“Please calm down, sir!”
“We can talk about anything! Just let the girl go first!”
“No way—!!!”
“Even if I die, I’m taking this girl with me!!!”
In front of a clothing store, a hostage situation was unfolding.
The suspect was currently holding a blood clan girl at knifepoint, locked in a standoff with the police.
“Don’t come any closer! Stay back!!!”
The man was extremely agitated, waving the fruit knife in his hand nonstop.
If the police made any rash move, the girl would almost certainly get hurt.
“…”
(Why am I so unlucky?!)
(I just came to buy clothes—did it have to come to this?!)
The kidnapped blood clan girl was roaring internally in frustration, her eyes completely devoid of light.
And how exactly did this happen…?
***
That day, Wuming received a “relief payment” from Uncle Park—an envelope stuffed with crisp hundred-yuan bills.
Counting it up, there was more than ten thousand yuan inside.
The money he’d spent buying clothes for Serena last time, plus what he’d used on figurines—it was all “returned” now.
Wuming planned to deposit it in the bank, so after dinner he took Serena out with him. After finishing at the bank, he decided to stroll around the streets with her for a bit.
And that’s when they ran into the scene from the beginning.
A man had just taken a girl who’d stepped out of the clothing store hostage and was now facing off against the police.
He never imagined a simple outing would turn into this.
Gotta record this and send it to Mom—she’d love to see it!
As a model melon-munching bystander, Wuming immediately pulled out his phone, started recording a video, and sent it straight to his mom. Then his gaze shifted to Serena beside him.
Correct—the one being held hostage wasn’t Serena. It was another blood clan loli.
Why are there so many lolis in this world?!
And they’re all blood clan too!
Wuming secretly wondered what was wrong with the world. Walk a few steps and bam—another loli.
He glanced around and noticed several journalists had already set up cameras for live coverage. With this much commotion, tonight’s Nanning headlines were guaranteed to be dominated by this incident.
Just as Wuming was settling in to keep watching, Serena suddenly tugged on his sleeve, making him turn toward her.
“Should we… go help her, Wuming?”
Serena asked, her meaning crystal clear—she wanted to step in and rescue the girl.
“I can just use 【Time】 to pull her out. That distance is nothing to me!”
Serena declared confidently.
“My little ancestor…”
Wuming looked at her helplessly. Clearly, this girl had completely forgotten her current situation.
He believed Serena really could pull it off—but only believed.
If her ability suddenly failed at the critical moment, Serena would be exposed in front of everyone.
Wuming could already picture tomorrow’s front-page headlines in Nanning.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but think about your own situation for a second. If your power cuts out, you’ll become the center of attention for the entire crowd.”
“Ugh… yeah, that makes sense…”
Serena’s expression fell. She remembered she was still technically “off the grid.” If she rushed in recklessly, who knew how many eyes would be staring at her?
They say pregnancy makes you dumb for three years—but this kid wasn’t even pregnant yet and she was already acting silly.
“So… we just stand here and watch?”
Serena asked in confusion. Were they really just going to wait for the police to handle it?
“What else? You want to see me charge in and save her?”
Wuming raised an eyebrow in response.
There’s no way I’m that stupid. Leave professional matters to professionals.
“You’re not getting out of this alive no matter what! Killing her will only get you the death penalty!”
The officer’s shout cut through the noise and reached the man’s ears, making him even more agitated.
“I never planned on walking out alive anyway!”
The man’s voice suddenly rose sharply, veins bulging on the hand gripping the knife.
Is this officer serious?!
He’s literally pouring oil on the fire!
Listening to the officer’s “negotiation,” Wuming felt his occupational disease kicking in.
As a psychologist, he knew perfectly well that what the man needed right now was de-escalation and guidance—not threats. If this stalemate continued, the situation could spiral out of control at any second.
And moreover…
His gaze drifted back to Serena.
His fingertip unconsciously brushed the ring.
Through it, he could feel Serena’s inner worry transmitting straight to him.
“…”
This can’t go on…
Don’t they usually send a hostage negotiator for cases like this? That officer doesn’t look like one at all.
A real negotiator would never say things like that—they’d try to meet the suspect’s demands as much as possible.
So Wuming instinctively concluded that the police negotiator hadn’t arrived yet.
And if not… then his own profession could fill in temporarily.
Wuming released the ring and placed his hand on Serena’s shoulder.
“Wait here for me, Serena.”
“—?” Serena’s eyes widened in confusion as she stared at him, having no idea what he was about to do.
“Since you can’t play the hero,” he said with a small smirk, “I’ll do it for you.”
“You…”
Before she could finish, she watched Wuming turn around, push through the crowd, and head straight toward the police cordon, leaving her standing there with instructions not to move.
Soon Wuming reached the police line.
“Officer, I’m a psychologist. I might be able to help.”
The moment he arrived, Wuming flashed his credentials.
Don’t ask why he carried them everywhere—but in a situation like this, they actually came in handy.
“Please let me talk to the suspect. The things you just said are only going to make him more agitated. It would be better if I tried to persuade him.”
