Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Chapter 87: Why Is It Her?

As Liu Fuping pressed herself closer to Qiu Tu, her body language and seductive whispers left little to the imagination. She knew exactly how to exploit a man’s weaknesses, unlike Shen Lingshuang, who was still learning the art of seduction. Liu Fuping’s calculated movements—gently brushing against him, then pulling away—created a cycle of anticipation and denial that was difficult for any man to resist.

Despite his best efforts to remain composed, Qiu Tu found himself caught in the sensual trap Liu Fuping had set. His self-control was stretched to its limits, and ultimately, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He pulled Liu Fuping’s waist towards him, closing the distance between them, and whispered in her ear with a deep, magnetic voice, "Sister Liu, you’re playing with fire."

Liu Fuping tilted her head up to meet his gaze, her eyes brimming with a provocative challenge. "Oh? And do you think your flames can dryout my water, Chief?"

The suggestiveness of her words ignited a fire within Qiu Tu, and for a moment, the air between them was thick with tension. It felt as though they were mere moments away from giving in to their impulses, like two piles of dry kindling soaked in gasoline, needing only a spark to erupt into flames.

However, just as things seemed to reach a breaking point, Qiu Tu suddenly felt as though something had been drained from him—a mysterious force that had been influencing his actions dissipated, leaving him abruptly clear-headed. He looked down at Liu Fuping and noticed that her eyes were also losing their haze, gradually returning to their usual sharpness. She appeared both surprised and confused by her earlier behavior, her eyes wide with disbelief.

‘Is the effect of the Rosemary Love Potion really this strong?’ Qiu Tu wondered. ‘Did it actually make Liu Fuping act this way? Was it because we’re of opposite sexes, or was it due to the ambiguous nature of our relationship?’

Despite his internal musings, Qiu Tu didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the situation. He released his grip on Liu Fuping’s waist and backed away slightly. "Sister Liu, please control yourself. I’m a man of principle," he said, trying to regain his composure.

But then, with a playful smirk, he playfully slapped Liu Fuping on the rear, causing her to jump in shock and embarrassment. "That was just a punishment," Qiu Tu added, his tone a mix of seriousness and teasing. "As a superior officer, I have the right to discipline my subordinates for inappropriate behavior."

Liu Fuping, still recovering from her earlier state, glared at Qiu Tu, covering her backside with her hands. "You talk about discipline, but you didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the situation," she retorted.

Qiu Tu, unfazed, replied calmly, "That was purely a form of discipline."

Liu Fuping rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by his justification. "Oh, so you enjoy this kind of play, do you? Next time, why don’t we head straight to the interrogation room? The punishment tools there are much more comprehensive."

For the first time, Qiu Tu found himself momentarily at a loss for words, unable to keep up with her banter. Recognizing the need to steer the conversation back to safer grounds, he quickly changed the subject, asking Liu Fuping about her experience with the potion’s effects.

Liu Fuping, who had been distracted by their previous interaction, hesitated for a moment before responding. She appeared thoughtful, as though trying to piece together her feelings. "It’s hard to describe," she began, crossing her arms beneath her chest as she thought back. "When I first saw you from a distance, I didn’t feel anything unusual. But after taking a few steps toward you, I suddenly felt a strange sense of euphoria and peace, as if I was drawn to you."

Her face reddened slightly as she continued, "Then... I just acted on those feelings. It felt like my desires were amplified, while my rationality was diminished. All I wanted was to lose myself in that feeling."

"It wasn’t until you pushed me away that I finally started to snap out of it," she finished, looking at Qiu Tu with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. "Chief, you didn’t do something, did you?"

Qiu Tu, seemingly ignoring her suspicions, stroked his chin thoughtfully before asking, "And when you approached me, did you think of anything... unusual?"

At the mention of "unusual," Liu Fuping’s face flushed even more, her gaze avoiding his. "No," she said, somewhat unconvincingly.

Qiu Tu narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying her response. Liu Fuping fidgeted with a strand of her hair and then, with a small, embarrassed voice, added, "But I did have a phone call with Director Tang just before I saw you..."

Qiu Tu immediately understood.

As he stroked his chin thoughtfully, Qiu Tu began to analyze the differences between the two individuals who had been affected by the potion, Tian Xiaotian and Liu Fuping. First, there was the matter of gender—Tian Xiaotian was male, while Liu Fuping was female. The potion clearly had a much stronger effect on Liu Fuping, likely due to their opposite sexes. Second, the potion seemed to amplify the person’s current emotional state or desires. Tian Xiaotian, driven by his hatred for A Tai, found solace in Qiu Tu’s apparent camaraderie, leading to an intense outpouring of emotion. Liu Fuping, however, having just had a conversation with Tang Feifei—likely discussing sensitive topics—had her desires amplified to the point of overwhelming her rationality.

