A Sharp Edge Emerges From The Mist Chapter 41

moving

The weekend after the listing ceremony was sunny, and the winter sunshine brought a rare warmth.

The old house left by Shen Qingwu’s parents is located in a quiet community for senior cadres in the West District of Shuangcheng. The red brick exterior walls are covered with dead vines and the environment is quiet. However, the house itself is already old and the interior decoration is simple, which can even be said to be a bit outdated and old.More importantly, it is nearly an hour’s drive from the new district where the Municipal Bureau and the newly established Joint Investigation Section are located. For Shen Qingwu who needs to work frequently (albeit under strict supervision), commuting has become a problem.

Moreover, with the disclosure of Shen Qingwu’s “special advisor” status, her whereabouts and safety require a higher level of protection.Although the old community is quiet, its security is relatively weak and it is not a place to live for a long time.

So, moving became a matter of course.

Lin Jianfeng coordinated and rented the new residence. It is located in a mid-to-high-end apartment building with tight security and relatively simple residents in the new district. It is only a fifteen-minute walk from the city bureau.Two bedrooms and one living room, medium in size, simple and modern decoration, wide view.More importantly, the security system here is linked to the city bureau, and there are plainclothes stationed in the community, so safety is guaranteed.

The moving process was almost sloppy.Shen Qingwu didn’t have many personal belongings in the old house – after ten years of wandering around, most of the time she was more like a delicate passerby than a returnee.Several boxes of books (a mix of finance, law, criminal investigation, and history), some necessary clothing, a few small commemorative items (old photos of her parents, an old silk scarf left by her mother), and her inseparable set of specially modified portable electronic devices.

Lin Jianfeng drove over in an ordinary SUV provided by the bureau to help.No moving company was hired, and Qin Mo was not alarmed (she was working hard on the first important project after the reorganization of Qingyuan Capital).After several trips up and down, the two of them loaded several boxes into the car.

When he locked the door of the old house for the last time, Shen Qingwu stood at the door for a long time.She stroked the mottled wooden door and glanced at the blurred marks on the door frame that recorded her childhood height. Her eyes were complicated and difficult to distinguish.This place carries her carefree childhood, and also witnesses the last scenes of her parents and the loneliness and struggle of the next ten years.

“Can’t bear to leave?” Lin Jianfeng stood half a step behind her and asked softly.

Shen Qingwu shook his head and nodded again.”A bit. But…it’s time to move forward.” She took one last look, turned around, inserted the key into the keyhole, and turned it slowly.

“Click.”

The sound of the lock tongue locking was crisp and decisive, like a door being gently closed for a long time in the past.

The car drove away from the old community and merged into the traffic flow on the city’s main road.Shen Qingwu was sitting in the passenger seat, looking out the window at the familiar street scene that was rapidly retreating, and suddenly said: “This house… I plan to entrust an agent to rent it out.”

Lin Jianfeng glanced at her in surprise.According to Shen Qingwu’s current economic situation (although Qingyuan Capital has retained most of it, her personal assets have shrunk due to the case and fines), renting out the old house is a good and stable income.But based on her feelings for her parents, it seems more reasonable to keep this residence full of memories.

“I will carefully screen the kind of people I rent to.” Shen Qingwu continued with a calm voice, “It is best to be a quiet, clean-loving family, or a single researcher or teacher. The rent can be lower, but I hope they will take good care of the house.” She paused, “If the house is empty, it will only accumulate dust, which will only increase the sentimentality. If someone lives in it, it will be a bit smokey, and maybe… my parents will find it more lively.”

She said it calmly, but Lin Jianfeng could hear the deep attachment and relief hidden in it.It’s not about abandoning the past, but using a more positive way to let the past residence continue to live, and also allow yourself to truly travel light.

“Good idea.” Lin Jianfeng nodded, “I know a few reliable intermediaries and I will introduce them to you later.”

“Thank you.”

The car drove into the underground parking lot of the new apartment.The two once again acted as porters, carrying the boxes into the elevator to the floor where their new home was located.

Open the door and sunlight fills the living room.White walls, light wood floors, simple Nordic style furniture.The kitchen is open plan and fully equipped.The master bedroom has its own bathroom, and the second bedroom is arranged as a simple study and studio.The balcony is large and has an excellent view. You can see the outline of the Municipal Bureau Building in the distance and the undulating city skyline beyond.

“This place is much brighter than the old house.” Shen Qingwu walked to the center of the living room and looked around, with a relaxed smile on his face, “It’s just a bit… spacey.”

