The Double

Still no sign of Zhao Ke.

Jiang Li was extremely puzzled. Logically speaking, it wasn’t right, Zhao Ke would return to the Jiang Family every night. At the very least, she had blown the whistle twice, and both times Zhao Ke had appeared very quickly. Could it really be that he was genuinely dissatisfied with being summoned too often and had Ji Heng send someone else? But at the very least, whoever replaced him should have shown up. Or perhaps he was on a mission tonight and not at the estate?

Jiang Li waited for a while, but there was no movement. Glancing outside, the snowstorm was fierce, almost blinding one’s eyes. Concluding that Zhao Ke would probably not come, she sighed, reached out to close the window, and turned around.

But as she turned back, Jiang Li almost let out a startled cry.

Under the flickering light, a man was seated in front of a small table, not known since when. He was brushing off the snowflakes on his robe with the folding fan in his hands. He must have just come in from outside, his whole body carried the chill of the snowstorm. But he was wearing a deep red robe, and the cold desolate night seemed to gain color, and the room seemed to suddenly be filled with a warmth of affection.

He lifted his head, revealing a countenance so handsome it could overturn beings, his smile faint yet alluring, his long eyes filled with the night, as he said, "What’s the matter?"

Jiang Li put down her hand that had covered her mouth and took a step forward, saying, "Duke."

Ji Heng, supporting his head with the fan handle, looked at her with a smile brimming in his eyes.