The boss

“I remind you of an old friend?”

Xu Feng had never met a girl quite like Haidier. She was about to ask more out of curiosity, but Haidier gave a look of easy resignation and a smile, proactively pressing one of the cupcakes from the tray into Xu Feng’s hand.

“But she belongs to the long-distant past. Let’s not dwell on that—hurry and try it! And Xu Xiaoyu, you take one too.” Haidier offered another cake to Xu Xiaoyu, who accepted it in a daze.

Xu Xiaoyu couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that the Director of the Dream-Protection Bureau was a little girl, even in her wildest dreams.

“Alright, don’t just stand in the doorway, you two. Follow me. There’s a prisoner in need of some discipline who requires your attention.”

Haidier set the tray on a nearby table. She walked along the white wall toward another wire-mesh door. Emblazoned on the door in bright red characters were the words: Interrogation Room.

As the door sensed Haidier’s presence, red lights on either side flashed, and the door swung outward. Inside was a self-contained black space. Dim yellow lights illuminated blurred iron bars; looking through them, one could see an interrogation chair occupied by a man sitting with his head slumped on the table.

Haidier reached back to untie her apron, revealing her original blue-and-white dress. As she held the apron toward the wall, a crimson rift tore open in the air. She tossed the apron inside, and the rift sealed itself naturally.

Xu Feng and Xu Xiaoyu’s eyes widened slightly. This was incredible—storing things like that was far too convenient!

“By the way, considering that Member Feng has had prior contact with Feiguang, you may ask any questions you like during the interrogation. Don’t be polite with him,” Haidier said, looking back at Xu Feng, who nodded repeatedly.

“Also, finish your cakes before we go in. Don’t let the interrogation ruin the flavor,” Haidier added, pointing at the treats in their hands.

“Oh! Right!”

Xu Feng stuffed the entire cake into her mouth at once. The moment her tongue touched the fluffy crust, a sweet, fragrant flavor flooded her heart. The interior was so soft and tender it could be swallowed perfectly in a single gulp.

Seeing Xu Feng eating with such gusto, Xu Xiaoyu took a large bite herself. Her eyes leaped with the same look of surprise before she finished the rest in one go.

Seeing that they both enjoyed it, Haidier simply smiled quietly, her blue eyes seemingly reflecting a familiar scene from memory.

A few minutes later, the interrogation began.

“Mr. Feiguang, it’s time to wake up.” Haidier tapped the bars. The crisp sound made Feiguang’s brow furrow; he wasn’t asleep, but sitting in that chair was exceptionally uncomfortable, and leaning forward was the only way to find some relief.

Feiguang lifted his head reluctantly. His first look was one of hostility toward Haidier for capturing him; his second look was a calm stare at Xu Feng, followed by a mocking shake of his head.

“Mr. Feiguang, stop playing the mute. How about telling us what this package is?” Haidier reached into the large ribbon at her back and pulled out a small bag containing a pink seed about the size of a nut.

“I don’t know. Do what you want with me,” Feiguang said, putting on a defiant “dead pig unafraid of boiling water” act.

“We follow the civilized rule of law now. I cannot arbitrarily punish you, but I can ensure you spend the rest of your life in this dark, sunless little room, never to leave. You don’t have anyone you care about anyway, right?” Haidier paced forcefully in front of Feiguang. The tap-tap of her shoes seemed to strike a warning bell in Feiguang’s heart.

Indeed, Feiguang still had a sister in the hospital.

Feiguang lowered his head, his expression becoming anxious. Haidier said nothing more; she simply opened the gate and walked up to him. Her small shadow was just enough to shroud the seated Feiguang.

She was waiting. Waiting for a man to compromise for the sake of his family.

Xu Feng watched Haidier’s back, thinking that she truly lived up to her title as Director—she had both the methods and the capability.

But why is the Director’s hand behind her back, clutching that large ribbon so tightly? Is she also unwilling to do this?

Before Xu Feng could puzzle it out, Feiguang spoke.

“You wouldn’t dare lay a hand on Tingting.”

“True, we wouldn’t touch her. Without you, we would simply let her live or die on her own,” Haidier replied, loosening her grip and bringing her hand to her front.

“This matter… cannot be made public.” Feiguang’s stance softened slightly. He stared intently at Haidier’s face; he was defiant, but he had no choice.

“We are not mercenary hunters who only care about profit. As the highest official of the Dream-Protection Bureau, I give you my word, Mr. Feiguang.” Haidier’s attitude turned respectful. She lightly clenched her left fist and tapped it against her chest.

Feiguang didn’t just want Haidier’s promise; he looked toward Xu Feng and Xu Xiaoyu. He had no idea if those two would blab to the outside world.

“If the Boss finds out, Tingting is finished.” Hesitation flickered in Feiguang’s eyes; he truly cared for his family.

Haidier caught Feiguang’s gaze, then turned to look at Xu Feng and Xu Xiaoyu, signaling them with a wink.

“Uncle Shui said that we must never disclose or pry into the private lives of ordinary people. Therefore, I will say nothing,” Xu Feng said, puffing out her chest and looking at Feiguang with a trustworthy gaze.

“I have no interest in knowing about other people’s private lives to begin with.” Xu Xiaoyu turned her face away, hands behind her back. She remembered the scene of Uncle Shui’s questioning that day; he had set an excellent example.

Looking at the two girls—especially Xu Feng—Feiguang gave a bitter smile. Perhaps the phrase “Uncle Shui said” had touched a dusty corner of his memory.

“Can you speak now, Mr. Feiguang? After all, you know exactly what kind of people the members under Uncle Shui are.”

Haidier’s words were like a biting, ironic needle, pricking Feiguang—the man who was once a member of the Bureau but had betrayed Uncle Shui.

“It’s a key. A key to open a Dream Door,” Feiguang said, head lowered, his handcuffed hands clenching into fists.

“A key? To which one?” Haidier pressed.

“The Thirty-Fourth. A Dream Door that is about to open.”

“Then where is the key to the First Door! Is it being kept by the Dream-Hunter Society!” Haidier’s tone sharpened as she took a step forward to interrogate him.

“I’m not an internal hunter; I don’t know where the key is. Even the Dream-Protection Bureau hasn’t figured that out, have they?” Feiguang lifted his head, his lips twitching helplessly.

“…Dammit.” Haidier bit her lip to calm down, then turned to Xu Feng.

“If you have something to ask, go ahead. My questions are finished.”

Reminded of her purpose, Xu Feng looked at Feiguang. He had resumed his sitting posture and relaxed his hands.

Xu Feng walked up to him and asked in a low voice.

“Why did you try to capture me before?”

“Because of the Boss’s mission. I was just doing what I was paid for, but the mission was canceled halfway through.”

“Who is your Boss?”

“Could be a superior in the Society, could just be someone with a need. I’m a freelance hunter; I don’t know the Boss’s identity.” Feiguang’s answers were crisp and direct, without a hint of hesitation.

So ‘freelance’ that he doesn’t even know where his orders come from!

Xu Feng admired Feiguang’s lack of fear regarding being stiffed on payment—it seemed the Boss was trustworthy enough.

“Then why did you give me that thing?”

“Oh, it was just the Boss’s arrangement. He simply knew your difficulties.”

Feiguang didn’t seem to intend to hide anything from Xu Feng; he answered like a programmed machine.

The more Xu Feng heard about this “Boss,” the more familiar it sounded.

The boy I saw in my dream… wasn’t he also called ‘Boss’?

It couldn’t be him, could it?!