Okay, so here I am. It took me a while to finish it but made it in time :) 

Hope you enjoy this chapter.  <3 <3 

Tuesday, 28. April

Yibo's POV

Everyone is going crazy here... well, except for me. My father and King Qilin at first did not want to call the police but after Yi Fei insisted on it, the police arrived 20 minutes later. They questioned everyone but no one saw anything. While everything sank into chaos, I sneaked away up into my room and quickly dialed a number.

"Yibo?" Brother answered after the first ring and I tried my best to not laugh.

"Brother, father just got a white envelope." I managed to say before I started laughing hysterically.

"What? A white...-? You mean the Halfmoon Thief announced something?" Brother asked surprised.

"Yes. He is after the crown." I laughed happily.

"Yibo, as much as I understand how happy you might be, stop laughing. That is still a serious matter."

"I am s-sorry... but that's just too... too funny." I laughed and heard my brother chuckling.

"I know. But there is no way he would succeed, Yibo. The crown is going to be fully guarded. Not even the Halfmoon Thief can get close to it."

"Up till now, he stole everything he announced," I answered after I finally stopped laughing.

"Yibo, his previous thefts were small things and were only guarded by the police. The crown is way too important, not only for your father but for at least two countries. There will be the police, security, and a lot of bodyguards. They will probably bring the crown to a safer place too. I don't want to take away your hopes, Yibo, but I also don't want you to be disappointed in the end."

I understand what my brother wanted to say and I knew he was right but still.... Not once did the Halfmoon Thief fail. Why should he now?

"Brother, I believe that he will not fail this time too," I said determinedly and heard my brother sighing.

"Alright. But don't be too disappointed when he should fail. In any case, I will visit you tomorrow."

"Are you sure? What if you meet father...?"

"I don't care about him at all. I only care about you. I have so many things I want to talk to my little brother before his wedding and moving to another country." He answered and I could hear he was sad. There was only one thing that could have been the reason for that.

"Is it about Zoey? She passed her Exams, right? When will she...?"

"She passed and graduated as one of the best." He answered proudly before his voice turned sadder. "Her flight to London will be on Saturday evening,"

"I see...I am sorry, Brother," I said and pitied him. Once Zoey and Yuan were in London and I in Myanmar, well, of course only, if the thief would not succeed, which I doubt, he would be all alone. That was one reason I hoped the thief would succeed in his plans.

We talked a little more about Zoey's graduation before we ended the call.

After the phone call, I tried to call Zhan-ge but his phone was off. I sighed before going back down into the living room to check on the situation. It was loud, the police tried to make plans on how to protect the crown while my father was not satisfied with any of them. Yi Fei sat on the couch and looked unhappy. Of course, she was. She looked up and met my eyes. She walked up to me and forced a smile.

"Don't worry. With so many people protecting the crown, there is no way he can steal it." She said and it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself.

"If you believe that, why do you look so unhappy?" I asked her amused and she looked at me for a while.

"Yibo... perhaps .... I mean, what if..." She stopped and shook her head. "I am confused and scared. That must be the reason. I think it was too big of a shock for all of us and that is why everyone behaves so unusual." She said and hugged me.

I did not move but observed the others in the room. My father was furious about the situation and the police wanted to catch the thief so badly, yet they knew it was my father's decision how to proceed.

Yi Fei let me go and kissed my lips softly. "Everyone is just confused. We will go through that together, Yibo." She smiled and turned towards her father who called her. I looked after her until I heard a voice behind me.

"Hello, Yibo."

I turned around and saw Officer Song. "Hello, Officer. I guess that are not the best circumstances to meet each other again."

"True. It's my case. I have to catch him this time or I will lose my job. I already let him escape far too many times. But I have to say, this time he chose the wrong victim. There is no way he can escape this time. I have to make sure to catch him."

"Mhn..." I mumbled and he raised his brows.

"You don't look happy about this. HaoXuan already hinted that you are not happy with his marriage. Is that true?"

"It is. That is why I am happy that he chose my father as the next victim. I know once the crown is gone, I will only be spared from this wedding for a while until a new crown was made. As you probably know, the law in Myanmar states that the future king has to get married wearing the crown. But the theft will give me time to cancel this wedding once and for all."

