Shen Yuehuai looked at Jiang Qi and quickly drew an exaggeratedly stylized smiley on the screen.
The colors she used matched the image in Jiang Qi’s mind perfectly, too.
“Were you a painter?”
Jiang Qi was a little surprised. This level of skill wasn’t something you could pick up with a little casual practice.
“I studied it.”
Shen Yuehuai’s answer was as concise as ever.
“If there are no problems, I’ll submit it.”
“No problem. Thanks for helping me again.”
Jiang Qi thanked her sincerely.
“For something this minor, you can just ask anyone to remind me next time.”
Shen Yuehuai put away the screen.
“Ordinary People shouldn’t deal with Ascendants.”
“Especially those with Mental Power abilities.”
Jiang Qi felt a chill in his heart. He really hadn’t considered that.
And even now, he still hadn’t had a chance to test what effect his “Bewitchment” had on Ordinary People.
“Are Ascendants not allowed to use their abilities on Ordinary People whenever they want?”
“It’s best not to.”
Shen Yuehuai’s answer was rather nuanced.
“But as long as you think it’s necessary, you can.”
The power to act first and explain later.
Jiang Qi had gained a new understanding of the status Ascendants held in the Safe Zone.
“How about we take a little walk? Think of it as a stroll after dinner.”
Jiang Qi had noticed the officers passing by kept glancing their way.
“All right.”
The two walked slowly along the path toward the Inspectorate.
Shen Yuehuai suddenly asked,
“What did my brother talk to you about?”
“There’s a New Ascendant Gathering at Headquarters in three days. He asked whether I’d go.”
“I said yes.”
Jiang Qi felt the question had come out of nowhere.
“Why don’t you just ask your brother?”
Shen Yuehuai looked at Jiang Qi.
“It’ll be dangerous.”
Jiang Qi’s interest was immediately piqued.
“I’ve noticed you really do say whatever’s on your mind. Is it really okay to undermine Chief Inspector Shen like that?”
“I don’t lie. It really will be dangerous.”
There was a trace of stubbornness in her eyes, and Jiang Qi was taken aback.
“I know. Chief Inspector Shen wasn’t hiding anything. I weighed the options before making my decision.”
“Don’t tell me now what the risks are. I’ve already accepted your brother’s gift.”
Jiang Qi pointed to the necklace at his throat and said it half-jokingly.
“I’m afraid if I find out, I’ll change my mind immediately.”
“I need this opportunity, too. It goes both ways.”
Shen Yuehuai lowered her head and looked at her toes.
“Almost none of the Newly Ascended who go from the Fourth District to Headquarters ever come back.”
“They either stay in the Safe Zone at the front lines, or suffer severe disabilities.”
“Last year, the Fourth District didn’t send anyone to Headquarters.”
Jiang Qi sensed a wave of sadness from her.
“Had their Scales reached 16, too?”
Shen Yuehuai shook her head.
“Then there you go.”
“Even Doctor Chi said I’m a once-in-a-million genius. I’m actually…”
Jiang Qi looked at her quietly, then paused.
“Pretty strong, too.”
“Besides, my case still isn’t closed.”
Jiang Qi started to pat Shen Yuehuai on the shoulder, but lowered his hand halfway through.
“I’ll come back safe and sound.”
Shen Yuehuai raised her head and saw Jiang Qi’s beaming smile.
When she fell silent, Jiang Qi asked curiously,
“Do you really only tell the truth?”
“Mm.”
Shen Yuehuai answered softly.
“Is that because of your Ascension ability?”
“Mm.”
Jiang Qi couldn’t help laughing.
“You just admitted it. What would you do if a bad person asked you something?”
Shen Yuehuai looked up at the top floor of the Inspectorate.
“I’d refuse to answer.”
Jiang Qi nodded. It seemed Shen Yun had prepared ample means of protection for her.
They walked on in silence for a while, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
“Officer Shen.”
Jiang Qi stopped.
“What is it?”
Shen Yuehuai looked at Jiang Qi in confusion.
“From the first time we met, you’ve been patient with me, answering every question and guiding me toward becoming an Ascendant.”
“You seem quite cold, without expression or emotion, yet just now you brought me food.”
Jiang Qi met her eyes, pressing closer and closer to the heart of the matter.
“There’s nothing about me that would make a woman like you—so striking both inside and out—fall for me at first sight.”
“So please, tell me why.”
Jiang Qi’s eyes were as unfathomable as Lake Water.
They stood facing each other, with the cold, towering Inspectorate between them.
“Are you going to refuse to answer, Officer Shen?”
Jiang Qi pressed her relentlessly.
Shen Yuehuai turned away, seeming to look at the streetlights. Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
“I think you’re pitiful.”
