On Sunday morning, the band held their regular rehearsal.
Bai Fan was the band’s guitarist and lead vocalist, but the song they had chosen required a female lead vocalist, which was why they had brought in Lin Shi Xi.
Of course, this was also Bai Fan’s suggestion.
Lin Shi Xi had decent vocal abilities. It was said that she came from a wealthy family, could play the violin, and had musical talent.
This had been confirmed during her first rehearsal.
She excelled in both technique and artistry, advancing steadily in both.
During the break, Shi Xi took out her water bottle from her bag and took a few sips to soothe her throat.
The drummer scooted over to Bai Fan, looking anxious. “Bai Fan, is there really no chance between you two?”
Bai Fan gulped down half a bottle of water, lifted his eyelids to glance at Shi Xi, and said, “She doesn’t want me.”
The drummer nearly choked on his water, coughing uncontrollably.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
“Wait, with your qualities, she still doesn’t want you?”
Also, Bai Fan’s tone was a bit too resentful.
Bai Fan glared at him irritably. “If you think you can do better, go ahead.”
The drummer ran a hand through his hair. “Then I’ll really unleash my masculine charm!”
Bai Fan: “…”
The drummer, being a bit silly, rolled up his short sleeves to reveal his sturdy arms and walked toward Shi Xi. “Senior~”
Bai Fan: “…”
“Who are you trying to disgust?”
Not just Bai Fan, but the other three bandmates, hearing his affected voice, started throwing things at him.
Shi Xi nearly choked too, trembling as she put away her water bottle.
The band’s atmosphere had always been good, otherwise she wouldn’t have rehearsed with them every day.
However, as soon as the drummer met Shi Xi’s gaze, he immediately backed off. Blushing, he awkwardly returned to Bai Fan’s side. “I can’t do it, I really can’t…”
Bai Fan pushed him away. “Get lost.”
At the doorway, a figure stood for a moment before walking toward Shi Xi.
Shi Xi was looking down at her phone and didn’t notice him approaching.
But the others near the instruments had seen him.
Bai Fan clicked his tongue and called out to Shi Xi, “Lin Shi Xi, let’s rehearse.”
Shi Xi replied with an “Oh” and put down her phone.
They didn’t really need much rehearsal at this point, as everyone was skilled and quite in sync.
Just as she was about to stand up, she saw Huo Yao standing in front of her.
She looked surprised, staring at him blankly. “Huo Yao, didn’t you say this afternoon?”
Last night, she had messaged him to confirm their meeting time, and that was what he had said.
He had even asked her what she was doing just moments ago, and now, less than half an hour later, he was here.
“I finished early.”
Huo Yao reached out his hand, and she naturally placed hers in his.
He tightened his grip slightly, holding her hand in his palm.
Shi Xi could feel the calluses on his hand, rubbing against her skin and making it itch.
Before, he would only grab her arm or offer his arm for support.
This was the first time he had held her hand.
“Did you come to watch me rehearse?”
“Yeah.”
On the other side, the drummer looked dejected. “Now I know why Senior doesn’t want you. If it were me, I wouldn’t want you either.”
Bai Fan’s fists itched. He raised one, but the drummer quickly scurried away.
He glanced at Huo Yao’s figure and tapped the microphone.
He casually strummed his guitar, the sound seeming to urge Shi Xi.
Sure enough, Shi Xi didn’t have time to talk to Huo Yao and walked toward him.
“Like you’re rushing me to my death.”
Shi Xi complained about him.
He held his guitar without looking up, “Oh, sorry for interrupting you showing off with your new boyfriend.”
Shi Xi: “?”
Teammates behind him burst into laughter, “Pfft, how bitter can you be.”
The drummer mimicked him in a low voice, “So sorry~”
The bassist continued: “Interrupting you showing off with your new boyfriend~”
The keyboardist: “Hahahaha!”
Shi Xi: “…”
Bai Fan’s ears and neck flushed red, pretending not to hear.
