Though it was the dead of night, the heat still lingered heavily, as if the air across the entire city had turned to stone.
At half past one in the morning, Zhou Zhaozhao finally arrived at her doorstep. She fumbled in her pocket for the keys and pushed the door open— the lights inside were still on.
Changing her shoes at the entryway, she cast a weary glance toward the living room. Her illustrious mother, Madam Jiang Xiaofang, was curled on the sofa watching a local melodrama. Upon seeing her daughter, she stretched lazily, sat up a little straighter, and asked, "How's Yuanyuan?"
Zhou Zhaozhao shook her head. "She won't listen. Refuses to come back."
Madam Jiang lowered the volume with a sigh. "That's her father's fault— he made this bed!" She tossed the remote aside. "Let her be. She's nearly an adult. If she doesn't want to study, we can't drag her back in chains. Everyone walks their own road."
Zhou Zhaozhao poured herself a glass of water and downed it, not inclined to continue the topic. She shifted the conversation. "Where's Dad? Haven't seen him all day. Off digging up graves again?"
Madam Jiang glared at her. "What do you mean 'digging graves'? That's archaeology! Can't you say something less ominous?"
Zhou Zhaozhao set her glass down with a snort. "My bad, Professor Jiang. Your lesson has been noted."
"What time do you report in tomorrow?"
"Eight a.m."
No sooner had she answered than her mother resumed her nagging. "With your scores, you had so many elite schools to choose from. But no, you had to be stubborn and pick the Police Academy. Nearly worried me sick! What decent girl…"
Zhou Zhaozhao ignored the grumbling, fetched the drying rack, and stepped onto the balcony to collect her sleepwear. Back in the living room, Madam Jiang was already yawning and too tired to continue. She shut off the TV and called out, "Don't stay up late. Shower and go to bed!"
Zhou Zhaozhao replied with a grunt. She heard the dragging sound of slippers and then the bedroom door closing.
By the time she came back in from the balcony, her mother had vanished.
She took a quick shower, drying her hair with a towel as she walked to her room. Halfway through, something struck her. She stopped, set the towel aside, and sat down at her desk. From the drawer, she pulled out a notebook bound in ornate leather.
Under the warm amber glow of the desk lamp, Zhou Zhaozhao solemnly opened the book. Inside was a yellowing newspaper clipping, the paper fragile and worn around the edges. The headline barely stood out:
In a Cold, Indifferent World: A Touch of Warmth — Police Academy Senior Lu Lie Receives Medal of Bravery for Saving Drowning Girl
A small photograph accompanied the article, so tiny that one had to lean in to discern his features. Yet even in such a dim and grainy image, Lu Lie's vibrant spirit shone unmistakably through.
Zhou Zhaozhao thought back to earlier, a touch dazed. She stared at the clipping a while longer before returning it to its place.
After blow-drying her hair, she lay on the bed but sleep eluded her.
"Lu Lie."
She whispered his name aloud, then fiercely tousled her hair, rolled over, and buried her face in the pillow.
Yes—just a fleeting encounter. It was only natural to forget.
Lu Lie had been working nonstop and only emerged from the interrogation room at eight in the morning.
He hadn't slept a wink all night. His hair was a mess, his eyes weary, and his stomach growled with hunger.
Fatty arrived with breakfast, beaming. "Boss, just like you said—bought from Wang's across the street. Your favorite: crab roe soup dumplings."
Lu Lie raised an eyebrow, the stern lines of his face softening into a rare smile. He slung an arm around Fatty's shoulders, took the bag, and sniffed. "Smells amazing."
"Right? Fresh from the steamer! Fragrant and hot!" Fatty's eyes sparkled. Then he asked, "You didn't sleep all night—want to lie down in the rest room for a bit? Did Wang Zhiqiang confess? Need me and Zhao Songge to go in again?"
"No need. He talked. Just sort through the files later."
"Got it!" Fatty agreed readily.
"Where's Lao Song?"
"Deputy Song's handling the new recruits."
"New recruits?" Lu Lie's brow furrowed. "I thought they weren't arriving until next week?"
"Boss, you've got it wrong. Today's June 1st—onboarding day!"
"…Forgot."
As they passed through the criminal division's main hall, Lu Lie glimpsed Song He addressing the newcomers. Among four burly men stood a delicate, short-haired young woman.
He paused, cigarette between his lips, and asked with a frown, "Fatty, who picked that one?"
Fatty glanced over. "Director Liu did. Something wrong?"
Lu Lie waved a broad, calloused hand. "Her? She meet the Police Academy height requirements? What is she, four-foot-nothing? A gust of wind could blow her away."
