She Really Loved Sweets!

"?"

Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes, momentarily at a loss for words.

Li Hongyou was stereotyping him. Besides, he'd stopped watching those videos of beautiful women ages ago.

He answered casually, "I don't usually watch those kinds of videos at school."

"Oh, really?"

Li Hongyou nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Got a book? Lend me one."

"Math or language arts?" Bai Xuan asked.

"Either. As long as it passes the time." Li Hongyou shrugged, looking indifferent.

Bai Xuan thought for a moment, then took a collector's-edition novel from his bag and handed it to her.

"Miss, Police Officers and Investigators are already stationed around the villa," the old butler told Su Yue through the door. "Your father asks that you stay inside for now, in case of danger."

"I understand."

Su Yue answered, then turned her gaze from the people outside the window to Marée Alaira in the room. "Is the gentleman in the Slime Mask nearby?"

"Why?"

Marée Alaira's voice was flat. "Do you need something?"

"N-no..."

Su Yue quickly shook her head, though she felt at a loss.

Thanks to her Star-Love Demon Eye, talking to others had always been easy. Everyone responded to her patiently, like a friendly stranger.

But Marée Alaira was completely different—always cold, with even a hint of contempt.

As if Su Yue were a cockroach she couldn't be bothered to acknowledge.

Faced with the awkward silence, Su Yue turned back to the window.

Police cars now filled the area outside the villa.

Bai Yu stepped out of one of them and studied the mansion beyond the wall.

"Bai Yu, you're finally here!"

Two Police Officers approached her. "The higher-ups assigned you to security inside the villa."

"Okay." Bai Yu nodded, then asked, "Whose house is this? And who are we protecting?"

"This is the home of Su Jinghai, the richest man in Ninghang City."

Huang Xin approached with a woman and explained, "Our assignment is to guard the estate. Its owner could be threatened by the Evil Organization at any time."

"The Evil Organization?"

Bai Yu frowned slightly.

She'd heard of it, but knew little about it.

"However," Huang Xin continued, "Miss Su doesn't quite trust the Investigation Bureau, so Police Officers are needed to help with security inside the estate."

"She doesn't trust the Investigation Bureau?" Bai Yu frowned, puzzled.

"Probably something from her childhood." Huang Xin shrugged, then said, "Oh, this is Shen Mei, a colleague from the Ninghang City Investigation Bureau. I thought you two should meet."

He gestured to the woman beside him.

"She's the Police Officer you mentioned?" Shen Mei looked at Bai Yu.

"That's right," Huang Xin said with a nod. "Police Officer Bai Yu is quick on her feet and sharp-minded. She's more than qualified to join the Investigation Bureau as an Investigation Assistant."

"Is that so?" Shen Mei sized Bai Yu up. "If you're interested in joining, come give it a try. The Ninghang City Investigation Bureau always welcomes capable people."

"I'll consider it." Bai Yu nodded without committing.

Hm?

Bai Yu suddenly looked up toward a point in the sky.

For some reason, she sensed a familiar presence there.

She murmured, "Is it that woman in the qipao? Is she involved in this assignment too?"

After school, Bai Xuan packed his bag and prepared to head home.

Li Hongyou, seated beside him, suddenly stopped him. "Kid, is your sister home?"

"I think she's away on another business trip," Bai Xuan replied.

"Is that so?"

Li Hongyou closed the book in her hands and looked at him. "Come on, then. Dinner's on me."

"Why?" Bai Xuan was puzzled.

He and Li Hongyou weren't exactly close enough to have dinner together, were they?

"I have a few things I want to ask you."

As she spoke, Li Hongyou stood and handed his book back.

Bai Xuan thought it over and didn't refuse. "All right, but I can't stay out overnight or drink. I'm a good kid."

"?"

Li Hongyou glanced at him but said nothing about that. "There's a good restaurant in Ninghang City I've been wanting to try."

Bai Xuan fell silent and followed her.

A free dinner wasn't bad.

Before long, they entered an upscale restaurant.

Bai Xuan didn't see what kind of card Li Hongyou produced, but after one look, the manager respectfully led them to the private room with the best view.

Dishes soon began arriving one after another.

Every dish looked exquisite and tempting. The only problem was that they all seemed rather sweet.

And Bai Xuan wasn't fond of sweets...

"What's wrong, kid?"

Seeing his hesitation, Li Hongyou asked, "Nothing you like?"

"It's not that." Bai Xuan shook his head. "I'm just not big on sweets."

"You don't like sweet things?"

Li Hongyou shrugged lightly and sighed. "What a tasteless kid. When you're older, you'll appreciate sweets."

"What's so good about them?"

"They make your mind more active."

"..."

Bai Xuan paused, then asked, "Why are you acting a little strange today? You don't seem like yourself."

Li Hongyou fell silent for a moment. "What, kid? Do you know me that well?"

"No."

Bai Xuan shook his head and let the subject drop. "So, Miss Li Hongyou, what did you want to ask me over dinner?"

"No rush. Let's finish eating first."

Li Hongyou picked up a piece of red-braised pork, rich with fat and cloyingly sweet, and popped it into her mouth. She chewed with a look of pure satisfaction.

Seeing that, Bai Xuan quietly got on with his meal.

Once they had mostly finished, Li Hongyou gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a wet wipe. "Kid, after graduation, do you want to join the Public Security Bureau like your sister?"

"No."

Bai Xuan answered without hesitation.

Li Hongyou looked up and studied his face for a moment. "Then what do you want to do?"

"I haven't decided."

Bai Xuan shrugged.

"What?" Li Hongyou leaned forward slightly, a hint of challenge in her voice. "Don't want to tell me?"

"No, I just haven't thought it through," Bai Xuan replied casually.

"Then why not consider becoming an Investigator?" Li Hongyou suggested.

"An Investigator? I don't have superpowers." Bai Xuan shook his head repeatedly. "If I did, maybe I'd consider it."

Li Hongyou glanced at him and tapped a fingertip against her cheek. "Then tell me, what kind of superpower would make you willing to join the Investigation Bureau?"