Dr. Chi’s Mission: Seduce Officer Su - Chapter 23

The late-night hours were as tranquil as a deep pool.

In the dimly lit study, a small warm-yellow desk lamp glowed atop the luxurious rosewood desk.

Chi Jue lounged lazily in her ergonomic chair, holding open a publication about scoliosis treatment.

She was absorbed and deeply engrossed, her gaze calmly sweeping over the dense text, occasionally typing a few lines of organized treatment ideas into her computer.

After enjoying the flirtatious and pleasurable ambiguity earlier in the night, everything had returned to a dull and monotonous calm. Yet, she never neglected her work in the slightest.

The warm-toned soft light enveloped her, casting a faint golden sheen over the smooth silk of her nightgown. The deep V-neck revealed a stretch of cold, porcelain-white skin, her collarbones like ridges across a flat plain, faintly shifting with her steady breaths, exuding an untamed, primal allure.

Suddenly, a flash of white light tore through the pitch-black sky outside. A fierce wind slammed against the windows, howling eerily through the slightly ajar gaps.

Chi Jue turned her head to gaze out at the darkness, as boundless as an abyss.

How could a thunderstorm, typical of midsummer, appear on a deep winter night?

Bang!

The study door was flung open, startling her into a flustered glance, her heart tightening in response.

The cozy-toned room grew increasingly shadowy and dim as a dark figure approached step by step.

Until the tall, slender figure emerged from the blur, standing ambiguously before her.

She looked up at the face, its contours accentuated by the interplay of light and shadow. Before she could voice the question stuck in her throat, the publication was gently taken from her hands.

The other person used the edge of the book to lift her chin, teasing her with a domineering tone: “You’re being naughty, staying up so late. It seems you’re the one who needs to be locked in the dark room.”

Su Qiao wore a white sleeveless tank top, highlighting her healthy wheat-colored skin, which gleamed under the light. Her shorts were covered in printed cartoon bears, giving off a relaxed, vacation-like vibe, carrying the salty, carefree scent of a summer sea breeze.

Chi Jue was astonished, wondering if her exhaustion had conjured an illusion. She removed her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose, but the cool touch of the book’s plastic cover against her chin felt undeniably real.

“How did you…” she began, then abruptly fell silent.

Su Qiao leaned over the desk, placing her hands on the armrests of the chair. Her cool eyes shimmered with fragmented light, tinged with a hint of lingering tenderness.

“How did I appear? Because my Dr. Chi refuses to sleep properly, I had to ride the night wind to keep you company.” Her lips brushed against Chi Jue’s reddened, warm earlobe, her voice drawn out in a low tone, laced with subtle reproach.

Chi Jue widened her drowsy eyes. No, this wasn’t right, her little bear would never be this forward. Forget intimate whispers, she didn’t even have the courage to beckon with a finger.

Filled with doubt, she tried to turn her head to confirm whether this scene was real or illusory.

But the teasing tickle against her earlobe felt so pleasurable that she remained still. The tip of a tongue traced a moist, murmuring path, the sensation climbing up her spine like a warm spring’s flow.

An inch-by-inch invasion, an inch-by-inch burn.

The uninvited kisses grew increasingly bold, falling like fine raindrops on her brow, the corners of her eyes, and the tip of her nose, yet mischievously avoiding her lips.

The storm raging outside was no match for the tempest unfolding within the study.

Su Qiao domineeringly trapped her in a narrow space, even lifting one knee to press against the seat, effectively preventing Dr. Chi from slipping away.

“Do you like me?”

“Do you want to kiss me?”

“Do you want me?”

She lifted Chi Jue’s finger and slowly brought it into her mouth, her voice curling on the tip of her tongue, sticky and seductive, evoking endless fantasies.

How could she not want it?

Chi Jue wished she could lock Su Qiao in a cabinet to indulge in pleasure all by herself, even if it meant staying hidden from the world and acting recklessly.

A burning restlessness rolled in her throat, her arm like a sinuous, enchanting snake, slipping under the thin fabric of her tank top, winding around the clearly defined and tight shark-line muscles. The most tantalizing tension melted under her fingertips, tracing and caressing with an unwillingness to let go.

Thud! A magazine fell to the floor with a soft sound.

Chi Jue was startled by the faint noise, her breath still carrying a hurried rhythm. Her hazy eyes had yet to shed the lingering haze of desire, and her body, slumped in the chair, felt as soft and elusive as a trickling stream.

