Pang Le left quickly and returned just as fast. Not two days after having a meal with Lu Tingfeng, Guan Xia received a call from Pang Le, who excitedly asked if she wanted to go home with her for a couple of days of fun.
Guan Xia remembered her promise back in Linchang City and was naturally tempted. But after glancing at Xu Nian beside her, she hesitated again.
Guan Xia turned it over in her mind and didn't agree immediately. However, after hanging up, she seriously discussed it with Xu Nian.
From Guan Xia's expression, Xu Nian sensed something. He put down the art book he was halfway through, raised an eyebrow, and waited for her to speak.
Guan Xia felt a bit embarrassed but answered honestly, "Pang Le just called, asking if I want to go to her place to hang out. I promised her back when we were chasing Wu Yang in Linchang City."
Even though he was somewhat prepared, Xu Nian couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. But he was used to keeping all his emotions bottled up, so none of it showed on his face. He just gently tucked a stray lock of Guan Xia's hair behind her ear and asked mildly, "So, do you want to go?"
Guan Xia didn't plan to hide her true feelings. She nodded very frankly, "I do. I've been curious about Pang Le's home for a long time."
Hearing this, Xu Nian smiled and said, "Then go. It works out perfectly—my vacation is almost over anyway. You can go have fun with Pang Le, and I'll go back to work."
Guan Xia calculated the time. It had been about a week since Xu Nian returned from Jianyang City. For a career in the criminal police, that was indeed a substantial break.
Finding such a perfect solution so easily made Guan Xia happy. She cupped Xu Nian's face, planted a kiss on his chin, and said excitedly, "That's perfect then! I'll pack my suitcase these next two days and buy some Yongquan City specialties as gifts. Once you start work, I'll head to her place with Pang Le."
Even though there were two whole days, Guan Xia felt pressed for time as she spoke. Before Xu Nian could react, she sprang up, pulled out her suitcase, and started bustling about.
Xu Nian had been momentarily distracted by that kiss, his thoughts wandering. Reacting on instinct, he wanted to pull Guan Xia back for a couple more kisses. But before he could even reach out, she had already swiftly abandoned him to pack, leaving him both amused and exasperated.
The two days flew by in a blink. With Xu Nian's help, Guan Xia barely had to worry about a thing. Everything she needed to bring and all the gifts were prepared properly.
Having only been together for a few days before parting, Guan Xia hadn't felt it much earlier. But when Xu Nian saw her off at the airport, she grew somewhat reluctant. However, she wasn't the overly clingy type. She only gave him a restrained hug at parting to express her feelings before happily going through security and boarding with Pang Le.
Lu Tingfeng had come to see them off today too. He was much more shameless than Guan Xia. Despite being a nearly six-foot-three man, he acted pitiful, clinging to Pang Le and refusing to let go. He even nuzzled his face against her shoulder like a spoiled child, expressing how much he'd miss her. It wasn't until Pang Le impatiently pushed him away that he reluctantly released her, full of longing.
Both Guan Xia and Xu Nian wore expressions of utter disdain, unable to bear the sight. However, unlike Guan Xia's straightforward disgust, Xu Nian's look was mixed with a hint of envy. He actually really wanted to be that shameless too, but his personality just wasn't like that. No matter how much he psyched himself up, he truly couldn't bring himself to act that way in public. Therefore, Xu Nian's expression of disdain was particularly genuine and intense.
Finally bidding farewell to their respective boyfriends, Guan Xia and Pang Le entered the departure lounge. Sitting down in their seats, Guan Xia asked curiously, "Why is it just the two of us? Didn't you invite Sister Ji and Zhong Xiaoyu?"
Pang Le's personality usually thrived on liveliness, so Guan Xia had originally thought several people would be going. She was surprised it was just the two of them today.
