Living in the Moment
Juniper's wonderful proposal plan—completely destroyed by Cassian Vance.
I fumed for a long time, but he'd walked off with the ring. No chance of getting it back now.
Fortunately, Juniper had prepared thoroughly. When I returned, shoulders slumped, she handed me a backup ring.
I wanted to kiss her. "You're a genius."
"Gir, always have a Plan B."
I tucked the replacement ring away and went to find Valerian.
He was standing at the water's edge, skimming stones across the dark sea, looking utterly wretched. When I called his name, he turned with red eyes.
"Sister!" He sniffled. "Something terrible happened!"
"What?"
"I just realized—I don't know how to propose!"
I stifled a laugh. "Then I'll teach you. When you see Juniper, kneel on one knee, hold up the ring, and say: Juniper, will you continue this beautiful dream called life with me?"
Valerian stood rooted for five seconds, then lowered his head.
"She'll say yes?"
"If she says no, I'll eat the ring."
"Thank you, Sister!"
He tucked the ring away carefully and ran west. I ran to get Juniper from the other direction.
She sat alone on the rocks, gazing at the dark ocean, looking forlorn.
"They took my ring," I apologized. "Sorry—"
Juniper turned with a radiant smile. Her eyes were bright and luminous.
"Actually, I never needed that ring," she said softly. "I just wanted to know—if it came down to it, would he choose me?"
"He panicked when he saw the test. He's ready. Go."
She stood gracefully. I pointed east and whispered, "Go."
She adjusted her hat, smoothed her dress, and walked toward the sea.
I ran to give them space, tripped over a rock, and landed flat. While sprawled on the ground, I saw Cassian Vance sitting on the rocks ahead.
Part of the rocky outcropping blocked our view of each other. I took one step, and he was right there.
He stood and pulled me up, patting sand off my clothes. "I didn't think you'd fall."
I shot him a furious look and clutched my chest, still rattled. "You thief! Why did you take Juniper's ring?!"
"I didn't know it was hers. I thought this ring was yours."
"It's not mine either!"
"Whose is it, then?"
"Juniper bought it! She's proposing to Valerian!"
"She bought it for him?"
My anger evaporated. I studied him. "You really didn't realize Valerian and I were setting them up?"
"I assumed you were proposing to me."
I threw up my hands. "Where'd you get that idea?"
"Every part of tonight felt like a setup. A couple's activity—beach, waves, campfire. Ring in the bag. If not for her, then naturally..."
"Naturally nothing!"
He gazed at me steadily, and I had to look away.
I muttered, "Look, just give me the ring back. Juniper is proposing right now."
"I gave it to you." He pointed. "Check your right pocket."
I checked—inside was the ring.
"When did you..."
"When you were looking for Valerian."
I stared at him.
"That ring isn't yours to give away," he said quietly. "But I know what it represents. Finders keepers—even if it's only in my pocket for a moment, it'll come back to me eventually."
Such a gangster thing to say.
He smiled—a rare, genuine smile that made him strangely approachable. Then he sat on the rocks and patted the space beside him.
I sat.
The wind from the sea carried a hint of salt. He gazed at the dark water.
Quietly, I asked, "Are you okay?"
His eyes never left the horizon.
"No matter how you look at it, Sin Hunters have been exposed. Nolan Kane and his people saw the news. They'll enhance surveillance. We're in danger. And he... he's too thoughtless."
He meant Valerian. Even in this moment, he was worrying about others.
"Is that why you told me to stay close during the meeting?"
"Yes. You need to be careful."
"Why are you so worried about me?"
He turned and looked at me.
We'd been sitting close. His stare was intense—and I couldn't look away. He drew nearer, and the air between us thickened.
In the darkness, his lips hovered before mine.
I pressed my fingers to his. "Not yet."
He stopped. Pulled back slightly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
I rested my head against his shoulder and whispered, "I'm not ready yet. Can we wait? I'm not rejecting you—I'm just not ready."
