Luo Hai stared directly into Eugene’s eyes. A drop of water slid down his brow, tracing the bridge of his nose as it fell. His eyes were like transparent amber—clear, unreadable.
After a long pause, Luo Hai spoke. “Was the Duke of Goss case orchestrated by Lightwing?”
Eugene chuckled and leaned lazily against the wall. “Now that’s more like it. Be straightforward—no need for all those roundabout games. We’re close, aren’t we?”
“Answer my question,” Luo Hai interrupted, his tone sharper.
“Or what?” Eugene grinned. “You’ll lock me back up and torture the truth out of me? If you had the ability to do that, you would’ve done it already instead of waiting until now.”
Luo Hai’s gaze burned into him.
“You give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you want,” Eugene whispered. “That’s how our deal has always worked.”
After a long silence, Luo Hai finally asked, “What do you want?”
“I think I made that very clear in the interrogation room that day.” Eugene bent down, leaning in close. His voice was soft but heavy with pressure. “I want you.”
Eugene had just finished showering, wearing only a loosely draped bathrobe that exposed his toned chest. Warm steam clung to his sun-kissed skin, and droplets of water slid down his blond hair, landing right on Luo Hai’s collarbone.
Eugene reached out and wrapped his arms around Luo Hai’s waist.
At this distance, Luo Hai could easily catch the spicy scent of Eugene’s pheromones, could clearly feel his fingers tracing over his waist.
“So?” Eugene’s deep voice brushed against his ear. “Agree to my terms, and I’ll give you the information you want.”
Luo Hai shut his eyes in resistance, his lashes trembling slightly in the heated air.
He hated how Eugene so brazenly invaded his personal space. Hated the frivolous look in his eyes. Hated the way his fingers flirted along his waist, as if he were some common prostitute in a red-light district.
But if his body could be exchanged for valuable intelligence on Lightwing, then it would be worth it.
A good outcome could justify any means.
Once Lightwing was eradicated and Eugene was executed, no one would care how he obtained the information.
“Fine,” Luo Hai said quietly. “I agree.”
“Wonderful!” Eugene beamed, pulling his hands away from Luo Hai’s waist and snapping his fingers. “Go get dressed. Put on some shoes. We’re leaving right now.”
“What?” Luo Hai didn’t react immediately.
“You said you’d grant me one request,” Eugene looked at him leisurely. “My request is for you to come downstairs and have a meal with me right now.”
Luo Hai was completely baffled. “A meal?”
“Yes, and you’re paying.” Eugene grinned, patting Luo Hai on the shoulder. “I’m starving. Let’s go, let’s go!”
And just like that, Luo Hai found himself inexplicably changing his clothes, inexplicably being dragged out of his apartment by Eugene, and inexplicably walking down the bustling night-lit pedestrian street.
It was dinnertime, and the street was lively. Students crowded into snack shops, chatting and laughing; office workers gathered in small groups at izakayas, unwinding from their day. The air was filled with the scent of fried skewers and barbecue, while neon signs flashed in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Eugene was in a great mood. He had changed into a clean white dress shirt, and with his handsome looks and vibrant smile, he blended in perfectly with the college crowd, even drawing more than a few second glances from passersby.
“What do you want to eat?” Eugene walked backward in front of Luo Hai, hands in his pockets, smiling as he watched him.
Luo Hai’s expression remained unchanged. “I’m just here to accompany you. Eat whatever you want.”
“Don’t say that—I’m not that selfish.” Eugene naturally slung an arm around Luo Hai’s shoulders. “Both of us should enjoy this.”
Luo Hai expressionlessly pushed his arm off and ignored the suggestive remark. “I haven’t eaten around here. You pick.”
Eugene looked surprised. “This street is less than a hundred meters from your apartment, and you’ve never been here?”
“My job doesn’t allow for that kind of leisure. Not everyone has time to waste partying like you do,” Luo Hai said coolly.
“Partying is fun,” Eugene raised an eyebrow, draping his arm over Luo Hai’s shoulders again. “You get to meet people from all walks of life, break free from the mundane routine, leave your worries behind—”
“Does it also let me put a bullet through your skull?” Luo Hai asked flatly.
Eugene chuckled and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “It does. But then you’d lose all the clues you need.”
If looks could kill, Eugene’s head would’ve been riddled with holes from Luo Hai’s sharp glare.
But he didn’t care. His smirk remained.
“Alright, I’ll decide then. Let’s go to that crab pot place—it has the longest line.” Eugene naturally took Luo Hai’s hand. “It’s crowded. Don’t get lost.”
Before Luo Hai could even react, Eugene had already pulled him through the sea of people.
