Chapter Forty-Eight: A Dish Made with Love

“So how did the two of them come to such an understanding?” Yan Xue muttered under her breath.

“Stop!” Kang Ge gestured with his hand, signaling a halt. “Don’t make wild guesses! If you keep it up, you’ll be veering into metaphysics.”

“Fine, I won’t speculate without evidence, but at the very least, we can be certain their relationship isn’t as simple as Deng Chun claims. Of course, it’s probably not as dramatic as Xu Wenrui’s parents make it out to be, either. Weighing it all, I personally think all signs point to Xu Wenrui not being as emotionally invested in Deng Chun as one might think. Maybe it’s just mutually beneficial: he needs someone to take care of him, stroke his ego and vanity, and Deng Chun needs someone she deems the perfect lover.”

“Exactly. It doesn’t even feel like Deng Chun is dating Xu Wenrui. If you took all her so-called insights about love and applied them to any guy with decent enough looks, it wouldn’t seem out of place at all.” Kang Ge sighed.

Yan Xue couldn’t help but agree. Deng Chun, though she always cast herself as the “supporting role,” the “good wife,” the “listener,” the ever-attentive, nurturing presence, somehow never felt like a side character in her own telling. Instead, it seemed as if Xu Wenrui merely existed to highlight her virtues. Even if it weren’t Xu Wenrui, it could be someone else, and nothing would change.

As the two discussed Deng Chun, the office door opened and Luo Wei entered, slipping to the side and holding the door open with one hand.

“What’s with the grand entrance?” Yan Xue was startled at first, thinking some bigwig had arrived, but when she caught the barely suppressed laughter on Luo Wei’s face, she relaxed, knowing nothing serious was afoot.

Following Luo Wei in was Ning Shuyi, arms hanging limply at her sides, looking rather listless.

Yan Xue hadn’t seen much of her lately, and today, upon seeing her face-to-face, she was stunned. After four years as college roommates, it was the first time she’d seen Ning Shuyi’s typically pale skin bronzed with a sun-kissed wheat tone, especially in a season when the sun wasn’t that strong.

“Ning Ning, what happened to you?” Yan Xue asked, puzzled. Ning Shuyi looked unusually exhausted, yet somehow healthier than ever. “Are you going through a transformation, or did you just get back from a field operation?”

As the “athletic star” among the “Four Blossoms,” Yan Xue had always thought Ning Shuyi was clever but physically frail—hence the nickname “Police World’s Wang Yuyan.” No wonder Yan Xue couldn’t resist teasing her now, seeing her so obviously overtrained.

“Hm? Field operation? Take me with you next time!” Perhaps too tired to pay attention, Ning Shuyi seemed to have missed the first half of Yan Xue’s question, perking up only at the mention of a field assignment, her eyes suddenly sparkling with hope.

“What field operation? We haven’t even made headway on our current case!” Yan Xue chuckled. “Wait, aren’t you supposed to be on compensatory leave after finishing a case? Why are you here at the station?”

“I got dragged in...” Ning Shuyi wore a bitter expression. “Leg day yesterday, arms today. They said my stamina’s too poor, and since we’re too busy when there’s a case, I have to make the most of downtime to train. I can barely lift my arms—they’re so sore I wish I could just detach and toss them! Xiao Xue, you’re the best at this. How about we swap? I really can’t take much more!”

Yan Xue hesitated at Ning Shuyi’s pitiful look. Though she and Kang Ge worked well together and things were smooth between them, physical training was her forte. Maybe if Ning Shuyi partnered with someone as steady as Kang Ge, she’d have an easier time and wouldn’t struggle so much.

“Well, it’s true, I am pretty good with fitness…”

“Ning Shuyi, I really don’t think you should have such ideas!” Kang Ge interrupted before Yan Xue could reply, waving his hand to show his disapproval. “I get that you’re exhausted, and it’s normal to want to escape, but look at it another way before you decide. Everyone has untapped potential, but unless you get the right opportunity, it never surfaces. Think of when you first learned to read—if you’d given up because it was hard, you’d have never become as knowledgeable as you are today. It’s the same now; if you push through and don’t give up, you’ll see a leap in your overall abilities. It’s a golden opportunity.”

“You do have a point…” Ning Shuyi admitted, though she still looked uncertain.

“Now, let’s talk about the team,” Kang Ge continued. “Your partner is that ex-military guy, the one they call ‘the Sharpshooter,’ right? What’s his name… Huo Yan? That’s it. I haven’t worked with him, but Ji Yuan said he’s very strict, right?”

“Yeah, stricter than my drill instructor back in college,” Ning Shuyi said with a wry smile.

“Exactly. Now, look at Yan Xue’s personality—you two went to college together, you know her well. If we put those two together, and they ever disagree, will you really have them settle it with a four-hundred-meter obstacle course? That could be a real clash of titans!”

“Fair point!” This was clearly a more convincing reason, and Ning Shuyi nodded in agreement.

“So, for peace in the world and the survival of humanity, let’s not take that risk. Better you tough it out and get through the training.” Kang Ge clasped his hands together and gave Ning Shuyi a mock bow, exaggeratedly pleading.

