Eyes that are the same as those of evil

Chapter 62 Who to thank?
Lin Zhiyue's arrival made the atmosphere at the dinner party a little strange.

Tan Jia's addition was like a West Coast sashimi dish joining a grilled squid stall, and things were relatively harmonious. But he was different. He dressed like a rich young master who frequented Michelin-starred restaurants, standing in the courtyard with his lips pursed and not saying a word. Even the chefs serving the dishes didn't dare to urge him.

He looks like the kind of rich kid who might suddenly lose his temper and say he'll smash up the store.

But he was quite quiet. After being seated, he dipped his hand in a glass of warm water and then listened to the others talking with his eyes down, as if he knew that everyone minded his presence.

Team Leader Zheng called for more food, and when faced with everyone's questioning glances, he coughed and said, "We just happened to run into each other. He wanted to talk to Tan Jia, so I told him to talk to him together."

In short, no one should try to contact his dream specialist alone.

Everyone looked around; it was clear that contacting him alone was impossible. He stood there among a large group of people, not saying a word, just drinking his lukewarm water with his head down.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Zheng Yan waved his hand and said, "Let's talk. What were you guys talking about just now?"

Xiao Chen went over and talked to him, and he took on the role of a mentor, sharing his experience with the unmarried and childless young people in the team.

"Being a police officer means facing a lot of real human nature. It's already very difficult for you to still have this kind of empathy. Back when I joined the criminal investigation team with my senior, she was full of enthusiasm at first. To get justice for the victims, she could stay up for half a month straight to track down the murderer's hideout and maintain long-term contact with the victims to prevent them from doing anything drastic. But after being a police officer for a long time, she saw too much, and her ability to empathize was worn down. When she got busy, she would only feel impatient with the victims' pain and just want to finish her get off work quickly, go home, and be with her newborn child. But after realizing this emotion, she felt that she was wrong and felt very sad. This emotional pull caused her psychological problems, and she had to leave the front line..."

As he spoke, and the hissing sound of steam rising from the double-layered steamer, everyone relaxed again, pretending Lin Zhiyue didn't exist, clinking glasses and joining in the casual conversation.

A group of people were eating and chatting in the courtyard, enjoying the breeze, listening to the guests in the next courtyard discussing their children's school grades, and hearing the shop's staff ringing a bell to announce that the Australian lobsters were ready to be served. For Lin Zhiyue, this was a rare and precious experience.

He glanced sideways at the throng of customers rushing to line up for their Australian lobsters, children giggling and asking what kind of dragon an Australian lobster was, the air filled with the aroma of garlic shrimp tails…

There was a clinking sound from the dish.

He turned around and saw an extra plate of Arctic surf clams in front of him.

Then he looked at the person beside him.

Tan Jia said casually, "This is alright, you can give it a try."

After saying that, he turned around and went to eat his own bread crab, continuing to chat casually with Tan Ming and the others, seemingly just having a sudden whim to take care of the unfamiliar guests.

Lin Zhiyue quietly ate the Arctic surf clam; it was indeed quite tasty.

A while later, another serving of baked baby lobster with cheese appeared in front of him.

This time, instead of putting it down directly, she placed it on a plate and offered it to him, asking, "Would you like some?"

Lin Zhiyue looked at her again and noticed at the corner of her eye that there was indeed a small hook there.

Tan Jia raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Why are you looking at me when I'm asking if you want to eat? This portion is a bit large, so just say no if you don't like it."

“…Thank you.” He pressed the plate of shrimp meat down with his fork.

After Tan Jia finished taking care of the newcomer, she went to get the snails from the steamer and noticed Tan Ming squinting at her.

"What, you want this snail?" She got up and handed the snail to Tan Ming, then picked out another one for herself.

Tan Ming: "..."

It's as if he's a glutton.

Wu Yang watched the whole thing and couldn't help but laugh. He handed Tan Jia a pink sparkling drink, and the conversation naturally shifted to her.

"Jiajia, I heard you stayed in Jiujiang to recuperate. Are you feeling better lately?"

