CHAPTER 89: 76. IF I WERE TO LEAVE YOU FOR A WHILE, WOULD YOU BE RELUCTANT TO LET ME GO?

He wasn’t wrong. Shi Nian frowned, "So, no one passed your interview just now."

He gazed at her quietly, "No, there was one. This person not only passed my interview but performed exceptionally well, beyond my expectations."

.

Shi Nian opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.

He looked up at her quietly, "Why don’t you hear what I can offer that female partner as a reward first?

Her eyebrows slightly arched.

He chuckled softly, "Ahem, it’s not the special bonus provided by the police. It’s the right to information sharing, and—exclusive disclosure rights after the case ends."

Shi Nian’s eyes lit up instantly.

He raised his eyebrows with satisfaction, stepped back, and slightly lifted his chin, "What, are you interested?"

.

Clearly, the hunter set the trap, waiting for her to fall into it herself, yet the hunter feigned innocence like a lamb.

Shi Nian took a deep breath and crossed her arms, "I was the only one who passed Mr. Tang’s interview just now, wasn’t I?"

He daringly shrugged.

"Not necessarily. I can only say that among those at that particular time, you were the only one who passed the interview."

"If I expand the candidate pool, calling over all the female reporters from your Deep Throat Group; or say, if I interview not just from Deep Throat Group but include other media too, I believe you might not be the only one who passes."

Shi Nian bit her lip.

He observed the unaware defiance rising on her face and lowered his head with a smile.

It was the confidence that arose unconsciously, as she believed that even if all the female reporters were gathered, there might not be a few whose reasoning abilities truly surpassed hers.

He decided to stop while ahead, "However, if you’re interested, you have a priority."

.

The trap lay open ahead, and she had already walked to its edge.

No matter how it sounded, this seemed deliberately orchestrated by him, yet—she couldn’t resist.

She gritted her teeth, "Why do I have priority?"

"Because you were the first to pass my interview perfectly, having the first-mover advantage is crucial. Moreover," he appeared serious, "after all, I should protect you 24 hours, handing you over to Jia Tianzi in the middle—even though he’s been my inseparable partner for four years, I still wouldn’t be at ease."

"If you can go undercover at the university with me for the investigation, that would be the best of both worlds."

Shi Nian took a deep breath, her gaze glancing over at Ye He and Xiao Mai, who were still watching from the side, before slowly lifting her head before him.

"Alright, Mr. Tang, I’m applying for this opportunity. I hope you let me try."

"Deal."

Tang Yanqing even dispensed with formalities, reaching out to high-five Shi Nian directly.

.

The Tang Family.

Tang Mingyi was discussing official matters with the campaign team in the study, and Shen Wan, feeling bored, went to Tang Yanqing’s room to look at his childhood photo albums.

The little rascal who had shown rebellion from a young age, every smile and frown tugged at his mother’s heartstrings.

But children eventually grow up. Even a biological mother will one day be unable to fully enter her son’s entire inner world. A door would quietly close between mother and son, with some corners never open to her again.

Thinking so, Shen Wan couldn’t help feeling a bit melancholic.

A light knock on the door, and Tang Yan Yi’s bright face appeared through the crack, "Third Aunt."

Shen Wan promptly called out, "Xiao Yi, come in quickly."

Tang Yan Yi walked in, sat next to Shen Wan, and also saw the photo album in Shen Wan’s hands, noting her expression.

Tang Yan Yi reached out to hug Shen Wan, "Third Aunt, are you missing big brother?"

"Yes." Shen Wan sniffed, "I haven’t seen him in days. Being a 24-hour personal bodyguard, I don’t know how he’s doing."

Tang Yan Yi sighed softly.

Shen Wan looked over sensitively, "Xiao Yi, tell Third Aunt, what’s going on with your big brother? You didn’t say a word after visiting him the other day. Is he sick? Or is he not eating or sleeping well?"

"Neither."

Tang Yan Yi frowned, looking difficult to answer.

"Xiao Yi, speak up." Shen Wan urged more anxiously, "If I wasn’t worried that he’d think I’m interfering in his work, I would have visited him myself already. He’s grown up and doesn’t like me interfering too much, but no matter how old he gets, he’ll always be my child. How can I not worry about him?"

Tang Yan Yi lowered her head, "There’s something, I don’t know if I should say it. Maybe it’s not about big brother, but I just feel something’s off."