The atmosphere in the car turned awkward again. Since last night, I'd been feeling something special about Huang Xiaotao. From her reaction just now, it seemed like she might feel the same way about me...
I knew using my Soul's Eye to observe a girl was cheating, but I was too nervous around girls—especially those I liked.
I decided to test the waters. I noticed Huang Xiaotao's hands resting on either side of the seat, not far from mine.
Slowly, I reached out a finger. My heart pounded like crazy. But my little trick was caught—she suddenly pulled her hand back, and my spirits sank.
Then, unexpectedly, her hand came up and lightly pressed against my cheek—using the back of her hand. It was cool, like a piece of jade, instantly cooling my burning face.
"Is it too hot in here?" she asked.
"Did you turn on the AC?" I replied.
She chuckled softly—there was no AC running. She placed her hand back on mine. I thought she'd pull away immediately, but she didn't. In the silence, I heard her heartbeat pounding—thump, thump—in her chest.
...
This time, she was nervous, but I felt surprisingly calm. I sensed a subtle tension building between us—no words needed, just an unspoken connection.
I glanced at her. At the same moment, she looked at me. We both quickly averted our eyes, and she removed her hand from mine.
Something inside me stirred. After all, I was a guy. Summoning courage, I suddenly turned and grabbed her shoulder. Her slender, delicate shoulder fit perfectly in my palm, as gentle as a little rabbit, without a hint of resistance.
Encouraged, I leaned in slowly. This time she blushed, biting her cherry lips lightly. A soft pink bloomed on her cheeks. Her shy gaze locked on mine as I closed in on her lips, craving a taste of her sweetness.
Our faces drew closer, breath mingling. Huang Xiaotao closed her eyes, as if waiting for it.
Then, abruptly, the phone rang—shattering the moment.
Frustrated, I sat back and grabbed my phone. It was Wang Dali calling. I answered, and his panicked voice came through: "Yangzi, help!"
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I forgot to bring toilet paper! Hurry, save me!"
I couldn't help laughing and said patiently, "Okay, I'm on my way."
I hung up and told Huang Xiaotao, "I'm going to rescue Dali."
"Oh," she replied casually, eyes fixed outside as if hiding her flushed face.
Once outside, the cold air cleared my head. Had things just gotten a bit out of hand? Would Huang Xiaotao think less of me? My mind tangled with doubts as I drove.
I picked up Wang Dali, and under the harsh glare of a 500-watt floodlight, all the car's previous intimacy vanished. After waiting over two hours, we saw workers streaming out—it was lunchtime. We watched the factory gate anxiously.
When most workers had left, Yu Jun came out and got into a black Passat. After some distance, Huang Xiaotao quietly followed.
While tailing him, she texted. Half an hour later, Yu Jun's car stopped near an old residential building. Huang Xiaotao checked her phone and said, "I just asked Captain Liao. Yu Jun doesn't live here."
"Probably keeping a mistress," Wang Dali guessed.
"No, maybe it's where he keeps the 'Spirit Cat'," I said.
Yu Jun went inside the building. I hesitated—should we keep watching or follow him in? Huang Xiaotao said, "Let's wait until he leaves, then search the place."
"But we don't have a search warrant," Wang Dali reminded us.
"Everything legal, how else do we move this case forward?" Huang Xiaotao said.
We noticed Yu Jun standing by a fifth-floor window, on a serious call. He glanced outside then drew the curtain. Wang Dali tensed, "Do you think he spotted us?"
"Probably not," Huang Xiaotao shook her head.
After a while, Yu Jun came down and drove away. We approached the building. A young guy in a hoodie came downstairs carrying something, but we paid no attention.
We climbed to the fifth floor and stopped at a door. Huang Xiaotao took two hairpins from her head and handed them to me. "Detective Song, time for you to work your magic."
I remembered her advice earlier and said, "I'll buy you two better ones later!"
"Good, you're teachable," Huang Xiaotao laughed.
In under a minute, I picked the lock. The apartment was sparsely furnished—an empty desk and a bed frame. Clearly a temporary rental. No sign of the 'Spirit Cat,' except for some sandalwood ashes scattered in a corner.
We searched everywhere—even outside the window ledge—but found nothing.
"Maybe Yu Jun moved the stuff?" Huang Xiaotao asked.
Then I shouted, "Damn, it's the guy who came down earlier!"
Without hesitation, Huang Xiaotao said, "Chase!"
We hurried downstairs but lost him after five minutes. Clinging to hope, I called Wang Yuanchao to ask his location.
"Guangming Complex," he replied.
Great news. "We're here too, so Bai Yidao must be nearby."
"Right, I just saw him enter a building and come out holding something," Wang Yuanchao said.
"Are you driving?" I asked.
"Yes!" he answered.
"Send your GPS to Huang Xiaotao's car, we'll follow you."
After hanging up, I told Huang Xiaotao to start the car and updated her on the situation. The man who brushed past us earlier was Bai Yidao in disguise. My suspicion was correct—they knew each other, and now the 'Spirit Cat' was in Bai Yidao's hands.
Tracking Wang Yuanchao's GPS, we followed him until he parked behind a hotel. He got out and into our car, saying, "Bai Yidao went into this hotel."
"Definitely going to handle the 'Spirit Cat,'" Huang Xiaotao said.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's catch him red-handed!" Wang Dali was eager.
"No," I frowned. "We don't know how deep Bai Yidao is involved—whether he's a partner or just helping Yu Jun. If he panics, it could get dangerous. He's armed."
"Wang Yuanchao's skills can handle ten Bai Yidaos," Huang Xiaotao scoffed.
"Better safe than sorry. The police station's nearby. Why not call Captain Liao to bring backup? That way we have witnesses too," I suggested.
"Great idea! We'll trap him for good," Huang Xiaotao clapped excitedly.