Chapter 20: Am I Qualified?

When she received the call from the Police Station, Luo Yao considered all kinds of possibilities. After all, the Luo Family was powerful and had many enemies—every now and then, someone would try something underhanded. Dealing with the relevant authorities had long since become routine.

But she never expected to hear Lu Yunze’s name from the other end of the line. It seemed something serious had happened.

Luo Yao immediately lost her composure and ended the banquet, which was already drawing to a close, ahead of schedule.

“You’re leaving already? Not staying a bit longer?”

“It’s still so early, you know.”

“Miss Luo, you’re really not giving us any face tonight.”

Faced with their teasing, Luo Yao simply replied coldly, “See the guests out,” then had someone bring her coat. After putting it on, she hurried out.

When she arrived at the Police Station, everything looked normal from the outside. The street was peaceful; pedestrians were still shopping, as if nothing had happened.

But Luo Yao instantly recognized the two officers standing at the station’s entrance—they were Secret Arts Practitioners. The calm outside was just a façade. Only when she stepped into the station’s lobby did she witness the devastation inside.

The entire lobby looked as if it had just gone through a fierce battle between police and criminals. Metal shelves were overturned, and the glass was covered in spiderweb-like fractures.

If a gust of wind blew through, it would send the scattered documents fluttering, slapping against the bullet-riddled walls.

Luo Yao immediately found Police Chief Wang Xu, who had contacted her.

“So, what on earth happened here?”

This was Wang Xu’s first time meeting Luo Yao in person. Though she was only nineteen, the stern look on her face was a far cry from a relaxed university student. Even before taking over family affairs, The Eldest Daughter already exuded a queenly aura.

Affected by her presence, Wang Xu was extra careful as he explained, afraid that any vague wording might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Lu Yunze reported the incident, the Police Station was attacked, and then Lu Yunze dealt with the perpetrator.

Luo Yao didn’t say a word the whole time. Only after Wang Xu finished did she finally ask:

“Brother Lu… Where is Lu Yunze?”

“He’s in the Reception Room inside.”

Luo Yao immediately hurried deeper into the station. The crunch of her high heels crushing shards of glass couldn’t mask the pounding of her anxious heart.

Only when she pushed open the door to the Reception Room and saw Lu Yunze sitting inside did her expression finally relax, even showing a slight smile.

“Brother Lu, are you alright?”

Hearing Luo Yao’s voice, Lu Yunze—dirty all over, shoulders slumped—slowly raised his head.

Just a brief exchange of glances shocked Luo Yao. She had never seen Lu Yunze wear such an expression. There wasn’t a trace of victory’s joy on his pale face—he looked as if his soul had been drained, left a hollow shell.

“Brother Lu, are you hurt somewhere? I can contact my father and have someone…”

Luo Yao sat down beside him, her voice a little hoarse.

“No, I’m not hurt. Just a bit tired.”

“I see, I was just overthinking.” Luo Yao was relieved. “Well, it’s only natural to be caught off guard by something like this. Even I would be. But you were amazing, Brother Lu. I heard you dealt with that enemy and helped everyone in the station. Is that true?”

Lu Yunze didn’t answer, just laced his fingers and pressed them to his forehead.

“Brother Lu?” Luo Yao sensed something was wrong.

Lu Yunze’s reaction was off. Very off. He didn’t seem like a winner at all. If she didn’t know the truth, Luo Yao would have thought he was the one who lost the fight.

“Are you… feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Ah, I’m fine. Really.”

Lu Yunze straightened up, seeming to regain a bit of energy.

“I just feel guilty.”

“Why?”

“I’m still too weak. If I could’ve ended the fight sooner, things wouldn’t have gotten so bad.”

“I see, so that’s it.” Luo Yao sighed in relief, her gentle smile returning.

So he was worried about the wounded officers. She’d thought he’d lost something important.

“It’s alright. Brother Lu, you’ve already done really well.”

Luo Yao placed her hand over his dusty one.

“There are always casualties on the battlefield. No matter how great the hero, they can’t save everyone, right? You’ve done more than enough.”

“Really?”

Lu Yunze still looked dazed, waving a hand at her.

“You should go. I want to be alone for a bit.”

“Brother Lu, you really don’t need to blame yourself.”

“Luo Yao, please go.”

Hearing the finality in his voice, Luo Yao had no choice but to get up and leave the Reception Room, glancing back every few steps.

The last time she looked back, her eyes were filled with deep confusion.

