The following part of the trip, Guan Xia had mentally prepared herself, even staying on high alert, but to her surprise, everything remained peaceful.
They enjoyed a delicious local hotpot meal before hiking up to visit a temple. The temple appeared ancient, bearing the marks of time. It was vast, with weathered red walls and intricately carved but faded eaves. Guan Xia and Pang Le followed the crowd, slowly making their way through, casually paying respects to the Buddha statues—though they were most devout when facing the God of Wealth.
In the evening, they visited the food street and explored the ancient town as recommended in their travel guide. The sheer number of people made Guan Xia sigh in amazement—this was truly a tourist city. Even at what would normally be bedtime, the streets were still packed, bustling with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
Pang Le held onto Guan Xia’s arm to avoid getting separated in the crowd. They wandered around for over an hour, only heading back to the hotel once their overstuffed stomachs had settled.
Though Pang Le kept chatting nonstop with Guan Xia along the way, her eyes kept darting around uncontrollably. Back in their room, she muttered, "So… that’s it for tonight? Feels a bit weird, doesn’t it?"
Exhausted from walking all evening, Guan Xia collapsed onto the small sofa and chuckled. "What? A little disappointed? What did you think would happen?"
Pang Le flopped down beside her. "A tourist city with so many outsiders—there’s bound to be a few wanted criminals, right? But I scanned the crowd all night and didn’t spot a single suspicious person."
Guan Xia rolled her eyes. "Wanted criminals don’t exactly wear signs on their faces. More importantly, do you even check the police’s wanted bulletins regularly?"
Pang Le was stumped. She leaned back against the sofa and fell silent, finally giving Guan Xia’s ears some peace after hours of chatter. She savored the quiet, zoning out in exhaustion.
After resting for a while, Guan Xia went to shower. When she came out, drying her hair, she noticed Pang Le frowning at her phone.
Concerned, Guan Xia walked over. "What’s wrong?"
Pang Le said, "Song Yi usually posts a new video by now, but there’s still nothing."
Guan Xia guessed, "Maybe she filmed too much footage? Editing could be taking longer than usual."
Pang Le’s frown deepened. "In her last video, she didn’t specify which mountain she was climbing, but she mentioned it was a lesser-known peak in the Cuiping Mountain Range. She said there’s a flat platform at the summit, perfect for camping on clear days. With no higher peaks blocking the view, you can see the stars, the sunrise, and even the city’s night lights from up there."
She scrolled through Song Yi’s past videos and added, "Based on her routine, she usually sets out in the morning, camps overnight—just like we did—then watches the sunrise, has breakfast, and heads back down the next day. She’d be back at the hotel by mid-afternoon, edits nonstop, and posts the video around 9 PM. She’s kept this schedule for over a year. If she can’t post on time, she always announces it in advance."
Guan Xia checked the time on her phone—it was almost 11 PM.
Remembering their own camping experience, Guan Xia hesitated, exchanging a strange look with Pang Le, who clearly had the same thought.
"No way," Pang Le said. "Does she have your weird luck too?"
After a moment of thought, Pang Le added, "But last time we camped, after you found a killer first, she also ended up discovering one."
Though Song Yi hadn’t confronted the killer directly, stumbling upon one through her filming was still bizarrely coincidental.
Sitting on the bed, mechanically drying her hair, Guan Xia couldn’t help but wonder. Through the system, she knew she’d been transported into a world blending crime fiction. And if this was a crime fiction world, there had to be protagonists. Song Yi—an outdoors enthusiast with great stamina, discipline, and dedication—fit the profile of many crime fiction heroines Guan Xia had read about.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone rang.
A call at this hour could only mean one thing. Guan Xia quickly grabbed her phone—it was Shao Ying.
As soon as she answered, Shao Ying’s slightly hoarse voice came through. "Guan Xia, sorry to bother you so late, but the emergency treatment just ended. I thought you’d want to know the outcome right away."
Guan Xia had indeed been waiting for this call. The earlier silence had worried her, so even before hearing the result, she let out a small sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Captain Shao," Guan Xia said. "My friend and I have been waiting for your call. We really do want to know—how is that woman…?"
She braced for bad news, but Shao Ying chuckled. "The surgery was a success. She’s stable and has been moved to a regular ward. The doctor didn’t say it outright, but hinted that with proper recovery, she shouldn’t suffer any lasting effects."
Guan Xia exhaled deeply, equal parts relieved and dazed. She’d just come here to relax, and yet she’d saved another life?
After a brief pause, she hesitantly asked, "Captain Shao… could you tell me what happened in this case?"
A woman beaten and stuffed into a suitcase—Guan Xia could imagine countless grim possibilities.
To her surprise, Shao Ying agreed without hesitation. "Normally, no, but given how often you’ve provided crucial leads, helping us solve multiple cases, you’re practically an ally to our force. And allies deserve honesty."