Yan Xue was both amused and exasperated, about to speak when the office door was pushed open again. A tall man stuck his head in, expressionless, ignoring everyone else and locking eyes on Ning Shuyi, beckoning her over.

“Don’t sit down right after strength training—come on, let’s go for a couple laps,” he said, closing the door behind him. Barely two or three seconds later, the door opened again and he popped his head back in. “If you finish, I’ll buy you dinner. Though I doubt I’ll have to pay up.”

“You said it! Don’t you dare go back on your word!” Ning Shuyi gritted her teeth, getting up. “Let’s go! After I finish, I’m going to make you treat me to a feast!”

Watching Ning Shuyi stride out, newly invigorated, Yan Xue could only laugh helplessly. “If I really did swap with Ning Ning, I don’t know if that ‘Sharpshooter’ Huo Yan would cry first or if I would!”

“She’d never really swap with you. If she wanted to, she’d go straight to Boss Dong. What’s the point of asking you? It’s not like you could decide alone anyway.” Kang Ge shrugged. “Ning Shuyi just wanted to vent a little, not actually switch partners.”

“You know, that really makes sense! But if you’re so clear-headed, why did you go to all that trouble giving her a pep talk?” Yan Xue agreed, but something still felt off.

“Well, let’s just say I’m thorough. On one hand, I want to be absolutely sure—on the other, it’s a good chance to encourage Ning Shuyi a bit. Didn’t you see how fired up she got? That’s what matters!” Kang Ge finished, shooting Luo Wei a look. “Luo Wei, you’ve been standing at my desk for ages—are you planning to buy an annual pass or what?”

“Kang Ge, come on! Didn’t we agree to drop the ‘ge’ part? Otherwise, it sounds like you’re calling a dog!” Luo Wei, used to joking around with Kang Ge, was perfectly at ease. “I’m not here for any kind of pass. I’m just running an errand—delivering a token of affection!”

He lifted his hand, a white semi-transparent plastic bag dangling from his finger, inside which was a small, red, strawberry-shaped lunchbox—adorably cute, and definitely not the sort of thing a man would typically use.

“A token of affection? What’s this?” Kang Ge was momentarily stunned, reaching out to take the lunchbox.

“A girl brought it for you—pretty cute, too. I ran into her downstairs when she was signing in, so I offered to bring it up for you.” Luo Wei waggled his eyebrows at Kang Ge. “You really are sneaky, Kang! When did you start a secret romance without telling us? Us single guys are waiting to bask in your good fortune and escape bachelorhood ourselves!”

“If you want good luck, go to Ji Yuan, not me. I’m still swimming for shore in the sea of singledom!” Kang Ge took out the strawberry-shaped lunchbox, opened it, and grinned at the familiar cold-dressed veggies inside. “Ha! The way you hyped it up, I almost fooled myself! But now that I see what it is, I know exactly who sent it. That was my sister—my mom must have sent her to run the errand!”

“Kang, that’s weak! We’re not unreasonable—if you’re dating, just say so, don’t hide it! We’re all adults. Sure, our job makes it hard to date and find time for romance, but it’s not forbidden. Why be so secretive? You don’t have to use that old line about ‘sister’ becoming ‘girlfriend’—that’s so outdated!”

“Exactly. I have nothing to hide. If I were dating, I’d tell you straight up. But for the record, you saw my sister—no mistake about it!” Kang Ge put on an innocent face, pointing at the lunchbox. “Even if I didn’t recognize my own sister, I’d know my mom’s cooking anywhere!”

“How’s that possible? That girl’s name was Lü Xiaodong when she signed in! Lü! Your surname is Kang, and you two don’t look a thing alike. Are you sure she’s your sister?” Luo Wei was skeptical, though Kang Ge’s confidence gave him pause. “Is she really your sister?”

“She’s not my sister—she’s yours, all right?” Kang Ge shot Luo Wei a teasing glare. “If you want, from today she’s yours—I wouldn’t mind not seeing her all the time!”

“No, no! She’s a cute girl, but I don’t want to be her brother!” Luo Wei, seeing Kang Ge wasn’t actually hiding a romance, became even more curious. “But why do you two have different surnames? You don’t look alike either—no one would ever guess you’re siblings!”

“What’s the big deal? I took my mom’s surname, she took dad’s—of course they’re different.” Kang Ge replied offhandedly, handing the lunchbox to Yan Xue. “Here, hold this for me—try the flavor I’ve loved since childhood!”

“Sure, I won’t say no to that!” Yan Xue accepted it graciously. The lunchbox wasn’t especially tightly sealed, and since Kang Ge had just opened it, the fragrance of the seasoned vegetables wafted out, making her mouth water—especially with lunchtime approaching and her stomach empty.

“Kang, count me in!” Luo Wei quickly edged closer. “Let me try your mom’s cooking! Smells delicious!”

Kang Ge stood up, circled the desk, and slung his arm around Luo Wei’s shoulders, giving him a friendly pat. “Since you said so, of course the answer is… no way! Off to lunch, see you later, Little Weiwei—next time, lunch is on me!”

With that, he let go, waved with a flourish, and strode out the door.