Sheng Xiuhan was awoken by a frantic knocking at his door. Annoyed, he raked a hand through his disheveled hair, opened his drowsy eyes slightly, and sat up. With a casual flick of his slender fingers, the tightly locked door swung open.
Jiang Yinhuai was about to storm in when a throw pillow flew toward his face. He dodged it by leaning to the side. "Attempted murder, is it?"
"Exactly. Any complaints?"
Jiang Yinhuai paused, his momentum deflating instantly. He’d forgotten that this man was prone to morning grumpiness, and it was admittedly quite early.
Sheng Xiuhan rubbed his groggy face, forcing himself to fully wake up, then threw off his quilt and climbed out of bed. "What do you want?"
"Oh, right. Did you go out and wipe out Tici'an in Luocheng yesterday?"
Sheng Xiuhan’s porcelain-white feet hit the carpet. He paused, turned to look at Jiang Yinhuai as if he were an idiot, and replied coolly, "Do I look like I have that much free time?"
Jiang Yinhuai had a strong urge to nod, but suddenly remembering something, he held his tongue.
"It really wasn't you?"
Sheng Xiuhan added, "Tici'an getting wiped out—it served them right. Otherwise, everyone would just be kowtowing to them like they’re some deity. Him? Does he deserve it?"
Jiang Yinhuai scratched his head, finding himself in complete agreement. "I shouldn't say it like that, but I absolutely agree with your point."
*Wait, why did the Special Operations Team suspect me of all people? Do I look like the type who has nothing better to do? And calling me in the middle of the night—are they out of their minds?*
Sheng Xiuhan walked into the bathroom, expressionless, and muttered, "They deserved it."
Because they were backed by the Hidden Realm’s Tici'an and were members of the Wen Family, they had acted with extreme arrogance and no restraint. Getting wiped out was inevitable. No one would indulge you forever; you aren’t a god.
Jiang Yinhuai pulled out his phone and slowly typed a message to the Special Operations Team. After all, as an organization dedicated to maintaining peace in the Mortal Realm, they had been working diligently and tirelessly for years, so they still deserved some respect.
Jiang Yinhuai started with a polite greeting, ready to offer his explanation.
To his surprise, they replied instantly.
Jiang Yinhuai: "?"
Special Operations Team: "We already have a lead on this matter. We apologize for disturbing you, Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Yinhuai: "?"
*I was still typing!*
After reading it, Jiang Yinhuai silently deleted the chat and cursed them for being idiots. What a joke! He looked up, caught Sheng Xiuhan’s gaze, and turned to leave, acting as if nothing had happened, even thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
Sheng Xiuhan: "..."
*So that’s why you came to harass me early in the morning.*
***
At the Special Operations Bureau.
After sending the message, Liao Sheng, captain of the First Special Operations Team, tossed his phone back to his subordinate. Two meters away, the team member timed it perfectly and caught the precious device—the latest model he’d had to beg, plead, and pray to get his hands on.
Liao Sheng: "Alright, that’s it for the Luocheng Tici'an affair. Let it go."
The team members whispered among themselves. They clearly didn't have a lead yet; why call off the investigation?
"It feels like we haven't found the real culprit."
"What are we going to tell the higher-ups? The Capital’s Wen Family is the one pushing for this."
Liao Sheng stopped and said sternly, "If Tici'an has a problem, tell them to come find me, Liao Sheng. The Special Operations Bureau isn't here to serve Tici'an, and we won’t be opening any backdoors for them. They’ve contributed nothing, yet they want to act entitled and find free labor? Why don't they go conquer the Hidden Realm instead? You all just get back to your work; don't pay them any mind."
The team members were moved to tears. Finally, they could stand their ground—they weren't just free labor for these powerful families.
A round of applause was in order; everyone silently clapped and gave their Deputy Bureau Chief a thumbs-up in their hearts.
They returned to their busy schedules.
***
*Bang!* A loud sound echoed. The documents on the desk wobbled violently before collapsing in a heap. Liao Sheng’s authoritative voice boomed:
"What, did I not make myself clear? We exist to maintain stability, not to work for those people, acting like their lackeys every single day! I said it’s over, so it’s over! If they want to know, they can investigate it themselves! A bunch of spineless cowards!"
Qin Huai secretly took a sip of tea. *It’s been an entire afternoon; I’m dying of thirst.*
The team saluted and left the office to get back to their work.
***
An hour ago.
After much deliberation, Yanzhu decided she should give them a heads-up, or she’d just be bothered by their constant searching.
Yanzhu: "Old Liao, if the Luocheng Tici'an case lands on your desk, don't bother investigating. I did it."
Liao Sheng: "!?"
Liao Sheng was truly shocked when he received this. He never expected this ancestor to wake up, and the moment she did, she wiped out a Tici'an branch of the Wen Family. *Are young girls these days all this fierce?*
Liao Sheng: "Understood..."
Before he could finish typing his response, he clicked on the document Yanzhu had sent.
After reading it, Liao Sheng’s expression turned solemn. He messaged Yanzhu, "Understood. I will handle it." He threw on his coat, rushed to the operations team, and notified everyone to stop the secret investigation, inquiries, and questioning.
After all, Tici'an had definitely crossed the line.
***
Yanshang was pleasantly surprised to see Yanzhu. Her sudden, unexplained coma had terrified them all.
"How are you? Are you feeling alright?"
"I’m great. What could possibly be wrong with me?" Yanzhu spun around to show him.
Yanshang smiled faintly. "That’s true. We should have trusted in your strength."
Inside the Consciousness Sea, Yaojiu groaned, "I'm the one who’s had it rough! Me! Who could have known the blind box I pulled would be such a tyrant? I want a refund! I’m requesting a return! Return!"
Yanzhu looked at Yanshang with a serious expression. "Now, I’m more curious about you. What’s going on?"
Perhaps it was just an illusion, but Yanzhu felt Yanshang’s gaze dim for a moment.
Yanshang let out a relaxed breath and purposely avoided Yanzhu’s eyes. "Nothing much. I just… I like someone, but it seems she doesn't like me back."
Yanzhu patted Yanshang’s shoulder. "Don't worry. With your personality and your strength, you're excellent in every way. If she can't see that, she’s either blind or she just wasn't the right one for you."
"But I’ve been pursuing her for two years."
It had been two years since Yanshang first met Shen Fangfang. Was she really that oblivious to all his overt and subtle hints?
Now it was Yanzhu’s turn to be stunned. Two years and he still hadn't won her over? They were still just friends? That was preposterous. How could they still just be friends?
*Is there actually someone that blind? My dear brother, how exactly have you been pursuing her?*
"Does she have a boyfriend now?" Yanzhu asked. "Is that why she’s ignoring you?"
"No. There seem to be several others like me pursuing her."
"So, you’re one of several people chasing her, and you’ve never considered the possibility that you’re being... led on?" Yanzhu felt as if the world had become surreal.
Yanzhu knew Yanshang; he was overly earnest about everything. Once he liked someone, he was willing to sink into it completely. Still, Yanzhu couldn't understand how anyone could fail to like a gentle and refined guy like Yanshang.
Yanshang didn't seem to feel too bad about it. He smiled, his eyes curving into crescents as he stated the facts: "I suppose. If she gets a boyfriend, I’ll withdraw. But for now, I’m competing on equal footing."
In this game, if you win, it’s called deep devotion; if you lose, it’s called being a sycophant.