Coffee

“A home invasion?”

In an archive room filled with various files, a young man leaning back in his chair looked up from a thick paper document.

He looked at the companion who had just walked in to report, his brow furrowing.

“What are the specific details?”

“Based on the traces at the scene, nearby surveillance, and information integrated from passersby, the situation is as follows.”

The speaker was a high school-aged boy wearing glasses, appearing only sixteen or seventeen years old.

He held a small notebook in his hand, flipping through it from time to time.

“At approximately 6:40 AM, Professor Zhou left his residence as usual for his office at the school.”

“Immediately after he left, a thief picked the lock to his front door.”

“However, Professor Zhou quickly realized he had forgotten an important document and chose to turn back halfway.”

“Around 6:50 AM, Professor Zhou returned home and unexpectedly cornered the thief, who was caught off guard.”

“A conflict most likely broke out between the two.”

“During the struggle, the thief used a fruit knife from the table to slash Professor Zhou’s neck, causing massive blood loss and ultimately leading to his death.”

“The thief fled the scene afterward.”

“An arrest is currently underway, but no useful clues were left at the scene or in the surrounding area.”

After finishing the report in one breath, the boy with glasses looked up at the tall man in the chair.

The man did not speak immediately, remaining silent for a moment.

He then turned to look at a bald man on the other side who had been silently flipping through various archives.

“Lao He, what is your opinion?”

“My opinion?”

The bald man known as Lao He put down the file in his hand, straightened his body, and rubbed his waist.

“We just arrived yesterday and made an appointment to meet Professor Zhou at the school this afternoon.”

“Then he dies in an accident this morning. Is that not a bit too coincidental?”

“Indeed.”

The man nodded in agreement.

“The most suspicious part is this thief.”

“Setting aside why he would rob an old residential area in broad daylight, it is quite ridiculous that a common thief could kill someone in a panic and leave behind absolutely no useful traces.”

He put down the document and stood up.

“And if I am not mistaken, that necklace should be gone too, right?”

“Yes.”

The boy with glasses looked over the information and gave an immediate, affirmative response.

“Before leaving, the thief took the professor’s wallet and his wife’s relic, which was locked in a cabinet.”

“That necklace was the very item we were supposed to recover today.”

“Heh…”

The man let out a cold laugh and led the way out the door.

“Xiao Ye, come with me to the scene to check it out!”

“The necklace is gone and the thief left no useful tracks, so what is there to see?”

Lao He did not get up since his name was not called, but he saw through the man’s intentions after a single glance.

“Captain, you just find these documents too boring and want to slack off, don’t you?”

“What are you saying? This is official business!”

“Just because ordinary people cannot find clues doesn’t mean we can’t. How will we know if we don’t visit the scene?”

“So the great Captain Jiang Xun of the Bureau of Special Investigations has fallen so low that he needs to personally handle a home invasion case?”

Lao He spoke with a smile, clearly joking.

The young man named Jiang Xun responded with a playful curse.

“Shut your mouth. I care about that necklace that can summon demons. The impact of losing that item is far too great.”

With that, he waved his hand and prepared to leave with the boy.

However, as he reached the door, he suddenly turned back.

“Oh, right… Lao He, make sure you organize all the data on the missing persons from the serial disappearance case before we get back. Do not leave anything out.”

“Captain, you might as well just kill me.”

The “old place” where Su Mian and Qi Chuan agreed to meet was actually a café.

More accurately, it was the internet café located above the coffee shop.

They used to go there often to play games and would come down for a drink when bored.

The coffee was good and the owner was very welcoming, so over time, it became their designated meeting spot.

Qi Chuan had not arrived yet when Su Mian got there, but he did not mind.

“Uncle Li, are you making the coffee personally today?”

The café was decorated in a bright and elegant style, with tasteful small ornaments.

There were many customers even in the morning, to the point where even the owner had to come out and help.

The owner naturally recognized Su Mian, who visited often.

Seeing the boy greet him, he handed a prepared cup of coffee to a young waitress and looked up with a smile.

“Mian Mian? You haven’t been here in a while. The usual today?”

“The usual. Give me a milk coffee, light sugar.”

Su Mian found a seat by the window and sat down.

Then, as if remembering something, he quickly stood up again.

“Oh, right. Another cup of charcoal roasted, no sugar!”

“No problem, I will make them myself.”

The owner was enthusiastic.

Su Mian sat back down and tried his best to keep his eyes lowered, forcing himself not to look at the other people.

However, the “human scent” coming from the café and the street was not covered by the aroma of the coffee beans.

He soon became restless.

The intense agitation in his heart made Su Mian regret agreeing to come out.

After a while, Qi Chuan finally arrived.

“Ah, sorry, sorry! When I was heading out, I realized a large part of my clothes had somehow gotten dirty. It took some time to change.”

Su Mian looked up at the person across from him.

Just like his voice, Qi Chuan’s appearance made it difficult to tell if he was a man or a woman at first glance.

It was certainly not a feminine or crude look, but a neutral beauty that combined the best traits of both genders.

In short, if he wore men’s clothing with slightly sharper makeup, he was a handsome guy.

If he wore a dress with softer makeup, he became a beautiful woman.

He possessed a uniquely blessed face.

Right now, in a simple cartoon cat T-shirt and shorts, he seemed to give off a shimmering glow, looking several degrees brighter than everyone else.

This kind of person would be a protagonist or a lead sidekick in an anime.

Su Mian had always thought his friend should join the entertainment industry.

With that face alone, he could definitely hook a crowd of fangirls… and fanboys.

Anyway…

“Are you slandering me in your head again?”

Qi Chuan sat in his usual chair, took off his cross-body bag, and looked over suspiciously.

Su Mian shook his head quickly.

“You are overthinking. And why did you say ‘again’?”

“You tell me!”

Qi Chuan huffed.

Just then, the waitress arrived with a tray holding two cups of coffee.

“One milk coffee, one charcoal roasted coffee. Please enjoy.”

Looking at the pitch-black charcoal roasted coffee in front of him, Qi Chuan’s expression shifted several times.

Finally, he lunged forward as if to strangle Su Mian’s neck.

“You ordered this bitter crap for me again! I’m going to kill you!”

“That is enough.”

Su Mian quickly dodged.

Of course, he wasn’t actually afraid of being strangled.

He was used to his friend’s dramatic outbursts and would usually play along.

But not now.

He was afraid that if they got too close, someone might actually die.

As for whose life would be lost?

It certainly wouldn’t be Su Mian’s.