After a few lighthearted remarks, Shao Ying’s tone turned serious. "This case is straightforward. The suspect had recently divorced and came to Quchun City to travel. After returning to his hotel, he encountered the victim—a housekeeper—cleaning his room. Overcome by impulse, he tried to assault her. She fought back fiercely, accidentally hitting her head and passing out. Panicked, he assumed she was dead. Too scared to call the police or let her be found, he shoved her into his suitcase, planning to rent a car, leave the city, and dump the body somewhere along the way."
Guan Xia had theorized countless motives for the middle-aged man’s actions, but never something as brutish as momentary lust.
Her face twisted in disgust, as if she’d bitten into an apple only to find half a worm inside. She wanted to curse but held back, remembering she was speaking to an officer. After a struggle, she only managed to grit out, "Trash."
Shao Ying agreed. "Absolute scum. Thankfully, you found her in time. The doctors said another half hour, and the outcome might’ve been very different. Guan Xia, thank you. You saved a life and prevented a tragedy."
Guan Xia felt somewhat embarrassed by such straightforward gratitude. Shao Ying continued, "By all rights, since you've been a great help to our police force and you're also a friend of my old classmate Xu Nian, it would only be proper for me to show you some hospitality as a local. But recently, our city has been dealing with a tricky case. Although it hasn't been assigned to our Third Unit yet, we've been ordered to remain on standby 24/7, ready to provide support at any moment. So, I’ll have to regretfully postpone our meeting until next time."
Guan Xia listened attentively, her focus entirely on the words "tricky case." She was burning with curiosity but knew better than to pry. Swallowing her questions, she politely replied, "No problem. Our two cities are so close—we might run into each other again soon. We can always arrange something next time."
Shao Ying chuckled before suddenly asking, "This might sound a bit forward, but I have to ask—have you ever considered moving to Quchun City? Don’t let its size fool you; it’s a tourist destination with beautiful scenery, fresh air, and barely any smog all year round. Aside from traffic jams during peak tourist seasons, the roads are smooth the rest of the time. Best of all, the city is packed with amazing food. Since it’s a tourist hub, people from all over the country come here to make a living, so you can find authentic restaurants for any cuisine you crave."
Guan Xia was completely caught off guard by this unexpected suggestion and let out a confused, "Huh?"
Shao Ying smiled again. "You might have already guessed—I was really curious about you, so I asked Xu Nian for some details. I used to wonder how he suddenly cracked two major cases in such a short time, as if he’d unlocked some hidden potential. Turns out, you were his cheat code. But don’t get me wrong—I’m not trying to take advantage of you or use you to boost our unit’s case-solving rate. I just want to spend more time with you, to see if I can learn something from you. Talent is talent—most people could spend their whole lives studying and still never reach the starting point of a genius. But even a small improvement could make a big difference in solving cases."
She spoke earnestly and sincerely, careful not to give Guan Xia any reason to dislike her.
But the more Shao Ying explained, the guiltier Guan Xia felt. She wasn’t some genius with innate talent—just a lucky transmigrator who happened to have a cheat system. Compared to Shao Ying and her colleagues, she was nothing more than an ordinary person.
Guan Xia replied as calmly as she could, "I’m sorry, Captain Shao. I’d love to spend more time with someone as impressive as you, but my home is in Yongquan City, and I’ve only just moved into a new place. I might visit Quchun for travel someday, but living there isn’t an option."
Shao Ying wasn’t discouraged. "Then, would it be alright if I called you sometimes? Don’t worry—I won’t bother you too much. It’d just be for occasional case discussions."
The words "case discussions" made Guan Xia’s scalp tingle. She truly believed Shao Ying was overestimating her. After some hesitation, she tactfully said, "Captain Shao, the few times I’ve helped the police were pure coincidences. I’m really just an amateur. I’d love to discuss things with you, but honestly, I doubt I’d be of much help."
Shao Ying still smiled. "Comrade Guan Xia, the thing about talent is that it often surprises people when they least expect it. To sound a bit arrogant—when it comes to reading people, us detectives are the sharpest."
Guan Xia understood the underlying meaning. After a pause, she replied cautiously, "I’m happy to communicate with you, Captain Shao. I just can’t promise I’ll be useful."
Shao Ying’s voice brightened noticeably, sounding delighted. "I’d be honored to be friends with someone as remarkable as you, Comrade Guan Xia. I look forward to our next meeting."
After hanging up, Guan Xia felt conflicted. Though her test trip had gone smoothly, it had unexpectedly spawned a new subplot. She wasn’t sure whether this was a good or bad thing.
Pang Le had been watching Guan Xia since she answered the call. Now, he sauntered over with an amused smirk. "Well, well. Looks like someone’s getting famous. Now you’ve got people trying to poach you. I wonder how Xu Nian would react if he heard."
Guan Xia shot him an annoyed glare before grabbing a hairdryer to dry her hair.
Once her hair was dry and she’d calmed down, she changed into pajamas and briefly recounted the suitcase case from earlier that day.
