Chapter 3

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The scorching sun blazed overhead.

The entire city was like a furnace, the relentless heat distorting the air and creating waves of heat ripples.

The willow trees hung their heads, their branches drooping, providing some shade for passersby. The cicadas, which had been silent underground for many years, now screamed with all their might. This was their last summer, and they were determined to release their emotions and fulfill their sacred mission of reproduction.

At the entrance of the market, a small kiosk stood with its door open, the awning providing a patch of cool shade.

A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard and bare chest sat in a rattan chair, his legs crossed, enjoying the coolness. He waved a tattered palm-leaf fan, swaying his head and humming a tune, "Ah, touching the girl's hair, the dark clouds covered half the sky..."

Wang Yan, drenched in sweat, looked up at the sign of the kiosk, "Da Pao Kiosk," and walked over, politely asking, "Uncle, hello. Did you help me lock up the tricycle and put away the goods?"

"Ah, it's you, young man. Are you feeling better?" Cao Dapao, who had been half-closed his eyes, opened them and smiled, "You're all sweaty. Come, come, have a piece of ice-cold watermelon to cool down." Saying this, he took a crisp watermelon from the ice cabinet, cracked it open with a slap, and picked the largest piece to offer.

"Ah, I'm fine, thank you, Uncle." Wang Yan felt a bit embarrassed, but the heat was unbearable, and he couldn't resist the temptation of the ice-cold watermelon. He thanked the man and took a bite.

"Ah~"

The icy, sweet juice slid into his stomach, making him shiver with pleasure, and the heat dissipated significantly.

As they talked, the old man and the young man squatted in the shade and started munching on the watermelon. In no time, a seven or eight-pound watermelon was completely devoured.

Wiping his mouth, Wang Yan felt much more refreshed. Just as he was about to speak, a white Maserati sports car pulled up to the roadside with a screech.

Seeing the car, Wang Yan was taken aback. Wasn't this the car that almost hit the old lady yesterday and then sped away? At the very least, they should have stopped to check on her, right?

Without hesitation, he walked up and gently tapped on the car window.

"Vroom~"

The electric window slowly rolled down, revealing a girl in the passenger seat. She was about seventeen or eighteen, with a pretty face and a light tan. Her eyes were clear and bright, and her short black hair complemented her bright yellow sportswear, giving her a sunny and vibrant look.

Wang Yan was slightly stunned. She must still be a high school student, and she would probably be very popular with boys at school.

"What is it?" The short-haired girl seemed tired, having been investigating and chasing for a week straight, which had severely drained her energy. Especially yesterday, when she almost caught "her" but failed at the last moment, allowing "her" to escape.

"I want to ask if you were driving this car yesterday around 3:30 PM?" Wang Yan took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone calm, as it was possible that someone else had been driving the car yesterday.

After saying this, he glanced at the driver's seat.

Hmm? Another beauty!

She was in her mid-twenties, with a delicate face and long black hair tied in a simple ponytail. Her skin was fair and smooth, and she wore a pair of sunglasses that gave her a cold and distant aura.

What a beautiful woman! In Wang Yan's limited social circle, he had never seen such a level of beauty.

The rare sight of two beauties, along with the expensive sports car, made Wang Yan's imagination run wild.

"Yesterday afternoon?" The short-haired girl frowned, thinking carefully. Wasn't that when she was tracking and chasing "her"? She looked at Wang Yan with a wary expression, "Yes, I was driving then. If you have nothing else, please leave, we're busy."

It was indeed them, and their attitude was so恶劣. Wang Yan couldn't help but shake his head and sneer, "You look so proper, but your hearts are so black."

"Proper? Black hearts?" The short-haired girl's face froze, and her anger flared, "What do you mean? Explain yourself clearly!"

The girl was already in a bad mood, and suddenly someone came out to insult her. She had never been insulted like this before. This person was truly despicable and unreasonable.

Even the sunglasses beauty turned her head, her brows furrowing.

"What, you still have the nerve to be angry? Don't you know that you were driving too fast yesterday and knocked down an old lady?" Although the other party seemed to have some influence, Wang Yan, feeling righteous, was not intimidated, "At the very least, you should have stopped to check on her. You're really uncultured!"

The short-haired girl's face changed, and she felt nervous and guilty. The old lady fell yesterday? Just as she was about to ask for more details, the word "uncultured" seemed to strike a nerve, igniting her anger. Her face turned pale, and she couldn't control herself, reaching out of the window to grab his shirt and pull him close, "Who are you calling uncultured?"

