Chapter Seventy-Four: Cold Reading

The two of them went into the restaurant, while Suzuna Tsukimiya sat outside, idly playing with her phone and browsing the messages in her work group chat.

A new leader always makes bold moves, and everyone was speculating that after Nagaken Bajou’s reforms, he would definitely make an example out of someone. After all, outsourcing work harmed the interests of all Section Six operatives, which naturally bred discontent and threatened Bajou’s authority. There are two ways to deal with dissent: the stick or the carrot.

Knowing Bajou’s character, the carrot was out of the question—he’d rather pick up the stick and knock someone down, making an example of one to warn the rest, just to show who really called the shots at the Bureau of Public Security.

So, who would the unlucky person be?

It was hard to guess. Who irked Bajou the most at the moment? No one could say. Suzuna smirked coldly, switched off the group chat, and set her phone on the table.

Like grasshoppers after autumn, let them jump while they still have the strength.

Lost in thought, she suddenly noticed Chen Zi’ang and Song Xi returning together, trays in hand, chatting and laughing side by side.

...

Mimi, are you... tired of living?

A vague sense of crisis flickered in her heart, but rationality quickly swept it away. Song Xi, after all, had been pampered since childhood, everything coming to her effortlessly, her desires granted before they could become needs. As a result, she had grown up with little to crave in life.

In truth, with the way Song Mingyuan doted on her, if she had simply said, “I don’t want an arranged marriage,” today’s wedding would never have come to pass.

But she agreed nonetheless, because from start to finish, she had always regarded love and marriage with utter indifference.

How could such a fool suddenly become enlightened?

Besides, the brilliance in her senior’s character wasn’t something one could discover without spending a long time with him.

“What are you two talking about?” Suzuna flashed a dazzlingly fake smile, turning her gaze toward Song Xi.

Song Xi shivered inexplicably, immediately catching on and hastily explained,

“Ahem, I was just saying I’m quite interested in you and senior’s story, that’s all.”

She blinked her eyes.

Suzuna caught her look, understood that she was playing along, and quietly restrained the murderous intent in her own eyes.

“You two sit down first. I’ll go deliver these dishes to Xiaozhu and Uncle Emon,” Chen Zi’ang said, picking up the trays and heading outside.

The moment he left, Suzuna dropped her smile and asked coolly,

“What did you say?”

“I’ve handled it,” Song Xi replied with a thumbs-up. “Senior is willing to start as friends with you and just let things develop naturally from there!”

Suzuna pressed a hand to her forehead in resignation. So your idea of helping is just to confirm the viability of my current plan all over again, is that it?

On reflection, she really shouldn't have relied on her.

First, no one understood senior better than she did, certainly not Song Xi; second, this girl had never even been in love—how could she possibly help?

“By the way,” Song Xi asked cheerfully, “how did you meet senior?”

Suzuna pondered for a moment.

The truth of their meeting was far too fantastical to explain, so honesty was out of the question. But if she brushed over it too lightly, Song Xi’s talent for gossip might spin an even more outlandish version that would spread far and wide.

Of course, Suzuna had to admit that by asking Song Xi to help, there was a part of her that wanted the story to get out. As long as everyone knew she had someone she liked, she wouldn’t be bombarded with so many messages every night—messages she had to scrutinize to tell idle chatter from thinly veiled advances, just like her own intentions toward senior.

Honestly, she just wanted to block them all, so she wouldn’t have to check every notification hoping it was from him, only to be disappointed most of the time.

“It’s nothing special,” Suzuna replied. “I met senior while he was on duty. He helped me out with a... small problem.”

“What kind of problem?” Song Xi’s curiosity was piqued.

“You really want to know?” Suzuna’s face darkened.

“Not really,” Song Xi answered honestly, then perked up. “So, did you fall in love with him right then?”

“It wasn’t that fast,” Suzuna smiled faintly. “We just had the chance to interact, and over time, I fell for him.”

“But that sounds so odd,” Song Xi said, puzzled. “For example, if a public safety officer helped me, I’d thank him, sure, but I wouldn’t keep in touch unless I was attracted to him from the start and deliberately found excuses to talk.”

Suzuna didn’t answer, because at first, she hadn’t been interested in him at all.

In the long, drawn-out memories of nearly twenty years of wealthy but tedious life as a young lady, suddenly catching a glimpse of the mysterious world’s dangerous and dazzling side, she had been like a child spotting a new toy. She pestered Chen Zi’ang relentlessly, hoping to gain supernatural powers and become a suave, dashing hero like in the movies.

Eventually, she did gain power... but as in so many tragic plays, she now wished she hadn’t.

“Let’s not talk about this,” Suzuna swiftly changed the topic. “You have a wedding this afternoon. And you’re here gossiping with me?”

Song Xi slumped dramatically onto the table: Sis! Who do you think I’m here for if not you?

“It’s fine,” she said carelessly. “My dad isn’t here yet. I can slack off for a bit.”

“That’s not wise,” Suzuna reminded her. “I bet Uncle Song has some way of finding out exactly what you’re up to, even when he’s busy at work.”

Song Xi shivered, then laughed.

“I doubt it. Don’t make my dad sound like the head of a spy ring... Anyway, I should go get my makeup done. You and senior will be there this afternoon, right?”

“Of course. We’re already here, aren’t we?” Suzuna replied with a smile.

After saying goodbye to Song Xi, she stood up gracefully and made her way back the way she had come.

In the aquarium’s fish exhibit hall, Chen Xiaozhu was still playing with fish models, completely absorbed and ignoring the tofu fish soup beside her. Since she wasn’t eating, Goro Emon didn’t pick up his chopsticks either, simply waiting by her side, ready to hand her a new fish toy when she got bored.

Chen Zi’ang stood at the dessert vending machine, apparently trying to figure out how it worked.

“You have to put in a coin first,” Suzuna said, inserting one. She quickly slipped a paper cup under the cream spout, her other hand dancing nimbly over the buttons. “Like this, and this... Done! Ta-da! Your watermelon, strawberry, milk, and mango four-scoop special.”

“So that’s how it works,” Chen Zi’ang nodded. “Suzuna.”

“What is it, senior?”

“Xiaozhu likes watermelon and strawberry. You said I told you that last time, but what about my preferences?”

“Well,” Suzuna pressed a slender finger to her lips, smiling sweetly. “That’s a girl’s secret~”

“So your so-called ‘girl’s secret’ just means you know all my secrets, is that it?” Chen Zi’ang teased, taking the ice cream from her and heading back.

“It’s really not that mysterious,” Suzuna followed him lightly. “It’s just a bit of cold reading.”

“You know cold reading?”

“A little. I’m not very good.”

“Then tell me, what am I thinking right now?”

“You’re thinking, ‘Wow, Suzuna-chan even knows cold reading—how adorable!’”

“I’m thinking you’re definitely just making things up.”