Mentioning this made Pang Le a bit glum. She pouted and said, "Sister Ji's reinstatement process to the police force just finished a couple of days ago. She has to report back to her branch station and can't get away. Zhong Xiaoyu originally wanted to go, but her dad is causing trouble again, so she rushed back to deal with it. She'll have to come with me next time."
Guan Xia felt both disappointed and happy for Ji An. She couldn't help sighing with emotion, "Sister Ji is returning to the force. That's wonderful. But why didn't she tell us about such big news? Otherwise, we could have celebrated properly before she went back to Shangshuang City."
Pang Le stretched her long legs out lazily and said casually, "You know Sister Ji's personality. She's always been reserved and hates troubling others. Plus, while her return to the force is a huge happy event for us, for her, it's just like going home. It's normal she doesn't want to make a fuss."
Guan Xia nodded in agreement. "True. But this way, it won't be easy to see Sister Ji much in the future."
Having gone through life-and-death situations together, Guan Xia was happy for Ji An, but she still felt a tinge of loss and reluctance. After all, the two provinces were quite far apart, and with the nature of Ji An's work, meeting up would indeed be difficult.
Pang Le was much more carefree. Grinning, she said, "What's so difficult about that? If you really miss her too much, just go solve a couple of cases at their branch station sometime. With the impressive track record you've built, they'd probably treat you like royalty if you showed up. They wouldn't even need you to ask; they'd assign Sister Ji to collaborate with you."
Guan Xia thought about it and agreed, immediately shedding her melancholy and grinning too.
The two of them smiled at each other for a moment before Pang Le suddenly straightened her expression. She nudged Guan Xia with her elbow and said, "Almost forgot to ask you, what's going on with you and Xu Nian? When I asked you last time, there wasn't even a hint of anything. But I was only gone for a few days, and you two were openly hugging. When did this happen? I didn't notice a thing."
At this, Guan Xia looked at Pang Le with a deeply resentful gaze and said mournfully, "The very night you and Lu Tingfeng got together. You had a beauty in your arms that day; how could you possibly spare any attention for me?"
Mentioning this made Pang Le feel a bit guilty for once. She scratched her cheek, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "My bad, my bad. I shouldn't have drunk so much on impulse, and I definitely shouldn't have schemed to make Lu Tingfeng take me home instead of letting you do it. If I had listened to you a little, I wouldn't have had to run off for days afterward just to avoid him."
Guan Xia's curiosity wasn't that intense, but she held back for two seconds before finally leaning closer to Pang Le and asking in a low voice, "So what exactly happened between you two? You were avoiding Lu Tingfeng like the plague before, and then in less than two days, you're all lovey-dovey. Did you see how coquettish Lu Tingfeng was acting? It was unbearable to watch. I have no idea where he finds the nerve to be so thick-skinned."
Pang Le didn't think Lu Tingfeng was thick-skinned; in fact, she found him rather endearing. She first revealed a somewhat sweet smile before replying in an equally hushed tone, "Actually, I'm not entirely sure what happened either, but it seems like he had a sudden epiphany overnight. He had a long, frank talk with me, saying that after Wu Yang's case and the incident saving Meng Lan, he suddenly grasped the true meaning of life. He said life is too short, and no one knows what tomorrow or the future holds, so we should focus on the present, cherish every minute and second we live through now, instead of just anticipating and looking forward to the future. When I heard that, I thought, isn't that exactly my philosophy? So, I gritted my teeth and got together with him."
Guan Xia glanced at Pang Le, believing only about eighty percent of her story. "Gritted her teeth"? Knowing Pang Le as she did, Guan Xia suspected there was hardly any struggle at all. The moment Pang Le heard Lu Tingfeng had finally stopped fixating on "forever" with her, she probably agreed joyfully right away.
Facing Guan Xia's skeptical look, Pang Le only felt a twinge of guilt for a second before immediately becoming self-righteous. She hadn't lied! Although she might have exaggerated a little, it was pretty much an accurate account.
