The case was completely resolved, and Guan Xia and the others were about to leave. Their flight was scheduled for the morning of the 21st, and Zhong Xiaoyu and Ji An came together to see them off.
As they waved goodbye at the airport, Pang Le couldn’t help but ask, "Sister Ji, this time you’re going back for a vacation, right? Not to investigate another case?"
Guan Xia, who had been quietly standing to the side replying to messages from her editor, immediately looked up at Ji An with curiosity.
During the breaks in the investigation, Guan Xia and the others had genuinely rested, but Ji An had been swamped with work.
They hadn’t been close before, so it would’ve been awkward to pry, but now they were at least friends. Plus, since this case had been solved so smoothly, Guan Xia had even thought that if Ji An was working on cases involving her other friends, she could definitely join in—maybe even help make some progress.
Ji An shook her head with a smile. "The last two times were emergencies. I may be a bit of a workaholic, but I’m not as bad as Lu Tingfeng. After a busy stretch, I still need two or three days to rest."
She even gave Guan Xia a meaningful look. "Don’t worry, if I really am working on a case, I’ll definitely call you. I won’t hide it."
Pang Le immediately brightened. "That’s more like it. We’re friends now, after all. If nothing else, I’ve got the muscle to help out."
Guan Xia chimed in, "I may not be much of a fighter, but I’ve got some brains. I can help too."
Ji An’s smile grew even brighter. She looked deeply at Pang Le and Guan Xia before saying sincerely, "Thank you. Really, thank you both."
Pang Le waved it off. "No need for thanks! We’re friends. If we can help, we should. That’s what friends are for."
The three of them went back and forth for a while until Zhong Xiaoyu, who had been standing to the side, couldn’t take it anymore. She slung an arm around Ji An’s shoulders and said, "Alright, enough with the gratitude already. You all came here to investigate my uncle’s case, and I haven’t even thanked you properly. If we’re going to keep this up, I’ll have to start thanking you too."
The three exchanged glances and couldn’t help but laugh. Just as Guan Xia thought Zhong Xiaoyu was about to launch into her own round of thanks, Zhong Xiaoyu added, "Here’s the thing—ordinary friends thank each other all the time. But us? We’ve got a bond forged in life and death. No need for thanks. Now that my uncle’s case is over, I’ve got free time. If any of you need help, just call me. I’ll go through fire for you."
With one arm still around Ji An, Zhong Xiaoyu flexed her other arm, showing off her muscles with an exaggerated expression that screamed, "I’m tough—trust me, you won’t regret it."
This was exactly the kind of energy Pang Le loved. She immediately nodded enthusiastically, as if she’d found a kindred spirit, and playfully pulled Guan Xia into a group hug with the other two.
Guan Xia quickly finished replying to her editor, stuffed her phone into her pocket, and asked Zhong Xiaoyu, "By the way, now that your uncle’s case is over, what’s next for you? Looking for another job, or…?"
The mention of work made Zhong Xiaoyu grimace. "Maybe it’s from being in the military too long, or maybe there are just too many messed-up people out there, but I’m honestly afraid of accidentally landing myself in trouble with a job. So I’ve decided—I’m going freelance. I spent years investigating my uncle’s case, and my aunt gave me enough money to live comfortably for a while. Last night, I even asked her to find me a reliable financial advisor. As long as I don’t go wild with spending, I can just laze around at home."
Pang Le’s eyes lit up with an idea. "Lazing around at home sounds boring. We get along so well—why not come work at my gym as a trainer? When there’s no case, you can just work casually. When there’s a case, we’ll team up. What do you think?"
Zhong Xiaoyu was tempted for a few seconds before shaking her head. "Nah, I’ve gotten too used to being free. Staying in one place just doesn’t suit me anymore. My case might be over, but plenty of my friends’ cases are still unsolved. I’m planning to take a few days off, then see what Sister Ji and Brother Lu are up to. Whoever needs help, I’ll go lend a hand. Traveling all over, getting into scrapes now and then—way more fun than staying put."
Pang Le was practically envious. "I always thought I was the carefree one, but wow, there’s always someone wilder. Alright, it’s settled—I’ll be waiting for your call. The moment you need me, I’ll come running."
Guan Xia nodded seriously. "Same here. I’ll be waiting too."
