Chapter 6

One of her new colleagues was even a fan of hers, frequently interacting on her social media posts. "No need. Let's just wait here. It's ten o'clock now; they probably won't move until lunchtime." Michael, cramped in the small car, adjusted the seat all the way back, stretching his legs slightly. "As soon as Amanda leaves the house, I'll know right away." To avoid any misunderstanding, he explained, "My house has an electronic peephole that sends an app alert whenever there's movement at the door." Emily murmured, "Oh," and then softly added, "Remember that case last week? A girl was followed by a stranger but was saved because her door had an electronic peephole that captured the suspect's image... I suggested to Anderson that we install one at our home too, but he refused." Michael was checking the app for the electronic peephole and absentmindedly asked, "Why wouldn't he agree?" After a few seconds of silence without Emily's response, he realized the implication. Oh, that's why... Michael turned to her, mouth agape, unsure of what to say. It seemed that no matter what he said, it would be inappropriate. He could only curse Anderson with every foul word he knew. Growing up on the rough streets of Yide Road, Michael might not have had impressive academic credentials, but he was certainly a "doctorate" level in fighting and swearing. Emily met his gaze and smiled quietly, a smile that carried layers of emotions: a hint of sadness, helplessness, and a shadow of apology. Michael straightened slightly and cursed, "How dare he? D*mn it!" To his surprise, Emily consoled him instead: "But this is just my suspicion... The reality might be different." "Still, the reason I'm so desperate to get evidence is that I've been stuck in this emotional turmoil for so long. It's driving me crazy. Every small suspicion gets magnified in my mind, leading to endless anxiety and overthinking." She sighed, turning her face slightly to look at the familiar white sedan in the distance, her voice steady. "Anderson's infidelity, if confirmed, wouldn't be the end of the world. I just want to know the whole truth and then make a clean break." This issue had festered for too long, like leftovers rotting in the fridge. No matter how high-quality the ingredients were or how skilled the cook, it was beyond saving now. Michael was still searching for the right words when his stomach growled loudly. In the confined space of the car, with no music and no conversation, Emily naturally heard it. She turned and asked, "Didn't you have breakfast this morning?" "No, I haven't eaten yet." His ears felt like they were burning, and Michael tried to hunch over to muffle the sound from his stomach. "I left too early, then got caught up with changing the car and other things..." But his stomach growled again, louder and more pitifully. The car fell silent, the earlier noise seeming even more pronounced. Despite his usual bravado, Michael felt embarrassed. He awkwardly offered, "I-I'll go upstairs and get some McDonald's... What about you? Do you want anything?" Emily shook her head, "No need to buy anything. I brought food." She reached back and pulled a lunch bag from the rear seat, taking out a sandwich and handing it to Michael. "Here, take this. I made four." Michael accepted the still-warm sandwich, "You made this?" "Yes, this morning." Without pretense, Michael unwrapped the sandwich and took a large bite, devouring a third of it in one go. His eyes lit up, and he praised without hesitation, "This is delicious!" Emily's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled confidently, "Of course." In the end, Michael couldn't resist and ate two sandwiches. He was so full that he burped, making Emily press her lips together, stifling a laugh. They chatted intermittently about what they might have been doing if not for this "mission." Emily would have attended a masterclass and then spent two days exploring the city with friends, trying new private kitchens or coffee shops, or crossing the border to enjoy a long-missed bowl of clear broth brisket in Hong Kong. Michael, on the other hand, would have driven hundreds of kilometers to the seaside fishing village to collect various dried goods from familiar fishermen. If the goods he sought weren't available in one village, he'd travel along the coast to several others. Emily was quite intrigued by the process of collecting sea delicacies and asked numerous questions about dried seafood, which Michael answered in detail. Their conversation became increasingly engrossing, ranging from dried shrimp to scallops, dried abalone to sea cucumbers, spending nearly half an hour just discussing the nuances of genuine fish maw. They shared an unspoken understanding, deliberately avoiding topics related to personal relationships. After a while, Michael glanced at the time, nearly eleven o'clock, and abruptly apologized, "Sorry, I tend to get carried away when talking about the family business." In his line of work, Michael's expertise lay in dried seafood. He often discussed this with his family, but rarely with friends or lovers. Amanda, for instance, showed little interest in the shop's business. Emily, feeling a bit parched, took a sip of mineral water, "It's fine. I'm quite interested in various ingredients. Once I've dealt with my family matters, I'll visit your shop to pick out some goods." Michael's grin was hearty, "Sure, just let me know before you come." Having finished his bottle of water, while Emily still had half of hers, Michael suggested she stay in the car while he went to the mall's supermarket to replenish supplies. "If 'he' drives off, don't rush. Wait for me to return before we follow." Michael instructed before getting out. He didn't specify who "he" referred to, but Emily understood and softly replied, "Got it." Michael first went to the restroom for a smoke and then to the supermarket on the third floor. He grabbed a case of mineral water, a pack of tissues, and some biscuits and cakes, filling the cart to the brim. While waiting at the checkout, his phone vibrated, alerting him that the electronic peephole at home detected movement. Amanda had left the house. Just then, Emily's WeChat message arrived: "He's here!!!!" Multiple exclamation marks. Michael hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle, covering his mouth. He had told her not to rush. Returning to the parking lot, Anderson's car had already left. Michael returned to the Toyota, tossing the "supplies" into the back seat. Emily's eyes widened, "You bought so much!" "Better to be prepared," Michael replied, starting the car without even fastening his seatbelt, "How long has he been gone? Did he see you?" "About three minutes. I don't think he saw me; I was practically hiding under the seat..." Emily said, trying to update the location on her phone, but the signal was poor. "Alright, let's check again once we're above ground." Reaching the surface, the sky was still overcast. Emily squinted slightly to adjust to the light. The location updated, showing Anderson had driven some distance. Michael followed the direction. The gap closed, and Michael mentally mapped the route, tapping the steering wheel, "I thought he'd cross the river." Michael's current residence was in Riverside West. He assumed Anderson would cross the river to pick up Amanda, giving them a chance to take some photos or videos. But Anderson drove straight towards Shipai Bridge, likely heading directly to Taikoo Hui. Ten minutes later, Anderson entered Taikoo Hui's parking lot, while Michael lingered on the surface before following. On a weekday morning, Taikoo Hui was sparsely populated. The parking lot was empty except near the mall entrance. Michael circled the lot as Emily peered out, cautiously searching for Anderson's car. They found it after a few minutes. Anderson was no longer inside. Michael parked at a distance where they could still see the white BMW. By now, it was half-past eleven. Emily, in her assumed persona, should have been in the city. She tried calling Anderson, but he didn't answer. She sent him a WeChat message, and after a while, he replied, "Still in a meeting, will call you later." Despite being mentally prepared to face her husband's lies, her heart still sank uncontrollably. In the small car, Michael couldn't avoid seeing the message on her phone. He scoffed impatiently, "Meeting, my foot." Emily sighed deeply, then found some photos in her album from a trip to the city two weeks ago. She selected a few pictures of the hotel room and sent them to Anderson. Yes, she had preemptively "duplicated" this trip last week, secretly, without Anderson knowing. A round trip in one day, matching today's itinerary exactly. She had visited several cafes and light food places, eating until she was full, taking many photos to fill this "blank" three-day period. As for the Japanese dessert masterclass, a close friend of hers was attending and could lend her a few photos if needed.