Cold Encounter

Shao Lin spent the next two weeks observing the other four suspects in the early hours of the morning and late hours until midnight. She'd watch from the car, not going anywhere she did not need to be. With some of her results, she compared her findings to Detective Zhong's observations when he reported to her.

She made some conclusions. A man in his late forties spent nights at a pleasure hall while his wife stayed at home with three children. Another, a young man, had spent most nights gambling and barhopping, drinking and spending recklessly.

There was also an older woman, beautifully in great shape, to which Zhong Bai said he could not make out her face or name. She wore a mask, and Shao Lin could not follow that woman or make out who she was. Her identity remained a mystery.

Another man was a young man who was a store clerk who closed every night and went home to his family. He had lost his mother and took care of his sick father and younger siblings.

The area Detective Zhong said the murder occurred had pleasure halls, casinos, and stores, all matching up to where the suspects could have been that night, and they each had alibis.

That narrowed down to the mysterious woman and Long Yat-sen.

…

Another week flew by when Shao Lin discovered that Long Yat-sen spent most of his time at Long Group and went home in a heavily gated area that would take some miracle to allow her in. He then would never leave for the rest of the night.

Shao Lin also noticed that he would take runs in the mornings, and he'd slip out the gated area to head to a trail that stretched for miles.

Nothing he did seemed abnormal, but that still did not disprove her suspicions.

That evening, Shao Lin prepared an olive-green gown for the auction she was attending. She put her hair half-up in a braid and left the rest loose and wavy. She tapped on some light makeup on her face and tossed on a light jacket before leaving.

She arrived at the charity event hosted at a large hall with a fountain, a buffet, and people who looked like they could buy the entire auction without making a dent in their bank accounts. Shao Lin felt out of place being near them.

She mingled in the area, her eyes raking over the guests when she spotted Long Yat-sen. A gentleman close to his age was chatting with him as he listened, tall and poised, and like he owned the place.

Shao Lin watched until Long Yat-sen made a move by parting ways with the gentleman, walking away.

Shao Lin followed, keeping a distance. He made his way to the hall and slipped into a corridor.

She looked at her surroundings, making sure no one watched as she kept up with his pace. Long Yat-sen made a turn, and his silhouette disappeared from her view. She quickened her pace, stumbling down the corridor that led to other rooms when she lost him completely.

Sighing, she looked around and decided to turn back when she was pulled into a half-lit room, away from the hall.

Shao Lin let out a gasp as she was caged against the wall by a pair of arms that flattened his palms on either side of her. Her nose instantly hit with the smell of pine and cloves. She looked up, gulping at the sight of eyes that raised her skin and flesh.

"Why are you following me?" his voice, low and smoky, accusatory.

Shao Lin looked into Long Yat-sen's eyes unwaveringly, trying not to lose her collection or her senses. "What if I'm one of your admirers?" She lied, testing the waters.

He looked at her and smiled unkindly. No warmth was found in that grin. "I doubt that an established woman such as yourself would follow me into a hall, not knowing where the destination was, nor would you follow me home as just an 'admirer.'"

Her lips parted, eyes widening.

"You did not think I would never find out about how you've been following me?" he questioned her.

Shao Lin held her breath.

Long Yat-sen dipped his head near her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Unconsciously, Shao Lin arched her back against the wall, releasing a breath. He closed some of the gap between them, his scent filling her nose even more intensely. His breath caressed her ear and neck as his voice dropped low into a seductive whisper and caress. "I don't know why you're stalking me, but I suggest you stop poking around at things in my personal life. Whatever you are searching for. You will not find it."

His voice was half-cold, half-warning.

Despite her fear, Shao Lin stood her ground. She leaned toward him, so close their lips nearly brushed. She matched his tone. "I will find what I am looking for because you keep things hidden, secret. I intend to unravel you."

Long Yat-sen's lips curved upwardly, wickedly smiling as his eyes dropped to her mouth, his hands travelling up her arms, pinning her wrists gently. They were now chest against chest, his knee settled between her thighs and heat pooled in her stomach.

"Miss Shao," he continued, voice low. "Is this how you repay me for my services? You wound me graciously."

Shao Lin swallowed. "Please," she countered indifferently. "Do not behave as if you cared about my condition the night we met. You don't even know who I am, not personally."

His eyes darkened. "Miss Shao, then I suggest you drop whatever grudge it is you have against me. That is a warning, not a suggestion."

Shao Lin then pushed him away, and he released his hold on her. "Or you'd what?"

"I don't hurt women," Long Yat-sen answered. "But there are other ways to ruin someone."

"You're evil," she spat.

"I've been called worse."

"I'm done with whatever game this is," she told him.

Shao Lin straightened, stalking out of the room.

"Goodbye flower-girl," she heard him say on her way out, almost missing his last words.

Shao Lin walked down the hall, anger rising in her chest. The earlier impression of him being thoughtful and helpful dissipated. He's the worst—the devil. She hated him.

She made her way to the auction, sat down, trying to regain her breath and waited until the event began.