Could you please provide the text you would like me to translate?

If she wasn’t mistaken, wasn’t this the same girl who had been searching for the cat with Bai Qing that day? Now, she was dressed in a snow-white winter short coat ensemble, her delicate, fair thighs exposed in the alluring space between skirt and boots, with fluffy earmuffs accentuating her lotus-petal-like face and sparkling eyes.

“All right, everyone, quiet down and come over here,” Uncle Ou clapped his hands. The music stopped, and people quickly gathered around him and the sweetly smiling girl.

“Let me introduce someone. This is your senior. Her surname is Crane. You can call her Aunt Crane.”

At those words, everyone burst into laughter.

“Uncle Ou, are you kidding? You want us to call such a cute girl ‘Auntie’?”

“Then should we start calling you Grandpa? Hahaha.”

“You brats.” Uncle Ou was laughing too, but his gaze was grave and serious. “The year she advanced to become a tenth-level superhuman, most of you hadn’t even been born yet.”

Silence fell over "Spring Snow" so deep you could hear a pin drop.

Ye Yin’s pupils contracted: Tenth-level superhuman?! That year?! How old was she now…

Zhiqiu bowed respectfully. “It's been a long time, Supervisor Crane.”

“It has, Qiu. I missed you.” Supervisor Crane’s voice was sweet as a girl in her late teens. “Whenever I see young people as energetic as you, I can’t help but reminisce about my own youth… Ah, time truly flies.”

While the others were still bewildered, Ye Yin’s palms were sweating with anxiety.

The position of Supervisor was highly special—reserved for only the most powerful in the Superhuman Association, who answered solely to the president in times of crisis. Normally, they kept their own counsel, rarely interfering with the other upper echelons.

Why would someone so formidable and sensitive be connected to Bai Qing?

“So, is today a special occasion? Even stingy little Ou is willing to bring out the Pink Tower—it’s a rare sight!” Supervisor Crane tilted her head slightly as she spoke. If not for the fearful speculations about her age, her adorable manner would have captivated many men.

Before Ye Yin could react, Uncle Ou pushed her forward. “We’re celebrating for this girl. Don’t be fooled by her youth or her late awakening—she’s already a fifth-level fire superhuman, showing a hint of your talent from the old days.”

“Oh, really?” Supervisor Crane smiled, extending her hand toward Ye Yin. “Come, let me take a look at you.”

Ye Yin wanted to act shy, lower her gaze, but for some reason, her eyes were fixed, and her body moved involuntarily toward the supervisor…

“Excuse me.” Just as Ye Yin was about to fall into Supervisor Crane’s embrace, Zhiqiu stepped between them. “She’s had too much to drink tonight and might offend you.”

Supervisor Crane glanced at the two of them knowingly. “It’s fine. I just came by out of boredom. Carry on with your fun. Having an old lady among a bunch of youngsters is hardly enjoyable.”

Uncle Ou chuckled. “Don’t say that. Since you’re here, why not have a drink with us?”

“Better not. I have a child at home waiting for dinner, you see? I’ve already bought groceries.”

Only then did Ye Yin notice the large bags at the entrance.

“Shall I walk you back?” Uncle Ou offered.

“No need! You’re too sly—I’m not ready to let you find your way to my door just yet.” Supervisor Crane stuck out her tongue playfully, then left with a laugh.

It wasn’t until her petite figure had vanished that the room realized what had just happened, and everyone erupted.

“What, that young girl is actually a tenth-level superhuman?!”

“Uncle Ou, are you saying she’s older than you? Is she some kind of rejuvenation superhuman?!”

Uncle Ou scratched his ear. “We can talk about it later. I’m a bit tired—going to take a nap.” With that, he slipped away like a fish.

“Hey, that’s not fair!”

“Don’t leave, Uncle Ou!”

The celebration fell apart as everyone broke into excited groups, animatedly discussing what had just happened; even the Pink Tower cake was forgotten. Zhiqiu turned to the dazed Ye Yin. “Come with me.”

“Huh? Where to?”

“Somewhere quiet. There’s something I need to tell you.”

The two of them made their way to the “Green Plum” tea room, Zhiqiu’s personal retreat, simply and elegantly furnished: woven grass mats, a low black wooden table, a full tea set, incense burning in a small censer, and a painting of plum blossoms in snow on the wall.

“What did you want to tell me?” Ye Yin asked.

“Supervisor Crane is a very dangerous person. You’d best keep your distance.” Zhiqiu’s expression was grave, making Ye Yin instinctively sit up straight.

“I’ll be careful.” A tenth-level superhuman—how could she not be dangerous? Ye Yin knew all too well the power of such individuals; they were just a step away from being legends.

