My Supernatural Exes Are Desperate to Win Me Back - Chapter 12 - Investigation

The office door creaked open slowly, and it was too late for Xu Xining to leave now.

She took a closer look.

Sitting in the main seat was Professor Zheng, and standing beside him pouring tea was Wen Nansen. She must have been mistaken… But how could she confuse the short, chubby, balding Professor Zheng with the tall, slender, golden-haired, green-eyed Wen Nansen?

Xu Xining thought, it must be because she was so angry with her ex that her vision was blurred.

Professor Zheng slumped in his chair, his glasses askew, gripping the armrests, panting heavily as he looked at Wen Nansen: “Oh dear, I can’t handle this at my age.”

Xu Xining walked over, puzzled: “Can’t handle what?”

Professor Zheng, still shaken, looked at Xu Xining and said, “Can’t handle… work, yes, the work pressure. Once you and the other students I’m advising graduate, I’ll truly retire.”

Xu Xining sweetly said, “That sounds great, I’ll be Professor Zheng’s last disciple!”

Professor Zheng, having caught his breath, glanced guiltily at Wen Nansen and pulled Xu Xining closer: “Actually, I was just discussing your graduation thesis with Teacher Wen. You should listen in.”

Xu Xining’s smile stiffened.

Wow, Professor Zheng, I thought we had a close teacher-student relationship, but it turns out you secretly resent me!

Xu Xining clung to Professor Zheng’s arm, shaking it: “Professor, I’m embarrassed. Is my writing so bad that you don’t want to guide me anymore?”

Professor Zheng, shaken by her antics, was at a loss.

Xu Xining had a face that elders adored-sweet and clean, with a charming demeanor. She was excellent at coaxing the elderly, and Professor Zheng usually treated her like his granddaughter.

Professor Zheng was torn: “I only showed it to him because it’s good. Besides, he’s not just anyone; he’s the Teacher Wen you always talk about.”

Xu Xining: …

So, Professor Zheng, does love really fade? Am I not your favorite little Xining anymore? Why the sudden betrayal?

Wen Nansen spoke up: “There’s no need. Your student, your guidance; there won’t be any issues.”

Professor Zheng was puzzled: “But you’ve always been concerned about little Xining. Just the other day, you asked about her thesis and even came to see it. You almost finished reading it.”

Professor Zheng, the social tactician!

Wen Nansen: …

His gaze softened slightly, showing a hint of helpless reproach.

Professor Zheng couldn’t withstand Wen Nansen’s gaze and shrank his neck: “So, what do you want to do? I’m old, I don’t understand.”

Professor Zheng, having caused trouble, played dead.

For some reason, Xu Xining felt that the professor was even more lively and mischievous today. If he was usually a playful old man, today he was like a child misbehaving in the presence of elders.

Xu Xining sighed: “If Teacher Wen wants to look, it’s fine.”

Wen Nansen spoke at the same time: “If it’s inconvenient, I won’t look.”

Dead silence, the office was deathly silent.

Xu Xining changed her tune: “Okay, goodbye, Teacher Wen.”

Wen Nansen simultaneously said: “Then I’ll give two suggestions.”

Silence, dying in the silence.

Finally, Wen Nansen spoke gently: “I’ve read a paper closely related to your research direction. It will help your writing. I’ll send it to you later. As for the rest, Professor Zheng can explain it to you.”

Xu Xining responded perfunctorily with a series of “uh-huhs.”

Anyway, I’ve blocked your contact. Let’s see how you send it. Why not burn it and send it to your Irene?

After Wen Nansen finished speaking, he nodded and left the office. As soon as he left, Professor Zheng mysteriously grabbed Xu Xining’s hand: “What happened between you and Teacher Wen?”

Xu Xining looked speechlessly at the professor’s eager eyes.

You’re so old! Why are you gossiping?

Professor Zheng earnestly said: “I’ve known Teacher Wen since he was young. He’s absolutely trustworthy. If you have any dissatisfaction with him, it’s probably a misunderstanding. Over the years, he has three main virtues: loyalty, honesty, and loyalty.”

Xu Xining thought, no wonder you studied literature; your math skills are questionable. Besides, Teacher Wen wasn’t even born when you were young, right?

Professor Zheng coughed and added: “Remember, he didn’t ask me to say anything. It’s all my own doing. Don’t tell him.”

Xu Xining sincerely said: “I really won’t.”

Honestly, I don’t even know what you’re talking about.

Professor Zheng nodded, slapped his shiny forehead, and said, “Almost forgot,” as he pulled out a teacup and tea leaves from the drawer, smiling: “Mint tea! I got it last month. I remember you like mint, so I saved it for you.”

Xu Xining: …

I’ve said I hate mint! My name is Xu Xining, not Xu Mint. My preferences are in my name; do I need to tattoo them on my face?

What’s wrong with everyone? Are you also sent by Irene to annoy me?

At sunset, the last rays of light shimmered on the Huai River’s surface. Streetlights lit up in rows, a thin mist enveloped the area, and the night’s chill crept in like a monster’s claws.

Xu Xining prepared to head to Bailu Bridge Cave for investigation, packing a backpack with gear: a portable camera, voice recorder, locator, pepper spray, collapsible hiking stick, and flashlight.

The Good Man was pacing angrily nearby.

Xu Xining looked at him curiously: “What’s wrong? Who made our big brother angry?”

Earlier today, when Xu Xining wasn’t home, the pigeon spirit Bai Yaoyao delivered the result of the Mount Tu divination-White Slip!

This meant Zhan Xingye was just a commoner, without the noble bloodline of the Mount Tu Red Fox! Zhan Xingye wasn’t his son at all! Xie Yi had been holding back, not wanting to harm their father-son relationship.

