse? Besides, her request was only to remain good friends. He instinctively reached out to pat her back, but stopped himself from what might have been an inappropriate gesture for a married man. He settled for a gentle pat on her shoulder instead. "Of course we're good friends. Go on in, it's windy out here."

Xia Bingbing finally let go. She gave him a lingering look, then turned back, waving at him repeatedly as she walked into the complex.

Watching her leave, Jiang Yang felt a complex mix of emotions. He pedaled away. He hadn't gone far when his phone rang. He pulled over to the side of the road to answer; it was a video call from Ruolan.

He accepted the call. Ruolan was at home, but her expression was clearly displeased. "Hubby, why aren't you home after work? Are you still out?"

Jiang Yang’s mind raced. "We had a lot of 'bedtime exercise' lately, so I decided to come out and ride a bike for some cardio," he replied with a cheeky grin.

Ruolan’s expression didn't soften. "Don't wander around aimlessly. I feel uneasy when I can't see you at home."

"Aren't you coming back tomorrow? You'll be able to watch me at home every day then, won't you?"

"Just... you better behave yourself."

"Don't worry, I'm heading back now. No 'female wolves' are going to kidnap me."

"Enough talk, come home!" Her voice rose, laced with impatience.

After hanging up, Jiang Yang felt something was off. Why would she say, "I feel uneasy when I can't see you at home"? That was strange. Even if they video chatted, he could still leave the house. How could she ensure she could "see" him at home?

There was only one possibility: she had installed surveillance equipment.

Jiang Yang’s heart tightened. He felt his backpack, where he kept the signal detector he had taken from Manager Cai. It seemed this was a reality he could no longer avoid; he had to sweep his apartment tonight.

With that thought, he pedaled home at full speed. Before entering his apartment, he tucked the signal detector into his jacket pocket so it wouldn't be obvious to any cameras. He patted his pocket, knowing this moment might change his life again, and it required a certain amount of courage.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The moment he crossed the threshold, the detector in his chest pocket began to beep incessantly.

Jiang Yang’s heart sank to the bottom of a well. His suspicions were correct!