Chapter 48: She Really Has a Sweet Tooth!
"...?"
Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes, momentarily at a loss for words.
Clearly, Li Hongyou had him pegged all wrong. And as for those so-called "pretty girl" videos? He hadn’t watched that sort of thing in ages.
He replied offhandedly, "I don’t really watch those kinds of videos at school."
"Oh~ is that so?"
Li Hongyou nodded, looking thoughtful for a moment, then asked, "You got a book? Lend me one."
"You want a math textbook or a Chinese reader?" Bai Xuan shot back.
"Whatever. Just something to kill time." Li Hongyou shrugged, utterly unconcerned.
After a moment’s thought, Bai Xuan dug a collector’s edition novel out of his backpack and handed it to her.
...
"Miss, the Security Bureau officers and Investigators are already stationed around the villa," the Old Butler reported to Su Yue in her room. "The Master asked that you remain indoors for now, just to be safe."
"I understand."
Su Yue nodded quietly, shifting her gaze from the crowd outside to Mare Alera, who stood within the room. She asked, "Excuse me, is that gentleman with the Slime Mask nearby?"
"What for?"
Mare Alera’s tone was cool, almost bored. "You need something?"
"N-no, nothing..." Su Yue quickly shook her head, feeling out of her depth.
With the Starlit Eye of Desire, conversation had always come easily to her. People treated her like a friendly stranger—polite, patient, always willing to respond.
But Mare Alera was nothing like that. Always cold, almost dismissive... and was that a trace of contempt?
It was as if she were being regarded by someone who saw her as little more than a four-legged cockroach—hardly worth acknowledging.
Faced with the awkward silence, Su Yue could only turn her attention back to the window.
Outside, police cars lined the street in front of the villa.
Bai Yu stepped out of one, her gaze lingering thoughtfully on the opulent estate beyond the wall.
"Bai Yu, you’re finally here!"
Two Security Bureau officers hurried over. "You’ll be stationed inside the villa for security detail."
"Understood." Bai Yu nodded, then asked, "By the way, whose house is this? Who exactly are we protecting?"
"This is the residence of Su Jinghai, Ninghang City’s wealthiest man."
At that moment, Huang Xin and a woman approached. Huang Xin explained, "Our assignment is to guard this estate. The owner could be targeted by the Extremist Organization at any moment."
"Extremist Organization?"
Bai Yu’s brow furrowed slightly at the mention. She’d heard the name, but knew little about them.
"However," Huang Xin continued, "Miss Su doesn’t fully trust the Investigation Bureau, so officers from the Security Bureau are handling internal protection."
"She doesn’t trust the Investigation Bureau?" Bai Yu frowned again, puzzled.
"Probably due to some childhood trauma," Huang Xin said with a shrug. "Oh, and this is Shen Mei, also from the Ninghang City Investigation Bureau. Let me introduce you."
He gestured to the woman beside him.
"She’s the officer you mentioned?" Shen Mei sized up Bai Yu.
"That’s right," Huang Xin confirmed. "Officer Bai Yu is sharp and quick on her feet. She’s more than qualified to join the Investigation Bureau as an auxiliary investigator."
"Is that so?" Shen Mei gave Bai Yu a searching look. "If you’re interested, you’re welcome to apply. The Ninghang City Investigation Bureau is always open to capable people."
"I’ll think about it." Bai Yu nodded, but gave no definite answer.
Hmm?
Suddenly, Bai Yu looked up, her eyes drawn to a particular spot in the sky.
For some reason, she sensed a familiar presence there.
She murmured to herself, "Is it that girl in the qipao? She’s involved in this mission too?"
...
After school, Bai Xuan was packing his bag, getting ready to head home.
Li Hongyou, sitting nearby, suddenly called out, "Hey, kid, is your sister home?"
"She’s out of town again, I think," Bai Xuan replied.
"That so?"
Li Hongyou closed the book in her hands, glanced at Bai Xuan, and said, "Come on, I’ll treat you to dinner."
"Why?" Bai Xuan was genuinely puzzled.
It wasn’t as if he and Li Hongyou were close enough to be grabbing meals together.
"I’ve got some things I want to ask you."
As she spoke, Li Hongyou stood up slowly and handed the book back to Bai Xuan.
He thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "Sure, but I can’t stay out late or drink. I’m a good kid, after all."
"...?"
Li Hongyou shot him a sidelong glance but didn’t comment. "There’s a restaurant in Ninghang City I’ve been wanting to try."
Bai Xuan didn’t say another word, simply following after her.
A free meal... not bad.
Soon, the two of them entered an upscale restaurant.
Bai Xuan didn’t catch what card Li Hongyou handed over, but the manager took one look and immediately led them to the finest private room in the house.
Dishes arrived one after another, each more refined and tempting than the last—except, almost everything was sweet.
And Bai Xuan wasn’t much for sweets...
"What’s wrong, kid?" Li Hongyou asked, noticing his hesitation. "Nothing to your taste?"
"It’s not that," Bai Xuan shook his head. "I’m just not a fan of sweet food."
"Not a fan of sweets?"
Li Hongyou shrugged and sighed. "You really have no taste, kid. Give it a few years—you’ll learn to appreciate the finer things."
"Oh yeah? What’s so great about it?"
"Sweets make you think faster."
"..."
Bai Xuan paused, then asked, "You seem a bit different today. Not quite yourself."
Li Hongyou was silent for a moment, then countered, "Why, kid? You think you know me that well?"
"Not really."
Bai Xuan shook his head, letting the subject drop. "So, Miss Li Hongyou, you wanted to ask me something?"
"No rush. Eat first."
Li Hongyou picked up a piece of braised pork—fatty, glistening, and almost cloyingly sweet—and popped it into her mouth, chewing with obvious satisfaction.
Bai Xuan, seeing her so content, could only eat in silence.
When they’d nearly finished, Li Hongyou dabbed her mouth with a wet napkin before finally speaking. "Kid, after you graduate, do you want to join the Security Bureau like your sister?"
"Nope."
Bai Xuan’s answer was blunt.
Li Hongyou studied him for a moment, then asked, "So what do you want to do?"
"Haven’t decided yet." Bai Xuan shrugged.
"Why?" Li Hongyou leaned in slightly, her tone taking on a probing edge. "Don’t want to tell me?"
"It’s not that. I just haven’t thought it through," Bai Xuan replied lightly.
"Then how about considering becoming an Investigator?" Li Hongyou suggested.
"An Investigator? I don’t have any special abilities." Bai Xuan shook his head. "If I did, maybe I’d consider it."
Li Hongyou gave him a sidelong glance, tapping her cheek with one fingertip, her interest clearly piqued. "So, what kind of ability would it take for you to join the Investigation Bureau?"