The next day, Zhu Yuan woke up to sunlight streaming through her window, practically burning her face. Groggy and heavy-lidded, she rubbed her eyes, the after-effects of last night's coffee and dessert madness still clinging to her like an unwanted second skin.
"That coffee was a disaster," she muttered, tossing off her blanket. Her gaze flicked to the clock, and—BAM—panic hit her like a frying pan to the head. 10 AM!
"Oh no no no no!"she scrambled out of bed, yanking on her clothes while mentally cursing herself for staying up so late. "Why do I do this to myself?" she thought, but there was no time for self-reflection.
With barely thirty minutes to spare, Zhu Yuan sped through her morning routine, grabbing her bag, but—no breakfast. "No time to prep, J. D. better have my dessert for today..." she grumbled. Her stomach growled loudly in protest as she raced out the door, banking on J. D. to save her from starvation.
Once she arrived at the station, she hurried to her desk, already imagining the sweet taste of the cake that might be waiting for her. But... nothing.
No dessert box. Not on her desk, not under her desk, not in her chair. Nada.
Zhu Yuan's stomach grumbled again, louder this time."Oh, come on,"she groaned, pushing her chair back with a frustrated sigh. She glanced at the neatly stacked pile of dessert boxes from previous days—seven in total, mocking her with their empty promises.
"What's wrong, Zhu Yuan? You expected this..." she muttered to herself, but her stomach had other ideas.
She peered out of her office, scanning for a distraction. "Seth!" she called over the chatter. "Can you grab me something from the pantry? Anything.I'm desperate."
Seth, always eager to please, popped his head up like an excited meerkat. "On it, Captain!"
With no hesitation, he darted to the pantry, a man on a mission. As he piled up a selection of sandwiches, the pantry attendant raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "That's your third sandwich today, Seth. You on a carb-loading plan?" she teased.
Seth smirked, waving it off. "It's not for me. It's for the Captain," he replied, loading up a tray like a food delivery guy in a rush.
The attendant raised an eyebrow. "She needs a proper meal, not just snacks. You're going to get her hooked on junk food."
"She runs on coffee and paperwork, not salads," Seth joked. "But I'll grab her a coffee too, if that makes you feel better."
The attendant gave a mock frown but relented, tossing him an apple for good measure. "At least throw some vitamins in there."
Seth returned with the sandwiches, a cup of coffee, and the apple balanced precariously on the tray. "Here you go, Captain.Breakfast of champions... and maybe an apple because apparently you need to stay healthy." He winked, setting the items down on Zhu Yuan's desk.
She glanced up at him, unimpressed but grateful. "You're a lifesaver, Seth. But next time, bring me something more exciting than cafeteria food."
"Next time, I'll bring you a five-star meal," he said, saluting dramatically. "Or, you know, another lava cakeif J. D. decides to show up."
Zhu Yuan rolled her eyes, taking a bite of the sandwich. As bland as it was, it would have to do. "J. D. better not ghost me forever, or I'm going to start thinkinghe's moved on to another officer," she muttered under her breath.
Seth overheard and grinned. "Hey, if J. D. doesn't step up, I'm sure someone else will. MaybeMr. Smith?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Zhu Yuan shot him a look but couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Don't push your luck, Seth."
"Anything else, Captain?"
Zhu Yuan glanced up, her mind racing for a moment. "Uh... no." She watched as Seth started to leave but then paused. "Oh wait, can I request something from you?"
Seth turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, Captain." as he was about to leave the office...
Zhu Yuan hesitated, trying to sound casual. "During your patrol, keep an eye out for Mr. Smith.Let me know if you spot him."
At the mention of Elias, Seth's casual demeanor faltered, replaced by visible discomfort. "Ah... S-sure, Captain. I'll be patrolling after lunch. I'll drop you a radio if I see him."
Zhu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone firm. "No... send me a message.Don't broadcast it." She wasn't in the mood for any public teasing or assumptions over the station radio.
Seth nodded hurriedly, swallowing hard. "Right. Message. Got it, Captain."
The afternoon rolled around, and Zhu Yuan was finally nearing the end of the endless mountain of paperwork from the past week. Only one last folder to tackle. She eyed the coffee Seth had brought earlier, still untouched, and noted that she had barely made a dent in the sandwich. Not exactly a five-star lunch.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through the office door.
