If everyone were a ga, then Qiao Muyi would certainly be a Souls-like action ga. She is so mysterious that one cannot help but be imrsed in her. She is so challenging that one is physically and ntally exhausted by the ordeal. She is so beautiful that in the face of Despair, she bestows a glimr of Radiance, making one believe they are stepping towards Heaven, when in fact they are falling into the Abyss.
In the office of the Deputy Director of the Lian River Counterasure Bureau, Yao Fei was working. She glanced at the photo of Qiao Muyi on her desk, and that thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A young man with dark circles under his eyes, even more pronounced than a panda's, walked in and asked, "Yao Fei, do you have ti for lunch together?"
Yao Fei was sowhat surprised. She glanced at the ti, then nodded. "It's already noon? Sure, but you'll have to wait until I finish this work."
"This is quite unusual. I rember you, Li Dan, always prefer to eat alone. Even if you were to ask soone, shouldn't it be Deputy Director Yu?"
Li Dan pulled up a chair and sat down, saying calmly, "Because I have sothing to discuss with you."
Yao Fei laughed. "Hoping to soften up with a free al before asking for sothing? First, tell what it is. If I can help, then lunch is on you."
"I have a friend who's very interested in you and would like to have dinner with you."
"This friend you're talking about... it wouldn't happen to be you, would it?" Yao Fei chuckled. "Is inviting to lunch not enough? You want to invite to dinner too?"
Li Dan shook his head. "It's not . I have no interest in romantic entanglents. I have plenty to do every day—work, Cultivation, studying, crafting... My days are full; I don't need romance to complete them."
Yao Fei said, "Ah, I know about that. I heard you bought several machines and opened a workshop. It seems you've recently made the Infinite Glove, Crystal Spirit Ball, and Thousand chanism Umbrella? I've seen your videos online. I never expected your awakened spells could also be used for such fine processing. In the entire Tactical Bureau, you're the most famous person after Deputy Director Qiao."
Li Dan nodded. "Just a hobby. After all, I don't need to sleep, and doing these things is more interesting than sleeping."
Yao Fei asked with a laugh, "So, you've never t a woman who makes you want to sleep?"
Li Dan paused, slightly taken aback. A thought seed to cross his mind, and a faint smile touched his lips. "I've t half of one."
Half?
Yao Fei blinked, not quite understanding.
Li Dan changed the subject. "My friend is an excellent prospect. I'm aware of your standards, your Potential, and your ambitions. Nevertheless, I'm willing to act as a go-between for him, because I believe he's worthy of you, whether in terms of worldly status, character, knowledge, or appearance."
Yao Fei waved her hand dismissively. "Of course, I trust your judgnt, Li Dan. Anyone you're willing to introduce to must be exceptional... But honestly, I'm just not in the mood for that right now."
Li Dan said, "Alright, my apologies for being presumptuous."
"So, are we still on for lunch?"
"Yes. Haven't you finished your work yet?"
Yao Fei sighed in frustration. "You should know, since the 'Top-secret Archives' ca out, the number of Awakeners has surged again. And, just my luck, Deputy Director Qiao went on vacation, leaving all the work to . I've been so busy these days I haven't even had ti to sleep."
"I know you've been sleeping at the Bureau these days," Li Dan said. "Deputy Director Qiao really is irresponsible."
Yao Fei quickly interjected, "No, it's not like that. She didn't know Ren Naiser would release that video when she applied for leave."
Li Dan remarked, "But taking a month off right after the Spring Festival, when there are so many pressing matters and decisions to be made, shows a lack of responsibility in itself. If you hadn't agreed to cover for Deputy Director Qiao, the Bureau would hardly have approved her leave."
"Not to ntion, she often plays gas at the Bureau."
Yao Fei frowned. "What do you know? Deputy Director Qiao has contributed so much to the Bureau. What's the big deal about her taking a vacation? She deserves it."
"She plays gas... it's just her way of developing another hobby. It hasn't interfered with her work at all."
"But it has delayed you," Li Dan said, glancing at the computer. "I can understand her reasons for playing gas. But why are you also playing gas during work hours? It's not like you have a boyfriend who's into gaming."
Yao Fei's face flushed. "It's none of your business! Besides, I haven't neglected my work."
Li Dan asked, "So you approve of her taking a month off to travel with her boyfriend?"
Yao Fei was silent for a mont, then smiled brightly. "Of course. Ever since Deputy Director Qiao got a boyfriend, she's changed so much. She smiles more, is friendlier, plays fewer pranks, has beco even more beautiful, and is more caring towards us."
She added casually, "I used to be her secretary, and she always gave headaches. Now she's tornting her boyfriend instead, so things are much easier for ."
