The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: I’m Here, Don’t Be Afraid

Han Xiaorui was talking to Ye Feng when she noticed Wang Liang’s rather unpleasant gaze and rolled her eyes.

’What a piece of work!’

’I thought he was a decent guy at first, but I guess a lofty profession can’t hide a despicable nature.’

Han Xiaorui took out her ID and signed the document, followed by Ye Feng, Zhou Yang, and Wang Liang.

Ye Feng chuckled. ”For the one you recovered yesterday, we’ll determine your bonus after the inspection is complete.”

”Alright, no rush,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ”I just happened to stumble upon it!”

The four thousand yuan was in a manila envelope, which she stuffed into her bag.

”Thank you,” Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I won’t keep Director Ye from his work any longer!”

But just as she stepped outside, the gloomy sky suddenly cracked with lightning and thunder, and it started to rain.

Han Xiaorui suddenly remembered she had left her umbrella at her sister’s place. ’How am I going to get back now?’

”Comrade Xiao Han, wait a moment. I’ll go get the car.”

With that, Ye Feng grabbed a nearby umbrella and walked out.

”No need, you can just lend me the umbrella,” Han Xiaorui said, but Ye Feng, already ahead of her, seemed not to hear as he continued walking straight on under the umbrella.

Wang Liang glanced at Director Ye, then at Han Xiaorui. ”Comrade Xiao Han, where did you find it yesterday?”

”In the sea!” Han Xiaorui replied.

”No specific location?” Wang Liang had been tasked by his superiors to find out how to locate these deep-sea detectors.

Three had been recovered in just one month.

Each one was worth hundreds of thousands, or even millions.

The money didn’t matter. Their key concern was that Hua Country would obtain the technology, develop similar devices, and use them for reconnaissance in their vicinity.

”To the east.” Han Xiaorui played along but refused to give any specifics.

If Ye Feng or Zhou Yang had asked, Han Xiaorui would have told them without hesitation.

”You...” Wang Liang was about to ask what was with her attitude, but Zhou Yang pulled him back. ”Director Ye will ask. You shouldn’t ask so many questions.”

Just then, Ye Feng drove up in a Jeep and stopped at the entrance. ”Get in.”

Han Xiaorui didn’t stand on ceremony and immediately opened the car door. ”Thanks.”

A few raindrops clung to Han Xiaorui’s hair, sparkling like crystals, and her eyes were bright.

Her fiery red lips were slightly parted.

It was the first time Ye Feng had ever observed a woman so intently outside of work.

”What did Wang Liang just ask you?” Ye Feng’s throat moved slightly as he averted his gaze from Han Xiaorui’s face.

Although Ye Feng was a highly capable special operative, he was still a man.

Han Xiaorui paused for a moment, then asked, ”What is it? Is there a problem with Wang Liang?”

Turning her head, Han Xiaorui saw Ye Feng’s handsome, strong jawline and his high-bridged nose.

Then, she quickly turned to look ahead. ’I think Sister-in-law Xiao Yu is a bad influence on me!’

Ye Feng drove with his eyes on the road, surprised by Han Xiaorui’s sharpness. ”Heh, that’s classified.”

”Oh!” Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Is it dangerous for me to be finding these detectors so often?”

Ye Feng was slightly taken aback, then his tone became firm. ”Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Han Xiaorui paused again, then smiled. ”I stick to the coastal waters, so it should be fine.”

”If you find another one and you’re scared, you don’t have to retrieve it,” Ye Feng replied. ”Come back, call me, and I’ll take a team to get it.”

Han Xiaorui frowned slightly. ”But sometimes those things are active. By the time I get back and tell you, it’ll be long gone.”

Ye Feng thought for a moment. ”I’ll figure something out.”

Han Xiaorui nodded and smiled. ”Okay! I’ll look forward to your solution. I want to be a passionate patriot, but I have to protect myself first.”

”After all, I’m a mother of two and the pillar of my family. I can’t let anything happen to me.”