"Isn't the princess a good person?"

"She is. I never said she wasn't. But I don't have feelings for her. How it would have turned out if I met her under different circumstances, I cant tell. Maybe I would have fallen for her. But with so much pressure from every side, it wasn't possible. My heart belongs to someone else already. I think I might have turned out to be a different person as I always wanted to be."

"And what kind of person is that?"

"A good husband who loves his wife and would never cheat on her. That is someone I always wished to be but now I know that I will be the exact opposite. I will not give up on the person I love. I know it's unfair for the princess and also unfair for Zhan-ge, but for the first time, I want to be selfish. And I will be."

"Zhan-ge as in Xiao Zhan?" Officer Song asked and frowned.

"Yes. Why so surprised? Didn't you know about him and me? I thought HaoXuan would have told you." I said and saw him blushing. "Yeah, I know about you and HaoXuan. I mean, I saw you kissing in the bakery after all."

His face turned redder and he looked away. "I see. Well... yeah..." He answered and I smiled. "By the way, is he not here?"

"Who? HaoXuan? No. He and Zhan-ge were fired. I don't know why though...." I answered.

"Maybe your father knows about your .... relationship with Xiao Zhan."

"I doubt that. How could he? We were careful not to be seen by him."

"What about him?" Officer Song said and pointed towards Feng Ming Jing who kept a close eye on me.

"No way... we were careful...." I answered and he nodded.

"Hm... who knows what is happening in your father's head. Right now he declines every plan we suggest because he thinks it's way too dangerous. But I don't care about it. I don't care what your father wants and plans. I have to catch the thief. I am sorry for you too."

"Why?"

"I know you .... you kind of look forward to it that the Halfmoon Thief steals the crown. I can understand that somehow. But I can't let him succeed. Not only because I will lose my job when I do but also to protect all future victims."

"Do your work then." I smiled and he frowned again.

"You are not mad or disappointed? I thought you would be. Aren't you way too confident that the crown will be stolen?"

"Why should I? It's your job, right?" I answered and chuckled. "It's just ... you never caught him before so why would you this time? I doubt that you can catch him, Officer. Anyway, I wish you good luck." I grinned at his surprised face and walked upstairs back into my room.

I stayed up there until I saw the police leaving the house and positioning themselves in all kinds of corners to observe this building. I also saw Officer Song.

That was stupid. The Thief would come tomorrow night so why observing the house tonight already. They didn't even let in the delivery service. Our servants, escorted by bodyguards, had to pick up the packages in front of the gate. My father sure was paranoid.

I shook my head in amusement and turned away from the window. Then someone knocked on my door.

"Yibo?" Yi Fei called me.

I ignored her and quickly went to bed, pretending to sleep. Once I closed my eyes, I heard the door opening and footsteps walking up to my bed.

Yi Fei sat down and called me again. When I did not react I felt her hand on my hair, stroking it gently before holding my hand. I heard her sighing.

"It's going to be okay, darling. The thief will not get the crown." I heard King Qilin whispering.

"I know, dad." Yi Fei answered.

"Then why are you so sad? The day after tomorrow is your wedding."

"I don't know... I am scared. A part of me is believing that the thief will succeed. Not once did he fail...."

"He will not. James and I will not let that happen. We have so many guards and the police are here too. There is no way he can succeed tomorrow. So stop worrying over this and do it like Yibo."

"Like Yibo?" She asked amused and I heard King Qilin chuckling.

"Yeah, like him. He trusts us and is sleeping like a baby now. You should do that too or do you want to look like a panda at your own wedding?"

"Maybe you are right, dad." Yi Fei answered and seconds later I felt her lips on my forehead. "Sleep well, Yibo."

When I heard the door closing I opened my eyes again. 'No, he will succeed. He has to!' I thought determined, got up, and walked up to the window to make sure Yi Fei and her father left. Once I saw their car leaving I went down to the kitchen to get myself something to eat.

The servants wanted to cook something but I declined. I could do that on my own just fine. Just when I took a few bites, I got a call. A look on the display had my heart start racing. Finally!

"Zhan-ge!" I answered the phone. "Are you okay?"

