Coming to Myself

It was almost noon when Chen Feng directed the cook to serve a table full of dishes Yin Feng used to like.

Today, Yin Feng was completely immersed in a joyful satisfaction, smiling as he sat to the side and watched. Under him was a small, worn-out wooden stool he had discovered in You Mingxu's bedroom. He felt certain this stool had accompanied You Mingxu as she grew up, and he cherished it so much he carried it with him everywhere.

When the dishes were almost all served, he glanced up at the clock and asked, "Why hasn't Mingxu come back yet?"

Chen Feng replied, "She won't be back at noon; she eats at her workplace." Seeing Yin Feng fall silent, he quickly added, "For someone like her with a job, the lunch break is too short to come home for a meal."

Yin Feng stroked the leather of the stool, which had been worn smooth with age. He lowered his head slightly and asked, "Then what does she eat for lunch?"

Chen Feng thought for a moment and answered, "Probably the cafeteria. The police station has one. When you went there for inspiration before, you even ate there. You came back complaining it ruined your writing mood."

Yin Feng was silent for a while, then traced two more circles on the stool and said, "I'm not the same person I was back then. What I found unpalatable before might just have been a lack of taste—maybe I'd find it delicious now? Just look at the clothes he used to wear."

Chen Feng said calmly, "I still have the access card they gave us last time. You can go into any of the branch stations as you please."

Yin Feng looked up and smiled. "Xiao Fengzi, you're really too useful. This whole table of food is your reward."

Chen Feng twitched the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, Teacher Yin."

————

As soon as the lunch break began, police officers streamed into the cafeteria in groups, though some chose to eat out. You Mingxu, feeling too lazy to move today, walked into the bustling cafeteria with Xu Mengshan, Fan Jia, and a few others.

For some reason, You Mingxu was in a good mood today and had a hearty appetite, so she went to the counter and bought a single-serving hot pot. This was considered a "feast" in the cafeteria. Xu Mengshan and Fan Jia, each carrying their own meals, watched as Fan Jia exclaimed, "Wow, Sister You's appetite is great today! I want a couple of bites too." Xu Mengshan added, "Me too. I spent all last month's salary and can't afford hot pot."

You Mingxu lifted her eyelids slightly and said to the serving auntie, "Add half a pound of lamb, please."

Fan Jia: "The boss is the boss."

Xu Mengshan: "So excited."

The three of them chatted and laughed as they carried their trays to an empty table. You Mingxu placed the hot pot in the middle, and they ate while talking.

Not long after, the people at the next table left, but they paid no attention.

Almost seconds later, someone rushed over with a tray and plopped down abruptly. The hurried movement caught the attention of all three, and they looked up.

Then, all three froze.

A man wearing a green Astro Boy T-shirt, matching green pants, and white sneakers, his face slightly flushed, lowered his head and picked up his chopsticks. Seeming to sense their surprised gazes, he slowly looked up, completely ignoring the other two, and fixed his eyes on You Mingxu's face. Seeing her unsmiling expression, Yin Feng's heart sank with unease, and he lowered his head again.

Xu Mengshan glanced at You Mingxu with a teasing smile, then lowered his head to continue eating the lamb.

Fan Jia also blinked, suppressing a laugh, and after giving a look at the seemingly petrified You Mingxu, went back to chatting with Xu Mengshan about other things.

Even so, both of them were clearly all ears, waiting to hear about the tangled love-hate dynamics between You Mingxu and this amnesiac writer.You Mingxu put down her chopsticks, stood up, walked to his table, and sat opposite him. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Why are you here?"

Yin Feng replied, "Chen Feng said I once criticized your cafeteria food as unpalatable. I thought my past self was always unreliable, so I wanted to come and try it myself." His evasive gaze was all too obvious.

You Mingxu fell silent for a moment before saying, "Yin Feng, this is my workplace, not home or some amusement spot. You can’t follow me around while I’m working."

Yin Feng poked at his plate with his chopsticks, head bowed, and said nothing again.

You Mingxu absolutely hated it when he acted like this—it made her fiery temper impossible to unleash.

Over at the other table, Xu and Fan had overheard every word and were still snickering. You Mingxu shot them a cold glare, then recalled how Yin Feng had lain in the hallway late last night, looking up at her with that expression. She sighed inwardly, picked up her hot pot, and placed it between them.

Xu and Fan’s chopsticks hovered mid-air as they started exclaiming, "Hey, hey, hey…"

You Mingxu ignored them and lowered her head to continue eating. Seeing Yin Feng still sitting motionless with his head down, she said lightly, "Didn’t you want to taste it? Eat up."

Yin Feng looked up, studying her expression. "Okay!"

They ate quietly for a while before You Mingxu asked, "So, is it good or bad?"

Yin Feng hesitated before answering, "It’s acceptable. I can eat it."

You Mingxu finally smiled and said leisurely, "Whether it’s good or bad, you have to finish it, understand? Don’t waste food. We police officers are often on missions and don’t even get to eat things like this. It’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury back to frugality."

He nodded vigorously and buried his head, eating in large mouthfuls.

You Mingxu thought: Why the hell am I lecturing him like this? I’m really starting to feel like his mom, damn it.

Before long, two tall, burly police officers approached, smiling somewhat sheepishly as they greeted You Mingxu. "Sister You." "Sister You."

You Mingxu: "Hmm."

It wasn’t that You Mingxu was older than them—her formidable reputation had spread far and wide, and "Sister You" had become a nickname that even the police chief sometimes slipped up and used. One officer asked, "Is this Writer Yin? I’m a huge fan of his books!" The other added, "Me too!"

After Yin Feng’s recent incident, almost everyone in the police station had heard about it.

You Mingxu neither confirmed nor denied it. Yin Feng glanced at them, then lowered his head and continued eating.

One officer couldn’t contain his excitement. "Yes! He looks just like his photos online. Writer Yin, could I… could I get your autograph?"

"Me too, could I have an autograph, Writer Yin?"

The two pulled out their small notepads, used for investigations, and handed over their pens as well.

Yin Feng showed no particular expression—whether it was because he was accustomed to such scenes in the past or simply didn’t understand what they were saying was unclear. He glanced at them again, then looked at You Mingxu, as if waiting for parental permission.

You Mingxu suddenly found the situation rather novel.

So she nodded casually.

Yin Feng set down his chopsticks, took the notebooks, and the moment he gripped the pen, he visibly froze for a second. Then, with swift, fluid strokes, he signed "Yin Feng" in one go—the characters leaping boldly onto the paper.

Even though You Mingxu’s own handwriting was messy, she could tell that the signature was powerful, wild, and domineering—exceptionally well-executed.After signing both names, he handed the items back and continued eating. The two officers examined the signatures, then looked at him, barely containing their delight. One cautiously asked, "Writer Yin, would it be possible... to take a photo with you?"

This time, there was no need to consult You Mingxu—Yin Feng's brows had already furrowed slightly.

You Mingxu spoke up: "Enough. He still needs to eat. Aren't you satisfied with getting the signatures? Get lost."

The two chuckled, unwilling to press further. After expressing their thanks a few more times, they left.