Chapter 22: The Fixer and a Peculiar Encounter

“Hello there, customer. Your sweet soup is ready.”

“Alright.”

The waitress, a gentle smile gracing her lips, set the two bowls of sweet soup on the table. Just as she turned to leave, Su Wanghai seized her wrist.

“You’re incredibly beautiful. Might I have your WeChat?”

Confronted by his earnest gaze, the waitress’s fixed smile nearly shattered. She spoke in a low, almost ethereal tone:

“Sir, I am still on duty. Would you kindly release me? Otherwise, I’ll be forced to call the police.”

“Oh.”

Utterly disregarding Su Wanghai’s crestfallen expression, the waitress wiped her hand on her uniform, then swiftly strode away on her elegantly hosed legs.

“Pfft!”

Seated across from him, Bai Chen found himself struggling to suppress his laughter.

“This is what you call a ‘masterclass’?”

“A blunder, merely a blunder,” Su Wanghai declared, gulping down his sweet soup. “Next time, I assure you, I’ll provide a flawless demonstration.”

“Oh, please, ‘Love Guru.’ Perhaps you should focus on finding a partner yourself before offering lessons.”

Nearing thirty, he still lagged behind Bai Chen’s classmate, Old Zhu, who, despite his youth, was already a seasoned connoisseur of romance.

Under the brilliant sunshine, the bustling street teemed with life. Bai Chen and Su Wanghai sat before the dessert shop, idly chatting as they sipped their sweet soup.

They were not, of course, simply enjoying themselves; they were on a mission.

“Do you truly believe the person you spoke of will show up?”

Having sat there for nearly an hour, Bai Chen found his backside growing somewhat numb. Throughout that time, he had meticulously observed the apartment building across the street, scrutinizing every individual who approached.

“The individual resides here. I refuse to believe they won’t eventually return home.”

“A cunning rabbit rarely confines itself to a single burrow.”

“In that case, it’s merely an intelligence oversight by the branch, and we can simply regard this as a leisurely outing.”

Ever since the incident on Tuesday night, the investigation into the serial murders had once more ground to a halt.

Bai Chen had scoured through all the files at the branch, yet he could find no trace of the demon with stars in its eyes.

More critically, the information he had provided indicated a mismatch between Libelle’s attack style and the modus operandi of the killings. It remained baffling how she had managed to inflict beast-like attack marks on the victims.

Had she, perhaps, held back?

Bai Chen had pondered this possibility repeatedly, harboring the suspicion that Libelle had not unleashed her full power during their confrontation.

‘Had she not shown mercy, would I not have long since become one of her victims?’

Bai Chen let out a soft sigh, acknowledging that, at its core, his own weakness was the root cause.

“Hey, Bai Chen, the target’s here!”

Su Wanghai’s words jolted him from his reverie, and both their gazes simultaneously snapped toward the apartment building.

A furtive man was hurrying toward the entrance. While the autumn air had indeed grown cooler, his exceptionally thick trench coat struck them as rather peculiar.

“He’s finally here. Let’s move.”

Bai Chen and Su Wanghai rose, discreetly crossing the street to trail the man. Once he had entered the apartment building, they stealthily followed.

Since they already knew the target’s floor, they proceeded without haste. The man glanced back several times, yet remained oblivious to their pursuit.

The man in the trench coat reached his doorstep, produced a key, and inserted it into the lock.

Click.

“Now’s our chance! Go!”

With a loud cry, Su Wanghai burst forward. Bai Chen, though a step behind, quickly matched his pace.

The trench-coated man whirled around, spotting the two charging at him. In a panic, he fumbled a pistol from his inner pocket, its muzzle trembling.

“You… don’t come any closer!”

Before the man could even squeeze the trigger, Bai Chen hurled a rope woven from crackling blue lightning, striking his wrist directly.

The man in the trench coat cried out, his hand going numb as the pistol clattered from his grasp. As he instinctively stooped to retrieve it, Su Wanghai delivered a swift kick to his abdomen, sending him doubling over with a pained yelp.

“Bai Chen, bind him.”

“Right.”

After binding the trench-coated man’s hands behind his back, Su Wanghai propelled him into the living room. Once Bai Chen had also entered, he firmly shut the door with a practiced flick of his wrist.