“……”
All the guesses Jiang Qi had prepared caught in his throat, and he was struck speechless.
Shen Yuehuai continued to explain in her flat, matter-of-fact tone.
“You have a strange illness.”
“When I saw you kneeling beside your grandfather, laughing and crying, I felt sad.”
“Successfully Ascending would let you stay at the Inspectorate, earn money for treatment, and investigate the truth about the Fire.”
“Later, when you became an Ascendant, I thought you were amazing.”
“You have great talent. I don’t want you to die too soon.”
A rush of heat shot from Jiang Qi’s neck to his cheeks, burning his ears red.
He instinctively looked away and coughed twice.
He forced his voice to sound less embarrassed.
“Ahem… Officer Shen.”
“I misunderstood you.”
He had just described himself as “a once-in-a-million genius.”
In the blink of an eye, her single word, “pitiful,” had completely crushed that self-image.
Shen Yuehuai tilted her head, her cool eyes full of confusion.
“Are you angry?”
“N-no.”
Jiang Qi’s voice was tense.
“It’s just… a little unexpected.”
“That’s a pretty unusual reason.”
Shen Yuehuai continued toward the Inspectorate, seemingly accepting his explanation.
Jiang Qi hurried to catch up, his feelings in turmoil.
“You really do only tell the truth, Officer Shen.”
Shen Yuehuai nodded.
“Which heartless bastard did this!”
Before the two had even entered the lobby on the first floor, they heard someone shouting loudly.
“My sheep!”
“I only turned around for a second—where did my sheep go?”
“If you don’t help me find it, I’ll report you to the Director!”
An older woman’s finger nearly poked the duty officer in the nose.
“Ma’am, please don’t panic. Why don’t you sit down first?”
Before the duty officer Xiao Zhang could finish speaking, the woman jumped onto a bench and reached for Xiao Zhang’s thermos.
“Oh, what a miserable life I have! My sheep is gone—I don’t want to live anymore!”
When Xiao Zhang saw Shen Yuehuai and Jiang Qi, he looked as if he’d seen his saviors and hurried over.
“Officer Shen, and this gentleman…”
“My surname is Jiang.”
“Officer Jiang, I’m terribly sorry you both had to witness this. It’s just…”
Seeing Shen Yuehuai arrive, Xiao Zhang left the older woman standing there and went straight to greet her.
“What are you looking at? You think you’re so important just because you’re officers? You won’t solve my problem, and now you’re trying to cut in line?”
“How can you solve anything with that attitude? I don’t care—if you don’t find my sheep today, I’ll die right here!”
Jiang Qi looked toward Shen Yuehuai.
She nodded lightly, her eyes giving him leave to do as he pleased.
A red glint flashed in Jiang Qi’s eyes.
“Ma’am, I know you’re in a hurry, but just calm down first…”
His voice carried a strange rhythm.
The anger on the woman’s face froze at once, and her eyes turned confused and vacant.
“How did you lose your sheep?”
The woman nodded blankly.
“I forgot to tie it up… I lost it myself…”
“I see.”
Jiang Qi understood.
“Do you still want to find your sheep now?”
The woman, who had been threatening to kill herself just a moment ago, suddenly widened her eyes and began bleating solemnly.
“Baa… baaa…”
She looked around, her eyes full of urgency as she searched for her flock.
The entire lobby fell utterly silent.
Duty officer Xiao Zhang’s mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg as he stared blankly at the surreal scene before him.
The corners of Shen Yuehuai’s mouth lifted slightly, then fell just as quickly.
She immediately took out a voice recorder and handed it to Xiao Zhang.
“Handle it according to the law.”
“Yes! Yes!”
Xiao Zhang accepted it with both hands, looking at Jiang Qi with awe and gratitude.
“My name is Zhang Xu. Inspector Jiang, thank you so much!”
It was the first time Jiang Qi had been addressed so formally.
“You’re welcome. Still, dealing with things like this every day must be hard. I didn’t expect people like that to still exist.”
“There are always people like that.”
Shen Yuehuai headed toward the elevator.
“Your inspector uniform and ID will be delivered together tomorrow.”
“Come with me to have your Mental Power registered, and then you can go home.”
Jiang Qi waved to Xiao Zhang and hurried into the elevator after her.
Jiang Qi looked at his reflection in the elevator wall. At last, his earlier embarrassment had faded.
“Officer Shen, what kind of person do you think your brother is?”
He paused, then added,
“Of course, you don’t have to answer.”
Shen Yuehuai was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at him.
“You mean compared to you?”
“Huh???”
Jiang Qi was completely dumbfounded.
“No, of course not!!! How could you think that??”
“Never mind. Forget I asked…”
21st floor.
Crack!
Shen Yun crushed the cup in his hand.