They chatted a little longer, reluctant to part, but as the boarding deadline approached, they had no choice but to say their goodbyes, turning back for one last look before finally separating.
Just after passing through security, Pang Le’s phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she laughed. "Zhong Xiaoyu—she acts all cool, but who knew she’d be this clingy? We just parted ways, and she’s already calling. Let’s see what she wants."
After a brief exchange, Pang Le hung up and turned to Guan Xia. "She forgot to tell us—her aunt went to see Wu Xiaozhen yesterday afternoon."
Guan Xia was surprised. "To thank her?" That was her first thought.
Pang Le nodded. "Her aunt really loved her uncle. Even now, she had the guts to face Wu Xiaozhen. According to Zhong Xiaoyu, her aunt has already arranged for specialists to contact Wu Xiaozhen’s parents—investing to expand their farm and even offering her sister and brother-in-law cushy jobs at one of her subsidiaries. Light workload, good pay. You can tell she’s genuinely grateful to Wu Xiaozhen."
Guan Xia sighed. "Compared to the killers in our past cases, Wu Xiaozhen was practically a saint. It’s just… such a shame."
In her heart, Guan Xia thought, What a shame. Wu Xiaozhen was so strong and capable, yet she never got the chance to shine in a field that suited her. The scar on her face, in Guan Xia’s eyes, didn’t diminish her charm at all. If only, after her injury, she’d been guided onto a different path—she could’ve achieved so much.
What a waste.
Back in Yongquan City, Guan Xia only managed a short, deep sleep before diving into a new wave of busyness.
Not because of another case, but because her editor at the publishing platform had been hounding her for ages to start a new comic. Guan Xia had always brushed it off, but now that Wu Yang’s gaming company was interested in adapting her work, her editor was fired up—tirelessly negotiating copyright fees while relentlessly pushing her to begin the next project.
Guan Xia racked her brains this time but couldn’t come up with her usual excuses. She had no choice but to spend days scratching her head, deep in thought, searching for inspiration to draft a passable outline—just enough to temporarily satisfy her editor.
She had always planned to make drawing comics her lifelong career. However, with the sudden activation of her system, she had to put everything else aside and prioritize repeatedly recharging the halo. Her safety had to come first.
After continuous research over this period, Guan Xia made another discovery: though the system wasn’t particularly intelligent, it was indeed leveling up. Perhaps once it reached max level, the halo’s erratic behavior would stabilize.
Time was tight, and Guan Xia worked tirelessly, barely eating or sleeping for days. Finally, before August arrived, she submitted a somewhat interesting and passable outline to her editor.
At the same time, the copyright fees were settled with Wu Yang’s company. Guan Xia’s savings, which had thinned considerably after buying her apartment, were now replenished—so much so that it could be called a windfall.
Perhaps out of kinship—since they had both grown up in the same orphanage—the payment was processed swiftly once the contract was signed. Guan Xia counted the zeros in her account over and over, grinning so widely she could’ve woken herself up laughing in her sleep. Without delay, she treated Meng Lan to a meal.
Meng Lan had been following the situation closely and was thrilled for Guan Xia. Without hesitation, she agreed and set a date.
Guan Xia thought that, as the host, she should make things convenient for her guest, so she offered to fly to Linshan City. But Meng Lan said she missed her alma mater and hadn’t traveled or relaxed in a long time.
Yongquan City was a tourist destination, nestled right beside the Cuiping Mountain Range. After their meal, they could spend a day hiking and camping. Hearing this, Guan Xia had no choice but to agree.
Coincidentally, their meeting date fell on August 1st. The weather was perfect—clear skies after a recent rain, though a bit hot. But with the thought of her newfound wealth, Guan Xia felt even the wildflowers and grass along the roadside were beautiful.
As usual, Meng Lan didn’t let Guan Xia pick her up at the airport, insisting she wait at the reserved restaurant instead.
The restaurant was near Meng Lan’s old university. Guan Xia had just arrived when Meng Lan showed up. They hugged joyfully before settling down at their table.
“So, how does it feel to suddenly be rich?” Meng Lan asked with a smile as she sterilized their cups and utensils with hot water.
Guan Xia had been beaming ever since receiving the money. She nodded emphatically. “Of course! If there’s anything in this world that can solve all worries, it’s sudden wealth. You have no idea—I’ve been laughing myself awake at night these past few days. Though I’ve also had nightmares where I dreamed the whole thing was just a fantasy. I’d wake up in a panic and check my bank balance over and over.”
