novelraw Chapter 139 : Intimate Whispers
Chapter 139 : Intimate Whispers
Shen Han didn't wait long in the managers' break room before Zhou Nuoman returned.
The group boarded black SUVs at the entertainment center's entrance and drove off.
Shen Han and Zhou Nuoman sat in the back of an armored vehicle in the middle of the convoy.
Zhao Qi sat in the front passenger seat, while a Xuan Leopard Special Operations Brigade soldier drove.
"Is Ren Hui one of your people?" Shen Han spoke first.
Zhou Nuoman's left elbow rested on the car window, her fingers gently pressing her temple.
Hearing the Alpha's voice, she turned to look at her.
Though they had left the entertainment center's vicinity, Shen Han still hadn't removed her facial disguise.
Upon close inspection, Zhou Nuoman couldn't discern any changes from their first encounter.
However, the aura of mystery surrounding the woman before her made one want to understand and explore more.
"Not before tonight."
"Doesn't Captain Shen know? The trap he set was meant for me to fall into."
Shen Han didn't follow her lead, instead continuing to clarify what she wanted to know: "Such an easy defection, Miss Zhou should be more cautious."
"Regarding arrangements for me, how did you discuss it?"
On this matter, Zhou Nuoman saw no need to conceal anything, so she recounted her conversation with Ren Hui.
"Ren Hui has always been a fence-sitter, siding with whoever is stronger. Logically, with his two-faced nature, he shouldn't earn any trust from those in power."
"But every time he faces an important choice, he always makes decisions that elevate his position. This is both his ability and a talent others can't imitate."
At this point, Zhou Nuoman suddenly fixed her gaze on Shen Han's eyes behind her glasses.
As if trying to discern some unknown truth.
"Ren Hui didn't offer you a way out because he wanted to cooperate with me, but because he felt you were the strongest player in this competition."
"What's your rank in the military? Who could mobilize this level of police and military force in such a short time? I've pondered for a while but can't figure it out."
Shen Han didn't answer her question.
In her heart, she thought: Of course you can't figure it out. Would I go around telling people my wife is the Federation's empress?
Seeing the Alpha's reaction, Zhou Nuoman knew she probably wouldn't get any answers.
Her gaze shifted slightly downward, surveying the other's body.
A person's face can be altered with makeup, but body shape isn't easily adjusted.
Upon closer inspection, Zhou Nuoman found the woman before her had an excellent figure.
She wasn't the sexy, sultry type, but her proportions were just right, with muscles and curves in perfect balance.
Combined with her inherent heroic air, she perfectly blended feminine grace with Alpha strength.
Zhou Nuoman withdrew her gaze and continued speaking.
"You'll need to stay on as floor manager at Jinxi Entertainment City for now."
"News of Yan Bo's death will quickly reach his faction. Many of his subordinates are desperate characters who will surely seek revenge against you. You need to be careful."
"I've already spoken with Ren Hui. I'll arrange bodyguards to follow you at all times. In other words, having unfamiliar faces around you during this period won't arouse suspicion. You can feel free to use your own people."
Zhou Nuoman was a businesswoman who knew what to say and do to secure maximum benefits for herself.
She knew that even if she didn't bring this up, the other party would do so anyway.
That being the case, it was better to handle things more elegantly.
If she could gain the other's trust early on, she'd have a better chance of gaining the upper hand.
The convoy quickly arrived outside Shen Han's rented apartment.
Zhou Nuoman had thought the Alphas pretending to be her bodyguards would all stay behind to protect their captain.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Qi only got out to say a few words to 'Shen Nuan' before returning to the front seat and instructing the driver to leave.
Zhou Nuoman immediately understood that Captain Shen sitting beside her must have already arranged people around her residence.
Thinking this, she became even more curious about Shen Han's true identity.
However, now wasn't the time to consider these things. She had to rush back overnight to meet her father and discuss what this so-called 'cooperation with the police' was all about.
......
The 546th Street District lay beyond the city's edge.
Wealthy people liked to come here for entertainment but wouldn't stay long-term.
As such, the best accommodations around this main street district were service-oriented establishments like entertainment centers, hotels, and massage parlors.
Shen Han naturally wouldn't stay in a hotel.
Her residence in the 546th Street District was in a mixed-population tenement building.
Although the building looked rather old, it wasn't the type of old structure with shared bathrooms and showers on each floor.
Shen Han's room was on the 5th floor, without an elevator, with a corridor connecting many single rooms.
The passageway was cluttered with miscellaneous items, making the already narrow corridor even more cramped.
The rooms immediately adjacent to Shen Han's were occupied by special team members.
These people played their corresponding roles daily, waiting for the right moment to work alongside Shen Han.
Back in her room, Shen Han immediately went to the bathroom to clean herself up.
Changing into a clean shirt, she looked at the clock - it was nearly 1 AM.
Shen Han took out her personal phone from the drawer, intending to make a video call to Gu Junwan.
After what happened in the private room today, her Omega must be terribly worried.
