Anby told Sam Li a simple story, framing it as a movie plot.
But Sam Li could tell—it wasn't about any movie. It was about her past. She was Thunder, and Soldier 11 was Flame.
There was clearly a complicated history between them.
But what puzzled Sam Li was the contradiction. In Anby's version, it was Soldier 11 who became the informer—Soldier 11 who betrayed her.
Yet from Soldier 11's own account, the traitor had been Anby.
For a moment, even Sam Li couldn't tell who was telling the truth.
Was it Anby who betrayed Soldier 11, or the other way around?
Or perhaps... neither had betrayed the other at all.
Sam Li spoke softly. "Soldier 11 once asked me to protect you."
Anby was clearly caught off guard. She couldn't understand why Soldier 11 would make such a request.
After a moment of silence, she composed herself again.
"She's the same as ever—always doing things no one can understand. Just ignore her request."
With that, she took a hamburger from the shopping bag and handed it to Sam Li, then turned to return to her room.
Halfway there, Anby paused.
"Sam Li, can I ask you a favor?"
Sam Li nodded. "Go ahead."
Anby hesitated, then said, "I want you to protect—never mind. Forget it."
She stopped mid-sentence and quickly walked into her room.
Watching her go, Sam Li knew what she meant.
She wanted him to protect Soldier 11.
Just like Soldier 11, she didn't want the other to die so easily.
They really were a strange pair.
After Anby left, Sam Li was alone in the living room again.
...
That afternoon, Sam Li had planned to take his birdcage for a walk around Sixth Street, maybe grab a coffee or check out some DVDs at the video store.
But then a message came in from Qingyi.
She said the commendation for Sam Li had been approved—much faster than expected. She and Zhu Yuan would be delivering the medal and Dennies that afternoon.
She told Sam Li to wait at Hare's House.
So he stayed put, sitting on the sofa and watching TV.
Around 3 p.m., Zhu Yuan and Qingyi arrived in the Public Security Bureau's patrol car. The moment they pulled up to Hare's House, Nicole and Billy noticed them.
Billy quickly called out, "Nicole, the Public Security Bureau is here again!"
Nicole grumbled, "Stop shouting—I saw them."
Billy sighed, "They show up every other day. Isn't that bad for business?"
Nicole was annoyed. "Of course it is."
With that, the two of them walked quickly toward the patrol car.
At the same time, the car doors opened and Zhu Yuan and Qingyi stepped out.
As soon as she saw them, Nicole muttered under her breath, "It's them again. Don't tell me they're here to poach our people."
Qingyi must have heard her.
With a teasing smile, she raised an eyebrow. "Boss Nicole, not happy to see us? If that's the case, Zhu Yuan and I can leave."
Nicole immediately changed her expression, flashing a big smile.
"Welcome, of course! Officers, please come in and have a seat."
Hare's House was an agency. Zhu Yuan and Qingyi were Public Security officers.
There was no way Nicole could afford to be rude.
Zhu Yuan and Qingyi entered and immediately spotted Sam Li on the sofa, heading straight toward him.
Nicole, standing nearby, couldn't help but ask, "Officers, you didn't come all this way just to see Sam Li, did you? Is there something you need help with?"
Qingyi smiled. "You guessed it."
Nicole raised an eyebrow. "A job? What do you need us to do?"
Qingyi chuckled. "We were going to ask for help catching a suspect, but there's no need anymore—Sam Li already got him yesterday."
Nicole blinked, confused. One second they needed help, the next they didn't?
Did they really come all the way here just to mess around?
Seeing Nicole and Billy's bewildered faces, Zhu Yuan stepped in to explain.
"Here's the situation—yesterday, Sam Li helped us capture a key suspect. I submitted a commendation request for him, and we're here to deliver the medal and prize."
He'd thought it would take two or three days for approval, but it went through in just one.
As he spoke, Zhu Yuan took out a small box containing the Public Security Bureau's 'Special Contribution Award.'
In his other hand was a bank check.
Nicole and Billy exchanged looks, still trying to process it, and accepted the medal and check in a daze.
Clearly, they hadn't expected this sudden recognition—especially since it hadn't been long since the last award, and there had even been a media incident in between.
Nicole glanced down at the check.
A full 100,000 Dennies.
Her face lit up. "Thank you! Thank you! Officers, please have a seat!"
Zhu Yuan said seriously, "It's us who should be thanking Sam Li."
Nicole quickly stashed the medal and check away and turned to Billy.
"Well? What are you standing around for? Go get water for the officers!"
Billy scrambled to grab two disposable cups, instinctively reached for the water dispenser... and then remembered it was broken.
He rushed out the door to fetch water from next door.
Zhu Yuan blinked. "Where's he going?"
Nicole smiled. "Next door. He'll be right back—please wait just a moment."
Zhu Yuan looked thoroughly confused. "???"
Qingyi sighed. "This is the mighty Hare's House, and you're borrowing water from next door to host your guests? It's fine, really. Zhu Yuan and I still have patrols to do, so we won't stay long."
She walked over to Sam Li and gave a brief farewell.
Then she and Zhu Yuan left.
The moment they were gone, Billy returned with two cups of water.
"Uh... Nicole? Where are the officers?"
Nicole took one of the cups and started drinking. "They're gone."
Then she pulled out the medal and prize money again, smiling uncontrollably.
What a pleasant surprise.
Just then, Anby and Nekomata came out of their rooms.
Nekomata looked puzzled. "I thought I heard the security officers' voices. Was I hearing things?"
Nicole smiled. "You heard right. They came by to give Sam Li a medal and a 100,000 Dennies bonus. Look at this—such a shiny medal and check! You two should learn from Sam Li. Don't just sit around at home all day. Go walk around the city now and then—you might stumble into something great."