Pang Le's home wasn't in Dingyuan Province, but in Xingyi Province, located northeast and over a thousand kilometers away.
Compared to Dingyuan Province, Xingyi Province was colder and the air a bit drier. However, thanks to Guan Xia's constant travels over the past six months and her recent start with fitness, she adapted quite well.
After the plane landed, they were picked up by Pang Le's younger brother, Pang Qi. Guan Xia had met him twice before. He was a tall, strapping young man who didn't look much like Pang Le but was quite handsome and seemingly shy—though that shyness was just a stereotypical first impression. In reality, the young man was very outgoing. Ever since their first meeting, he had called her "Sister Guan Xia" without fail.
This time was no different. Even though they weren't very close and nearly a year had passed since their last meeting, Pang Qi acted with zero awkwardness, calling her "Sister" repeatedly. He very naturally took the suitcase from Guan Xia's hand and, along with Pang Le's, stuffed one into each hand into the trunk.
After Guan Xia and Pang Le got in the car, Pang Qi started the engine and enthusiastically said, "Tired after several hours on the plane? Must be hungry too, right? I put some snacks on the back window ledge. Sister Guan Xia, don't be shy, take whatever you want. There's water too. Have a little something to tide you over, and we'll have a proper meal once we're home. Dad's already started cooking, Mom has called several times asking, the fruit is washed and on the table—everything's ready, just waiting for you guys to get back."
Even though Guan Xia and Pang Le were very close friends, she felt somewhat overwhelmed by the hospitality and repeatedly said they were being too kind.
Pang Qi smiled and said, "Sister Guan Xia, you're the one being too polite. You're my sister's best friend, that makes you family to us too. Once we get home, please don't act like a guest. Treat it like your own home, do whatever you want, no need for formalities."
Even given another twenty years, Guan Xia knew she could never be that socially adept. She could only nod repeatedly, saying, "Okay, okay, okay."
Pang Le, well aware of Guan Xia's personality, patted the back of Pang Qi's seat and said matter-of-factly, "I'll take care of my own friend. You just focus on driving properly and talk a bit less."
Having been bossed around by Pang Le for years, Pang Qi wasn't the least bit upset. He just smiled good-naturedly and nodded, "Okay, okay, okay. I'll concentrate on driving then. You two chat, you two chat."
Relieved from Pang Qi's enthusiastic chatter, Guan Xia finally relaxed a bit inside and felt more at ease.
Pang Le's home wasn't far from the airport. As Guan Xia and Pang Le chatted intermittently, before they could even properly take in the scenery along the way, Pang Qi braked, and they had arrived at their destination.
Pang Le, already extremely excited, pulled Guan Xia out of the car, showing no intention of waiting for Pang Qi and leaving him with a rather cold back. She rushed with Guan Xia into the building unit and up to the third floor.
Just as they stepped onto the third-floor landing, the door on the left opened from the inside, revealing a face that shared about thirty percent resemblance with Pang Le's but was even more radiantly beautiful. Time seemed to have been especially kind to this face; even with fine lines, they did nothing to diminish its beauty. Needless to say, this was Pang Le's mother.
Pang Le's mother was also tall and slender and seemed like a very sociable person. The moment she saw Pang Le and Guan Xia, a delighted smile spread across her face. Without any formality, she took one of each by the hand, saying happily, "You're finally back! Her dad and I have been looking forward to it for the past couple of days. Her dad especially went out to buy groceries at dawn, insisting that since his daughter and her best friend were coming, he had to prepare the highest standard reception."
As she pulled them into the house, Pang Le's mother also called out loudly, "Old Pang, stop fussing with those dishes! Come out quick, your daughter brought her friend home. Come see, such a pretty, gentle-looking girl, so likable at first sight."
Once inside, Guan Xia saw that the kitchen door was closed, the range hood roaring inside, but it couldn't cover up another loud voice, "Got it, I'll be right out!"
