“Damn her, damn her, damn her! That insolent little brat, that infuriating little brat! How dare she wear such a haughty expression!”
“Who does she think she is?! She’s absolutely enraging me!”
Luo Tianchen’s Uncle lifted his glass, downed its contents in a single gulp. He then slammed the empty vessel onto the table with a resounding thud.
‘He’s still fuming over that matter, isn’t he?’
‘If it weren’t for those pathetic, abandoned-puppy eyes he’s giving me, I wouldn’t even bother with him.’
‘Still, the food here is quite good.’
“Uncle, another drumstick!”
“Coming right up!”
“This is hardly the time for drumsticks!”
“What we *should* be doing is figuring out how to defeat that insufferable brat! Damn her, damn her, damn her, she’s just leveraging her power and pretty face, isn’t she?”
“These clueless children are the absolute worst!”
‘Oh, my drumstick was snatched.’
‘And what makes *your* behavior any different from those little brats?’
“Do you even know who that girl is?”
‘I am, a little, intrigued.’
“Who the hell knows!”
“All I know is that a message came directly from higher-ups, telling me to hand over this case entirely to that Golden-haired Girl. Damn it, in just another year, the Old Director will be retiring.”
“If I could have seized this opportunity to solve this major case, I wouldn’t only make up for three years of stagnant performance, but I’d also gain significant favor with the leaders!”
“But now, that little brat has completely messed everything up! Which imbecile thought up such a ridiculous idea anyway?”
“Letting a child investigate a murder case? What a joke!”
“Do you know Dr. Henry Lee, the famous American detective? That kid doesn’t even hold a candle to him; I used to chat and laugh with him!”
Luo Tianchen’s Uncle’s face was completely flushed. He exhaled a strong gust of alcohol-laden breath.
‘You really have the nerve to say that.’
‘He seems completely drunk. Well, I’ve eaten my fill anyway; I might as well head back.’
“Hey, hey, wait a minute! Where are you going?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle frantically tugged at Luo Tianchen’s sleeve.
“?”
“Have you forgotten that I’m a student?”
“B-but we haven’t even discussed our battle plan yet!”
“Plan? What plan?”
“Of course, it’s to solve the case before that arrogant woman—”
“And then slap her face hard! To show her what happens when she insults me!”
Had he envisioned some triumphant scene? Luo Tianchen’s Uncle was trembling with excitement.
‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, what’s with this déjà vu of an adult film plot?’
‘Well, let him do as he pleases.’
“Is that so? Then I wish you good luck in solving the case ahead of time. I’ll be silently cheering you on from the shadows.”
“Huh? Didn’t we agree to solve the case together?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle looked utterly bewildered.
‘Huh?’
‘I never said anything of the sort, did I?’
‘Ultimately, whether it’s a promotion, a raise, or slapping her face, you’re the only one who stands to benefit.’
‘Why should I waste my energy just to make you happy?’
“B-but aren’t you worried about your friends…?”
“If it’s her, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“Even, even *you* are saying that!”
“Listen closely, Uncle.” Luo Tianchen said to him calmly.
“Have you never questioned it?”
“Do you truly believe that those in high positions would, out of sheer foolishness, assign a young woman to investigate a murder case?”
“Don’t deny it. Since they stand higher than you, they must inherently excel in certain aspects.”
“The reason they chose that young woman to handle the case isn’t a lack of trust in you; it’s simply because they believe her involvement offers a higher chance of success.”
“This also indicates that this case is far more significant than you imagine.”
“Whether you heed my words or not, I have only one piece of advice for you.”
“W-what?”
“Don’t get involved with it. Listen to that young woman.”
“Take a few days off and go home to rest. Since they’re actively giving you an opportunity to step away, don’t miss it.”
“This way, regardless of success or failure, you’ll incur no losses.”
“‘Heaven’s will is to destroy a man, it must first make him mad.’ Do not chase overly high expectations.”
“This is my final piece of advice to you.”
“…I understand.”
‘Just agree now and then secretly investigate on your own, right?’
‘It’s written all over your face.’
“I’m going to tell Yan Ning and Aunt Luo, you know?”
“I understand!”
‘Oh, and by the way, this guy is completely whipped by his wife and a doting father to his daughter.’
‘He obeys their every word, without question.’
‘Still, he looks so unwilling. What’s wrong with him? Is he still a child?’
‘If things continue like this, I have a feeling something will go wrong.’
Luo Tianchen sighed, then continued, “Let me put it this way: that girl is incredibly formidable. You absolutely cannot compare to her.”
“Huh? Really?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle looked utterly unconvinced.
“Believe it or not, it’s up to you. Perhaps even I couldn’t surpass her.”
“You’re lying! To think even the arrogant ‘Dust Moon’ would say such a thing!”
“Just what kind of monster is that girl?”
Luo Tianchen’s Uncle shuddered.
‘I’ll punch you.’
“…Forget it, think whatever you want.”
“Oh, lend me your citizen ID card for a moment; mine’s out of funds.”
“Hey, how am I supposed to get home like this?!”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go back? Or you could call for a police escort.”
“If the media found out about that, it would be disastrous!”
“It’s fine. Just tell them it’s your last wish before retirement, and they’ll surely forgive you generously.”
“I haven’t retired yet!”
‘Oh dear, oh dear, he really is a troublesome uncle.’
‘This is excellent. Thanks to that girl’s appearance, I won’t have to get involved.’
‘If that’s the case, I might finally be able to live a normal life.’
“Please, I beg you, live on…”
“Not as a hero, but as a mortal…”
“No longer bear these pains. Live each day happily, like an ordinary person…”
“This is my last wish…”
‘You must be watching me from above now, aren’t you?’
‘Don’t worry, I’m living as an ordinary person, just as you asked.’
‘Until, I die.’