Liu Chen's Request

The next day.

Dawn had barely broken.

Jiang Yuechu was still asleep when a knock at the door woke her.

She frowned and pulled the quilt over her head, trying to shut out the irritating sound.

But the person outside said nothing, just kept knocking, again and again.

"..."

Jiang Yuechu flung off the quilt and got out of bed, her face dark.

Who the hell was looking for her this early?

She dressed and yanked open the courtyard gate.

The cool morning wind, damp with moisture, struck her face and cleared some of the fog from her head.

A familiar figure stood outside.

He wore black with red markings. In one hand, he held a steaming oil-paper parcel; in the other, a small jar, probably filled with soy milk or some other breakfast drink.

It was Liu Chen.

They had not seen each other in quite some time, despite both working at the Demon Suppression Office. Their last encounter had been by chance on a street corner.

When the gate opened, Liu Chen mustered a somewhat awkward smile and held out what he had brought.

"Miss Jiang... you're up early?"

Jiang Yuechu yawned and leaned against the gateframe, at a loss for words.

"If I remember correctly, you were the one knocking?"

"Uh..."

Liu Chen flushed and sheepishly drew his hands back.

"I... I was presumptuous."

Jiang Yuechu stepped aside. "Come in. We can talk inside."

They sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.

Liu Chen opened the oil-paper parcel. Inside were several hot meat buns.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? This shop makes buns with thin wrappers and plenty of filling. They're not bad. Please, try one..."

Jiang Yuechu raised a hand to stop him.

"Why beat around the bush with me?"

"If you wanted