Sworn Enemies

Stepping into the office, Zuo Jing Ying settled into the soft leather chair, her gaze casually sweeping over Xi Di's poor, disheartened appearance, as if looking at a weed growing by the roadside.

A finger with black nail polish gently pointed to the empty desk beside her. Zuo Jing Ying spoke indifferently: "That's your spot. Now, go make me a cup of coffee, no sugar."

With that, Zuo Jing Ying didn't even bother to glance at Xi Di again, her sharp eyes fixed on the computer screen, immersed in the silent world of corpses and forensic mysteries.

Xi Di heard this, and a simmering dissatisfaction welled up in her heart, but she merely placed her old handbag quietly on the desk and turned to walk out.

It was her first time in this place, and Xi Di was completely lost in the maze of corridors and departments. She intended to ask for directions to the coffee area, but her eyes suddenly stopped at the department map proudly displayed on the wall.

Xi Di paused to examine it for a moment, trying to memorize the complex routes. After a while, Xi Di turned and returned to Zuo Jing Ying's office.

Zuo Jing Ying saw Xi Di return awkwardly, and a mocking smile subtly curved her lips. She spoke coldly: "The coffee area is right behind your desk. Not only are you lacking in intelligence, but you're also completely blind to your surroundings."

Seeing Xi Di's patient expression, Zuo Jing Ying's lips twitched. She twirled her pen and ordered: "You have five minutes. Hurry up."

Damn it, that wretched woman! Xi Di gritted her teeth and cursed inwardly. If I ever get her damn signature, I swear I'll stuff her stinking mouth full of black coffee grounds! That foul-smelling demon.

With those dark thoughts, Xi Di stomped to the coffee area, clumsily following Zuo Jing Ying's instructions, making a cup of strong, black coffee, no sugar.

Looking at the coffee, Xi Di couldn't understand why this bitter, medicinal-tasting liquid was so popular, considered by so many to be a charm for staying awake.

Xi Di carefully carried the coffee to Zuo Jing Ying, gently placing the cup on the desk, as if setting down a ticking time bomb.

Not wanting to linger for another second, Xi Di barely touched the cold tabletop before turning to return to her own desk.

Zuo Jing Ying's lips subtly curved into a smile. Her slender hand picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. The familiar taste of coffee seemed stronger than usual today, but what she cared about wasn't the flavor, but its ability to dispel the persistent drowsiness after a night of unrestrained indulgence.

For Zuo Jing Ying, life was a polyphonic symphony, with highs and lows. Intense work had to be balanced with moments of relaxation and enjoyment to the fullest. Otherwise, this life would be nothing more than a dull, uninteresting play.

Setting down the coffee cup, Zuo Jing Ying's gaze inadvertently fell upon the old phone Xi Di held in her hand. It looked as outdated as a relic from a bygone era. She was about to speak, but unexpectedly, the phone's shrill ring broke the silence.

Zuo Jing Ying picked up the phone. Before she could speak, a hoarse, urgent male voice sounded from the other end.

"I understand."

Hanging up the phone, Zuo Jing Ying turned to Xi Di and ordered: "There's a murder case. Grab the toolkit and follow me."

Donning a pristine white lab coat, Zuo Jing Ying looked at Xi Di and coldly asked: "Where's your lab coat?"

Only then did Xi Di remember her oversight. She didn't rush at Zuo Jing Ying's question but calmly unlocked her old handbag. From within, she took out a wrinkled lab coat and slowly put it on.

Seeing that Xi Di was ready, Zuo Jing Ying opened the office door and walked out, her demeanor nonchalant, but her long legs moved like a whirlwind.

Xi Di hurried after her, reaching the door and feeling bewildered, unsure what mode of transport to take.

Suddenly, Zuo Jing Ying's impatient voice came from the black car parked nearby: "Hey, you troublesome thing, aren't you getting in the car yet!"

Xi Di looked towards the car at the sound of the voice, and suddenly recognized the person who had caused her unexpected "rain shower" this morning.

"Troublesome my ass! If I don't slash your tires, I'm not a Xi!" Xi Di gritted her teeth, muttering her dark thoughts.

