Chapter 49 - The Cunning Rabbit Escapes

Evening.The view outside the window was of continuous gloomy rain with unrelenting wind.

"Evening news, the fugitive Chen Yifeng, who has been on the run for years, has been captured."

Inside the apartment, three people sat around the dining table having dinner, Lin Ran put some food into Anya’s bowl while watching the evening news.

"He has committed multiple crimes, is a major suspect in several murder cases, kidnapping cases, and financial fraud cases, once broadcasted live the kidnapping and killing of a senior executive from Cosmic Heavy Industries..."

In the slum shown on the screen, an elderly man was handcuffed by the guards in front of numerous cameras and sent into a hovercar.

Countless slum residents gathered around, the rain poured heavily, they stood in the rain silently, watching the hovercar buzz away.

"It’s really strange, such a villainous guy has been caught, yet the faces of those residents don’t seem happy at all?"

"These gangs have never done any good deeds, right? Something like actively maintaining public order only appears in movies."

"Maintaining public order is something that city heroes do." Xu Xiaoyou said casually: "Those residents can’t possibly be grateful to a gang."

"They are just worried that the gang managing them next will be even more brutal."

"By the way, what’s up with you two today, why do you all seem so down?" Lin Ran asked. "You went out and seem to have become introverted?"

Disheveled Anya and Xu Xiaoyou said nothing, just quietly ate their meals.

Lin Ran didn’t persist, continuing to watch the news.

Soon, the doorbell rang.

"Who could it be so late?"

"I’ll get the door." Xu Xiaoyou put down her utensils.

As the door was opened, a white figure came into view.

Bai Youyou was soaked from the heavy rain, her black hair wetly sticking to her forehead, her white investigator uniform looked incredibly dull, like a peacock that had fallen into water.

"What’s wrong with you?" Xu Xiaoyou asked.

Bai Youyou said nothing.

She stood at the door for a long time, as if she had finally made up her mind.

"I’m sorry, You."

She said, suddenly pushing Xu Xiaoyou onto the sofa, reaching for the buttons on You’s collar.

"Wait, wait a minute!" Lin Ran quickly waved his hands, covered Anya’s face, and rushed inside with the child.

Xu Xiaoyou did not resist, simply watched the girl take off her coat, then lifted the sleeve of her arm, trying to verify something.

Bai Youyou tightly stared at the girl’s arm, grasping her hand firmly, as if letting go would make the girl suddenly slip away.

She had to confirm one thing.

During the chase, she vaguely saw the features of the figure under that gray robe, although only for a fleeting moment, but she seemed to see a strand of flowing golden hair.

Moreover, the fugitive’s outline during the escape didn’t match Li Xu’s description of a tall man about 1.9 meters, instead looked like a small-statured girl.

And that familiar feeling from the small figure.

All arrows seemed to point in the same direction.

She remembered clearly during the escape, the fireball she cast brushed past her arm, leaving a burn.

If Xu Xiaoyou’s arm bears a wound, and specifically a burn...

If the other party deceived her, if the other party really is the criminal.

She would lose her mind.

Until she lifted the sleeve of Xu Xiaoyou’s entire arm, seeing no signs of a burn.

Bai Youyou breathed a sigh of relief, like a weight lifted off her shoulders.

It seems she misunderstood.

"What’s wrong, Youyou?" Xu Xiaoyou asked softly.

Only then did Bai Youyou realize she had done something very impolite.

The golden-haired girl was now pressed under her on the sofa, quietly looking at her, strands of hair disordered alongside her face, chest slightly heaving.

"I’m sorry, I..." Bai Youyou was somewhat embarrassed.

"I’ll go straighten my clothes."

Xu Xiaoyou said, getting up and walking toward the bathroom, soon fixing her clothes and coming out from the bathroom.

For some reason, Bai Youyou always felt that she seemed different from before, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

This strange feeling quietly vanished once the opposite party held her hand.

She awkwardly met the girl’s concerned gaze.

"Did something happen with the case investigation?" Xu Xiaoyou asked.

Bai Youyou nodded lightly, just like the previous days, she poured out the series of happenings to the girl like pouring out grievances.

Xu Xiaoyou listened patiently, nodding thoughtfully.

"I’m sorry, You, for misunderstanding you. So many things happened in one day, my mind is a bit foggy."

"It’s understandable, little misunderstandings happen, people misunderstood me often before, I’m used to it."

Bai Youyou felt even more guilty, her heart messier than ever.

You is really nice, how could she have doubted her?

Such excessive actions would generally anger a normal person, but not only did the opposite party not care, she even comforted her, listening to her complaints.

It’s just the clues she seemingly had, now broken again.

This feeling of being played within the palm, truly unpleasant.

If everyone in the world were as simple and kind as You...

Bai Youyou thought.

"How did that last matter get handled?"

"What else could be done, I can’t actually kill them all, my nature is stubborn, but I’m not foolish."

"That guy named Chen Yifeng proposed using himself in exchange for the criminal, so I caught him."

"A criminal, yet so emotionally invested, acting righteously."

"Now, to investigate further, starting with Chen Yifeng’s old friend might lead to breakthroughs, there’s a chance he has some connection with the criminal?" Xu Xiaoyou said.

Bai Youyou’s eyes widened, showing delight: "Oh, right! I wouldn’t have thought of it if you hadn’t said it!"

She happily gave Xu Xiaoyou a big hug, then apologized: "I’m sorry for today."

"It’s fine." Xu Xiaoyou smiled. "We’re friends, naturally, we understand each other."

"I’ll go now."

"Oh yes, be sure to be careful these days, You," Bai Youyou recalled the criminal, seriously cautioning: "Try not to go alone."

"Mm, I will."

The sound of the door closing came long afterward, Xu Xiaoyou eventually collapsed onto the sofa, mentally exhausted.

This enormous crisis was finally over, fortunately back home unscathed in the end.

Indeed, during the chase, the opposite party noticed something, so when she was targeted with the fireball, Xu Xiaoyou cleverly allowed it to brush past, showing her wound.

And when they arrived to check the wound, a substitute was used to dispel the opposite party’s suspicion.

She gambled, betting the opposite party wasn’t that decisive yet.

Quite thrilling, had Bai Youyou been truly heartless, using Mind Judge right then, she would’ve lost this gamble disastrously.

She seemed to really value their ’friendship’, Xu Xiaoyou thought with a slight smirk.

There was one thing Xu Xiaoyou remained puzzled about.

Lying on the sofa, holding her head, staring at the jade Peace Bracelet in hand.

Why, at the end of the chase, did a man named Chen Yifeng suddenly come forward, stopping Bai Youyou for some old friend.

If not for this so-called old friend, whether she could return home safely was uncertain.

Who helped her at the end?

She shouldn’t know many people in this city...

A day of exhaustion coupled with chaotic thoughts gradually led Xu Xiaoyou to feel sleepy, she set aside her thoughts, closing her eyes.

She securely cradled the jade bracelet in her embrace, falling into a deep sleep.