It turned out to be nothing but a dream, a sudden burst of spring warmth in the midst of winter.

She couldn’t help but murmur in bewildered disappointment, “When did I fall asleep?” Resting her forehead in her hand, she laughed helplessly. Had her long-standing singlehood made her so desperate for affection that her loneliness had conjured such a bizarre dream?

Lifting her gaze, she scanned the sparse study, which wasn’t much different from the scene in her dream, except for the absence of that uniquely different Su Qiao.

Feeling parched, she picked up her cup and took small sips of water.

The brief, absurd dream left her yearning for more. She raised her fingers, reminiscing about the dampness that had mingled with her lips and teeth.

In the depths of the night, unknown to anyone, she slowly brought her fingers to her mouth, but the sensation of her tongue entwining wasn’t what she truly desired. Frowning, she despised this almost perverse act.

As she revisited the finer details of the dream, it was the pair of shorts covered in little bear heads that left a deep impression on her.

Propping her chin thoughtfully, she wondered if she should search online for a similar pair to gift to Su Qiao.

There would surely be a chance to see her wear it, what a strange taste in *kinks.

…

Early morning, the Criminal Investigation Division office was bustling with noise.

Liu Jiaqi hastily stuffed down the last soup dumpling and, upon entering, immediately complained of discomfort: “Ugh… Is it because I haven’t had a drink in so long? Last night’s sudden binge really hit me hard.”

Ao Yu was also looking listless, sitting in his chair trying to clear his head, only to be jostled by this chattering guy, which churned his stomach. “Go on, get lost. My head is pounding too.”

Just then, Wen Ling walked in a step later, carrying a thermal flask, followed by the weary-looking Li Mobo.

Wen Ling, the team’s forensic examiner, was young but considerate. As she prepared disposable cups, she called out, “I knew you all couldn’t handle your liquor but still had to show off. I woke up early to make you hangover soup. Come and have a cup.”

Su Qiao sat alone in the corner, hiding her face behind the computer screen.

She still held onto a sliver of hope, hope that her colleagues would invite her to have a cup of the hangover soup too. Even though everyone knew she hadn’t drunk, that invitation symbolized the acceptance and inclusion she longed for.

Her mood was desolate, for her hopes had been dashed. The cheerful, toasting crowd had forgotten her in the corner.

Fortunately, she had long grown numb to the liveliness that didn’t belong to her.

“Captain Ji, would you like a cup of hangover soup?” Wen Ling’s tone was gentle; she had always respected this quiet and steady captain.

“No, thank you.” Ji Nanxing had just finished her case report to Chief Zheng and didn’t pay much attention to the others joking around. Instead, her eyes immediately landed on Su Qiao, who seemed distracted in the corner.

She walked over to the desk and tapped the surface with her fingertip. “Come to my office.”

“Okay.” Su Qiao stood up dazedly and followed her into the small office.

Ji Nanxing drew open the curtains to let the room breathe and feel fresher.

She turned and fixed her gaze on the unsettled person before her. “You’re not in a good state.”

“Am I?” Su Qiao knew full well how skilled Ji Nanxing was at reading people, but she still struggled to brush it off.

“Aren’t you? Sit down. A casual chat won’t hurt.” Ji Nanxing was a firm believer in keeping work and personal matters separate. For her to initiate a personal conversation during work hours was truly unusual.

Su Qiao obliged and sat in the guest chair, her back stiff and tense, unable to relax. The hidden unease seemed to seep through every inch of her, evident in every breath she took.

“You’re like a rubber band wound tighter and tighter, always thinking you can keep going, but you’ll snap eventually.” Ji Nanxing wasn’t much of a tea drinker, but she felt the need to offer something, so she pulled a pack of nuts from her drawer and tossed it into Su Qiao’s lap. “I heard about what happened in the breakroom.”

Su Qiao held the daily nuts absently, likely aware that Ao Yu had reported it privately. She then offered a wistful smile. “Given my tarnished record, a few comments won’t kill me.”

“You wouldn’t have said that before. You’d have probably smashed the breakroom on the spot.” Ji Nanxing joked, her laughter tinged with a bitter nostalgia.

Yes, she missed the old Su Qiao.

It was during their second year on the team that Su Qiao, with top scores across the board, was exceptionally transferred to the Criminal Investigation Center.

The two new officers quickly developed an enviable rapport, handling cases where one would plan and the other would execute arrests on the scene.

Their clear division of labor and high case-solving rate quickly made them well-known. Coinciding with a period of transition between old and new staff, they were almost simultaneously promoted to lead and deputy positions. Everything had been progressing smoothly.

