chapter 03：The Resolute One
1527 Words
As Ava left the police station, a thick fog had settled. Occasionally, the faint chirps of insects and birds could be heard, lost in the dense morning mist. Ava carried a bag of steaming soup dumplings and had another one dangling from her mouth. For someone who had been awake all night, it was hard to tell if it was breakfast or a late-night snack.
The buildings in her neighborhood, deep blue and shadowy, seemed to merge with the white fog, their outlines barely discernible through the few glass windows that revealed faint glimmers of light.
By the time she reached home, she had finished the dumplings and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep instantly. Years of working as a detective had accustomed her to a life of irregular hours; during particularly demanding cases, it was common to go days without rest. Thus, whenever she could finally reach her bed, she would fall asleep without hesitation, savoring every moment of rest, as the next call could pull her back into duty at any moment.
Now, with less than three hours left to sleep before she had to wake up for work, fate dealt her a cruel blow—a barrage of incessant phone calls threatened to cut her precious sleep short.
After a few relentless rings, Ava reluctantly pried open her heavy eyelids, answering the call with a dry, barely audible, “Hmm?”
On the other end was a voice brimming with excitement: “Sis!”
“…………” Ava closed her eyes again.
It was Lucy, her cousin from her uncle’s side. Lucy, detecting Ava’s exhaustion, was startled: “Sis, did you just fall asleep?”
“Hmm…”
“Damn it!” Lucy was at a loss for words. “Didn’t you just get reassigned? Why are you still working around the clock at the precinct? What’s going on? Does your superior make it their mission to work you to death?”
“Hey, hey, hey! That’s quite unrefined…” Ava turned in bed, her voice becoming more muffled, “If you must vent, you could use the term ‘exploited.’ But truthfully, my superiors aren’t exploiting me. No matter where I’m assigned, I remain a police officer, right?”
Realizing she wouldn’t win an argument with Ava, Lucy shifted topics: “Alright, people’s Ava, when will you meet that white-collar worker Dad mentioned last time?”
Ava: “…………”
“Last night, when I visited Grandma and Grandpa, Grandma gave me an earful, scolding me for not yet helping you find a suitable partner—”
Lucy imitated Grandma’s tone: “Lucy, hmm? Our Ava is beautiful and successful. How can she still be single at her age? You need to persuade her to consider her future more. Despite her hard work, the country hasn’t arranged a suitable match for her.”
Ava: “…………”
“Sis, I support you!” Lucy quickly changed her tune, “Fortunately, the country didn’t assign you a partner. With your looks, settling for just any man would be like charity work! Charity work!”
Ava, now exasperated by Lucy’s antics, could no longer sleep. She glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand and realized it was nearly time to get up. Rubbing her temples, she sat up.
Lucy continued, undeterred: “First, you must find a handsome guy! Not just any handsome, but someone who matches you perfectly!”
Ava retorted: “Where would I find such a handsome guy?”
“A white-collar worker!” Lucy, rejuvenated by the topic, said, “I’ve seen the photo. He’s quite handsome. I bet he’s the best-looking man you’ve ever seen, aside from celebrities!”
Lucy’s remark made Ava recall someone from last night—the man she had apprehended herself. She knew he couldn’t be the culprit in the serial robbery case, but he turned out to be a stalker. He had confessed to following her openly during the interrogation.
Though he had a textbook-perfect face, Ava’s expectations of the white-collar worker had diminished. Compared to Liam, she had no hope for Lucy’s white-collar ideal: “The best-looking man? That’s impossible! I met a ‘textbook’ case last night—every inch of him, from his hair to his fingertips, was ‘textbook’…”
“…………You want to see? Sorry, Lucy, I can’t find him anymore. Goodbye, I have to go to work now. Bye-bye~” After piquing Lucy’s interest, Ava hung up with a mischievous smile.
