You Mingxu was organizing files on her new desk when Xu Mengshan brought over a stack of case documents and placed them on his desk. “If this were ancient times, wouldn’t Gu Tiancheng and his group be considered heroes like the bandits of Mount Liang?” he mused.

“Heroes? Don’t forget they likely manipulated and groomed Xiang Rong and Chen Zhaoci,” You Mingxu retorted. “They don’t just punish evil—they create it. They’re twisted!”

Xu Mengshan pondered this, then turned to Jing Ping, who was organizing things while holding a cigarette. “What do you think, Brother Jing?”

Jing Ping exhaled a stream of smoke. “I only believe in the law.”

Even Xu Mengshan had to admit there was something cool about Jing Ping. Though he appeared refined and handsome, the more time you spent with him, the more you noticed a distinctive strength in his every movement.

Soon it was time to leave, and the office was mostly cleaned up. Xu Mengshan had plans to play basketball and asked, “Want to join us for basketball, Brother Jing?”

Jing Ping, who had won MVP every year in the Yunnan police force, glanced at Xu Mengshan, his gaze drifting past him to You Mingxu, who was pulling open a drawer to organize it. He smiled slightly and said, “I’m not very good. Not interested in joining just to make up numbers.”

After Xu Mengshan left, You Mingxu was wiping the dust from the drawer when she heard the man behind her ask, “Why didn’t Yin Feng come today?”

“I don’t know,” You Mingxu replied.

“Little You,” Jing Ping called out.

You Mingxu paused and turned around.

Jing Ping, cigarette between his fingers, looked at her with a smile. “Never had the chance to ask—how did Yin Feng discover that someone close to him was connected to the Punisher organization? Do you know?”

You Mingxu met his eyes—clear, yet unfathomable. Though he was the one asking questions, you got the feeling he had already sensed something. That was his way—appearing gentle while harboring depths no one could see.

You Mingxu turned back to her cleaning.

Whether to discuss the unclear matters surrounding Yin Feng wasn’t a difficult choice for You Mingxu.

Yin Feng was well-connected with both the bureau chief and department director and his involvement, in this case, had upper management’s approval. If he had anything to explain, procedurally speaking, it would be to his superiors. It wasn’t You Mingxu’s place to reveal his privacy and past to others.

Moreover, her mind suddenly flashed back to that snowy day when Yin Feng discovered someone in Guizhou was impersonating him and asked for her help investigating some leads. At the time, he had coldly stated, “I don’t want too many people knowing about my affairs. Since you’re already involved, you’re naturally my best collaborator.”

For some reason, remembering his arrogant and cold demeanor—which had hurt her at the time—now seemed somewhat amusing.

To Jing Ping’s question, she gave a measured response: “Yin Feng has helped the police solve several cases and promoted a positive image of law enforcement—the bureau chief’s exact words. I imagine criminals must hate him. Plus, he studies criminal psychology and understands it well. Look at all the books he’s written in their home. They probably wanted to destroy him somehow. His previous memory loss was likely related to their persecution. His suspicion of having a mole nearby makes perfect sense.”

Jing Ping didn’t probe further. You Mingxu heard him stand up and begin tidying things in the office, which made her smile slightly.

Finally, everything was in order. You Mingxu removed her hair tie and redid her slightly loosened hair. Jing Ping watched her.

You Mingxu finished and looked up, her eyes asking: Why are you staring?

Jing Ping asked, “How do I get to that hotpot restaurant you and Xu Mengshan mentioned?”

“I’ll send you the location,” You Mingxu said.

“Thanks.”

After sending it, as they walked out together and You Mingxu locked up, she added, “There are group-buy vouchers online that make it pretty economical.”

“How do I get those?” Jing Ping asked.

“Let me see your phone.”

Taking his phone, she discovered he didn’t have any apps like Dianping or Meituan. Was this man living in the Stone Age?

No, probably living in the primitive forests along Yunnan’s borders.

She handed his phone back and took out her own. “I’ll get it for you.”

“Thanks, I’ll transfer you the money.”

As they walked, she asked, “How many people are eating?”

Jing Ping replied, “Are you coming? If so, just two people.”

You Mingxu noticed the smallest group voucher was for two people and glanced at him again. He was still wearing that jacket with small tears from earlier, unchanged, with a small bandage on the back of his neck. Outside, night had fallen and it was very cold. His expression remained serene.

A decorated officer from Yunnan, assigned here for drug enforcement. Today at the arrest scene, he was the only one who noticed the bomb and warned everyone. Now after work, he was going to eat hotpot alone.

You Mingxu bought a two-person voucher and said, “Come on, Sister You will treat you to something good.”

Jing Ping looked up at her with a slight smile. “So informal.”

The hotpot restaurant wasn’t far, so they walked. With the case making major progress today, You Mingxu was in good spirits, and remembering Jing Ping was a guest, she began introducing him to various aspects of Xiangcheng’s local culture. Jing Ping was quick-witted and knowledgeable about different regional customs, so they chatted quite naturally, reaching the restaurant before they knew it.

They sat in the main hall, where smoking was allowed, surrounded by rising steam. Jing Ping asked, “Mind if I smoke?”

You Mingxu barely glanced up. “Do I look like I would mind?”

Jing Ping smiled, lit a cigarette, and pushed the pack and lighter toward her. For some reason, You Mingxu didn’t feel like smoking. Suddenly, she realized she’d been smoking less lately.

A face flashed through her mind—someone taking the cigarette from her hand, leaning down to kiss her cheek, saying, “From now on, I’ll kiss you whenever I see you smoking, no matter where we are.”

She’d gotten distracted.

You Mingxu shook her head, declining the cigarette. Jing Ping took a drag and said, “Girls should smoke less anyway.”

“Then why offer?”

“Just being polite. There’s not much left, and I’m quite attached to them.”

You Mingxu looked at the cigarette pack—a Yunnan brand with packaging she’d never seen before, clearly brought from there by Jing Ping, with only a few cigarettes remaining. She picked up the pack and put it in her pocket.

Jing Ping protested, “Hey! Hey!”

You Mingxu said, “I’m treating you to hotpot—you’re not planning to eat for free, are you?”

Jing Ping laughed and took another drag. “Why would I feel bad about that? What’s there to be formal about between brothers?”

The word “brothers” coming from his mouth warmed You Mingxu’s heart. She glanced at him sideways and said, “Exactly, so I’ll keep the cigarettes. You’re so polite, Old Jing.”

In the lamplight, through the smoke and steam, the woman’s phoenix eyes curved slightly, almost smiling, shimmering with reflected light.

Jing Ping took a drag, looking past her face to the quiet night outside the window.

The hotpot and dishes gradually arrived.

You Mingxu liked beef but not lamb; enjoyed potato and sweet potato leaves but disliked glass noodles and white radish. The set meal was a good value with plenty of variety, and as they ate, she realized what good company Jing Ping was at meals.