Despite being in his own home, the trench-coated man found himself kneeling on the floor, confronted by two intruders who sat with an air of brazen arrogance.

“Zhou Wanchen, also known as ‘The Fixer.’ For the right price, he’ll do anything. He operates in the gray areas, yet the branch has never managed to pin him down with evidence. Quite the free spirit, wouldn’t you agree?”

Su Wanghai recited the target’s dossier verbatim, causing Zhou Wanchen’s face to darken considerably.

“I… I’ve committed no crime! Even if you are demon hunters, you have no right to arrest me!”

“Given our presence here, rest assured, we possess compelling evidence.”

Su Wanghai had been anticipating precisely this defiant expression. As he spoke, he drew a photograph from his pocket and extended it toward the man.

“Doesn’t this individual bear a striking resemblance to you?”

“I…”

“Next time you conduct a transaction, remember not to choose a location where your face can be captured.”

With the evidence irrefutable, Zhou Wanchen’s shoulders slumped like a wilted blossom. He asked, his voice drained of energy, “What exactly do you want? I’ve never once harbored ill intentions toward you.”

“Naturally, we’re aware you wouldn’t dare provoke the Demon Hunter Guild.”

Su Wanghai let out a hearty laugh.

“However, your clandestine collaboration with demons is something we cannot simply overlook, can we?”

“I didn’t! Truly, I didn’t!”

“That choice is no longer yours to make.”

“Please don’t arrest me! I have a sixteen-year-old daughter who’s still in school.”

Su Wanghai glanced at Bai Chen, who subtly shook his head.

The apartment was not large, nor did it contain any hidden rooms. Bai Chen had indeed noticed a room adorned with a distinctly girlish aesthetic, but all clothing and personal effects had already been removed.

It appeared Zhou Wanchen had anticipated their arrival and had sent his daughter away to safety beforehand.

“Come along. As long as you cooperate fully, the branch will not only refrain from troubling your daughter, but will also cover the remainder of her tuition fees.”

Upon hearing this, a myriad of emotions flitted across Zhou Wanchen’s face before he ultimately let out a resigned sigh.

“Very well.”

****

As Zhou Wanchen was being interrogated, the transport vehicle was already prepared. The two escorted him downstairs, but only Su Wanghai boarded the car.

“I’ll take him to the branch headquarters. You return to the shop and inform Manager Cheng.”

“Understood.”

“Will you be able to get back on your own?”

“Of course. Have you forgotten I arrived on my electric scooter?”

Bai Chen twirled the keys in his hand, his radiant smile completely easing Su Wanghai’s concerns.

Watching the car recede into the distance, Bai Chen mounted his beloved electric scooter and set off down the street. The wind felt pleasant against his face. As he passed a park, he decided to stop.

Finding a quiet corner in the park’s open expanse, Bai Chen settled down, stretched languidly, and watched the children playing nearby.

“Mommy, quick, catch my ball!”

“Daddy, wait for me! I truly can’t run another step.”

A world filled with laughter invariably lifts one’s spirits, and Bai Chen found himself utterly captivated.

‘A complete family. How truly wonderful.’

In his childhood, he had precious little time to spend with his parents. Either his mother was away on a business trip, or his father was, or sometimes both would be gone, leaving him under the care of the elderly neighbor.

Despite being merely an unofficial member of the Demon Hunter Guild, Bai Chen frequently felt overwhelmed by pressure. Most invitations from friends had to be regretfully declined due to his demanding work.

‘Come to think of it, it’s been ages since I joined Old Zhu and the others for weekend basketball.’

The string of serial murders had plunged Fengling City into a state of fear and unease, resulting in nearly every weekend being consumed by overtime work.

It was only when Bai Chen truly processed it that he realized he had become disconnected from his peers, transforming into something of an ‘old man.’

Under intense pressure, one’s mind often wanders. Bai Chen yearned to clear his thoughts, yet his anxieties, like the relentless tide, surged back after every brief retreat.

‘I’m probably the most ill-fated middle schooler, aren’t I?’

Bai Chen murmured to himself with a bitter smile, one hand pressed against his forehead.

Footsteps halted before him. He opened his eyes, and a wave of surprise washed over him.