Finally, Qiu Tu deduced that the potion took effect immediately upon application and lasted for a specific duration. The sudden cessation of its effects caused a sharp disconnect, which Liu Fuping had clearly felt. This insight gave Qiu Tu valuable knowledge on how to use the potion more effectively in the future.

Qiu Tu realized that he needed to use the Rosemary Love Potion strategically. He decided that the best time to use the potion was when the target was in a good mood and in a favorable state of mind. This would maximize the potion's effect, and it was crucial that he left before the potion's effects wore off to avoid raising any suspicion.

After understanding the general effects of the new potion, Qiu Tu composed himself. Ignoring Liu Fuping's curious gaze, he signaled to her and led her to a nearby empty conference room.

Once inside, Qiu Tu locked the door behind them and started a new topic. "This morning, Tang Feifei's assistant came to see me."

Liu Fuping leaned casually against a table, her right leg crossed over her left, making her legs look particularly long and attractive. With her hands resting on the table and her body slightly reclined, she looked at Qiu Tu without much surprise. "Last night, I subtly mentioned your situation and the case to her," Liu Fuping said. "Although she didn't say much, I could tell she was somewhat interested."

Qiu Tu nodded and then asked, "How much do you know about Tang Feifei? Is there anything special about her that allowed her to reach such a high position at a young age?"

Liu Fuping hesitated before answering, "She's very cautious and never reveals much about herself, so I don't know a lot. However, based on what little she's said, I get the sense that she has some backing in the shelters, though it's not particularly strong. Her rise to the position of Deputy Director at such a young age is partly due to that support, but also because she's incredibly capable."

Liu Fuping paused, then added, "You'll understand once you meet her. She exudes a powerful confidence, like there's nothing in the world that can faze her. It's a quality I've never seen in anyone else—not even in men."

As Liu Fuping continued sharing details about Tang Feifei, including some intimate stories, Qiu Tu's blood began to boil. But as he listened, he also constructed a mental model of Tang Feifei.

‘Strong, confident, and cold. She’s decisive and speaks in a low, icy tone, giving off an unapproachable vibe. Yet, deep down, she's emotionally invested and resilient, always believing she can turn things around even in the face of setbacks.’

‘Hmm... she's a typical "Action-Oriented" type. That's good news. After all, an "Action-Oriented" strong woman is easier to deal with than a "Rational Planner."’

Having determined Tang Feifei's personality type, Qiu Tu refined his plan—he could afford to be more aggressive.

As Qiu Tu was deep in thought, Liu Fuping, who had just finished recounting her stories, glanced at him. Seeing his handsome, sunlit profile, she was momentarily stunned.

For some reason, the earlier intimate moment seemed to have shifted her feelings towards Qiu Tu, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint how.

[Liu Fuping’s loyalty +12]

Seeing the sudden notification, Qiu Tu was momentarily taken aback, interrupting his calculations about how to draw Tang Feifei into his scheme. He glanced down at Liu Fuping, who was still lost in thought, and mentally questioned, "What’s going on with this woman? Why did her loyalty suddenly spike?"

After confirming the details about Tang Feifei with Liu Fuping, Qiu Tu went to retrieve the cataclysmic artifact he had requested the previous day from Jia Shu. Surprisingly, Jia Shu didn't make any cryptic comments or put Qiu Tu in a difficult position. He simply handed over a black box to Qiu Tu.

However, something made Qiu Tu uneasy—Jia Shu had a strange smile in his eyes that gave Qiu Tu goosebumps. Even more puzzling, as Qiu Tu left Jia Shu's office, Jia Shu's Satisfaction Level increased by another 2 points, despite Qiu Tu having done nothing to merit it.

"What's going on? Are all these secret operatives so unpredictable? I haven't done anything, and suddenly one person’s loyalty increases, and another’s satisfaction level rises. This is too bizarre!" Qiu Tu mused, concluding that dealing with regular subordinates was far easier, as at least he could understand their thoughts.

The day quickly passed, and soon it was time to clock out. Qiu Tu sent his team members home, but he violated the investigation team's rule by staying late to work overtime.

His reason for staying was simple—last night, Qin Shuman had agreed to help him investigate the cause of Yin Caimei's death. Patiently waiting in the temporary office, Qiu Tu reviewed the autopsy report Qin the coroner had provided earlier that afternoon while waiting for Qin Shuman to contact him.

As time passed, it was soon 8 PM. Just as Qiu Tu was about to exhaustively analyze the autopsy report for any overlooked details, someone gently knocked on the temporary office door.

Hearing the knock, a smile appeared on Qiu Tu’s face. He set down the autopsy report, adjusted his mood, and then used his deep, magnetic voice to say, "Come in."

The next moment, the office door opened from the outside. A woman walked in gracefully and greeted Qiu Tu with a playful smile, "Impatient, were you?"

Seeing Qin Shuman's new body, Qiu Tu was completely stunned, barely able to control his expression.

"Why is it her?" he thought in disbelief​.

Author's Note