Ren Suo caught up and saw Qiao Muyi at the McDonald's dessert station buying Little Jiu an ice cream cone.

"I'll have the original flavor," Ren Suo added to the server's order, then curiously asked Qiao Muyi, "What are you doing here?"

Little Jiu's school was near Heavenly Lotus Academy, located in the easternmost part of Lianjiang City. While not exactly suburban, it was very far from the city center, about a 40-minute subway ride. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a satellite city guarding Lianjiang City.

Qiao Muyi was currently wearing a Tactical Bureau vest, obviously on duty. Why would she come all this way to buy Little Jiu an ice cream cone?

"Just passing by," Qiao Muyi glanced at him, sticking out her delicate little tongue to lick the colorful spiral ice cream. She skillfully rolled layers of ice cream into her mouth, leaving her lips covered in sweet, white cream.

"You were 'just passing by' from seven or eight kilometers away? Isn't that just another way of saying you're skipping work?"

"I'm not you. I, Qiao Muyi, act openly and honorably. How could I sneak off from work?" Qiao Muyi said with a proud air. "If I skip work, I do it openly! I even post on social media to let everyone know that while they're still working, I've already skipped out and gone home."

That's so like her. Qiao Muyi really would do something like that. "So why are you here then?"

"On duty," Qiao Muyi replied. "The Tactical Bureau now dispatches at least one team to be on duty at Heavenly Lotus Academy Zhou Jin every day. Today just happens to be our squad's turn; otherwise, who would want to come all this way?"

Ren Suo suddenly understood. Since the Heavenly Lotus Academy attack in September, the Tactical Bureau had indeed paid much more attention to the surrounding area. Even their accelerated procurement of helicopters was due to this incident. If foreign Transcendents were to enter Lianjiang City and cause trouble again, Yu Kuangtu's position might not be secure.

"So, you just 'happened to pass by' here?" Ren Suo took the ice cream cone from the server. "That's still skipping work!"

At this moment, Qiao Muyi suddenly asked, "Have you noticed how the ice cream is piled up?"

Ren Suo blinked, looking at the ice cream in his hand. It was stacked in layers, spiraling upwards like a coiled serpent, looking just like...

"Doesn't it look like cartoon poop?" Qiao Muyi, having already eaten most of her cone, said with a laugh.

Ren Suo opened his mouth wide and swallowed the entire pile of ice cream in one go, then shot Qiao Muyi a defiant look. You can't disgust me!

However, the ice cream immediately froze his gums. The nerve stimulation made him involuntarily cover his mouth and let out a HISS. Both Qiao Muyi and Little Jiu laughed. Qiao Muyi stroked Little Jiu's head and asked with a smile, "Is Big Brother being silly?"

"Little Jiu likes silly Big Brother too!" Little Jiu declared loudly and sweetly.

Ren Suo, however, was not pleased. 'Silly' is definitely not a compliment!

Once Ren Suo swallowed the mouthful of ice cream, Qiao Muyi wiped her mouth with a napkin and asked, "Hasn't Cheng Ling finished her seclusion yet?"

"Not yet. It seems the fourth transformation isn't easy to break through."

"I was planning to come over for a meal... Oh well, never mind then." Qiao Muyi glanced at Ren Suo. "You went to Joyous World last weekend? And you were even 'lucky' enough to encounter criminals? What a fulfilling life you lead."

Ren Suo's mouth twitched. "Why do you make it sound like those were all good things...?"

"They are pretty good! You guys can get friends together for fun outdoors during holidays, enjoy festive events, and even encounter some thrilling yet harmless incidents. My holidays are different. I can only binge-watch shows, play games, laze on the couch stroking my cat, or order takeout like barbecue and pizza. Sigh..." Qiao Muyi spread her arms, her face full of happiness as she said, "I'm truly living the life of a goddess."

Ren Suo felt like he'd taken a critical hit. I don't have a cat to stroke, nor can I order takeout—Heavenly Lotus Academy forbids outsiders, so I can only send a clone. My life is several notches below Qiao Muyi's!

"By the way, any progress on the Joyous World case?" Ren Suo asked casually.