Tan Jia glanced at Zheng Yan: "It's probably a bit difficult to get everything right."

I guess I'll only be fully recovered when I stop dreaming.

"So, are you planning to stay here long-term? Although this place isn't as prosperous and developed as New York, it's a great place to live, and there's plenty of good food."

"Yes, that's the plan for now, but we'll have to see if the school agrees."

Zheng Yan asked her, "Why don't you change your major and actually get in after graduation? I think you have the makings of a criminal investigation expert, you know, that concept of a visual thinker, where did you learn that?"

The visual thinker himself was sitting right here, but Lin Zhiyue didn't seem to realize that he was being talked about, and was still cutting up that cheese-baked baby lobster.

Tan Jia glanced at him and said, "I used to volunteer at special schools. They have very detailed classifications of autistic and other children with autism. Visual thinkers are one of them. Volunteers have to specifically understand what's special about them in order to communicate with them." Zheng Yan said, "Recommend two books for me to study. In exchange, I'll recommend two tutorials on dough sculpting to you."

"...Thank you, but no need. I'm currently taking a sculpting course, and a teacher is guiding me step by step."

“I see you kneading dough every day, but I haven’t seen you create any works of art.”

Tan Jia was silent for a moment, then took the dough out of his pocket.

"I plan to create a sculpted Qi Su-fen as a souvenir of solving this case."

The group of people at the table stared at the lump of dough: "..."

Zheng Yan: "I'll give you two tutorials instead."

Xiao Chen was so happy he almost choked.

Tan Jia didn't mind and took the opportunity to say, "Forget about the tutorial, but could you help me introduce some teachers in the forensic laboratory? I'd like to learn skull reconstruction."

Zheng Yan picked up a crab leg and pointed at her from a distance: "Your dreams are quite ambitious."

The group then continued their discussion in greater depth.

She could easily become the center of attention. Lin Zhiyue listened, still calmly dividing the shrimp meat, and after dividing it, she put a portion next to Tan Jia.

She glanced back at him and said "thank you" briefly and understatedly.

After the dinner, everyone should go home.

Lin Zhiyue is a fragile god; we need to get rid of him first.

But the Lin family's car was parked on the side of the road, yet he followed Tan Jia without any intention of getting in. His indifferent expression conveyed a clear message to Zheng Yan and the others—he had not yet achieved his purpose and would not give up.

The stubborn one who glared was no match for the stubborn one who remained silent. In the end, he still got the chance to talk to Tan Jia alone, just a few meters away in a corner, in front of a group of people.

It felt like someone had blocked my way and confessed their love to me.

In the past, when faced with this situation, Tan Jia would simply put on his headphones, ride away on his skateboard, and walk away.

This was a very different experience.

Tan Jia crossed his arms and raised his chin: "What do you want to ask?"

"Why did you suddenly drive to the orchard at four in the morning to save Zhu Muyang?" Lin Zhiyue stared into her eyes.

"You seem quite concerned about Zhu Muyang's timely rescue. Regardless of why I saved him, it doesn't seem to concern you. My heroic act helped solve the case, and the nightmare that has plagued you for eleven years was brought to an end. Isn't that enough?"

Lin Zhiyue pressed her pale lips together forcefully.

Tan Jia suddenly leaned closer.

The fragrance invaded her safe territory, and Lin Zhiyue immediately took two steps back.

Then I heard her laugh and say, "Do you need me to act out a scene where someone falls from the sky and saves you? But saving yourself is a very impressive experience. Out of so many children, you are the only one who did it. I can't think of anything else that you need me to save."

"you……"

"Um, what else do I want to say?"

Her attitude was slightly mocking, and Lin Zhiyue turned his head and uttered two words that he had been holding back for a long time.

"Thank you."

"Thank who? Didn't you check my name properly when you went to look up my heroic deeds?"

Lin Zhiyue turned back and glanced at her, then left without saying a word.

Tan Jia laughed behind him, and the sound of his laughter made his ears burn when he got on the bus.

(End of this chapter)