Guan Xia, unable to resist such overwhelming hospitality, was firmly pulled by Pang Le's mother and seated on the sofa. Then came pouring water, fetching fruit, offering snacks—the flurry of activity made Guan Xia feel both immensely honored and slightly on edge, wishing she could get up and help.
Pang Le noticed Guan Xia's discomfort and laughed, pulling her close. "My mom's always been like this. For as long as I can remember, she's been incredibly warm to guests at home. If I came back after a year away, I'd get this treatment too. But if it's only been six months, forget it—she'd probably complain I'm visiting too often."
Pang Le's whispered explanation in Guan Xia's ear finally helped her settle down comfortably.
Another two minutes passed, and the coffee table in front of Guan Xia was already piled high with fruit, snacks, and local specialties. Finally, the tightly closed kitchen door opened, and out walked a slim, tall, scholarly-looking middle-aged man who perfectly fit Guan Xia's stereotypical image of a high school teacher.
However, this high school teacher was currently wearing an apron, holding a dish in one hand and a spatula in the other. He first gave Guan Xia a shy smile, then said, "You must be Guan Xia, Pang Le's best friend? You really are a nice girl. I heard you're involved in artistic creation—you look the talented type."
Guan Xia responded politely, but in her mind, she suddenly understood who Pang Qi took after. Not only did he resemble his father in looks, but even the shy expression was identical—quite deceptive.
During Guan Xia's efforts at socializing, Pang Qi finally managed to haul the two enormous suitcases upstairs, looking rather strained. After finally setting them down, he rubbed his wrists and complained, "Hey Sis, what did you pack in this suitcase? It's ridiculously heavy. Did you stuff a couple of dumbbells in there? It was so heavy I could barely keep my balance, almost tripped on the stairs just now."
Pang Le didn't feel the slightest bit sorry for her brother; instead, she shot him a disdainful look. "You've really wasted growing so tall. You can't even lift a suitcase properly. And yet Mom sent you to assess my skills? I should be assessing you instead."
Hearing his combat prowess doubted, Pang Qi immediately bristled. Just as he was about to retort, their mother skillfully gave each of them a light smack, saying with exasperation, "You two, really! When you're apart, you miss each other. The moment you're together, you bicker nonstop, like we're raising hundreds of chickens in this house. We have a guest today, so both of you, be quiet. Talk less. If you're really that restless, eat more instead."
Guan Xia sat quietly in the corner of the sofa, staring straight ahead, not even daring to lift her head casually. But inwardly, she thought, Pang Le really was like her mother, even their tones of voice were similar. Look at these four words: 'talk less.' Wasn't that exactly what Pang Le had said to Pang Qi not long ago when she was scolding him? So, this was the family hierarchy.
Even though only Guan Xia was the guest, Pang Le's father had gone all out and prepared a huge table of dishes—chicken, duck, fish, meat, shrimp—practically covering the entire table, leaving only a small space at the edge for bowls of rice.
Perhaps it's a universal trait of elders to fear their younger guests going hungry, but the rice in the bowl placed before Guan Xia was not only packed down but also piled high into a mound, making her gulp nervously. She was genuinely worried she couldn't finish it.
Pang Le had always been good at rescuing Guan Xia from awkward situations. Without needing a plea for help, she very naturally scooped out about half of the rice from Guan Xia's bowl. Under her mother's glare, she stated matter-of-factly, "Mom, you served way too much. Look how slim Guan Xia is. Does she look like she can eat this much? She's used to eating smaller, more frequent meals. If you really care about her, prepare more snacks. She'll eat when she's hungry."
Pang Le's mother's expression softened slightly, but she still glared at Pang Le. "What kind of host lets a guest eat snacks when they're hungry? Luckily, your dad had some time off a couple of days ago and got inspired to make a bunch of wontons. So, here's the deal: when she's hungry, you cook her some wontons. Just add some seaweed, dried shrimp, and seasoning, and it's ready to eat."
