Chris stopped for a moment and then leaned forward, placing both hands on the desk in front of Marianne. His seemingly endless dark eyes drew closer.

Marianne involuntarily shuddered at this unexpected proximity. Chris, noticing her reaction, subtly tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Was your commute lonely?”

“Chris.”

In response to Marianne’s call, he raised his eyebrows this time, still staring at her. She pointed with her finger at the stack of documents on the desk.

“I’m in charge of document organization, Chris.”

“…”

He looked at Marianne, puzzled by her words. She confidently tapped his shoulder.

“Since you came in later than me, you’re my junior. Just organize the documents by case and date. It’s not that difficult, so someone as sharp as you should be able to handle it. I’ll take a short break and be back, then. Good luck.”

Marianne got up from her seat. Just before leaving the office, she paused, turned her head, and spoke. Chris, with a furrowed brow, was still staring at the stack of papers.

“Oh, reading a case report might help you get a grasp of the work.”

With that, Marianne confidently walked away. Now he seemed to understand why Yan was so stubborn whenever she was around.

“Seniors are something else.”
Marianne stifled her emerging laughter and sat down on a bench outside the police station’s entrance. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, basking in the warm spring sunshine that poured over her cheeks like a light drizzle.

It was a pleasant day. The sun was mild, and the breeze was refreshing. Somewhere, a tangy saltiness lingered in the air. The deep, pitch-black sea, with its endless undulations, vividly came to her mind, much like Christoph’s eyes.

“Are you being lazy?”

Then, a thick shadow cast over her head. Marianne, maintaining her relaxed expression, opened her eyes slightly. Someone was looking down at her from behind.

It took her a moment to recognize the person because his face was upside down. Eventually, her eyes flashed with a welcoming recognition.

“Dr. Liam.”

With a slight tug at the corner of his mouth, Liam, resting his elbows on the backrest, lazily tilted his head towards her. He greeted her warmly.

“Being lazy already as a newbie, huh? It seems Nicholas was more lenient than I thought.”

“That’s not true. The new recruit just came in, gave some instructions, and left. I need a little break before heading inside.”

“Newbie, huh?”

Liam chuckled with an expression of mild bewilderment. If a new recruit had joined, he should have heard about it, but Marianne’s arrival seemed to be a surprise.

“So, what are you doing here? Laziness?”
“Hahaha. I can hardly believe it. I came here on an inspection request, and I’m on my way back after finishing the job.”

“You’re heading back now?”

Marianne gazed at the setting sun in the eastern sky. Liam let out a light sigh and rubbed his eyes. It was then that she noticed the shadows under his eyes.

“Yes. I’ve been up all night.”

“Oh, that’s tough.”

“I don’t have a newbie to delegate my work to, you see. So, in that sense, how about having dinner together tonight?”

“…….?”

What did he mean by “in that sense”?

Taken aback by the sudden proposal, Marianne closed her mouth with a puzzled expression. When she didn’t respond easily, Liam continued in a casual tone.

“I don’t have any sinister intentions. It’s a congratulations for successfully wrapping up your first case… as an excuse. Truthfully, I haven’t been in Blauberg for long, and I don’t have anyone here I could call a friend. Eating alone is getting dull. If it’s okay with you, would you have dinner with me?”

At that, Marianne let out a small laugh. Conversations with Liam were comfortable. It felt like talking to an old friend.

In that regard, Christoph was not such a comfortable person. Around him, she could never relax for a moment, and his words always made her heart fluctuate.

It was the same even now, after she had filed for divorce from him, just like when his gaze had suddenly approached her a while ago.
“Come to think of it, I don’t have anyone I could call a friend… at the moment.”

A bittersweet smile graced her lips. Veronica, who could have been called a friend, was no longer of this world. Every time she realized that fact, it felt like a hole was pierced through her heart.

Liam, who had been scrutinizing her face, suddenly tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“How about two people without friends becoming friends?”

“Really?”

Marianne nodded enthusiastically.

“Deal.”

Stretching as he stood up, Liam ran his fingers through his neatly trimmed beard and said, “Well, I should probably freshen up for our dinner date tonight.”

“But didn’t you say we’re becoming friends? No sinister intentions?”

“Hmm… Let’s define it as a friend who might develop sinister intentions.”

With a mischievous grin, Liam charmed her with a playful, boyish smile.

In the end, Marianne couldn’t help but smile back at him. Unlike his words, there was no hint of malevolence in his expression.

“I’ll come to pick you up when it’s time.”