The clamor of Sha Luo Golden Week rolled through New Eridu like a high tide, flooding every corner of the city—then evaporated without a sound. People snapped back from leisure and indulgence and returned, grim-faced, to their ordinary lives.
But once the neon-and-music bubble burst, the shadows remained. Like a chronic disease lurking beneath the city's pulse—never fully erupting, yet constantly draining the people who kept order.
Cold white fluorescent lights hummed steadily overhead, illuminating the dust motes in the air—and the fatigue Zhu Yuan couldn't quite hide in her eyes.
She'd lost count of how many nights she'd worked straight.
Sha Luo Golden Week? For her, and for Qingyi beside her, it had simply been another period of maximum vigilance and endless risk screening.
Her desk was nearly swallowed by stacks of case files, energy-monitoring reports, and Hollow activity maps. The air was thick with caffeine and the faint, sharp ozone of a printer running too long at full speed.
Qingyi sat at her station, the green in her eyes dimmer than usual. Her fingers moved so quickly across the virtual keyboard they almost blurred, only pausing when some abnormal node forced a tight crease between her distinctive brows. She didn't drink coffee—she preferred tea—but even she had to step out now and then to refill the kettle, because the constant, heavy computation refused to slow.
"Senior Qingyi, did the disturbance analysis from the C41 monitoring point come back?" Zhu Yuan asked, rubbing at her aching temples. Her voice had the dry rasp of too many sleepless hours. She still sat upright like a spear, but the slight sag in her shoulders told the truth.
"Indeed." Qingyi didn't look up, her reply fast and clipped, her peculiar half-archaic style leaking through as always. "Its form is elusive, its nature treacherous—like a candle in the wind, flickering without pattern. I've flagged it and folded it into continuous observation. Captain, your dark circles are as deep as ink—hardly befitting the radiance of our unit."
"…Senior. Speak normally."
"Zhu Yuan," Qingyi said at last, finally turning her head, "you need rest."
Zhu Yuan let out a quiet, helpless sigh. She was used to Qingyi's way of showing concern by alternating between mockery and sincerity.
"That can wait for now," Zhu Yuan said, forcing steadiness into her tone while she gathered the files on her desk. "Our job is to make sure nothing blows up during the holiday period."
At that moment, someone knocked lightly on the office door.
A higher-ranking officer in a crisp uniform stepped in, accompanied by a few administrative staff. His gaze swept the battlefield of paper and exhaustion, then settled on Zhu Yuan with an expression that mixed approval with a command that wouldn't accept argument.
"Group Leader Zhu Yuan. Officer Qingyi," he said, voice firm and clear. "In view of your performance—especially Group Leader Zhu Yuan's—across a series of major cases, including the recent successful takedown of the 'Mountain Lion' gang…"
He paused, glancing at the system readout in his hand.
"…and also, it appears your accumulated unused leave has exceeded the limit by a severe margin."
Zhu Yuan's posture snapped even straighter.
"By decision of branch leadership," the officer continued, "Group Leader Zhu Yuan is hereby ordered to take a mandatory one-week leave effective immediately, to compensate for having not taken time off during Sha Luo Golden Week."
Zhu Yuan shot to her feet, red eyes sharp with instinctive refusal. "Sir! The cause of the C41 anomaly hasn't been identified. Security pressure is high. For me to take leave right now—"
"This is an order," the officer cut in, raising a hand. "Not a negotiation."
"An excellent officer must know not only how to work, but how to rest. A bow drawn too tight will snap. This is for you—and for your team's long-term efficiency."
He softened his tone slightly, meeting the stubborn fire in her gaze.
"Of course, given your… sense of responsibility, a complete disconnect may backfire. So we'll compromise."
"For your leave period, you will assist downstairs in the General Affairs Section. Handle routine civic matters—replacement ID requests, event-venue approvals, Hollow access permit issuance. That is also an important form of public service."
Warm water poured over a burning coal—enough to smother, not enough to soothe.
General Affairs.
Forms.
Counters.
Endless, repetitive paperwork.
