She's a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist's Halo-Chapter 118

Still, He Xing felt a pang of regret—for the audience and the other performers.

Last night’s premiere had been brilliant, but today’s matinee was a disaster.

The collapse of this performance’s reputation didn’t just affect Fu Yao; it impacted everyone who had poured their effort into the production.

"Officer Zheng, what did you think of The Goddess of the Luo River?" He Xing suddenly asked.

Zheng Yi ran a hand through her hair. "To be honest, Miss He, if you hadn’t explained it to me last night, I might not have understood it. But purely in terms of beauty, technique, and overall execution, last night’s performance was leagues ahead of today’s."

"The lead performer too—night and day difference."

"I won’t be attending the evening show, Officer Zheng. You don’t need to follow me anymore," He Xing declared.

Zheng Yi gave her a surprised glance, her fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. "Then are you heading back to the hotel? I can drop you off."

Just as she started the engine, He Xing’s voice cut through the silence.

"To the police station."

Zheng Yi’s right hand jerked slightly, and she turned to stare at her.

He Xing met her gaze. "Since I’ve filed a report, you don’t need to keep tailing me, right?"

With that, she turned to look out the window, pressing her lips together.

Zheng Yi shifted the car into gear. He Xing heard her speak slowly, "By saying that, you’ve just officially filed the report."

"With those words, everything becomes much easier."

Zheng Yi’s tone lightened noticeably as she glanced at the sudden progress bar on the cold case revival interface, her confidence steady.

For her, the hardest part of this case had never been gathering evidence or making an arrest.

It was He Xing’s unwillingness to cooperate.

If the victim refused to seek justice through official channels, what was the point? Even if she could solve the case, what did it mean if the victim, after exacting revenge, ended up trapped in the same cycle?

"Those dance drama tickets weren’t cheap, but at least it wasn’t a total waste—we managed to catch a scalper," Zheng Yi remarked casually.

He Xing slowly turned to her. "You bought tickets from scalpers for a sting operation?"

Hearing her incredulous tone, Zheng Yi didn’t even blink. "You had front-row seats. By the time we tried to book, they were sold out. We had to find adjacent seats from resellers."

He Xing felt a simmering frustration. She understood that following her was part of Zheng Yi’s job, but whether it was last night, this morning, or now, she couldn’t shake the irritation and resentment.

This is my business. Why must you interfere?

From shadowing her to staying at the same hotel after claiming to leave, then appearing at the restaurant this morning—and now, sitting right beside her at the matinee—He Xing had nearly laughed in exasperation.

How little do you trust me?

Suppressing her displeasure, she replied calmly, "Thank you."

"Don’t mention it. Just doing my job."

When Zheng Yi received Yan’s message, He Xing was calmly giving her statement to the cold case team, handing over multiple backup recordings.

Sometimes, it takes years for a person to come to terms with something.

Other times, it happens in an instant—as if everything suddenly becomes clear.

After watching the matinee of The Goddess of the Luo River, Fu Yao’s performance left He Xing feeling nothing but absurdity and mockery.

She had prepared so much, spending countless nights across different worlds fueled by hatred, etching those two names into her mind over and over.

She had imagined her enemies as terrifying figures.

But the reality was—they were nothing special.

He Xing wondered: Did Fu Yao see me sitting in the front row?

Was she really so afraid of me watching from the audience?

In the pitch-black theater, with only the stage illuminated, did she see me as some vengeful ghost?

Watching Fu Yao stumble repeatedly, He Xing felt no satisfaction.

She didn’t know which of them was the bigger fool—only that she had overestimated Fu Yao and underestimated herself.

Suddenly, it all felt pointless. Dealing with Fu Yao might not even require meticulous planning.

Though the cold case team had only been investigating He Xing’s case for a few days, their thorough efforts had already gathered substantial evidence.

As He Xing stepped out of the interrogation room, the two officers handling her statement shook her hand.

