FRGL chapter 17

Luo Hai didn’t even take the next day off. Despite his fever not having fully subsided, he went to work as if nothing had happened.

The only difference was that this time, he carried a few extra vials of medicine in his briefcase.

Eugene couldn’t wrap his head around how much the prosecution office must be paying Luo Hai to make an Omega work himself to the bone for a bunch of Alphas.

After all these years of dedication, Luo Hai hadn’t even gotten a promotion. What exactly was he trying to prove?

Fortunately, Luo Hai’s immune system was strong. By lunchtime, his fever had completely gone down, and aside from occasional soreness and fatigue, he felt no different from usual.

Last night’s dinner incident went unnoticed. His colleagues just assumed he couldn’t hold his liquor and was too antisocial to stick around. By today, only Barney stopped by to drop off some documents and casually asked why he had left early.

The only person who truly seemed concerned was a certain flighty Alpha, who was bombarding his phone with text messages like a clingy golden retriever left behind.

[Did you take your medicine before leaving this morning?]

[I saw the thermometer on your nightstand. Did you check your temperature today? Don’t tell me you went to work still running a fever.]

[How much is that bastard Doyle even paying you? If you collapse at your desk, does it count as a workplace injury?]

[Why haven’t you replied for so long? You didn’t actually faint, did you?]

[I already spent half an hour searching for you yesterday. Don’t make me break into your office and drag you back today too.]

Luo Hai had just stepped out of court when he saw Eugene’s barrage of messages—one every half-hour like clockwork.

He sighed, rubbing his temples, then typed out a reply.

[I was in a hearing, just finished. I left you a note before leaving. Didn’t you see it?]

The other end went silent for a moment before replying.

[Oh, I see it now. The wind blew it onto the floor.]

Luo Hai sighed again and was just about to put his phone away when another message popped up.

[So, did you take your medicine this morning? Still have a fever?]

Looks like Eugene wasn’t going to let it go unless he got an answer.

Luo Hai simply called him instead.

Eugene picked up as fast as a puppy catching a frisbee.

“I took my medicine before I left. I also ate breakfast. I had a court session this morning, so I had to be there. My fever didn’t get worse, and now it’s almost gone,” Luo Hai reported flatly. “Satisfied?”

Hearing Luo Hai’s resigned, matter-of-fact tone, Eugene couldn’t help but laugh for a good while. “Mhm, satisfied. Good boy, you get a little gold star.”

“The best reward would be for you to stop spamming my phone during work hours.” Luo Hai’s voice was firm. “Thanks.”

He was about to hang up when Eugene suddenly called out, “Hey, hey, wait! Don’t hang up yet!”

“What now?” Luo Hai asked, patience wearing thin.

“I just cleaned up the apartment and noticed a few things—shampoo and soap are out, body wash is almost empty, and we’re down to the last two trash bags. Rice is gone, you never bought flour, and the only things left in the fridge are a single cabbage and two eggs.”

“And?” Luo Hai pinched the bridge of his nose, already feeling a headache coming on.

“And?” Eugene’s tone lifted dramatically. “With just these ingredients, when you get home tonight, your only options are either boiled cabbage or steamed egg custard.”

“…” Luo Hai pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let me say this again—I never asked you to cook for me. I didn’t starve before you moved in.”

“Oh, by living off takeout and junk food?” Eugene shot back. “You might be fine with that kind of life, but I can’t stand it. Do you know how many additives are in that stuff? Eat too much of it, and not only will your body deteriorate, but your brain will also get dumber…”

“Then go downstairs and buy some.” Luo Hai cut him off. “It’s not like there isn’t a grocery store downstairs.”

“That’s exactly the problem.” Eugene said innocently. “Sure, there’s a grocery store, but they don’t sell rice or flour. The nearest grain store is outside my allowed range, and I can’t find my favorite shampoo and body wash nearby either.”

Luo Hai felt a deep, profound exhaustion.

He was supposed to have released a prisoner from jail, not a spoiled brat.

“So what do you want to do?” Luo Hai asked.

“Two options. One, you grab a bottle of shampoo, a bottle of body wash, a bag of flour, and a bag of rice on your way home. Oh, and also pick up some broccoli, beef, chili peppers, curry powder, cheese, cream…”

“…” Luo Hai’s voice was ice-cold. “And the other option?”

“Tomorrow is the weekend. You can come with me outside the restricted area to buy everything.” Eugene said, sounding completely innocent. “With you watching me, the movement restrictions should be a little more flexible, right?”

Luo Hai didn’t respond and let out a deep sigh.

He didn’t even have a valid reason to refuse.

Everything Eugene wanted was just basic household essentials and ingredients. And he had to admit, after eating a few meals prepared by Eugene, it was getting harder to go back to his old diet of takeout and fast food.

