Pristine Darkness

Chapter 69

What's that? Not enough Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan, you say? Well, this chapter delivers on that front. We take a little break from the Butterfly Killer to observe Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan being reacquainted. Neither of them really says much about what they feel, but it's right there . . .

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Translator: shl

Editor/ Proofreader: Anks

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In the morning, by the time the sky was just beginning to brighten, Jian Yao was already awake. She could not sleep; whether she had been in a daze or in a state of acutely remembering and feeling everything, all of it had been a torment.

She walked out of the police dormitory and realised that Fang Qing, next door, must still be fast asleep, for all was quiet. The world was vast and shrouded in darkness, and she had nowhere to go. Thus, she once again walked towards the building nearby which housed the office of the criminal investigation team.

The criminal investigator on duty was highly surprised when she walked in. "So early, Teacher Jian? Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet." She smiled and said, "It's too early, so I don't feel like eating." At the same time, she glanced at the office that Shao Yong had arranged for them. The lights were on.

"Someone's there?" she asked.

"Yeah. Professor Bo and An Yan came over after 3 this morning . . . perhaps something's up."

Jian Yao stood just outside the door, unmoving. After a while, she pushed the door open lightly. One person was sitting at the table, another was lying down on the sofa, sleeping, just like a big bear. Naturally, this was the constantly sleep-addicted An Yan.

The person at the table was dressed neatly even in the middle of the night. A black suit, and a light-coloured shirt. Jian Yao noticed that he had even changed his shirt from what he had been wearing earlier. Under the soft light, his pale face exuded an indescribable sense of peace.

He still wore sunglasses even though it was dark out and there was no one around. Before she arrived.

He raised his head upon hearing movement.

He probably sensed who it was, just like him, who would run to this place to wait whenever sleep was elusive.

"You're here?" he asked softly.

"Uhm". She thought to herself, he must have identified her footsteps by sound. Previously, before he was blind, he was already able to distinguish her footsteps from those of others.

He smiled faintly, fleetingly. So, Jian Yao knew that he was happy at that moment.

Jian Yao was unable to smile.

She sat opposite him and took out her laptop and some information. It seemed he was also aware of her desire not to talk, for he lowered his head slightly, and his fingers twitched, before he asked, "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

Jian Yao replied, "Yes, I have. What about you?"

He answered, "Yeah. I've also eaten."

She had clearly seen, the previous day, that he was his old arrogant and forthright self when confronting other people. However, when faced with her, he was uncommunicative and silent, like a different man. A man she did not recognise.

Jian Yao flipped open the file and stared at the text on the page, but her mind was a confused jumble of thoughts.

There was a stack of files in front of him. He was not flipping the pages of the file currently in front of him; instead, his fingers were resting on the paper. Jian Yao noticed that he was wearing something on his finger and consequently asked, "On your hand . . . what's that?"