Luo Hai didn’t respond. He simply stared at the cake, then at Eugene behind it, standing frozen for a long moment.
Eugene chuckled. “What’s with that expression? Don’t tell me you’re like one of those cliché romance novel protagonists who are so busy they forget their own birthday?”
“I didn’t forget. I just don’t celebrate it.” Luo Hai closed the door behind him and set his keys on the shoe cabinet. “I don’t see any reason to celebrate the day a baby happens to fall out of its mother’s womb.”
For fifteen years, he had never told anyone his birthday. He was long accustomed to letting the day pass like any other.
All these years, he had grown used to no one knowing his birthday—yet he had forgotten that a certain ghost from his past, one who knew everything about him, now lived in his apartment.
And technically, his birthday had already passed.
It was now 2:30 AM—the next day had already begun.
Eugene chuckled softly. “Come on, can’t you at least humor me? I spent the whole day making this cake. If you don’t even take a bite, all my effort will be wasted.”
Luo Hai paused for a moment. “You made this cake?”
“Mhm.” Eugene spun the cake around by the base of the tray. “From baking the sponge to whipping the cream, decorating, and making the chocolate—all done by me. I originally planned to surprise you, but you didn’t come back until the middle of the night. Still, a late surprise is still a surprise, as long as you haven’t had a midnight snack…”
Luo Hai glanced toward the kitchen, which was in utter disarray. The person who made the cake clearly hadn’t had time to clean up yet.
Flour, molds, baking trays, and various other baking tools Luo Hai couldn’t even recognize were scattered everywhere. The scent of milk and chocolate still lingered in the air.
For a few seconds, the room fell into absolute silence. The candle flames flickered, casting shifting halos of light around them.
“Eugene Oddis,” Luo Hai spoke in a low voice. “What exactly are you scheming?”
The blond man’s smile remained as carefree as ever. “What do you mean?”
“There are no other Alphas in the Lightwing Society besides you.” Luo Hai’s voice was cold and steady. “If there were, they wouldn’t have stayed inactive for this long. You are the only Alpha in this organization, and in three weeks, you’re scheduled for execution.”
“I know.” Eugene’s smile didn’t waver. “So?”
“So why did you let yourself get caught? What’s your plan?” Luo Hai suddenly leaned forward, bracing both hands on the edge of the table, closing the distance between them. His sharp eyes locked onto Eugene’s like a hawk.
Between them sat the delicate cake, the candle flames flickering with Luo Hai’s movements, casting their faces into shifting light and shadow.
Eugene smiled—gentle, almost tender—his eyes curving slightly, making him look even more striking in the candlelight.
“You must have made many assumptions, considered countless possibilities, tried to calculate my plan, and speculated about my motives,” Eugene said softly. “But have you ever considered this possibility? That I let myself be captured because it was the only way to see you.”
A crack appeared in Luo Hai’s cold, indifferent mask, revealing a trace of shock.
“I missed you, Luo Hai. It’s been fifteen years since we last saw each other.”
Eugene’s voice was low, like the notes of a cello, echoing quietly in the stillness of the room.
“You’re the prosecutor responsible for Omega-related crimes, and I’m the leader of the Omega rebellion. If I wanted to see you again, to be alone with you in the same room, to look into your eyes face-to-face… getting arrested was the only way.”
“You expect me to believe such a ridiculous claim?” Luo Hai asked, suppressing his anger.
Eugene leaned forward slightly and reached out, gently cupping Luo Hai’s face. His amber eyes gazed directly into his, unwavering.
“Then look into my eyes, Luo Hai. Look into my eyes and tell me I was lying just now.”
His touch seemed to carry an almost magnetic pull, rooting Luo Hai in place.
Eugene’s eyes reflected the candlelight, appearing even brighter than usual. His gaze was intense and unwavering, burning with deep, unspoken emotions.
The way he looked at Luo Hai was as if he were the most precious treasure in the world—something he was willing to protect at all costs.
Luo Hai took a slow, deep breath, his dark eyes meeting Eugene’s head-on. His voice was calm and detached.
“You were lying just now.”
Eugene smiled, let go, and leaned back, his body sinking into the soft couch cushions. “You’re really no fun.”
“I don’t need to be,” Luo Hai replied, his usual cold indifference returning. “I only need to possess the fundamental qualities of a prosecutor—the ability to see through a criminal’s lies and the authority to bring them to justice.”
Eugene shrugged. “It’s fine. Believe it or not, we still have time. As the game plays out, time will reveal everything.”
With that, Eugene reached up and turned on the lights. Instantly, the entire apartment was illuminated, making the candle flames look like tiny, fragile specks of light.
