Lungmen Guard Department.
Hoshiguma secretly found Swire and whispered, "Missy… has Chen been in love lately?"
"Who? In love? Her?" Swire's lips curled. "Didn't know you had talent for telling jokes."
"No, I'm serious. Look—these past two days, she's been staring at her terminal nonstop. Sometimes I go to see her and catch her chatting with the same man. Her tone is… unusually close."
"Seriously?"
"Dead serious. You know what that guy called her on the phone? Huijie."
Swire's mouth fell open in shock. As Chen Huijie's childhood friend, she knew better than anyone: only family ever called that rice-roll dragon "Huijie."
But after Chen's parents died, her sister Talulah disappeared, and her relationship with her uncle fell apart… no one had called her "Huijie" again.
Hoshiguma kept spilling tea. "And there's more. Last night, after she got off the phone with him, she's been completely distracted. Even today she's not herself."
Swire's curiosity was fully hooked now.
Who had eyes bad enough to fall for a woman like Chen Huijie? And for a woman as fiercely competitive as her—what kind of man would she even like?
Gossip was human nature.
But if Swire personally went digging into Chen Huijie's private life… it felt awkward. Pride got in the way.
Besides, she still had work. The Guard Department was insanely busy.
"I'll mention it to Lady Fumizuki—have her keep an eye out. If there's any intel, I'll let you know. You watch too when you can." Swire said with a sweet smile.
"What are you two whispering about?" Chen Huijie happened to pass by. Seeing a "ghost" and a "tiger" huddled together, she asked.
"Nothing. Just wondering if you step in dog poop after work every day—your luck's been so good lately, you're cracking cases faster and faster," Swire said.
"If thinking that makes your inferiority-and-arrogance complex feel better, be my guest," Chen snapped back.
"Hmph! Enjoy it while it lasts. I don't believe your luck can stay this good forever!"
"Then let's wait and see!"
The dragon and the tiger brushed past each other—shoulders deliberately colliding.
To Chen Huijie, Swire's words were all barking noise. But on one point, she was right:
Her luck wouldn't stay good forever.
Because Su Yi was leaving Lungmen.
They'd only just started getting close, and he was already leaving—refusing to tell her why or where he was going…
He didn't even treat her like a friend.
Fine. Go, then.
As if she couldn't solve cases without him.
…
Meanwhile, Penguin Logistics.
"Look—if you want to form a little clique and freeze out Croissant and Sora, just say so. Don't use me as an excuse," Su Yi said, rubbing his temples as he looked at Exusiai and Texas.
Croissant and Sora had just driven off. Immediately afterward, Texas came downstairs with Exusiai and told him she'd confessed everything she knew to Exusiai.
Great. Now more than half of Penguin Logistics knew he was resigning.
He'd only handed in his resignation yesterday at noon!
Was this what passed for confidentiality at Penguin Logistics?
"Forget that, Su Yi. Let's go get checked," Exusiai said. Her voice sounded distant, like her soul still hadn't fully returned to her body.
"Are you sure? If they diagnose Oripathy, my Lungmen residency gets blacklisted. Then it's either the slums or leaving Lungmen," Su Yi said.
"I know a pharmaceutical company called Rhodes Island," Texas said. "They're experts in dealing with the Infected. Lungmen has one of their offices here—we can do an Oripathy screening there."
"Rhodes Island is trustworthy. Even if it comes back positive, they won't leak it."
Su Yi didn't respond.
Was there really such a benevolent pharmaceutical company on this land? He didn't believe it.
He only didn't challenge it—out of respect for Texas.
He'd already accepted his fate anyway.
Besides, with his "cheat," he could live just fine anywhere.
"Alright. Let's go."
Texas took the driver's seat. Exusiai climbed into the back with Su Yi.
The engine started. The scenery outside shifted from slow to fast, sliding backward.
Su Yi leaned against the door, watching prosperous Lungmen as if he wanted to carve this city—one he'd only lived in for a few months—deep into memory.
Next time he came back… who knew when that would be.
Exusiai glanced at Texas, focused on driving. Quietly, she scooted a little closer to Su Yi and reached out—toward his hand.
With separation so close, she'd found a little courage.
Zap!
"Aow!" Su Yi jerked his left hand back and laughed. "Did you shock me with static?"
Exusiai: ???
I didn't! I swear!
Aaaah—static electricity. You never show up early or late—only now?!
Exusiai was furious. Could she get any unluckier?
"I want to try too," Su Yi said, suddenly playful. He rubbed his hand through his hair a few times, then reached toward Exusiai, trying to zap her back.
But before he could, Exusiai grabbed his hand tightly.
"What? Can't take it?" Su Yi said, displeased.
Exusiai said nothing. Sitting in the car, she turned her head away, gripping his palm hard. Her ears were almost the same color as her hair.
"…"
Su Yi's eyes flickered as if he realized something.
He let that small, warm, soft hand hold his.
Inside the car, the man and the girl both stared out their windows.
On the seat between them, their fingers interlaced.
Texas saw it in the rearview mirror. Her heart turned over in a knot of emotions she couldn't name.
Soon, they arrived at the Rhodes Island Lungmen office.
Exusiai jumped out first, fanning her face with her hand—white steam practically rising from the top of her head.
Knock knock knock.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Texas knocked.
The door was a single-piece cast-metal slab—heavy and thick.
Hearing the call, a square viewing window slid open. A cautious voice asked from inside, "Who are you?"
"We're from Penguin Logistics. My colleague may have Oripathy. We'd like you to run an examination," Texas said.
"Then come in, quickly."
Inside, a Rhodes Island operator with green hair and a long tail casually pushed open the metal door—several centimeters thick—with one hand, and gestured them in.
Su Yi stepped inside and looked around.
Whoa. Did they move an entire military bunker in here?
"My name is Gavial. I'm twenty-four, and I'm a doctor," Gavial said.
"Nice setup," Su Yi remarked casually. "Safe, but also stylish. Who designed this?"
"Some of the older operators say it was designed by someone called 'Doctor,' but I've never met them," Gavial shrugged, then asked, "Which one of you is getting checked?"
....
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