In Ji Nanxing’s eyes, the Su Qiao back then was fearless and relentless, full of vitality, to put it nicely, or like an active volcano ready to erupt, to be more precise.

But now, the person before her had lost that genuine spark.

“Don’t worry about me. My mental resilience isn’t as weak as you think. If a few words could break me, I’d have been done for years ago.” Su Qiao tore open the packet, popped a cashew into her mouth, and chewed with a forced smile.

Her attempt to act tough still came off as awkward.

“You can fool others, but can you fool me? Your eyes speak volumes. I’ve told you before to learn how to hide your emotions, and you still haven’t managed it. If it’s not work-related stress distracting you, then the only answer left is Dr. Chi.” Ji Nanxing’s sharp eyes could easily see through everything, and her strong logical reasoning allowed her to pinpoint others’ troubles accurately.

Cornered, Su Qiao fell silent.

The nut in her mouth lost its flavor, leaving only a crumbly texture, much like her mood, utterly miserable.

“I’m really fine.” She turned her head away, unwilling to meet Ji Nanxing’s gaze, afraid that even a second longer would reveal deeper thoughts.

“If you’re unhappy, find something else to distract yourself. It’s been a long time since we last sparred. How about I invite Lin Yao along?”

Su Qiao could feel that rare and precious care. In her sparse social circle, having someone who could ease her worries, what more could she possibly ask for?

“Nanxing, thank you for always supporting me.”

“Remember, I will always be your backup. Our fates have been tied together since the day we met, at least, that’s what I believe.”

“Why the sudden sentiment? Rest assured, I’m really fine.” Su Qiao broke into a smile. In Ji Nanxing’s resolute gaze, she saw her own reflection, this life-and-death bond was always worth cherishing.

Leaving the office, Su Qiao carried her cup into the break room.

A small group from other departments, waiting to get water, huddled together chatting about something. When they saw her approach, they scattered with an air of feigned nonchalance.

Too impatient to wait and unwilling to endure their scrutinizing stares, she quietly retreated to the empty room where she had last spoken privately with Ao Yu.

A panicked sense of helplessness crept into every corner of her body, forcing her to lean back against the door. Deep breaths did little to ease the tightness in her chest, so she roughly loosened the tie that was strangling her throat.

But the moment her fingers touched the knot, the intimate memory of Chi Jue tying it for her flashed through her mind.

Before she could savor that intoxicating warmth, the sinister image of An Jiaqin disrupted her thoughts, making her breath catch.

The memories of last night dragged her into a suffocating whirlpool,

After leaving Dr. Chi’s home, Su Qiao walked back to the underground garage with light steps.

The subtle, tantalizing sweetness of romantic tension had left her utterly addicted.

Perhaps life would get better from here. Perhaps the future was worth looking forward to.

Lost in fleeting, beautiful fantasies, she suddenly realized it had been a long time since she felt so exhilarated, even experiencing a sense of reclaiming hope in life.

After years of numbness, she finally felt a glimmer of anticipation for the future.

But soon, the roaring engine shattered her newly woven dreams.

Wondering who could be so reckless in the dead of night, she turned to look.

A sleek, black Porsche revved its engine and charged toward her with unstoppable force.

Instead of being intimidated by the murderous impact, Su Qiao stood unwavering in the middle of the lane, her gaze piercing through the windshield and locking onto the driver.

Though her vision was blurry, she instantly recognized who was behind the wheel.

Just as the car crossed the boundary of a safe distance, a screeching, teeth-gritting brake slammed it to a halt right in front of her.

The car door swung shut, and An Jiaqin, who had been waiting, finally made her appearance.

“You’ve got nerve. Aren’t you afraid I’d actually hit you?” She leaned against the hood, arms crossed, her eyes filled with malice but her lips curled in a mocking smile.

If not for a shred of rationality, she would have slammed the accelerator and run over this homewrecker.

But Su Qiao was afraid of many things, just not death.

“That only proves you’re the one who lacks nerve.” She spread her arms to show she was unharmed, a direct retort. Unwilling to engage further with the troublemaker, she turned to leave.

An Jiaqin believed she held the upper ground here. Skilled in manipulation and reading people, she halted the retreating figure with just two words.

“Su Qiao.”

Hearing her full name, the departing figure paused as expected.

Su Qiao’s surprise stemmed from the fact that she had never revealed her name, and Dr. Chi, as if acting as some form of protection, had not called her by name in front of this woman.