However, before she could unlock her phone screen, there was a gentle knock at the door.
'Who could be looking for me at this hour?'
'It shouldn't be special team members. If they needed to report something, they would call ahead rather than coming directly to knock.'
Shen Han retrieved a handgun from the baseboard tiles in the corner before cautiously approaching the door.
The door had no peephole, only an old-fashioned security chain installed above the lock.
This was something Shen Han had added after moving in.
Opening the wooden door a crack, Shen Han saw two figures standing outside through the gap.
The visitors wore hoods and masks, giving them a mysterious air that seemed out of place in the dim light of the tenement corridor.
A breeze from one end of the corridor lifted one person's hood slightly.
Golden phoenix eyes suddenly appeared, like the brightest stars in the night sky.
Shen Han's heart leaped with joy. She flipped the gun's safety on with one hand.
Without speaking, she quickly unhooked the security chain and ushered the two people outside into her small room.
On both sides of the corridor.
Having witnessed the Empress safely enter Captain Shen's room, the disguised guard team members slipped into the special team's rooms.
The single rooms in this building were already small, with four special team members sharing a room feeling somewhat cramped.
Now, with several guard team members flooding in, the tiny single room suddenly became overcrowded.
Team members were everywhere - on the bed, on low stools, in the walkway.
For a moment, everyone felt like they were squeezed into a hard-seat train carriage.
Ning Xi sat hunched on a plastic stool, her long legs having nowhere to go.
The special team members looked at the empress's personal guards with curiosity but didn't dare to ask questions.
After an awkward moment of mutual staring, they began to rest with eyes closed, not disturbing each other.
......
After Gu Junwan and Xu Zhao entered the room, the perceptive Special Assistant Xu immediately said, "Your Majesty, I'll wait for you in the car. If you need anything, just let me know."
With that, she quietly retreated.
According to Xu Zhao's original plan, she was going to stay in the room to boil water and prepare hot tea for the two.
But she hadn't anticipated that Shen Han's room would be so small, with every corner visible except for the independent bathroom.
In this situation, it would be inappropriate for her to linger.
If the Empress wanted to say something private, there wouldn't even be space for her to step aside.
After Xu Zhao left, Shen Han immediately took Gu Junwan's delicate hand, unable to hide the joy in her voice.
"Junwan, why did you come?"
"Don't worry about my injuries. They're not serious."
On the way here, Gu Junwan had actually composed herself quite well.
But upon hearing Shen Han's voice, her nose immediately began to sting uncontrollably.
Her phoenix eyes welled up with tears, reflecting countless clear starry lakes.
Seeing her Omega like this, Shen Han felt heartbroken.
She quickly embraced her, gently rubbing her slender back while saying softly, "I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll be more careful in the future."
Gu Junwan didn't speak, only tightly hugging the other's slim waist.
She knew that accidents like tonight's in the private room weren't simply a matter of being careful or not.
Moreover, even if she kept Shen Han by her side and never let her go anywhere, there would still be moments when she faced life-threatening crises.
This was unavoidable as the Federation's sovereign.
Glory and danger coexisted.
A faint smell of blood lingered on the Alpha's body.
Gu Junwan buried her face in the crook of Shen Han's neck, inhaling the familiar, warm scent of snow cedar, finally feeling more at ease.
Though the single room was small, Shen Han had kept it very clean.
With no sofa in the room, she could only carry her Omega to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Don't move around. Be careful not to tear your stitches!"
Gu Junwan knew the other's arm had been stitched, and quickly spoke up as she felt herself being lifted off the ground.
But she was still a bit too slow.
By the time she finished speaking, Shen Han had already carried her to the bedside.
Gu Junwan wanted to say more, but as her red lips parted, they were met by a pair of soft lips.
For the past half month, Shen Han had been living alone in this quiet tenement, leading a day-and-night reversed life.
Just now, not only did Gu Junwan feel emotional seeing her, but Shen Han's heart also rippled with waves upon seeing the woman she'd been yearning for suddenly appear.
Shen Han kissed her carefully, as if kissing a precious, fragile piece of porcelain.
Unlike their usual passion, this kiss carried little desire.
Shen Han slightly curled her right palm, avoiding touching Gu Junwan's exposed skin like her face or neck.
This hand that had held a knife was covered in blood not long ago.
She felt it would be profane and didn't want Gu Junwan to be tainted by even a hint of such an aura.
Shen Han's gentle caresses and her secretly hidden hand were all clearly felt by Gu Junwan.
The feeling of being cherished so dearly by her beloved made her feel warm yet heartbroken.
After their intimate moment, Shen Han held her partner against the headboard and softly asked, "Are you tired? Do you want to sleep for a while?"
Gu Junwan shook her head slightly: "I don't want to sleep. I want to talk with you more."
Besides coming overnight out of worry and longing, Gu Junwan also needed to discuss some upcoming actions with her.
Although this could be done through video communication, face-to-face discussion was clearly more efficient.
The night was long and cool, but the two hearts nestled in the small single room of the tenement warmed each other, sincere and steadfast.