“It’s a bit disrespectful to a senior, but I must tell you—just now, she used her power on you. That worries me.”

“What?”

“Supervisor Crane’s private life… is rather complicated.”

Ye Yin’s first thought went to some scandalous harem, and she shrugged it off. “With looks that cute and a youthful appearance, why wouldn’t she have fun? It’s not my concern.” She’d already survived Qiao Xinran—whose private life could possibly be messier than the protagonist’s?

“No…” Zhiqiu hesitated a long moment before finally speaking. “The reason I want you to keep your distance isn’t just because she’s a tenth-level superhuman, but also because… she likes women. She’s had affairs with several female superhumans in the association, leaving quite a few emotional entanglements.”

At last, Ye Yin understood why Zhiqiu hadn’t made tea for her—otherwise she might have spat it all over him.

“So, she… wouldn’t be interested in me, right?”

“She won’t. It was probably just teasing.” Zhiqiu reassured her. “Just avoid her when you can. There shouldn’t be any big problems—she’ll still give Uncle Ou some face.”

“Supervisor Crane is a woman, right?” Ye Yin swore she had nothing against same-sex love, but she wasn’t quite ready for that herself and had to confirm.

“Yes, of course.”

Ye Yin had been through too many shocks that day; her brain was barely functioning. Shivering, she stood and paced the room, then tried to sit down again. Suddenly, her knee buckled against the table, and she toppled forward, almost landing face-first on the glowing brazier.

In a flash, Zhiqiu pushed the brazier aside with one hand and caught Ye Yin with the other, trying to pull her up. But both lost their balance and ended up sprawled on the mat.

Thus, when Zhuo Chenglan entered with Feng Ying, they were greeted by a chaotic scene: the tea set and brazier scattered, as though something intense had just happened. Ye Yin was pinned beneath Zhiqiu, staring in panic at the two who had just come in; Zhiqiu, on the other hand, looked perfectly calm and innocent, though one hand was still at her waist and the other pinning her wrist.

There was a deathly silence.

After five seconds, Zhuo Chenglan quietly closed the door.

“Sorry to disturb you,” came the steady voice from outside, as calm as ever, though their footsteps as they left were perfectly normal—except…

“Minister, you’re going the wrong way—the exit’s over there!”

Ye Yin: “…”

It took some effort to catch up with Zhuo Chenglan and Feng Ying. At the entrance to “Spring Snow,” she explained the situation as simply as she could; only then did their expressions soften.

She focused on explaining to Feng Ying, since she was a notorious gossip—if not stopped, the story would be all over town by tomorrow. It was no joke; Ye Yin didn’t even have a boyfriend, and Zhiqiu was a fine, single young man. If rumors started, neither of them would ever find a partner.

“So, you came to see me about the department assignments?”

“Yes. The minister heard you’ve completed your training and wanted to know if you have a preference—he can help pull some strings.”

“That’s wonderful! I really want to join the First Department,” Ye Yin exclaimed.

At this, Zhuo Chenglan’s expression remained unchanged, but Feng Ying’s face darkened. “The First Department, huh…”

Ye Yin was puzzled. Wasn’t this their idea? Why act unwilling now—was it really that hard to get in?

Oh, right. She was being foolish. The First Department was Mu Yu’s team! He and Zhuo Chenglan were rivals; asking him to help was putting him in a tough spot.

“Sorry, just forget I said that. I’ll find another way.” She glanced at the gloomy sky outside, which threatened snow or rain, and handed her large black umbrella to them. “This umbrella is big enough for both of you to share.”

“What about you?” asked Feng Ying.

“It’s fine. I don’t live far from here, and I can always borrow one if I need to.”

“I’ll see what I can do for the First Department,” Zhuo Chenglan said, taking the umbrella. “Congratulations on completing your training.”

“Thank you.” Ye Yin responded sincerely. “I’m really glad to have met you. Having connections makes life so much easier.”

Zhuo Chenglan said nothing more and turned to leave.

For a moment, Ye Yin thought she saw a faint, fleeting smile at the corner of his mouth, vanishing into the cold wind before she could be sure.

“The Zhuo brothers aren’t much alike,” Zhiqiu remarked, suddenly at her side.

“You’ve met Zhuo Zhelian too?”

“A few times. They may look identical, but their personalities are very different.”

“Yeah, the younger one is much more lively and cheerful.” Ye Yin mused. “I wonder if the First Base is anything like this place…”

Zhiqiu only smiled, offering no answer.

There is no hell so unique in all the world; wherever you go, forward or back, the struggle remains the same.