Ji Mian walked silently ahead, followed by an Alpha who, outwardly, looked calm and composed but was inwardly full of grievance.
To others, this Alpha’s face showed no emotion, his gaze steady and unruffled.
But in reality, he was feeling utterly wronged.
Ji Mian turned to look back.
Chu Shiye’s dejected eyes met his gaze as he lifted his head slightly.
Ji Mian: “…”
Stopping in his tracks, Ji Mian sighed. “Fine, I won’t drink with anyone else.”
Chu Shiye’s previously dull gaze instantly brightened.
“But,” Ji Mian added, “you were the one ignoring me all day. So, I’m going to ignore you too.”
With that, he turned and continued walking.
Chu Shiye froze, taking a few steps after Ji Mian and tugging at his sleeve. It took him a moment to process.
Indeed, he had avoided Su Lan’s gaze and kept his distance the entire day.
While his intent was to hide his feelings, fearing Su Lan would discover them and despise him, he hadn’t considered that Su Lan might already feel ignored—and hate him for that instead.
“I’m sorry,” Chu Shiye blurted out suddenly.
Ji Mian turned back.
Chu Shiye bowed his head sincerely. “I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“I didn’t mean to ignore you,” he explained after a pause. “I was just… thinking about something that upset me.”
Ji Mian was silent for a few moments before replying, “Oh.”
“And are you still upset now?”
Chu Shiye shook his head.
Ji Mian: “Alright then.”
He studied Chu Shiye for a moment and asked, “Anything else you want to tell me?”
Chu Shiye shook his head again.
Ji Mian: “…”
“Fine.”
He turned back, his expression unreadable.
So, it really was all in my head. This Alpha is like a block of wood—there’s no way he’d have such complicated feelings.
The air between them grew quiet again as they walked.
After a few steps, Chu Shiye cautiously asked, “Where are we going?”
“To drink,” Ji Mian replied.
Chu Shiye: “!”
“With you,” Ji Mian added.
Chu Shiye: “!!”
Su Lan wants to drink with him.
Not with anyone else, but with him.
The bitterness clouding Chu Shiye’s heart dissipated in an instant, replaced by a bubbly joy akin to freshly opened soda.
But after a few seconds, he hesitated and said softly, “Can we drink juice instead?”
Ji Mian quirked an eyebrow. “Because you’re a child who can’t handle alcohol?”
Chu Shiye shook his head seriously. “No, drinking is bad for your health.”
Ji Mian turned to him, studying his earnest expression.
This Alpha… always thinking about others.
Ji Mian sighed inwardly.
So, it really is just my imagination after all.
He thought he’d feel relieved, like a weight lifted from his heart. But instead, an unnameable feeling lingered, dull and unshakable.
A few seconds later, Ji Mian smiled faintly and said, “But didn’t you stay up late before? That’s bad for your health too.”
Chu Shiye went silent.
Ji Mian chuckled. “Just a little, okay?”
“…Okay,” Chu Shiye relented.
—
The atmosphere between them eased back to normal—simple, unremarkable, unburdened by strange tensions.
But while Ji Mian occasionally glanced at Chu Shiye from angles the Alpha couldn’t notice, Chu Shiye sneaked his own glances at Ji Mian when the latter wasn’t looking.
—
The bar was lively and buzzing.
The moment Ji Mian stepped inside, several pairs of eyes turned toward him.
Chu Shiye frowned and stepped forward slightly, shielding Ji Mian from the majority of the stares.
“Do we have to stay here?” Chu Shiye asked.
Ji Mian replied casually, “If we’re not here, how can we catch anything?”
Chu Shiye stiffened.
So that’s it. Su Lan didn’t come here to drink with him specifically…
Ji Mian noticed the Alpha visibly deflate, though the expression lasted only a moment before Chu Shiye returned to his usual composed demeanor.
Without a word, Chu Shiye followed Ji Mian to a quiet corner, where they ordered two drinks.
The pale liquid in the glasses shimmered under the lights—a local specialty brewed from unique fruit grown on the planet.
“This has a high alcohol content,” Chu Shiye pointed out.
Ji Mian propped his chin on his hand. “I can handle my liquor.”