Even as he spoke, he took another glance. Zhou Zhaozhao turned at the sound of his voice, and their eyes met.
She looked vaguely familiar, but Lu Lie didn't dwell on it. He moved on, striding past while Fatty tried to explain, "Boss, don't underestimate her. She's Professor Shen's top student—a forensic expert. Really sharp."
"Is that so?" Lu Lie sounded doubtful.
"Straight-A student, they say!"
Lu Lie gave a slight nod, asking no more.
After a long night of arrests and questioning, exhaustion tugged at him. He barely lay down in the rest room before falling asleep.
Yet his sleep was fitful, and within three hours, he was up again. After a quick wash, he returned to his office.
Barely ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Zhou Zhaozhao stood at the threshold, inhaled deeply, and stepped inside.
"Captain Lu, I'm the new trace evidence technician, Zhou Zhaozhao."
Lu Lie didn't even glance up from his paperwork. "Mm."
She pressed her lips together, gaze unwavering, and said coolly, "Captain Lu, I meet the Police Academy's height requirement—exactly one-sixty. The wind won't blow me away. If you don't believe it, let the wind try."
His pen halted. He frowned and looked up, eyes narrowing. Then suddenly, he chuckled.
This girl—sharp-tongued.
"It's you."
The young woman before him wore a simple T-shirt and slacks. Her short hair was neat, her features striking. Especially her slightly upturned phoenix eyes, laced with intrigue.
But… she looked awfully young.
Lu Lie squinted—was she really not underage?
And she looked familiar. Perhaps from the murky lighting of last night's bar?
He spoke in a low, husky voice. "What was your name again?"
"Zhou Zhaozhao."
"How do you spell that 'Zhaozhao'?" he asked, still rifling through papers.
Her clear eyes fixed on him. "The 'Zhaozhao' from the line: 'If love between both sides can last for ages, why need they stay together night and day?' My mother's a literature teacher. It's her favorite verse."
At her words, his hands froze mid-motion.
He found her file and flipped it open.
January 5, 1996.
So she wasn't underage.
He tossed the documents onto the table and leaned back lazily. "Professor Shen recommended you?"
She nodded firmly. "Yes."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Then report to the forensic team." He sat upright again and resumed writing.
"Captain Song said field agents report to you directly."
His pen halted once more. Lu Lie's brow tightened. He threw his pen onto the desk with a sharp clack.
"Field team? Who approved that?" he asked, visibly annoyed.
"I did. We're short-staffed. I applied. Captain Song and Director Liu both approved."
Lu Lie tapped the desk, fingers taut. "Do you even know what the field team entails?"
"I do." Her voice rang with certainty.
He gave a cold laugh. "It's not just about visiting crime scenes. We're in the thick of arrests too. In this team, women are treated like men, and men like beasts of burden." He eyed her up and down in disdain.
Fair skin, pursed red lips, delicate limbs, soft voice. She? Handle arrests?
She'd be taken hostage before she even reached the suspect.
"You sure about this?" His tone brimmed with disbelief.
"I'm sure."
As her words fell, Lu Lie suddenly stood.
He was tall, commanding, and as he approached, an invisible pressure filled the room. Zhou Zhaozhao instinctively took two steps back, a flicker of unease rising within her.
He looked her over, sharp gaze like a blade.
Her pupils were dark, clear. Unclouded.
Lu Lie's throat bobbed as he muttered, "I don't approve."
Zhou Zhaozhao lifted her head defiantly, staring at his sharply defined jaw. "Why not?"
"No reason." He looked irritated. "Report to the tech team. Find Song He."
"But Director Liu—"
"I'll speak to him!" he cut her off, voice edged with fury. Then he turned and strode toward the director's office.
No knock. He pushed the door open and stormed in.
"That little girl—she's your idea?"
Director Liu was watering his plants. Seeing Lu Lie, he smiled and set the watering can down. "You mean Zhaozhao?"
"Who else?" Lu Lie snapped. "Field duty is dangerous. You want to throw a girl in the lion's den?"
"We're short-handed. She volunteered. Top student of Professor Shen. Smart, technically sharp. You guys are all brute force—she brings balance. Give her a chance."
"Are you serious? She looks like she's never even stood in the sun!"
Director Liu poured tea, chuckling. "Ah, Lu Lie—drink some tea, cool your temper. That temper of yours won't help you find a wife."
Lu Lie was still fuming. He said nothing.
"She's sincere," the director continued. "I've assigned her to you. Keep an eye on her."
Lu Lie took the tea without protest. "Fine. She can join if she passes my physical test. If she fails, she reports to Song He."