Just passing by…
“Please, let him just be passing by…”
Lu Yi crouched within the shadows as the sound of footsteps drew closer and closer.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of heels striking the ground stopped directly behind her.
She was done for.
Turning around, the first thing she saw was a pair of polished handmade leather shoes.
Her gaze traveled upward—
Perfectly fitted black dress pants wrapped around long straight legs. A wine-red shirt tucked neatly inside, its collar casually loosened. His suit jacket hung lazily over his shoulders, lacking all the seriousness of formal wear and instead carrying a dangerously frivolous air.
He extended a hand toward Lu Yi. Beneath the black leather glove, half of his palm was exposed, revealing a faint pink scar.
“Miss, are you alright?”
“I’m fine…”
Lu Yi stood up, but the lingering hunger suddenly surged through her body. Her vision darkened, and she nearly fainted.
“You don’t look very fine.”
A rustling sound reached her ears. Once her vision steadied, Lu Yi saw a piece of chocolate resting in his palm.
“No need, thank you.”
Night had already fallen. The streetlights flickered twice, illuminating the newcomer. Only then did Lu Yi clearly see his appearance.
Blue-green short hair slicked back, exposing deeply sculpted features and sharp masculine contours…
And eyes full of danger.
“The restricted zone…”
He casually pocketed the chocolate again and lowered his gaze toward the red warning tape.
“What is a young lady doing in a dangerous place like this?”
“I…”
Lu Yi pursed her lips and forced herself to lie.
“I’m from the Paranormal Association. I’m here investigating.”
“Oh?”
The man clearly did not believe her.
“This place has already been investigated countless times, hasn’t it?”
“Weimang Star Police Department, the Science Center, curious reporters, internet influencers… and your Paranormal Association included.”
He gently lifted the warning tape and gracefully ducked underneath it. His tall figure blocked all the light shining toward Lu Yi.
“Miss, entering without a work badge counts as illegal trespassing.”
The man’s gaze landed on Lu Yi’s chest, where there was no Paranormal Association insignia at all.
“Mm. Looks like you lied.”
“…I didn’t!”
Lu Yi could not help stepping backward.
“I’m an intern from the Paranormal Association…”
But the more she retreated, the closer the man advanced—
Until Lu Yi’s lower back nearly touched the stack of paper boxes again.
The terrifying bloody memories of that night instantly flooded her mind, causing her entire body to tremble uncontrollably.
But the disgusting scent of a beastman in heat was absent. Instead, the air carried a subtle elegant fragrance, something similar to cologne.
“Don’t worry.”
The man raised one hand against the paper boxes behind her, using the back of his hand to separate Lu Yi from them.
“I never said my own investigation methods were legal either.”
“…Huh?”
Before Lu Yi’s brain could process his words, he added another sentence.
“If the young lady is willing, perhaps we can exchange investigative information.”
His cold, low voice slithered closer like a venomous snake. Lu Yi pressed both hands against his chest to stop him from approaching and turned her face away.
“Mister… I-I haven’t even started investigating yet.”
A soft laugh sounded near her ear.
The hand behind her waist gently pushed forward, helping straighten her tilted posture and steady her body once more.
The man then calmly withdrew his hand.
Feeling the lingering warmth against her lower back, Lu Yi’s cheeks flushed red. Just now, she had genuinely thought…
That she was going to bite someone to death again.
“Sorry. I frightened you.”
“No.”
Holding onto her own arm, Lu Yi softly explained,
“I just get scared easily…”
This unfamiliar world had brought her too much unease. Yet aside from remaining cautious, there was nothing she could do. That was precisely why Lu Yi had become increasingly withdrawn…
After calming herself, she finally gathered enough courage to ask first.
“Mister, what exactly did you want to exchange?”
In the darkness, You Min could only clearly see the terrifying paleness of the girl’s skin.
Her wet black eyes blinked innocently. Though she blended into the night itself, to You Min she somehow appeared bright and pure.
She looked like the type who would be very easy to trick into talking.
“Mm… regarding the case here, I do happen to know a little rumor.”
“What rumor…?”
Lu Yi’s voice was soft and featherlight, like a feather brushing across someone’s shoulder.
You Min raised a brow. He was never someone who accepted losses. In every transaction, he never revealed information first.
But facing this little girl…
He did not feel particularly threatened. Telling her first did not matter much.
“The deceased belonged to a gang.”
“A gang?”
Lu Yi’s eyes widened.
The victim was from a gang?
So not only did she need to avoid official investigators, she also needed to avoid those terrifying criminal gangs!?
Lu Yi genuinely wanted to cry.
“The exact gang is still unknown, but…”
You Min observed every change in her expression, curiosity stirring inside him.
“I suspect the victim specifically came for her.”
As for who “her” referred to, Lu Yi knew the answer without even thinking.
“…The silver-haired female?”
“Mm-hm.”
The girl thought silently for a moment before looking at him again with those naïve, inexperienced eyes.
The last time he had seen such eyes was in a car’s rearview mirror.
Even now, with so many people watching her…
She still carried that same gaze.
You Min deliberately looked away, silently cursing himself for being momentarily bewitched by her eyes. His tone became colder.
“Well then, it’s time for the exchange. Miss, do you have any information to provide?”
Of course Lu Yi did not.
And the information she actually had could never be spoken aloud.
“I’m still investigating…”
“Still. Investigating?”
The man repeated each word slowly, irritation creeping into his voice.
“So in other words, you have no information?”
Startled by his rapidly changing tone, Lu Yi felt as though the gentlemanly behavior from before had been nothing more than carefully crafted disguise!
Straightening her body, she clenched her clothes tightly and raised her voice.
“Mister, I already told you from the beginning that I hadn’t started investigating yet—”
“…But you accepted the exchange!”
“You were the one who proposed it!”
Sweat formed across her forehead from nervousness, yet she still forced herself to act calm, trying to cover her panic by speaking louder.
“Fine then…”
You Min sneered and suddenly shoved her backward onto the paper boxes.
“In that case, starting the investigation now isn’t too late.”
“…What are you doing?”
Lu Yi’s breathing stopped. One hand braced herself behind her while the other desperately pushed against his approaching chest.
He really was a bad person…!
A large hand suddenly grabbed Lu Yi’s calf, lifting it upward and placing her onto the stack of paper exactly like that night—
Clack.
Her keys fell onto the ground.
“No evidence was found missing by the investigation agencies… but obviously, something must have fallen here. What do you think it was?”
His voice resembled a poisonous snake tightening around its prey step by step.
The missing fluffy keychain immediately resurfaced in Lu Yi’s mind. Her eyelashes trembled nonstop. Under the moonlight, she noticed the handgun holstered against the man’s narrow waist…
Suddenly, the man’s gaze froze.
A faintly sweet bloody fragrance drifted into the air, silently invading You Min’s mind.
He felt a loss of control unlike anything before…
Sweat formed on his forehead. His expression darkened, and his breathing became uneven.
“You…”
Lu Yi had already witnessed this situation not long ago.
This male was entering heat!
“Get… away…”
You Min forced the words out painfully before reaching inside his coat for a calming agent.
Seeing this, Lu Yi mistakenly thought he was reaching for his gun. Panic and terror exploded inside her. Using all her strength, she shoved You Min away and fled desperately toward the outside of the alley!