Chu Shiye stared at the glass in silence.
“Is this your first time drinking?” Ji Mian asked.
Chu Shiye nodded.
“Ah, then you can’t drink this,” Ji Mian said, taking the glass from Chu Shiye’s hand and calling the server. “Get him a juice.”
Chu Shiye was quiet for a few seconds. “I—”
“Kids can’t drink alcohol,” Ji Mian cut him off.
Chu Shiye: “…”
With no other choice, Chu Shiye sighed. “Then… you shouldn’t drink too much either.”
—
Late at night, Ji Mian walked out of the bar alone.
The street, lined with several bars, was still lively despite the recent incidents, with a few drunken patrons stumbling about.
Ji Mian wandered down the street for a while before turning into a quieter, residential area.
The farther he walked, the emptier the streets became. Under the faint moonlight, his footsteps were the only sound breaking the stillness.
…Unbeknownst to him, a cloaked figure clung to the shadows, silently tailing him.
Ji Mian’s steps faltered slightly, his hand rising to press against his temple as he sat down on a bench, seemingly affected by the alcohol.
The cloaked figure paused briefly before extending a bony hand, gripping a dagger tightly.
In an instant, the figure lunged at Ji Mian, knife raised high!
But before it could strike, a silhouette emerged from the shadows at the side of the street—waiting like a predator for its prey.
Thud!
The cloaked figure hit the ground hard, followed by a sharp cry of pain.
Ji Mian turned his head, unsurprised to see Chu Shiye pinning the attacker to the ground.
The man thrashed and struggled, but it was futile.
Ji Mian walked over and tugged the hood back, revealing a dirty, mud-streaked face pressed against the pavement.
It was a face both Ji Mian and Chu Shiye recognized.
Nato’s father, Eren.
“Let me go! Let me go!” Eren roared, the stench of alcohol wafting from his mouth.
Ignoring him, Ji Mian turned to Chu Shiye. “The security patrol still hasn’t arrived?”
Chu Shiye replied calmly, “They’ll be here soon.”
Hearing their conversation, Eren’s expression twisted with panic. His struggles grew more frantic, but he still couldn’t free himself from Chu Shiye’s iron grip.
“I didn’t do anything! Why are you arresting me?!” he yelled, his voice shrill with desperation.
Ji Mian replied with a casual “Oh?” before adding, “Aren’t you the culprit behind the assault cases?”
Eren’s face turned pale. The confidence in his voice faltered as he stammered, “W-What are you talking about?! You have no right to accuse me!”
“Because you’re weak,” Ji Mian said plainly. “You’ve attacked others with a knife several times, but each time, the victims managed to escape. Most of them were drunkards, easy prey for someone like you.”
A physically weak man, steeped in the world of bars, resorting to violence as a way to vent his frustrations.
The moment Ji Mian first saw Eren, he had harbored his suspicions.
Eren flailed under Chu Shiye’s grasp. “Even if that’s true… you have no proof!”
Ji Mian smiled faintly. “The fact that you’re here is proof enough.”
Eren’s face contorted further, his desperation evident.
Not long after, the security patrol Chu Shiye had called arrived in a rush.
The commotion had already stirred the surrounding neighborhood. Some residents peeked out of their windows, curious about the disturbance, while others ventured outside to watch the scene unfold.
Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, Eren continued his resistance. “None of you have the guts to touch me! I’m part of—”
Before he could finish, something slipped out of his pocket and fell to the ground.
It was a wooden emblem, engraved with the image of a star with an eye at its center.
Someone in the gathering crowd caught sight of it and shouted, “Isn’t that the symbol of the Relief Society?”
The murmur among the onlookers grew louder, with people pointing at the emblem and whispering.
“Is he one of them?”
“I heard some shady rumors about that organization…”
The security guards picked up the emblem, their expressions darkening as they studied it.
Ji Mian didn’t miss the flash of panic in Eren’s eyes as he struggled harder.
“Looks like we’ve found a connection,” Ji Mian said lightly.
Chu Shiye silently tightened his grip on Eren, preventing any chance of escape.
