Chapter Six: You Cannot Save Me!

Bai Bing carried two glasses of iced green tea into the living room, watching Wang Zheng, who was staring at the television with a dazed expression. She couldn’t help but turn her gaze to the screen as well. Once she saw the woman on TV, Bai Bing understood.

“Su Xue is now the news anchor at Jinghua City Television. Her beauty, grace, poise, and refreshing charm have made her famous in Jinghua. Though she’s only been in the field for three years, she’s already the undisputed leading lady.”

“She’s... become the leading lady?” Wang Zheng couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this. When he first joined the organization, he was only thirteen. He’d thought himself young, but upon seeing the files, realized there was someone even younger—Su Xue, who was a month his junior.

Su Xue, whose IQ reached two hundred, was a top-tier hacker. Wang Zheng still remembered the little girl from those years ago, sitting in a chair with her feet barely touching the ground, biting on a lollipop, her fingers flying across the keyboard. He never imagined she would become a news anchor, let alone the leading lady.

It looked like he ought to pay this ‘leading lady’ a visit.

After eight years, returning home and finally seeing a ‘family member’ made Wang Zheng deeply happy, even a bit excited. The memories of the past flashed through his mind like slides, leaving him feeling a little bitter, a little grateful, but mostly exhilarated and moved. They were the most beautiful memories of his life, worth carrying into the next.

Beside him, Bai Bing noticed the expression on Wang Zheng’s face and grew curious. This man, renowned as the strongest in Africa, usually so cold and tough, actually wore such a gentle smile, his eyes deep as the night sky—reserved yet sincere, tender yet strong.

Bai Bing’s heart warmed: Was this what he was seeking?

“If you’re so nostalgic, why not return to the organization and continue working?” Bai Bing suddenly asked, seizing any opportunity to persuade him. This was the advantage of being close.

Wang Zheng turned to look at her, displeased at having his reminiscence interrupted.

“Things have changed. We’re not of the same era anymore. And those useless people—besides flaunting their little green book, what can they do? How many truly talented ones are there?” Wang Zheng said disdainfully, then picked up the iced green tea and took a sip. “I’m not boasting, but even if you all tried to take me today, I could single-handedly walk out of the building unharmed before sunset.”

“Aren’t you being arrogant?” Bai Bing replied.

“I am arrogant, and reckless—so what? Besides, your persistent tagging along is just to get me back to the organization, which proves my ability,” Wang Zheng said, every word brimming with confidence, a conviction more persuasive than mere words.

Hearing Wang Zheng’s words and sensing his unending confidence, Bai Bing suddenly said, “I’m starting to like you!”—a declaration that brooked no denial.

“Really?” Wang Zheng laughed off her words. “Yet, I find myself liking you less and less!”

He couldn’t understand why this woman, who seemed so aloof at first, was now talking so much—it irritated him. Had she not been a woman, his fist might already have landed on her forehead.

For a moment, the two stared at each other, eyes sharp as blades. Though neither moved nor spoke further, the tension was palpable. The atmosphere in the room was strangely charged, currents running deep beneath the calm, making it impossible to gauge.

Suddenly, Wang Zheng sprang up from the sofa and lunged at Bai Bing. His movements were swift; before she could react, she was pinned beneath him.

“Women are tools for creating humanity, and men are the users of those tools. Your tragedy is taking yourself too seriously, thinking you can save the world like some benevolent goddess, hoping to influence and rescue others with your thoughts. Don’t forget—even Buddha said: ‘Where virtue rises, evil rises higher.’ You won’t save me!” Wang Zheng said fiercely, pressing close to her face.

At that moment, Wang Zheng’s cold expression contrasted with Bai Bing’s t-shirt-clad body pressed tightly against him, the fullness of her figure undeniable.

“Do you always like to show off in front of women?” Bai Bing asked calmly.

“Women like you are more dangerous than men. And I’m no gentleman—I do enjoy showing off in front of women, especially from a position like this,” he replied.

