Chapter 31: Am I a Step Too Late?

"Brother Lei, I haven’t even finished yet! There’s more news to come!" Chen Yu drawled, sounding as careless as ever.

"Oh? There’s more?" At his words, Brother Lei’s eyes flashed with anticipation as he unconsciously leaned in closer, his face full of eager expectation.

"Captain Yan said that Zhang Luoluo’s case is as deep as the ocean and far-reaching in its implications."

Chen Yu lowered his voice and continued, "With just their own investigation team, cracking the case would be as hard as climbing to heaven."

"That’s why he came to me, hoping I could use some 'special channels' to find a few influential people to lend a hand."

He looked at Brother Lei. "So I thought, why not come pay my respects to the emperor of the underworld? Who would’ve thought fate would bring us together just like that—don’t you think it’s uncanny?"

"You want my help to solve a case?" Brother Lei was stunned at first, then burst out laughing, slapping Chen Yu heartily on the shoulder. "No problem at all! If Brother Chen Yu thinks so highly of me, I’m definitely in! Count me in!"

His eyes shone with excitement. "This is the perfect opportunity for our 'Zombie Crew' to make a name for ourselves—even take things to the next level!"

"In the future, if you get any inside information, you must let your big brother know at the first opportunity! I’ve got plenty of people working for me—it’ll be easy to check things out!" Brother Lei pounded his chest in assurance.

"Of course, Brother Lei! Don’t worry!" Chen Yu agreed readily.

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a slender, delicate hand behind him begin to poke restlessly at his waist again.

Chen Yu kept a straight face, but his mind quickly deciphered the message.

The same three words—stop talking nonsense!

Hey, little lady, it’s out of your hands now.

You told me to speak up, so I might as well turn the whole world upside down!

Besides, it’s not like I’m really spouting nonsense—at most, I’m just adding a little artistic flair.

After a round of "friendly" exchanges, Brother Lei had heard just about everything he wanted to know.

In excellent spirits, Brother Lei was convinced Chen Yu was his lucky star.

"A night together is worth a thousand pieces of gold, Brother Chen Yu!" Brother Lei greeted them warmly, gesturing for Chen Yu and Li Qing to head upstairs and rest.

Just as they were about to step into the elevator, Brother Lei suddenly raised his voice and announced to his gathered men:

"Listen up, all of you! This is my newly acknowledged brother, Chen Yu. From now on, you’ll call him Brother Yu!"

"And from this day on, in any place under my name, if Brother Yu comes to spend money, no matter how much, it’s all on the house! Got that?"

"Loud and clear, Brother Lei!" the men chorused, glancing at Chen Yu with newfound respect and awe.

Chen Yu sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he played the role of a man overwhelmed by favor, gracefully wrapping his arm around Li Qing’s slender waist as they stepped into the elevator.

The doors slid shut with a soft chime.

Inside the enclosed space, the atmosphere grew strangely charged.

Li Qing continued to wear an expression of confused shyness, her gaze lowered, long lashes trembling gently—a sight that invited pity.

Her pure, stunning face appeared all the more delicate and enchanting under the elevator’s gentle lighting.

Chen Yu found himself staring in a daze once more.

Li Qing?

No, from now on, you’ll be my white moonlight.

The elevator seemed to climb excruciatingly slowly—or so it felt to Chen Yu.

He fixed his gaze on the slowly changing numbers on the digital display, his heart pounding faster and faster, refusing to obey him.

This self-proclaimed old hand, who had always prided himself on passing through countless gardens without a leaf sticking to him, was now more nervous and awkward than the "first-timer" Li Qing beside him.

At last, with a soft ding, the elevator reached their floor.

Feigning composure, Chen Yu strode out first, leading Li Qing to the room door, expertly swiping the card, pushing the door open, and locking it behind them.

The moment Li Qing entered, her previous shyness and fragility vanished without a trace.

She took a small, precise device—about the size of a matchbox—from her school uniform pocket and meticulously scanned every corner of the room: the lamps, outlets, picture frames, even the seams of the bedside table.

"That’s enough, stop scanning. This room is clean—there’s nothing here," Chen Yu drawled from where he leaned against the door, rolling his eyes lazily.