Pang Le agreed happily, and Guan Xia also breathed a sigh of relief.
Once the meal started, Guan Xia understood why Pang Le's father had made such a feast. She originally thought it was to entertain a guest, but after seeing the appetites of Pang Le's mother and Pang Qi, she realized their family usually ate like this. At most, they might add one or two extra dishes when guests came.
Pang Qi was young and at his peak eating capacity. He wolfed down his food. The bowl of rice that would have stuffed Guan Xia to death disappeared in the blink of an eye. As he went for a second serving, he seemed to remember something and glanced at Pang Le. "Oh yeah, Sis, did you offend someone a while back?"
Guan Xia paused her eating. Pang Le also stopped her chopsticks and turned to look at Pang Qi. "Did someone hit you? But how do you know it's because I offended someone and not you? Right now, I just run a gym. My free time is mostly spent hiking in the mountains. When would I have time to offend anyone? I suspect you're the one who messed up and are trying to pin the blame on me because you don't want to admit it."
Pang Le even tattled to her mother, "Mom, look at him. I just got home, and he's already trying to dump a black pot on my head. I think he offended someone, is scared of getting beaten up, and is shifting the blame to me."
Pang Le's mother was clearly accustomed to the two of them often getting into trouble. She didn't stop eating, but her expression turned more serious as she demanded, "What exactly happened? Pang Qi, you explain."
Pang Qi wore a face of both grievance and regret, even slowing down his eating. He said in a pitiful tone, "It was a while back, around the end of September. Remember when Dad caught a big fish and called me back to eat? I stayed over that night, but then I remembered something at the martial arts school and woke up. So around 4 a.m., I got ready to head back to the school. Just as I went downstairs, a woman rushed at me and tried to stab me for no reason at all! I was so startled, I just swung my arm and kicked out, sending her flying into the wall. Mom, you were the one who called the police, remember?"
Pang Le's mother also remembered, saying with sudden realization, "Oh, that incident! It was so long ago I'd almost forgotten. Yes, that did happen. We analyzed it back then. Pang Qi, your brother... forget offending women, he doesn't even have any female friends. His martial arts school is full of single guys too. We thought and thought but couldn't figure out who he could have offended to make a woman want to kill him. So we guessed it was probably your doing."
Pang Le's mother immediately sat up straight, adopting a stern expression that demanded a full confession.
From the moment Pang Qi mentioned the end of September, Guan Xia and Pang Le had a vague idea. After he finished speaking, they exchanged a look. Pang Le addressed her mother vaguely, "It is related to me, but it's not that I offended anyone. I was just being a good Samaritan. An accomplice wasn't happy and sent someone for revenge. On the same night Pang Qi kicked that person into the wall, someone came to kill us too. But who am I? I took care of it in no time. They're all in jail now. Mom, don't worry, it's already resolved. There won't be any more trouble."
Pang Le's mother relaxed a bit but still scrutinized her daughter carefully, making sure she wasn't missing any limbs and that no new scars were visible on her exposed skin. Then she said with exasperation, "You child, you've been like this since you were little. No matter how much we tell you, you never change. I don't know who you take after. Since you're back, it saves me sending your brother to find you. Tomorrow, you and your brother go to the martial arts school. Let me see if your skills have gotten rusty. If you can't even beat your brother, then don't even think about going back anytime soon. Unless you can beat your brother until he's picking his teeth up off the floor, if you dare go back, I'll break your legs."
Though Pang Le's mother spoke harshly, Pang Le wasn't the least bit afraid. She even made a funny face and winked at Guan Xia. Only Pang Qi wore a bitter expression, resignedly lowering his head to continue devouring his rice.
Guan Xia watched, utterly fascinated. So this was why Pang Le was so audacious! Turns out her mother, while seemingly trying to rein her in, was actually fanning the flames. Worried her daughter might suffer outside, she trained her fighting skills relentlessly. Wasn't that exactly fanning the flames?