When she reached the car door, Xi Di placed her hand on the door handle and pulled, but it remained stubbornly still. She pulled harder, but the door stayed silent as a thousand-year-old rock.

Inside the car, Zuo Jing Ying's face was darker than a moonless night sky. She let out a helpless sigh, leaned over, and opened the door for Xi Di, her expression clearly annoyed as she looked at Xi Di.

Xi Di got into the car. This was her first time in her life touching the luxury of a high-end car. But for these superficial material things, Xi Di had no interest whatsoever. She glanced at Zuo Jing Ying, but before she could discern the nuance on that cold face, the car suddenly sped off like an arrow tearing through the wind.

Because she hadn't buckled her seatbelt, Xi Di's head was violently thrown back against the seat by inertia, then violently forward again. If Xi Di's reflexes hadn't been quick enough to raise her hand to shield herself, then by now, a purple bruise would probably have swelled on her forehead.

Frustrated to the point of suffocation, but unable to do anything, Xi Di helplessly looked out the window, her mind constantly conjuring up scenarios of revenge: puncturing tires, dismantling parts to sell for money.

In the cramped space of the car, the silence was so profound one could hear the sound of the tires rubbing against the hot asphalt.

Suddenly, the car braked sharply, a piercing screech tearing through the quiet atmosphere inside. Xi Di was still engrossed in her thoughts of revenge, and once again, she was violently thrown forward by inertia, her poor forehead hitting the rigid dashboard.

A painful "thud" echoed, the throbbing pain quickly spreading across her forehead. Xi Di's eyes blazed with indignation as she looked towards Zuo Jing Ying.

But Zuo Jing Ying merely uttered a cold remark, without a hint of remorse: "It's because you didn't buckle your seatbelt."

Unbuckling her seatbelt, Zuo Jing Ying opened the door and stepped out of the car, leaving Xi Di with a face red with anger, her eyes seemingly spitting fire.

"That wretched woman! Just you wait!" Xi Di gritted her teeth and cursed inwardly.

Without much thought, Xi Di ripped off her dirty shoes, rubbing them hard on Zuo Jing Ying's luxurious leather driver's seat, venting her anger as she rubbed: "Damn you! Zuo Jing Ying, you and I are sworn enemies in this life! If you die, I swear I'll dismember you into a hundred pieces and stuff all that rotten flesh into your filthy mouth! Zuo Jing Ying, you dead woman."

"That won't happen."

A cold voice suddenly rang out, startling Xi Di as if she'd been electrocuted. She looked up and out the window, cold sweat unconsciously beading on her swollen forehead.

"This seat costs two hundred thousand dollars. For cleaning the seat, I'll charge fifty thousand. Considering our teacher-student relationship, I'll give you a discount."

Xi Di quickly put her shoes back on, opened the door, and got out of the car. But she didn't head towards the crime scene; instead, she walked straight up to Zuo Jing Ying, her voice full of challenge: "Do you buy organs? Or do you know anyone who buys and sells organs? If so, let me know, I'll sell! I guarantee the organs are in very good condition, no damage at all!"

Zuo Jing Ying had only intended to scare Xi Di, for she knew perfectly well that even if she lowered the price to ten thousand or even five thousand, this penniless person wouldn't have the money to pay.

Zuo Jing Ying turned her back to Xi Di and said nonchalantly: "Consider us even. But if there's a next time, two hundred thousand will definitely be two hundred thousand."

Earlier, rushing to the scene, she had driven at high speed, paying little attention to the troublesome person beside her. Xi Di's pain in her car was, in a way, her fault. Now that Xi Di had dirtied the driver's seat, they were even.

Suddenly, Zuo Jing Ying turned around, her hand reaching out to firmly grasp Xi Di's thin chin, and coldly spoke: "If I hear you curse me one more time, I'll put you on the operating table and take your organs."

With that, she took long strides, coldly heading towards the crime scene, leaving Xi Di with a belly full of grievances.

Before following Zuo Jing Ying, Xi Di lightly kicked a pebble towards Zuo Jing Ying, raising her middle finger with a provocative expression: "You foul-smelling demon."