After they successfully delivered the dual-beam scanning electron microscope to the entrance of a tech company's tower, Anthony and James told Su Yi to head out first. They would handle the remaining paperwork and follow-up details.
"Is that really appropriate?" Su Yi asked.
They were all getting paid the same—why should he be allowed to clock out early?
"What's inappropriate about it?" Anthony replied. "If it weren't for you, the equipment would've been stolen ages ago."
He waggled his eyebrows. "Besides, you've got an appointment with Superintendent Chen tonight, don't you? Shouldn't you go back, rest up, and get yourself ready? You can't exactly show up to see her wearing a bulletproof vest."
"Then I'll leave it to you two," Su Yi said.
He had a point. Su Yi thanked them, then left with Texas.
…
…
Elsewhere, at the Lungmen Guard Department.
"Xingxiong, I'm heading out," Chen Hui-jie said.
She packed up, stepped out of her office, and tossed the line out casually as she passed Xingxiong.
Xingxiong reflexively hummed in acknowledgment—then immediately realized something was off.
"Old Chen, you're leaving this early today?"
It was only six in the evening. By Old Chen's usual habits, she wouldn't leave her desk until well past midnight.
"I've got something to do. I'm meeting someone." Chen Hui-jie lifted a hand and smoothed the hair at her forehead.
Xingxiong's eyes lit up with gossip. "You look excited. Who are you meeting?"
"Excited?" Chen Hui-jie instinctively touched her face.
Xingxiong nodded hard. "Eight—no, nine out of ten. I've known you for years and I've never seen you look like this. Who are you meeting? Confess."
"Don't get the wrong idea." Chen Hui-jie frowned. "The trafficking case and the kidnapping case are both stalled, aren't they? So I set up a meeting with an expert at solving cases. Maybe he can help us find some leads."
"Oh… I thought the iron tree finally bloomed and you'd wised up—like you were going on a date."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Chen Hui-jie said flatly.
She went downstairs, got into her car, and used the rearview mirror to straighten her clothes again.
In the mirror, the blue-haired young woman's brows were soft with spring, her eyes rippling with warmth. She didn't look like a police officer meeting an expert.
She looked like a girl in love, going to see the person she longed for.
…
…
The moment Su Yi returned to Penguin Logistics, he stripped off all his tactical gear, tossed it aside, and disappeared into the bathroom for a shower.
Texas entered the dorm and rummaged around for something.
It was dinner time. Croissant and Sora sat at the table discussing what delivery to order.
Off to one side, Exusiai looked utterly listless. She wasn't joining the discussion and wasn't saying anything—like her soul had been sucked out.
"Relax. He's just a partner," Croissant couldn't stand it anymore and tried to comfort her. "Just treat it like Texas is keeping an eye on him for you for now."
Sora added, "When you and Su Yi finally make it official, just tell the boss and transfer him back. Easy."
The moment Exusiai heard that, she snapped back to life.
Right!
Su Yi was only partnered with Texas. He wasn't with Texas. Why was she acting this miserable?
And if she looked on the bright side—when Su Yi went out on missions, whoever he met and whatever happened… she could just ask Texas afterward. The information gap would be gone.
Right then, Texas came out of the dorm and passed through the living room.
Exusiai asked, "Texas, what do you want to eat tonight?"
"Siracusan lasagna," Texas replied. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "Su Yi is going to see Superintendent Chen tonight. You don't need to order for him."
Again? He's going to see Superintendent Chen again? Didn't they just meet two days ago?!
Exusiai was instantly dissatisfied.
But it also proved, from another angle, that having Texas as Su Yi's partner did bring her some benefits.
Knock, knock, knock!
Texas carried a bottle of medicated liniment and knocked on Su Yi's dorm room door.
"Wait a second—I'm showering!" Su Yi's voice came from the bathroom.
A moment later, accompanied by hurried footsteps, the door opened from the inside.
Fresh from the shower, Su Yi's hair was damp. Steam rose off him in white curls. His thermal base layer clung to his tall, lean frame—he wasn't exposed at all, yet there was an inexplicable, almost suggestive heat to the sight.
"Come in and sit for a moment," he said.
Before Texas could explain why she was there, Su Yi went back into the bathroom to get dressed and dry his hair.
With the door already open, it would be awkward not to enter.
Texas walked in and looked around. There was no chair, so she sat on the bed.
Soon, Su Yi emerged again—dressed, hair dry—and asked, "What did you need me for?"
Texas took out the liniment. "I saw you rubbing your shoulder. I figured you could use this."
Terra's firearms hit hard—and their recoil hit hard too.
After several magazines, Su Yi, as an ordinary human, didn't need a hospital visit, but his right shoulder had taken a minor injury. The liniment was well-timed.
"Thank you. Really—thank you for thinking of it," Su Yi said as he walked over, reaching out with both hands to take it.
Then—
He'd come out in a hurry earlier; the floor was still wet. His foot slipped. His center of gravity pitched forward, and before he could recover, he toppled straight into Texas's arms.
Softness and a sweet, clean scent flooded his senses.
[Irrefusable Good Luck]
Texas caught him. Her amber eyes trembled; her wolf ears shot straight up. With every breath, she could smell the crisp, unmistakably Su Yi scent on him.
"Sorry," Su Yi said quickly, bracing a hand on her shoulder as he pushed himself back upright. "I slipped."
Texas nodded and gave a quiet "Mm." She handed him the liniment, stood up, and left the room—as if nothing had happened.
Only the restless swish of her tail betrayed what was going on inside her.
It was just delivering liniment—how had it turned into this?
Texas couldn't make sense of it, and she refused to think further.
An accident. Just an accident. There wouldn't be a next time.
Back in the living room, Texas sat down beside Exusiai. Looking at Exusiai's bright smile, she couldn't help feeling a little guilty.
She was the one who opposed Exusiai and Su Yi being together—so why was she the one who'd ended up in Su Yi's arms first?
"Eating all that?" Su Yi asked as he passed through the living room and saw that their delivery had arrived.
"The delivery apps in Lungmen are in a price war lately," Sora said. "So we ordered a bit more."
Su Yi sighed. "People's desires are still too many. Back in the day, when I was at the seafloor hot springs, I'd just flick my flagella twice and be happy as could be."
"I kneel before the veteran," Croissant deadpanned, playing along.
"You all eat slowly. I'm heading out—don't save any for me," Su Yi said, then walked toward the door.
"You're going to see Superintendent Chen again?" Exusiai asked abruptly.
Su Yi glanced at Texas, then answered, "Yeah. She's got something she wants to discuss. I'll see if I can mooch a meal off her. Why?"
Exusiai said, a little jealous, "Nothing. Just asking."
"Oh. Then I'm off."
"Bye-bye~"
"Bye-bye-bye-bye~"
-------
My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
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