Chapter Seventy-Nine: Upon the Great Bridge

When Lin Heng heard Shen Yunxi’s joking remark, there wasn’t the faintest hint of amusement on his face. On the contrary, a contemplative look appeared instead.
“…If someone with supernatural powers really did exist—and if he broke the law—then I would do everything in my power to bring him to justice.”
Shen Yunxi stared at him in a daze.
For a moment, the clamor of the barbecue restaurant seemed to drift far away.
Yet after Lin Heng made such a righteous declaration, even he felt a little embarrassed.
“Ah, did I sound too grandiose just now?”
“Not at all.”
Shen Yunxi shook her head, her eyes shining as she looked at him.
“Only the Lin Heng I know could say something like that.”
…
After finishing their barbecue, they followed custom and went for a walk.
The two of them strolled along the sidewalk at a leisurely pace, the cool evening breeze swirling around them. Yellow autumn leaves covered the pavement, crunching beneath their feet.
Thanks to the all-you-can-eat dinner, both were completely full. Fortunately, one was a police officer, the other a doctor; one underwent physical training, the other stood for hours performing surgeries and making rounds—so neither was out of breath after just a few steps.
Shen Yunxi naturally tightened her grip on Lin Heng’s hand, pressing close to him without the slightest hint of shyness, her demeanor as calm and easy as ever.
Lin Heng, who had been single since birth until he met Shen Yunxi half a year ago, was still getting used to the ordinary gestures of romance; his face flushed, his heart raced, and his palm grew slick with sweat.
They walked slowly along the sidewalk. Lin Heng stole a glance to his right and noticed that, while Shen Yunxi’s face remained composed, the tips of her ears had turned red. On impulse, he squeezed her hand a little tighter.
At that moment, she turned and met his gaze directly.
Lin Heng quickly averted his eyes.
“You just sneaked a look at me, didn’t you?”
Shen Yunxi’s voice was playful.
“Well…”
Lin Heng stammered, at a loss for words.
“No need to explain, I understand. I’m your daily dose of essential nutrients, aren’t I? If you don’t see me every day, your digestion will suffer, your appetite will fade—that’s what ancient poetry meant by ‘I grow thin for her, yet never regret it.’ If the great poet Liu Yong lived today, he’d be a nutritionist for sure.”

Shen Yunxi’s words were so amusing that Lin Heng couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes, yes, Yunxi, you are my life.”
Suddenly, Shen Yunxi fell silent. For a moment Lin Heng thought he’d somehow moved away from her, but then he realized their hands were still tightly entwined.
Curious, he glanced over and saw a flush spread across her cheeks; she bit her lip, looking at him.
“You’re usually so straightforward, but out of the blue you hit me with such a line—that’s not playing fair, Lin Heng.”
Only then did Lin Heng realize he’d just uttered an exceptionally bold and direct declaration of love. Embarrassment washed over him, but seeing Shen Yunxi’s rare bashfulness, he felt a surge of delight and teased back,
“Don’t you like hearing it, Comrade Yunxi?”
Shen Yunxi snorted and squinted at him, smiling.
“Of course I do. So Lin Heng, you’d better say more of that from now on—twenty times a day, and no repeats. I need plenty of electrolytes.”
…
Never mind how Lin Heng, with a long-suffering face, begged her until she finally retracted that demand for “twenty love confessions a day.” As their after-dinner walk carried them farther away, their conversation shifted from romantic banter to their earlier discussion.
“When you talked about superpowers just now, why were you so serious, Lin Heng?”
Their steps slowed as they reached a bridge over the river, the cold night air drifting by. Shen Yunxi looked at Lin Heng’s profile with curiosity.
“Hmm…”
He paused, considering how to answer.
“Do you remember the 8-12 case?”
“Of course. Isn’t that the one you’re investigating? It’s all over the internet.”
Shen Yunxi nodded, smiling.
“The victim, Wang Changming, was a nationally renowned entrepreneur, and Shengyi, his company, has tens of thousands of employees. Besides games, they’re in music, email, e-commerce—they’re one of the top ten internet companies in the country. There are conspiracy theories online saying he was killed by a rival, that they hired a team of assassins trained in Siberia, and staged a blockbuster action scene in real life.”
Lin Heng shook his head with a wry smile.
“If only it were a Siberian hit squad… Any operation involving more than ten people always leaves plenty of traces. With enough clues, you can follow the trail to the truth. But as for what really happened…”
Wary of breaching confidentiality, Lin Heng spoke vaguely, but Shen Yunxi understood.

“You mean there’s not a single lead in the 8-12 case?”
Lin Heng nodded cryptically.
“Not just that. Since there are no clues, based on the available information, the team could only reach a conclusion full of holes. I can’t trust it—too many questions remain unanswered.”
He gazed down at the river. The surging water and the distant city lights reflected in his eyes.
“…That’s why, when I saw that video earlier, a strange thought flashed through my mind. If the perpetrator behind this case was someone like the protagonist of that video, maybe… a lot of mysteries could be explained. But that’s probably just my imagination. Maybe I’m too obsessed with this case, getting a little crazy…”
Out of the corner of his eye, the silhouette of a building caught his attention. As he spoke, his gaze shifted there—and then he froze.
On the other side, Shen Yunxi squeezed his hand in comfort.
“All right, all right. You’re just a low-level member of the task force, don’t burden yourself too much. It’s like being a resident doctor: not much power, but also not much responsibility. If the sky falls, it’s someone else’s job to hold it up. No need to play the hero.”
She suddenly noticed Lin Heng wasn’t listening, but was instead staring, transfixed, at something else. She followed his gaze and saw a building standing tall amid the skyline, its facade emblazoned with the name “Shengyi.”
Instantly, Shen Yunxi’s face darkened.
Lin Heng came back to himself and gave her a sheepish smile.
“Yunxi…”
She looked at him, her expression cold.
“Lin Heng, this is our time off. Please don’t bring work into our relationship.”
But Lin Heng only gazed at her with pleading eyes, like a puppy desperate for a walk.
After a long moment, Shen Yunxi finally relented with a sigh and a wave of her hand.
“All right, all right. I’ll go with you.”
Seeing Lin Heng’s face break into a grin and his urge to jump for joy, Shen Yunxi pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a long sigh.
Writing romance really doesn’t come easily to me. Still, this transition scene is meant as groundwork for what’s to come—not just for the plot, but for the emotions as well.
(End of chapter)