The leading police officer watched the entire exchange without interrupting.
Only after the denim-jacket boy finished speaking did he step forward.
His expression remained completely indifferent.
"Are you done?"
The street instantly fell silent.
The officer looked at the group one after another.
"You are all under arrest."
He raised a hand toward the officers behind him.
"You have the right to remain silent Anything you say from this moment onward may be used as evidence in court."
He paused before glancing at the group with an unreadable expression.
"As for the behavior all of you displayed just now The department has reasonable grounds to question your mental stability."
Everyone froze.
"We have already contacted a certified psychiatric evaluation center If the evaluation concludes that any of you are mentally unstable..."
"You may first be admitted into psychiatric treatment If treatment is required You will remain there until the medical board officially declares you mentally fit Only then will your remaining criminal sentence continue."
The second girl's eyes widened.
"W-What?!"
The officer ignored her.
He simply waved his hand.
"Arrest them."
Several officers immediately stepped forward.
Click.
Click.
Metal handcuffs echoed one after another.
A middle-aged man in a dark navy suit calmly walked forward.
He adjusted his glasses.
"I'm the legal representative of the vehicle manufacturer."
He stopped before the denim-jacket boy and the fashionable girl.
"You have violated several clauses regarding defamation against our company's products and public reputation."
He handed each of them a holographic legal document.
The moment the documents opened
Their pupils shrank.
Compensation Claim: 50,000,000 CU Dollars.
Each.
The lawyer smiled professionally.
"We'll see you in court."
Without another word, he turned around, entered his vehicle, and left.
Another luxury sedan door opened.
A second lawyer stepped out unlike the first.
His suit carried the national emblem.
"I represent the government."
His voice was calm.
"The customized vehicle involved in today's incident is officially recognized as a national rarity."
He looked directly at the group.
"The vehicle license was personally presented by the President to Old Master Quinn as a gesture of national respect You publicly damaged the vehicle."
"You publicly insulted it and attempted to falsely claim ownership over it."He folded the document in his hand.
"Disrespecting that official state gift is regarded as disrespect toward the office of the President the audacity."
His words alone made several spectators inhale sharply.
One after another He handed legal notices to every member of the group.
Except...
The girl with glasses.
She quietly stepped aside.
The lawyer suddenly paused.
He looked back at the denim-jacket boy.
"Oh I almost forgot."
The young man's face immediately turned pale.
The lawyer smiled politely.
"Since this case involves multiple criminal and civil investigations Your respective families and immediate financial backers will also be placed under investigation."
The crowd exploded into whispers.
"During the investigation All suspicious assets and accounts connected to your families may be temporarily frozen until the investigation concludes."
The fashionable girl nearly collapsed.
"N-No My dad's company..."
The lawyer merely nodded.
"That concludes my notice."
He returned to his car A third lawyer walked forward.
He was much younger.
His badge carried the Quinn Family legal emblem.
"I represent Miss Ava Quinn."
He glanced calmly at the group.
"I'm sure all of you have already received the court summons sent to your devices."
He looked toward the girl with glasses.
"And before any of you entertain the foolish idea of forcing another person to confess on your behalf..."
He adjusted the files in his hands.
"...all surveillance footage Vehicle AI recordings Public livestreams CCTV footage Facial recognition timelines And eyewitness testimonies have already been preserved as evidence."
He smiled faintly.
"So even if your friend agreed to your ridiculous request It would be meaningless."
He turned toward the girl with glasses.
"And she would instead be arrested for obstructing justice and knowingly providing false testimony."
The girl with glasses instinctively stepped backward.
The lawyer gave her a small reassuring nod before closing his file.
"My client has no further instructions."
He entered his vehicle.
The black sedan quietly drove away.
The police officers began escorting the struggling group toward the patrol cars.
"No!"
"You can't do this!"
"We're innocent!"
"I want my lawyer!"
"My dad knows people!"
"You'll regret this!"
Their voices gradually faded into the distance.
Soon Only one person remained standing.
The girl with glasses.
The shopping bags still rested quietly beside her feet Around her.
The lively food street had become completely silent.
Hundreds of eyes watched her.
Some filled with sympathy.
Some with guilt.
Some simply curious.
For the first time in years...
She stood alone.
And strangely...
She had never felt lighter.
The black sports car glided smoothly back toward the glittering skyline of Silver Arc District.
The night had deepened, yet the city showed no sign of sleeping.