Meng Lan chuckled and patted Guan Xia’s head. “I know exactly how you feel. When I first inherited my fortune, I was the same. My sister teased me for being hopeless, but even though her words were harsh, she stayed with me for a few nights until I adjusted before moving out.”
Mentioning Meng Lan’s sister reminded Guan Xia of her trip to Linshan City to investigate the accident from years ago. She hesitated for a long moment, not wanting to ruin the cheerful mood, and ultimately held back her question.
But Meng Lan noticed immediately. Her smile softened slightly, though she still spoke gently. “We’ve been friends for so many years. If you have something to say, just say it. Hesitation isn’t like you.”
Guan Xia studied Meng Lan’s face before finally asking, “Have you ever regretted it? These past few years?”
She watched Meng Lan closely. “Regretted finding your birth parents? Regretted trusting them all along?”
Meng Lan didn’t seem surprised by the question. Her smile remained, but her eyes turned cold, a shift that made Guan Xia feel uneasy. She instinctively shifted in her seat—only for Meng Lan’s expression to soften again the next second.
With warmth and sincerity, Meng Lan replied, “If I said I didn’t regret it, neither you nor I would believe it.”
She gave a small, resigned laugh. “So whenever regret creeps in, I close my eyes and imagine: if I could go back, would I choose differently? I’ve thought about it countless times, and I know myself well enough to say—unless I had my current memories, even if I relived it ten thousand times, I’d make the same choices.”
Another faint smile. “Maybe that’s just life. When you obsessively chase the truth, the truth might not be what you want. But hindsight is always clearer. None of us can predict what we’ll uncover. Until we know everything, we just keep searching, tirelessly.”
Meng Lan sighed before changing the subject. “Enough about me. What about you? You’ve always been such a homebody, barely leaving your nest unless absolutely necessary. But last time we spoke, you were in Jianyang City. And according to Wu Yang, you were with a whole group of people—and from the way he described them, they didn’t seem like ordinary folks. Did you secretly change careers without telling me?”
Guan Xia felt a flicker of nervousness. After a pause, she said, “I’ve made some new friends recently. Their professions are… unique. Some are retired athletes, others ex-military, and a few are former police officers. For certain reasons, we took a trip to Jianyang City together, but we didn’t stay long and came back not long after.”
Meng Lan looked surprised but soon smiled. “It’s wonderful that you have so many friends now. I used to worry about you—you’re so introverted and passive. Without me, I feared you’d be terribly lonely. I even felt like a terrible person for leaving you. But hearing how lively your life is now puts my mind at ease.”
She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Though I have to say, your friends are quite the eclectic bunch. Is it because of your comic work?”
Nodding as if answering her own question, Meng Lan added, “That makes sense. Drawing comics requires deep knowledge—you need to understand all kinds of professions to make your work feel authentic and immersive. Speaking of which, would you like me to introduce you to more people? Maybe a domineering CEO type?”
For some reason, her expression suddenly turned playful. “I’ve met plenty of interesting people these past few years. But honestly, I think you’d really like and admire my sister. She’s incredibly capable—far more impressive than me, a CEO who stumbled into the role. She’s got this commanding presence, decisive in everything she does. We’ve talked about you before, and she’s curious to meet the friend who grew up with me—the one who’s practically family.”
Guan Xia recalled what she’d uncovered about Meng Lan’s sister and felt both goodwill and curiosity. She nodded. “Sure. You always talk about how good she is to you. I’d love to see it for myself. Only then can I truly rest easy knowing you’re in good hands.”
Meng Lan raised an eyebrow. "Since you put it that way, shouldn’t I also meet your new friend? Consider it making up for the years we missed in each other’s lives."
Guan Xia thought of Pang Le, then glanced at Meng Lan. Though she doubted their personalities would mesh well, seeing the hopeful look on Meng Lan’s face, she agreed. "Sure. You mentioned wanting to go hiking and camping, right? I’ll ask my friend if they’re free, and we can all go together."
With a smile, Meng Lan rested her chin on Guan Xia’s shoulder, murmuring softly, "It’s so good… After all these years apart, we can still be friends. Guan Xia, I’m really happy you never gave up looking for me."