With that, the incident finally came to a close. Thanks to Lu Yunze’s efforts, the situation was contained within the Police Station.

The government had a department specifically for Secret Arts cases—the Execution Department of Arcane Arts.

But the Black Mist not only disoriented people, it also cut off all outside contact. Several times, the people inside tried to contact the local Execution Department of Arcane Arts, but couldn’t get through. Only after the Black Mist dissipated did the signal return.

As a result, the Execution Department arrived just after Luo Yao did. All they could do was clean up the aftermath.

The biggest hero of this incident was undoubtedly Lu Yunze. Wang Xu brought many officers to thank him. If he hadn’t defeated the invading enemy, no one knew how things might have turned out.

Lu Yunze’s performance tonight opened many eyes—especially those who had heard of his “good-for-nothing” reputation. Faced with the trashed lobby, they couldn’t help but wonder if their information was wrong.

No one blamed him; everyone was grateful.

But Lu Yunze still couldn’t smile.

Even when surrounded by people, he kept thinking about one thing: Did I really do my best?

The image of that girl’s wilted, flower-like expression flashed through his mind, making his heart clench. The pain from that far outweighed the physical pain of overusing Secret Arts.

When Luo Yao learned that the enemy who attacked the Police Station was actually one of their own, her expression cracked for a moment.

That old Butler had been transferred from the Main House. In his youth, he had served Luo Yao’s father—the current Master of the Luo Family.

He should have been someone they could trust, yet he’d secretly colluded with outside forces and meddled where he shouldn’t have.

For a while, rumors swirled among the servants in the manor:

“Did you hear? The Butler teamed up with outsiders, trying to harm the Young Master.”

“I know, but I heard the old man was killed by the Young Master instead? He brought a bunch of thugs, but still lost.”

“Unbelievable—the Young Master was hiding his strength all along.”

But these rumors didn’t last long before Luo Yao ordered them silenced.

The Execution Department of Arcane Arts had come up empty, failing to get any first-hand information. When they questioned Luo Yao and the others, they just went through the motions and left.

But as soon as the Execution Department was gone, Luo Yao began investigating her own servants.

With the Butler’s betrayal and Lu Yunze’s brush with death, Luo Yao’s pent-up anger finally erupted.

She contacted the Main House directly to report the incident, and personally took charge of investigating the servants. Anyone with the slightest hint of suspicion was politely dismissed and told to find work elsewhere.

The usually gentle and reserved Miss Luo had become so decisive and forceful that everyone in the manor was on edge. People kept their mouths shut and focused on their work.

During this time, Luo Yao didn’t bother Lu Yunze, letting him rest and recover in peace.

But what Luo Yao didn’t know was that, while she was busy investigating the servants, Lu Yunze wasn’t idle either—he spent all day running to the same room.

Today was no exception.

He sat at the bedside, gazing deeply at the girl sleeping there.

“You know, when you’re asleep, you’re completely different from when you’re awake.”

Normally, Jiang Sui was full of energy—mischievous and lively, like a clingy little sprite.

But now, after being rescued in the hospital and out of danger, she still slept soundly on the hospital bed. The corners of her lips, usually curved in a bright smile, were now pressed into a straight line. Those lively, shining eyes were nowhere to be seen.

“Right now, you really do look like a quiet doll.”

She sometimes did things that made his blood pressure soar, but now that she was lying here unconscious, Lu Yunze actually felt out of sorts.

“I used to think you were a bit annoying. But now that I think about it, you’re pretty amazing.” Lu Yunze chuckled self-mockingly. “How did you manage to smile so brightly while carrying so much on your shoulders?”

Lu Yunze had thought he was under a lot of pressure in life, but compared to Jiang Sui, did his problems even count?

He had no debts, didn’t have to face the cruelty of society alone, and even in danger, he had the power to protect himself.

“Everyone says I did great. But honestly, I think I screwed up completely.”

He’d failed to keep the most important promise, and even had to be saved by her in turn.

“I’m such a damn failure!”

Lu Yunze clenched his fist, wishing he could punch himself right then and there.

He raised his fist, aiming it at his own face, gritting his teeth.

“I’d take as many punches as it takes, as long as you can be safe.”

“Is that so? If that’s the case, I’d be sad, Young Master.”

Lu Yunze’s eyes snapped open wide.

At some point, those tightly closed eyes had opened, and those pale violet pupils were gazing at him.

“If the Young Master got hurt because of me, wouldn’t that make me an unqualified maid?”

Jiang Sui smiled gently, without a trace of mischief—just pure warmth.