After their confessions were rejected, they regretted it for the rest of their lives.

Why am I so fixated on someone who is already 'dead'?

There's no reason why, once the seed called love sprouts and grows for a long time, when it has completely taken root in your heart, there's no way to cut it off.

Every time the roots are tugged, it tears at the heart. Even though it is long dead now, the massive branches still exist, and everything along with them slowly rots away.

Moreover, as Zuoqiu Hangyu got to know them better, he increasingly felt that the relationship between Xia Weiyu and Lu Ye was not simple.

Their files... all have one thing in common: a sense of disconnect.

Xia Weichan is an art student, but in the police report, she showed a calmness unlike that of a college student when faced with the death of her older brother, as if she knew in advance that Xia Weiyu would die.

Xia Weiyu, six months before and after his death, was just a trainee, but he transformed into a well-known composer.

Night...

She graduated from the police academy, but when you're with her, she demonstrates exceptional legal and investigative abilities.

Most law students are probably not as good as this guy.

Zuoqiu Hangyu had suspected more than once that Lu Ye might have worked in a special task force.

But in fact, Lu Ye did not even work as a police officer after graduating.

And the second one...

The girl also needs to find out about the director who inherited Lu Ye's estate after his death.

"Deng Yun, do you think this situation has ever happened...?"

"What?" Deng Yun sighed, looking at her friend's absent-minded expression.

"You'd better stop thinking about Lu Ye."

"..."

Zuoqiu Hangyu pondered, but she didn't voice this even more insane idea.

She recalled that narcotics officers might conceal their identities to avoid retaliation against their families, and in extreme cases, the authorities might even forge the superintendent's death certificate...

Lu Ye is not a narcotics officer, but his actions and his subsequent solo collection of evidence of the criminal chain easily lead people to make connections.

Zuoqiu Hangyu didn't really believe that the reason Lu Ye did these things was simply because he liked her, but rather it was more like the principle of an undercover police officer.

Undercover investigation?

However, such an idea is far too much of a detective novel fantasy.

But for Zuoqiu Hangyu, Lu Ye was like a detective who stepped out of a detective novel.

"Really..."

Zuoqiu Hangyu pursed his lips slightly, revealing a mysterious smile, and shook his head with a hint of relief.

Deng Yun, who noticed the change in the girl's expression, was slightly taken aback.

What was that again?

A person with depression showing a relieved expression might actually be more dangerous.

"Um, you should go see the doctor again tomorrow... don't let it turn into bipolar disorder."

.........

"This bird is called a crested ibis, an endangered species. In fact, the specimen here is a sub-adult. You can see its feet are light brown, which are characteristics of a juvenile. It died before reaching adulthood, which is obviously particularly heartbreaking for the conservation of crested ibis..."

"And this one, an African Grey Parrot, this one is an adult..."

Zhou Juzi: "..."

In the afternoon, at the zoological museum, Xia Weichan was attentively explaining the specimens on display in the bird exhibit.

In fact, many tourists mistook him for an officially hired tour guide...

Zhou Juzi, who was numbly following beside him, could only hear Xia Weichan say that she wanted to go abroad to see birds in the future.

He stood there, and when he spoke, he was even more formal than the official tour guide.

The girl didn't know whether he was deliberately explaining it to her or Xia Weichan simply enjoyed talking about these things.

It seems that he hasn't paid much attention to her since he arrived here.

Zhou Juzi had no doubt that even if she got lost, Xia Weichan would most likely not notice.

Is this considered a date...?

From the very beginning, it seemed that only she was wishfully treating this afternoon as a 'date'.

.......

After buying the guitar,

Xia Weichan planned to send Zhou Juzi back.

Then consider looking for targets in other places.

Unexpectedly, the girl had no intention of going back.

When he said he wanted to go to the park and other places,

Therefore, Zhou Juzi cautiously asked:

"If it's not too important, can I come with you? I'd like to go with you this afternoon..."

Dating,

This was practically an open hint from the girl.

Because Zhou Juzi thought that since the two of them became 'lovers,' they didn't seem to have had a single proper date, and since there wasn't much to do when they went back,

Even if Xia Weichan most likely didn't really consider her a 'lover'.

But spending more time together might change his mind, and the girl was ready to take the initiative.

Moreover, Xia Weichan had said she was very beautiful, which gave Zhou Juzi immense confidence.

So, despite my inner trepidation, I mustered up the courage to ask if I could bring her along.

Xia Weichan thought about it for a moment and agreed...

Zhou Juzi initially thought that Xia Weichan's thoughts were on the same wavelength as hers.

That means... Xia Weichan might be different from what she imagined, and care about her more emotionally?

And then it turned out like this...

The initial joy of feeling that my suggestion had succeeded has long since vanished without a trace.

Zhou Juzi's pretty face was filled with complex emotions, and her mood was also in turmoil.

She had been following Xia Weichan for two hours, and the sky outside was already turning orange-yellow.

The girl's mind was filled with thoughts of... when the museum would close.

Having spent so much time with Xia Weichan, Zhou Juzi has gradually become less confident in her own appearance.

She suspected that the other person might not actually like her type of girl.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have focused all my attention on the birds...

Compared to bird watching,

Zhou Juzi's original plan was for the two of them to stroll around the square together, find a small scenic spot outside to enjoy some time alone, and then have dinner together in the evening, just like a real couple's date...

"summer..."

Seeing Xia Weichan's serious expression, Zhou Juzi's lips moved, but in the end she sighed and took back the words of annoyance she wanted to express.

A good girlfriend should be tolerant of her boyfriend's hobbies.

Besides, she had no reason to exercise her rights as a girlfriend.

......

And just as the girl had predicted, Xia Weichan really did stay with her until closing time...

Get in the car,

Zhou Juzi leaned back in her chair, a tingling sensation spreading from her lumbar spine throughout her body—a natural bodily response to finally get a break after standing for so long.

Pressing her fingers firmly against her numb thigh, the girl lifted her toes to stretch her calf muscles.

Looking at Xia Weichan's smiling profile, Zhou Juzi remained silent for a moment, then tried to put on an expression that suggested she was unhappy and needed some attention.

But Xia Weichan didn't seem to notice her.

As stated in the contract, he really wasn't required to fulfill the duties of a boyfriend...

So complicated.

That contract is so troublesome...

It's like an invisible barrier, isolating all superfluous emotions.

She didn't even have the right to speak up and ask Xia Weichan to care about her more.

Feeling neglected is very frustrating.