The patrol captain turned to Ji Mian and Chu Shiye. “Thank you for apprehending this man. We’ll take it from here.”
Ji Mian nodded, stepping aside as the guards secured Eren with cuffs and hauled him to his feet.
Eren thrashed and screamed, “You can’t do this to me! I’m protected! The Relief Society will come for me—”
Before he could finish, a guard gagged him, silencing his outburst.
As Eren was dragged away, Ji Mian watched him with a thoughtful expression.
“Relief Society, huh?” he murmured.
Chu Shiye glanced at him. “Do you think they’re involved in the attacks?”
Ji Mian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at the emblem the guard held and said, “We need to find out.”
The crowd began dispersing, some whispering among themselves about the incident.
Ji Mian turned to Chu Shiye, his gaze steady. “Let’s go.”
Chu Shiye nodded silently, following Ji Mian out of the now-crowded street.
As they walked under the dim moonlight, Ji Mian’s thoughts were heavy. The appearance of Eren and his connection to the Relief Society raised too many questions.
Chu Shiye glanced at Ji Mian’s side profile, hesitating for a moment before quietly saying, “You’re not planning to investigate alone, are you?”
Ji Mian’s lips curved into a faint smile. “What if I am?”
Chu Shiye’s brows furrowed. “I’ll go with you.”
Ji Mian didn’t respond, but his smile deepened.
The two of them disappeared into the night, their silhouettes blending into the shadowy streets.
“He’s a member of the Relief Society?”
“How is someone like him even allowed to join?”
The crowd erupted into a cacophony of whispers. The guards exchanged glances before one stepped forward and addressed Chu Shiye. “Please hand him over to us…”
“Wait a moment.”
A gentle voice interrupted. Someone pushed through the crowd, walking at a steady, unhurried pace.
Ji Mian turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and met a pair of familiar eyes.
“Ah! It’s Lord Joshua!”
“Why are you here, sir?”
The leader of the Relief Society, Joshua, offered a warm smile to the gathered residents. “I heard the culprit behind the assault cases had been captured. I came to see for myself.”
“Lord Joshua!” Eren’s eyes lit up as he spotted the man, his face breaking into a desperate grin. “Please, help me! Save me!”
But Joshua didn’t spare Eren so much as a glance. His calm, composed gaze lingered instead on Ji Mian. Offering another polite smile, he approached.
Chu Shiye frowned slightly.
Ji Mian remarked evenly, “This perpetrator seems to be one of your men.”
Joshua’s tone remained gentle. “Every member of the Relief Society is personally brought in by me, but I’ve never seen him before.”
Ji Mian countered, “He’s wearing your organization’s emblem.”
Joshua looked down briefly before replying, “That is not an authentic emblem of the Relief Society. It’s a counterfeit.”
Without acknowledging Eren’s pleas, Joshua bent down to retrieve the wooden badge from the ground.
“Everyone, please observe,” he said, holding up his own emblem pinned to his chest. “The genuine Relief Society emblem has an intricate engraved pattern on the back.”
He held the two badges side by side, displaying them for all to see.
“The counterfeit cannot replicate this detail,” he explained.
Several residents leaned in for a closer look. Sure enough, Joshua’s badge featured winding, tentacle-like patterns on the reverse side, while Eren’s wooden badge had only coarse splinters on the back.
A few residents who were members of the Relief Society quickly retrieved their own badges and compared them. “It’s true! The real badges are much more refined!”
Joshua continued, “So, this is merely a crude imitation.”
“You’re lying, Lord Joshua!” Eren shouted, his voice tinged with hysteria. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he screamed, “You handed this to me yourself! You even said—ugh!”
Mid-sentence, Eren’s body began convulsing violently, as though an invisible force had gripped him.
Chu Shiye released him and stood up as Eren collapsed onto the ground, thrashing and foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolling back.
The surrounding residents recoiled in alarm.
“What’s happening to him?”
“Is it some kind of contagious disease?!”
Ji Mian stepped forward.
Chu Shiye glanced at him, his expression questioning. Ji Mian met his gaze and assured him, “It’s fine.”
Ji Mian knelt beside Eren and extended his hand. Gentle light radiated from his fingertips, merging with Eren’s convulsing body.
