Xu Qing finally received the message from Bai Yu and arrived late. As soon as he entered the hall, he saw the youth he had brought in only yesterday with red-rimmed eyes, sitting beside Bai Yu. Zuo Xiu, seated as far away as possible, was still teasing the boy with a piece of fruit.
*Sigh, taking advantage of how soft-hearted he is just to tease him.* Xu Qing sighed inwardly. Thinking of the role he had been assigned, he felt a rare pang of guilt.
"Zuo Xiu, what are you doing?" Xu Qing appeared suddenly, carrying a bag of items which he set heavily onto the living room table. He turned to look at Zuo Xiu, whose movements abruptly stiffened.
He asked with a squint-eyed smile, "I thought I only heard that Little Bai was coming over."
Zuo Xiu put down the fruit and raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, pleading for mercy. "My mistake, my mistake. Ah, I was just curious..."
His gaze collided with the youth, who was secretly peeking in his direction. Zuo Xiu let out a somewhat dangerous grin.
"Yo, still peeking?"
The snail, who had been cautiously poking its head out, immediately retracted back into its shell.
"Hmph, if the other target hadn't already kicked the bucket, I wouldn't want to press a kid like this..."
The implication of those words caused Mu Ran’s mind to go blank just as he had pulled back.
"What do you mean...?" he asked, his voice dry. He stared at Zuo Xiu without blinking, his expression filled with disbelief.
Meanwhile, in their internal communication:
[Mu Ran: !!! Are you there? Are you there? Are you okay, baby? Are you okay?!]
The System replied quickly.
[System: What’s wrong?]
[System: I’m fine.]
"It means..." *He’s dead.*
At the same time, Zuo Xiu heard Bai Yu’s calm voice transmitted into his ear via spiritual energy.
"Wrong. That person shouldn't be dead."
He naturally pivoted his next sentence: "...It means your 'dear father' has been locked away in a maximum-security prison. Small fries like us don't have the clearance to see him."
[Mu Ran: Are you locked in a prison?]
[System: No. Be careful, they might be bluffing.]
[System: Watch your micro-expressions.]
Mu Ran made himself look as if he had breathed a sigh of relief, lowering his eyes and relaxing his hands, which had suddenly clenched tight.
[Mu Ran: Crap, my reaction just now probably made them think you aren't dead. I have to come up with a new setting to fix this. (Crying Cat Emoji.jpg)]
[System: Don't be nervous. We’ll discuss this point in detail later. For now, take the initiative to ask them questions based on what they said. Don't let them control the rhythm.]
"Then... what about me?"
Just as Zuo Xiu was gauging the timing to throw out one last probing question, the youth, who had remained tight-lipped throughout their interrogation, unexpectedly spoke up of his own accord.
His faint voice sounded as if he were awaiting a final judgment.
"Am I going to be locked up too...?"
Xu Qing frowned from the side, suppressing the urge to terminate the conversation immediately. He merely made a gesture signaling Bai Yu to speak.
"Hmm... why would you think that?" Her gentle, mature voice rang out.
Stimulated by the previous questioning, the youth seemed unable to contain his inner emotions any longer.
He spoke haltingly.
"Because... you are interrogating me..." His hands, resting on his knees, trembled slightly. "Once I... once I finish speaking, I’ll be locked away, right? My reason for existing is gone...?"
"I—I haven't hurt anyone yet, but... that’s how it is, isn't it? He and I are one."
"Have I already become... an accomplice?"
Tears accumulated as he spoke in broken sentences, finally spilling over and dripping onto his lap.
Zuo Xiu: *Holy—crap!*
Zuo Xiu froze on the spot, his prepared questions stuck in his throat. He cast a pleading look toward Xu Qing.
Bai Yu was also at a loss. She retracted the tiny spiritual tentacles she used to capture the youth's expressions and hurriedly patted his thin back, casting a similarly desperate look toward Xu Qing.
Receiving their signals, Xu Qing pushed Bai Yu aside with a cold face and sat down next to the youth, gesturing for the other two to shut up and play dead.
"Why would you think that?" His warm, soothing voice was like a trickling stream, capable of making one lower their guard without realizing it.
"You are safe now. No one is going to lock you up." His amber pupils deepened in color as he slowly expanded his special Domain to soothe the boy's emotions.
The youth’s state seemed to stabilize slightly, but when he looked up and saw the two people huddled at the end of the sofa peeking at him, a flicker of fear returned to his eyes.
Xu Qing reached out and gently covered the boy's eyes, whispering comfortingly, "I'm here. As long as you don't want them here, I can kick them out at any time." He then shot a look at the two.
Zuo Xiu, Bai Yu: *OK, we’re leaving right now.*
The two vanished silently into the monitoring room.
Xu Qing intended to lower his hand so the youth could see that the others had left, but he was held back by a gentle pressure from the boy's hands.
Reflecting on the words the youth had blurted out during his breakdown, Xu Qing indulged the gentle strength and did not lower his hand. Instead, he comforted him softly:
"I know you haven't hurt anyone. They know it too. So, no one will arrest you."
"You aren't an accomplice. You are an innocent victim. No one will blame you for anything."
"Don't believe the ideas that man forced upon you. You are yourself—a vivid, independent individual. Your existence isn't defined by some 'purpose'; you exist simply because you are you."
"Don't be afraid."
"As your temporary guardian, I will protect you."
Mu Ran seemed touched by a specific word. Xu Qing felt the hands pressing against his own pull down cautiously. A pair of wet eyes, filled with startled anticipation, suddenly met his gaze.
