Divine Oracle [Transmigration] (ORACLE)
The millet porridge in the bowl suddenly lost its appeal.
Song Si's mood was somewhat complicated. As an outsider who had taken over this body, he hadn't been in this identity for long. Initially, he had adopted a "live each day as it comes" mentality, just wanting to enjoy his final days in this world. But with the original owner's memories returning and deepening relationships with colleagues, his sense of self-identity was gradually becoming blurred. It seemed he was truly becoming Song Si—or perhaps Song Si was becoming him.
"What if—I mean what if," Song Si put down his spoon, "the investigation leads to a result you can't accept?"
Outside, the sky was beginning to brighten. Soft morning light streamed through the window, casting a smiling shadow along Chu Mingyi's well-defined nose and lips.
There was no denying it—this man was extremely handsome.
He took a casual bite of his fried dough stick, seemingly pondering Song Si's question. After a moment, he said, "Not being able to accept something is emotional, but facts are objective and can't be changed. What, have you remembered something?"
Song Si shook his head and picked up his spoon to continue eating the porridge.
Perhaps by this time tomorrow, after Chu Mingyi emerged from his Sea of Consciousness, they would be sitting across from each other in a completely different way.
This thought suddenly made Song Si feel that every second right now was precious.
The small bowl of millet porridge didn't last long. As he finished it, Song Si leaned back in his chair, physically and mentally exhausted to the extreme, yet strangely unable to sleep—instead, he was in a peculiar state of excitement.
If the investigation truly pointed to "Song Si," even if he was just a later occupant of this body, he should still make proper amends to all victims on behalf of its original owner.
This might very well be their last meal together.
These thoughts kept swirling in Song Si's mind as he watched Chu Mingyi finish his fried dough stick. Turning it over in his mind, he felt there was still one regret—one thing he absolutely had to ask while he still had this final opportunity.
He sat up straight, fixing the man across from him with a serious gaze as he carefully chose his words. Chu Mingyi, unsettled by his stare, put down his chopsticks with a look that clearly said "spit it out."
"Chief Chu," Song Si said carefully, "Although I've unfortunately lost my memory, I believe we must have maintained a very pleasant working relationship before—partners for many years with seamless cooperation..."
Chu Mingyi was visibly unnerved by his preamble: "Get to the point."
Song Si: "Did we really sleep together???"
Chu Mingyi: "..."
Song Si continued: "Even putting aside the superior-subordinate relationship, I was engaged to your brother. This... no matter how you look at it, it's not good, right? Even romance novels aren't this dramatic. I'm really bothered by this."
Chu Mingyi made a "tsk" sound, seemingly unwilling to engage, and stood up to pay the bill.
With floor-to-ceiling windows on their left, Song Si stretched his leg to block the exit on the right, preventing Chu Mingyi from leaving.
Thinking about how they were about to enter his Sea of Consciousness, Song Si threw caution to the wind: "Is it true or not?"
"You're really pushing it," Chu Mingyi shot Song Si a glare. When Song Si didn't back down, he stood his ground for a few seconds before sighing and lowering his voice. "Brother Si, Director Song, I was wrong, okay? We never slept together. I lied. I thought you were pretending to have amnesia—who knew it was real? If you ask me, I regret it now, really regret it. Shouldn't have run my mouth like that..."
Song Si retracted his leg and followed him to the checkout counter. "Then how do you have the key to my place?"
"What place?"
"The second floor of the clinic," Song Si said. "I don't even have a key, yet you just waltzed right in."
Chu Mingyi replied, "...That's not your place. That's the dormitory for Division Three! As your superior, it's not strange for me to have a spare key, is it?"
Song Si frowned. "Then where is my home? I remember living on the second floor of the clinic."
After paying, Chu Mingyi picked up the takeout fried chicken and porridge for Fu Xi, pausing for a long moment before speaking in a peculiar tone. "You've been engaged to my brother for years. Of course, you live in our Chu family's villa."
Song Si turned to study his face.
All special abilities vanished when it came to Chu Mingyi—he couldn't sense his emotional fluctuations.
Something about that statement felt off.
Song Si said, "I can't remember. Not a single impression."
"Once this case is over, I'll take you back to stay for a while. Maybe it'll stimulate that sensitive brain of yours and help you remember something."
Song Si sighed.
The conversation seemed to have run its course, and silence fell between them as they walked back.
Dawn came quickly; by the time they finished their meal, the sun was already lazily perched atop the office buildings, forcing them to squint.
The air quality in M City wasn't great, with thin smog lingering in the morning air.
Song Si inhaled the chilly air, stuffing his cold hands into his pockets. "Chief, what's your ability?"