As he got closer, Ji Mian caught a whiff of the overpowering stench of alcohol emanating from Eren. Beneath it, however, lingered a faint but distinct odor of decay.
Strangely, there were no visible wounds on Eren’s body.
To the watching residents and guards, Ji Mian seemed to be simply treating a sudden medical emergency.
However, Joshua’s eyes flickered slightly, though his expression remained calm.
“Even though he’s the culprit behind multiple assaults, you’d still save him, Mr. Su?” Joshua asked, his tone almost admiring.
Ji Mian didn’t respond.
Joshua smiled faintly. “Such kindness. Even if he were a heinous murderer, so long as he showed a moment of weakness, you wouldn’t hesitate to lend a hand, would you?”
His words sparked murmurs among the crowd.
“What a saint…”
“Why would he help someone like that? So pretentious.”
Despite the murmurs, Ji Mian remained focused on his task, unbothered by the criticisms.
Chu Shiye, however, stood firmly between Ji Mian and the crowd. His cold, sharp gaze swept over the gathered residents, silencing their whispers instantly.
Eventually, the faint glow from Ji Mian’s hand dissipated. Eren’s convulsions ceased, and he passed out, lying motionless on the ground.
Ji Mian stood up and met Joshua’s eyes directly.
“He deserves punishment,” Ji Mian said calmly, “but not here.”
Joshua smiled faintly, his expression enigmatic. “Of course.”
The guards quickly took Eren into custody. The crowd, which had been buzzing with speculation moments ago, began to disperse as the excitement died down.
Ji Mian glanced at Joshua.
Joshua offered another polite smile and turned to leave without a word.
As Joshua walked away, Ji Mian’s gaze lingered on his back, his thoughts unreadable.
Chu Shiye broke the silence. “What do you think?”
Ji Mian replied softly, “It’s not over yet.”
The two exchanged a brief look before following the guards out of the area, leaving behind the now-quiet street.
Under the dim light of the moon, their footsteps echoed softly as they disappeared into the distance.
Ji Mian’s calm and clear voice broke the tense silence.
“In court, once he confesses everything, he must give an explanation to his child and to the victims.”
Joshua didn’t reply, but a few nearby residents chimed in.
“That’s right. We haven’t even questioned him yet. We don’t know why he did all this.”
“Letting him die just like that would be too easy. He has to face proper judgment!”
“Exactly. And thank goodness these two gentlemen caught the culprit. It’s finally over now…”
The guards dragged the unconscious Eren away as the gathered crowd slowly dispersed.
Joshua remained standing in place, his demeanor composed.
As Ji Mian and Chu Shiye walked past him, Joshua spoke in his usual unhurried tone.
“I wonder if Mr. Su has any interest in joining us…”
Before Ji Mian could respond, Chu Shiye cut in firmly, his voice resolute.
“No.”
Joshua glanced at him for the first time, his gaze lingering.
“You look familiar,” Joshua said, his tone thoughtful. “This face… reminds me of some rather unpleasant memories.”
Chu Shiye didn’t respond, nor did his expression waver. He simply held Ji Mian’s hand tighter and led him away without a backward glance.
Joshua made no move to stop them, his ever-present smile fixed in place. He stood motionless, watching their retreating figures until they disappeared from sight.
On the way home, Ji Mian lowered his gaze.
Chu Shiye was holding his hand.
He had been holding it since they left.
“Don’t pay attention to that man.”
Chu Shiye’s voice was steady as he looked straight ahead, seemingly unaware of Ji Mian’s gaze.
“And don’t believe a single word he says.”
Ji Mian tilted his head slightly. “Why?”
Chu Shiye’s grip on his hand tightened. “He’s not a good person.”
Ji Mian hummed softly. “Oh—”
He glanced at Chu Shiye out of the corner of his eye, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“So, he’s a bad person. Then, are you a good person?”
He raised their joined hands and gave them a little shake.
Chu Shiye stiffened for a moment, his expression unreadable.
“…I’m not.”
After a pause, he pulled Ji Mian’s fingers into his palm, his hand enveloping them completely, and held on even tighter.
“…”
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