After a sumptuous and eventful meal, Guan Xia indeed went with Pang Le, Pang Qi, and their mother to the martial arts school the next day.
Surprising yet somehow expected, the martial arts school covered quite a large area and had a rather classical, antique charm. What Guan Xia didn't anticipate, however, was that there weren't many adult members inside. It was mostly full of kids—some teenagers, others little toddlers—divided into different age groups, each led by either a young adult or a middle-aged person, practicing basic moves with enthusiastic shouts.
Noticing Guan Xia's surprised expression, Pang Le laughed. "Didn't expect this, right? Did you think my brother's martial arts school would be like in TV dramas, with a bunch of muscular, bare-chested guys fighting each other?"
Guan Xia didn't really want to admit it, but she nodded honestly.
Pang Le put an arm around Guan Xia's shoulders and said, "That's ancient history, probably from our great-grandfather's or even great-great-grandfather's time. Back then, most people couldn't even eat their fill, so who had the spare time or energy to practice martial arts? It's not like now. Maybe because people watch too many martial arts dramas, or because parents hope their sons will become dragons and daughters phoenixes, there are always parents taking the initiative or kids clamoring to learn martial arts. From what I remember, my grandfather has taken on no less than eighty, maybe a hundred, disciples. With so many people who have trained for years, how could the martial arts school possibly support them all if they stayed? So once they graduated, they'd each find their own path. Some went to work as security guards or bodyguards at my mom's security company, some even took civil service exams to become PE teachers. The more extreme ones tried to break into the entertainment industry, though they haven't done too well, mostly working as stunt doubles."
This was the first time Guan Xia had heard Pang Le talk about these things, and she listened with great interest.
Pang Le grew more animated as she spoke. "But if we're talking about the most successful one, that's definitely me—a world champion! Even though my grandfather acts like he's disappointed in me, I'm still the school's shining star. Honestly, most of the people who come here to learn martial arts these days are drawn by my reputation."
Guan Xia looked at Pang Le's radiant, proud expression and smiled sincerely. From the first time she met Pang Le, she had thought she was amazing. Even wearing a fishtail dress and high heels, Pang Le had effortlessly flipped a man who was harassing them onto the ground with a simple twist of her body. At that moment, Guan Xia had wondered how there could be a girl in the world both so beautiful and so impressively heroic. If she, Guan Xia, were a different gender, she might have fallen for Pang Le long ago, never mind Lu Tingfeng.
After showing Guan Xia around the martial arts school, Pang Le quickly changed into some comfortable clothes in a room. She then provocatively crooked a finger at Pang Qi and leaped onto the arena.
Although Guan Xia had known Pang Le for a long time and had met Pang Qi twice, this was her first time seeing the two of them fight.
She couldn't really follow the techniques, only seeing a dizzying back-and-forth exchange. Many of their moves seemed to challenge the limits of human flexibility, and Guan Xia found it hard to imagine how a person could be that supple.
She didn't know how long they fought for. She only knew that Pang Qi, despite his tall and sturdy build and powerful strength, was truly no match for Pang Le in terms of skill. Finally, amidst cheers, Pang Le forcefully threw Pang Qi to the ground and pinned him, only letting him go with a toss of her hair after he conceded defeat.
Pang Le flipped down from the stage. Her mother walked over, patted her shoulder, and said, "Not bad. You've been away, but you've kept your skills sharp. However, your power seems a bit weaker than before. Have you been slacking on your training lately?"
Pang Le showed no embarrassment at all. "No, I've been training consistently. It's just that I recently got a boyfriend, and it's still the honeymoon phase, so my training sessions aren't as long."
Pang Le didn't blush, but Guan Xia felt her own cheeks grow warm listening. She had thought Pang Le would get scolded, but to her surprise, Pang Le's mother wasn't angry at all. Instead, she patted Pang Le's head affectionately and said, "You're still young. You really should date a few more before thinking about marriage. Otherwise, with too little experience, what if some man tricks you? I'm not worried about you having a hard life; I'm worried you might lose control and beat your husband to death. Going to prison at your age would be a shame. I don't expect you to find someone exactly like your dad. Even one-tenth as good as him would put my mind at ease."