Huo Yao only caught fragments of their murmurs, his sharp gaze lingering on Bai Fan for a moment.
Twenty was a wonderful age, full of youthful vitality.
She stood beside Bai Fan, their temperaments remarkably similar and compatible.
Huo Yao sat in the spot Shi Xi had just vacated, watching the rehearsal as if it were the most natural thing.
His rugged, sharp features betrayed no emotion, his deep eyes fixed on the girl in the white T-shirt and blue skirt.
She glanced over too.
Huo Yao didn’t avert his gaze.
Shi Xi did, her heart secretly trembling.
Usually he was restrained and profound, impossible to read.
After just a few days apart, his aggression had suddenly become much more apparent.
He had even taken her hand earlier… as if even his sense of responsibility and protective instinct had taken on a possessive, territorial quality.
Shi Xi had originally planned to complete her task through Tie Tie, but now felt she might need a different approach.
Yet when she glanced at his physique, she began to have second thoughts.
Tie Tie was good. She liked Tie Tie.
By the time rehearsal ended, Shi Xi was starving.
She followed Huo Yao to lunch. The sun was at its strongest.
Unhurried, she put on her mask and hat, still wearing her sun protection jacket.
Seeing her fully armed appearance, Huo Yao took her to wander around a live-fire shooting club.
Shi Xi wanted to try a rifle, but Huo Yao worried the recoil might hurt her, so he only let her try a pistol.
Still, for her, it was quite thrilling.
She finally updated her long-dormant social media.
Posted the target she had hit.
And the photo Huo Yao took of her with the target.
Her 160cm height looked barely 120cm in the photo.
Only her eyes were visible, slightly curved, clearly smiling.
Zooming in on the photo, you could even see the tall figure reflected in her pupils.
Shi Xi threw her phone to Huo Yao and went to select other pistol models, getting somewhat addicted.
Huo Yao put her phone away for her, then suddenly glanced sideways.
Several figures flashed and ducked back around the corner.
Huo Yao withdrew his gaze and paid no further attention.
It wasn’t until 4 PM that the two appeared at the strawberry farm.
In the shade, Shi Xi took out sunscreen and applied it carefully to her face, neck, and arms.
Huo Yao stood nearby, watching her busy, focused movements.
She looked up at him, “Huo Yao, do you want some?”
Huo Yao was about to shake his head, but instead said, “Yes.”
“Then come closer, you’re in the sun there.”
“Okay.”
Huo Yao came before her and bent down, “Will you apply it for me?”
Shi Xi: “…Sure.”
Looking at this prey that had jumped right in, she nodded happily.
Her fair hand, coated with sticky sunscreen, gently landed on his face.
He suddenly found it not so hard to accept after all.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyes lighting up with a heat more intense than sunlight.
Behind the fence at the entrance, several heads popped up, watching the scene, feeling as if struck by lightning.
Ji Lu was especially incredulous.
No way, no way… was Lin Yu actually right?
It didn’t make sense.
Impossible.
But the evidence was right before her eyes!
Lin Yu’s reaction was completely different from Ji Lu’s.
Lin Yu covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling, “Hehehe…”
“Hey, isn’t that Brother Lu?”
Shi Xi, with her sharp eyes, spotted Ji Lu and a few other familiar faces.
Apart from Lin Yu, she couldn’t recall the names of the others.
Huo Yao nodded, not seeming surprised.
Seeing Shi Xi greet them, Ji Lu and the others emerged one by one, rushing forward.
“Captain!”
“What a coincidence, Captain!”
Huo Yao’s eyelids twitched slightly, feeling the heat of the sun on his face.
The tactless Lin Yu suddenly pulled out sunscreen and looked in Ji Lu’s direction, “Ji Lu, do you want to apply some?”
Ji Lu, unexpectedly following her train of thought, replied, “…Sure.”
Lin Yu: “Then come a bit closer. It’s too sunny over there.”