Ye Feng turned his head and glanced at Han Xiaorui, a newfound respect in his eyes. ”Right. I’ll figure something out!”

The rain fell harder and harder, large drops splattering against the car’s windshield like blooming water flowers.

The windshield wipers swung back and forth rapidly, clearing away the raindrops.

Fortunately, the roads were all paved with asphalt, so he got Han Xiaorui home quickly.

”Thank you, Mr. Ye,” Han Xiaorui said as she got out of the car.

Ye Feng called out, ”Wait a second!”

”What is it?” Han Xiaorui looked puzzled. ’Does he have something else to say?’

Ye Feng grabbed an umbrella from the back seat and handed it to Han Xiaorui. ”The rain’s too heavy. I’m lending you this umbrella! You can give it back the next time we meet!”

Han Xiaorui nodded and took it. ”Thank you, Mr. Ye.”

Han Xiaorui opened the umbrella, closed the car door, and waved at Ye Feng through the window.

As Ye Feng drove away, he could still see the silhouette of Han Xiaorui waving under her umbrella in his rain-streaked rearview mirror.

’So beautiful!’

’And a good heart, too!’

Liang Xiaoyu and Han Xiaoqing were tidying up a room on the second floor when they saw a military-green Jeep pull up specifically to drop Han Xiaorui off.

”Xiao Rui is back! I’ll get the door for her.” Liang Xiaoyu quickly put down what she was doing, hurried downstairs, and went to the main gate with an umbrella.

The moment she opened the gate, Liang Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow and asked, ”Xiao Rui, did Mr. Ye bring you home?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Yeah!”

”Ooh~” Liang Xiaoyu giggled. ”How considerate of him!”

Han Xiaorui was exasperated. ”It just happened to be raining, that’s all! Nothing special!”

Liang Xiaoyu grinned. ”We’ll see if there’s more to it later! As your sister-in-law, I’ve been around the block. I get it!”

Han Xiaorui was dumbfounded. ”What do you get?”

Liang Xiaoyu chuckled. ”I get men!”

”I’m not talking to you about this!” Han Xiaorui walked into the courtyard with the umbrella. ”What are the kids doing?”

Liang Xiaoyu replied, ”They’re playing games in the living room. Xiao Jing and I are tidying up the rooms upstairs!”

”My mother-in-law is in the kitchen. She bought a lot of groceries and said she’s going to show off her skills for us this afternoon.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui’s interest was instantly piqued. In the face of good food, she would toss all thoughts of men over the wall. ”What delicious things is she making?”

”Go see for yourself!” Liang Xiaoyu laughed as they went to the kitchen together.

Although her mother-in-law could be a bit blunt, she was soft-hearted and kind on the inside.

Seeing that her grandson was always eating at Han Xiaorui’s place, and that she herself sometimes ate there too, the mother-in-law had often grumbled about it while quietly gathering ingredients.

Tonight, the mother-in-law was making a table full of her specialty dishes for Han Xiaorui to thank her.

When Han Xiaorui entered, she saw a cleaned local sanhuang chicken in a basin.

”Sister Cai, what delicious food are you making for us?” Han Xiaorui asked happily, her eyes filled with a love for good food.

When Granny Cai saw the transformed Han Xiaorui, she paused. Instead of talking about the food, she wiped her hands on her apron and took Han Xiaorui’s hands. ”This is how a young lady should dress. You look so pretty!”

”My dear, remember this: you did nothing wrong. Don’t punish yourself for someone else’s mistakes. Live a good life. From now on, if you’re ever busy and don’t have time to look after the kids, just send them to my place. I’ll watch them. They can play with Wenjun.”

Han Xiaorui smiled, pressing her lips together. ”Mm, I know. I’m doing very well now.”

”I can see that. A woman needs to be resilient. With or without a man, life goes on just the same.” Granny Cai laughed, pointing to the freshly plucked chicken. ”Tonight, I’m making you all white-cut chicken, crystal shrimp, sweet and sour ribs, pork intestines with clover, and fried gluten puffs stuffed with pork.”