Chapter 31: Legal Loli

“Huh? Is that okay?”

Ye Qingfeng was slightly surprised by Zhu Yuan’s reply.

He glanced at Zhu Yuan, then at the child beside her—he understood the general situation.

It was nothing more than Zhu Yuan having encountered a lost child, and the child, hungry, had been invited for a meal.

“It’s fine! We originally planned to eat together this weekend,” Zhu Yuan shook her head rapidly, afraid Ye Qingfeng would leave, her small face flushing slightly as she unconsciously gripped her clothes, “but then I got called in for overtime that day and broke our promise—I felt really bad about it...”

“It’s not Zhu Yuan’s fault! After all, Sister Zhu Yuan serves the people!”

“Then let me treat you this time!” Zhu Yuan’s tone was firm, “Qingfeng can’t refuse!”

“Then I’ll let Zhu Yuan pay this time,” Ye Qingfeng said, seeing the matter was settled, and no longer resisted, “Uh... I’ll go order two cups of tea milk for you and this little one.”

Before Zhu Yuan could refuse, Ye Qingfeng dashed off to the tea milk shop and ordered two cups, paying Ding Ni immediately.

Soon, the shop clerk handed him the two cups; he took them and hurried back to Zhu Yuan, raising his hand—then froze mid-air for no apparent reason.

“Uh... I forgot to ask what flavor Zhu Yuan likes...” Ye Qingfeng quietly retracted his arm, “What do you prefer? I’ll go buy another one!”

“No need! I don’t have a favorite flavor, and I rarely drink tea milk—I haven’t had any in a long time, so I’m actually curious to try it.”

Zhu Yuan reached out and took the cup directly from Ye Qingfeng’s hand; their fingers brushed slightly, and both instinctively lowered their heads, hiding the blush on their faces.

【Ding! Zhu Yuan’s affection increased by 5%. Current affection: 55%】

The space between the two suddenly emitted a faint pink hue.

Fortunately, Ye Qingfeng remembered there was another person present and snapped back to reality, lifting his head to look around.

At that moment, the veins on Qing Yi’s forehead, standing beside Ye Qingfeng, were unusually prominent.

【Ding! Qing Yi’s affection decreased by 5%. Current affection: -10%】

What the hell is this guy thinking—! Qing Yi suddenly felt her body heat up, and an urge to punch him surged within her.

She and Zhu Yuan had finally gotten together for a meal after so long, and he suddenly joined them, then chatted animatedly with Zhu Yuan—yet he still remembered someone was missing.

I’ll spare him one punch...

By the way, wasn’t it the day after this guy showed up at the Public Security Bureau that rumors started about Zhu Yuan having a boyfriend?

Qing Yi hadn’t thought much of it back then—after all, she and Zhu Yuan spent most of their days together; even if Zhu Yuan had such feelings, there should’ve been at least some sign...

Wait... wait! Now that I think about it, right around the time those rumors started, Zhu Yuan began secretly clutching her phone and often smiling faintly.

She’d always assumed Zhu Yuan was messaging her parents, so she hadn’t paid much attention.

All these signs suggest Zhu Yuan actually has feelings for this guy?

Qing Yi silently raised her tightly clenched fist—perfectly positioned, a straight punch right to his abdomen—just as she was about to strike, a palm suddenly landed on her head, a large hand gently rubbing her scalp; this unexpected gesture made her freeze mid-motion.

“Here! Your tea milk! Drink it while it’s hot.”

Another cup of milk tea suddenly appeared before her eyes; as she lifted her head slightly, she saw Ye Qingfeng’s face—somehow, she obediently took the cup without question.

【Ding! Qing Yi’s affection increased by 10%. Current affection: 0%】

Ye Qingfeng sighed in relief upon hearing the notification in his mind—he’d assumed the child would like tea milk, so he’d specifically ordered one with full sugar.

The reminder in his mind then made him recall this child was the one he’d met at the Public Security Bureau—so she really did gain affection? Of course, children are simple!

“Thank you...”

Qing Yi whispered her thanks; after all, he’d spent Ding Ni on this milk tea—but she admitted his looks were truly top-tier, though that wasn’t why she accepted it...

Somehow... it felt like he was treating her like a child—a sensation she hadn’t felt in years.

Qing Yi slowly lowered her head, silently gazing at the milk tea in her arms, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Qing Yi senior, there you are!” Zhu Yuan looked down at Qing Yi, her voice soft and slightly reproachful, “You didn’t say a word for ages—I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“That’s true! If I hadn’t suddenly felt a sense of danger and looked down, I wouldn’t have found her,” Ye Qingfeng nodded in agreement, patting Qing Yi’s head again, and teased Zhu Yuan, “How on earth did such a small girl join the Public Security Bureau? Is she your mascot?”

As he spoke, Ye Qingfeng burst into laughter.

“Qing Yi senior isn’t the Public Security Bureau’s mascot!” Zhu Yuan caught his teasing tone and didn’t get angry—instead, she spoke seriously in Qing Yi’s defense, “Qing Yi senior was already working here long before I joined! She’s extremely reliable!”

“Really? Oh right! We haven’t eaten yet—let’s walk and talk!”

Ye Qingfeng was slightly surprised by Zhu Yuan’s reply—he remembered there was a word for this...

Ye Qingfeng was slightly surprised by Zhu Yuan’s answer; he remembered there was a word for it...

Looks like I misjudged her earlier—whatever, it doesn’t matter...

Though he was a little curious, he couldn’t let it delay his meal.

Though he was a bit curious, he couldn’t let it interfere with his meal.

Zhu Yuan agreed, quickly stepping forward to match Ye Qingfeng’s pace, walking beside him as she continued explaining how incredibly reliable Qing Yi was.

It seemed both had forgotten someone’s existence, walking ahead as if alone.

Qing Yi’s previously upturned lips twitched slightly—what did these two mean?

Were they implying she was short?! She was over one meter forty tall!

She was only about thirty centimeters shorter than these two!

“Mommy, this tea milk is so good!”

At that moment, a child walked past Qing Yi, hand in hand with her mother; their eyes were level.

“Mommy, is that girl lost?”

The innocent child asked her mother.

“Maybe her parents just went to buy tea milk,” the mother replied, glancing back with newfound attention, “She looks about your age.”

Qing Yi didn’t know why, but hearing the mother’s words made her CPU suddenly overheat.

Whatever... I won’t argue with a child.

Qing Yi clutched her tea milk and hurried after the two figures moving farther away, then obediently trailed behind them.

No—anyone could see Zhu Yuan had feelings for that guy. As her partner, Qing Yi had to carefully observe him first—she couldn’t jump to conclusions yet.

Qing Yi inserted a straw into her tea milk and took a cautious sip, filled with anticipation.

No! Anyone with eyes can see Zhu Yuan has feelings for that guy; as her partner, Qingyi must carefully observe just what kind of person he is—can’t rush to a conclusion yet.

To outsiders, this scene looked like a happily chatting couple strolling through Guangying Square with their well-behaved, adorable child.

What a heartwarming sight—!

To outsiders, this scene appeared to be a husband and wife chatting merrily, bringing their well-behaved and adorable child to Guangying Square to play.

What a heartwarming sight—!