"A bold idea?"
Liu Shanhe glanced at "Aya," slightly surprised. He wasn't sure what she was getting at, but he couldn't help feeling a flicker of anticipation.
He had to admit, this young woman possessed a remarkable charisma, exuding an aura of leadership and wisdom. He couldn't help but smile at the thought that he, a seasoned professional, was feeling such things in the presence of someone so young. "Aya's" presence was truly extraordinary.
"Exactly, it's a bold idea—or perhaps a suggestion," "Aya" nodded, her smile widening.
"Since you're worried one of us—Sister Lu Yue or myself—might be Cifera in disguise, why not simply have Officer Nie Bing wear the Starry Light? Wouldn't that be the safest option?
"Moreover, it wouldn't compromise the impact of the runway show. In my opinion, Officer Nie Bing, once she's dressed in a gown, would be just as stunning as me or Sister Lu Yue."
!!!
Before Liu Shanhe could respond, Nie Bing was the first to object, her face incredulous and flushing slightly:
"Absolutely not! I... I can't even walk the runway!"
Are you kidding me?! Nie Bing thought. Let me catch criminals or tinker with tech—I'm all for it! But walk the runway in an evening gown? That's practically a death sentence!
"I object too!"
The Show Director, wearing a "don't be ridiculous" expression, pulled "Aya" back and said dryly:
"Miss Aya! Even jokes have their limits! It's not that Officer Nie Bing lacks the looks or presence—it's just that professional tasks require professionals!
"Besides, I've figured you out. You're just falling prey to your occupational hazard: seeing a beautiful woman and immediately wanting to dress her up in stunning outfits, aren't you?"
Without waiting for "Aya" to reply, the Show Director immediately dragged her toward the models.
"Ah? Ha ha! You've seen right through me!"
"Of course! I never imagined Miss Aya had such a playful side!"
As their voices faded into the distance, Nie Bing exhaled in relief and prepared to follow them.
Just then, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
She turned to see Liu Shanhe gazing at her thoughtfully, his expression serious.
"Little Bingbing," he said earnestly, "I have to admit, Miss Aya's suggestion has merit!
"If you were to wear the Starry Light during the runway show, it would significantly reduce our security concerns for that segment.
"Should I really try to get them to reconsider?"
"..."
Nie Bing took a deep breath, barely suppressing the urge to curse him out. She glared at Liu Shanhe, then spun around and fled.
"Old Liu, Nie Bing is being far too inconsiderate of the bigger picture. Should I go and try to persuade her?"
Lin Zhiyuan watched Nie Bing flee, shaking his head in disappointment.
In his view, Liu Shanhe's plan made perfect sense. There was clearly room for maneuver, so why was Nie Bing unwilling to make even this small sacrifice?
And was it even a sacrifice at all? After all, she would get to wear Starry Light. Why wouldn't Nie Bing want that?
"Ha ha! Little Lin, forget about it. I was just teasing Little Bingbing for fun," Liu Shanhe chuckled, patting Lin Zhiyuan on the shoulder.
"You can be too rigid sometimes, Little Lin. It's both your strength and your weakness.
"The Starry Team has poured their heart and soul into creating that grand entrance. How could we possibly disregard all that and forcefully interfere?
"Besides, Miss Aya's suggestion wasn't genuinely for our benefit.
"On one hand, she genuinely enjoys making clothes. Just like how she volunteered to adjust the other models' outfits for free. Seeing Nie Bing, her eyes lit up, and her fingers itched to work.
"On the other hand, she likely believed her proposal had little chance of approval. That's why she initially called it a 'bold' idea—a half-joking counterattack against our Pursuit Team's suspicions."
"It's like she's saying, 'Since you suspect us anyway, why don't you handle this yourselves?'"
"I must admit, Miss Aya is truly a remarkable woman."
"I see, sir. I understand now," Lin Zhiyuan said, his face lighting up with realization.
"Given this, we can almost completely rule out the possibility that Aya is Cifera."
"If Aya were Cifera, she wouldn't risk suggesting Nie Bing wear the Starry Light. If her proposal succeeded, she, as the most likely candidate to wear the Starry Light herself, would lose her legitimate opportunity to approach her target."
"Cifera would never make such a foolish move, no matter how slim the chances of it happening. All her seemingly risky decisions are rooted in absolute certainty. Her proposal to have Nie Bing wear the Starry Light is disadvantageous whether it succeeds or fails—it offers her no benefits either way!"
"Exactly. That's the third reason Aya proposed this idea: to prove her innocence to our Pursuit Team."
Liu Shanhe nodded, watching "Aya" strategize with the other models in the distance.
"While her suspicion has lessened considerably, we must remain vigilant. Understood?"
"Understood!" Lin Zhiyuan replied firmly, his gaze fixed on "Aya."
[Great! It seems Sister Aya's suspicion can be ruled out!]
[Huh? So the Pursuit Team won't need this proposal? I was really looking forward to seeing Goddess Nie Bing strut the runway wearing the Starry Light!]
[Who wouldn't? She's usually such a heroic female investigator. Seeing her transform into a runway model would be a unique experience~]
[Upstairs, you'd better be talking about the female investigator!]
Just then, Lu Yue, standing behind the two, was about to lose it. He internally raged:
You're scheming so loudly, don't you have any respect for me?!
Every other sentence is about how Aya is the most likely wearer of the Starry Light. Are you even trying to pretend anymore?!
And now that Aya's suspicion is practically ruled out, that means I'm the prime suspect!
Even though I am a "wanted criminal," you're still saying this right in front of me! How infuriating! Damn it!
"Cough, cough, cough!"
A few coughs echoed from behind Liu Shanhe and his companion. Lu Yue's impatient voice followed:
"Excuse me! Is the interrogation starting yet? Our models' time is very precious!"
"My apologies. We'll begin immediately. Please follow us."
Liu Shanhe gestured for Lu Yue to lead the way and stepped forward. Unseen by Lu Yue, a cunning smile crept across the old criminal investigator's face.
Lu Yue is getting agitated.A person who loses their composure is more likely to slip up.
This was precisely what he'd intended—a calculated move to set the stage for the interrogation. After all, would a seasoned Criminal Investigator like him really be so oblivious?
[Ha ha ha! Little Grandchild looks furious!]
[Did you see Old Liu's expression? He's definitely doing this on purpose.]
[A classic interrogation tactic—a rattled suspect is more likely to slip up.]
[Compared to Cifera, Little Grandchild's mental fortitude is still too green.]