HTCYH Ch 16

Chapter 16: Reality (Teammates)

Nameless truly lived up to his reputation as a cunning individual; on the way to the Bureau, he had already coaxed and maneuvered the wary Tu Si into compliance with seamless precision.

Nameless led Tu Si to the Bureau. Staring at the large characters for “Public Security” at the entrance, Tu Si hesitantly asked,

“So… does this mean I’ve officially joined? Are investigators considered civil servants? Do I still have to take the civil service exam?”

Nameless shook his head.

“Not exactly. I can only get you in as an intern for now. If you want to become permanent later, you’ll still have to go through the formal process—written exams, interviews, the whole package.”

Tu Si pouted.

“Interns don’t even get health insurance! The benefits suck!”

Nameless chuckled softly.

“I’ll pay for your insurance myself. If there’s anything else you want, just tell me. As long as it’s within my ability, I’ll make it happen.”

Tu Si didn’t particularly want anything; it was just that, after being coaxed and tricked by Nameless all the way here, he’d gotten a little carried away and threw out a couple of haughty remarks.

Meanwhile, Fang Xia had minimized her presence the entire trip, quietly driving without a word. But once they arrived at the Bureau, she instantly came alive—greeting people, swiping snacks, arranging lunch dates. Because most people in the department wore similar uniforms or formal suits, within moments she had disappeared into the crowd.

Nameless didn’t pay her antics any mind. He greeted passing colleagues warmly and introduced Tu Si in passing. While Tu Si’s striking appearance did draw a few surprised glances and occasional compliments, the atmosphere remained friendly and relaxed, easing Tu Si’s initial tension and improving his impression of the Bureau.

Nameless guided him through the Bureau’s layout and departmental divisions, then led him through a concealed door and into an elevator that descended to the core division responsible for the game. When the doors opened, the security inside was a world apart from what they’d seen above—security checkpoints everywhere, heavily armed SWAT officers stationed every few steps, and personnel moving about with stern, expressionless faces. The environment was silent and austere.

Nameless presented his credentials, leading Tu Si through the checkpoints and into his personal office. Tu Si’s gaze immediately landed on the setup: a standalone office with a desktop computer and a nameplate reading “Captain Nameless, Bureau Team One.” Beside the computer sat an oversized, retro enamel tea mug with a lid, emblazoned with Lei Feng’s portrait and the slogan Serve the People.

Tu Si’s lips twitched, suppressing a laugh. Following his line of sight, Nameless narrowed his eyes in amusement.

“Don’t be jealous. Everyone’s got one of these.”

Just as he finished speaking, Fang Xia bustled in with several people chattering behind her.

Tu Si looked up. Besides Fang Xia, there were two men and one woman. The girl was petite—around 158 centimeters—with a round face and a dimple that appeared when she smiled, making her look soft and sweet, like a little sponge cake. The moment she saw Tu Si, her eyes lit up, and her mouth opened wide enough to fit a fist. She scampered over and circled Tu Si, examining him from head to toe before exclaiming,

“Little Sun! Your description didn’t do him justice at all! You called this just beautiful? This is divine work! This is the handiwork of Goddess Nüwa herself! Even when I customize characters in games, I don’t dare make them look this perfect!”

Fang Xia shrugged.

“Sorry, I had a PE teacher for Chinese. Never learned how to use parallel sentences.”

“That’s great! Our Team One is officially invincible now! Team Three can’t use Bai Lian’s looks to crush us anymore—our visuals can crush them!” The speaker was a sunny boy with a dazzling grin. He had a head of dark, stiff, short-cropped hair spiking upward—perfectly styled in an American crew cut even without gel. He stood no less than 185 centimeters tall, his black T-shirt stretching over solid muscles brimming with explosive power. A long scar running from his brow bone to his eye broke the boyishness of his face, lending him the aura of a mafia heir rather than just a sporty sunshine boy.

“So the Captain does appreciate beauty—it’s just that none of the beauties before were up to his standards!” Leaning crookedly against the doorway, a blue-haired boy finally spoke. He sauntered over to Tu Si, eyes half-lidded in a lazy yet impolite squint, a wicked grin tugging at his lips.

