She’s a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist’s Halo

And so the "trio" walked all the way to the small campus cafeteria.

Clearly, after morning classes, students who had heard about the print shop owner’s arrest and had free time began passing by. Some pretended not to notice, stealing a few glances before heading into the cafeteria. Others strutted boldly, openly discussing the incident with classmates, their faces filled with amazement.

Yan held Zhu Jue’s hand as they stared at the now-shuttered print shop, their expressions visibly shocked.

"It’s really closed down," Zhu Jue said.

"No idea when they arrested him," Yan murmured.

Lin Fan watched the couple, thinking that if he didn’t know better, he’d almost believe their act!

You two could win Best Actor and Best Actress with that performance.

Yan stole a glance at Lin Fan, convinced that he must be involved in this somehow.

So, was he tagging along to… revisit the scene?

Yan recalled the message from Officer Zheng Yi: "Tonight’s catch comes with a reward."

The message had been sent last night, but Yan only saw it this morning.

That meant the first thing Officer Zheng Yi mentioned must have been the spy at the print shop.

But… neither she nor Zhu Jue had anything to do with this reward!

If Lin Fan had been staking out the print shop last night to catch someone, why was Officer Zheng Yi the one handling the aftermath?

Did they know each other?

Yan stroked her chin, suddenly feeling this was highly plausible.

After ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍all, they had crossed paths last night, and Officer Zheng Yi hadn’t even questioned them—just walked straight into the cafeteria.

She must have been pretending not to see or know anything!

Yan felt like she’d just uncovered the truth!

She gave Lin Fan a deep look, finally understanding what he’d meant earlier.

Could he have mistaken her and Zhu Jue for Officer Zheng Yi’s people and then…

Oh my god, Yan suddenly realized this logic loop was impossible to untangle.

Because right now, she and Zhu Jue were actually working part-time under Officer Zheng Yi.

At this thought, Yan couldn’t help but feel a wave of melancholy.

What kind of mess was this?!

It was only 10:15 a.m., too early for lunch.

Zhu Jue glanced at Lin Fan, who was still following them, and after a moment of silence, asked, "Bro Fan, do you want to come to the café with us?"

Zhu Jue’s afternoon class was during periods 5 and 6, while Yan’s was during 7 and 8. They had time to kill until noon, so they planned to hang out at the café, grab a light meal, and maybe take a nap.

"Sure," Lin Fan replied.

The couple was clearly inviting him, probably intending to say something to him. And since he had nothing else to do…

Yan and Zhu Jue led Lin Fan to their usual café.

At their table, Lin Fan ordered a hot coffee like them, took a sip, and immediately grimaced at the bitterness.

He rarely came to places like this. It was his first time following Yan and Zhu Jue to a café, and he found the whole experience novel, looking around curiously.

This campus café had cozy window-side seating with sofas, backrests, desk lamps, power outlets, and well-proportioned tables—perfect for students to study in air-conditioned comfort.

Yan and Zhu Jue sat side by side, while Lin Fan had a whole sofa to himself. The staff clearly knew the couple well, asking as they served the coffee,

"Same as usual for lunch?"

Yan nodded. "We’ll have the usual. Let my friend check the menu before deciding on anything extra."

"You come here often?" Lin Fan asked.

Places like cafés weren’t his thing—he didn’t like coffee, didn’t enjoy sitting around, and wasn’t that into studying. He’d rather spend this time doing a couple of training sessions at the gym.

"Yeah. On days like this when we have a gap between classes, going back to the dorm is too much hassle. We just come here to relax, grab a bite, and maybe nap," Zhu Jue explained.

"This spot is quiet, the AC is just right—not too cold or too hot. We always sit here, so the staff knows us," Yan added.

Lin Fan nodded, but what really caught his attention was their seating position.

From here, they had a clear view of the entire café interior, and thanks to the large windows, they could also see everyone coming and going outside.

It was the perfect vantage point for observing everything inside and out!

With food, drinks, and climate control, these two really knew how to pick a spot!

Lin Fan suddenly realized how much he’d been missing out on at school.

"Next time my wife visits, I’ll bring her here too," he said.

While he wasn’t big on atmospheric places, his wife loved them. Their daughter was just too young to go anywhere easily.

"Has Sister Lin Lu been busy lately? She hasn’t posted much on social media," Yan asked casually.

At this, Lin Fan rubbed his temples.

"Work stuff is manageable—she’s used to it. The real headache is her cousin from her uncle’s side suddenly moving in."

"She claims she’s here to help take care of our daughter, but we already have a nanny and a housekeeper. She’s just causing trouble," Lin Fan grumbled.

"But she’s family, so I can’t say much. With her around, even going home feels awkward now."

He usually stayed on campus during the week, leaving household matters to his wife. On weekends, even hugging his wife required checking if the cousin was lurking nearby.

The brat had been taught by someone to look down on him, thinking he wasn’t good enough for his wife, while also spying on them. What kind of grown woman barges into her sister and brother-in-law’s room?!

