Chapter 104: Photos — Jun Nanyu
Qin Mochen said flatly, “Don’t think you understand me that well. People always change.”
Bai Yuexiang nodded, sighing. “Yes, people change. Like me—when I see this coffee shop, I think of the noodle shop that used to be here. And you… you probably don’t even remember anymore. I remember you used to be the type who clung to the past, but now it seems you’re no longer that person.”
Qin Mochen’s expression remained indifferent. “That depends on whether it’s worth remembering. What kind of shop is here means nothing to me.”
Bai Yuexiang gave a bitter smile and handed him the envelope in her hand.
Qin Mochen’s movement as he opened it carried a rare trace of urgency.
Inside was a stack of photographs. The backgrounds differed, but every photo featured the same man.
He had strikingly handsome features, a tall build, and carried himself like an international supermodel.
Qin Mochen’s brows immediately furrowed. “Bai Yuexiang, since when do you enjoy jokes like this?”
Bai Yuexiang crossed her arms with practiced elegance and shot him an annoyed look. “Do you think I’m the kind of person who jokes around? Back then, the two of them—one… died, and the other went missing.
With your power, Qin Fourth Master, even if he’d run to the ends of the earth, you should’ve found him. Now that you’ve seen the photos, you understand, don’t you? This is why you could never find him.”
Qin Mochen stared darkly at the man in the photos, unable to connect him to the person from back then no matter how he tried.
A person’s build could change, but that face couldn’t possibly become an entirely different face.
Bai Yuexiang’s tone turned serious. “Strange, isn’t it? This doesn’t look like a plastic-surgery face—and I checked. He really hasn’t had surgery. The man in the photos is named Jun Nanyu. He’s an international model now, and he’s been developing in M Country these past few years. One more thing—between the ages of sixteen and nineteen, he disappeared for a period of time.”
When she said that last sentence, Bai Yuexiang emphasized it, her gaze fixed on Qin Mochen.
Qin Mochen suddenly looked up at her. “Impossible!”
Bai Yuexiang said, “When I found out, I thought the same. If your good brother, someone who lived alongside you for three years, had been wearing a fake face the whole time—anyone would find that absurd.”
Lowering her voice, she continued, “The surname Jun is rare, isn’t it? The Jun family is a very old clan. Even now, their ancestral hall still keeps the genealogy records.
Qin Mochen, whether you believe it or not, there is actually a circle in this world that we can’t touch. These people can use bizarre witchcraft and curses—just a little tampering, and they can destroy a family. And the Jun family belongs to that world.”
Bai Yuexiang couldn’t help tightening her grip on her coffee cup. “Back then, didn’t you suspect the jade ornament I gave you had a problem? If we follow this line of reasoning, everything makes sense. Someone used that jade to control Jiang Jun—so that’s why he—”
“Enough.” Qin Mochen cut her off.
“You don’t believe me?” Bai Yuexiang’s brows drew together.
Qin Mochen said coolly, “I’ll verify the person in these photos myself. Don’t interfere in this matter.”
Watching him turn and leave with the envelope, Bai Yuexiang pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a self-mocking laugh. “Qin Mochen… after something like that happened, you really think I can stay out of it?”
—
“Hey, hey, hey—wait, Uncle! I haven’t finished my dessert!” Su Keke was still eating when she saw her uncle walk over expressionlessly, grab her, and pull her along.
Su Keke snatched up the unfinished pastries and grinned. “Um, Uncle, can you pay for me? I didn’t bring cash, and my phone is in my backpack—and my backpack is currently lying in Uncle’s car, sleeping like a pig.”
Hearing that, the trace of worry between Qin Mochen’s brows loosened a little.
“Come on, let’s go pay.”
When they reached the counter, Qin Mochen couldn’t help looking at the little girl’s belly. In a voice that rarely changed, he actually sounded a bit incredulous. “In just that short time, you ate five pastries?”
Su Keke scratched her head. “What do you mean ‘short time’? You sat there chatting for almost half an hour. And the pastries are so small—five isn’t that many… right?”
Qin Mochen gave her a silent look and walked out.
Su Keke instinctively glanced back in the direction they’d come from and saw that Miss Bai was still sitting there, her gaze unfocused, as if she were lost in thought.
Su Keke quickly looked away and followed.
Qin Mochen opened the car door, tossed the envelope inside, shut the door again, and locked the car.
Su Keke looked at him in confusion. “Uncle, aren’t we leaving?”
“You ate that much and you still want to sit all the way back?”
Su Keke: …
So Su Keke was taken by her uncle to stroll around nearby. Purpose: to digest.
Su Keke felt she wasn’t overstuffed. Ever since she learned she didn’t have long to live, she’d been very careful about controlling what she ate.
Up ahead was a fountain plaza. The fountain wasn’t on during the day, but there were still lots of people—lively and bustling.
Someone was dressed as the pink rabbit from Cute Bunny Squad, handing out balloons to kids.
Su Keke couldn’t resist and went to ask for one too.
Heaven knew how long the person in the bunny costume stared at the hand Su Keke held out before hesitantly giving her a balloon.
When Su Keke asked for the balloon, Qin Mochen subtly shifted a few steps to the side.
But Su Keke ran back toward him holding the balloon, her face full of excitement. “Uncle, look! This balloon is a bunny too—it has two ears!”
Qin Mochen gave a perfunctory “Mm” and strode ahead. “Let’s go. We’re heading back.”
“Back? But Uncle, aren’t we supposed to digest? We’ve only walked for less than twenty minutes. The pastries in my stomach haven’t even had time to properly digest yet. How about we walk some more—”
Halfway through, Su Keke suddenly went quiet.
Qin Mochen turned back and saw the little girl staring at a couple in the plaza. Her small face was tight, her expression serious.
“What—something wrong with that couple?” Qin Mochen asked.
Su Keke nodded. “Uncle, let’s go over. That woman has a problem.”
The young couple sat to the side whispering, acting very intimate.
Su Keke walked up to them, her gaze locked onto the woman as if she wanted to see through this body and find something underneath.
“Big sister, this balloon is for you. Can I ask you a question?” Su Keke smiled at her.
She was already cute to begin with, and when she smiled, dimples appeared and her brows curved. Even if someone was suddenly interrupted, seeing a face like that, it was hard to feel angry.
The woman accepted the balloon and smiled. “Thank you, little sister—but this balloon suits you more.”
“I want to ask you something, big sister. This question can’t let this big brother beside you hear it.”
The woman didn’t take it seriously. She glanced at her lover and bent down with a smile, leaning her ear toward Su Keke. “Alright, you can say it now.”
Su Keke asked in a low voice, “I’ve been watching for a long time. You don’t look like a living corpse, so how did you do it? This body has clearly been dead for no less than two days.”
The woman’s face changed drastically at those words. She suddenly stumbled backward.
