“Great!” everyone responded. Wasn’t it important to keep spirits up during tense, dark times? Even tigers need to eat well before hunting wolves and leopards.

As everyone headed out, You Mingxu lagged a few steps behind, waiting for Yin Feng to emerge from the meeting room.

Having slept well, she was in a good mood and asked with a smile, “How did you sleep? Was the chair too small for someone as tall as you? You could have gone home to rest, you know.”

Yin Feng paused, then said stiffly, “No matter how tall I am, I’m not going home.”

You Mingxu: “…” She had no way to respond to his logic.

She changed the subject: “We’re planning to go eat, so you…” She had meant to suggest calling Chen Feng to pick him up since he wouldn’t be familiar with the group of detectives. Besides, didn’t he dislike interacting with strangers?

But before she could finish, he said: “Oh, I’m riding in your car, not theirs.”

You Mingxu: “…Of course.”

The group of detectives, along with their honorary provincial expert, ended up at a nearby street eating spicy hotpot skewers—quick and fiery. You Mingxu naturally took the head seat, and Yin Feng immediately sat beside her. Fan Jia, the biggest eater, and Xu Mengshan, the most frugal, ordered together. The other detectives seemed a bit awkward with Yin Feng at the table. They all knew about his mental condition and were careful with their words.

One detective cleared his throat and said: “Professor Yin, how did you find working with us this morning? Any areas where we could improve? Please feel free to critique.” He finished with a smile.

Everyone looked at Yin Feng.

You Mingxu sipped her tea slowly, maintaining an air of detachment.

The small restaurant had round stools without backrests. Yin Feng sat with his legs spread, hands pressed on the stool edges. He swung his legs slightly, looked up at the ceiling in thought, then answered: “It felt quite good. Your thinking was clear, and you asked all the right questions. Others couldn’t have done better.”

Everyone smiled, though they couldn’t help but wince at his unrestrained sitting posture.

You Mingxu then said: “Tell them what you want to eat.”

Yin Feng beamed at her: “Whatever A-Xu eats, I’ll eat too.” He couldn’t help but glance around the table afterward, wearing a somewhat smug expression.

A detective chuckled: “Oh my.”

The others just smiled. Though they found it suspicious that their boss brought Yin Feng to work and kept him close, they didn’t dare joke about it, given both You Mingxu’s authority and Yin Feng’s reputation.

But of course, some dared.

After finishing the order, Xu Mengshan put down the menu. He wasn’t intimidated by any nationally famous writer—he knew perfectly well this guy wasn’t always such an innocent sweetheart. With a smile, he said: “Professor Yin, is our Sister You fierce with you? Are you scared of her?”

You Mingxu raised her eyebrows in warning.

Xu Mengshan pretended not to notice.

Yin Feng thought for a moment, then broke into a sweet smile: “She acts fierce, but she’s actually very gentle inside, and sometimes quite cute.”

Everyone fell silent, then broke into exaggerated “ooohs.” Even Xu Mengshan, who’d previously disliked Yin Feng, was amused and said: “Gentle? Cute? Damn, last week I just joked that someone’s coat looked bad and got thrown to the ground three times—must have been my imagination…”

Sitting at You Mingxu’s left, Xu Mengshan hadn’t finished speaking before she swung at his head. As the team’s second-best fighter, he ducked and countered with an elbow strike toward her chest.

Yin Feng, barely processing why they’d suddenly started fighting, watched as Xu Mengshan’s tanned, muscular arm shot toward You Mingxu’s chest. His eyes widened, and he jumped to his feet.

But how could You Mingxu be caught so easily? Among partners, they fought without regard for gender. She caught Xu Mengshan’s arm and pressed down in one fluid motion. With an exaggerated “ow,” he found himself pinned to the table. Not stopping there, You Mingxu rose and pressed her other arm against his back—almost instinctive movements for a judo master.

Xu Mengshan laughed, his face reddening as he tried and failed to get up. You Mingxu held him down with a combination of locks, saying leisurely: “Seems like last time’s throws weren’t enough if you dare laugh at me, hm?”

Fan Jia led the applause as everyone burst out laughing.

As Xu Mengshan continued struggling, You Mingxu was about to press harder and rub his face against the table when suddenly a hand reached from behind, grabbing hers. She froze as her hand was pulled from Xu Mengshan’s shoulder. Then, someone’s arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her away entirely.

Everyone stared in shock. Xu Mengshan, suddenly released, scratched his head and straightened up in surprise.

Even You Mingxu was stunned, turning to look at Yin Feng.

Yin Feng finally released her waist but kept his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. His brows were slightly furrowed, showing unexpected seriousness as he said: “A-Xu, no fooling around. Sit beside me and eat properly.”

You Mingxu was still dazed when she sat down, and he promptly added food to her bowl. When she finally came to her senses, her face burning, she looked up to find everyone watching her and Yin Feng with knowing smirks.

Damn it… You Mingxu thought, where was her dignity? And this time, no amount of explaining would clear things up!

Xu Mengshan drawled: “Earlier, seeing Sister You leading Professor Yin around, it seemed like she was leading a little wife. Now we know it’s Professor Yin who’s treating our Sister You like a little wife. Reminds me of an old saying: ‘A newborn calf fears not the tiger.'”

Everyone finally burst into raucous laughter. Even Yin Feng, understanding the “little wife” comment, felt an inexplicable sweetness in his heart and joined in the laughter.

You Mingxu, embarrassed and angry, coldly told Xu Mengshan: “Damn it, we’re sparring tomorrow.” Xu Mengshan ignored her, rushing with Fan Jia to grab meat from the pot. She turned to glare at the instigator beside her, but Yin Feng’s mind had already moved on—he was fascinated by a shrimp, carefully examining its tiny legs with complete concentration.

You Mingxu: “…”

That familiar feeling of frustration built in her chest, impossible to release or swallow. While others weren’t looking, she grabbed the most expensive beef and dumped it into her bowl, her face still cold.

—

Light moments always pass quickly, and soon they were back to their relentless investigation. That afternoon, Yin Feng volunteered to go home. You Mingxu couldn’t have been more relieved—she didn’t even ask why, just waved him off without looking up.