Bai Bing gave a mock smile, her eyebrows raised as if hinting at something.

“Are you trying to intimidate me?” Wang Zheng laughed, then brought his nose close to her hair, her ears, her delicate face, her chin, her lashes, her lips. He inhaled deeply, savoring the faint scent on her skin, then whispered ambiguously in her ear, “You’re truly a dangerous woman—every inch of you radiates danger.”

With a teasing smile, Wang Zheng stood up from the sofa and walked toward his room.

Bai Bing sat up, supporting herself on the couch, and after seeing the tightly shut door, she smiled, her brows filled with newfound confidence.

“Now this is a challenge!”

...

Late at night, the round moon hung high in the sky, its gentle light mingling with twinkling stars and a hint of coolness. The daytime heat and noise had faded, leaving only the fresh breeze of a summer night blowing through the window, bringing comfort.

On his first night back in the country, Wang Zheng felt no sleepiness; perhaps he was used to sleeping on flea-infested wooden boards, and such softness was unfamiliar. He got up, moved to the window, and sat cross-legged on the sill, gazing at the night outside.

The soft moonlight draped the earth in a silvery veil, and the stars above seemed to tell stories of the world. Not far away, neon lights flickered, suggesting the city’s nightlife was just beginning.

He thought, perhaps it was time to rest. The allure of the night stirred his memories, and Wang Zheng recalled many things. Despite his rugged exterior, he possessed a sensitive heart, knowing what he wanted and valuing deep connections. Everything he’d done over the years was for this very moment.

Yet the world had changed, and of all his brothers and sisters, only two remained. Still, those beautiful memories stayed with him, never to be forgotten.

There are always things in this world that evoke sadness—cycles of joy and sorrow, reunion and separation. Wang Zheng had missed his chance before and regretted it for years. If he didn’t cherish this opportunity and fight for it, he’d regret it for a lifetime.

...

The next morning, Wang Zheng was awakened by a sizzling sound, which annoyed him since he’d only fallen asleep in the latter half of the night. He got up and walked out, discovering the culprit.

“As the captain’s lackey, shouldn’t you be at work, sucking up?” he said.

“My job now is to look after your daily life,” Bai Bing replied unhurriedly, unfazed by his sarcasm.

“Look after? Don’t sugar-coat it—it’s surveillance, isn’t it?” Wang Zheng laughed. “Since I spent a night at your place, let me remind you: I’m a very attractive man. Women who fall for me are countless. You’d better keep your distance, or someday you’ll fall in love with me, but I won’t love you. Hurting a beauty’s body and heart would be a moral dilemma for me.”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Bai Bing turned to Wang Zheng, “but before I succumb to your charms, could you please put your underwear on and stop walking naked around my apartment?”

Huh?

Where’s my zebra-patterned underwear? Wang Zheng suddenly remembered he’d gone to bed wrapped in a towel last night, thinking he was wearing underwear. But he didn’t panic; he calmly looked at her and said, “I’m not usually so casual, but since you are, I’ll follow your lead.” With that, he strode to the bathroom—his things were likely all there.

“There are new clothes for you on the sofa. The sizes should fit. If not, just make do for now; I’ll take you shopping for some new ones later,” Bai Bing’s voice came from the kitchen.

Wang Zheng emerged from the bathroom with underwear now on, walked to the living room, and found clothes neatly arranged on the sofa, everything from underwear to outerwear.

“A woman who keeps men’s clothes at home—you’re even more casual than I imagined,” he remarked.

“What nonsense? I bought those at the market outside the neighborhood this morning,” Bai Bing replied, annoyed.

“Oh really?” Wang Zheng said mockingly, “A woman buying men’s underwear at the market—you’re the epitome of casual!”

“Are you going to wear them or not?” Bai Bing gritted her teeth, hating nothing more than lewd jokes at her expense.

“I won’t wear them...” Wang Zheng picked up the white underwear, looked at it, and said, “Or do you want to wear them?”