The man in the mask was Brother Ji. Knowing he had failed his mission and couldn’t return, he voluntarily confessed everything at the police station. He explained that Muddy Eel must have had him under surveillance the entire time and, knowing his mission had failed, would have already moved to a new hideout. Sending the police to the previous location would be pointless.
He was right. When the police arrived at the hideout, it was already deserted.
“Miss Bai, you and your family are in a very dangerous situation right now. It’s best if you stay home and avoid going out. We will have officers monitoring your home around the clock to ensure your safety,” Luo Tian said.
“Was this Muddy Eel’s doing?”
“Yes. He got photos of me, you, and the child at the park. He must’ve figured out you provided the tip and sent someone to retaliate.”
“Did you catch him?”
Luo Tian shook his head. “He never intended to keep that lackey around. He’s long gone by now.”
“I wish it had been him who came after me. Then I could have avenged Lu Heng myself.”
“Miss Bai, you can’t think like that. Muddy Eel is ruthless—far more dangerous than his lackeys. If you had encountered him, you probably wouldn’t have been so lucky. For now, just focus on staying safe with your family. We’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”
“I understand. Thank you, Captain Luo.”
“No need to thank me. Let me take you home, and I’ll explain everything to your family.”
“Alright.”
Luo Tian turned to two officers behind him. “Liu, Li, follow us in a patrol car.”
“Got it, Captain.”
Being under police protection didn’t feel all that different to Bai Cheng, as she had barely left the house in the past month. The only reminder that she was a “priority protection” target was the patrol car stationed outside her home 24/7. Whenever she needed to go out for groceries, Luo Tian would drive her in the police car, staying close by at all times.
At one point, Bai Cheng joked, “I’ve never been chauffeured in a police car before. It’s quite the experience.”
Luo Tian replied seriously, “It’s not something to be happy about. You’re under protection because of a real danger to your life. This is no joke.”
During one of their grocery trips, Bai Cheng realized that Luo Tian had quite a knowledge of cooking. His stern, unapproachable appearance didn’t match his expertise in the kitchen. As they walked side by side through the supermarket, Luo Tian helped her pick out vegetables, explaining things along the way. He pointed out that cucumbers with flowers on the ends were fresher, pink tomatoes were better for salads because they had a milder acidity, and narrow-leaved chives had a stronger fragrance.
Watching Luo Tian expertly select ingredients, Bai Cheng couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t expect you to be such a cooking expert, Captain Luo.”
“I wouldn’t call myself a cooking enthusiast. It’s just that my parents run a restaurant—my dad’s the chef, and my mom manages the place. Growing up, I saw my dad working in the kitchen all the time, so I picked up a few things over the years.”
“That makes sense. It sounds like your dad and my dad would get along. My dad loves cooking too, especially spicy food. His beer-braised duck is a hit with everyone who’s tasted it. Lu Heng loved it, even though he didn’t originally like spicy food. But after coming to my house so often and eating my dad’s dishes, he became quite good at handling spicy food.”
Realizing she had brought up Lu Heng, Bai Cheng fell into silence, focusing on picking out vegetables. After a few more minutes of walking around, she turned to Luo Tian and asked, “What about you, Captain Luo? What do you like to eat? Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight? You must be tired of eating takeout in the car all the time. You could always come to my place for meals instead.”
“Thank you, Miss Bai, but we’re on duty and can’t have meals at civilians’ homes. It’s really not that hard on us—we’re used to it.”
“Alright, but if you ever get hungry, just let me know, and I’ll bring something down.”
“Thank you, Miss Bai.”
As night fell, the sky turned a deep, dark blue, with large clouds floating overhead. Bai Cheng stood by the window, holding a cup of hot tea. It was the night of the new moon, so the sky was without light. She stared at the dark blue expanse, lost in thought.
Lowering her gaze, Bai Cheng noticed the patrol car parked outside. Though it was late summer, the air still held a bit of warmth. Luo Tian had rolled down the window of the patrol car, reclining his seat for a more comfortable position. His long legs rested loosely on the car’s floor. Sometimes, his left arm would prop up his chin on the window, while other times, it would hang lazily out the window. His right hand rested on his leg, occasionally picking up the radio or glancing at his phone.
Under the warm, honeyed glow of the streetlights, Bai Cheng could see Luo Tian’s sharp profile and his slightly rugged stubble. The soft glow from his phone screen made his eyes appear even clearer and brighter.
Even if the moon had been out tonight, it wouldn’t have shone brighter than Luo Tian’s eyes.
Bai Cheng stepped away from the window, went downstairs with a bag of sandwiches, fruit, and drinks, and approached the patrol car.
Luo Tian saw her coming through the rearview mirror and stuck his head out the window. “What’s going on? Everything okay?”
Bai Cheng waved the bag in front of him and said, “Just bringing you some snacks.” She handed the bag to him and peeked inside the car. “Weren’t there two of you patrolling the last few nights? Where’s Officer Liu?”
“Things have calmed down a bit, so I sent him home. I can handle things on my own. You didn’t have to bring anything, though—it makes me feel like I’m here for a picnic.”
“Then pretend it’s a picnic,” Bai Cheng teased, tossing the bag into the car. Luo Tian glanced at the bag of snacks on the passenger seat and relented. “Alright, I won’t argue.”
Bai Cheng smiled and waved her hand. “Captain Luo, why don’t you head home to sleep tonight? It’s already been a week—Muddy Eel has probably given up on targeting me by now.”
“Let’s give it another week, just to be safe. Plus, the car is spacious. I’ve slept in it plenty of times while on assignments.”
Bai Cheng knew Luo Tian was trying to make light of the situation. At his height, there was no way he could be comfortable sleeping in the car. But she couldn’t think of any better solution and offered a small, apologetic smile. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
Luo Tian nodded.
As Bai Cheng turned to leave, Luo Tian called out to her, “Miss Bai, how have you been sleeping?”
She stopped and turned back. “I took your advice and started listening to rain sounds at night. It was helping for a while, but ever since Muddy Eel reappeared, even that hasn’t been working.”
Luo Tian nodded thoughtfully. “If I come across any other good sleep remedies, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks,” Bai Cheng replied before heading back upstairs. Luo Tian hadn’t felt hungry before, but seeing the bag of snacks, he suddenly had an appetite. He pulled out a sandwich and a can of coffee and started eating. As he ate, he felt a bit stiff and stretched his neck. When he looked up, he noticed Bai Cheng standing by the window again.
She was holding her cup of tea, gazing at the night sky. As she took a sip, their eyes met. Luo Tian, still chewing his sandwich, froze for a moment, as did Bai Cheng. After a few seconds, Luo Tian gave her a thumbs-up, grinning. Bai Cheng snapped out of it and returned the gesture, smiling.
After a few more moments of looking at the sky, Bai Cheng drew the curtains and prepared for bed. From the car, Luo Tian saw the lights in her house go out, leaving only the porch light on. Stretching his arms, he leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes, settling in for the night.