"Miss He, we’ll keep you updated on the case’s progress and contact you if needed."

"Thank you, officers," she replied politely.

At the entrance, Zheng Yi stood waiting, one hand in her pocket, the other holding out He Xing’s bag.

"Hungry?" Zheng Yi asked.

He Xing slung her bag over her shoulder. "No."

"My eating habits don’t align with yours."

Zheng Yi’s brow twitched. "Not with me. Your junior, Yan, messaged. They’re at her roommate’s family restaurant tonight, testing new dishes. She didn’t get a reply from you, so she texted me instead."

"Chu’s Family Eatery—a famous private kitchen in Bin City. Word is, they only open once a week. Local colleagues say they get monthly reports suspecting they lace their food with drugs, so health inspectors drop by regularly for testing."

He Xing pulled out her phone and, sure enough, saw Yan’s unread message.

She was a little hungry. And the idea of food so good it sparked drug rumors—was it really that delicious?

"Got it. I’ll head over then," He Xing said, stepping forward.

Zheng Yi walked her downstairs, hands still in her pockets. "I won’t drive you this time."

"Starting now, I won’t be following you anymore. Things are about to get busy." She smiled.

He Xing paused. "Thank you, Officer Zheng."

Zheng ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Yi shook her head. "No need for thanks. It’s my duty."

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"I can’t apologize for what happened back then, but everything we’re doing now is just part of the job."

"I’m a police officer. Solving cases is what I do."

He Xing watched as Zheng Yi raised her right arm, her usual casual demeanor replaced by solemnity, and gave her a crisp salute.

—

He Xing took a taxi and walked the rest of the way, following the map until she spotted Yan waving excitedly.

"Senior! Over here! Hurry!"

Yan kept glancing around as if wary of being spotted, which made He Xing quicken her pace instinctively.

"Senior, don't make a sound, follow me." Yan, the junior, swiftly and deftly led her into a small courtyard, then locked the door with a click, letting out a relieved sigh.

He Xing's lips twitched. "Why does this feel like we're thieves?"

Was sneaking in really necessary for a private kitchen?

"Because of Chu Shen—oh, my boyfriend Zhu Jue's roommate—he changed the business hours this semester from weekends to just Sundays. Some customers have been trying all sorts of ways to get in."

Yan led He Xing inside, stealing glances at her senior's expression along the way. It was perfectly normal—neither sad nor overly cheerful, just as usual.

"That extreme?" He Xing followed her into the restaurant and found the decor utterly unremarkable, which made the rave reviews she'd looked up on the way even more surprising.

It was already 6 p.m., but He Xing didn’t feel too awkward sitting in the restaurant. Still, facing Yan and her boyfriend, she wasn’t sure what to talk about and could only glance around.

"Do you come here often to eat?" she asked.

It occurred to her then that the juniors in the dorm often mentioned fried rice and such.

"Is this... the egg fried rice?"

The sizzling sounds from the kitchen and the rich aroma made anticipation rise involuntarily.

He Xing noticed Yan putting a finger to her lips and sneaking a peek into the kitchen.

"Senior, 'egg fried rice' is the nickname we secretly gave it in the dorm. The actual egg fried rice here is amazing too."

Seeing Yan like this, He Xing began to doubt her suspicions from the night before. Yan seemed every bit the carefree young girl.

"Senior, dinner might be a bit simple tonight. This place doesn’t have many dishes to begin with." Yan preemptively explained, just in case.

Chu Shen came out carrying two plates of Yangzhou fried rice and saw Yan’s new dormmate for the first time. The "big sister" of the dorm had mentioned her before, and Zhu Jue had brought her up again recently.

"Hello, senior," he said, setting the plates down and wondering what rating she’d give.

"Uh, hello, junior." He Xing nodded.

Zhu Jue helped bring out side dishes and a leftover serving of braised pork with potatoes from lunch, while Chu Shen went back to fry two more portions of rice.

