Anshin and Mengyoku had known each other since childhood. They were true childhood friends, growing up side by side. He was a little older, graduating from the police academy and coming to Jinhai Police Bureau, while she went on to university and later studied for a master's degree in the capital.
Their relationship had always been casual and natural. That was why the first thing she did upon seeing him was land a playful punch.
"You trying to die, Anshin?"
"What did I do now?" he asked, looking innocent.
"I called you a hundred times and you didn't answer once!"
Her big eyes glared at him, her beauty undeniable—delicate features, fair skin, and eyes like water.
"My father told me everything. You nearly threw your life away today. Charging in like that? Do you know how dangerous that man was? He had multiple lives on his hands! Do you know how worried I was? I couldn't reach you, so I came here myself!"
Anshin finally exhaled in relief. So that was what this was about.
"It's fine. I took him down, didn't I? Besides, it wasn't that dangerous. He only had a knife, I had a gun. What's there to be afraid of? Rishō was there too. He rushed in faster than me, right, Rishō?"
He winked at his partner.
Rishō froze, but quickly caught on. "Y-yeah, yeah… it wasn't dangerous. Not at all."
Mengyoku pinched Anshin's arm, seeing right through their little act.
"And I didn't answer your calls because we were on assignment. My phone was in my desk drawer. I didn't know you'd called so many times. Honestly, I was busy from start to finish today. Tell you what, I'll make it up to you. For the next few days, meals are on me."
She pouted but kept pinching his arm. Only then did she notice something strange.
Why was his body so firm?
She gasped and stared at him. He'd developed muscle lines. His whole aura seemed refreshed.
"What… why are you so hard now?"
"Hey, hands off," he said, brushing her hand away. "I've just been training, that's all."
Looking at her now, he felt a subtle shift. In his previous life, he had sacrificed her for justice. To fight the underworld and the powerful forces behind it, he'd given up his childhood sweetheart. He bet his life, his family, his future, and turned himself into a man with no weaknesses.
This time, though, things would be different.
Back then, Mengyoku had changed. The day she picked up that packet of poison, she was no longer the girl who had grown up beside him. His lifetime of dedication and sincerity had been thrown away. This time, Anshin would not let her walk that path.
After all, he had the system. As long as he kept catching criminals, he would grow stronger and stronger. With enough strength, even a figure like Zhao Lidong wouldn't scare him. If they provoked him, he would seize the evidence and drag them down himself.
…
"Officer An… we'll be leaving now."
It was Kō Kiran and Kō Kikkyō, walking out from inside.
"Alright. Go on. Your brother will be out in a couple of days," Anshin said.
Kō Kiran's grateful eyes lingered on him. Mengyoku noticed instantly. Her instincts sharpened. She and Anshin had never broken that thin paper between them, but in her heart he was already her man. Seeing a graceful, pure-looking girl gazing at him with such warmth, she couldn't help but bristle.
"Kō Kiran…" she muttered, having already glimpsed the girl's name on the visitor log.
Then, turning deliberately, she smiled at Anshin. "Tomorrow, you're coming to my house for dinner. My dad wasn't happy you skipped New Year's Eve."
It sounded casual, but in front of Kō Kiran, it was a clear declaration.
Kō Kiran's bright eyes dimmed. So this beautiful woman was Officer An's girlfriend?
"Got it. I'll come once I've handled everything. Honestly, I didn't go to anyone's place—not even Uncle An's or Uncle Meng's. It's the holiday, but work comes first."
Those two elders were his strongest backers, treating him like their own child. He had to visit them as well. Tomorrow, he'd buy some gifts and go.
"Good. You'd better," Mengyoku said playfully.
…
The next morning, Anshin prepared to head out. At the station entrance, he spotted Kō Kikkyō crouched, waiting for a ride.
"Kō Kikkyō!"
The fish seller scrambled to his feet. "Officer An!"
"You're waiting for a cab? It's hard to get one here. Hop in, I'll give you a lift. Your place is Old Factory Street, right? I'm headed that way for some groceries anyway."
After all, he couldn't show up to Uncle Meng's place empty-handed.
"Officer An, thank you so much!" Kikkyō beamed. Never in his life had a policeman treated him so kindly.
For Anshin, the trip had two purposes. One, to deepen ties with Kikkyō while he was still a struggling nobody. Favors given in hard times were never forgotten.
Two—he had business in Old Factory Street Market.
He was going there to catch criminals.