“Fine,” he finally said.

Eugene let out a childish cheer over the phone. “Then it’s settled! After shopping tomorrow, I’ll make you beef pizza.”

With that, Eugene promptly hung up.

Luo Hai frowned, staring at the screen for a long while before finally putting his phone away and heading back to the office building.

Once back at his desk, he turned on his computer and pulled up all the location records from Eugene’s ankle monitor, carefully reviewing them one by one.

However, the new location data still didn’t show anything suspicious.

He had spent most of his time in the apartment, occasionally going downstairs with clear intentions—either to the grocery store or the convenience store. The only slightly complicated route was last night’s, but Luo Hai knew that was because Eugene had been searching for him after the dinner, when he had almost lost control.

Within a 100-meter radius of his apartment, surveillance cameras provided full coverage, and there were also prosecutors constantly monitoring the area. Yet, after so many days, Eugene still hadn’t displayed any abnormal behavior.

This was completely different from Luo Hai’s initial assumption.

He had promised Eugene one month. After that, regardless of whether he provided any useful clues, the prosecution would carry out his death sentence.

In truth, the prosecution didn’t care whether Eugene offered any information. This one-month parole was the real goal.

A terrorist leader who knew he was living on borrowed time—after gaining a certain degree of freedom, how could he possibly do nothing and just let his life slip away?

As long as Eugene made any moves, Luo Hai would be able to follow the trail to uncover clues and ultimately find a way to eradicate the Lightwing Society in one fell swoop.

However, a week had already passed since Eugene’s release, and Luo Hai had yet to catch even a trace of anything suspicious.

From beginning to end, Eugene had done absolutely nothing. No matter how closely Luo Hai watched him or how thoroughly he investigated, this frivolous Alpha acted as if he were simply planning to enjoy his final days in comfort—completely at ease, unhurried and relaxed.

Luo Hai closed the surveillance software.

This was bound to be a long standoff. But that was fine—he had plenty of time and patience to wait it out.

…..

On Sunday, Luo Hai was woken up by the roar of some loud noise.

After tossing and turning in a failed attempt to go back to sleep, he got up in frustration and walked out of his room—only to immediately spot the source of the noise: the rumbling washing machine.

Eugene was wearing a loose T-shirt and a green apron. He leaned against the washing machine, humming a tune as he scrubbed the bathroom drain with a small brush, his hands covered in rubber gloves.

Several basins were placed on the bathroom floor, each soaking different categories of clothing.

Suppressing his irritation, Luo Hai spoke. “What are you doing?”

“Doing laundry. Can’t you tell?” Eugene didn’t stop what he was doing. “And cleaning up all the little corners while I’m at it. When was the last time you cleaned this drain? It reeks.”

“Did I ask you to wash my clothes?” Luo Hai found this person in front of him completely unreasonable.

“No—but don’t tell me you don’t need it,” Eugene drawled. “Your laundry basket is overflowing. The clothes that wouldn’t fit are piled on the living room sofa. I’ve noticed you’ve been wearing the same dress shirt to work for almost a week now—haven’t even changed your tie. If you don’t do laundry today, when are you planning to?”

“…” Luo Hai was momentarily at a loss for words. “That’s still none of your business.”

“I know, you were probably planning to just send everything to the laundromat again,” Eugene rinsed the cleaned drain under the faucet and put it back in place. “Do you know how much more expensive it is to have your clothes washed at a laundromat compared to doing it at home?”

Luo Hai slowly crossed his arms. “You won’t inherit my estate just by doing housework.”

Eugene immediately put on an exaggeratedly wounded expression. “Do you really think so little of me? I’m warm, friendly, and pure-hearted—”

Luo Hai didn’t even bother letting him finish. “Yes.”

Eugene stared, mouth agape, looking like a fish suddenly plucked out of water. Luo Hai walked straight past him, turned on the faucet, and began washing up.

“If you’re really so eager to do some good deeds, fine, keep washing. But next time, don’t use the washing machine—it’s too loud.”

“Come on, do you even know what time it is? It’s already 1 PM!” Eugene said incredulously. “Is your sleep schedule even within the human range?”

“Shut up,” Luo Hai said bluntly. “If you ever wake me up on a day off again, I’ll skin every inch of you and turn it into a fur coat.”

“…” Eugene immediately went quiet and instinctively placed a hand over his crotch.

Luo Hai turned off the faucet, dried his face, and then realized Eugene had been staring at him the whole time.

“What?” He asked, suppressing his annoyance.

Eugene clicked his tongue. “Nothing. Just suddenly realized you actually look pretty hot when you’re grumpy in the morning.”