4 | Exclusive from Jinjiang Literature City · 4

My rumored boyfriend.

"Did you have fun playing with me?"

Lai Chuan Huang Quan stared blankly at the fierce-looking man in front of him, dumbfounded, and said, "When did I play with you?"

“Ha,” Matsuda Jinpei sneered, gritting his teeth and his face contorted with rage: “to do that kind of thing to me.”

Mobile Commander & Team Members: ?

Could you elaborate on what kind of thing that was?

Seeing things spiraling out of control, Kenji Hagiwara sighed deeply, arms crossed. He took two steps forward, frowning, and smiled as he placed his hands on the shoulders of Jinpei Matsuda and Yomi Raikawa: "Jinpei, calm down. The most important thing right now is to get out of here."

Just minutes earlier, when his teammates moved the unconscious Matsuda Jinpei away, Hagiwara had already gotten up and checked the bomb, which had been completely defused.

"Let's go back to the Metropolitan Police Department to report first, then we'll talk to..."

He paused, glancing at the woman whose wrist was being held by Matsuda Jinpei, who kept shrinking back.

He didn't even know her name.

The woman, who had hit him twice in just a few hours, shrank back and dared not look back at Matsuda Jinpei. Her bright almond-shaped eyes were like autumn water under the moon, deep and clear.

She's such a vibrant girl.

With a helpless shrug, Kenji Hagiwara laughed and said, "Jinpei, you scared her like that. Let's talk about it when we get back."

Matsuda Jinpei didn't let go. He glanced sideways at Hagiwara Kenji: "Hmph, what she did to you was even worse. She was the one who made you late this morning, if I'm not mistaken."

When he was late this morning, Kenji Hagiwara told Jinpei Matsuda about his experience in the alley.

Kenji Hagiwara, once again the center of attention: "Exclusive to Hagiwara..."

Could you be any more blunt?

This statement seems reasonable at first glance, but didn't you see that the eyes of the surrounding squad members were practically wide open?

Covering his forehead and letting out a long sigh, Kenji Hagiwara felt for the first time the urge to clasp his hands together and beg his childhood friend to be a little more perceptive.

But the most surprised was the mobile unit commander.

He stood to the side watching the spectacle unfold before him, his brows furrowed, his eyes darting back and forth between the three men.

Although Kenji Hagiwara is usually a bit carefree, he is quite serious and responsible at work, and has never been late or left early in the more than half a year since he joined the company.

Today, Kenji Hagiwara was not only late, but he arrived at the Mobile Unit half an hour late, looking dejected. His suit was also covered in dust, and he looked extremely disheveled.

So the reason that made Hagiwara break his rules and be late for the first time was because of this woman...?

The stares from those around him were so intense they could scorch through the walls, making Kenji Hagiwara feel a little breathless. He adjusted the collar of his riot suit through his heavy gloves, twisted his neck from side to side, and changed the subject with a smile: "Sir, the bomb has been defused here too. Can we call it a day?"

After a moment's hesitation, the officer finally nodded: "Okay, let's call it a day."

...

Lai Chuan Huang Quan was taken to the Metropolitan Police Department in a SWAT team car.

The back of the riot police car was filled with riot shields, and officers wearing heavy riot gear sat side by side in a circle around the car.

Yomi Laichuan was squeezed between Jinpei Matsuda and Kenji Hagiwara, sitting upright with her hands on her thighs.

She stared intently at the patterns on the metal floor beneath her feet, her mind a complete mess.

Is she going to be sent to jail?

She still has several days before she can apply for a space jump, and if she's unlucky, she might be sent back to the Metropolitan Police Department on charges of escaping prison a few days after she escapes.

Autism.

She'll definitely become the laughingstock of the entire Time and Space Administration.

When the car arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department, Inspector Megure from the First Investigation Division was already waiting downstairs with his men.

After jumping off the train, Kenji Hagiwara did not immediately leave with the main group. Instead, he turned around and reached out his hand to the woman inside the carriage.

Lai Chuan Huang Quan stared blankly at the outstretched hand of the man in front of him for a moment, then said, "Thank you."

With her hand in Kenji Hagiwara's palm, Yomi Laichuan was helped by Hagiwara to jump down from the SWAT team car, which was up to her thigh.

"Captain Hagiwara, let's go."

"Coming!"

Turning to look at the woman in front of him who had lost her vitality, Kenji Hagiwara sighed and comforted her with a smile: "Don't be too afraid. Just tell me the truth. If you really run into trouble, come find me."

Then he turned around, jogged a few steps, and followed his teammates away.

"Tell the truth...?"

That being said, when Lai Chuan Huang Quanzhen was taken to the interrogation room and made to sit alone on an iron bench, she lowered her head and remained silent for a moment before opening her mouth and starting to make up a story for herself: "I had a fight with my boyfriend."

Rubbing his fingers, Lai Chuan Huang Quan glanced quickly at the police officer wearing a fisherman's hat in front of him, then lowered his gaze again.