Li Dan said softly, "Yes, she's soone else's problem now."
He glanced at Yao Fei. She tried to appear indifferent, but she couldn't see the unhappiness in her own eyes.
"So, you really don't want to et my friend? Don't stay at the Bureau at night. Try opening yourself up to a new relationship," Li Dan suggested earnestly.
Seeing the concern in Li Dan's eyes, sothing suddenly dawned on Yao Fei.
Night, the Bureau, relationships, Qiao Muyi, introducing a boyfriend…
"I never said I stayed overnight at the Bureau! How did you know?" Yao Fei's face paled. "What do you know?!"
Li Dan shrugged silently and pointed to his ear. "The Bureau is quite quiet at night."
"You heard? You know everything?!" Yao Fei shot up from her seat, her face flushed to the tips of her ears. She was so furious her words ca out slurred and indignant, "How could you be like that!"
"Calm down," Li Dan said, raising his hands. "You sound like you have a mouthful of dung."
"Actually, I can understand. After all, this is her office, and that's the chair she often sits in. I truly can understand, and I absolutely won't tell anyone…"
"No, I... this... I'm not..." Yao Fei was already incoherent. It took a long mont before she let out a whimper, sank back into her chair, and buried her head on the desk, refusing to face anyone.
Li Dan gently stroked her head. Like a kind police officer, he said, "It's okay, it's all in the past. You haven't done anything wrong. When did it start?"
Yao Fei remained silent for a long ti before finally saying, "Exactly one year ago."
One year ago? In April?
Even Li Dan was shocked. "Hadn't Qiao Muyi and the others just joined the Tactical Bureau then? How did she... Ah, sorry, I shouldn't ask for details."
"It's okay. There isn't much to tell, anyway." Yao Fei rubbed her eyes. "Since you've found out, I might as well talk about it... I've actually been holding it in for a long ti."
"She told very bluntly that she wanted to be friends with simply because she thought I was pretty. She hated n but liked to toy with them. Then, using her strength and looks, she'd make those n not dare to retaliate, even forcing them to curry favor with her... She was a truly terrible person."
Li Dan nodded in deep agreent; he too had suffered at Qiao Muyi's hands in the past.
"But in private, she's not like that at all. She's gentle, charming, witty, considerate, and knows so many romantic little tricks... She made happier than any of those foolish n ever could."
Yao Fei rested her head on the desk, her eyes gazing affectionately at the beautiful woman in the photo fra.
The woman in the photo was smiling radiantly, dazzlingly beautiful, but that brilliant smile was because of the man beside her—yes, it was a photo of Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi.
"She was just toying with , but I took it seriously."
"I really envy Ren Suo..."
Li Dan's lips twitched. The prevailing opinion in the Tactical Bureau now was that Ren Suo was actually to be pitied.
"But now that she has a man she likes, she probably won't act like that anymore, right?" Li Dan said casually.
Yao Fei's expression, however, turned strange.
"That's not necessarily true."
"Hmm?"
Yao Fei blinked, her flushed cheeks making her look captivatingly beautiful.
"I said earlier, she found pretty, which is why she wanted to hang out with , not because she actually liked . When she looked at , there was no Desire in her eyes, only admiration."
"In that respect, she might be just like those n she despises—treating won as prey, as trophies."
Yao Fei rested her head on the desk, murmuring softly, "Qiao Muyi, you truly are a deeply sinful woman..."
Li Dan was stunned.
He recalled so past events.
Qiao Muyi t Ren Suo first. Then Ren Suo t Dong Chengling, and that's how Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling got acquainted.
After that, Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling quickly grew close. Back then, Li Dan often heard Qiao Muyi asking Dong Chengling to hang out.
He was certain that Qiao Muyi didn't like Ren Suo back then. Because when Qiao Muyi started liking Ren Suo, she changed dramatically—it was like the winter snow lting to welco spring.
So, was Qiao Muyi's real target back then…
「...」
Ren Suo quietly took out his phone and dialed Dong Chengling's number.
As soon as the call connected, Dong Chengling's panting voice ca through. "Suo?"
"Yeah, it's . Aren't you asleep yet?"
"Mm-hm, I'm about to. You should go to bed soon too. Tomorrow... Ah!"
"What's wrong over there?"
"I... I'm exercising."
Dong Chengling's breathing suddenly grew rapid. She grunted softly and said quickly, "Suo, if there's nothing else, I'm going to hang up now."
"Alright, I saw. Pull over."
"You saw?!"
Dong Chengling was slightly startled, then let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. Xiao Qiao is just too strong; I can barely hold on. Suo, co help !"
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