A Sharp Edge Emerges From The Mist Chapter 22

First experience of living together

After dawn, Shen Qingwu’s apartment became a temporary headquarters and safe house.The reason is very good: the “Viper” and his accomplices who attacked Lin Jianfeng have not yet been arrested, and Shen Qingwu himself has also been in danger due to his in-depth involvement in the investigation.Living separately, the police force is dispersed, making protection twice as difficult.As for Shen Qingwu’s tightly secured high-end apartment in the city center, after the last police investigation and her second upgrade, it is now one of the “cleanest” and safest places in the Twin Cities.

“Special protective housing during the joint investigation.” Lin Jianfeng used this official and blameless reason when reporting to the superiors.Director Chen glanced at her, said nothing, and nodded in approval.

So, moving became a matter of course.

Lin Jianfeng didn’t have much, and he could only hold it in a backpack: a few changes of clothes, toiletries, police equipment, a laptop, and a few frequently read books on criminal investigation theory and law.

Shen Qingwu sent Qin Mo (who had been urgently recalled from the “short-term course” abroad) and two absolutely reliable security personnel to pick up things from Lin Jianfeng’s residence, quietly and quickly, without alerting anyone.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Lin Jianfeng officially “checked in” at Shen Qingwu’s apartment.

The apartment is a penthouse duplex with an astonishingly large area. The decoration is Shen Qingwu’s usual cold and simple style – a lot of black and white and gray, neat lines, high-grade materials, spotless, like an overly refined model house, lacking in human atmosphere.

Shen Qingwu pointed out the guest bedroom next to the master bedroom to Lin Jianfeng.The guest bedroom has its own private bathroom and is also extremely clean and tidy. The bedding is brand new high-grade Egyptian cotton, pure white, without any patterns.

“You can use the things here as you like. If you need anything, tell Qin Mo.” Shen Qingwu stood at the door, his tone calm, but there was a trace of unnoticeable tension in his eyes, like some kind of discomfort caused by the territory being forced to open to outsiders.

“Okay, thank you.” Lin Jianfeng placed his backpack on the carpet beside the bed and glanced across the room.Impeccable, but also… no personality.

Cohabitation life began in this slightly stiff and polite atmosphere.

The first collision occurred in living habits.

Six o’clock in the morning.

Lin Jianfeng, whose biological clock is as accurate as a Swiss clock, wakes up naturally.It’s still dark and the city is still sleeping.She put on her sportswear and quietly walked out of the room, preparing for her daily morning run.

As soon as he walked into the living room, he saw Shen Qingwu wearing a silk nightgown, holding a cup of black coffee, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the hazy sky outside.She looked like she hadn’t slept at all, or only slept very little. There were faint green shadows under her eyes, but her eyes were awake.

“Morning.” Lin Jianfeng greeted.

Shen Qingwu turned around and his eyes paused for a second on her neat sportswear.”Morning. Want to go out?”

“I’m used to jogging in the morning.” Lin Jianfeng moved his shoulders. The wound recovered well and did not affect jogging.

Shen Qingwu frowned slightly: “It’s not safe outside. There is a gym in the apartment, on the second underground floor.”

Lin Jianfeng thought for a while and nodded: “That’s fine.”

She followed Shen Qingwu downstairs.The second underground floor of the apartment has been transformed into a well-equipped private gym. It is quite large and has treadmills, elliptical machines, strength training equipment, and even a small heated swimming pool.

Lin Jianfeng got on the treadmill, set the speed and incline, and started jogging.Shen Qingwu walked to the equipment area on the side and started a set of slow and precise stretching and core training.Her movements are professional, but obviously not for shaping or building muscle, but more like a routine to maintain physical function and relieve stress.

The two of them practiced separately, and apart from the slight sound of the equipment running, there was almost no communication.The air was filled with the faint cold fragrance of detergent and Shen Qingwu.

Nine o’clock in the morning.

Lin Jianfeng had already taken a shower, changed her clothes, and was sitting at the dining table in the living room. In front of her was a simple sandwich and a cup of black coffee, which she made herself using the limited materials in the refrigerator.

When Shen Qingwu came down from upstairs, she had already put on a pressed suit and skirt, and her hair was pulled up meticulously.When she saw the simple breakfast in front of Lin Jianfeng, her brows moved almost imperceptibly.

“There are ingredients in the kitchen. You can ask the housekeeper to prepare breakfast.” Shen Qingwu said, walking to the coffee machine and pouring himself a cup of espresso.

“Don’t bother, I’m used to simplicity.” Lin Jianfeng took a bite of the sandwich.

Shen Qingwu sat down opposite her with a cup of coffee and did not touch the empty plate in front of her.”Qin Mo will bring today’s briefing at 9:30. In addition, the Technology Department has made preliminary progress in tracing the origin of an encryption algorithm used in the ‘Gemini’ attack. The report has been sent to your email.”