"Even if there was, I couldn't tell you. You're not my subordinate," Qiao Muyi huffed. "Besides, it's not my responsibility. Li Dan's team is in charge of the investigation... Speaking of which, do you have any leads on the Holy Spirit Priest? He appeared once and then vanished."

"No, none at all," Ren Suo hurriedly shook his head.

Qiao Muyi hadn't expected any information from Ren Suo. She continued, "During the post-incident investigation, we found out someone snuck into the Western-style restaurant during the chaos to steal ingredients... What are your thoughts on that?"

"No, none at all," Ren Suo continued shaking his head. That fatty Zhao Zili is really nimble. He robbed the restaurant in such a short time without leaving any clues.

"Speaking of which, want to grab a meal together?" Ren Suo touched his stomach. He hadn't eaten lunch and was genuinely hungry.

"No thanks, I still have to go back on duty." Qiao Muyi tilted her head, smiling as she prepared to leave, and said, "Do you really think I'm like you, idling all day and shirking work?"

"And you still say you're not skipping work?"

"I'm the captain! Can't I take a little stroll while on duty?" Qiao Muyi replied earnestly. "If I'm always breathing down my subordinates' necks, they'll definitely get too tense and burned out. I'm doing this for their own good!"

If Qiao Muyi actually watched her subordinates work, they'd definitely be tense. Who wouldn't be nervous with a venomous snake watching them? Ren Suo mused. I wonder if any normal person could work and live with Qiao Muyi for long. Being around her feels like my heart can't take it; I'd have a heart attack sooner or later.

Still, this 'for your own good' excuse for slacking off is worth remembering. In the future, when I have to write papers, I can use the excuse 'it's to let you learn more' to get Gu Yueyan and the others to take on more of the writing...

"Well, goodbye then, Little Suo."

Qiao Muyi waved, ready to leave. Ren Suo suddenly remembered something and called out, "Hey, wait, Sister Qiao! I'm at the third turn now, same as you. Shouldn't you change how you address me...?"

Qiao Muyi chuckled. "I don't mind if you call me Sister Qiao. You can even call me Little Qiao if you want. I reaaally~~ wish I could go to school with Little Jiu!"

"Yuck," Ren Suo grimaced.

However, Qiao Muyi tapped her lips thoughtfully. "Since you're at the third turn, perhaps I should give you a gift?"

"No, no need! I didn't give you a gift when you reached your third turn, so let's not stand on ceremony," Ren Suo hurriedly declined. "But I did hear that the new 1000XM3 headphones will be 400 cheaper on Singles' Day. I wonder if that's true..."

Qiao Muyi suddenly leaned close to Ren Suo's ear and whispered, "How about, once Cheng Ling is out of seclusion, we trick her into bed?"

"Huh?" Ren Suo jolted.

Qiao Muyi stepped back, smiling. "Little Suo, are you tempted? Are you?"

Ren Suo knew Qiao Muyi was just teasing him. He ignored her, took Little Jiu's hand, and said, "Little Jiu, let's go!"

Little Jiu watched from the side, giggling. Big Brother always has so many interesting people around him.

"Congratulations on reaching the third turn." Qiao Muyi's smile faded as she suddenly said seriously, "If you continue at this pace and cultivate diligently, even if you can't catch up to Dong Chengling, you won't fall too far behind."

"Uh... thanks." Ren Suo actually felt a bit uncomfortable when Qiao Muyi suddenly offered serious congratulations.

"Keep up the good work. Just being an ordinary Cultivator, living a peaceful life under the sun, through birth, aging, sickness, and death, without turmoil... that's quite good too..." Qiao Muyi turned and glanced at the sun, now hidden by clouds, her tone somewhat complex.

"Qiao Muyi, are you in a bad mood?"

Startled by Ren Suo's sudden question, Qiao Muyi looked at him in surprise. "Why would you think that?" I've been acting normally, speaking positively and cheerfully. Why would he think I'm in a bad mood?

Of course, Ren Suo couldn't say he'd heard from the Listening Headphones that Qiao Muyi's 'echo' was 'anxious and uneasy, as if she was about to encounter trouble.' He simply said, "Just a hunch."

"A hunch? You're not a woman. Can a man's intuition be trusted?" Qiao Muyi laughed. "But... your hunch is pretty accurate."