Tu Si silently observed the three newcomers, listening to their banter without interruption, before finally turning to the blue-haired boy. The boy’s tone and attitude didn’t provoke him; Tu Si could see no real malice in his eyes. Instead, his demeanor resembled that of a jealous child acting out to attract adult attention. It was obvious the boy was still growing—his frame lanky and underdeveloped.

But that wasn’t what caught Tu Si’s attention. What mattered was the faint trace of fragrance clinging to the boy—not his natural scent, but one that seemed absorbed from prolonged exposure to a perfumed environment. This alone earned him bonus points in Tu Si’s heart. After all, who doesn’t like something that smells good?

So Tu Si leaned closer to the boy, sniffed lightly to confirm the source of the fragrance, and said,

“My name’s Tu Si. What’s yours?”

The boy clicked his tongue and ignored him.

Tu Si turned to see Nameless sitting in his leather desk chair like a seasoned leader, lifting his tea mug and silently observing his subordinates’ reactions to the newcomer. He didn’t speak, just smiled slyly, like a fox with a secret.

Relaxing his shoulders, Tu Si addressed Fang Xia:

“Sister Fang Xia, mind introducing us?”

Blinking her big eyes with a matching fox-like smile, Fang Xia teased,

“Oooh~ why call me ‘sister’? Do I sound old to you?”

Tu Si laughed along.

“‘Sister’ is just a term of respect. If we’re talking actual age, your captain might even have to call me ancestor.”

The round-faced girl gasped theatrically.

“Wow! Really~? Could you actually be older than our old sly fox of a captain? Want to compare? Oh right, I’m Ailin, Blue-Hair’s Ke Xian, and that spiky one’s Xu Jinyan. As for Little Sun, well, you already know him.”

From how casually Ailin addressed Nameless, Tu Si could tell her status was second only to his, yet she treated him no differently.

“Mm-hmm. Ailin, Ke Xian, Xu Jinyan, and Fang Xia—hello, everyone. Please take care of me from now on.”

Ke Xian snorted, tilting his chin arrogantly.

“Nothing to take care of. You’re just an intern—fetching tea and water will be enough.”

Ailin giggled.

“Listen to him—passing the exam really inflated his ego.”

If Ke Xian had a tail, it would be wagging proudly in the air.

“Of course! I’m a full-fledged official member now!”

Feigning awe, Tu Si exclaimed,

“The exam to get in must be super tough. I’m so jealous! I wonder when I’ll manage to become permanent.”

This immediately handed Ke Xian an opportunity to boast, and he launched into a detailed explanation of the entry requirements, study assignments, and exam schedule. Tu Si listened attentively, asking humble questions and quickly earning Ke Xian’s favor.

A few exchanges later, Tu Si had already unearthed the boy’s background: this blue-haired kid was only fourteen, an orphan Nameless had picked up, and a bona fide computer genius. Brilliant, yet naïve to a fault—especially under Nameless’s deliberate protection—Ke Xian’s simple-mindedness made him seem all the more innocent and endearing amidst a den of sly foxes. The sight softened Tu Si’s heart.

With Ke Xian’s goodwill secured, Tu Si had effectively integrated into Team One. After the introductions wrapped up, Fang Xia pulled him into a group chat once named “Captain Old Peacock Spreads His Feathers,” now rebranded as “One Big Happy Family.”

Tu Si easily matched the nicknames to their owners:

• A Small Ray of Sunshine (Fang Xia)

• Tear-Apart Underwear (Xu Jinyan)

• Single-Celled Love World (Ailin)

• (blank nickname) (Ke Xian)

Tu Si’s own nickname was simple: Dodder Vine.

Curious, Tu Si typed:

Dodder Vine: Captain’s not in the group?

Single-Celled Love World: Captain’s an old fossil—doesn’t like using phones. No point adding him. Whatever he wants to know, he already knows anyway.

Dodder Vine: Oh, oh.

(Blank): Intern! Remember to study hard when you get home! Join us as a full member soon!

Dodder Vine: Got it.