"Cap'n! How are you? Get some rest last night?" Qingyi's head popped into view, a mix of concern and her usual bubbly energy etched across her face.
Zhu Yuan stretched, letting out a long, tired sigh. "I haven't slept, actually. I feel like I've been hit by a truck."
Qingyi's eyes flickered towards the stack of empty dessert boxes on Zhu Yuan's desk, piecing together the Captain's obvious lack of enthusiasm. "Oh... I see..." She leaned closer, lowering her voice as if the empty dessert boxes were a sensitive topic."You didn't get a dessert today, huh?"
Zhu Yuan slumped in her chair. "Nope, not a crumb. Seth brought me a snack though,if that counts as consolation." Her voice was heavy with gloom, and she let her forehead gently thump against the desk in defeat.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Qingyi asked, her voice softening, a clear note of sympathy cutting through her usual cheerfulness.
Zhu Yuan gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling up, but it quickly faded as a wave of anxiety followed. She let out a long, slow breath. "I expected it," she muttered quietly, her face still buried in her arms.
Qingyi blinked, puzzled. "Expected more?" she asked cautiously, unsure where Zhu Yuan was headed with this.
Zhu Yuan sat up, a bit flustered. "Yeah...more desserts, maybe?I didn't even have breakfast today." Her tone was both exasperated and a little embarrassed.
Qingyi's eyes widened for a moment. "Ah, so it's about breakfast." She smiled, but her expression turned serious. "But Zhu Yuan,are you sure that's what's really bugging you?" Her voice was gentle but probing.
Zhu Yuan's frustration bubbled up again, but instead of snapping, she sighed. "Qingyi, it's not just the desserts. It's... everything." She rubbed her temples, trying to sort through the tangled mess of her thoughts. "The investigation, the suspect, Mr. Smith, J.D...I don't even know what's going on anymore."
She lowered her voice, almost like she was admitting a secret. "And the fact that there's no dessert today, of all days,it's just... unsettling."
Qingyi's eyes softened, her concern genuine now. She moved a little closer and dropped her voice, but still kept her usual cheerful tone. "Would you like me to grab you a lava cake? I'm patrolling near the cafe later. It's no trouble, really."
Zhu Yuan shook her head slowly, her movements heavy with exhaustion. "No, Qingyi, I'm good. You don't have to."
Qingyi hovered for a second, clearly torn. "Alright... but if you need anything, don't hesitate, okay?"
Zhu Yuan managed a weak smile, appreciating the offer. "Thanks. I'll be fine."
Once Qingyi left, Zhu Yuan stood up from her desk and made her way to the washroom, needing a moment away from everything. Inside the quiet space, she stood in front of the mirror, her reflection staring back at her.
Her usual composed self felt distant, replaced by someone far more vulnerable. Her eyes traced the edges of her own face as thoughts spiraled in her mind.
Anxiety churned deeper. I didn't sip on that coffee, but why am I feeling so anxious? Thoughts raced like a runaway train. What if this whole investigation is more tangled than I thought? Each unanswered question felt like a puzzle piece hidden away, taunting her with the possibility of danger lurking just beyond her reach.
Zhu Yuan closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself, but the wave of uncertainty made her feel more off-balance than ever. The missing dessert wasn't just about the cake—it was about control, trust, and a partnership she wasn't sure she could rely on.
As the evening settled in, Zhu Yuan finally pushed aside the last stack of paperwork. A sense of relief washed over her, but it was short-lived. Now, her attention had to shift fully to the Crimson Veil case. She couldn't shake the nagging thought—what if the decisions she madelast nightled her team into a trap? She didn't want to involve them in something that could spiral out of control.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for her messenger. Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitant to reach out to Elias. She sent the message anyway.
"Any leads on that parcel?"
A reply came quickly.
"Checked every corner... nothing." She hesitated again, staring at the blinking cursor before typing her next message.
"Do you want to meet? Same café.Bring your team." His response was just as swift.
"No, they won't be working overtime.Can I get the encrypted evidence you promised last night?"
There was a brief pause before his reply came in.What did I signed into? I don't know if I can trust him though.She mused
"Yeah, sure. Don't worry—I'll bring it over."
With that last message, a flicker of relief eased the tightness in her chest. Hoping he can be trusted. For now, her mind could rest, if only for a moment.