"In a moment of impulse, I smashed his most treasured figurine. He was so angry that his face turned purple. He pounded on the door loudly and kept yelling that he was going to beat me up. I was scared, so I hid in the room and didn't dare to go out."

Biting his lower lip, Lai Chuan Huang Quan shrank back and stared intently at the table: "I heard the police officer knocking on the door and telling me to come out, but I thought it was my boyfriend trying to trick me into leaving, so I kept hiding and didn't dare to make a sound."

Inspector Megure's eyebrow twitched, hesitating to speak. Lately, relationships between men and women have deteriorated, with an increasing number of serious incidents involving young people. While the reason given by Raikawa Yomi was outrageous, it was also plausible.

“Room number,” Inspector Megure rubbed his temples and asked, “We need to verify your information. Please tell me your room number.”

Lai Chuan Huang Quan: "..."

That's it, the Metropolitan Police Department will definitely call her so-called boyfriend to verify the situation. They've already verified her identity, why are they doing this unnecessary thing?

Lai Chuan Huang Quan was pursing his lower lip, hesitating, when suddenly a line of text flashed before his eyes:

Room number 2013

The translucent text, glowing with a deep blue fluorescence, floated in mid-air.

Lai Chuan Huang Quan turned her head, and the text moved with her, always remaining in the center of her field of vision.

Yomi Laichuan: "...?"

Was this a notification sent to her by her boss through the central system?

The wooden tabletop was tapped impatiently by Inspector Megure, and Yomi Lai stopped thinking: "Number 2013, my boyfriend and I live in number 2013."

"What's his name?"

"Hikari Midorikawa."

The hint given by his superior came to mind again, and this time Lai Chuan Huang Quan gave the answer directly based on the text.

"Um……"

Inspector Megure thought for a moment and nodded toward the one-way mirror.

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the interrogation room door. The young police officer, holding his phone, pushed the door open and entered. He and Megure exchanged a glance and nodded solemnly.

The Metropolitan Police Department was able to access Lai Chuan Huangquan's personal information, and the man on the other end of the phone confirmed everything Lai Chuan Huangquan said, including the fact that he was Lai Chuan Huangquan's girlfriend.

Inspector Megure frowned and stood up: "Alright, you can go now."

Just as Yomi Lai was about to crawl out of the interrogation room, Inspector Megure spoke again: "If you're in a relationship, have a proper one. Don't mess things up. If your boyfriend hits you, just break up with him. Don't be afraid, the Metropolitan Police Department will protect you. But next time you hear the police requesting an evacuation, remember to cooperate fully, understand?"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

After bowing deeply and apologizing a few times, Lai Chuan Huang Quan left the room.

She jogged out of the Metropolitan Police Department, her mind filled with countless questions.

What happened? Why did the Metropolitan Police Department release him?

Feigning composure, Yomi Lai left the Metropolitan Police Department, walking faster and faster until she simply ran away and disappeared at the intersection.

There have been instances of people being exposed in previous missions, but this is the first time that the innocence of two mission targets has been ruined on the very first day of landing.

Raikawa Yomi tapped her earlobe twice and connected with her direct superior: "This is number 1107, administrator. Is Midorikawa Hikaru another employee sent by the Bureau?"

After a brief static, a clear male voice entered Raikawa Yomi's ears: "Midori Kō is a character from the original world."

"Then why was he willing to cover for me?"

"He just needs a fake network of connections."

Do I need a fake network of relationships?

Anyone who needs such a thing must have a fake identity. If they aren't from another world like her, then they can only be a criminal or a spy—professions requiring a dual identity.

"Why……"

I don't know if this counts as escaping a disaster or jumping from one pit into another.

Lai Chuan Huang Quan raised his hand, intending to tap his earlobe twice more to close the communication, but his usually taciturn superior spoke up again: "Number 1107, in the world you are currently in, the Administration will not send a second employee besides you."

"I need to oversee more than twenty worlds simultaneously and cannot provide you with assistance at any time. You'll have to rely on yourself. Good luck."

A brief hum of electricity rang in my ears again, then silence returned.

Am I all alone?

Raikawa Yomi stretched and yawned, seemingly lost in thought.

Being a single employee means she can't get help from other colleagues, but it also means there won't be any conflicting tasks.

Like raising poisonous insects, the Time and Space Administration consolidates and categorizes tasks before distributing them to different managers, who then assign them to their subordinates. Sometimes, conflicting or even antagonistic tasks inevitably arise.

However, compared to this, Yomi Laichuan had two more important things to do.

First, where will we spend the night?

Lai Chuan Huang Quan still has at least six months before she can apply for her next time jump, and in the meantime, she needs to find a place to stay. Although she can apply to the Bureau for an extra fee to pay for rent, after being taken to the Metropolitan Police Department, Lai Chuan Huang Quan discovered that all her identification documents, which she had kept in her bag, were missing.

