Chapter 37 - White Clouds

"Shh, shh, shh..."Xu Xiaoyou lowered her voice.

"You look like a mouse that just saw a cat." Lin Ran blinked her eyes. "What guilty thing have you done?"

"Huh? I clearly saw someone just walk in, did something happen!"

The girl outside the door sounded puzzled, as if she had thought of something unpleasant, and suddenly knocked hard on the door:

"Did someone faint! Have a heart attack, or something?"

"What should we do, should we break in?"

"Doesn’t matter, saving someone is more important!"

Seeing that the other party really seemed intent on breaking in, Xu Xiaoyou quickly stopped her: "Wait!"

The person outside breathed a sigh of relief: "Oh, I thought something had happened, but there’s someone at home..."

Xu Xiaoyou pressed her temples, forcing herself to calm down.

"Is there something you need?"

"The hairdryer is broken, can I bother you to borrow one?"

Calm down, calm down.

Xu Xiaoyou fell into thought.

The person outside didn’t seem too smart, didn’t seem like that investigator.

Is it a coincidence, or is it her illusion?

With the personality of that investigator, if he really knew her residence, he would have broken in long ago.

The other party should still be unaware of her identity, just happened to move into this apartment.

But she must remain vigilant.

If the person outside really is that investigator, being too abnormal might arouse his suspicion.

"I’ll go open the door."

As the door opened, the figure of a girl came into view.

She stood quietly in front of the door, with white and straight calves in disposable slippers, wrapped in a thick bath towel, wet black hair tied up, water droplets rolling down the strands onto her ears, her cold red eyes covered by mist, with a hint of timidity.

Seemingly startled by Xu Xiaoyou’s sudden opening of the door, she took a step back.

"Sorry to bother you so late."

Xu Xiaoyou forced a calm face, but inside she was already in tumult.

Who else could this girl be but the Three-winged Investigator she had seen before?

"Hey, have I seen you somewhere before?" Bai Youyou looked at Xu Xiaoyou in front of her, trying to recall.

"Miss Investigator, we met at the station before." Xu Xiaoyou said with a gentle smile.

"Oh~ I remember now! You’re Xu Nian!" Bai Youyou slightly opened her mouth, "But I saw on your identity information..."

"For work needs, I just changed the gender on my information to avoid unnecessary trouble." Xu Xiaoyou calmly said with the excuse she had prepared.

"I thought you had some cosmetic surgery at first, so that’s how it is."

Perhaps she had disguised herself too well, or perhaps the investigator was too naive.

The other party showed no suspicion at all, and Xu Xiaoyou stepped aside to let her in.

She watched the back of the investigator closely, trying to discern any clues.

Her inference was right, the other party didn’t know her real identity, moving nearby was just a coincidence.

Is the other party now in disguise?

She had seen the crazy side of the other party before.

What has the other party investigated up to now? She must probe a little.

At the moment Anya saw Bai Youyou, she reacted as if her fur stood on end, her pupils narrowed, and a strong sense of crisis instantly tensed her nerves.

"Anya, be polite to the guest." Xu Xiaoyou said.

"Is this... your child?" Bai Youyou asked.

The other party looked like she was not even twenty, yet she was already a mother?

Xu Xiaoyou felt Bai Youyou’s strange gaze and explained quietly:

"Cough cough, picked up from the trash can, felt sorry seeing her all alone there."

Anya: "?"

"Anya, Anya." Lin Ran poked her head out from afar, calling to the little girl in a low voice. "Come over here."

Anya gave Bai Youyou one last wary glance before running in Lin Ran’s direction.

The large living room was left with only the two girls, making it appear somewhat empty.

"Miss... Xu Nian, you’re really kind-hearted."

"Just call me Xu Xiaoyou."

Once they entered the restroom, Bai Youyou found a place to sit.

Xu Xiaoyou used a long towel to help twist out the girl’s long hair, then picked up the hairdryer and stood behind her:

"Miss Bai Youyou, let me dry your hair."

"Eh?"

Bai Youyou froze, her gaze towards Xu Xiaoyou turned cold: "How do you know my name?"

"I don’t think I mentioned my name since I came in, did I?"

In an instant, a chill rushed straight to Xu Xiaoyou’s spine, the restroom was plunged into deathly silence.

Xu Xiaoyou’s mind raced.

Damn it, she’s too nervous now.

An investigator who could easily decide her life and death was sitting unguardedly in front of her.

If she showed even a hint of a flaw, what awaited her could well be an abyss.

Xu Xiaoyou gradually calmed down, and soon thought of an excuse she could use to even open a new opportunity.

"I heard about you on the news, the way you resolutely said you would catch the killer left a deep impression on me."

"Is that so! Ahaha, I..."

Maybe it was her illusion, but the girl’s flawless white back seemed to turn red, her ears burning.

"Pretty cool." Xu Xiaoyou said as she turned on the hairdryer, lifting Bai Youyou’s wet hair, patiently drying it. "Punishing criminals, I think that’s pretty cool."

The whir of the hairdryer echoed in Bai Youyou’s ears, her gaze unsettled, it was embarrassing to have someone say that to her face, but it was the first time someone acknowledged her idea.

Whether from her elders, or those along her growth path, they either mocked her or deemed her an idealist.

The two chatted on and off.

"A friend of mine had their life taken by a wanted criminal." Xu Xiaoyou said, "If possible, I really wish this world would have no more evil."

She fixed her gaze on Bai Youyou’s fragile neck in front of her.

If she had a sharp tool now, would she have a chance to resolve it before the other party reacted?

Resolving a Three-winged Investigator...

While Xu Xiaoyou debated internally, Bai Youyou suddenly shifted the conversation: "Your heart is beating fast."

Xu Xiaoyou’s pupils shrank.

Even at this distance, the other party could sense her heartbeat, did she detect something?

Could she have guessed her current thoughts?

The perceptive ability of a Three Tier Cleaner was stronger than she anticipated.

"Your hands are shaking too."

Xu Xiaoyou broke out in a cold sweat.

"It’s because of sadness, maybe." Bai Youyou lowered her eyes slightly, "Sorry, I brought up something that made you sad."

Xu Xiaoyou breathed a sigh of relief.

This girl is really foolish, like a drifting white cloud in the sky.

She actually fell for it just like that.

"Why do you want all the criminals in the world to be caught?"

She initially thought Bai Youyou might have some tragic childhood experiences, which twisted her personality, but the other just tilted her head:

"For no reason, crime is just wrong, it should be punished!"

As though her mind was programmed, Bai Youyou’s obstinate ideas made her smile awkwardly, and she naturally continued:

"If one day, all the world’s criminals are caught and there are no more crimes..."

"You’re wrong." Xu Xiaoyou’s eyes were indifferent.