Wuming offered to communicate with the man himself, hoping to calm his emotions. If he could convince him to drop the knife, that would be ideal.
However, the officer’s response hit him like a bucket of ice water.
“Police business in progress—civilians, step back!”
The man barked sharply, then turned to his subordinates. “You lot—disperse the onlookers immediately! No lingering, no photos. We can’t risk an accident!”
This officer… what’s with the attitude?!
All I wanted was to help!
If he kept talking to the suspect like that, there was a real chance the man would slit the girl’s throat!
Wuming felt a surge of irritation. He’d offered help in good faith, only to be met with hostility.
He almost wanted to turn around right then, grab Serena, and go home. But in the very next second—
“Captain Qin, people from the Other Race Bureau are here.”
Other Race Bureau?
Right… after all, the hostage was blood clan.
Wuming thought to himself—it made perfect sense for them to show up. Though…
“Didn’t expect the Bureau to send you.”
“Long time no see, Captain. The higher-ups told me to come, so here I am.”
Then, the Bureau officer casually noticed Wuming.
“Doctor Wuming? What are you doing here?”
A familiar voice rang out. Wuming followed it and saw Officer Judy—with her signature rabbit ears—pushing through the crowd toward him. It was the same one who had escorted him and Serena home before.
Never thought he’d run into an acquaintance here.
“Officer Judy! What a coincidence.” Wuming quickly greeted her. “We were just out shopping and happened to stumble on this hostage situation, so we stayed to watch.”
“You two know each other?”
Captain Qin watched them converse and could tell they were acquainted.
“Yeah. There was an incident at the Bureau a while back—Doctor Wuming helped us out a lot.”
“It wasn’t that big a deal…”
Wuming scratched his head, really not wanting to revisit what happened back then. He’d nearly died.
“Where’s your little girlfriend? I don’t see her.”
Judy asked next—why wasn’t the blood clan girl who was always by his side here now?
“She didn’t come with me. She’s safe.”
“Good.”
Judy’s gaze returned to the scene, then shifted back to Captain Qin.
“What’s your next move, Captain Qin?”
Judy asked about his plan for handling the situation.
“Send officers to flank from the side,” Captain Qin said gravely, staring at the scene. “Wait for an opening and take him out with one shot.”
“That…”
That was indeed the Captain Qin she knew.
The method was feasible, but it would inevitably turn bloody. She preferred to avoid bloodshed if possible—convince the man to drop the knife and resolve it peacefully.
“Where’s your negotiator?” Judy asked.
“Not here yet. I’ve been handling communication for now.”
“But if we wait for him to arrive, that girl might already be dead. Better to look for an opening.”
That matched what Wuming had guessed—Captain Qin wasn’t a trained negotiator, so his dialogue lacked professionalism.
“Let Doctor Wuming give it a try, Captain Qin.”
Hearing that the negotiator still hadn’t arrived, Judy suggested letting Wuming step in—but Captain Qin immediately objected strongly!
“No way! Too dangerous. No matter what, he’s still just a civilian—we can’t let him go in.”
“That’s the situation, Judy,” Wuming said helplessly, spreading his hands.
“I already offered to go talk to him, but Captain Qin refused. If he keeps provoking the suspect like that, the man really might kill the girl.”
“The priority right now is stabilizing his emotions.”
He turned to Captain Qin, tone completely serious. “Pardon my bluntness, officer, but your earlier shouting… was basically pushing the suspect toward the edge. That’s just the truth.”
Captain Qin knew his words had already enraged the man—but he also had to consider Wuming’s safety!
“Judy, even though you used to be one of us, you’re with the Bureau now. You have no authority to interfere in police operations. The scene is under our jurisdiction.”
Captain Qin’s attitude remained inflexible. It looked like nothing would change his mind.
“What about on behalf of Bureau Chief Park?”
Judy suddenly lowered her voice.
“Bureau Chief Park values him highly. He really is an outstanding psychologist.”
Judy vouched for him, even dropping the Bureau Chief’s name.
Bureau Chief Park?
Captain Qin knew she was referring to the head of the Other Race Bureau.
But what exactly was this kid’s background that even that director held him in such high regard?!
“Let Doctor Wuming try. I’ll personally vouch for him.”
“…”
Captain Qin didn’t know the direct connection between Wuming and Park Guochang.
His gaze shifted back and forth between Judy and Wuming before he finally relented.
“…Fine. He can try.”
But he immediately added sternly, “But let me be clear—his safety is entirely on you, Judy!”
“Don’t worry, Captain Qin.” Judy smiled confidently. “You know my capabilities.”
“After all, I came to the Bureau from the police force.”
“Mm…” Captain Qin nodded, then ordered his subordinates to bring over an explosive-proof suit for Wuming.
“Put this on.”
There was no way they were sending him in unprotected.
Proper safety measures were non-negotiable—this suit could save his life.
Once Wuming had suited up, Captain Qin gestured for them to follow him.
“Come with me. Watch your step.”
With that, Wuming and Judy followed Captain Qin across the police cordon and headed toward the scene.