“I saw it, I’m reading it.” Lin Jianfeng nodded without looking away from the report on the phone screen.

Shen Qingwu stopped talking and sipped his coffee. His eyes occasionally glanced at Lin Jianfeng’s focused profile, and then quickly looked away.

One o’clock in the afternoon.

Lin Jianfeng held a video conference with his team in the study (temporarily requisitioned) to discuss the monitoring and deployment of several peripheral personnel related to “Iron Shield” security.The voice is not high, but the tone is decisive.

Shen Qingwu was handling company affairs in the office area next door, and video conferences were taking place one after another.She needs to maintain the normal operation of Qingyuan Capital, while quietly cooperating with Lin Jianfeng’s investigation and mobilizing resources without arousing internal suspicion.

Both doors are closed, but soundproofing is not absolute.Faint conversations, keyboard typing, and the occasional phone ringing formed the background sound.

Six o’clock in the evening.

Lin Jianfeng finished his day’s work and came out of the study, rubbing his sore eyes.She walked to the living room and found that Shen Qingwu was already sitting on the sofa, with several documents spread out in front of him, but he seemed to be a little distracted, tapping the armrest of the sofa unconsciously with his fingertips.

“What do you want to eat tonight?” Lin Jianfeng asked, “I’ll do it.”

Shen Qingwu came back to his senses and glanced at her, seemingly surprised.”Housekeeping will prepare.”

“Let them rest.” Lin Jianfeng walked to the open kitchen, opened the refrigerator and took a look, “The ingredients are quite complete. It’s quick to make two simple dishes.”

Shen Qingwu didn’t object anymore, just closed the document, walked to the high stool next to the island in the kitchen and sat down, watching Lin Jianfeng skillfully wash, cut and open the vegetables.

Lin Jianfeng’s cooking was the same as when she was investigating the case, focused and neat, with a sense of orderly control.The sizzling sound of hot oil, the crisp sound of the spatula colliding, and the aroma of the food gradually filled the air.

Shen Qingwu watched quietly and suddenly said: “Do you often cook by yourself?”

“Well, I’m used to living alone.” Lin Jianfeng didn’t even look back, “Eating takeout is not healthy and can easily reveal your whereabouts.”

Very police way of thinking.Shen Qingwu didn’t answer, but looked at her busy back in front of the stove with complicated eyes.

Half an hour later, two simple dishes and one soup were served: stir-fried vegetables, tomato beef brisket, seaweed and egg drop soup.It looks ordinary, but it is steaming hot and fragrant.

The two sat opposite each other and ate quietly.It tasted good, and Shen Qingwu ate more than usual.

“Does it taste good?” Lin Jianfeng asked.

“Yeah.” Shen Qingwu nodded, paused, and added, “Better than me.”

Lin Jianfeng smiled and said nothing.

11pm.

Lin Jianfeng finished washing, wore comfortable home clothes, and leaned on the bedside to read a case file.

Shen Qingwu’s room is next to hers.It was very quiet, but Lin Jianfeng could feel that she probably wasn’t sleeping either.Maybe in the study, maybe in the bedroom, continue to deal with the information and work that seems to never be finished.

The first day of living together was spent in a strange rhythm of closeness and alienation.

They share the same space, breathe the same air, work for the same goal, and even eat at the same table.

But there is still an invisible membrane between them.It is the gap between darkness and light in the past, the huge difference in living habits, and the inevitable temptation and clumsiness when two people who are equally proud and accustomed to shouldering everything alone try to get closer.

Lin Jianfeng put down the file and turned off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, she could hear very slight, almost non-existent sounds in the next room – maybe a mouse click, maybe a book page turning.

She thought of Shen Qingwu’s back standing in front of the window in the early morning, her slightly frowning brows while drinking coffee, and her complicated eyes as she watched herself cooking.

The first experience of living together is full of stumbling blocks and strange collisions.

But at least, they are all here.

Under the same roof, in the growing darkness, we face the unknown tomorrow together.

And some solid ice may quietly melt just in this kind of ordinary and trivial interaction day after day.

Lin Jianfeng closed his eyes and slowly fell into sleep in the unfamiliar environment and the faint fragrance.

Next door, Shen Qingwu finally closed his laptop.She walked to the bedroom door, put her hand on the doorknob, paused for a few seconds, and finally did not open it.

She went back to bed, lay down, and looked at the ceiling.

The neon halo of the city outside the window passes through the gaps in the curtains, casting changing light spots on the ceiling.

The first night of living together.

Both men knew this was just the beginning.

There is still a long way to go to adapt to each other, establish a new tacit understanding, and eliminate past barriers…

But the first step has been taken.