Joke’s on you—I spent a blissful night here just yesterday. If there really were cameras, wouldn’t I have become the latest internet sensation, and in a live broadcast at that?

Li Qing ignored him, continuing her thorough inspection for several more minutes. Only after confirming there were no bugs or hidden cameras did she finally relax and put the device away.

"White moonlight, the night is deep, the time is perfect," Chen Yu cleared his throat, affecting a deliberate air of restraint. "Shouldn’t we… retire for the night?"

At his words, Li Qing spun around as if she’d just heard the world’s greatest joke.

With a swift movement, she shrugged off her school uniform jacket—the very symbol of innocence—and tossed it onto the sofa, revealing a fitted white camisole underneath that accentuated her graceful curves.

She sat down heavily on the bed, her gaze cold as she glared at Chen Yu. "You punk, what nonsense were you spouting to Brother Lei downstairs? Asking him to help investigate a case? Are you insane or just stupid?"

Chen Yu only grinned, ignoring her question as he strode over, closing the distance between them.

His face drew closer and closer, his nose nearly brushing her flawless cheek.

Li Qing frowned, instinctively leaning back to put some space between them.

"White moonlight, you’re my girlfriend in name now." Chen Yu’s voice was hypnotic. "Shouldn’t we do the things boyfriends and girlfriends are supposed to do?"

Li Qing pulled a face, her expression full of disdain.

"And another thing," Chen Yu’s gaze turned predatory, his tone laced with challenge, "your little hand was poking my back just now—you’re quite skilled, aren’t you? Did you enjoy it?"

"Isn’t it my turn to do a little poking now?"

Before he finished speaking, Chen Yu let out a low cry and lunged at Li Qing on the bed like a hungry tiger.

But what happened next was beyond Chen Yu’s expectations.

Li Qing’s eyes sharpened. Instead of dodging his sudden attack, she moved in, lowered her stance, and with a deft twist of her arm, flipped him over her shoulder in a clean, decisive throw.

"Bang!"

The world spun for Chen Yu as he landed hard on the floor. Even though the hotel carpet was thick, he was left dazed and seeing stars.

But he wasn’t one to be easily bested! After all, before he transmigrated, he’d spent four years at the police academy honing his skills in military boxing and grappling. His practical scores were always among the best!

"Well, you little minx, you really dare to get physical! I’ll show you some respect!" Chen Yu growled, using his prone position to grab Li Qing’s wrist and, with a sudden jerk, flipped her over his shoulder in return.

Still, he couldn’t help showing a bit of mercy—especially to his "white moonlight." Instinctively, he controlled his strength and direction.

Li Qing let out a light snort as she landed gracefully—her destination was the soft, wide mattress.

"Well, well, you know grappling too?" Li Qing bounced up from the bed with a nimble kip-up, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

She clearly hadn’t expected this seemingly careless "Zombie Brother" to be so skilled.

In an instant, the two were locked in a fierce bout, trading blows and maneuvers, evenly matched and neither yielding an inch.

Inside the room, the sounds of their struggle—grunts, muffled cries, and the rhythmic creaking of the bed—rose and fell in the night.

By now, it was already eleven o’clock.

On Chen Yu’s floor, at the end of the corridor, a graceful figure slipped silently from the shadows.

She wore a simple, solid-colored silk nightgown, her face adorned with delicate makeup that perfectly highlighted her already flawless features.

It was Bubble Girl.

With light, careful steps, Bubble Girl made her way toward Chen Yu’s room.

She too was full of questions, hoping to fish for a few answers from Chen Yu—at the very least, to glean something about his secret conversation with Captain Yan that afternoon.

And, truth be told, last night’s brief but passionate encounter had left her wanting more.

She stopped in front of Chen Yu’s door, slender fingers raised to knock.

But just then, strange sounds drifted from inside, freezing her bold intentions in her heart.

She pressed her ear gently to the door.

"Ah!"

"Ha!"

"Hey!"

...

From within, the room resounded with the heavy breathing of a man, the muffled cries of a woman, and the unmistakable rhythmic creaking of a bed under duress.

Bubble Girl was rooted to the spot.

Her big, liquid eyes blinked rapidly, her face first awash with disbelief and astonishment.

After a minute, the shock gradually gave way to deep disappointment and regret.

"I… I actually… arrived too late?"