Chapter 11: Why Would a Child Be Cosplaying at the Public Security Bureau?

【"Why do you keep staring... at other people!"】

【'Isn't it just curiosity? What family sends a child to the Public Security Bureau to cosplay as an officer.'】

Upon hearing the system's reminder, Ye Ye Qingfeng looked up only to meet Senior Qing Yi's slightly displeased gaze; he quickly averted his eyes, but it was clearly too late.

"So this is the gentleman who broke his family heirloom while acting bravely to stop a crime."

Senior Qing Yi scrutinized Ye Ye Qingfeng without any attempt to hide her inspection, and after a moment, a trace of suspicion flashed in her eyes.

She had just left the interrogation room of that robber and learned the details of the incident from his mouth.

She suspected the so-called family heirloom was actually fake, but there was no logic to his actions...

Yet he had indeed stopped the robber; if this were truly a scam to extort money, there would be no need for such an extra step, let alone daring to scam a police officer.

"Um... Senior Qing Yi?"

Just as Senior Qing Yi was baffled, Zhu Yuan's call disrupted her thoughts.

"Ah... sorry, I suddenly remembered something."

Senior Qing Yi cast an apologetic glance at Ye Ye Qingfeng, then strode over to sit opposite the two of them.

"I wonder if this gentleman could take out the broken family heirloom for us to see? Our Public Security Bureau will do our utmost to help repair the gentleman's heirloom!"

Senior Qing Yi's gaze locked tightly onto Ye Ye Qingfeng, attempting to detect any clues from the expressions he revealed.

Ye Ye Qingfeng, on the contrary, felt utterly bewildered; who was this child, could she be the Police Chief's daughter? Was Zhu Yuan forced by pressure from above to call her 'Senior'?

Sigh... indeed, such corrupt phenomena exist in every world...

"Senior Qing Yi... Ye Ye Qingfeng's family heirloom was accidentally smashed to pieces when he stopped the robber; it can no longer be repaired."

Zhu Yuan clearly failed to grasp the implication behind Senior Qing Yi's words; a trace of apology floated across her face as she spoke up first to answer.

While Zhu Yuan was explaining, Senior Qing Yi's attention remained entirely focused on observing Ye Ye Qingfeng, detecting not a shred of nervousness.

Under normal circumstances, Senior Qing Yi would have ended things here, but she felt the man before her was not as simple as he appeared; still unwilling to give up, she asked:

"... Then what about the family heirloom that was already smashed into fragments? We need to examine it and make a record."

"Senior Qing Yi, our Public Security Bureau does not have such a procedure."

Zhu Yuan was no fool; having worked alongside Senior Qing Yi for so long, she too perceived her doubts at this moment, and a hint of suspicion ignited in her own heart, but when she turned her head to look at Ye Ye Qingfeng, who showed no signs of abnormality, she temporarily dispelled her suspicions and said with a slight frown.

Similarly, Ye Ye Qingfeng noticed that the officer named Senior Qing Yi was highly guarded against him; just as he was about to open his mouth to offer a few excuses, the waiting hall door was pushed open from outside.

"Here are Mr. Ye Ye Qingfeng's silk banner and bonus."

An officer walked into the waiting hall, holding a silk banner and a card in hand.

"Zhu Yuan, I'm clocking out first; you should rest early too."

Seeing the newcomer, Senior Qing Yi could only swallow her doubts; after all, it was merely a momentary curiosity, so after waving goodbye to Zhu Yuan, she walked toward the exit, not forgetting to turn back at the doorway and shoot Ye Ye Qingfeng a warning glance.

"Senior Qing Yi, take care on your way."

Only after seeing Senior Qing Yi completely exit the waiting hall did Zhu Yuan breathe a sigh of relief; turning to face Ye Ye Qingfeng, a trace of guilt involuntarily rose in her heart.

He had kindly helped her stop a robber; besides, even if he were faking an injury, surely he wouldn't dare fake it on a police officer...

But what if it was fake, what would he gain? A few extra ten thousand Ding Ni?

