Chapter 33: I Have Already Fallen in Love with You

Lin Fan didn’t take Zhao Ying anywhere else, for it was already late and most places had closed. Instead, they went straight to Xu Qiang’s bar and booked a room upstairs.

“Boss, did you upset your lady? How come she didn’t make you kneel on the floor?” In the private room, noticing Zhao Ying’s upset expression, Xu Qiang sidled up to Lin Fan and whispered with a hint of schadenfreude. After all, this was the first time he’d seen Lin Fan with a woman. Back in their Falcon days, it was all missions and training; the only women they ever saw were a handful of fellow soldiers. Xu Qiang didn’t realize that over the years, Lin Fan had seen all sorts of women, yet never allowed himself to get involved with any of them—at most, a fleeting release, nothing more. To this day, only one woman had ever truly entered Lin Fan’s heart, but her fate was uncertain—perhaps she was already dead.

Seeing Lin Fan glare at him, Xu Qiang wisely scuttled out of the room. He could more or less guess what his boss intended; after four years in society, both he and Lin Fan had changed. Lin Fan was no longer the man he’d been, and he himself was no longer the naive kid from Falcon.

Hearing Xu Qiang call her “sister-in-law” and with Lin Fan not refuting it, Zhao Ying felt an indescribable sweetness in her heart. She rather liked being addressed that way.

Seated on the bed, Zhao Ying poured bottle after bottle of beer down her throat. Thankfully, it was only beer; had it been liquor, Lin Fan would have snatched it away long ago.

“Well, if she wants to drink, I’ll keep her company,” Lin Fan mused, grabbing a beer and drinking with her.

Before long, the floor was littered with empty bottles. Lin Fan had no idea how much he’d drunk, but he knew he wasn’t drunk. Zhao Ying, on the other hand, her cheeks were as red as ripe apples, almost as if blood would drip from them. In the lamplight, she looked stunning.

“Do you know, I’ve fallen for you? I really have. Even though I don’t know who you are or where you come from—maybe you’re a rapist, maybe an escaped murderer—but I know I truly love you…” Slurring slightly, Zhao Ying clung to Lin Fan’s arm, letting loose her feelings in a torrent of alcohol-laced words.

Perhaps it began the first night they met at the bar; or perhaps it was when Lin Fan, despite her drunkenness, never took advantage of her; or… whatever it was, Zhao Ying hadn’t realized her feelings until now. But after twice staring death in the face, and twice being rescued by Lin Fan regardless of the risk, her emotional defenses had completely crumbled. She knew she was hopelessly in love with the man before her—even if he might be a “bad guy,” or a heartless killer.

“Ying’er, I can’t give you the life you want. In truth, I’ve already…” Even though Lin Fan had sensed her feelings, even love, he was at a loss for words when she finally confessed.

Zhao Ying’s answer was a fierce, passionate kiss—this time, entirely lucid, unlike before.

“Does she really have to be this intense?” Lin Fan couldn’t help but smile wryly inside. One of Zhao Ying’s hands clung to his neck, while the other slipped quietly under his shirt, caressing his chest… Lin Fan wasn’t sure what he felt for Zhao Ying, but he knew that being with her, he felt at ease, freed from pretense and endless worries. She wasn’t vain or power-hungry like other women—she was bold, decisive, unafraid to love or hate. A woman like her—if he missed his chance, he might regret it for a lifetime.

And Lin Fan, after all, was a man—and he’d had a fair bit to drink. Faced with a woman like Zhao Ying and her fierce onslaught, it would be unthinkable not to respond. Sensing his reaction, Zhao Ying let herself go, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth freely.

In the lamplight, her movements were slightly awkward; after all, aside from that wild night when she’d been drunk, this was her first real experience with a man. Lin Fan reached over and turned out the light. Soon, the room was filled with the muffled sounds of a woman’s pleasure and the fragrance of passion, enough to stir the imagination.

…

When morning came, Zhao Ying was already gone. On the nightstand sat a note: “There’s breakfast on the table. If it’s cold when you wake, just heat it up. I’ve gone to work.” Signed: Ying’er.

Lin Fan smiled, his face glowing with happiness, and stretched lazily. Hugging the pillow, he lay back down, breathing in the lingering scent of Zhao Ying’s perfume. Truthfully, he hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time, not since that incident long ago.

After savoring the moment, he threw off the blanket and sat cross-legged, only to notice faint spots of blood on the white sheets. With a wicked grin, he dialed Zhao Ying’s number.

“Are you alright after last night?” Lin Fan asked gently when she answered, now that Zhao Ying was truly his woman.

Hearing his concern, Zhao Ying felt a surge of happiness. Every woman longs to know her lover cares for her. Still, her face flushed with embarrassment as she replied, “It’s all your fault—why were you so rough last night?”

Lin Fan chuckled. “You weren’t exactly gentle yourself. You kept asking for more and more—I was nearly exhausted!”

Though it had been Zhao Ying’s first time, she hadn’t let Lin Fan off easily, demanding more and more all night long. He didn’t know how late they’d gone, but instead of feeling tired, he felt completely at ease. Zhao Ying, however, had barely managed to get out of bed that morning, her legs like jelly. But watching Lin Fan sleep, she’d felt utterly content. Even now, Lin Fan hadn’t told her who he really was, but her instincts told her there were many stories behind him.

“Stop it, you’re not allowed to say such things,” Zhao Ying protested shyly on the other end of the line.

“Alright, alright, I won’t,” Lin Fan laughed.

After teasing her for a bit, Lin Fan told Zhao Ying about Hu Zifeng, asking her to help get him released. Lin Fan had few allies he could call on without attracting attention from above. In truth, even if she weren’t now his woman, Zhao Ying would have helped anyway: Hu Zifeng hadn’t committed any crime—he’d been framed. With her abilities, Zhao Ying would soon have the truth, and Hu Zifeng would be exonerated.

When Lin Fan mentioned that Wei Liang was involved, Zhao Ying was furious. To assault another man’s girlfriend and then have the boyfriend thrown in jail—Wei Liang was out of control. For him to act with such impunity, he must have accomplices in the police. Realizing this, Zhao Ying rushed to investigate Hu Zifeng’s file at the police station, and discovered that the officer who’d arrested him was none other than Yan Dong.

…