Inside the Video Store on Sixth Street.
After Hoshimi Aya returned to the Video Store, she entered the secret room and viewed Eous's perspective.
From Eous's perspective, he maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, observing Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi.
He was also continuously helping Qing Yi and Zhu Yuan pursue the criminal.
Finally, they apprehended that criminal.
...
"Let's go back and take a look," Zhe suggested.
Ling nodded in response.
They prepared to go back to the alley where the incident occurred.
"... I won't go over there."
Hoshimi Aya refused, as she wasn't concerned with such matters.
Besides, she seemed to recall that the previous film was stored in a cabinet.
This incident should take a long time to handle, right?
Sneaking a peek at one film shouldn't be a problem, right?
Seeing this, Ling and Zhe didn't press the issue. After all, they understood Hoshimi Aya's personality; she probably had other things she was interested in doing.
After confirming the two had left, Hoshimi Aya handed over the situation downstairs to Number 18 and quickly ran upstairs.
"Where did Ling put the key to that cabinet again?"
As she spoke, Hoshimi Aya started searching for the cabinet key.
She finally found it near Ling's shoe cabinet.
"I'll lock the door tightly this time, and when Ling gets back, I'll put everything back."
Hoshimi Aya acted immediately, locking the door from the inside.
She replayed the chapter she hadn't finished watching last time.
Her legs unconsciously began to rub against each other slightly again.
...
After Ling and Zhe saw that the situation with Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi was resolved, they returned to the Video Store.
"What's going on?"
"Why is the room door locked from the inside?"
Ling asked Number 18 about Hoshimi Aya's whereabouts. Upon hearing she was upstairs, she went up to look for her.
But she didn't expect the room to be bolted from the inside.
Inside the room, Hoshimi Aya was frantically trying to put everything back in its original place.
"Something feels off."
"Aya, are you in the room?"
Ling said, knocking on the door.
A moment later, Hoshimi Aya opened the door.
"Ling, I was watching a horror movie."
"I locked the door because I was afraid you guys would barge in suddenly."
Hoshimi Aya said awkwardly, reciting the excuse she had prepared.
Ling frowned upon hearing Hoshimi Aya's words, sensing something was wrong.
"Aya, you're acting strangely!"
"You're lying!"
Ling narrowed her eyes, staring at Hoshimi Aya's slightly drooping ears.
Hoshimi Aya became nervous when Ling accused her, slightly afraid of being discovered, especially since Ling had explicitly forbidden her from watching.
Ling began checking things inside the room but didn't find anything amiss.
However, just as Ling sat down on the sofa, the hand supporting her seemed to brush against something.
Ling: "????"
Ling walked over to Hoshimi Aya, looked at the back of Hoshimi Aya's pants, and noticed a small spot that was somehow dirty.
Hoshimi Aya didn't seem to notice this point.
"Aya!!"
Having confirmed something, Ling grabbed Hoshimi Aya's ear.
"Didn't you promise me you wouldn't watch that?!"
Ling questioned.
"Huh?!"
"What is it?"
"I was watching a horror movie."
Hoshimi Aya played dumb upon hearing Ling's words.
She was certain she had put everything back in place; Ling couldn't possibly find anything.
Unless she used a microscope.
"Still pretending!"
"Look at your pants!"
"I told you, you're too young to watch that kind of film!"
Ling said angrily, pointing at the area of Hoshimi Aya's pants.
"Ah?!"
Hoshimi Aya looked at her pants in confusion and let out a sound. When did they get dirty?
Suddenly realizing something, Hoshimi Aya smiled awkwardly, fiddling with her fingers as she thought about how to smooth things over.
"Aya, this is your last chance."
"I will dispose of those things in the next few days."
"Don't even think about watching them; they are not for someone your age."
Ling said angrily while holding her ear.
She looked very angry about the matter.
"Got it, got it."
Hoshimi Aya replied perfunctorily, the words she just heard already flying out of the other ear.
Seeing Hoshimi Aya's attitude, Ling knew she hadn't taken her warning to heart at all.
"Forget it, I'll dispose of all these films tonight."
With that, Ling took out the films and snapped them one by one under Hoshimi Aya's reluctant gaze.
"..."
Finally, Hoshimi Aya sighed dejectedly and threw all the residue into the trash can in the garage.
...
Saturday
The three arrived near the location of the Public Security Bureau to attend this traveling performance.
However, due to the large crowd, Hoshimi Aya wore a hat and a mask.
"There are quite a few people."
"But they are all familiar faces,"
Hoshimi Aya said, looking at the familiar faces around her.
"Most of the people here are neighbors from Sixth Street."
"It's normal to see familiar faces," Zhe explained.
"Look, it's Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi. Let's go over and see them."
Saying that, Ling pulled Hoshimi Aya along to walk over.
...
Meanwhile, on Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi's side.
Zhu Yuan was already nervously drinking several cups of tea.
She relaxed slightly when she saw familiar people approaching.
"Hello to both managers and little sister Aya."
Qing Yi greeted them.
"Tsk!"
"Aya is fine, but what's with 'little sister Aya'?"
Hoshimi Aya was displeased upon hearing Qing Yi call her 'little sister Aya'.
"Yes, yes, Aya," Qing Yi quickly corrected himself, paying no mind to Hoshimi Aya's attitude.
"You two look to be in high spirits. It seems the preparations for the lecture went smoothly,"
Ling said with a smile.
"That's all thanks to everyone on Sixth Street. Besides signing up enthusiastically, they also helped us promote it in several other districts,"
Zhu Yuan replied with a smile.
"Zhu Yuan, I heard you have to go on stage later with the Officer to answer citizen questions. My sister, myself, and Aya have been eagerly waiting to question you,"
Zhe said with a smile.
Upon hearing Zhe's words, Zhu Yuan immediately became nervous. "Ah?! No way? Spare me..."
"Pfft! You guys don't know yet?"
"Zhu Yuan is most afraid of these kinds of situations. To prevent herself from coughing nervously later, she has already drunk three pots of tea from me," Qing Yi explained to the group with a rare smile.
Suddenly, a male Public Security Officer walked over, brought a report, and informed them that Officer Bringer would arrive shortly.
Qing Yi immediately noticed an abnormal detail on the report.
He quickly found an excuse and left with Qing Yi. Zhe, who also felt something was wrong, led the two to a hidden spot to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two.
...
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