"Mr. Ye Ye Qingfeng, please accept this silk banner; this card contains your bonus of 300,000 Ding Ni, which isn't much..." The officer handed the Items within to Ye Ye Qingfeng with both hands, then shifted tone with a touch of tact, "According to regulations, the reward can only be 15% of the total amount stolen by the robber."

"How can this be! Ye Qingfeng's family heirloom has been shattered!"

At this moment, Zhu Yuan fully believed the broken glass object was Ye Ye Qingfeng's family heirloom; normally she did not participate in such wrap-ups, so she was not very familiar with regulations in this area, but 300,000 Ding Ni was not a small sum...

Yet compared to the family heirloom, it was far too little... He must be very disappointed right now...

It was clearly me who promised him a reward in the beginning, yet I failed to deliver; I feel so sorry for him...

Zhu Yuan quietly observed Ye Ye Qingfeng's expression at this moment, only to see him forcing a smile as he accepted the two items from the officer's hands.

As expected... he surely feels disappointed...

The disappointment on Ye Ye Qingfeng's face was not feigned; anyone seeing a child speaking so boldly inside the Public Security Bureau would inevitably feel disappointed.

The main purpose of his actions this time was simply to find an opportunity to smoothly make contact with Zhu Yuan, a casual attempt to see if he could increase the favorability of their first meeting.

【Beep! Zhu Yuan's favorability increased by 10%; current favorability: 35%】

The moment the broadcast sounded in his mind, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward, but he did not forget an actor's basic professionalism; suppressing his smile, he performed the feeling of forcing a grin.

Ye Ye Qingfeng nodded to the officer in acknowledgment, then put away the silk banner and the card containing 300,000 Ding Ni.

"Um... Ye Ye Qingfeng, wait for me at the Public Security Bureau entrance for a moment; I'll change my clothes and come right out."

Zhu Yuan had not forgotten her promise to walk Ye Ye Qingfeng home; after instructing the officer beside her to rest early, she hurried toward the changing room.

"This officer has worked hard, Mr."

Ye Ye Qingfeng politely bid farewell to the dazed officer before him, then left the waiting hall and walked toward the Public Security Bureau entrance.

Not long after Ye Ye Qingfeng departed, the originally bewildered officer's eyes suddenly became excited; that expression was as if he had discovered some earth-shattering gossip, and he sprinted out of the waiting hall straight toward his brothers who were on night duty.

Without a doubt, by the next day when Zhu Yuan came to work at the Public Security Bureau, someone would come asking about the progress of her relationship with Ye Ye Qingfeng.

In the night of New Eridu, the sky resembled a huge ink-colored curtain; hazy moonlight scattered a layer of silver radiance, while a wind carrying a slight chill quietly swept in.

Ye Ye Qingfeng stood blankly at the Public Security Bureau entrance, his thoughts in chaotic disarray, gazing vacantly at the vast sky.

Having arrived in this place called New Eridu, he felt like an outsider; unfamiliar people, unfamiliar roads, everything here made him feel incredibly strange.

Only seeing the night sky exactly alike to the one in his memories gave him a sense of reality.

Zhu Yuan, having changed into casual clothes, had not yet stepped out when, seeing the figure of a person standing at the entrance through the glass, she immediately quickened her pace to exit the main door, her gaze complex as she looked at Ye Ye Qingfeng, who was foolishly blowing in the cold wind.

"Why are you standing there foolishly outside? Don't you know to come inside first to avoid the wind?"

A gust of cold wind blew against her body; subconsciously wrapping her clothes tighter, she shouted toward Ye Ye Qingfeng.

"I was remembering past events..."

Gathering his scattered thoughts, Ye Ye Qingfeng turned around to face Zhu Yuan behind him; seeing her looking at him as if he were a fool, although he didn't quite understand why, he still patiently explained.

"Is that so..." Zhu Yuan lowered her head, unknown what she was thinking; after pausing for two seconds, she said lightly, "That must be something very worth reminiscing about."

"Yes..."

Those miserable ten years truly fill me with immense nostalgia...