Aya Jiu offered them no pleasantries.
“Hmph!”
Her chubby little face turned away, refusing to acknowledge Aya Tone no matter what he said.
Aya Tone knew he hadn’t done anything wrong, yet he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.
‘Had some dark energy invaded his precious daughter?’
‘Why had her oppressive aura suddenly become so strong?’
He swallowed discreetly, then plastered on a cheerful smile, deploying his ultimate weapon.
“Aya Jiu, darling~ Next month is your birthday. Tell Daddy, what kind of gift would you like?”
No child could resist the anticipation of their birthday. His conjecture was, without a doubt, correct.
Upon hearing the words “birthday,” little Aya Jiu’s delicate face momentarily froze, her petulance instantly replaced by excitement.
“Yay, birthday! (σ≧∀≦)σ”
‘All thoughts of being angry flew away!’
“Daddy, Daddy, can I invite all those big sisters to celebrate my birthday with me?”
‘Hmph, just wait until all those pretty big sisters arrive. Then we’ll see if Daddy still won’t choose!’
‘Pretty big sisters? All of them?’
Aya Tone lowered his gaze slightly, seemingly pondering just how many “sisters” his daughter was referring to.
In his mind, it would be enough to simply have Li Jia over, perhaps with the President too, for a happy meal.
However, since his daughter had brought it up…
“Of course, you can! It’s your birthday, Aya Jiu. You can invite anyone you want. You can even bring your good friends from kindergarten.”
‘This would be a good chance to see if there were any potential ‘yellow hairs’ or ‘green tea’ best friends around Aya Jiu.’
“Really?!” Aya Jiu’s eyes sparkling. She happily flipped herself off the sofa, then, with astonishing agility, she was clinging to Aya Tone’s neck in a flash.
“Really,” Aya Tone chuckled, enjoying his daughter’s soft, tender lip massage.
He secretly winked at Big White, who was not far away.
‘See that? When it comes to coaxing children, I’m a professional!’
Big White let out a soft laugh, choosing not to expose her master.
‘Laugh now, but in a few days, you’ll have plenty to worry about.’
****
“Time truly flies,” Aya Tone sighed, resting his head on the table, lamenting the swift passage of days. “In the blink of an eye, it’s already November, and Aya Jiu’s birthday is just a few days away.”
He didn’t know Aya Jiu’s actual birthdate, but that didn’t stop him from celebrating the day they met as her birthday.
As for himself, with Aya Jiu by his side, every day felt like a celebration.
A fresh surge of vitality coursed through Aya Tone’s veins at the thought.
‘This won’t do!’
Aya Jiu wanted to invite friends over, so the house needed proper decoration. Even if it wasn’t a ballroom-level party, at the very least, streamers and similar embellishments were a must.
He decided to act immediately.
Since Big White had to stay by Aya Jiu’s side, this birthday party would undoubtedly require his personal touch and effort.
Under Fire Finch’s ruthless methods, combined with the joint efforts of the unified government and various police forces, Qian Mian’s influence had been uprooted from Yan’an City in just half a month.
Even so, the aftershocks of Qian Mian’s presence still lingered slightly within the city. Aya Jiu’s safety remained his utmost priority.
****
Strolling down the street, Aya Tone mumbled what sounded like a mysterious incantation.
“Should the cake be fruit-flavored or chocolate? I like chocolate, but Aya Jiu…”
“The online shop owner is so stingy; they didn’t even include batteries for the LED strips… how infuriating…”
Passersby, their eyes filled with disdain, quickened their pace as they brushed past him.
‘This man walks alone, muttering to himself so much, even twitching occasionally. He looks like a madman; it’s better to keep a distance.’
‘Who knew if this fool might suddenly lash out and attack?’
It had been a while since he last visited the mall. Observing the scattering of customers entering and exiting, Aya Tone grabbed a nearby shopping cart and charged straight inside.
‘It’s not the weekend, so fewer people are normal!’
However, before he could take two steps, he was stopped by a young man who looked as if he had dropped out of school.
“Let go!” Aya Tone’s voice was sharp with displeasure. Being suddenly grabbed by a stranger instantly ignited his anger.
He disliked everything about the young man before him, from his aura to his abrupt touch.
Yet, the man seemed unfazed by his rebuke. He casually glanced around their surroundings, then leaned in conspiratorially, whispering, “Buddy, I’ve got a road to riches here. Interested?”
“…No!”
“That’s fantastic! I could tell at a glance you’re a man of foresight. How about we find a place to discuss this properly?”
Seeing that the other party apparently didn’t understand plain language, Aya Tone erupted.
“If your ears are messed up, go to a hospital! Don’t stand here ruining the city’s appearance!”
He violently shook off the man’s hand and walked towards the supermarket without a backward glance.
‘He inwardly cursed himself for not checking the calendar before leaving the house; to think he’d run into such an idiot.’
After Qian Mian’s removal, some mentally unstable individuals had appeared in the city from unknown places.
They hadn’t committed any crimes or used abilities; they simply extended invitations. The police were quite helpless about it.
With freedom of speech, there wasn’t much they could do, unless the person reoffended. At most, they could offer a verbal warning.
Entering the supermarket, the dazzling array of goods quickly captivated his attention, making Aya Tone instantly forget the recent encounter.
By the time he emerged, laden with large and small bags, the man had vanished. Aya Tone didn’t give it a second thought; in fact, he’d completely forgotten such a person existed.
****
“Ding-dong.”
Aya Tone, who had only just returned home, was startled by the sudden sound of the doorbell.
‘No one should be ringing the doorbell at this hour.’
Especially not after Fire Finch had moved in; it was even less likely for anyone to specifically come and ring.
Puzzled, he opened the door.
“Police officers, who are you looking for?”
After opening the door, the bewilderment in Aya Tone’s eyes deepened.
Standing outside were several police officers, radiating an unspoken authority. Their auras suggested they had experienced battles, having been tempered by blood and fire; otherwise, they wouldn’t possess such an intimidating presence.
“Mr. Aya, is that correct? We suspect you’re involved in a homicide case. Please come with us; we hope for your cooperation.”
The leading officer glanced at the decorative streamers still in Aya Tone’s hand, his gaze flickering slightly. He then looked past Aya Tone into the house, but quickly withdrew his eyes, making a sincere gesture for him to come.
Aya Tone tilted his head. “A homicide?”
Though he didn’t quite understand what was happening, he chose to cooperate. ‘The innocent need no defense,’ he thought. ‘At worst, he’d go have a cup of tea, considering it a diversion.’
Seeing his willingness to cooperate, the police didn’t treat him like a criminal being escorted.
On the way, the officers around Aya Tone maintained grave expressions, their gazes fixed forward.
He stealthily poked the young police officer beside him.
“So, what kind of murder case is it that I could possibly be involved in?”
The young officer, seeing the suspect’s audaciousness, instinctively wanted to scold him.
However, the older officer on the other side spoke first. “A man was discovered by a passerby in the bushes around eleven o’clock.”
“Oh, I see.”
Noticing Aya Tone’s curious expression, the officer continued with a meaningful tone, “You were the last person to have contact with him, and according to eyewitnesses, there was a physical altercation between you and the deceased.”
“Oh, I see.”
Aya Tone nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly realized.
“Are you saying… the one who died was that troublesome fellow?”