Judging by this, there was only one conclusion: in the short span of a few dozen minutes, An Jiaqin had conducted a background check on her.

She turned to face the ill-intentioned woman but remained silent, perhaps waiting for the other party to make the opening move.

An Jiaqin propped herself up with one hand behind her, shifting into a more comfortable, languid sitting posture.

She was quite pleased with this reaction. “I can’t figure out what purpose you serve by appearing in Chi Jue’s life, but there’s one thing you should understand, your existence only makes her look increasingly cheap.”

“Did you wait all this time just to mock me? Then your time must be pretty cheap too.” Su Qiao was deeply repulsed by such condescending remarks, not because every word was aimed at her, but because this woman had no right to drag the innocent Chi Jue into it and trample her as well.

“You’re a police officer. Even if your background is confidential, I can still obtain your information through certain means. Do you know what that means?”

“Get to the point. I don’t like beating around the bush.” Of course, Su Qiao understood what An Jiaqin was trying to convey, nothing more than flaunting her superior family background and the power of money that could make even ghosts turn millstones.

An Jiaqin stood up and walked over to her, pointing at the ground beneath Su Qiao’s feet and retorting, “Do you know how much the property prices here have skyrocketed to? It’s probably a number you wouldn’t even dare to estimate with a calculator.”

Su Qiao followed her fingertip to the ground, pursed her lips, and offered no response.

This was exactly the reaction An Jiaqin had hoped for.

She arrogantly strode over to the Ferrari she had seen a few times before, patted the side mirror, and glanced back with a fake smile. “A-Jue used to love going for drives and has changed sports cars several times. This is the latest model, worth about two million on the market.”

In the blink of an eye, she lingered by the nearby Rolls-Royce Cullinan, her fingers tracing the recess where the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem would normally stand, and continued, “Oh, and this Rolls-Royce, it’s A-Jue’s designated car for family business banquets. Leaving it here in the dark for so long is truly a waste of something precious.”

Su Qiao’s gaze fell upon the gleaming paint of the Rolls-Royce.

She remembered the first time she had seen this car, how awkward and humble she had felt, not daring to approach, only observing it from a distance.

At this moment, she found that version of herself laughable, yet she had to steel her nerves to resist An Jiaqin’s taunts that tore at her dignity. “You’ve said so much, but all you’re trying to prove is that I’m not worthy of her status. So what?”

An Jiaqin approached with measured steps, her gaze sharp as a blade, brazenly scraping away at Su Qiao’s self-respect.

“Tsk, tsk, your experience and family background determine your mindset, and your mindset only allows you to linger on the surface.”

“What I truly want to tell you isn’t just the principle of marrying within your social class, but to make you recognize your place. If you’re particularly enamored with the idea of effortlessly crossing social strata, I suggest you daydream more during the day.”

“In reality, she’s in the clouds, and you’re at the bottom of a well. You can’t reach the moon in the sky, you can only imitate a monkey trying to scoop the illusory reflection in the water to satisfy your baseless fantasies.”

“Have you ever considered that when you strip off this uniform, you’re nothing?”

That meager monthly salary is barely enough for Jue to afford a few meals, let alone purchase even an entry-level luxury brand, she’d probably have to pay in installments. And besides…

She suddenly leaned close to Su Qiao’s ear and whispered, “She probably has no idea that the person she likes has a stain on her record. Something like causing a teammate’s death, that kind of thing can never be washed clean, right? People should know their limits, and that’s my biggest piece of advice for you.”

This provocation was An Jiaqin’s ultimate trump card, the leverage she believed she held over her romantic rival. In her mind, she had already emerged victorious in this confrontation.

For Su Qiao, it felt like a slap that jolted her out of her beautiful illusions, shattering her hopes for Chi Jue into a messy heap on the ground, like an ice spike piercing straight through her heart.

She clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the trembling in her body, standing stiffly in place without moving a muscle.

Meanwhile, the sharp-tongued woman was relishing the sight of her barely contained anger.

In the quiet parking garage, the distinct rhythm of high heels echoed, as if announcing An Jiaqin’s triumph.

How could she pass up any opportunity to belittle Su Qiao? After all, she had endured humiliation all evening, and revenge was a dish best served without delay.

As her car passed by, fully aware that Su Qiao would not get in, she still feigned kindness and extended an invitation: “It’s hard to hail a taxi in the southern district at night, Officer Su. If you’re willing, I’d be happy to give you a ride.”