It was hard to describe Xu Qing’s feelings at that moment. It was as if he had suddenly gained the trust of a stray kitten, or as if he were a flower that had finally waited for a tiny hummingbird to sip nectar from his palm. In short, he had received a gift of trust from a small animal that had overcome its fear. It was surprising, and it left him feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden favor.
He paused mid-sentence, feeling momentarily awkward.
"Well... alright, I should rephrase that. Perhaps a permanent guardian."
*Good grief,* he thought. *Was it because I injected too much spiritual energy from my Domain just now, clouding the boy's perception? Or did I unintentionally take advantage of his vulnerability?*
As he pondered, he met the youth's eyes, which had suddenly lit up.
Forget it. He gave up thinking and focused only on completely calming the boy down.
***
[Mu Ran: Hehe, guess how I solved it!]
[System: How?]
[Mu Ran: When in doubt, just cry. This youth’s body isn't very old anyway. Once I used the 'kid’s ultimate move,' they were all stunned!]
[Mu Ran: I was afraid they were still watching my eyes, so when the doctor tried to let go, I held his hand in place. I only let him see my eyes once I had adjusted my expression to continue the act!]
[System: ...So it can be solved this way? Let me record that.]
Mu Ran felt the embarrassment of a slacker having his notes copied by a top student. After all, the solutions the System usually shared were much more sophisticated—using micro-expressions and environmental information to counter-interrogate the opponent, forcing them to leave to avoid information leaks... that was practically cheating.
[Mu Ran: Ahem, anyway! I took the opportunity to pretend I’ve transferred my emotional dependence to this doctor. Over the next few days, I’ll reveal some intel while we build our relationship!]
[System: Good work.]
[System: Analyzing your conversation just now, I think we can use a new setting to patch the hole from earlier. It shouldn't conflict with the groundwork we’ve already laid.]
[Mu Ran: Oh! Let’s hear it!]
***
While Mu Ran was in his room discussing the setting with the System, the trio of Xu Qing, Zuo Xiu, and Bai Yu were talking in the monitoring room.
"In the end, the task of gathering intel still falls to Xu Qing."
After holding it in for a long time, recalling the youth's look of trust and hope toward Xu Qing versus the look of fear and unease toward himself, Zuo Xiu couldn't help but say, "Hey, am I really that scary?"
"He is an innocent victim, after all... He probably endured a lot of mental pressure staying by that man's side. It’s fine if you don't ask those questions, but once you do, you never know which one will poke at his wounds."
Bai Yu rubbed her eyes, which were sore from overusing her ability, and sighed.
"Speaking of which, we were too impatient... Even though we’re curious about his methods, trying to pry information out of the kid so hastily before he’s even stabilized—it’s only natural he’d have an emotional reaction after we provoked him."
Zuo Xiu kicked the floor, spinning his chair. He gnashed his teeth and muttered unhappily, "I’m the one who caught that irresponsible guardian of his... and yet I’m the only one he’s afraid of."
"Actually, it’s also because that kid Guang Rui was pushing so hard. I pushed back against the pressure from the higher-ups; it wouldn't have hurt to wait ten or twenty days before asking." He grumbled quietly, "Tsk, by then, the guy we locked up will probably have broken down too. It’s not like Bai Yu and I couldn't pry the intel out of his mouth instead."
"So, the problem is still with this kid. Being afraid of a good guy like me, hah."
"Guang Rui too. Even Liang Guang, who usually has all sorts of eccentric ideas, has been quiet. Only Guang Rui is still so hyperactive after getting his face slapped!"
"Anyway, I’m not the problem here."
Bai Yu and Xu Qing exchanged a helpless look.
If the other members of the team saw this childish display, who would believe this was their usually dignified and cold captain? Only old classmates like them got to see Zuo Xiu like this.
However... Bai Yu suppressed her smile. Zuo Xiu had never shown this much concern for anyone they had rescued before.
So, it really was because of that girl.
The first victim to die because of their oversight. A man like Captain Zuo was likely pouring all his displaced concern onto this youth. That was why he cared so much about the boy's opinion of him.
"If you really care about him, don't think about intel for the next few days." Xu Qing held down the restless Zuo Xiu and sighed deeply. "He’s like a small animal. If you care, just be direct. Don't make him break down again."
"Troublesome," Zuo Xiu scoffed. "Do I need him to like me?"
"I’d rather wait ten or twenty years for him to realize that his happy life is partly thanks to this 'villain' here, and then have him reluctantly thank me." His words were sharp and aggressive, full of barbs.
His departure was just as blunt.
"I’m off. Got a mission."
Bai Yu and Xu Qing were left staring at each other.
"Hmm..." Bai Yu’s tone was meaningful. She raised an eyebrow at the direction Zuo Xiu had left, then turned to Xu Qing with a smile. "Well, I don't have his kind of 'grievance.' Can I come by over the next few days to see the kid and build some rapport?"
Xu Qing shrugged and smiled. "Of course."
***
Two days later.
Xu Qing ran into Zuo Xiu loitering by the door.
"Oh? A rare guest." Xu Qing raised an eyebrow in feigned surprise.
"I thought I wouldn't see you at this house where Little Ran lives for another ten or twenty years."
Zuo Xiu turned to leave, but a pair of hands landed on his shoulders.
"Alright, jokes aside." Xu Qing patted Zuo Xiu’s right shoulder, his tone gentle. "Little Bai has been helping you earn some brownie points these past few days. Why not come in and see him?"
"I’m only here to find Bai Yu." Zuo Xiu’s face remained stiff, though he didn't resist the force of Xu Qing pushing him through the door. As he walked, he didn't forget to emphasize, "It’s mainly for work."
"Mhm, I see." Xu Qing smiled, seeing through him but choosing not to say a word.
***
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