On a sweltering afternoon, when the sun felt like it was personally challenging everyone to a sweat-off, Zhu Yuan noticed a figure rummaging through a pile of trash at the very spot where she and Elias had collided previously.
She squinted, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "A garbage collector? Or a scavenger? Either way, it's way too hot for anyone with common sense to be out here willingly," she thought, crossing the street with a growing sense of curiosity."Not even the sanitation department is this dedicated."
As she got closer, the man abruptly stopped, his body tensing as her shadow loomed over him. He glanced back slowly, a mix of caution and mild panic in his eyes.
"...Is everything alright?" he asked, clearly trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.
To her surprise, it was Elias. Of course.
Zhu Yuan raised an eyebrow."Am I ever going to see this man in a normal, non-suspicious scenario?"she mused.
"Are you switching career? —auditioning for 'Trash Collectors of New Eridu: The Movie'?" She asks.
"Oh, Officer Zhu Yuan," Elias greeted her, standing up and brushing some grime off his clothes like it was part of his daily routine. "Just me. Did I violate anything with my—" he motioned dramatically to the pile of trash "—current activities? Because I'd hate to think I'm breaking thesacred lawof proper trash etiquette."
Zhu Yuan crossed her arms, suppressing a grin."Well, it's not every day I see an agent neck-deep in leftovers from last week's lunch. But I'm sure there's a law against it somewhere."
Elias chuckled, hands raised as if surrendering. "I guess you caught me. But in my defense, I've seen things worse than this pile today."
But his gaze turned serious, his expression serious yet gentle. "I think I may have lost some evidence here. Has your team recovered a package any documents from the abandoned building?"
Her heart quickened as a realization struck her. That package—the one the suspect had been holding during the incident—had slipped her mind.
"Oh, we didn't find anything after the clearing," she replied, her brows slightly raised and curiosity piqued. Something about the way he looked at her made her wonder if there was more to his search than he was letting on.
"Care to share what was in that package?" she asked, her tone light but her eyes searching his for answers.
He hesitated for a moment, studying her before responding. "It's sensitive information—something that could tie into a larger case. But I can tell you it's important." The weight of his words hung in the air, and she could sense the gravity of the situation behind his calm demeanor.
Her curiosity deepened, but so did the tension between them. "If it's that crucial, then we need to find it," she said, determination rising in her voice. The connection they shared felt electric, an unspoken understanding growing stronger with every exchanged glance.
"But remember, this is my case, Captain," he said, his tone playful yet firm, a hint of challenge in his eyes.
Zhu Yuan met his gaze, a mix of determination and intrigue swirling within her. "I understand, Elias. But if it's linked to a larger threat, we need to collaborate. Besides, two heads are better than one—especially if one of them is good at digging through trash." She chuckled.
A brief silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken tension. She could feel the weight of their respective roles, yet something more lingered just beneath the surface—a pull that made her heart race.
"Well then, it's a deal." He stood up and reached out his hand for a handshake.
"What are you doing? You just touched garbage!" she stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Elias chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Hey, a little trash never hurt anyone. Besides, it's a handshake of partnership, right? Consider it a team-building exercise."
Zhu Yuan couldn't help but squeamishly roll her eyes, her embarrassment slowly fading into amusement. "Fine... but let's stick to elbow bumps, just in case."
As they shared a light laugh, the tension shifted, and for a moment, the seriousness of their situation felt a little less daunting.
Her interaction with Elias was abruptly interrupted by her ear-piece radio as the station paged her.
"Captain, we've received an email from Vesta Precinct regarding the suspect. We need your response ASAP," Officer Amy informed her.
In a hurry, Zhu Yuan turned to Elias. "Just an emergency..." She handed him a calling card with a flourish, hoping it looked cooler than it felt. "Message me if you come up with a plans!" With a quick wave, she dashed across the street, weaving through the bustling crowd like a salmon swimming upstream.
As Zhu Yuan stepped into the precinct, the air was thick with anticipation, almost like someone had spilled a whole jar of pickles in the break room. The chief was already waiting for her, knowing she was the one handling the case.
"This is a direct request from the Vesta precinct chief," he stated, his tone grave as if they were discussing the fate of the universe. "They've provided us with the documents regarding the turnover."
Zhu Yuan felt a knot tighten in her stomach, the kind you get when you eat too many donuts too quickly. Perplexed and hesitant, she struggled to find her voice. "But this man is still serving his penalty for a public order violation with us, Chief. We should wait until he's completed his sentence before making any decisions." Her face reflected the worry gnawing at her gut like a particularly anxious hamster.
Her instincts told her there was something more at play with the suspect, something that Elias and the other precinct were keen on. The tension in the room only heightened her sense of urgency, making her feel like she was trapped in a game of emotional Twister.