Guan Xia watched, dumbfounded. Pang Le said somewhat impatiently, "I'm not an idiot. How could I be easily tricked? Don't worry, I'm still young. Marriage is the last thing on my mind."
"Alright then," Pang Le's mother said with a chuckle. "That puts my mind at ease. Go have fun with your friend. I'm heading home. I finally have some time off, so I plan to visit the market. After buying groceries, I'll swing by and pick your dad up from work."
With that, Pang Le's mother smiled and waved at Guan Xia, fished the car keys out of Pang Qi's pocket, and walked away happily.
Guan Xia watched her leave, filled with admiration. No wonder Pang Le was so carefree; it was clearly inherited and influenced by her mother.
The tour of the martial arts school was over, and the fight was done. After tending to the cuts on his face and body, Pang Qi found the two of them and said, "It's almost noon. Let's find a place to eat, then I'll drive you guys home."
As he spoke, Pang Qi's facial wound twitched, making him hiss in pain. He looked at Pang Le with a resentful expression. "Sis, we agreed not to hit the face. Why do you break your promise every time and insist on leaving marks on my face? I think you're taking this chance to get back at me, trying to turn me into a pig head."
Pang Le glanced at him. "Mom didn't say anything, so stop whining. What's the use of being so tall and having such a handsome face if you're this old and still can't find a girlfriend? And you're afraid of a little pain? Honestly, what good are you to Mom? You can't even handle carrying my suitcase properly."
Pang Qi looked frustrated, wanting to argue, but after opening his mouth, he closed it again and resignedly led the way. "Let's go. It's getting late. Sister Guan Xia must be hungry. Let's eat."
Mentioning Guan Xia brought a smile back to Pang Le's face. She put an arm around Guan Xia and walked out of the martial arts school with great enthusiasm.
The martial arts school wasn't located right in the city center, but it wasn't in a remote area either. The neighborhood had not only shopping malls and hospitals but also a snack street and plenty of restaurants.
Pang Qi led them skillfully through streets and alleys, soon arriving at a somewhat hidden private dining restaurant.
As they walked deeper into the alley, Pang Le explained to Guan Xia, "This private kitchen has been open for many years. It's a family craft passed down through generations, existing for only a little less time than my grandfather's martial arts school. Rumor has it their ancestors even produced a royal chef for the imperial palace. Of course, that's just hearsay; no one knows if it's true. But their food is really delicious. Give it a try. If you like it, we can come back for another meal before we leave."
Guan Xia listened intently at first, her eyes full of anticipation. But as she listened, her attention was quickly drawn to a middle-aged man walking towards them from not far ahead.
The man looked to be in his forties, already balding, with a large belly that even a thick jacket couldn't conceal. A woman of similar age walked beside him. The two were chatting and laughing, completely unaware of Guan Xia and the others.
Having worked on so many cases together with Guan Xia, Pang Le quickly noticed her change in demeanor. After just one glance at the middle-aged man, she understood. She tapped Pang Qi and asked, "Did you bring the stuff I asked you to bring this morning?"
Although a bit puzzled, Pang Qi shrugged the backpack on his shoulder and said, "Yeah, I brought it. Why? Need to use it?"
Pang Le replied calmly with an "Mhm," then whispered mysteriously in Pang Qi's ear, "Let's just say your big sis is looking out for you. I'm about to show you something truly spectacular."
Having been tricked by Pang Le many times before, Pang Qi didn't believe a word of it. But to avoid getting beaten up, he still put on an expectant expression on his face.
Passing by that middle-aged couple and walking into the private dining room, Guan Xia finally laughed and looked at Pang Le, saying, "Well, work has come to us. I really didn't expect to run into something on just the second day."
