Chapter Fifty: The Matter of Aura

The clothes and props that Wang Yuluo used were indeed quite expensive, with an impressive level of accuracy in their recreation. To someone like Ning Shuyi, an outsider, they seemed to be nothing short of a perfect, high-quality replica—far superior, by several degrees, to the photos of other cosplayers she had seen during her research online.

While it's true that the essence of cosplay lies beyond mere appearances and is more about capturing the spirit of the character, who could possibly resist such exquisite, beautifully crafted, and faithful “hardware”? Even if Wang Yuluo did not quite capture the character’s soul, her exceptional “packaging” alone was enough to make her the center of attention. If she truly embodied the character inside and out, she would undoubtedly win the adoration of countless fans. But if she fell short in truly resembling the character and relied solely on costly, dazzling costumes to draw the eye, she would likely become a target of resentment.

A while later, while Ning Shuyi was still pondering Wang Yuluo’s position in the community and doing her research on the computer, Huo Yan returned from the cafeteria. He had even brought back two meat and vegetable buns, which he placed on the edge of her desk.

Somewhat surprised, Ning Shuyi turned to look at him. “Oh, thank you!”

“No need to thank me,” Huo Yan shook his head. “I took your homemade pickles back with me. I don’t like owing people favors.”

“Oh,” Ning Shuyi didn’t bother to debate the intricacies of social interaction with him, nor did she comment on his rather transactional way of relating to others. She simply nodded calmly, “But two buns aren’t enough to cover the favor of the pickles! You’ll have to owe me the rest for now.”

Her words left Huo Yan a little taken aback. He wasn’t used to this kind of reaction—usually people would either lecture him, try to persuade him otherwise, or simply sigh in resignation. Ning Shuyi’s response was entirely new to him.

At a loss, he could only nod and reply, “Alright.”

Ning Shuyi quickly finished the two buns, checked the time, and then got up to fetch a thick, cream-colored jacket from the closet. The jacket was soft and fluffy, with two round ears on the hood and a matching round pompom tail at the back hem.

The jacket was undeniably cute, and paired with Ning Shuyi’s youthful face, it suited her perfectly. She could easily pass for a university student, despite having worked for several years.

Huo Yan noticed her deliberately changing into this outfit, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Ning Shuyi caught his look and explained before he could ask, “We’re about to visit that cosplay club and get a sense of the situation. Since we don’t know anything about what’s going on there yet, there’s no need to let them know we’re police officers right away. Otherwise, people might get nervous, try to cover things up, or even spread rumors, and we’d just waste time trying to sort out the truth. For visits where it isn’t necessary to reveal my identity as an officer, I always try to dress in a more approachable way—especially when I’m talking to neighbors or local aunties. It really helps; when people find you friendly, they’re less guarded.”

Huo Yan glanced at Ning Shuyi in her fluffy jacket—she looked like the bright, well-behaved girl next door, someone it was hard to be wary of.

He looked down at himself. “So what about me? Will I be a hindrance?”

Ning Shuyi gave him a once-over. “No problem. Just wear a mask and try not to talk too much.”

Huo Yan nodded. Before they left, he went out and bought a mask, putting it on before asking, “Is this what you meant?”

Ning Shuyi couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him. What a picture!

Huo Yan was tall, with a lean, muscular frame hidden under a black leather jacket. His jeans, sneakers, and even the mask were all black. With his imposing demeanor and head-to-toe black attire, he didn’t give off a hint of friendliness. Whether he spoke or not, anyone would take him for a special agent or a bodyguard.

“Alright, let’s go!” she said with a nod. There was no point in forcing him to dress any other way—it would only make things awkward. She could always come up with a reason later to justify his presence.

The two of them set out and followed the address to the club’s location.

This cosplay club was also in an office building, though much smaller and far more chaotic than the previous one. The halls were filled with yoga studios, Pilates classes, beauty salons, and photo studios—a jumble of small businesses. The cosplay club was tucked in among them at the dim end of a corridor, its storefront even tinier than the others, consisting only of a pair of glass doors. Were it not for a standee of an anime character by the entrance, Ning Shuyi might have missed it entirely.

One of the glass doors was open, indicating they were accepting visitors. Ning Shuyi and Huo Yan walked right in. Inside, the space was small, laid out as a suite. The outer room was larger, its walls covered with countless photographs—presumably portraits of the club’s cosplayers at various events.

There were also many anime posters, a sofa set with a coffee table against one wall, and several large figurines by the floor-to-ceiling windows, much like those Ning Shuyi had seen in Wang Yuluo’s home. The overall atmosphere was strong.

There were only three other doors: one marked “No Entry,” and the other two labeled “Changing Room” and “Restroom.” That was it—no other rooms.

In the corner, a JBL speaker played a lively Japanese pop song.

As they browsed the photos on the wall, a young man emerged from the “No Entry” room. Seeing two strangers, he paused. “Hello, can I help you?”

“Hi, I just came to have a look,” Ning Shuyi replied with a friendly smile. “A friend of mine used to attend your club’s events and said the atmosphere here was great. I’ve recently started getting into anime myself and thought I’d come check it out.”