Chu Mingyi didn't answer immediately. After a while, he said, "I don't have a special ability."
Having been fooled once already, Song Si immediately retorted, "I don't believe you."
Chu Mingyi only chuckled but didn't explain, leading him back to the office.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, they saw Lin Zheng standing outside, his left hand clad in a thick glove. He seemed to have been waiting for them for a while and stopped them at the elevator entrance, lowering his voice. "Section Four came by earlier. Somehow, they got into an argument with Fu Xi."
Faintly, raised voices could be heard from the office—none of them Fu Xi's. It was hard to imagine the mild-mannered Fu Xi arguing with anyone.
Chu Mingyi's expression remained unchanged as he listened at the door for a moment before curling his lips into a smirk. "They actually came. Bold of them to send a few lackeys to pick a fight on my turf."
He shoved the fried chicken into Song Si's hands and strode in with an imposing air.
Song Si was about to follow and watch the commotion when something suddenly tugged at him.
He turned to find Lin Zheng's left hand gripping his forearm tightly. Song Si wasn't in his ability state and couldn't hear the hand's consciousness, so he could only look at Lin Zheng in confusion. "Brother Zheng, what's wrong?"
Lin Zheng was the oldest member of the team, with a buzz cut and a military background from his younger days. He always stood ramrod straight, exuding a steady presence. Now, he frowned slightly and muttered an apology to Song Si before looking down at his left hand. "Let go!"
The left hand clenched even tighter, causing the skin on his arm turning pale from the pressure. Song Si reached out with his other hand, patting the gloved figure and making a gesture to shake hands: "Hey, you're hurting me."
The left hand quickly released him and grasping Song Si's hand before Lin Zheng could react, giving two light scratches in his palm with an expression that seemed both playful and aggrieved.
Song Si simultaneously sensed two distinct emotions. He exchanged a covert signal with "Lin Chen," scratching back twice to indicate "message received."
Lin Chen happily splayed its fingers and rubbing against Song Si's cheek before turning to its owner and slapping Lin Zheng's right shoulder with enough force to make the impact audible.
Lin Zheng's expression darkened as he tightly gripped his left hand before pulling the glove's opening shut: "Apologies, it's been emotionally unstable lately."
"It thinks it's too hot," Song Si reminded him. "It would feel cooler without the glove."
Lin Zheng knew this perfectly well—the thing had been whining eight hundred times a minute in his mind. He forced a smile at Song Si: "It's fine."
Two parts of one person were simultaneously furious, making the situation far less peaceful than it appeared.
Song Si didn't interfere with their tug-of-war, simply saying: "After this case wraps up, I'll take a look at you both."
He paused, then added: "If the case goes smoothly, that is."
Lin Zheng regarded him gently and nodded: "Alright."
From inside came Chu Mingyi's voice: "Song Si!"
Song Si entered the office first to find it packed. Chu Mingyi and Fu Xi stood on the left while the others clustered on the right, the two groups subtly squared off in a heavy atmosphere.
Still carrying the fried chicken, Song Si brought its aroma with him. Standing between the factions, he asked: "Chief Chu, what's going on?"
"Conducting supervision records," Chu Mingyi said, his words directed at Song Si but his eyes fixed on the Fourth Division personnel. "Right here."
Someone attempted mediation: "Chief Chu—"
Chu Mingyi cut them off: "Song Si is from my Third Division. Is there any problem doing supervision records in our own office? See those conference rooms behind us? Ten available—take your pick."
"That's not what we meant," another voice interjected. "Our facilities are more comprehensive, and—"
"Are we doing this or not?!" Chu Mingyi slammed the table. Someone's potted plant wobbled, toppled from its perch atop documents, and crashed to the floor with a resounding smash.
The office fell dead silent.
From the far right, Fu Xi spoke unhurriedly: "We'll proceed in Chief Chu's office."
As others opened their mouths to protest, their leader gestured restraint: "Our division head is away on business today. Let's follow Director Fu's suggestion."
The subtext being: with their boss absent, they couldn't win this standoff, and any fallout would land on Fu Xi's shoulders.
Fu Xi glanced at his colleagues, clearly unwilling to make things difficult for them, and added: "I'll explain to Brother An later."
After exchanging looks, the group gradually dispersed toward the conference rooms.
Song Si handed the fried chicken to Fu Xi: "Your order."
Fu Xi thanked him without visible emotion, taking the food to eat alone by the window. Song Si turned to Chu Mingyi, whose expression suggested imminent combustion. The chief spoke in a carefully measured tone: "I've recalled Yu Yiming's team. When Fourth Division questions you later, answer truthfully."
Song Si began to understand a thing or two.
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