At her desk, stress weighing heavily on her, Zhu Yuan found herself staring at the box of dessert from J.D. Without a second thought, she opened it and indulged in the lava cake, its rich flavor offering a brief moment of solace.
As she took a bite, memories of the first note resurfaced in her mind:Just an apology gift. I'm sure J.D.doesn't have any romantic intentions. It had been a week since the first delivery, and now she glanced at the stack of gift boxes she had accumulated like trophies of an oddly delicious battle.
A wave of uncertainty washed over her. Was this the last apology gift? Or was she secretly hoping for another surprise tomorrow? Maybe it was her growing concern over the Vesta Precinct's request that made her anxious.
"Captain, are you alright?" Qingyi's voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.
"Ah, yes," Zhu Yuan replied, momentarily distracted. Just then, her messenger buzzed, displaying a new message like a mini fireworks show.
"Dinner?"Her eyes widened at the text. Who could it be? She quickly typed a response, her fingers flying over the screen like they were auditioning for a tech show.
"Who are you? Sorry, this might be thewrong ID." As she hit send, Qingyi noticed Zhu Yuan was deeply engaged in her phone, a rarity for her.
"This is Elias. I didn't find the parcel, but I have a plan. How about dinner? Oh, and bring two of your team members; it might be awkward if someone sees you out on a date," the message read.
Zhu Yuan's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed, irritation mixing with surprise. "What was that? -asking dinner without telling who you are? You'd better shower after rummaging through that garbage earlier too!" she shot back, trying to maintain her composure, though she couldn't help but feel her mood lighten.
"Oh, so you've been messaging J.D. now?" Qingyi smirked, leaning closer with a teasing glint in her eye that was practically a spotlight.
"NO? How could you tell?" Zhu Yuan replied, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"You can't hide it, but your face says it all!" Qingyi teased, glancing around the room where her colleagues were stifling their giggles, fully enjoying the moment like they were at a comedy show.
"OH MY GOODNESS, FOR HOLLOW'S SAKE, QINGYI..." Zhu Yuan stammered, her face still flushed as she pressed her forehead into her palm, trying to conceal her emotions like a magician hiding a card trick. Struggling to shot back on her normal composure.
"We'll have dinner—just you, me, and Seth tonight." She added, trying to sound casual despite the heat rising in her cheeks like a kettle about to boil over.
As they walked through the bustling streets, Zhu Yuan's attention was glued to her messenger, causing Qingyi and Seth to exchange concerned glances as if they were witnessing a circus act.
"I told them your name is Mr. Smith, Elias, so please—do me a favor and don't reveal that you're Elias!" she defended her little white lie to Qingyi from their earlier text message, feeling like she was trying to sell a questionable used car.
"What's the matter? I have plenty of aliases, so it's no big deal," Elias replied with a hint of amusement, like a magician ready to pull another rabbit out of a hat.
They soon arrived at the restaurant, a cozy spot tucked away beneath the warm glow of lights, which felt like a welcoming hug after a long day.
Zhu Yuan spotted Elias waiting by the front door, and her heart skipped a beat—maybe a whole marathon of beats. As they approached, Qingyi and Seth exchanged glances, recognizing the man from yesterday, as if they were trying to solve a mystery.
"Hey, Captain, is that Mr. Smith? Will he be joining us?" Qingyi asked, her curiosity piqued like a cat spotting a laser pointer.
Zhu Yuan merely nodded, her gaze scanning the surroundings, acutely aware of any potential threats lurking in the shadows of the quaint restaurant—like a ninja on a secret mission.
"Oh hey! Fancy running into you all here! Mind if I crash your dinner?" Elias said with a cheeky grin that could probably charm the socks off a statue, causing Qingyi to raise an eyebrow and slowly glance at Zhu Yuan.
"Tell me, Captain, is this a date? Are we just your third and fourth wheels?" she teased, a mischievous glint in her eye that could rival any shiny object.
Zhu Yuan's face flushed as she tried to fight off her irritation. "Qingyi, no! It's not like that! I mean, we... I—" She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure like a contestant on a reality show trying to keep it together. "I decided to work with him on the case regarding our suspect. I can't just let that guy fall into Vesta's hands. You're aware of the meeting we had earlier, right? Right?"
"So,you decided, not us, without so much as a heads-up?" Qingyi teased, grinning widely as if she just won a game show.
Seth couldn't help but chuckle, adding, "At this rate, we might need to charge you for a seat at this romantic dinner!"
Zhu Yuan buried her face in her hands, muttering, "You two are impossible!"—her dramatic flair could have earned her an Oscar.
Elias laughed at the scene. "No, don't worry; it will be a table for four; your Captain is right."