Spellbound Hearts - Chapter 50 - He Likes Her

Liao Bei’s seemingly casual question was, in fact, a precise jab at Song Zhaoli’s weak spot.

Song Zhaoli’s eyelids twitched slightly as he squinted at him, his gaze sharp and probing.

Catching the cold look from Song Zhaoli, Liao Bei remained unfazed and casually shifted his gaze away. He continued speaking to Wu Shu on the phone, “Why so quiet? Is it inconvenient to talk?”

Wu Shu was indeed in an inconvenient situation, having just stepped into the police station lobby. “Yeah,” she replied curtly.

Liao Bei said, “Alright, I’ll approve your leave. Take care of your business first, and give me a call once you’re out of the station.”

Wu Shu, feeling deeply grateful, replied, “Thank you, Manager Liao.”

Feigning magnanimity, Liao Bei responded, “No need to thank me. We’re all friends here.”

Hearing this, Wu Shu was caught off guard by his generosity. She stammered through a few polite words before hanging up.

After ending the call, Liao Bei tossed his phone onto the side and shed his earlier meek demeanor. Replacing it was a smug air of self-satisfaction. He leaned back against the sofa, crossed one leg over the other, and began swinging it with exaggerated enthusiasm, as if determined to grab Song Zhaoli’s attention.

Song Zhaoli, true to form, didn’t disappoint. In less than half a second, he broke the silence. “What’s wrong with her?”

The “her” in question was obvious.

But having played the subordinate role for half the day, Liao Bei wasn’t about to let Song Zhaoli off so easily. He feigned ignorance. “Who?”

Song Zhaoli’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “You’re surprisingly carefree for someone so young.”

Liao Bei blinked, confused. “What?”

Song Zhaoli elaborated, “Not even twenty-eight yet and already tired of living? That’s what I call carefree.”

Hearing this, Liao Bei uncrossed his legs and stretched them out, propping them up on the coffee table in front of him. “It’s not death that scares people; it’s not knowing how to live.”

He paused, then raised an eyebrow at Song Zhaoli. “Take someone, for example.”

Song Zhaoli let out a cold chuckle. “You think you’re funny?”

Unbothered by the jab, Liao Bei leaned back leisurely, his expression calm and his tone certain. “You like Ji Xuan.”

Song Zhaoli scoffed. “Your nearsightedness hasn’t been cured, and now you’ve developed delusions?”

Liao Bei tapped the armrest of the sofa with his fingers, his tone deliberately cryptic. “Fine, let’s just say I overthought it.”

The verbal sparring between Song Zhaoli and Liao Bei ended in a stalemate, with neither gaining the upper hand.

The two locked eyes, and an odd silence settled between them.

After a few minutes, Liao Bei idly tapped the sofa with his long fingers and muttered to himself, “That Ji Xuan… she’s really had it rough. All sorts of nonsense keeps finding her.”

Song Zhaoli’s eyes darkened, but he said nothing.

Liao Bei glanced at him, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “Song, I’ve often heard people say that feelings like love are the hardest to hide. I never believed it before, but now I do…”

Song Zhaoli’s face remained impassive. “Ignorance is bliss.”

As Song Zhaoli finished speaking, Liao Bei was about to retort when his phone rang. It was Wu Shu calling.

Liao Bei’s lips curved into a smile. Under Song Zhaoli’s watchful gaze, he leisurely picked up the phone. “Hello, Wu Shu.”

Wu Shu’s voice came through the line. “Manager Liao, Xuan Xuan and I have finished giving our statements and are out of the station.”

Liao Bei raised an eyebrow. “That fast?”

Wu Shu explained, “There was surveillance footage and witnesses. The evidence was clear, so we just had to give a statement.”

Hearing this, Liao Bei glanced at Song Zhaoli and was about to probe further when Ji Xuan’s voice, deliberately lowered, came through the phone. “We’ll need to buy new meat for the barbecue later. The old stuff got covered in that black dog’s blood.”

Wu Shu gritted her teeth. “Xiao Jin, that scumbag, better crash and burn soon.”

After Wu Shu finished venting, Liao Bei’s mind whirred, and he chuckled. “You two are having a barbecue tonight?”

Wu Shu, unaware she was walking into Liao Bei’s trap, replied candidly, “Yeah.”

Liao Bei pressed on. “Where?”

Wu Shu answered, “At Xuan Xuan’s place. All homemade, no additives.”

Liao Bei grinned. “Would you mind two more guests? I’ll bring the ingredients. Ji Xuan just needs to cook.”