"Being able to encounter you in the vast sea of people is also that guy's retribution," Pang Le also laughed while pulling a sketchbook from the bag Pang Qi was carrying.
Pang Qi was confused, but Guan Xia and Pang Le were both smiling happily. Taking advantage of the time Pang Qi was ordering dishes, they quickly completed a sketch.
Only then did Pang Qi begin to understand. Looking at the sketch, he said, "Is this the middle-aged man we just passed in the alley? What's wrong with him? Is there something special?"
"He's not a good person," Pang Le said casually, pulling out her phone. She then took a photo and started sending a message. "Luckily, I'm back home this time. I have contacts at the local police station here. Just wait and see, we might have him caught by the time we finish this meal."
Pang Qi finally understood and exclaimed with some surprise, "That guy just now was a criminal?"
Pang Le hummed in agreement, tilting her head. "Otherwise, what did you think your sister was busy with the past six months? Thanks to your Sister Guan Xia, she's now a hot commodity within the police system."
Speaking of cases, Guan Xia remembered something. The three other soul auras tinged with blood she had seen last time in Lijia Village—she hadn't had the chance to deal with them after Wu Yang's case was closed. Now, with the new year approaching, she should find some time to go and investigate what exactly was going on.
Pang Le and Pang Qi, one talking and one listening, were boasting about Guan Xia's abilities to an almost superhuman degree. Guan Xia interrupted several times before finally managing to stop Pang Le from glorifying her past achievements.
Just in that short time, listening had made Guan Xia's face flush red, yet Pang Le and Pang Qi still seemed unsatisfied.
After another lavish meal, just as Pang Le had predicted, as soon as they finished eating, the outcome regarding that middle-aged man came through.
Putting down her chopsticks, Pang Le said with bright, enthusiastic eyes, "He was a Category B fugitive. I told you, when Guan Xia makes a move, she's never wrong. See, I was right, wasn't I?"
Pang Qi nodded. Perhaps impacted by what he'd learned, he actually looked at Guan Xia with reverent eyes.
Guan Xia couldn't stand that kind of gaze and quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Pang Le, I suddenly remembered something odd I saw earlier in Lijia Village. I'm planning to go back with Xu Nian in a few days to check it out. Do you want to come?"
Pang Le had been waiting for this day. Upon hearing this, she immediately sat up straight, nodding excitedly. "Yes, yes, yes! I've been bored for over two months now, just waiting for you to say that."
Pang Le even started making plans. "Sister Ji can't make it, but we can call Zhong Xiaoyu, and Lu Tingfeng. Counting it up, isn't that almost like before? It's like a team outing. On our way back, we can also stop by to see Li Miao. I wonder how she's doing now. Speaking of which, that girl is really pitiful. Now that Li Feng is in prison, I don't know how much it's affecting her. I remember she's a teacher. I hope she doesn't lose her job because of Li Feng."
Guan Xia also remembered Li Miao vividly—the girl who liked to wear red dresses, let her hair down, and sit on the swing. Originally cherished by her parents with a harmonious family, she would have had a bright future if not for Wu Yang. But sadly, because of Wu Yang's selfishness, everything changed.
Guan Xia sighed wistfully, but soon pushed the thought aside. Looking at Pang Le's bright, beautiful face and then at the azure sky outside the window, she simply felt that no matter what she did, she was happy. It was the happiness she had imagined and had always been pursuing and longing for.
Since returning to Yongquan City, Guan Xia often found herself laughing out loud involuntarily. All problems were resolved. Now, she had money, a career, good friends, a boyfriend, and hobbies—it seemed she had everything one could want in life.
Looking back now on those days of desperate perseverance, it suddenly felt very worthwhile. She was also grateful that she had never given up and had kept persisting, which had led her to these gains.
Indeed, when one is lost, simply persevering is the right thing to do. Time will bring its rewards.
