Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Woman's Intuition

When Chen Tianyu returned, Liu Zichen was still sitting on the sofa watching TV, not having gone to sleep at all. Chen Tianyu gave a wry smile—despite her usual air of poise, intelligence, and thoughtfulness, she could be as childish as anyone, especially when she was with him.

Facing Zichen’s intense gaze, he had no choice but to truthfully "report" his results from the evening: he had tangled with Yunji, thoroughly unveiled He Jiping’s true identity, and returned victorious.

Contrary to his expectations, Liu Zichen showed not the slightest trace of happiness.

Chen Tianyu chuckled helplessly. “You’re staying up this late just to wait for me? I’ve never seen you worry so needlessly before.”

She only replied with a soft “Mm,” her voice barely audible. “The past is the past.”

Chen Tianyu didn’t catch what she said. Suddenly, Liu Zichen murmured with a sigh, “Tianyu, I can’t shake the feeling that something is off.”

“Huh? Are you feeling unwell?” Chen Tianyu was startled, misinterpreting her concern.

“Oh, come on. Seriously.” Liu Zichen finally broke into a smile. “I’m perfectly fine. You’re the one fussing for nothing. I meant that this whole affair we’ve gotten involved in doesn’t seem quite logical.”

“Really?” Chen Tianyu’s interest was piqued. He poured two glasses of water, handing one to Liu Zichen. “I’m a bit thirsty… and since you can’t sleep either, why don’t we discuss it?”

“There’s not much to discuss.” Liu Zichen shook her head. “I’m still lost in a fog; I can’t make sense of it either.”

Chen Tianyu drank in silence, deep in thought—a state he rather enjoyed.

Liu Zichen sighed. “I tried to stop you from meddling in these things, but it seems we’ve been swept up, whether we like it or not. Our trip is definitely over.”

“That’s not necessarily true…” Chen Tianyu muttered, sounding unsure.

Liu Zichen sighed again. “How can you say that? With a pair of wolfish eyes watching your every move, who could possibly relax and enjoy themselves? It’s impossible to feel at ease.”

“Actually, we could just pick another place to visit—it doesn’t have to be Lugu Lake…” Chen Tianyu began.

Liu Zichen burst out laughing. “Do you even believe yourself? You just promised to protect someone, and now you’re thinking of slipping away? Do you really think you’re the type?”

Who knew Chen Tianyu better than she did? “Come on, don’t agonize over it. You’ll never shake your habit of meddling. Instead of tiptoeing around to please me, why not throw yourself into it? Maybe the whole thing will be wrapped up soon, and there’ll still be time to set off again.”

“We’re not exactly pushovers. Are we really going to be intimidated by some showy detective?” Liu Zichen added with a note of defiance.

“Not necessarily…” Chen Tianyu mused. “The whole thing seems ordinary enough, but when you think about it, there are holes everywhere. Everyone is acting strangely…”

Liu Zichen agreed. “Honestly, that detective looks odd on the surface, but on closer thought, he might be the most genuine one here. As for He Jiping, I doubt she’s as simple as she appears.”

“Oh? What makes you say that?” Chen Tianyu’s eyes lit up.

Liu Zichen bit her lip. “Nothing solid. Just a feeling.”

“Your sixth sense?”

“Exactly.” She nodded. “Think about it—if He Jiping really is Chika Ryoko, we should feel some familiarity, but I don’t sense it at all.” She shot Chen Tianyu a sidelong glance. “Don’t give me that look. I’m a woman, and sometimes women’s intuition is more reliable.”

Chen Tianyu nodded. He couldn’t deny that, especially since he didn’t understand women.

“I recall you’ve only met Chika Ryoko twice, and it’s been years. Are you sure you’re not imagining things?” he ventured.

Liu Zichen turned to him, amused. “You misunderstand me. I’m saying there’s nothing familiar about her, not that she isn’t Chika Ryoko.”

“Oh!” Chen Tianyu caught on immediately. “You mean, she’s changed fundamentally—it’s not just her appearance. I agree. Otherwise, why would we need to confirm it over and over?”

“But wait, how did she see through me? She even called me the ‘ancestor of detectives’…” Chen Tianyu muttered to himself. “By rights, our secrecy has been airtight. If she didn’t know me, she couldn’t have said such a thing.”

Liu Zichen scoffed. “Ordinary people wouldn’t see through you, not when you dress like a total country bumpkin.”

She continued lazily, “But what about Beiting? Is there any detective agency more influential than Beiting these days? As the founder, are you sure you’ve never given yourself away?” She paused. “Don’t forget, He Jiping is a practitioner of ninjutsu. Do you know anything about that? And don’t get cocky—my reputation as a millennium-old mermaid precedes me! You think you can hide?”

Her rapid-fire logic left Chen Tianyu reeling.

He could only smile wryly. “This is the first time I’ve heard you analyze things so thoroughly. Honestly, now you’ve confused me too.”

“Hmph!” Liu Zichen shot him a resentful look, wanting to say more but holding back.

Chen Tianyu frowned. “If He Jiping isn’t really Chika Ryoko, she could be misleading us while secretly carrying out her own mission. So, what could her mission be?”

“All right, enough wild guesses. I’m just reminding you—don’t let a pretty face cloud your judgment.” Liu Zichen’s expression finally relaxed into a smile. “As long as you keep that possibility in mind, who could really do anything to us?”

Chen Tianyu didn’t smile. He, too, sensed the gravity of the situation. There was no escaping it now—two experts had already appeared at Lugu Lake: He Jiping and the eagle-like Yunji. If one of them grew suspicious, they’d soon uncover his identity.

For professionals, such investigations were child’s play.

“We might have drawn too much attention on our journey,” Chen Tianyu sighed. “Now we’re inevitably restrained. The two of us alone may not be enough—who knows how many eyes are hidden in the dark, how many more eagle-eyed adversaries like Yunji?”

Liu Zichen, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned. “So, what exactly do you plan to do? Don’t tell me you’re going to summon Beiting here?”

Chen Tianyu quickly waved his hands. “Not yet. We haven’t grasped the situation, and there’s no sign of real danger. The more people involved at this stage, the more likely things will go awry…” He fell into contemplation.

After a moment, his eyes suddenly shone—a bold idea had struck him out of the blue!

Liu Zichen watched the sudden spark of vitality in him and laughed. “Well? Have you thought of something?”

Chen Tianyu smiled mysteriously and whispered, “A performance, of course—if we’re going to act, we might as well put on the whole show. Make it convincing.”

Liu Zichen blinked, then understood at once. “You! I could just punch the daylights out of you!”