. The midday sun cast a warm glow, and birds chirped from the branches, their songs like a symphony of joy.
Shi Chu stirred, her eyes fluttering open, still heavy with sleep. She stretched languidly, her hand reaching for the personal terminal on her wrist.
11:17 AM. "Ugh, still early," she mumbled. "Might as well catch some more Z's."
She snuggled back into the covers, the warmth a comforting embrace. Just as she drifted off, a jarring "Ding-dong!" shattered the silence.
Shi Chu's brow furrowed, a wave of annoyance washing over her. "Seriously? Who could that be?" she grumbled, her voice laced with irritation.
Silence. Then, "Ding-dong! Ding-dong!" The relentless ringing echoed through the apartment.
With a sigh of resignation, Shi Chu dragged herself out of bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Slippers shuffled against the floor as she made her way to the door.
"Ugh, this better be good," she muttered. "I don't even know anyone here."
Before opening, she glanced at the security monitor. Two figures in the crisp uniforms of the Celia security team stood outside. A flicker of unease sparked in her eyes.
"Celia security? But why?" Her mind raced. "Could it be about yesterday? No, that would be the Outer Rim patrol."
She took a deep breath, pushing down the rising anxiety. "Stay calm," she told herself. "Just stay calm."
Now that they've come knocking on our door, there's no way to avoid it; we'll just have to play it by ear.
She calmly grasped the doorknob and slowly opened the door.
The two people outside the door couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they saw the door finally open.
The older alpha stepped forward, opened his badge, and looked at her seriously, saying, "Hello, Miss Shi Chu. I am the captain of the 12th team of the Celia Security Brigade. We suspect you are involved in an incident. Please come with us now."
Shi Chu carefully examined his identification documents; they were genuine.
It's unbelievable how she, a law-abiding federal citizen who doesn't steal or rob, ended up being approached by the sheriff's team.
Without changing her expression, she said in a calm tone, "Okay, but I need to change my clothes first."
The young alpha outside the door glanced subconsciously at the white nightgown she was wearing, his gaze lingering on the small section of her fair legs that were exposed. His face flushed slightly, and he quickly looked away, coughing lightly to cover his unease.
She turned and walked towards the bedroom, but after taking only two steps, she suddenly turned back to look at them and said, "Would you like to come in and sit down for a bit?"
"No, no need," the young alpha seemed startled and hurriedly said, his voice tinged with haste and embarrassment. "We can just wait outside."
"Oh," Shi Chu simply replied, then continued walking towards the bedroom.
She was worried that these two might think she run away out of fear, so she asked them if they wanted to come in and wait. It seems they trust her a lot; well, what can you expect from a weak beta like her?
That's right, in that short time, she had already made up her mind that no matter what happened, she would first establish herself as a weak and ignorant beta, commonly known as playing dumb.
Inside the bedroom, Shi Chu quickly changed into a cute, unassuming tracksuit.
Outside, the older security guard was scolding the younger one. "Look at you, losing focus like that? Remember your duty!" His voice was stern and deep. "This beta is connected to powerful families. I've told you, stay focused, stay calm, and do your job."
The young alpha hung his head. "I know, Captain. I just... lost my composure for a moment."
Silence hung in the air. The older guard sighed, patting the younger man's shoulder. "It's your first mission. Just be more careful next time. Don't let it happen again."
A few minutes later, Shi Chu emerged, dressed in a light-colored tracksuit, her hair in a high ponytail. She looked innocent and harmless, a picture of naive purity.
She glanced at the guards. "Okay, I'm ready," she said calmly.
They boarded the security team's aircraft, marked with official insignia.
The ride was silent, the atmosphere tense. Shi Chu stared out the window, watching the city blur past.
Soon, they arrived at the Federal Security Service headquarters.
"The Sheriff's Office," she thought, "responsible for civilian security." She gazed up at the imposing building, took a deep breath, and tried to remain calm as she followed the guards inside.
The lobby was solemn, the air thick with seriousness.
Their figures were reflected on the smooth marble floor, and the high ceiling created a strong sense of oppression.
The reception desk is located in the center, and staff members are busily but orderly handling various matters.
They led Shi Chu along the wide corridor, their footsteps clearly audible in the quiet space.
They soon arrived at an interrogation room, where the older security guard gently pushed open the door.
The interrogation room was dimly lit, with a cold metal table and a few chairs in the middle, and several strange machines of unknown purpose placed around it.
"Miss Shi Chu, please wait here for a moment. Someone will come to ask you some questions shortly. You just need to answer truthfully," the older sheriff said.
Shi Chu sat silently in the spot he had designated, her hands clasped tightly together. She looked around uneasily.
"Um, may I ask what happened?" she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly.
"Miss Shi Chu, someone will explain the details to you later. For now, you just need to wait here patiently."
He glanced at the beta girl, who was trying to remain calm but was clearly afraid, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said, "You don't need to be afraid; it's just some necessary questioning."
Shi Chu bit her lip and nodded slightly to indicate that she understood.
Time seemed to stand still, and no one spoke.
She sat there, her hands still tightly clasped together, her palms slightly sweaty.
After an unknown amount of time, the door to the interrogation room was finally gently pushed open.
A group of people walked in, led by a serious-looking middle-aged female beta. She was wearing a crisp uniform and looked at Shi Chu with sharp eyes.
"Miss Shi Chu, I am the specialist in charge of this inquiry."
Her voice was cold and devoid of any emotion: "From now on, I will ask you some questions, and I hope you will answer them truthfully."