After My Death, I Became a Heartless Madman - Chapter 41.2

But Song Shizhou didn’t even glance at her. With practiced ease, she swapped the gun’s magazine and said flatly,

“No need.”

Two crisp words, delivered without so much as a sideways look as if Bai Ruowei didn’t exist at all.

“Supervisor Bai can take a break.”

Song Shizhou’s gaze briefly landed on her, devoid of the previous disdain. It was empty, indifferent as if she were looking at a complete stranger.

The woman’s coldness seemed determined to sever every trace of their past. Bai Ruowei faltered, a dull ache spreading through her chest. Their four years together hadn’t been without happiness, they had kissed in love, slept in each other’s arms.

Oh. Bai Ruowei paused. She was mistaken again.

They didn’t have a past yet.

A quiet helplessness settled over her.

Those four years she kept recalling hadn’t even happened lost somewhere in the whirlpool of time.

She and Song Shizhou were nothing but strangers now. It was only her own stubborn longing that had forced this strained connection between them.

An unpleasant one at that.

She knew people had to pay for their mistakes. No matter how Song Shizhou treated her now, she had to endure it.

Yet she couldn’t stop herself from wondering, if it had been Lan Chi teaching her today, would things have been different?

Lan Chi had once been a member of the Council. She was brilliant, likely just as skilled with firearms as Bai Ruowei. If Lan Chi were here, she would be the one truly suited to guide Song Shizhou.

Besides Lan Chi had already taught her.

Bai Ruowei’s eyes reddened slightly.

How would Lan Chi teach her?

She imagined.

If it were painting, they would sit side by side. Lan Chi would settle close, guiding Song Shizhou’s hand to feel the brushstrokes, their fingers intertwined, skin touching, smiling…

No.

She couldn’t.

A stubborn voice suddenly echoed in her mind, the scent of osmanthus growing heavier. Song Shizhou could hate her, loathe her, despise her but she could not abandon her, could not ignore her, and most certainly could not react with indifference, treating her as if she were invisible.

She would rather Song Shizhou detested her as before at least back then, her eyes held only her.

The atmosphere between the two grew increasingly strange. The coaches faintly sensed the tension, all lowering their heads uneasily. Song Shizhou clearly noticed the osmanthus fragrance too, yet her gaze remained fixed ahead, as if the only thing worthy of her attention now was that small target.

Bai Ruowei didn’t speak further. She stepped forward and casually picked up a pistol.

Her grip was flawless, her white hair fluttering with the recoil of each shot. Three gunshots rang out,bang, bang, bang and the target, rated at hardness level ten, was nearly obliterated, leaving behind a gaping, explosive bullet hole.

The electronic screen emotionlessly announced the result:

“Ten rings.”

The surrounding coaches could only sigh helplessly. Inspector Bai was an expert in real combat; their combined field experience probably didn’t even amount to half of hers.

Yet the woman with such impeccable marksmanship showed no trace of pride. Bai Ruowei set the gun down and slowly approached Song Shizhou, her delicate face uncharacteristically somber, her eyes brimming with unmistakable grievance.

Through her actions, she was telling Song Shizhou: she didn’t want to rest, didn’t want to leave, and most of all, didn’t want to be ignored by her.

Little Zheng had heard rumors about their history. She instinctively moved to intervene but hesitated, unsure if she should after all, Inspector Bai’s grand, widely publicized proposal banquet had become the talk of the town.

Yet the other woman still refused to spare her even a glance.

“Coach Zhao, let’s continue.”

The gunfire in the training hall persisted. Bai Ruowei stood to the side, cradling a half-meter-long rifle.

Since coming of age, she had rarely experienced the sting of being sidelined like this.

Especially not in front of Song Shizhou.

Bai Ruowei chuckled softly, comforting herself inwardly.

But things were different now.

The G1-style pistol, compact and easy to carry, had always been an ideal tool for self-defense. However, the Surveillance Institute rarely used it for special operations for one simple reason:

Its lethality was insufficient.

Song Shizhou reached for an M1 Delant Light Bullet Gun. Compared to this, the earlier pistol seemed like a mere toy.

She turned to the coach beside her.

“What’s this gun called? It looks completely different from the others here. I’d like to learn how to use it.”

This was the Surveillance Institute’s specialized firearm, deployed only in actual combat due to its immense destructive power.

In truth, the Light Bullet Gun was displayed here as an educational exhibit, so few knew how to operate it. The coach never expected Miss Song to pick this uniquely designed, overwhelmingly lethal weapon out of all the options.

The shooting instructors exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes collectively shifting toward Inspector Bai.

Bai Ruowei paused, instinctively stepping forward.

But before her hand could touch the gun, Assistant Zheng beside Song Shizhou spoke up:

“Miss Song, your shoelace is untied.”

She was wearing a pair of lambskin boots, the decorative laces undone. Bai Ruowei had once gifted her an identical pair, which still sat in the Ink Residence, Song Shizhou hadn’t taken them with her.

Bai Ruowei’s eyes flickered.

Lace-up shoes would interfere with the upcoming training. Little Zheng accompanied her to change, but Song Shizhou didn’t move.

Instead, she looked coolly at Bai Ruowei.

Bai Ruowei froze.

She slowly set the Derringer back on the table and, almost instinctively, stepped closer to Song Shizhou.

Then she knelt halfway down to tie the laces for her.

Just as those slender fingers were about to touch the surface of Song Shizhou’s shoe, she took a step back, pulling her foot away.

Not letting her touch even the slightest.

Bai Ruowei’s hand hung awkwardly in the air. Her pale green eyes lifted slowly, the expression in them unexpectedly fragile.

She didn’t have to be this harsh.

Song Shizhou thought indifferently.

She knew Miss Bai’s thoughts, Miss Bai was aggrieved now. She hated this feeling of being ignored, so upset she might cry.

But she had made a mistake earlier.

Just moments ago, Bai Ruowei had set down the gun, leaned in close to her ear, and whispered something.

She said,

“These three shots weren’t for show or bragging. I just wanted to prove to you, I’m still your best choice.”

Whether as a firearms instructor, a mate, or a marriage partner, she had always been Song Shizhou’s best option.

Bai Ruowei blinked, her expression so vivid it almost seemed like a provocation.

As if saying, Miss Song, don’t you want to mark me?

Like you used to.

Song Shizhou smiled faintly.

“Let’s go change our shoes.”

So, before leaving, as payback for that provocation, she also knelt halfway down, leaned close to Bai Ruowei’s ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“Miss Bai, where’s your collar?”

“Are you wearing it properly?”

Mini Theater:

Xiao Bai: Minor breakdown in progress

Xiao Song: Interrupting the casting

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