Chapter 239 - 194: Time of Death: April 17, 1977

Third District Police Chief Bureau.

Chu Bamboo waved goodbye to Zhang Hai and called out loudly, "Host Zhang, don’t forget... tomorrow! Remember to pick me up tomorrow and take me to the Moisture Teaching. Of course, if you think picking me up is too much trouble, you can also just go to the Moisture Teaching yourself, get the Artifact, and bring it directly to me... I’m not picky! Either way works."

Zhang Hai made an "okay" gesture and calmly stepped on the accelerator, driving toward the Third District Church. As he drove, his brow furrowed. ’Wait, why am I still picking him up tomorrow?!’

It slowly dawned on Zhang Hai. ’Hold on, isn’t that Artifact his? What does he mean, if I think it’s too much trouble, I can just go get the Artifact and bring it to him?’

"???" The more he thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. Zhang Hai was dumbfounded. ’No, wait. If that’s the case, why did I even have to pick him up today in the first place... Could it be because... Oh, he saved my life! Right, never mind then.’

’But the problem is, just running these simple errands isn’t nearly enough to repay a life-saving debt...’

’Don’t tell me... Mr. Zhu is treating this string of errands as the *interest* on that life-saving debt?!’

’No, please no!’ Zhang Hai felt a bit numb. His time was very tight too.

...

The moment he stepped into the Police Chief Bureau, Chu Bamboo froze. He looked into the distance with a strange expression at two girls whispering to each other.

"...Ah, could that be him!" The girl—petite, dressed in a sea-blue long dress, with fair skin, big eyes, and thin, pale pink lips—suddenly looked in Chu Bamboo’s direction and let out a small gasp.

Chu Bamboo: "..."

’Zero points! So affected and fake. Especially that gasp... it was even in a cutesy, high-pitched voice!’

’Hmph, who do you think you’re fooling with that act?’

"Ah? It’s Ah Zhu!" Lu Muxue turned her head at the sound, her eyes lighting up. She stood up at once and was about to run over, but then she seemed to remember something. She grabbed the petite girl beside her and walked breezily up to Chu Bamboo. "Let me introduce you. This is my bestie! After she heard about everything you’ve done, she’s been completely in awe of you... so..."

"So, are you trying to build me a harem? Or maybe just add another rival for yourself?" Chu Bamboo retorted, his face impassive. ’Alright, case closed. She can fool Lu Muxue, at least!’

’I mean, really? Do you honestly think your "bestie’s" attitude just now was normal?!’

Sometimes, Chu Bamboo truly found Lu Muxue’s thought process baffling... ’Theoretically, in a situation like this, shouldn’t you be instantly on guard, maybe even feel a bit of hostility?’

’When it comes to catching a cheater, aren’t women supposed to be on par with Sherlock Holmes...? Okay, so we’re not exactly catching a cheater right now, but the principle is the same!’

’Why don’t you have any sense of danger...?’

Chu Bamboo glanced at her a few times. She really seemed to believe... that the other girl was just curious about him! That she genuinely and simply wanted to meet him... If this was all just an act from Lu Muxue, then Chu Bamboo had to admit, he was thoroughly impressed. He would have been completely fooled.

"...Huh?" Lu Muxue froze for a second, looking at her bestie in shock. "You..."

"Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of stealing Brother Chu from you! I’m just a little curious... like one of those people who follow celebrities! Who would actually expect to become an idol’s wife?" The girl’s words were tinged with a hint of timidity and deep-seated insecurity.

"...No, no, no!" Lu Muxue instantly panicked, laughing foolishly. "I wasn’t suspecting you! I was just... Ah Zhu, you’re being a little mean!"

Chu Bamboo ignored Lu Muxue, who had put her hands on her hips in anger, causing her face to puff up into a round ball. He stated impassively, "Speak, Hai Mingyue. Where did you find out... that I was preparing to make a move against the Hai Family?"

"Did Lu Jin’s side leak the information to the adults in your family?" Chu Bamboo speculated. "As I recall, their relationship isn’t that good! It couldn’t possibly be... that Mu Xue leaked the information, could it?"

Lu Muxue: "???"

’What are you guys talking about?’

Hai Mingyue shrank back, her face full of grievance. "I don’t know... what you’re talking about? Really, I was just..."

"Human-Demon Workshop." Chu Bamboo uttered the two words succinctly. He tilted his head and stared at Hai Mingyue. "Noble daughter of the Hai Family, do I need to be more specific?"

"..." Even as naive as Lu Muxue was, she could now sense that the atmosphere was off. She didn’t dare say anything. Her eyes darted for a moment before landing on Hai Mingyue in disbelief. ’It can’t be... this is her most trusted best friend.’

’Did you really betray me?!’

Hai Mingyue remained timid and aggrieved, her big eyes welling with tears. "Brother, that’s so hurtful... I did know a little, but... but... I just wanted to help Brother get back the wealth that belongs to the peasant workers! It’s just that I have too little say in the matter... I didn’t lie to Sister Lu! It’s precisely because I admire you so much that I wanted to help you solve the problem..."

Chu Bamboo scoffed. "Fine. We’ll leave it at that."

Chu Bamboo walked straight past the two of them. Hai Mingyue’s words were a veiled surrender, indicating that she would go back and work on her family to return the money.

Compared to Lu Muxue, Hai Mingyue was a truly shrewd operator.

’Or in other words... a bit of a green tea?’

Behind him, he could hear Hai Mingyue muttering a few more aggrieved words, and Lu Muxue, though still a little doubtful, starting to comfort her... Chu Bamboo had to forcefully suppress the urge to facepalm.

’I now profoundly understand how Lu Jin and Madam Xue must feel. How did they end up raising such a lost cause?!’