Being hungry and eating isn't wrong. But when humans accidentally overeat, they act like they're ready to fight to the death.

If her last sanctuary hadn't been destroyed by humans, she wouldn't be drifting homeless in their world.

...

Chi Yuzhou stared blankly at the woman before him with lifeless eyes. Right now, he felt like a puppet waiting to be manipulated.

"What's your name?"

"...Chi Yuzhou."

"Hmm-hmm, such a lovely name."

The woman with now-pink short hair gazed up at Chi Yuzhou, who stood slightly taller. Her satisfaction was unmistakable—worth letting that appetizer go.

She always picked good-looking targets, regardless of gender.

But looking at Chi Yuzhou, she felt this might be her most satisfying catch ever.

Such striking looks would be wasted in a dark alley.

She should take him to a hotel to properly savor this meal~

Streetlights cast shifting light and shadow on the road as she led the vacant-eyed Chi Yuzhou, searching for a hotel.

Unfamiliar with the area, she turned to the dazed Chi Yuzhou instead.

"Where's the hotel here?"

"...That way."

Chi Yuzhou stiffly pointed in a direction.

The next moment, the woman grasped his icy hand again and walked toward where he'd indicated.

...

Chi Yuzhou's thoughts felt clogged, moving painfully slow. Yet his body's sensations remained sharp.

When the woman took his hand, the temperature difference seemed to clear his mind slightly.

Though clearer, his limbs stayed rigid, forcing him to follow her steps.

Those pink eyes and hair confirmed one thing...

She must be some Rare Breed, with mind-bewitching powers.

Otherwise, just seeing those pink-tinged eyes wouldn't have stripped his resistance.

But thankfully, not completely.

When asked for the hotel's location, Chi Yuzhou struggled for a second before pointing farther away.

That way... it'd pass that street too.

Just as Chi Yuzhou wondered if he'd meet someone today, the Mystic Ring on his finger—long unresponsive—suddenly sent a cool wave through him.

His clogged thoughts instantly sharpened.

Did this ring have protective effects too?

The unexpected turn left Chi Yuzhou momentarily dazed.

But escaping this unknown Rare Breed woman mattered more now.

Seeing her fully pink hair, he recalled the alley encounter and campus rumors about a murder there.

Could he have stumbled upon the crime scene? And now the culprit?

What insane luck.

He'd once heard: the chance of someone in a skyscraper connecting to airplane Wi-Fi isn't zero...?

Better focus on escaping.

Or he might lose his life.

Chi Yuzhou scanned the surroundings. Soon, they reached the street where he'd last met Qiujie Zhuo during her investigation.

But it was later than that time.

If she didn't show up, he'd have to find his own chance to run.

Then, a voice suddenly cut through:

"Chi Yuzhou?!"

Following the startled call, Chi Yuzhou and the pink-haired woman turned.

Qiujie Zhuo stood not far behind, eyes wide with shock at their clasped hands.

The man she hadn't won over was already taken by someone else?

This short-haired woman was decent-looking, but only matched her—Qiujie was confident she'd win in a contest.

How had she charmed this amnesiac man who couldn't forget his white moonlight?

Facing Qiujie's puzzled, surprised gaze, Chi Yuzhou stayed silent, his expression hollow.

Qiujie's sharp instincts caught the pink-haired woman's flicker of guilt upon seeing her.

After observing Chi Yuzhou so long, she'd never seen a woman stick around after his shifts.

Her gut screamed something was off here.

"Chi Yuzhou?"

Getting no reply, Qiujie called again. Still nothing.

Next, she saw the woman tiptoe to whisper a new command in Chi Yuzhou's ear.

But his blank, unresponsive face only deepened the short-haired woman's own shock.

...What? Why wasn't he obeying anymore?

Had not using this power too long caused a glitch?

And her luck today was awful—bumping into a patrolling cop of all times?

Did she have to abandon this bird in her hand?

Under the woman's intense stare, the uniformed officer murmured into her shoulder radio, then approached them cautiously.

"Routine check. Please show your ID."

Qiujie moved in a guarded stance, eyes fixed on Chi Yuzhou's unchanging, silent face.

He was acting way too strange.

Just as that thought flashed, locking eyes with the pink-haired woman made Qiujie's mind blur for a split second.

The next instant, the short-haired woman vanished slowly at a street corner. Chi Yuzhou crumpled like a puppet with cut strings.

Qiujie spoke urgently into her radio and rushed to steady Chi Yuzhou's shoulders.

"You okay? Remember what happened?"

"...How did I get here?"

Chi Yuzhou shook his head lightly, as if seeking clarity. Frowning, he continued:

"I recall... taking that woman to a hotel to rest. Then I saw her... pink eyes? She...?"

"...You probably met a Seductive Fiend."

As Qiujie spoke, she removed a glove, checked his forehead, then casually placed her hand over his.

"You seem shaken. Your body temperature's a bit low."

"...Is that so."

Accepting Qiujie's ready excuse, Chi Yuzhou stood after a moment's pause.

"Are your patrols these days because of that... Seductive Fiend?"

"Yeah."

"Then... shouldn't you go?"

Chi Yuzhou's clear question hung in the air. Qiujie held his gaze as she replied:

"I've alerted my team. And right now, the victim—you matter more."

Her words sounded matter-of-fact. Yet the tender warmth in her eyes and touch made them feel anything but clear.