Volume One, Chapter Two: Tragedy

When Mu Yao recognized the visitor’s face, her eyes brightened.

She remembered him.

When the man wielding a knife rushed at her, she had thought her fate was sealed.

It was this officer who remained calm in the chaos of the entire lounge, swiftly stepping forward and with a side kick, quickly subdued the assailant with agile grace.

At that moment, they were less than half a meter apart.

Mu Yao’s familiarity with him came entirely from those long, powerful legs.

Though clad in the same uniform as others, he carried himself in a way that made him stand apart.

It was as if he didn’t belong here.

“Let me tend to your wound,” the man said, approaching with a medical kit.

Startled, Mu Yao slowed her blinking, determined to memorize his face.

In reality, someone looked exactly like the figure from her dreams—including the faint mole beneath his eye.

The girl showed no reaction, staring wide-eyed at him; the man frowned slightly in discomfort.

He was just… no, it couldn’t be her.

After convincing himself, the man set down the supplies and turned away, casually folding his arms in a corner.

After a long moment, Mu Yao came back to herself, unable to resist glancing at him a few more times.

Looking down at the spot the man had indicated, she finally noticed the shallow scratch on her body from the thrown knife.

The wound was faint, and with her heavily adorned dress, one wouldn’t notice unless paying close attention.

Mu Yao picked up a cotton swab, dipping it in alcohol and roughly pressing it against the injury.

The sting of the alcohol brought sharp pain to the otherwise numb spot, causing her to squint.

The man scanned the surroundings from his corner, then focused his gaze on her again.

Seeing she was cooperative, a faint smile curved his lips.

He adjusted his posture, tilting his head back to rest against the wall with his eyes closed.

...

Late at night, a forest at the national border.

The crack of gunfire briefly disturbed the birds resting in the trees.

At the critical moment, Gu Nanxiao leapt forward.

The scene descended into chaos.

He gradually lost consciousness.

When he awoke, the sharp scent of disinfectant water filled his nostrils.

Waiting for him were permanent scars on his body and a transfer notice for his position.

...

“Excuse me, may I ask…”

A gentle voice pulled Gu Nanxiao out of that nightmare-like memory.

Years of habit made him open his eyes swiftly, ensuring the environment was safe.

The moment he opened them, he saw that doll-like girl.

Gu Nanxiao’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Speak quickly if you have something to say.”

His cold tone calmed Mu Yao’s restless heart.

He was not the one from her dreams.

At least his voice was different.

With that in mind, Mu Yao pressed her lips and spoke formally.

“May I leave first? I have something very important tomorrow. I promise I will return right after it’s done…”

Gu Nanxiao’s body, which had relaxed against the wall, instantly tensed and he stood upright.

He studied the girl before him again.

Her voice was somewhat familiar, but the heavy makeup obscured her true face.

He had no chance to dig deeper.

Mu Yao thought there was hope and stepped forward to say more.

As her body moved, Gu Nanxiao’s hand went to the baton at his waist.

Mu Yao froze in place.

“I really…”

“Behave yourself!”

Only then did Mu Yao realize she had been deceived by the appearance of the man in her dreams and the one before her.

The illusion shattered instantly.

What tall, long-legged gentleman?

This was clearly a fierce tiger.

All that had come before was merely him asleep.

Now the tiger was only beginning to awaken, and Mu Yao wanted to flee quickly.

But…

If she fled, what about tomorrow?

“Or could you help me get moved up in the order?”

She said this as she reached out the cigarettes she had deliberately gotten earlier.

For a moment, Gu Nanxiao doubted his eyes.

Looking again at the girl, her innocent gaze seemed truly unaware of what her actions implied.

Some people were truly masters of disguise.

“Do you know bribing a government official is a crime?”

Mu Yao obediently found a vacant seat and sat down.

Though burning with urgency, she couldn’t help but want to mock the man leaning against the wall.

It was the 21st century, yet here was someone so rigid.

In that case, she had no choice…

“Officer, may I ask, can I leave first? I have urgent business tomorrow and will return immediately after. Or could you please help me move my questioning order forward?”

“You can’t leave before the inquiry. Changing the order…”

The female officer looked troubled toward the other side, and Mu Yao glanced back as well.

“You’d better ask our boss. I can’t make that decision.”

Mu Yao’s heart sank to the bottom of a valley.

So, had she just directly offended the police chief?

Mustering her courage, Mu Yao looked again at the man leaning against the wall for help.

Their eyes met, but the man lowered his lashes, hiding the ambiguous emotion beneath, and cleverly turned away.

He refused to accept Mu Yao’s plea.

Gu Nanxiao crossed his arms, leaning against the wall with eyes closed, silently observing Mu Yao’s futile attempts to escape.

Some people… were truly foolish.

After watching her struggle enough, Gu Nanxiao took out his phone and sent a message.

Just as he was about to put it down, his hand vibrated.

[Maple Leaf] Boss, I’m done here. Did the group in strange clothes finish their questioning? Do you need me to come over?

[Gu Nanxiao] No need.

After replying, he glanced again at Xie Yangfeng’s messages.

Then he looked sideways at the doll sitting quietly, pouting.

Strange clothes?

An apt description.

...

When it was Mu Yao’s turn, only a few people remained in the waiting hall.

Pushing open the interrogation room door, she was greeted by a stern officer and…

A bottle of makeup remover.

A bad feeling rose in her heart.

“Mu Yao, female, 24 years old, Jingcheng… That’s enough, remove your makeup.”

The officer registered her information from the ID card, clipped it into his notebook, and looked at her with leisure.

Mu Yao glanced down at her elaborate Lolita dress.

With a reluctant, still dripping face, she sat opposite the officer.

After she successfully exited the interrogation room holding her ID, the long-legged man seemed to have radar; he took a few steps then turned back to look at her once more.

Then… he turned and walked faster.

As if she were something dirty.

Mu Yao clenched and relaxed her fists.

What?

Was the difference between her before and after makeup so ugly it offended his eyes?

Her phone had died at some unknown time.

Now it was nothing more than a large brick, heavy in Mu Yao’s hand, crushing the last straw in her heart.

As a primitive without a phone, Mu Yao had no choice but to shamelessly sit in the police station lobby, charging it at an outlet.

The moment the phone came back to life, countless messages flooded the screen.