Compared to her, his dear roommates were absolute saints!

Thinking about it, Yan and Zhu Jue were only two or three years younger than that troublemaking cousin. The difference was night and day!

"She’s supposedly studying abroad, but last year she kept complaining about loneliness, then took a break, even threatened suicide. Now she’s been dumped on us to ‘relax.’ What a nightmare."

Lin Fan was convinced the cousin was just acting out. If she were his niece, he’d have her doing daily endurance training—guaranteed to straighten her out.

"You still need to spend time with Sister Lin Lu and your daughter. Don’t let someone else ruin your family life," Zhu Jue said.

Lin Fan felt like Zhu Jue had read his mind. Weekends were already his only chance to be with his wife and kid, and now his wife’s attention was split even further!

Damn it! Ever since their daughter was born, his stock as a husband had plummeted.

"This weekend, we’re taking our daughter to the aquarium. I hope that cousin leaves soon. Maybe I should sign her up for a bunch of extracurricular classes?" Lin Fan suddenly felt inspired.

"You can sign her up, but if she doesn’t go, it’s just wasted money," Yan said dryly.

Hearing the mention of "little sister-in-law" from Lin Fan, she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. What was the name of that high school girl who had inexplicably chased after him last year?

"The best thing you can do right now is stay away from trouble," Yan advised sincerely.

As someone with an aura of prominence, Lin Fan—perhaps because he had already retired—didn’t experience as many unexpected incidents as his other roommates. But it seemed this aura of his had a peculiar effect in other ways.

Lin Fan nodded solemnly. "I know."

He understood what the young couple meant—blending into the crowd, living as quietly as possible. That was what he sought.

He and his wife should be like Zhu Jue and Yan, silently fulfilling their duties in the tranquility of everyday life.

Once life stirred with turbulence and trouble, there was always the risk of exposure.

Lin Fan joined them for a simple lunch, and by evening, after a full day of classes, Yan and Zhu Jue finally returned to their own world.

Yan shared her suspicions with Jue Jue, and the two went over the logic again, finding it entirely plausible.

"Lin Fan’s situation makes sense, but what about Officer Zheng Yi’s mention of ‘another one’...? What could that be?"

It was utterly baffling.

Today, the two had practically scrolled through every group chat in the university, but all anyone was discussing was the spy case at the Agricultural College’s small cafeteria. There was no other news.

"Could it have been suppressed? Using the spy case as a cover?" Yan speculated.

They stared again at the message Officer Zheng Yi had sent that morning:

"The other one will wait until the case is closed."

Analyzing it word by word, Yan felt like she was taking an exam.

"The other case hasn’t concluded yet—maybe it’s just begun. Or perhaps Officer Zheng Yi noticed something last night when she was with us, but we missed it," Zhu Jue said, his voice steady.

"If she told us, it means she noticed it while we were together, not after we parted ways."

Yan immediately started counting on her fingers. "But last night, we only walked around campus—the buildings with unique architecture, the historic sites... There weren’t even many students around at that time."

After racking their brains and combing through their memories of the previous night, they still couldn’t recall any overlooked details.

"What troubles you two so, my dears?"

A faint, ethereal female voice suddenly spoke, startling Yan and Jue Jue.

Seeing the qipao-clad ghost woman who had appeared out of nowhere, Yan’s lips twitched. An acquaintance—or rather, a familiar ghost.

"Shen Hui, senior, could you at least make a sound before appearing next time?"

Shen Hui, still dressed in her purple butterfly-sleeved qipao, slowly curtsied. "Squeak."

Yan and Jue Jue: "..."

We often feel out of place among you supernatural beings because we’re too normal. No wonder they say humans and ghosts walk different paths—even our thought processes are worlds apart.

Well, a squeak is a squeak.

Ever since they had accidentally encountered Ding Ling and Senior Shen Hui last semester, their evening strolls occasionally included her presence.

Though they no longer took the path near Mingzhi Hall, Shen Hui would sometimes appear, curtsy, and vanish—sometimes even sharing a few words about recent campus events.

Over time, they’d grown accustomed to it.

But her sudden appearances still startled them.

"Shen Hui, senior, what happened on campus last night?" Yan asked.

With a ghostly informant right in front of them, it’d be a waste not to ask.

"Many things." Shen Hui extended a pale, ghostly hand from beneath her wide sleeves.

She first drew a large circle in the air, then pointed in a direction.

"At the Agricultural College’s cafeteria, many people arrived. We dared not approach—there was a fierce, murderous aura, and also a great virtuous one."

A murderous aura? A great virtuous one? Yan and Jue Jue exchanged glances.

Did "murderous aura" refer to the team capturing the spies? There was a saying that military and police officers carried a fearsome energy, unafraid of deathly presences.

"And that great virtuous one—wasn’t she your friend?" Shen Hui added.

At this, Yan and Zhu Jue’s first thought was—Officer Zheng Yi? Her?

