The next day I'll definitely be tired and uncomfortable.

Happy yet in pain.

"Ring ring..."

Luke's phone rang, displaying his father Li Zhaofeng's number on the screen.

"Hey, Dad."

"Luke, are you off work?

Jack mentioned you've been busy lately?"

"Yeah, I've got two or three cases piled up, but I've almost finished with them. I'm at home now, is something up?"

"The New Year is coming soon, can you take some time off?

I want to invite you and Jack to New York for the New Year."

Luke did a quick calculation, "I should be able to, I can take leave."

"How about I book you tickets for the flight on January 19th?"

"Sounds good."

"Your grandparents will be so happy to hear that."

"I'm also looking forward to seeing you all soon."

"Okay, you should get some rest early."

"Good night."

Luke hung up the phone, sighed softly, though they were close family, they hadn't seen each other in a long time, and muttered, "New York."

Gotta finish the cases before then.

...

Black Gil's Bar.

The bar was brightly lit, some were drinking, some chatting, and others were moving in the dance floor, everyone seemed to be in high spirits.

Sitting at a small round table in a corner were a man and a woman.

The man was a white male, about 180 cm tall, wearing black-rimmed glasses, with no beard.

The woman was a black female with a ponytail, average looking but with a curvy figure.

The two were drinking and conversing in low tones.

Not far away, a black man wobbled over, holding a glass, appearing a bit drunk.

The black man sat next to the black woman with the ponytail, eyeing her curvy body, "Hey, your eyes remind me of my first love. Can I buy you a drink?"

The black woman with the ponytail glanced at him, "Do I know you?"

"Not before, but we can change that now. Let me introduce myself, I'm Marcus."

The white man beside her flashed a hint of displeasure, "Hey, she's with someone, why don't you find another spot?"

"Fuck!

Who asked you to speak, white dude?

I'm asking her, not you."

The white man glared at Marcus, his gaze turning icy.

"I can handle this." The ponytail woman waved her hand, signaling the white man to hold off and turned to Marcus, "Are you trying to hit on me?"

"Hehe, is it that obvious?"

"Not only obvious, but also very cliché, very lame." The ponytail woman took a sip of her drink, smacking her thick lips, "Honestly, I'm not interested."

"Oh, you're quite straightforward too."

"Since we've cleared it up, can you let me enjoy my drink?"

Marcus was unwilling to give up, "Hey, why not give it a shot, maybe it'll be better than you expect."

"How do you propose we try? Here? Can you even get it up?" The ponytail woman provoked.

"Haha, I like your spirit. I'm really into fortunetelling. My mom said I have Gypsy blood, I can read your fortune to see if we're compatible."

The ponytail woman pushed up her ample chest, "Okay, then tell my fortune. If you're right, I'll buy you a drink.

If you're wrong, please leave.

How's that?"

"Deal." Marcus agreed with a smile.

"How are you going to read my fortune?"

"Let me see your hand?"

The ponytail woman looked quizzically, "You're sure it's palm reading, not tarot cards?"

The white man beside her laughed, "He just wants to hold your hand, it's so old-fashioned.

I stopped using that trick back in high school."

"Shut up, you damned white guy." Marcus said harshly, throwing down the threat.

"Then hurry with the fortune telling." The ponytail woman interrupted, placing her hand on the table.

Marcus pretended to inspect it, "You must be a cop."

"Cop?" The ponytail woman laughed, looking at the calluses on her hand from gun practice, "Which department do you think I'm from, then?"

Marcus feigned pondering, "Robbery and Murder Department."

The faces of the ponytail woman and her white companion changed.

Seeing their expressions, Marcus felt a thrill, these two were the fake detectives he'd been searching for.

He said to the white man nearby, "Want me to read your fortune as well?"

The white man's smile was a bit forced, "Okay, let's give it a try."

"You're also from the Robbery and Murder Department." Marcus pointed to the white man and then to the ponytail woman, "You two are partners."

The white man spoke with a probing tone, his right hand moving towards his waist, "Keep talking."

Marcus waved his hand as a warning, "Hehe, Detective Chief Jada Landis, don't move recklessly, put your hands on the table, or things will get nasty."

The faces of the white man and the ponytail woman turned very ugly.

The ponytail woman broke out in a cold sweat, fidgeting but afraid to move, sensing that someone or some people unfriendly were closing in.

"Who are you?"

"Robbery and Murder Department, Captain Marcus."