"So fragrant." Yan’s nose twitched as she inhaled the aroma of the Yangzhou fried rice. If the others hadn’t been waiting, she would’ve dug in immediately—her stomach was already growling.

Chu Shen’s latest version of Yangzhou fried rice looked even more impressive than the egg fried rice!

"It really is fragrant." He Xing stared at the fried rice and potatoes, her mind fixated on one word: carbs!

"Alright, let’s eat." Chu Shen brought out two more plates, then removed the bandana from his head.

Yan and He Xing sat on one side, facing Zhu Jue and Chu Shen.

"Sorry it’s so simple for your first visit," Chu Shen said sheepishly. Even the drinks here were limited to bottled water.

"It’s always this simple," Yan added.

During the New Year, Chu Shen had made a delicate "Wensi tofu" at home, but the restaurant menu remained unchanged—just three staples: egg fried rice, braised pork with potatoes, and Dongpo pork.

"It’s already great. If not for your invitation, I probably wouldn’t have gotten a spot," He Xing said with a smile.

"Dig in, try my new fried rice and let me know what you think," Chu Shen urged.

"By the way, are you two heading back to campus tonight or tomorrow?" He glanced at the two troublemakers.

Yan, holding a spoonful of egg fried rice, paused. "Haven’t decided yet. Why?"

"The 'big sister' said your dormmates keep pestering for food. If you don’t go back tonight, you can take some back tomorrow in lunchboxes." Chu Shen sighed.

Grandpa, grandma… He’d finally resolved to open just one day a week this semester, but his dormmates—especially "Wild Brother"—kept whining. Yan’s dormmates were too polite to ask directly, so they sent the "big sister" to negotiate.

Well, frying a few extra portions wouldn’t be too much trouble.

Yan immediately nodded. "Then we’ll stay out tonight and book a hotel nearby to enjoy the night view."

"Deal."

He Xing looked down at the fried rice. The ingredients were plentiful—shreds of egg clung to each distinct grain of rice like flecks of gold. The rice itself was firm, making the dish visually stunning.

"You changed the rice?" Yan noticed instantly.

"Yeah, using authentic long-grain rice this time. See how it tastes," Chu Shen replied.

The "Yangzhou fried rice" quest had triggered in Ning City just before the New Year, pushing him to develop his own recipe.

Over the past month, he’d experimented tirelessly in the "Culinary God’s Space," tweaking existing recipes, testing different ingredients. This version was his favorite so far—a balance between official guidelines and his own experience.

The quest deadline was still over a month away, and Chu Shen planned to finalize it at the last minute.

But after endless self-evaluations in the Culinary God’s Space, he was practically sick of tasting his own fried rice. He desperately needed outside opinions.

"Delicious," He Xing said without hesitation.

Though she’d only taken two bites, the fried rice was a burst of flavors—firm yet tender grains melding perfectly with the other ingredients, releasing a harmonious richness.

It was genuinely the best fried rice she’d ever had, regardless of how premium the ingredients were.

"The egg flavor here feels different from the egg fried rice, and the texture’s distinct too—but just as good." Yan raised a thumbs-up with her left hand. "As expected of the Culinary God!"

"The egg fried rice feels more homely. For this one, you might need to double the price," Zhu Jue mused.

With ham, fresh bamboo shoots, chicken, sea cucumber, and scallops, this Yangzhou fried rice was far more luxurious than the simple egg-and-scallion version.

"That’s the issue. Hence the trial run—it might not make the menu," Chu Shen said.

If he sold this daily, the prep work and cooking process would be far more labor-intensive than egg fried rice. Adding broth three times alone would slow service to a crawl. And with these ingredients, he didn’t even dare check the Culinary God System’s suggested price—it’d probably hit four digits, attracting another wave of gawkers to his tiny restaurant.

"Then let’s sacrifice the masses for our own happiness," Yan declared.

