Chapter 178 - 177: He has washed his hands of his past (or retired from his criminal activities).

Words : 1186 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 178: 177: He has washed his hands of his past (or retired from his criminal activities). "Brother Wei, aren’t you going to introduce someone?" Lin Qingyan sat upright on the stool, resting her chin on one hand, openly scrutinizing the girl across from her. A flash of astonishment crossed her eyes, quickly replaced by a deep curiosity. It seemed as though she had never considered that Shi Wei might like this particular type. "My girlfriend, Yu Zhi." When Shi Wei uttered the word "girlfriend," the indulgent smile on his lips was unmistakable. He tousled the young girl’s hair, gently pulling her slender waist even closer to him. This scene completely stunned Lin Qingyan, as if she had seen a ghost; even the muscles on her face started to stiffen. Her gaze flitted between the two individuals repeatedly. She found the girl who melted this icy mountain increasingly extraordinary, even developing a sense of admiration for her. Lin Qingyan introduced herself but was stuck pondering how best to address her when her eyes inadvertently landed on that teary-eyed boy. Their gazes met for a few seconds, and she arched her brows inquisitively. Emulating the boy’s earlier tone, she greeted warmly, "Sis, how long have you been together?" "Stop calling me that!" Jin Yunzhi immediately exploded, glaring furiously at the exasperating woman, attempting to appear menacing. But his exaggerated expression held no intimidation whatsoever in the eyes of others; instead, it nearly melted everyone’s hearts. It was outrageously adorable. "What’s it to you?" Lin Qingyan dismissed his antics without hesitation, turning her head away and carrying on the conversation with Yu Zhi. It was hard to tell if she was doing it deliberately; every sentence she spoke intentionally highlighted the word "sis." The intimacy suggested they had been close for years. Fuming, Jin Yunzhi stomped over to her, surveyed the tabletop, then picked up the empty ashtray and smacked it forcefully twice. "Lin Qingyan! It’s bad enough you steal my biscuits, now you’re stealing my sister too!" The boy’s small face turned increasingly red with anger. Hearing this, Lin Qingyan yanked Xu Linchuan, who was sipping tea beside her, toward herself. Patting his shoulder, she said, "Here, this is her real brother. What’s the fuss about?" Suddenly dragged into this smoke-free battlefield, Xu Linchuan looked utterly helpless. He wiped off the tea that had spilled onto his legs and sighed in exasperation, "Alright, what’s even worth fighting over here? You’re both ridiculously childish." "Say that again?" "Who’s childish? You’re the childish one!" Both voices rang simultaneously, leaving Xu Linchuan with a headache. He looked at Shi Wei for help, interrupting him and his girlfriend from their ever-cloying romantic bubble, "Master Shi, could you please say something?" Shi Wei lifted his eyelids lazily, casting him a lukewarm glance. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, and the smile on his face vanished. Just when Xu Linchuan began to think he was doomed, the man calmly shifted his gaze to him, lightly parting his pale lips, "Why did you ask us here?" "Brother Wei, you saw right through me." Lin Qingyan chuckled awkwardly, taking a small sip of water while silently organizing her thoughts. Amid the puzzled stares of the others, she suddenly adopted a serious expression: "Last night, Prince of Divine Thief broke into my apartment." Yu Zhi: "??" Wait, what? She had no idea. Yu Zhi raised her refined brows, confused. As she felt the hand that was holding hers gradually tighten, her fingertips unconsciously brushed against the back of his hand. "And then? What did he steal?" Jin Yunzhi suddenly took immense interest in the subject, dropping his earlier quarrel entirely. Dragging his chair closer to her, he stared intently, listening with rapt attention. Lin Qingyan coughed, visibly uneasy as her eyes darted about erratically. Lowering her voice, she muttered, "He took... my underwear." Jin Yunzhi: "..." The crazy woman undoubtedly had issues. He pursed his lips and quietly dragged his stool further away, muttering with visible discomfort, "Please don’t tell me Prince of Divine Thief has a crush on you." Xu Linchuan’s expression turned equally peculiar; he glanced at the woman up and down, remarking, "He’s retired now. Are you sure you’re not just dreaming?" How utterly outrageous—it wasn’t priceless jewels or famous paintings he was after, but a woman’s underwear? Why not change his name to Flower Picker Thief while he’s at it? "I saw him with my own eyes!" Seeing their doubt, Lin Qingyan immediately described the man’s physique and the faint profile she had glimpsed. She leaned back against the chair, crossing her arms over her chest, her gaze tinged with indignation and faint embarrassment. "I want to find him. You guys need to help me." "Find him for what? To get your... back?" "The station’s swamped right now; I really can’t help you." "..." Seeing everyone trying to shirk responsibility, Lin Qingyan furiously kicked each of them. Then, turning toward the man who hadn’t spoken a word the entire time, she picked up the teapot and refilled his cup. "Brother Wei, you’ll definitely help me out, won’t you?" In Imperial City, surely no one could escape the reach of Master Shi. Besides, when she brought up Divine Thief last time, his reaction seemed off; maybe he even knew the guy. Thinking of this, a determined gleam flashed in Lin Qingyan’s eyes, eager to flush out the man as soon as possible. Shi Wei lowered his gaze, fiddling with the delicate, soft hand he was holding. His emotions remained unperturbed as he hummed a response. His hair partially shadowed his brows, and in the lamp’s light cast an atmospheric silhouette, resembling an ink painting, vivid and alluring. When Yu Zhi turned her head, she was met with this mesmerizing scene. Her almond eyes filled with admiration, and all traces of surprise faded. She leaned her head against the man’s shoulder, her lips curling into a radiant smile. Beneath the unnoticed table, she tickled his palm lightly. "I knew it! Brother Wei, you’re the most loyal!" Lin Qingyan was too engrossed in her search for the thief to notice their subtle interaction. Thrilled over his agreement, her excitement surged, leaving her oblivious to the couple’s furtive exchange. "Master Shi, are you really this free lately?" Xu Linchuan couldn’t resist chiming in, his disbelief making him feel as though he might be the one dreaming. Shi Wei ignored him, but Lin Qingyan promptly grabbed a cushion and whacked him over the head. "I must’ve misjudged you!" "Lin Qingyan, are you done yet?" Having been smacked not once but twice, Xu Linchuan finally launched his ’counterattack.’ The two started yet another round of chasing and bickering, amping up the lively atmosphere in Meiyue Pavilion. "Shi Wei, do they have fruit wine here?" Yu Zhi leaned toward his ear and whispered softly. The young girl’s warm breath swept over Shi Wei’s entire body, sending tingling sensations even through his heartbeat. "Zhizhi wants a drink?" His low voice carried a faintly seductive undertone. "Mm, that sweet taste is really nice." She loved the sugary flavor, which made her crave it.

Chapter 178 - 177: He has washed his hands of his past (or retired from his criminal activities).

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