Its silver emblem reflected the endless stream of lights as Ava steered toward the residents' entrance.
Reaching the checkpoint, she lowered the window and casually held up a slim golden access pass.
The gatekeeper immediately straightened.
"Good evening, Miss Quinn."
The scanners flashed once before the reinforced alloy gates silently parted.
The car rolled forward.
The Outer Section welcomed them first.
It was the public face of Silver Arc.
A city within a city.
The broad central boulevard stretched endlessly ahead, connecting the Outer, Inner, and Core Sections like the district's main artery.
Every vehicle entering or leaving Silver Arc had to travel this road, stopping at each checkpoint according to the area they were authorized to enter.
Residents of the Outer Section still underwent routine identity verification whenever they returned home.
Those living in the Inner or Core Sections only needed to present their authorized passes before continuing through.
Even at eleven o'clock at night, the Outer Section remained the busiest part of the entire district.
Neon advertisements painted the streets in shifting colors.
Luxury shopping centers remained brilliantly illuminated as customers drifted in and out carrying branded bags.
Five-star hotels welcomed newly arrived guests while valets hurried to collect luxury vehicles.
Restaurants overflowed with late-night diners.
Bars echoed with laughter.
Music spilled from clubs where queues still stretched onto the sidewalks.
Office buildings remained lit floor after floor as countless companies worked around the clock.
Between them all sat countless residential neighborhoods, creating a district that truly never seemed to sleep.
The sports car never slowed.
It followed the central road until another security checkpoint appeared.
The boundary between the Outer and Inner Sections.
Rows of intelligent defense systems lined both sides of the road while armed security personnel monitored every vehicle entering.
Ava simply raised the golden pass once more.
Recognition was instantaneous.
"Core Resident confirmed."
"Identity verified."
"Permission granted."
The second gate opened.
The atmosphere changed almost immediately.
The noise faded.
The roads widened.
Traffic became noticeably lighter.
This was the Inner Section.
If the Outer Section represented prosperity...
Then the Inner Section represented authority.
Here lived the old-money families, industrial magnates, and influential figures capable of shaking entire industries—or even countries—with a single decision.
To the north, countless corporate headquarters and industrial complexes stretched across the skyline, each building bearing the emblem of internationally recognized companies.
To the south stood refined commercial districts designed almost exclusively for executives and elite clients.
The eastern and western districts were filled with elegant villas, private compounds, and secluded estates hidden behind forests, lakes, and towering security walls.
Every residence emphasized privacy above all else.
Living here wasn't simply proof of wealth.
It was a declaration of power.
The sports car continued without interruption, remaining on the perfectly straight avenue connecting the district's three sections.
Several minutes later...
The tallest security gate yet rose before them.
The entrance to the Core Section.
Unlike the previous checkpoints, this one required more than identification.
Matthew reached into his pocket and produced his own resident access card.
Both cards were scanned.
The vehicle itself underwent a full security inspection as invisible scanners swept across its body.
Identity confirmation.
Vehicle authentication.
AI verification.
Weapon scan.
Biometric recognition.
Each procedure finished within seconds.
"Verification complete."
"Welcome back."
The final gate slid open.
The car entered the Core Section.
Even this late at night, the district remained alive.
Luxury boutiques still welcomed guests.
Private lounges buzzed softly behind tinted glass.
High-end cafés remained open for night owls.
Well-dressed young heirs wandered the sidewalks in relaxed conversation.
Sports cars quietly cruised along immaculate roads.
The district balanced luxury with comfort, giving it a livelier atmosphere than the Inner Section while remaining far more exclusive than the Outer Section.
Ava drove along the familiar streets before passing beneath the long pedestrian bridge connecting the residential complexes on both sides of the avenue.
The condominium district soon appeared.
Rows of elegant towers rose into the night sky, their glass exteriors reflecting the city's lights like polished crystals.
The security guard at the entrance recognized the approaching sports car almost instantly.
The gate opened before the vehicle even reached it.
"Welcome back."
Ava drove into the underground garage and parked in her reserved space.
The engine fell silent.
Matthew grabbed the packed takeaway from the back seat while Ava pocketed the keys.
Together, they walked toward the private elevator.
The polished doors slid open with a soft chime, waiting for the two of them to step inside they entered Matthew press their floor number .
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
Ava and Matthew stepped into the quiet hallway.
Warm lights lined the corridor, reflecting off the polished marble floor. Only the faint hum of the central air system disturbed the silence.