Countless strangers brushed past them, laughing and talking. Some glanced at them briefly, but most were too caught up in their own world, wrapped in the lively energy of the city.
There were no terrorists here. No murder cases. Just the bustling rhythm of everyday life and ordinary people searching for happiness in the mundane.
Luo Hai’s index finger twitched slightly, but in the end, he didn’t pull his hand away.
“Boss! Two crab pots!” Eugene shouted before they even stepped inside the shop.
“We’re full right now. You’ll have to wait a bit,” the owner shouted back.
“How long?” Eugene asked.
The owner glanced at the packed restaurant, hesitated, and said, “Ten, twenty… maybe thirty minutes?”
Eugene turned to Luo Hai. “What do we do?”
“Why are you looking at me? You picked the place,” Luo Hai said coldly. “If you don’t want to wait, pick another restaurant.”
“But that crab pot looks so good,” Eugene sighed.
“Then wait.”
“But I’m really hungry. I don’t want to wait.”
“Then pick another place.”
“But I want crab pot…”
“Eugene Oddis,” Luo Hai finally snapped, cutting him off. “How old are you?”
“Just turned thirty,” Eugene replied seriously. “But age has nothing to do with one’s passion for good food.”
Luo Hai stared at him for a long moment before silently walking into the restaurant. He pulled out some extra cash and placed it in front of the owner. “Two crab pots, takeout. Give us priority.”
“Got it!” The owner happily agreed.
Less than five minutes later, Luo Hai walked out of the restaurant with two steaming crab pots, handing one to Eugene. “Satisfied now?”
Eugene’s expression was like that of a child who had successfully acted spoiled. He smoothly took the boxed meal and said, “As expected of Prosecutor Luo Hai—so thorough and thoughtful, nothing can stump you.”
Luo Hai couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to leave.
At the end of the pedestrian street lay the famous Nantes River.
This river ran through the entire city like a flowing ribbon. The willow trees on the riverbank swayed with the night breeze, and fireflies occasionally flickered among the treetops.
The bustling commercial street was not far behind them, yet few people strayed from the lively scene to come here.
Eugene found a clean patch of grass and sat down cross-legged, casually placing the meal box between his legs. “Your apartment has such a great location—right above the pedestrian street, with a view of the Nantes River at night.”
“It’s the prosecutor’s office that has a good location.” Luo Hai sat down on a relatively clean stone beside him and said indifferently, “I chose my apartment just to be closer to work.”
Eugene raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’ve never been here before?”
“No.” Luo Hai opened the disposable cutlery beside his meal box.
“The Nantes River is less than a hundred meters from your apartment, and you’ve never even looked at it?” Eugene stared at him as if he were an alien. “Do you realize you’re wasting at least 80% of your apartment’s rental value?”
“I already said, I’m busy with work.” Luo Hai’s tone remained cold.
“If I were your boss, I’d be overjoyed.” Eugene clicked his tongue. “An elite workaholic, working just to pay off loans, always overachieving. You’re thriftier than a village farm mule.”
Luo Hai glanced at him, too uninterested to respond.
But the silence only lasted a few seconds before Eugene shamelessly scooted closer.
“So what do you do to relax? Even the busiest person has to unwind somehow.” Eugene guessed, “Swimming? Rock climbing? Gaming? Picking up girls?”
“Don’t make me sound as shameless as you,” Luo Hai said flatly.
“You’ve grown more boring with age.” Eugene bit his plastic spoon and rested his chin in his hand, observing Luo Hai’s profile. “You were much cuter as a kid.”
Luo Hai looked up from his meal box. “…I play the piano.”
“Hm?” Eugene blinked in surprise, immediately intrigued. “You can play the piano?”
“Occasionally,” Luo Hai replied. “When I’m feeling exhausted or in a bad mood.”
Eugene suddenly remembered the large object covered in black cloth he had seen in the apartment’s living room. He hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time, but now that he thought about it, it was definitely a piano.
“Didn’t expect that. So, you’re the musical type.” Eugene chuckled. “I can play the guitar, flute, and a little violin, but I never learned the piano. It’s too hard, and I don’t have the patience for it.”
“You should have learned,” Luo Hai said coolly. “If you had more artistic sensibility, our job at the prosecutor’s office would be much easier.”
Eugene laughed for a long moment before meeting Luo Hai’s gaze with his amber eyes. “Nah, I’m not cut out for the arts. A life of constant danger suits me better.”
Luo Hai tossed his used cutlery into the empty meal box, closed the lid, and looked at Eugene indifferently. “Are we done with small talk? I fulfilled your request and treated you to dinner. Now, answer my question. Was the Duke of Goss case orchestrated by Lightwing?”