Wang Yan was caught off guard and stumbled forward a step before regaining his balance. He was surprised; this girl looked like a high school student, yet she was so fast and strong.

But Wang Yan, who was in the right, would not back down once he made up his mind. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, resisting her pull, and his face showed a mocking expression, "What? You can do inhumane things, but you can't stand being called out? From your expression, it looks like you want to kill me to cover it up? Go ahead, why don't you? Oh, right, you're probably going to get your powerful godfather to deal with me, right? I'm so scared."

The short-haired girl was also surprised. She was confident that she could pull even a burly man against the car, but she only managed to move him half a step. This surprise vanished as soon as he spoke, and she was so angry that her whole body trembled.

A powerful godfather? Do you think I'm some kind of person...

"I'll hit..."

"Enough, stop it." The sunglasses beauty finally spoke, coldly ordering, "Guannuo, let him go."

"South Lotus, but he..." The short-haired girl, Guannuo, bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears.

"I said, let him go," the sunglasses beauty's voice was cold as ice.

"Yes, South Lotus." Guannuo released her grip, glaring at Wang Yan with hatred, "Consider yourself lucky. Get lost, and don't let me see you again."

After venting his anger, Wang Yan felt a bit better. He couldn't really beat them up, could he? He straightened his shirt and said solemnly, "Be more careful when you drive. If you cause a big accident, you'll be in trouble. Didn't your driving instructor teach you to be cautious and slow down at crosswalks, yielding to pedestrians?" With that, he turned and walked away.

"Wait." The cold and beautiful South Lotus called out to Wang Yan, apologizing, "Sir, I'm sorry. We had an emergency yesterday... How is the old lady now?"

"You're showing some humanity. Don't worry, the old lady is fine," Wang Yan waved his hand without turning back, heading straight for "Da Pao Kiosk." "Be more careful in the future. Don't treat ordinary people like dirt just because you have money."

"Sir, no matter what, it was our fault. We will personally apologize to the old lady later," South Lotus added.

"South Lotus, why should we apologize to this scoundrel? If we have to apologize, we should apologize to the old lady," Guannuo, with her window closed, was so angry that her face turned pale, and her fists clenched tightly. "I'm so angry. How dare he say I have a black heart, a godfather, and no humanity! We were chasing 'her' yesterday. If she escapes, many people will suffer." The more she spoke, the more she felt wronged, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Guannuo, although you come from a good family and have been pampered, your identity is different now. You must learn to control yourself and stay calm during missions," South Lotus said sternly. "Otherwise, you will endanger many people. If this happens again, no matter how capable you are, I will dismiss you."

Guannuo trembled and straightened up, "South Lotus, I will grow and not let you down. That scoundrel just spoke too viciously."

"I think he's not bad," South Lotus said calmly. "He didn't back down in the face of beauty or violence, and he has his own principles and moral底线."

"Hmph, I think he's a hypocrite, a two-faced person," Guannuo, still angry, said, "If he met 'her,' he would probably be seduced within three sentences and end up as a dried corpse!"

"Let's put that aside for now. We have work to do," South Lotus lightly tapped the control button, and the car's display showed a radar-like screen, but it was all green with no signals. She frowned, "Xiao Nuo, are you sure 'her' presence is nearby? According to the energy radar, 'she' fled to the west district yesterday."

"South Lotus, trust my abilities. It must be 'her' diversion tactic. I remember 'her' scent, and even if 'she' tries to hide, 'she' can't cover up the traces of 'her' activity here," Guannuo, serious when it came to business, stared at "Da Pao Kiosk" and said confidently, "Three hours ago, 'she' was there briefly and revealed some of 'her' presence due to emotional fluctuations. I believe 'she' has targeted the next victim, and it's nearby."

"Alright, I trust your abilities," South Lotus gently stroked a silver bracelet on her wrist, adorned with mysterious runes, and said coldly, "Once the operation starts, stay far away. 'She' is very cunning and dangerous. In the past six months, 'she' has harmed over a hundred ordinary people and escaped from police multiple times, killing several officers. The scary part is that we still don't know if 'she' is human or a demon."

"Who cares if 'she' is human, demon, or ghost!" Guannuo flipped her wrist, and a small, exquisite silver palm thunder appeared in her hand, her eyes flashing with determination, "Once 'she' is targeted by us, the Cold and Beautiful Duo, 'she' will be obliterated, leaving no trace behind."

"I refuse such a tasteless nickname!" South Lotus's lips twitched slightly.

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