They stopped in front of two neighboring apartment doors.
"I'm feeling sleepy." Ava stretched lazily before yawning. "See you tomorrow, right?"
Matthew looked at her.
"I'll eat breakfast at your place." She smiled brightly. "You can't refuse."
Before Matthew could answer, she stuffed the packed takeaway into his hands.
"Good night."
She spun around, scanned her fingerprint, and disappeared into her apartment before he even opened his mouth.
Matthew stared at the closed door.
"..."
He sighed, shook his head helplessly, then unlocked his own apartment.
The next morning 9:00 a.m.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Matthew had barely finished pouring himself a glass of water when the knocking echoed through the apartment.
He already knew who it was.
Ava kept ringing the door bell .
She wore a deep-red off-the-shoulder cropped sweatshirt that slipped completely off her right shoulder, revealing a white strap beneath.
The cropped design highlighted the high waist of her oversized cream sweatpants, which were covered in bold mismatched graphic prints, orange vintage emblems, black lettering, coordinates, and industrial-style markings.
Her chunky red-and-white sneakers matched the colors of her outfit perfectly.
A small white crescent-shaped shoulder bag rested high beneath her arm, its thick silver chain decorated with oversized metallic star charms that jingled softly whenever she moved.
Instead of her usual elaborate hairstyle, her fiery red hair flowed freely today.
Soft curtain bangs framed her face while the rest fell in loose, slightly messy waves over her shoulders, giving her a relaxed look that somehow made her seem even younger.
" Handsome I'm hungry." Ava said cutely as she kept ringing the doorbell .
She had already decided she would eat breakfast in Matthew's apartment.
No matter what.
If he refused...
She would shamelessly persuade him.
If persuasion failed...
She would shamelessly continue persuading him.
Unfortunately...
Ever since Matthew changed his apartment passcode, sneaking inside before he woke up was no longer possible.
Sigh...
What terrible luck.
She silently blamed fate for ruining such a perfect strategy.
Matthew opened the door.
Unlike Ava, he was already fully dressed.
Although they still had to report to school, it was the holiday period before the international games, so the academy had temporarily relaxed its dress code. Students were free to wear whatever they liked instead of the standard uniform.
The moment the door opened...
The two of them unconsciously sized each other up from head to toe.
Matthew wore a dark charcoal-and-black oversized plaid flannel shirt left completely open over a loose white crew-neck T-shirt with a small black logo across the chest.
His ultra-wide black track pants flowed almost to the floor, the crisp white side stripes and embroidered "Viro" script making the simple outfit look effortlessly expensive.
White chunky sneakers balanced the oversized silhouette perfectly, while a black leather watch rested neatly around his wrist.
Simple.
Casual.
Yet on him...
It looked ridiculously good.
Ava stared for a second longer than necessary.
Damn...
How was it fair for someone to look this handsome while wearing something so ordinary?
Matthew caught her gaze almost immediately.
"Stop staring."
He stepped aside and gestured toward the apartment.
Ava clicked her tongue dramatically before walking inside.
"I'm appreciating beauty You should be thanking me."
Matthew simply closed the door behind her.
"You appreciate beauty every day Yet somehow you never get tired."
Ava dropped onto the sofa as though she owned the place, crossing one leg over the other while looking around leisurely.
Matthew ignored her and headed toward the kitchen.
The aroma drifting out made Ava's stomach growl almost instantly.
A few minutes later...
He returned carrying a large wooden tray.
Instead of reheating last night's leftovers, he had transformed them completely.
The leftover barbecue had become thin slices served with toasted bread and eggs.
The remaining hotpot ingredients had been turned into a rich breakfast soup.
Fresh fruit sat neatly beside two glasses of milk.
There were even pancakes stacked on one side with butter slowly melting across the top.
Everything was arranged so neatly that it looked more like breakfast from a café than something made from leftovers.
Ava blinked.
Then looked at Matthew.
Then back at the food.
"I didn't know you could cook."
Matthew placed the tray on the table before sitting opposite her.
"I can."
He picked up a spoon.
"Now shut up and eat We still have to go to school."
Ava looked between Matthew and the breakfast before breaking into a bright smile.
"...Handsome Can cook My future really has good taste."
Matthew didn't even look up.
"Eat before I change my mind."
Ava immediately picked up her chopsticks.
"Yes, Chef."
(Sorry for late update 🫣)