After getting ready, Ava drew back the curtains in the living room. Through the glass, she saw that the greenery below was coated in a glistening layer of water. The night’s fog had indeed brought a long-awaited rain, giving respite from the sweltering summer heat.
Wearing non-slip shoes, Ava reached the building’s entrance. As she pushed the door open, the rain poured in like beads falling from a broken string, hitting her face. She quickly opened her umbrella.
The world in the rain was blurred but refreshingly clear, washing away the heavy dust of summer. The few pedestrians in the neighborhood, despite it being later than Ava’s usual departure time, were sparse, and the rain made it even more deserted.
As she turned the corner near the building, she spotted a figure in the lush greenery. The figure sat like a statue on a flower bed. Ava froze. Even from a mere profile, she instantly recalled his name. Perhaps those who are too perfect have a striking, unforgettable presence.
He…?
Had he followed her to her doorstep?
In moments, Ava rapidly considered several reasons, finally arriving at a conclusion. She slowly lifted her long leg.
Liam’s eyes, previously closed, suddenly opened as the rain that had been pounding his face was now shielded.
His gaze fell upon the light green trousers, gradually moving up to see the person holding the umbrella—a woman with slightly damp hair falling neatly over her forehead, a few raindrops trickling down her face and neck, slowly finding their way into her collar.
It seemed like a provocation, almost taunting him: — Envious? Jealous? What you yearn for, I’ve already got. Haha!
Liam stared at Ava’s eyes, his gaze fervent. Ava, feeling the intensity, smiled faintly, her voice partially drowned by the rain: “Why aren’t you going home?”
Liam was taken aback. She knew he had been waiting downstairs?
Ava glanced at Liam’s attire: “Because of your clothes.”
He was still dressed in the same simple black outfit as last night.
“Mr. Liam, are you in some trouble?” Ava said, pulling out a few red bills from her pocket, “I understand you’ve just been released from prison and need time to adjust to society. It’s best to seek help from your family. If returning home is inconvenient, you can visit the precinct or police station for assistance. Remember, if you’re in trouble, you should contact the police. Don’t revert to old ways—”
With a sense of duty and a commitment to social justice, Ava offered her heartfelt advice to Liam.
“Take this money for now. It should be enough for temporary lodging and meals.”
Holding the umbrella with one hand, Ava placed the money into Liam’s palm.
As soon as she withdrew her hand, Liam firmly grasped it.
Ava frowned slightly, sternly: “Mr. Liam!”
Liam held her right hand, which was injured from her time as a detective and still weak.
Countless words of concern swirled in Liam’s throat, but he managed only: “Is your arm alright?”
Ava: “Let go of my hand.”
“You winced in pain last night,” Liam ignored Ava’s dissatisfaction, “Is your arm still hurting? We need to go to the hospital!”
Ava glared at Liam, enunciating: “Let! Go!”
Liam gripped her hand tighter, as if intending to hold it forever: “Go to the hospital!”
“Let go!” Ava dropped the umbrella and swiftly reached for her waist. Before she could touch it, Liam’s other hand stopped her.
“Planning to draw your gun?” Liam’s smile sparkled in the rain. “You were handling a case yesterday. If you pull your gun today, it’ll be considered misconduct…”
With both of Ava’s hands restrained, she was infuriated and attempted to kick him.
As she kicked, Liam stood, evading the first attempt. The second kick landed on his thigh, causing him to kneel before her.
When Ava tried to kick again, Liam sidestepped and embraced her from behind.
His deep voice lingered in Ava’s ear: “Go to the hospital!”
“You’re assaulting a police officer!”
“You’re not in uniform, so it doesn’t count—”
With that, Liam lifted Ava horizontally.
“I just want to know how your arm is.”
“Why do you care!”
Ava’s arm tightened around Liam’s neck, trying to force him to set her down. But as Liam walked a few steps, Ava felt as if she had hit a pause button.
Because he said: “Listen to me, Ava.”
- Writer