Conversation dwindled as they devoured the food.

Twenty minutes later, He Xing dabbed her lips, staring at the clean plates. Now she fully understood Zheng Yi’s earlier descriptions and why the dorm juniors were so obsessed.

Damn it, the food was so good she couldn’t stop eating. And this skill came from a twenty-year-old junior?

This was just a trial dish—how incredible must the egg fried rice be?

And this beef... after tasting it, the usual boiled beef I eat seems almost unbearable in comparison.

"Senior, should I stir-fry another portion for you?" Chu Shen asked He Xing, the newly arrived senior, sensing she might be holding back.

"No, no, I can't eat anymore. The fried rice was delicious, but I’ve already indulged enough tonight." He Xing eyed the dishes in front of her, mentally calculating the extra training she’d need to burn off the calories.

"However much I eat, I’ll have to make up for it with extra practice," she said.

Yan patted her slightly bloated belly—she, on the other hand, wasn’t planning to train. At most, she’d do a ten-minute plank tonight.

Night fell as expected. After dinner, He Xing helped Chu Shen clean up briefly before taking a taxi back to her hotel, while Yan and Zhu Jue checked into a riverside hotel nearby.

"Bing Bing and Sui Sui aren’t in Bin City this weekend. They probably won’t be back until tomorrow evening," Yan said, lying on the bed and scrolling through her phone.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment. "Should we let Chu Shen know and do it tomorrow night?"

By Sunday evening, everyone would be back at school, and if the fried rice had gone cold, they could always reheat it in the dorm microwave.

From their riverside room, they could see the neon lights of boats gliding along the river and the glowing LED screens of skyscrapers—some displaying ads, others fan-voted messages—painting the skyline in dazzling colors.

Yan propped herself up on her elbows in a plank position, declaring solemnly to Zhu Jue, "Tonight, I’m going to learn discipline from our senior and trim this little belly fat."

Zhu Jue reached over to touch her stomach. "A little softness is good. It’s a protective fat layer for your organs and uterus. Not having a little belly would actually be unhealthy."

"Besides, our senior is a dancer," he added.

Yan huffed. "Stop tickling me, you annoying Zhu Jue! I need to tighten my core. Hand me my phone."

Zhu Jue unlocked her phone with his fingerprint and lay beside her as a human phone stand, pointing out where to tap.

"The evening show reviews are out. Seems like most of them are pretty positive—some even say it exceeded expectations, calling it an 'A-tier cast,'" Yan said between controlled breaths.

"Maybe they lowered their expectations after seeing the matinee feedback, so it felt like a pleasant surprise," Zhu Jue reasoned.

"Looks like some audience members from other cities are demanding the organizers announce the cast outright instead of keeping it a blind draw."

The ten-minute plank flew by, and Yan had just about finished browsing the latest reviews on Xiaohongshu. Overall, the evening’s A-tier cast received high praise—from the ensemble dancers to the set design, lighting, and leads. This only made the B-tier cast’s audience seem even more unfortunate. With two more shows scheduled for Sunday in Bin City, matinee ticket holders were already groaning and praying for luck.

Yan rolled onto her back, panting slightly as she leaned against Zhu Jue, her forehead glistening with sweat.

"Too bad I didn’t bring workout clothes. This bed is way too soft." The plank hadn’t been as exhausting as usual since it wasn’t on solid ground, but without gym wear, she couldn’t exactly hit the hotel fitness center in a sweater and leggings.

Just as Zhu Jue was wiping the sweat from her brow with a tissue, her phone buzzed.

"See who it is?" he asked casually.

"It’s Brother Fan," Yan said, blinking at the screen.

"He’s asking if we want to go to the aquarium with them tomorrow. Of course, he and his wife are bringing their kid... and a little sister-in-law."

At that moment, Yan and Zhu Jue locked eyes and let out a simultaneous, "Huh?"