He nodded and wrapped an arm around me.
In the silence, I heard the faint sound of crying from far away.
"Do you hear that?" I asked.
"Mm. Juniper."
"Should we go see?"
"No. Let them have their moment."
I nodded, smiling.
The wind off the ocean grew colder. He took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
I nestled against him, warm and content.
Further down the beach, I could barely make out two figures in the moonlight—Valerian on one knee, Juniper covering her face with both hands, tears streaming.
A long time later, they walked back toward us, hand in hand.
Juniper spotted us first and waved, calling out, "Sister!"
I shouted back, "Congratulations!"
Valerian beamed. "Sister! Juniper said yes!"
Juniper covered her face, crying and laughing.
I patted her head gently. "You picked a good one."
"I was worried he'd say no—say he wasn't good enough for me, that he couldn't give me a good life."
"Aw, babe!" Valerian squeezed her hand. "I'll always give you the best life I can."
Juniper sniffled. "You're so corny."
We walked back together. I glanced behind me and saw Cassian Vance following at a distance, as usual.
But my heart felt full.
The next morning, I woke to discover Cassian Vance had left for work. Valerian and Juniper were still dreaming—I could hear their gentle breathing through the wall.
I headed back to the recreation room. If the Sin Hunter tier adjustments were happening, I needed details.
When I arrived, several people were sitting on the steps outside.
I recognized one—the man I'd kicked yesterday. He looked much softer today, sitting beside another Sin Hunter, stone-faced and sad.
The man I'd kicked watched my approach, clearly conflicted. He wasn't looking for trouble—he wore a different expression entirely. He was waiting for someone.
His companion turned when he heard me. When he saw my face, he jumped up as if I were an enemy—until his friend stopped him.
The man I'd kicked called out, "Dandelion!"
I walked over. He spoke hesitantly, "Yesterday I was wrong. I shouldn't have vented on you."
He lowered his head. "It's just... we'd been through so many life-and-death missions. He told me he was going to propose when he came back. He asked me to be his best man..."
His companion shed tears. "He never came back, and now I've lost my partner. He has no one to mourn him. They had the memorial inside Judgment Tower—apparently it was moving. But I couldn't even attend. I keep thinking—if I'd gone with him, could he still be alive?"
My heart squeezed. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I was wrong. It had nothing to do with you."
I patted his shoulder. "We're still colleagues. You're welcome to find me anytime."
He nodded, still looking sad. "Thank you."
Walking away, I couldn't shake my melancholy. If only Sin Hunters hadn't been exposed, these things wouldn't have happened.
If only I'd taken a different path, they'd still be alive.
A vengeful spirit devours everything surviving from that place—that's what the Sin Hunter motto meant. So much bitterness and loss, but at least some love remained.
My phone buzzed—an anonymous message.
An address, followed by: Come now. —Jude Morrow
I recognized the name. The person Nolan Kane had told me about—the one from the future on the cross-time phone.
The first Sin Hunter, the one who built Judgment Tower.
What did he want with me?
I debated whether to go, but Jin Yudi had already appeared outside the gate, expressionless as always, beside an expensive car.
"I'm your driver. I'll take you."
"What if I refuse?"
"Then I wait until you change your mind."
Jane's stubbornness was legendary. I got in.
The address led to a luxury villa district—strange for someone who'd once led Judgment Tower. Nothing about it suggested a Sin Hunter base.
"Get out," Jin Yudi said. "This is as close as I'm allowed. Find your own way in."
I entered through an ornate iron gate and found an impressive manor house. The interior was modern, all sleek design and high-end furniture.
Walking inside, I heard breathing in the living room. There was Jude Morrow—a middle-aged man with gray at his temples, leaning on a cane, looking exhausted even while sitting.
Beside him stood a young woman pouring tea—Adrian Cross.
I froze. Then, on reflex, I backed toward the door.