"We dared not approach, especially your friend. She radiated both a fearsome aura and immense virtue—commanding respect, inspiring awe," Shen Hui mused.

"That lady swept through the entire campus last night. Even the midnight magpies dared not chirp."

So Officer Zheng Yi had walked the entire school? But they still didn’t know what the second case was about!

After listening to Shen Hui ramble about breakup gossip on some campus path, Yan and Jue Jue returned to their dorm, minds full of unanswered questions.

As soon as Yan entered, she spotted an envelope from Bin City Grand Theater on her desk.

"You’re back," Chu Bingbing said. "Yan, the dance drama tickets arrived. They’re on your desk. I checked—they’re all consecutive seats."

"Thanks, Bingbing." Yan examined the seat numbers—same row, odd numbers, meaning they were side by side. She opened the theater’s official app to check the seating chart. A-section, center aisle—not too close, not too far. Perfect! She wouldn’t even need binoculars to see the actors’ expressions.

"Are you all going together?" Yi Zhi asked.

"He Xing probably doesn’t have afternoon classes, but Jue Jue has lessons in the last two periods. We might not leave together," Yan said.

Luckily, Bin City Grand Theater was within the city, accessible by subway. The dance drama started at seven—if they rushed to the metro right after class, they’d make it.

"This dance drama just premiered. I wonder how many fans will be handing out freebies," Yan remarked casually.

"I heard there’s a pre-show meet-and-greet, but you need to register in advance. There’s also a signing after the performance—you might not make it," Chu Bingbing said.

Yan nodded. "We’ll see. Maybe there’ll be other chances. If we like it, we’ll definitely go again."

This time, the main goal was to observe He Xing. She wasn’t sure if Fu Yao would show up either.

Still unsure how to reply to Officer Zheng Yi’s message, Yan snapped a photo of the tickets and sent it, saying she had extras and asking if she’d like to join. She casually mentioned that her senior dormmate would also be there.

On the other end, Zheng Yi glanced at the new message, her brow lifting slightly.

Last night had been eventful, and today was no different.

Between security duties and an old case she knew nothing about, she hadn’t slept a wink.

Of course, with the Justice System’s support, this was nothing. For a detective, pulling all-nighters during investigations was routine.

As an expert borrowed from a sister unit, she found it almost amusing how two local GA teams had crossed paths last night.

Given the timing—right before a foreign dignitary’s visit—and the location being Bin University, the situation was sensitive. Though Zheng Yi wasn’t handling the interrogation, the print shop owner was in for a rough time.

After delegating the matter to the local authorities, Zheng Yi went to investigate the roommate of the young couple, He Xing.

After reviewing the information gathered, Zheng Yi had a good grasp of the case—this one was urgent!

The beautiful young woman was half-gilded, half-tarnished, with a noticeable shift toward darker shades, which was troubling.

She had both merit and grievances, and it seemed she might take matters into her own hands, resorting to illegal means to exact revenge for past wrongs.

Originally, Zheng Yi had been pondering how to get closer to He Xing and establish a connection.

For victims of wrongful cases, especially those intent on personal retribution, approaching them as an investigator could trigger strong resistance and suspicion, backfiring entirely.

To uncover more details about the case, Zheng Yi needed to be open and honest with He Xing—the first step was building trust.

But for someone whose trust had already been shattered by injustice, rebuilding it wouldn’t be easy and would require considerable effort.

Zheng Yi hadn’t overlooked the details about the dance drama The Goddess of the Luo River, particularly its significance and one of its lead performers. Her team from the cold case unit had even worked overnight to locate He Xing’s ticket information in the theater’s system, further confirming Zheng Yi’s suspicions.

He Xing was definitely planning something.

Zheng Yi stared at the performance ticket sent via chat and the mention of "senior" by Yan.

A seasoned intelligence officer knew how to proactively ease their superior’s burdens.

The tickets were secured, and the "main character" of this operation was conveniently brought along—all arranged just before Saturday’s show, clearly setting the stage for her.

Her team had originally been scrambling for tickets to Saturday’s performance.

But what happened? The young couple went ahead and dragged the key figure to Friday’s show instead.

When there were no opportunities, they simply created one for her!

No wonder Yan hadn’t replied to her messages all day. Zheng Yi had assumed it was due to a busy class schedule, but turns out, they’d dropped another "surprise" on her!

Sharp-minded and capable, with such exceptional initiative and skill.

To be this effective on their very first day "on the job"—what a gem she’d stumbled upon!

Meat scooped from someone else’s pot really did taste the best!

A raise—she absolutely had to give the young couple a hefty bonus!

Meanwhile, Yan stared at the new message from Officer Zheng Yi.

[Zheng Yi]: Double the bonus.

Just four simple words, but Yan’s mind was once again flooded with question marks.

Huh? Where did this sudden windfall come from? What’s this money for?

Meow meow meow, pray tell, whence cometh this bonus?