“But in any case, you can at least try the cake I made, right?” Eugene put on an innocent expression, gesturing toward his creation. “I spent the whole day making it. And if you don’t blow out the candles soon, they’re going to melt all over the cake.”
Luo Hai sighed, feeling the exhaustion from sleep deprivation creeping up on him again.
“Fine.” He bent down and blew out the candles in one breath.
The already shortened candles finally extinguished, and the last drop of wax rolled down, landing on the cream.
“What did you wish for?” Eugene asked, his lips curving slightly.
“I hope you’ll confess your entire criminal plan soon so we can move up your execution date,” Luo Hai said expressionlessly.
Eugene laughed, casually pulling out the candles and cutting a slice of cake, placing it on a plate in front of Luo Hai.
“Well then, I hope you keep up that admirable innocence of yours. Here, have some cake.”
Luo Hai lowered his gaze and used his fork to pick up a small bite.
The cake was soft, the cream rich and sweet, the chocolate intensely flavorful.
It was the best cake he had ever tasted.
But perhaps… just a little too sweet.
……
In the following week, Eugene still showed no suspicious behavior.
Even with Luo Hai increasing surveillance and stationing more personnel around him, nothing changed.
And the entire Lightwing Society, much like its leader, remained completely inactive, as if it had vanished without a trace—like it had never existed at all.
In fact, as time passed, more and more people in the prosecutor’s office began to believe that the resistance movement of the Lightwing Society might have come to an end. The capture of their leader had rendered them powerless, and the entire organization might have silently disbanded.
Chief Kliman even publicly suggested during a meeting that Luo Hai should abandon the investigation of the Lightwing Society, execute Eugene as soon as possible, and focus his efforts on other cases.
Of course, Luo Hai firmly rejected this suggestion.
“From the first action of the Lightwing Society until now, this organization has directly or indirectly caused the deaths of five clergy members, eight nobles, three government officials, and dozens of ordinary Alphas. Over a hundred Omegas have participated in protests, sit-ins, and direct resistance against law enforcement,” Luo Hai said, his gaze sharp and his tone decisive. “And to this day, our understanding of this organization is still limited to just a dozen peripheral members. Do you really think such a complete, large, well-planned, and premeditated organization would suddenly give up when they have the upper hand?”
The conference room fell into silence.
Everyone wished that this troublesome case would simply fade away on its own, but clearly, Luo Hai was right.
Eugene and his Lightwing Society were a tough nut to crack, and in the entire prosecutor’s office, only Luo Hai had the patience and meticulousness for it.
But even the most patient hunter wouldn’t just sit and wait forever.
……
At 5:30 AM three days later, Eugene was still lost in dreams when he suddenly heard the sound of his curtains being yanked open. Blinding sunlight flooded the room, and before he could react, he was pulled out of his warm blanket.
Eugene struggled like a drowning man, flailing in vain. Not only did he fail to grab onto anything, but he also hit his head against the bedframe. “What the—what are you doing?”
“Get up,” Luo Hai said coldly.
Eugene clutched his head, baring his teeth in pain, and glared at Luo Hai in disbelief. “Come on, man! What time is it? Even the roosters aren’t awake yet, and you’re telling me to get up?”
Luo Hai narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly amused by Eugene’s miserable struggle to cling to his blanket.
Then he held up three fingers and said flatly, “I’ll count to three. One, two…”
Eugene stared at Luo Hai for two seconds, then pulled the blanket over his head and went back to sleep.
“…Three.” Luo Hai didn’t rush. He simply swiped on his phone and tapped a button on an ankle monitor app.
The next second, Eugene jolted upright like a shrimp yanked out of water.
He stared at Luo Hai in shock. “…You shocked me?”
“If you still don’t get up, I have higher voltage settings,” Luo Hai said, turning his phone screen toward him. “Want to try?”
Eugene shut his mouth and got out of bed as fast as possible. Just as he reached for his clothes draped over the bedpost, Luo Hai stopped him.
“Wear this.” Luo Hai tossed him an orange prison uniform and said expressionlessly, “You have three minutes to get yourself ready. No breakfast. Then come downstairs to find me.”
Eugene couldn’t hold back anymore. “Come on, even in ancient times, people got a last meal before execution! At least tell me what this is about?”
Luo Hai turned back to look at him. “Prisoner medical examination. Routine check-up. You’re not an exception. After that, there’s a mandatory ideological education seminar. You’re attending, too.”
Eugene’s face twisted in disbelief. “Medical check-up? Ideological education? I’m a death row inmate! Are you serious?”
“You’re right, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t have to participate,” Luo Hai tilted his head slightly. “I had to fight to get you this opportunity.”