Ji Lu: “Okay.”
He bent over exaggeratedly, “Will you apply it for me?”
Lin Yu: “Sure!”
The two of them burst into laughter at this point.
“Hahahahaha!”
Now that they weren’t at the station and with Shi Xi present, no one paid attention to Huo Yao’s expression, acting completely unrestrained.
Shi Xi: “…”
Huo Yao: “…”
When he had scheduled the strawberry-picking outing that morning, these few had overheard him.
They had followed him all the way from the shooting range to here—they really had too much time on their hands.
It was rare for Shi Xi to see Huo Yao so speechless. After watching the commotion for a while, she asked Ji Lu and the others curiously, “Don’t any of you have partners? Spending your day off hanging out with colleagues?”
Huo Yao’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.
“…”
The stifled laughter among the group instantly died down.
Yes, apart from the married senior officers, everyone in the Criminal Investigation Division was single!
The captain hadn’t even scolded them, but this seemingly gentle girl had struck a blow to their fragile hearts with a single sentence.
She must be getting back at them for the captain.
Right? Right!
“It’s less sunny over there. Let’s go.”
As Huo Yao spoke, he swept a glance at the troublemakers.
Led by Ji Lu, the group immediately stood at attention, eyes fixed straight ahead.
Shi Xi naturally reached out and took Huo Yao’s arm as they walked away.
Behind them, everyone took a deep breath and quickly scattered out of sight.
“No need to guess—the captain is really dating.”
“An old house catching fire.”
“An old cow eating young grass.”
“Succinct summary.”
After leaving the strawberry field, Lin Yu, carrying her pain-themed backpack, waved to the guys, “You all have fun. I’m off to find myself a partner too.”
Ji Lu frowned, “Since when do you have a partner?”
Lin Yu swayed as she walked away, “That’s why I need to find one.”
Ji Lu chased after her, “Where can you find one? I’ll come too.”
The others, hearing this, immediately took off running, “We’re coming too!”
Lin Yu: “…”
Back in the strawberry field, the slanting rays of the sunset were still intense.
Even through her mask, Shi Xi could feel her face burning.
She shifted her position and crouched in Huo Yao’s shadow, instantly feeling cooler.
Huo Yao looked down at her and stood still, becoming her movable umbrella.
But this meant he had to stay close to her at all times.
He held the pink basket while she crouched on the ground, picking strawberries.
Time passed quickly, and the pink basket was filled like a small hill.
The two of them went straight back to the apartment Shi Xi rented.
Huo Yao carried the strawberries in one hand and her backpack in the other, following Shi Xi into the apartment.
“Go wash your face first.” Huo Yao set the things down and frowned as he pulled down her mask.
Whether it was due to the stuffiness or the sunscreen, the skin on her left cheek was alarmingly red.
She had been wanting to scratch it the whole way back.
Shi Xi nodded and decided to take a shower, bringing a change of clothes with her.
The sound of splashing water came from the bathroom, making Huo Yao uncomfortable. He moved away from the bathroom and eventually grabbed a mop from the corner.
When Shi Xi finished her shower and stepped out, she heard no movement and thought Huo Yao had left.
She hurried to the living room and saw the man leaning against the sofa, his eyes closed as if he had fallen asleep.
The floor had been mopped to a glossy shine, and a plate of washed strawberries sat on the coffee table.
Even the air seemed to have turned sweet.
Shi Xi softened her footsteps and stood beside him for a while.
She didn’t disturb his rest.
She went to the refrigerator, took out a sheet mask, and applied it to her face—cool and refreshing.
Then, treading lightly, she returned to the sofa and sat down beside him.
He was tall and sturdy, making her seem like a tiny figurine next to him.
His arms were crossed in front of him. She tilted her head, studied them for a couple of seconds, then precisely found one of his fingers and held it.
Mimicking him, she leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes.
She was genuinely exhausted today, and in no time, she fell into a deep sleep.