What immediately caught his attention were her eyes, devoid of any discernible light. She stood before him, still and observant, much like an owl perched silently on a branch.

The young woman was dressed in casual attire: a light-colored shirt paired with black shorts, her shapely thighs gleaming in the sunlight.

This marked his first time seeing Mo Qiu out of her uniform. She exuded less formality and more gentle grace, resembling a blossoming flower in a neighbor’s garden.

“Mo Qiu, what are you doing here?” Bai Chen quickly inquired.

In truth, Mo Qiu herself sought the answer to that very question. She had been taken from home to a meeting, only to inexplicably find herself outdoors afterward.

“Out for a stroll.”

“Ah, I see. Just left home…” Bai Chen sighed once more, finding it hard to believe that even Mo Qiu had her own moments of leisure.

‘Emerging from a meeting room still counts as ‘being out’,’ Mo Qiu mused inwardly, as she settled onto the bench beside him.

“Aren’t you going to explore a bit?” Bai Chen asked.

“I’m already tired of wandering.”

“But you just came out…” Bai Chen couldn’t help but chuckle at her remark. How could anyone utter such a statement with a completely straight face?

Mo Qiu subtly raised an eyebrow, apparently uncomprehending of his amusement.

“You appear displeased,” she stated, her gaze fixed intently on Bai Chen’s face, leaving him nowhere to comfortably rest his own.

“Ah, indeed.”

“Why are you displeased?”

“The pressures of life, you know,” Bai Chen sighed, shaking his head. “I feel as though my life has simply become what it is. I don’t particularly care if I can’t find direction; I’ll just live out my days as they come.”

Bai Chen spoke with an air of nonchalance, utterly failing to notice the subtle shift in Mo Qiu’s expression.

‘No life goals? That simply won’t do.’

“Could you come with me for a moment?”

Bai Chen followed her without a hint of suspicion. By the time he noticed their path growing increasingly secluded, Mo Qiu had already stopped.

She stood directly before Bai Chen, raising a hand to grasp the collar of her shirt. With a forceful tug, she pulled it down, allowing her fair, rounded breasts to playfully peek out.

“Mo Qiu?” Bai Chen was dumbfounded.

This was not the first time she had exposed her breasts to him, but it was certainly the boldest. She had actually left home without a bra on?! Bai Chen didn’t even have time to process the thought before he saw her attempting to pull her shirt down further.

As the rosy tips threatened to reveal themselves fully, Bai Chen swiftly grabbed her hand and pulled her collar back up.

‘That was close,’ Bai Chen thought, gasping for breath, much like a soldier narrowly escaping a battlefield.

“Do you feel better now?” Mo Qiu tilted her head. “I heard that men get excited when they see breasts they like.”

Bai Chen froze again, then let out a wry chuckle. “Where on earth did you hear such a bizarre theory?”

“…Are you feeling better now?”

“Ah, um… much better,” Bai Chen conceded, knowing it would be difficult not to feel better, and fearing she might strip completely if he didn’t humor her. The thought of her graceful body separated only by a thin shirt instantly stirred something within him.

“That’s good.”

Returning to the earlier bench, Mo Qiu scooted closer to him, her thighs pressed together.

Their shoulders brushed lightly as they both gazed out at the open space before them.

Sunlight once more bathed Bai Chen’s face. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke: “Thank you.”

“If you like it, I can always give it to you…”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You don’t like it?” Mo Qiu turned to him, as if a switch had been flipped.

“No, no, no, that’s not what I meant…”

“Then you do like it.”

“Can’t there be a third option?”

“Then do you hate it?”

Bai Chen vigorously scratched his head. Communicating with her was truly a challenge.

“I don’t hate it.”

Seeing Mo Qiu turn her face away, he initially thought he had said something wrong and angered her.

‘Not hating it… means liking it, right?’

Mo Qiu’s murmur was audible only to herself.

Although only her breasts had received his approval, it was an acknowledgment from Bai Chen’s own lips.

But with only this one part, it somehow didn’t feel quite sufficient.

“I’ll give you a ride.”

Bai Chen stretched as he stood, his smile as bright as the sun.

“It shouldn’t just be me who’s happy. I’ll take you for a ride.”