Xie Yi snorted coldly.

Wasn’t he chasing him with a big knife? If it wasn’t a public grudge, it was a private one. He couldn’t stand seeing him live with Xu Xining. Xie Yi had seen this kind of jealousy countless times over the past 800 years.

Can’t stand it?

There’s more to come!

Xu Xining thought the fox was fighting the air, patted his head, and said: “I’m going to Bailu Bridge Cave. Be good and stay home.”

Bailu Bridge Cave?

Xie Yi was momentarily stunned. He vaguely remembered there was a demon there? But with so many types of demons, he didn’t know them all.

Leaving the mighty Demon King at home while Xu Xining went to meet other demons alone at night?

Xie Yi swayed his tail, watching the girl run out the door, then leaped out the window, following her.

What else could he do? He couldn’t forbid her from going. He could only spoil her; what else could he do?

On Sakura Street, petals scattered, and the streetlights cast a dim glow, elongating the man’s shadow. The hem of his coat fluttered in the chilly night breeze.

Wen Nansen held a printed thesis, walking towards Xu Xining’s building, only to see the girl with a backpack, running off in another direction.

It seemed he had come at a bad time.

Wen Nansen thought for a moment, then placed the thesis in the mailbox of apartment 2801. As he was about to leave, he noticed a fiery red shadow leaping from the 28th-floor window, streaking across the sky like a shooting star.

It seemed to be a demon from Xu Xining’s home?

Wen Nansen’s lips moved slightly, and a series of intricate incantations flowed from his mouth, sounding like a melodious song, as pleasant as a cello.

He raised his eyelashes, slightly tilting his head, and golden patterns appeared in his green eyes, like a golden flower blooming in his pupils.

–Spirit Magic: Tracking Spell.

In his eyes, the path the fox demon took left a clear red trail, indeed following Xu Xining.

Wen Nansen lowered his eyelashes, hiding his gaze, and quickly followed.

He couldn’t help but worry. He just needed to take a look… to ensure her safety.

“Time 18:00, Execution Department’s First Squad S-Class Execution Team Leader Zhan Xingye and seven members are staking out an unidentified creature at Bailu Bridge Cave.”

During the evening rush hour, the bridge was bustling with traffic. The towering bridge towers connected by thick cables supported the slender bridge deck spanning the river.

No one noticed the young man sitting at the edge of the bridge tower hundreds of meters high, with a long knife beside him, looking precarious in the high-altitude wind.

In front of him, the river was vast, the sunset nearly below the horizon, and the sky was filled with rose, warm orange, and light purple hues like a field of flowers. On the other side, stars were beginning to appear like scattered diamonds.

But the young man didn’t look up.

He wore a black hoodie, head bowed, the brim of his hat pulled low, long legs dangling over the edge, repeatedly watching a video on his phone.

In the video, a blonde girl happily said to the camera: “Xingye, Xingye, Xingye! Look, the Good Man loves the bone you bought!”

Next, a fair hand held a bone, with the girl’s cheerful “squeak, squeak” sound off-screen. The bone was thrown, and the fox reluctantly but dutifully fetched it back.

The screen then flipped, showing the girl’s face up close: “Isn’t it cute?”

The video ended there.

Then it repeated.

Then repeated again.

Zhan Xingye’s slender hand covered half the screen, skillfully moving to block the fox, leaving only the girl’s voice, her arm, and her face close to the camera.

Even her eyelashes seemed visible.

Then repeated.

His earpiece flashed, and a subordinate’s voice came through: “Boss, are you in position?”

Zhan Xingye turned off his phone, put it in his pocket, and responded with a faint “Hmm,” his gaze sweeping the bridge and the distant road, suddenly pausing.

Two streets away, the blonde girl with a backpack crossed the crosswalk, heading towards Bailu Bridge Cave.

…Why was she here?

Zhan Xingye stood up, standing on the towering bridge tower, holding the long knife, his dark eyes growing colder in the night wind, colder than the blade’s edge.

He pressed two fingers to his earpiece and said: “Move in early.”

At the intersection, the red light countdown was almost over. The traffic waited quietly, with a sleek black Rolls-Royce standing out, its smooth body reflecting the sky, drawing envious glances from other drivers.

In the back seat of the Rolls-Royce, a handsome, pale man glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of golden hair at the end of the crosswalk, bouncing in the wind.

It was as if a girl’s silhouette was always jumping around, her loose golden hair rising and falling, making it hard to catch and forget.

The light turned green, and the car started moving forward.

“Turn left,” Huo Ting suddenly said coldly.

The driver hesitated. This lane was for straight traffic only, and the road conditions were complex, making him hesitant to turn: “Mr. Huo? Turning left will take us to Bailu Bridge. This is the correct lane.”

Huo Ting’s pupils seemed to fill with a hint of uncontrollable blood.

He seemed to hear the girl’s voice again, laughing and calling him, like a clear wind chime.

“Huo Ting, Huo Ting,” her delicate fingers always liked to scratch his chin, teasing him, “Do you want some candy?”

She should be dead!

That wasn’t her; it couldn’t be her!

But, but.

“Turn left! Don’t you understand?” Huo Ting said coldly.

The entire car seemed to tremble, an inexplicable fear climbing up the driver’s spine, as if… he was prey being watched by a predator.

The driver suddenly turned the wheel frantically, almost driving against traffic to force his way in.

The car door screeched, and amidst the curses of other drivers, the Rolls-Royce headed towards Bailu Bridge.

Xu Xining sneezed several times in a row, rubbing her nose, looking around suspiciously.

Was it just her imagination?

Why did it feel like so many people were thinking about her?