Zhu Yuan felt that dull weight land in her stomach. She was used to chasing danger at Hollow perimeters, tracking truth through microscopic clues—not sitting behind a service window answering questions and stamping documents until her wrists went numb.
She knew those tasks mattered. She wasn't arrogant enough to deny it.
But she still felt… wrong-footed. Hollowed out.
A thin vine of disappointment quietly wrapped around her heart.
She drew a breath and crushed the resistance down, just as she had been trained to do.
"Yes, sir," she said, saluting with perfect precision. "I accept the assignment."
The officer nodded, satisfied, and left with his staff.
The office fell silent again, broken only by Qingyi's keystrokes.
"Alas," Qingyi sighed theatrically, turning in her chair. "A dragon in shallow waters, a tiger on flat ground. Captain, you are a hero exiled from the battlefield."
Zhu Yuan forced a small smile and began sorting her case documents into neat stacks.
"Don't tease me. Senior. Whether it's hunting criminals or serving citizens, it's still the duty of a peace officer. It's just… a different method."
She sounded as if she was convincing Qingyi.
But it was herself she was trying to convince.
Sunlight slipped through the blinds, glancing off her high ponytail and red highlights—yet somehow it couldn't reach the dimness in her eyes.
Qingyi watched her quietly and let out a soft, almost imperceptible breath.
Some choices, she knew, stained a person for life.
Far from the polished glow of downtown, the Outer Ring's world was wide and rough. The air around Calydon's Sons' base carried the familiar mix of motor oil, fuel, and dust. Several heavily modified motorcycles lounged on the open ground like resting steel beasts.
"Alright! Listen up!" Caesar, Calydon's Sons' current boss, clapped her hands hard, voice loud and full of inexhaustible energy. "Our vehicles—and our licenses—are due for annual inspection. We can't put it off anymore!"
Not far away, Lucy elegantly wiped down her helmet—decorated with a black spade symbol—with a velvet cloth. She shot Caesar a disgusted look.
"Hmph. I had that listed on my schedule ages ago. Only an idiot with a brain made of muscles and gasoline would wait until now."
Her words were sharp as always, but something bright flickered in her eyes.
Going into the city…
That meant she might get the chance to see that little "thief" doctor again—the one who had stolen far too much of her attention.
Since he'd returned to New Eridu, it was as if the city had swallowed him whole. He hadn't stepped foot in the free, open Outer Ring since.
Lucy would never admit she missed him.
She only needed to "inspect" his condition.
And demand to know why he'd gone silent.
Hmph. Reading her messages and not replying—what exactly did he think he was doing? If he thought he could play some cheap push-and-pull game with her, then he'd better prepare to be disappointed.
"Whoa! Into the city? Yes!" Bernice nearly bounced off the ground beside her bike, already holding her signature tools—the flame-launchers that doubled as "cocktail equipment" in emergencies. Her blonde twin-tails bobbed wildly with excitement.
"We can go find Qianye! He hasn't come to the Outer Ring in forever, and he just leaves our messages on read. I'm going to check on him!"
Her red eyes burned with lively excitement, genuine worry—and unmistakable grievance.
Piper lounged against a massive truck wheel nicknamed "Big Fangs," yawning lazily.
"Ah… we're going into the city again." Her voice was slow, nasal with sleep. "Honestly, for stuff like annual inspection, shouldn't we just let Lady Lucy handle it…"
She rubbed her eyes and added, almost as an afterthought, "But… I did accidentally roast my ID card while fixing an engine last time. So I do need a replacement."
By the wall, Light—silent until now—looked up from wiping his gauntlet. His sunglasses hid most of his face, leaving only a hard jawline and tightly set mouth. One hand stayed in his leather jacket pocket; a green scarf lay around his neck, barely stirring.
"This time, you go," he said, voice low and steady, the calm of someone who'd survived worse storms. "If all of Calydon's Sons goes into the city, some rats out here might think they've found an opening."
A cold curve touched his lips. "Someone has to stay and watch home."