Jude Morrow said, "Don't worry. She won't hurt you here."
Adrian Cross looked at me, face unreadable. "I made tea. Have some."
She held out a cup. I examined her—was this real?
Last time we met, she'd tried to arrest me.
Jude Morrow's voice was gentle. "Sit down. The three of us need to talk."
I sat across from them, hyper-alert.
Our eyes met. His were calm and knowing, as if he'd already read everything about my life.
He sipped tea and said, "A vengeful spirit devours everything surviving from that place—I wrote those words. I'm the first Sin Hunter. You inherited not just my position, but my ideals. I built Judgment Tower to protect, but over time it became something else entirely."
He set down his cup and looked at me. "That news broadcast was Adrian Cross's doing. She released it to try dismantling Judgment Tower. She thought she was saving people. But she was wrong. Judgment Tower isn't just about enforcing justice—it protects Sin Hunters too. I'm not asking you to place blame, but you need to understand: things aren't always so black and white. I've gathered you two here because I'm hoping you can cooperate rather than confront."
I asked, "Why should we cooperate? She arrests criminals. We enforce our own justice. Different paths, same endpoint."
He coughed. "Different paths, same endpoint—exactly. You can't destroy each other. Judgment Tower must continue. And the police need someone like Adrian Cross—she can protect the innocent on the legitimate side. While she provides official protection, you provide the other kind."
"And what happens when we inevitably crash into each other?"
"Consider it a training exercise. Every time you clash, you grow."
I asked, "And what about you? Are you going to disappear again?"
He smiled bitterly. "My time has passed. The world's changing. The phone that connected past and future has been getting weaker. My health is failing. I just... wanted to leave something behind."
Lift the cup, drain the tea. One gesture said it all.
He stood with his cane, and Adrian Cross helped him up. He walked slowly toward the door.
"I'm off. To wherever old men like me go."
"Where?"
He turned, smiling. "Does it matter? Live in the moment. That's what Sin Hunters do."
He left. I sipped my tea in silence.
Adrian Cross sat across from me. We were finally alone.
From a bamboo container, she drew two paper cups and set them before me.
"Truth or dare. Pick one."
I looked at her. "You're a detective?"
"Cold-case unit, actually. Let me reintroduce myself."
She stared at me memorably, then wrote on the cup—SU QINGHE.
"I already know."
"Then write yours."
I picked up a pen and wrote LIU JING on the other cup.
She looked at my name, then at me.
"Did you really think I'd arrest you?"
"The thought crossed my mind."
"In this neighborhood? I'd be the one ending up in handcuffs. This place is safer for you than me."
"Forget I said anything."
We sat in silence for a moment, then Adrian Cross spoke.
"I released that broadcast because I believe Judgment Tower threatens lives."
"And I'm here because I don't."
"Then we have nothing to discuss."
She walked to the window with her cup. "I envy you. You're free to roam. I'm in the cold-case unit, but I can never finish my work."
"Then why do it?"
She turned back. "Because every cold case has someone who's been waiting years for justice. I'm the last hope—maybe my only real value."
I had to admit—her answer carried weight.
We talked for hours. About cases, about meaning, about why we each did what we did. By the end, the sun was setting.
I drained my remaining tea, stood, and said, "I've always resented you. You killed my husband."
Adrian Cross stood too. "And I'd do it again if I had to. A criminal is a criminal."
"Yes," I said quietly. "Same path from now on. I won't seek revenge. But I won't forgive either."
"Fair enough."
We locked eyes one final time. Neither of us blinked.
Then she turned and walked away.
I stepped outside, where Jin Yudi waited in the car.
"Where to?"
"Home."
As we drove, I reflected—this day had started with Valerian's proposal and ended with an understanding between rivals. Peace wasn't friendship. It was simply the absence of war.
Maybe that was enough for now.
I looked out at the city lights and whispered, "Same path, different journeys."