Chapter 8 Tracking

The footsteps were light, but still obvious in the empty alley. No matter how fast or slow Serena walked, she followed closely.

There was no doubt that it was directed at her.

Serena felt a chill down her spine. This was not the first time she was followed in this alley. Sometimes it was a misunderstanding and sometimes it was not. But because of the increase in complaints, the community installed a few more cameras here, and the situation has improved a lot.

But this situation happened again in the past month.

She must have been followed twice, but both times no specific person was found, so the matter was left unresolved. So she was not sure whether she was followed or not. Tonight was the third time.

The movement behind her this time was different from the previous two times. The person following her seemed to no longer want to hide. Serena held the strap of her bag tightly and tried not to show any abnormality. The alley entrance was not far ahead. There was light and voices. Because the house she rented was an old and dilapidated building that was more than 30 years old, and the small and shabby street became more and more lively as the night went on.

But Serena still wanted to take a gamble, at least to see whether the man was flat or round, and then she could have something to call the police.

She quietly took out a small knife for opening packages from her bag and held it in her hand. When she was a few steps away from the alley entrance, she suddenly stopped and squatted down.

The footsteps behind her immediately became chaotic, and then hurried. Serena followed the light coming from the alley and barely saw a tall figure swaying. She took a deep breath, stood up suddenly, and raised the knife.

"Stand there!" she said angrily. "Tell me! What are you following me for?"

After saying that, she moved a little to let as much light as possible pass through.

The tall figure paused, and the light passed over Serena's shoulder and shone on his face. The man instinctively raised his hand to block it, and Serena was stunned.

It's James!

"you..."

"What are you doing?!"

They both spoke at the same time. James sounded much more unhappy than her. It was already midnight, and he was not lingering in Chen Xiaoyu's arms but came here. Serena put down the knife and asked in confusion, "Why are you...Mr. Forrest here?"

Mr. Forrest looked impatient . " How long has the street light in the alley been broken?"

"It's been more than a month. I've urged them many times. They said they would come and fix it when they were free." Serena put the knife back into her bag. "Mr. Forrest, what can I do for you?"

"It's just a visit between relatives. Why is sister-in-law so cold?"

James walked forward, bringing with him a faint sweet fragrance. She wrinkled her nose, remembering that she had smelled the same scent on Chen Xiaoyu during the day. It was a well-known luxury brand perfume, which had recently become an internet celebrity and targeted the young ladies market.

James himself would definitely not use it. It seemed that it was not that he didn't want to be affectionate, but that he came to amuse her after being affectionate.

Serena turned around without looking back, "Sister-in-law needs to go home now, see you tomorrow, fifth brother."

As he said this he waved his hand out of politeness.

Unfortunately, the fifth brother didn't understand, so he followed behind easily all the way into the community with his long legs moving quickly.

"I'll ask Sun Heng to help you move tomorrow."

"No need." Serena cleared the door. "I can move it myself if you want."

She lived on the fifth floor, and the old building had no elevator. Serena pounded her legs and started climbing the stairs. Climbing the stairs in high heels was nothing at ordinary times, but tonight it was extremely difficult and dangerous.

James pulled her over and said, "Serena, you are my eldest brother's wife, and my sister-in-law, James. You have a decent house but you have to live in a place like this. Do you think this can prove your innocence? This only shows that you are hypocritical."

"Ha, is it hypocritical to not want to use your money? Mr. Forrest is really unreasonable."

Mr. Forrest was very satisfied with this comment. He curled his lips and said , " Aunt's medical expenses are all paid by Shen. Why is it that William's money is money, but mine, James', is not? When did Secretary Xie become so picky about money? She was not like this tonight when we were drinking together at Fanhuajin."

Serena froze and instinctively retorted, "I didn't accompany the drinking! It was Manager Wang..." After retorting, she felt something was wrong, "Why do you care about me?"

She struggled to break free and ran upstairs in her high heels. The voice-activated lights in the hallway flickered . James followed calmly behind her all the way to her doorstep.

Serena took out the key and was about to open the door, but the voice-activated light on the fifth floor had broken down at some point, and she couldn't find the keyhole for a long time in the dark.

James snatched it away, and Serena shouted angrily, "Give it back to me!"

"Moving or not?"

“No!”

"good."

James threw the key out with a wave of his hand. A crisp collision sound was heard in the corridor, waking up a voice-controlled light. Serena was stunned and hurried to go downstairs to pick it up, but James blocked her and hugged her tightly.

"We can't get in now, so we might as well move tonight."

When they got closer, Serena could sense that he smelled heavily of alcohol. It seemed that he had blocked a lot of alcohol for Chen Xiaoyu. No wonder he was so abnormal, none of the calmness of Mr. Forrest of Jincheng Group in recent years.

James' breath sprayed on her neck and he said softly, "Ser, you are so disgusted with what I give you."

He called her Ser, his tone full of grievance and unwillingness, just like the way he apologized after their quarrel five years ago. He also held on to her regardless of the consequences, refusing to admit his fault but acting like a spoiled child, as if he was sure that she was soft-hearted and would forgive him no matter how angry she was.

Five years later, Serena still fell for it. She was soft-hearted, but she was still rational. She steadied her shaking hands and said, "Mr. Forrest, you've had too much to drink."

"Um..." James covered his head, "What did I say?"

Sure enough, a drunkard’s words cannot be trusted.

Serena was helpless. "Wait here. I'll go get the key. I have some hangover medicine at home. Drink it before you leave."

She said this and tried to push him away, but James still didn't move. Drunks are like that, they react slowly. Serena had seen this many times and waited patiently. After a while, James finally moved. He raised his hand and inserted the key into the keyhole behind her.

Click, and the door opened.

Serena was stunned.

James let her go only after they entered the room. Serena placed him on the sofa and went to the kitchen to boil some water. After years of work, she had all the necessary measures to sober up. After hesitating for a moment, she chose the latter over the other two, sobering tea, which had less side effects and was better for the body.

After making the hangover tea, Serena put it aside and started to cook the noodles.

Her cooking skills are well-known throughout the world, which she learned after her father's death. She is particularly good at using cheap ingredients to cook delicious food. Everyone who has eaten it praises it, even James, who has always been a picky eater. Then one day she fell ill, and James imitated her way of cooking porridge, and almost set the kitchen on fire.

There was no other way, so he ordered takeout and lied to her that he cooked it himself, shamelessly asking for praise.

James was first-rate at deceiving her.

Serena hit an egg and thought, I saw him throw the key out, so what did he throw out? It must be something similar...

As she was thinking , she became distracted and the water almost spilled out. She was so frightened that she hurriedly turned down the fire, and then she heard a sound coming from the living room.

"Okay, got it. I'll take you there the day after tomorrow."

"You'll get a gift if you behave yourself."

Every voice was gentle. Serena turned off the fire and the range hood. The kitchen became quiet and the female voice on the other end of the phone could be heard more clearly.

"Brother James, I miss you so much, but I have to wait until the sun rises to see you..."

Hearing this, James smiled and said, "Go to bed early."

Serena hadn't heard him laugh like that for a long time. He looked depressed and heartbroken. She stared at the bowl of noodles in a daze, trying hard to suppress the soreness in the corners of her eyes , and then walked out with the bowl and tea .

James hung up the phone when he saw her come out.

Serena just focused on placing the food in front of him and said calmly, "Go home when you're done."