Chapter 70: Qin Shiguang

"This is Ms. Lu's shop... Why can't I come here?" Qin Shiguang slid her hands into her pockets and, with little effort, leapt onto the bar counter, which reached to her chest.

She was now a sophomore at the police academy, where military-style management meant every leave from campus required formal approval. And once she was out, apart from seeking better food, truth be told, there really was nowhere she cared to go. Over time, even on weekends or holidays, she found herself more content to stay at school, reluctant to move around.

If it weren't for the two little darlings she kept here, who'd be pitiful without her visits, she wouldn't bother coming at all.

Of course, that was just her way of covering up—an excuse she clung to out of stubborn pride. After all, she was in her twenties; to admit she still missed her brother would be laughable, and how could she continue to play the "cool and dashing Shiguang" among her peers then!

Qin Shishen paid no heed to his sister's retort. He simply turned to step behind the bar and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"Anything with alcohol?" Qin Shiguang leaned back, her air far more mischievous than the discipline she showed at school; her eyes sparkled with a hint of cunning.

She looked exactly like a child plotting some prank.

"Forgot the school rules?" Qin Shishen rinsed glasses as he glanced up at her.

"We're off campus, aren't we? Besides, it's just you and me who know," Qin Shiguang replied nonchalantly, then reached habitually behind the bar to fish out an unopened tin of sweets.

But as soon as she lifted it, she realized something was off—the tin was much lighter than she remembered.

"When did you start eating sweets?" she asked.

"Not me. They're for the customers," Qin Shishen replied. Seeing his sister hesitate to "order," he casually poured her a glass of pear juice with a touch of honey.

"Seriously? That's all I get?" Qin Shiguang eyed the simple drink before her and began to protest. "Come on, I came all this way just to see you!"

You didn't have to come.

Qin Shishen longed to assert his authority as an elder brother, but in the end, it was his pampered sister who always managed to wheedle out of him.

He planted his hands on the bar, a hint of resignation in his voice. "So, what do you want, then?"

"Omelet rice!" Qin Shiguang blurted out. "Bro, listen, I've discovered another amazing sauce! I'm telling you, these few mixed together are out of this world!"

Trailing behind her brother into the kitchen, she chattered on relentlessly: "I'm serious, this sauce is even better than the one I told you about before!"

"Alright, I've got it. The kitchen's full of smoke—out you go," Qin Shishen nodded, gently shooing his sister away. Yet in his heart, he couldn't help but muse: When he saw her acceptance letter, he knew she was studying criminal investigation, but anyone who didn't know better might think she was training to be a chef.

Still, the sauces she’d recommended in the past were genuinely delicious. Otherwise, why would so many regulars come in asking for the secret menu items?

When Qin Shishen finally brought out the omelet rice, Qin Shiguang didn't care that it was piping hot. She dived in, wolfing it down.

"Slow down... Why are you eating so late?" he asked.

"Don't get me started!" Qin Shiguang grumbled between mouthfuls. "I don't know what luck I’ve got. On my way here, I actually caught a guy harassing someone on the bus!"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She thumped the table as she spoke, but fortunately the café was already closed, leaving only the siblings inside, so she could vent as she pleased.

"You think I could just stand by and do nothing? I sent that guy straight to the station. Who knows how long he'll get, but at least he’ll cool off in there for a few days."

"And if I hadn't insisted I'd made plans with my brother, that young lady would have dragged me off for a meal to thank me... Your sister is in high demand!"

With her raised brows, she seemed to declare: I'm just as good in the kitchen as in the drawing room, can handle investigations and nab petty thieves!

"Yes, yes, you are," Qin Shishen replied, quietly watching from across the table.

Only at that moment did a faint smile finally appear on his lips.