“Slowly add more.” Lin Jianfeng pushed the last box in and closed the door. “Whatever is missing, we can buy it on the weekend.”

us.This word made Shen Qingwu’s heart move slightly.She looked at Lin Jianfeng, who was taking off his coat, rolling up his sleeves, and preparing to unpack.The sunlight outlines her clear profile lines and upright posture, and her busy look has a homely and reassuring sense of solidity.

“Where are your things?” Shen Qingwu asked suddenly, “Aren’t you… going to move it here?” After asking, she was stunned for a moment, and her ears felt slightly warm.This question seems a bit too direct and…intimate.

Lin Jianfeng paused for a moment, turned around and looked at her, with a hint of imperceptible softness in his eyes: “My apartment is not far from here, and work requires that I may often be on duty or have unexpected tasks. It is more convenient to live in the bureau dormitory.” She paused and added, “However, I will come here often. After all, as your ‘protection manager’ and future ‘work supervisor’, it is also my responsibility to ensure that you adapt to the new environment and comply with regulatory regulations.”

The reasons are sufficient and public and private are clearly distinguished.But Shen Qingwu heard the unspoken care – Lin Jianfeng was giving her space, allowing her to slowly adapt to this new home, new identity, and this new relationship between them that was both close but required to maintain an appropriate distance due to identity and responsibility.

The inexplicable loss in Shen Qingwu’s heart dissipated, replaced by a more secure feeling.This is good, just the right distance to support each other without being too close to create additional stress or embarrassment.

“Then…” Shen Qingwu pointed to the box containing electronic equipment, “Can I put this up first? Some jobs require familiarity with the environment in advance.”

According to regulatory regulations, her work equipment can only be used in designated offices. The set at home is a “clean” version that has been reported and processed. It can only perform limited data viewing and basic analysis, and all operation logs are regularly uploaded for review.

“Of course.” Lin Jianfeng nodded, “Do you need my help?”

“No, I’ll do this myself.”

The two of them got busy on their own.Lin Jianfeng helped unpack the boxes, classify the books into bookshelves, and hang the clothes in the wardrobe.Shen Qingwu was in her future “studio”, skillfully assembling and debugging the equipment, with a focused expression, her fingertips flying between the keyboard and cables, as if she had turned back into the top expert in control of everything.

The sunlight moved slowly in the room, elongating the figures of the two people and occasionally crossing each other.

There wasn’t much dialogue, just the rustle of things being packed, the typing of keyboards, and the occasional brief acknowledgment when items were exchanged.The atmosphere is extremely harmonious and tranquil, like a still life painting under the warm winter sun, flowing with a kind of tacit understanding and a touch of warmth that needs no words.

When the last book was put on the bookshelf and the last data cable was properly connected, it was almost dusk outside the window.

Shen Qingwu walked out of the studio and saw Lin Jianfeng standing on the balcony, with his back to her, watching the city lights in the distance light up one after another.The afterglow of the setting sun coated her tall back with a warm golden edge.

Shen Qingwu walked over and stood side by side with her.The evening breeze was cool, but the aroma of food coming from an unknown kitchen floated in the air, mixed with the vibrant hustle and bustle unique to the city.

“Is everything packed?” Lin Jianfeng asked softly without looking back.

“Yes.” Shen Qingwu nodded, “It’s faster than expected.”

After a moment of silence, Shen Qingwu suddenly said: “…stay for dinner tonight? I ordered takeout. It should be here soon.” She paused and added a little embarrassedly, “I tried making it myself, but… the effect was not very good. It is safer to take out.”

Lin Jianfeng turned his head, looked at her slightly red cheeks and the rare embarrassment in her eyes that belonged to the small things in life, and couldn’t help but smile.”Okay. Just in time to try the takeout quality around here.”

The doorbell rang at the right time.The takeaway has arrived.

Three simple dishes and one soup, placed on a brand new dining table.The two sat opposite each other and started their first meal in their new home under the warm light.

The food tastes average but the atmosphere is great.They chatted about the preparation progress of the new department, the recent interesting stories of Aunt Wang in the community service center, and the winter nights in this city…

There are no thrilling cases, no step-by-step calculations, just the most ordinary fireworks and the tranquility of sitting side by side.

Moving is not just a geographical move.

It is a shift in the focus of life, a delivery of the past and the future, and a warm harbor where they can take a short rest and accumulate strength after going through ups and downs.

The night outside the window is getting darker, and the lights of thousands of houses are shining like stars.

In this new space, a new life together quietly begins.