Qingyi completely ignored the rapidly passing scenery outside the window, her eyes fixed firmly on the rearview mirror. Ye Qingfeng's appearance might not be the most classically handsome, but it was certainly the most enduring to look at.
She was sure of that.
And as time passed, the color gradually returned to his face. At this moment, he gave Qingyi a different impression — like a drowsy little kitten.
Having watched for who knows how long, Qingyi suddenly caught herself and snapped her eyes shut.
Yet the moment darkness fell, Ye Qingfeng's delicate face appeared in it, causing her to open her eyes again just as abruptly. The brow that had only just relaxed furrowed slightly.
She didn't understand... why did he appear?
His looks?
She was a robot, for goodness' sake!
It was like with cats — they didn't care whether humans were handsome or not. As long as you provided the food, you were a good two-legged creature.
And she was a criminal investigation Yu-Ou carrying nearly several hundred years' worth of memories. For her, emotions were entirely unnecessary.
Whoever it was, they were simply a passing figure in her long life...
It had taken Zhu Yuan just over five minutes to get from the Public Security Bureau to 11th Street, but the return trip took nearly fifteen.
Ye Qingfeng, in his current state, had only drifted into a light sleep. The moment the police car came to a smooth stop, he was awake. Squinting, he stretched his limbs as best he could and let out a long yawn.
"Awake? Get out of the car!"
Zhu Yuan said with an indulgent smile, pulling out the keys as she spoke.
"Okay, okay..."
Still groggy from just waking, Ye Qingfeng's voice naturally carried a soft, slightly hoarse quality.
Zhu Yuan got out first, walked around from the front of the car to the passenger side, opened the door, and pulled the dazed Ye Qingfeng out. Then she ducked back into the car, propping one knee on the seat and poking her head through, casually saying to Qingyi in the back:
"Senior Qingyi, please take these two in for interrogation. I'll get Qingfeng up to speed on tomorrow's work in the meantime."
Without waiting for Qingyi's reply, Zhu Yuan withdrew and walked toward the Public Security Bureau with Ye Qingfeng, chatting and laughing as they went.
Zhu Yuan's reasoning was straightforward enough: after spending so much time alongside Qingyi, she trusted her unconditionally. Whether it was handling the suspects earlier or delegating the current task, it all came from that deep, unshakeable trust.
It was like two cats that had always gotten along. One day, one of them discovered a spot in the park it adored. Whenever they passed by, it couldn't resist slipping inside to play for hours.
It might spend an entire day there, but for the remaining twenty-nine days of the month, it would still play with its old friend.
In the short term, nothing would feel out of place. But over time?
There were only three ways it could go.
Things stay as they are.
The cat spends more and more time in the park, and less and less with its friend.
Or it brings its friend along to the park.
...
The departure of Zhu Yuan and Ye Qingfeng stoked Qingyi's irritation even higher. The two suspects beside her bore the brunt of it. Watching the blue arcs of electricity crackling in her palm, they pressed themselves as far away from her as the cramped back seat would allow.
It wasn't nearly far enough. Passerby A, trapped in the middle, was occasionally caught by a stray current.
Not fatal, but it genuinely hurt. And left him feeling a bit numb afterward. He couldn't run, couldn't fight back.
He could only grit his teeth and endure. One word: suffer.
Fortunately, it didn't last too long. The electricity in Qingyi's palm slowly faded and disappeared. She said expressionlessly, "Get out."
"Yes..."
Qingyi pushed the door open, stepped one foot out, then stood fully and closed the door behind her. She led the two suspects toward the Public Security Bureau entrance.
It wasn't that she had no emotions. For her, there was simply no need to let too many people in. The reason, as touched on before, was that after old friends inevitably departed years down the line...
No one could truly understand what she felt — helplessness? Confusion? Loneliness?
Perhaps all of them...
Meanwhile, Ye Qingfeng followed Zhu Yuan to her office. The officers they passed along the way, catching sight of the two walking side by side, exchanged curious glances.
Then, once the two had moved on, they huddled together in hushed conversation. Among them were several officers who genuinely cared about Zhu Yuan; a few came up with cheerful expressions and said, seemingly out of nowhere, "Congratulations, Zhu Yuan!"
Neither Ye Qingfeng nor Zhu Yuan was the oblivious type — they understood at once what the officers were implying. They thought the two were a couple.
Neither panicked nor rushed to deny it. In that kind of situation, doing so would only make things more complicated. Zhu Yuan could only let a slightly stiff smile settle on her lips as she grabbed Ye Qingfeng's sleeve and quickened their pace.
Their hasty retreat was read by her colleagues as bashfulness, and soft laughter followed them down the hallway.
They finally arrived at the door to Zhu Yuan's office.
Zhu Yuan stepped in first, and upon finding the office in reasonably tidy order, quietly exhaled and invited Ye Qingfeng inside.
The office wasn't very large: two desks, two chairs, a cabinet stuffed with documents, and a potted plant on the windowsill.
"Qingfeng, take a seat for a bit. Once Senior Qingyi comes over, we'll all head to the canteen together, and then find somewhere for the rehearsal this afternoon."
"Okay."
Ye Qingfeng's eyes settled on the spot near the window. Without standing on ceremony, he walked over and sat down, then asked curiously, "Why was this event organized so suddenly? What exactly do I need to do?"
"It's related to what happened to you today, actually. Recently, a large number of female citizens have been targeted. The situation escalated because someone died in a similar incident not long ago, and the victim's father has connections with the chief of the Public Security Bureau."
Zhu Yuan pulled out a chair, sat down, and answered his question quite naturally. The moment she finished speaking, she realized she may have said more than she should have.
Ye Qingfeng, for his part, had a rather interesting expression upon hearing that last part. Was this really something he was supposed to be told?
Had he somehow gotten on Zhu Yuan's bad side today? Surely she wouldn't want him dead over it...
"Cough, cough!"
Zhu Yuan gave a light cough to recapture Ye Qingfeng's attention, then casually blinked at him a few times in quick succession.
Ye Qingfeng caught her meaning immediately and gave a small nod to show he understood.
"So your role is to play..." Seeing him nod, Zhu Yuan continued, but the words stalled halfway and lodged in her throat. After a long pause, she finally blurted out, "A lecherous robber?"
The moment she said it, she couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from curving upward. Catching the thoroughly baffled look on Ye Qingfeng's face, she finally lost the battle and burst out laughing.
"..."
Ye Qingfeng found it genuinely difficult to imagine himself playing such a role. His mouth opened and closed, and for a moment he had no idea what to say.
In the end, he could only take a deflated breath, pick up the teapot from the desk, pour himself a cup of tea, raise it to his lips, and drain it in one go.
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