Pang Le’s expression immediately darkened with regret. "Why are there so many scumbags in this world? We should’ve grabbed that guy when we saw him—maybe even roughed him up a little."
Guan Xia sighed. "If we’d done that, we’d be in a police station right now, not a hotel."
Pang Le lay down beside her. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he rolled onto his side and looked at her seriously. "Promise me something, Guan Xia. If one day you truly embrace your talent and decide to use it properly, you have to let me join you."
Guan Xia didn’t answer, her mind blank as she stared at the ceiling.
She didn’t want to think, but her brain stubbornly replayed her recent experiences—running into Liu Jiahui and her son multiple times before moving, locking eyes with the killer in the panda costume at the mall, learning about the little boy pushed off the mountain during their camping trip, the identical looks of worry on everyone’s faces despite barely knowing each other, and the first time she went grocery shopping in the crowd and encountered a murderer who looked utterly harmless.
Guan Xia had always taken things as they came, but in just over half a month since binding with the system, her life had been turned upside down.
Maybe it was the nature of this crime-riddled world, or perhaps the unique wavelength of her transmigrated soul—but Guan Xia couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was surrounded by cases.
She had a premonition: even if she didn’t actively seek it out, this system would inevitably lead her down a path of helping the police solve crimes. Right now, it was passive—but someday, it might become her choice.
Her silence stretched so long that Pang Le couldn’t resist nudging her. "What’s with that brooding look? What’s on your mind?"
Guan Xia remained lying still, quiet for a long time before finally asking, "Pang Le, have you ever been forced into a choice? What were you thinking at the time?"
Pang Le gave Guan Xia a strange look, thought for a moment, and said, "Of course there is. As long as you're human, it's inevitable to feel forced. Actually, I've been forced my whole life. For example, my mom is the eldest daughter, and I'm her eldest daughter, so I was forced to inherit the martial arts school. Even though I’m only three years older than my brother, I had to put in way more effort and sweat because of our family tradition—passing skills to the eldest, not the younger. Honestly, I didn’t mind it or resist it. I always thought martial arts were cool—you could uphold justice, and when trouble came, you didn’t have to be afraid. Just throw a punch. But my grandpa was too old-fashioned. To focus solely on martial arts, I had to give up other interests. You know how much I love beautiful things, right? Pretty clothes, pretty jewelry, pretty people. I also love pretty pens, pretty notebooks, pretty backpacks—anything beautiful. But to my grandpa, all that was just a distraction, something that weakened my resolve."
Pang Le sighed and flopped onto her back. "When I started training at three, I was forced to cut my long hair. I never saw a skirt again. The cute hair ties and clips I secretly bought? He threw them all away. My mom actually understood me—she’s a woman too, after all. But she’d been crushed under my grandpa’s control her whole life, and if she dared to speak up for me, he’d just train me even harder. She even got punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall."
Guan Xia couldn’t help but ask, "What about your dad?"
Pang Le chuckled. "He’s a high school teacher. The one thing my mom successfully defied my grandpa for. Originally, my grandpa wanted her to marry one of his disciples, but my mom fell for my dad. Luckily, my dad might look bookish, but he’s not weak. They fought for years before finally getting together. My grandpa was so angry he ended up in the hospital. Plus, he’s old now, so he doesn’t push too hard anymore."
Pang Le sighed again. "You have no idea how stubborn my grandpa is. My brother’s talent isn’t bad at all, but he clings to that outdated rule—eldest inherits, youngest doesn’t. When I hit my rebellious phase, after years of suppression, I snapped and switched paths. I thought, if I compete for the country’s glory, he can’t force me anymore, right? Honestly, I don’t hate martial arts. I love it. I thrive on it—the thrill of defeating an opponent, the satisfaction of helping someone with a single kick. But to me, martial arts and loving beautiful things aren’t mutually exclusive. Why choose one when you can have both?"
"So, Guan Xia," Pang Le propped her chin on her hand and grinned at her, "I’m happy now. I still train, but I’m free to love all the pretty things I want. I can chase excitement whenever I feel like it. No one controls me anymore."
Guan Xia smiled back at her.
Suddenly, Pang Le asked, "What about you, Guan Xia? Your talent—how do you feel about it?"
The smile froze on Guan Xia’s face. She hesitated before answering slowly, "I don’t feel much… Well, that’s not entirely true. At least when I saved someone’s life, I felt really excited, really accomplished."
"Then you’re already on the path of passion," Pang Le mused. "Like when I’d only been training for a couple of years and accidentally saw some new disciples being bullied at the school. I stepped in, furious. They hated me for meddling, but no one could beat me. In the end, they had to slink away, too scared to talk back. I still remember that feeling—strength is authority. They didn’t want to listen to me, but because they couldn’t win, they had no choice. That’s when I truly fell in love with martial arts."
Guan Xia listened, captivated yet dazed. Was she already on the path of passion? She wasn’t sure. But whenever she thought about saving a life, she couldn’t help the excitement, the way her heart pounded so loudly she could almost hear it.