Although the Administration prepares a complete set of identity information for them before deployment, it is a professional system that can be verified by the official agencies of the world.

However, since her ID card is lost, she probably won't be able to rent a house or even check into a hotel until it's replaced.

Secondly, we should review the complete list of those receiving relief as soon as possible.

Lai Chuan Huang Quan never wants to experience saving someone from a death sentence again.

She even suspected that her boss had done it on purpose, deliberately putting her in a difficult position on the day of the deadline to embarrass her.

...

In the Metropolitan Police Department's SWAT team area, all the officers of the Hagiwara squad, along with Matsuda Jinpei who had forcibly rushed upstairs despite objections, a dozen or so grown men, bowed their heads and dared not utter a sound in front of the SWAT team leader.

They couldn't explain why they had been out of contact for an hour and a half, so they had no choice but to remain silent and endure the scolding.

No one would believe it if I told them I was knocked unconscious by a newspaper.

It might backfire and make the superior even more furious, leading to reprimands like, "Do you think I'm a three-year-old?"

I felt frustrated and angry.

After being ordered to write a detailed report and a 10,000-word self-criticism, Kenji Hagiwara, who was the most severely criticized, was finally allowed to escape from the eye of the storm.

Having changed back into a suit, Kenji Hagiwara walked towards the smoking area at the end of the corridor with one hand in his pocket. He was hunched over, and his eyes revealed an overwhelming weariness and helplessness.

Today was the most stressful day he had ever experienced.

Although the Metropolitan Police Department has designated smoking areas, except for the traffic police department which is entirely staffed by women, officers in other departments almost always smoke directly at their desks. The Metropolitan Police Department is already very busy and demanding, and very few people would specifically leave their offices just to have a cigarette.

But today, Hagiwara desperately wanted to find a quiet place to sit and organize his thoughts.

Pushing open the iron gate to the smoking area, Matsuda Jinpei was already leaning against the railing, looking out at the passing vehicles. He held a half-burnt cigarette between his fingers; the ash broke off from the burning crimson end due to gravity and fell to the ground.

Matsuda Jinpei turned to look at Hagiwara: "Oh, you're here too."

His tone was flat, lacking some of his usual arrogance.

Turning his gaze back to the street, Matsuda Jinpei took a drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled.

He said, "You weren't even angry after being played like this."

Kenji Hagiwara smiled and said, "I was a little angry at first, but seeing your murderous look on your face, Jinpei, I'm not angry anymore."

Not only that, he was terrified that Matsuda Jinpei would actually tear Yomi Yorikawa apart.

Kenji Hagiwara, with a lit cigarette between his fingers, lowered his gaze, his thoughts sinking as well.

"And when I dismantled that bomb again, I made a new discovery, and guess what I found."

Matsuda Jinpei, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked at Hagiwara Kenji and forced out a single syllable: "Hmm?"

Kenji Hagiwara chuckled softly, his laughter a mixture of relief and lingering fear at surviving such a close call.

"The bomb had a remote control device hidden deep inside, and it had been activated. It just didn't detonate because the wire was cut by Lai Chuan Huang Quan."

Matsuda Jinpei stood frozen in place, speechless. His muscles tensed, and he momentarily held his breath.

A silent silence stretched between them. After a long while, Matsuda finally stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray piled high with cigarette butts: "Did that woman go back?"

Kenji Hagiwara: "Yes, after verifying her identity, the Metropolitan Police Department released her."

He thought that Yomi Laichuan would be detained by the First Investigation Division, and even while being scolded, he secretly worried about how to get him out.

Both Matsuda Jinpei and Hagiwara Kenji knew that Yomi Yorikawa had a problem, but her personal information could be found in the Metropolitan Police Department's archives. From birth to adulthood, her entire life story was clearly visible.

“An orphan, huh?” Matsuda Jinpei scoffed. “That’s quite a background… worth investigating.”

"But it's really surprising that the room number she gave was actually Komobushi's temporary residence. He and Kofuruya disappeared completely after graduation."

After obtaining the information of the tenant of room 2013 in the building, Hagiwara immediately recognized the cat-eyed man in the photo.

"Using the pseudonym Midorikawa Hikaru, they indeed went to that classroom where it was inconvenient to be seen by people directly."

Matsuda Jinpei didn't reply. He looked up at the ceiling, which was stained with yellow spots, and fell into deep thought.

Lai Chuan Huang Quan gave him a strange feeling, as if...

After a long silence, Matsuda Jinpei spoke: "Hagi, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I always feel that woman..."

"What?"

Matsuda Jinpei bobbed his Adam's apple twice, but all the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.

"Never mind, it's nothing."

He must have made a mistake.

[Author's Note]

There will be small red envelopes (gifts) in the comments section of this chapter, ending at 8:00 PM on July 31st.

Thank you all for your support, love you all! *kiss*

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