"Do you need help?" Ren Suo asked eagerly, sensing an opportunity to increase their Bond Level.

"No need, I'm just feeling a bit down," Qiao Muyi declined. "I can't believe Little Suo saw through me. I'm such a failure..."

Ren Suo thought for a moment, then squatted down and gently pinched Little Jiu's cute face. He said to Qiao Muyi, "Well, then, come pinch Little Jiu's face. It might cheer you up."

Little Jiu, who had been enjoying Ren Suo's affection, looked shocked. "Σ(っ°Д°;)っ!? Big Brother, you!?"

Ren Suo's suggestion wasn't baseless. Little Jiu's passive Skill, Phantom Illusionary Fragrance, was much stronger than his own. Besides increasing others' affection for Little Jiu, it also made people feel happy when interacting with her (which is why people grew to like Little Jiu more and more). Therefore, it was scientifically sound that playing with Little Jiu would bring happiness.

Qiao Muyi came over, looked at Ren Suo and Little Jiu, then suddenly reached out and pinched Ren Suo's cheeks.

"OW, OW, OW, OW—"

Qiao Muyi pinched and pulled upwards, forcing Ren Suo to his feet.

Once Qiao Muyi let go, Ren Suo quickly rubbed his slightly sore cheeks. Little Jiu covered her mouth, snickering.

"Why'd you pinch me...?"

"Pinching you makes me happy too," Qiao Muyi said with a mischievous, triumphant smile. "This story teaches you not to be generous at others' expense. If you want to help someone, you have to offer yourself. Did you get that, kiddo?"

"Got it!" Little Jiu shouted.

These two. I can't let Little Jiu hang out with Qiao Muyi too much in the future. It's only been a few minutes, and she's already being corrupted. Ren Suo thought.

Qiao Muyi seemed much happier after pinching his face. She turned, waved, and walked off in another direction.

Just as Ren Suo and Little Jiu were about to enter McDonald's for burgers, Qiao Muyi suddenly called out, "Ren Suo!"

He turned. The clouds obscuring the sun had dispersed, and warm afternoon sunlight bathed Qiao Muyi, making her fair skin seem to glow with a golden Radiance.

She turned slightly, looking back at Ren Suo. Her ponytail fluttered gently in the wind, revealing the smooth nape of her neck. A faint pink flush graced her cheeks, and her eyes, curved like a Little Fox's, held a light smile.

"Thanks."

With that, Qiao Muyi left without a backward glance, leaving Ren Suo puzzled. What was she thanking me for? Did pinching my face really have such a big effect?

When Qiao Muyi returned to the Tactical Bureau's temporary rest stop, she looked at her team members and asked, "Where's Sun Chen?"

"Sun Chen is covering your patrol shift, Captain. Did you forget?" a team member said.

"Oh, right." Qiao Muyi shrugged and stretched lazily. "So tired. Let's wrap it up and go home."

The team members were speechless. A female operative who knew Qiao Muyi better couldn't help but laugh. "Captain, you only came in this afternoon. How can you be tired already?"

"Arriving in the afternoon is one of the many privileges of a captain," Qiao Muyi said unabashedly. "Faithfully exercising one's rights is also an important part of serving the people."

"But Captain, you don't have to take shifts, do you? You're the Deputy Director of the Tactical Bureau. Deputy directors have the right not to take shifts, right?" a male team member couldn't help but ask. "Deputy Director Yu doesn't do shifts anymore either. He stays at the bureau in case of emergencies. Captain, why do you..."

"You talk too much. You can take my next shift."

Qiao Muyi sat down and took out her phone. Seeing no new emails, she opened an investigation report in the Tactical Bureau's internal app: "Lianjiang Happy World Intentional Assault Case—The Third Demon King's Followers Incident."

She scanned the report for the eighth time. The three Demon King's Followers incidents had all occurred suddenly. The individuals involved had simple social connections, and it was entirely unknown whom they referred to as the 'Demon King.'

This case isn't really my concern, but after analyzing it with the spell Detective's Eye, I can't shake off this persistent Shadow in my heart. Teasing my subordinates couldn't even relieve the stress; I felt I had to come all the way out here...

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