The weight of his words left no room for argument.
Caesar scratched her chin and nodded immediately. "Light's right. That's my mistake. Light stays. We go!"
She threw a fist like she was declaring a raid instead of paperwork.
Bernice, already in full motion, began stuffing an oversized backpack with "gifts" she was certain Qianye would like—special fuel drinks, Outer Ring meat jerky, and a handful of bizarre little Bangboo keychains.
Just like that, the "city team" was formed: Caesar, Lucy, Bernice, and Piper.
They mounted their roaring bikes, left the dusty Outer Ring behind, and headed toward the tidy order—and hidden undercurrents—of New Eridu's core.
The atmosphere here was nothing like the upstairs unit's tense, sharpened silence. It was full of small, everyday noise: citizens speaking quietly, the electronic beep of the calling machine, staff patiently explaining procedures, printers screaming without pause, children occasionally crying.
Sunlight poured through the wide glass windows, lighting up drifting dust—and Zhu Yuan's face behind the service counter, where she forced a professional smile that wouldn't quite soften.
She wore her tie with perfect neatness. Her ponytail was as strict as ever.
But sitting behind this window, processing questions like—
"My citizen ID was stolen by a Bangboo riding a dog, what do I do?"
"I want to hold a community square dog matchmaking event, what permits do I need?"
"What's the process for applying to enter a Hollow to harvest Ether moss?"
—was somehow more exhausting than facing an armed criminal.
She had lived on raids and pursuit and truth-hunting. Now she had been dropped back into paperwork—the kind of work she'd done when she first joined the force—and she felt the edge of unfamiliarity again, an awkward stiffness in her hands and mind.
Even so, she did it properly. Every form was clean. Every explanation crisp and organized.
But the disappointment of being away from the front line—the sense of not being able to strike directly at crime—buzzed in the back of her skull like a constant static.
She reminded herself of her original purpose, of what she'd sworn when she put on the uniform: small civic needs mattered too. Stability was built out of tiny pieces.
She'd just finished helping an elderly woman with pension verification, receiving a warm, sincere, "Thank you, miss—you're so pretty and so patient," when the automatic doors slid open again.
A scent that didn't belong surged into the hall.
Oil.
Dust.
Fuel.
And something wild and alive.
Zhu Yuan instinctively looked up, her red eyes narrowing as her training kicked in.
A tall, powerfully built woman led the group—dark green hair tied back, a worn leather jacket, muscles smooth and full of force.
Caesar.
Behind her came a small but imposing blonde girl wearing a helmet marked with a black spade—Lucy. Beside them were Bernice, bouncing with energy and scanning everything, and Piper, who looked half asleep.
Outer Ring people?
Why were they at a General Affairs counter?
Zhu Yuan's nerves tightened. Had something happened out there?
Caesar strode straight to Zhu Yuan's window and boomed, "Officer! We're here for motorcycle annual inspection and license updates!"
She slapped a stack of slightly curled documents onto the counter.
Lucy immediately jabbed Caesar with an elbow. "Idiot. Watch your tone."
Then she turned to Zhu Yuan and put on an expression that tried to be "properly formal"—though it carried a faintly stubborn Outer Ring edge.
"Ahem. Esteemed peace officer, we are representatives of an Outer Ring logistics company named Calydon's Sons. We are here to handle annual inspections for our vehicles and update the relevant driving documentation. These are our materials."
She neatly straightened the papers Caesar had tossed down and slid them forward.
Zhu Yuan blinked once—then recovered instantly.
"Understood. Please wait. I'll verify the information."
Her voice was calm and official, but her fingertips paused by the smallest fraction when they touched the dusty paperwork.
Bernice nearly leaned her whole upper body across the smooth counter, her red eyes openly studying Zhu Yuan. Then her face lit up like she'd discovered treasure.
"Ah! I know you!"
Her voice was bright, direct, and completely unfiltered.
"You're that super strong officer! Last time we came into the city, I saw you on the big screen—your promo video! You look even more… um, even more serious in real life."
The words hit Zhu Yuan like an unexpected flashbang.
She felt heat rocket into her face so fast it was almost absurd. Her cheeks turned bright red, as vivid as fresh tomatoes.
Piper yawned long and slow, eyes half-lidded, scanning the hall as if she were looking for the best spot to nap. She seemed entirely unaware of Bernice's "compliment" and Zhu Yuan's sudden crisis.
"T-Thank you," Zhu Yuan managed, ears burning. She forcibly locked her gaze onto the on-screen form, voice acquiring a faint, embarrassed wobble. "That was… part of standard publicity coordination. Ahem. Let's—let's finish your paperwork."
Inside her head, a tiny version of herself was screaming.
Why did I agree to film that? Why? This is what I get. I want a hole in the ground to swallow me right now.
Outwardly, her professionalism held. Her hands moved quickly, entering data, stamping forms, printing receipts. Smooth, practiced motions—only the lowered lashes and the red-tipped ears betrayed her.
She could feel Lucy's sharp, appraising gaze linger on her, and Bernice's curiosity refusing to dim—both far beyond what "routine processing" required.
She wanted them to leave. Quickly.
But fate, as always, chose the worst timing.
Just as she was finishing, Bernice lowered her voice and asked Lucy with obvious urgency:
"Hey—did Qianye reply to your messages yet?"
Zhu Yuan's fingers froze.
Qianye.
The name struck her ears with an unnatural clarity, like a bell rung in a locked room.
Then more fragments slipped out—too quiet for most people, but not for a trained officer.
"…that heartless little doctor…"
"…this time we're definitely catching him…"
"…my new mix, he has to try it…"
Zhu Yuan's heart skipped—and then pounded hard enough to hurt.
Her grip tightened on the mouse.
Qianye… was connected to Calydon's Sons?
And from the way they spoke, they weren't just acquaintances. They were close.
New Eridu was huge—yet sometimes it was so small it felt like a maze where lives collided in the strangest corners.
She swallowed the surge of emotion, hardened her expression, and silently increased her processing speed again.
She handed them their temporary documents and receipt.
"Done. This is your temporary credential. The official documents will be ready in three business days. You can choose pickup or delivery."
"Thanks!" Caesar grinned, loud and easy. "We'll be in the city a few days. We'll pick 'em up ourselves."
"You have our thanks," Lucy said, chin lifting slightly. Her eyes lingered on Zhu Yuan's too-perfect composure, as if trying to read what lay underneath.
Bernice waved brightly. "Bye, serious-and-cute officer lady!"
And then they were gone, swallowed by the sunlit crowd beyond the doors.
Only then did Zhu Yuan exhale—slowly, quietly—releasing the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
She tried to refocus on the stack of forms, on the next citizen in line, on the bright ordinary hum of the service hall.
But inside her, something that had been quiet—stagnant, even—stirred awake.
A lake disturbed by a stone.
A name rising clearly at the center of the ripples:
Qianye.
A sudden impulse surfaced—sharp, undeniable, and strangely pure.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Zhu Yuan tapped Qingyi's shoulder and spoke with the decisive urgency of a field commander.
"Senior Qingyi, contact Seth. Tell him to come to General Affairs Window Three immediately and take over my station. I have an urgent matter to handle outside."
She ended the call, tidied her desk in seconds, gave her coworkers a brief explanation, then stood and walked quickly to the staff room.
When she reappeared, she'd changed out of her stiff uniform into a darker casual jacket. Her ponytail was still immaculate, but the new clothes made her look less like a symbol and more like a person.
She lowered her cap brim and slipped out, quietly following the direction Calydon's Sons had gone.
In her mind, only one thought remained—so clear it refused argument:
She really wanted… to see him again.
It was simple. It was sincere. And it pulled her away from the track she'd been forced onto, straight into an afternoon full of unknowns.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
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Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 155)
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TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
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I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter230)
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Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
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Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
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Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 230
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Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
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Uma Musume: I Want All 110
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Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 45
The Uma Musume Who Became 40
I'm Definitely Not the King of 45
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
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