"I should ask you this question. I tried to enter the house earlier today but couldn't. There were so many police officers. What the hell happened over there? Are you hurt? Did your father do something again!?"

"I am fine." I smiled hearing his worry. "He did nothing. Well... except that he said he fired you and HaoXuan. Is that true?"

"Thank god you are okay. Yeah, he did. What a shitty asshole."

"But why? What was the reason?" I wanted to know.

"He knows that we have a good relationship."

"WHAT!?" I screamed into the phone in shock.

"Calm down, Yibo. That Feng Ming Jing saw you leaving the airport with me and us laughing and having fun outside your house. He told your father and your father fired me immediately. He does not know about us sleeping with each other so rest assured." I heard him chuckling.

I frowned. 'Sleeping with each other? Is that what he thinks of our relationship? Shouldn't he say that my father did not know about our feelings for each other? He has feelings for me... right?'

"But why is there so many police? I couldn't even sneak in to see you." Zhan-ge complained and my heart skipped a beat hearing that he tried to see me. 'He tried to see me!' I thought happily.

"The police is here because the Halfmoon Thief announced he would steal the crown," I said excitedly. It was quiet at the other end of the line for a while.

"Excuse me?" He said carefully and I laughed.

"You heard right. He will steal the crown which means the wedding will be postponed for a few months. That gives me time to find a way to leave this engagement."

"...." It was quiet again and I frowned once more.

 "Zhan-ge? Are you there?"

"I am. I was just ... surprised. I mean... I saw how many police officers are observing your house. Are you sure he can succeed in stealing the crown?" He asked me and me.... I cut the call.

I was disappointed. I just told him I would finally find a way to cancel this damn engagement and instead of being happy, he asked if I was sure that the thief would be able to steel crown? I more or less told him we can be together in the future without having to care for others! Wasn't he happy?

'Am I the only one being happy?' I thought upset.

My phone rang again and it was Zhan-ge calling me back. I gritted my teeth and answered the phone with determination.

"Yibo, what happened? Why was the line dead?"

"Tell me, Zhan-ge! Do you even love me? I keep saying that I love you and you never react to that! I just told you we have a way to be together in the future and you are more concerned about the theft of the crown? So tell me, what am I to you? Do you love me? Or am I just a fling to you? Are you just using me to satisfy your sexual desire!?" I asked him. It was the first time I spoke these words out instead of only thinking them. I felt childish accusing him of all that but it had to be asked.

I needed assurance. I can't take this insecurity anymore.

"Yibo, you ...-" Zhan-ge said and I blinked.

"What?" I asked.

"HaoXuan hinted it yesterday but I did not expect it to be true. After all, he did that before to provoke me..."

"Zhan-ge! I don't care about you being angry at HaoXuan for whatever reasons. What I need are answers! Now!" I answered angrily.

"Yibo, calm down. I did not-" I couldn't hear his answer anymore as suddenly someone took away my phone. I turned around and saw my father standing behind me. He hung up and turned off my phone.

"What are you doing!?" I asked shocked.

"Zhan-ge? So you two really became friends. First I thought it was a misunderstanding from Ming Jing. I thought you wouldn't be that stupid but it seems I overestimated you, Yibo. I told you more than once that there are no benefits to having friends. They will betray you at the end."

"You are mistaken, father. You never had friends before because you decided to follow your grandfather instead of your father. You let your grandfather control you."

He was glaring at me in anger but he did not slap me. The wedding was soon and having bruises on my body would show everyone what kind of person he was.

"I will keep your phone, Yibo! Guards! Take him up to his room." Father ordered furious and a minute later I was escorted upstairs. I sat down on my bed and stared into the air thinking about the phone call

'Zhan-ge was about to tell me something, wanted to tell me the truth. I would have known what he thinks about me. Yet, father interrupted us. I need to know what he wanted to say... He said  
I did not ... but what did he not? He did not love me? He did not play with me? He did not what!?' I thought frustrated. I was not even able to call him back now.

I guess I had to wait for my brother the next day. He always knew what to do.

Tuesday, 28. April

Song Ji Yang POV

I left the house of James Huang but did not go home. I knew that the Halfmoon Thief would not attack before tomorrow night but I decided to stay behind and look around. Noting down every door and window the thief might use to get inside the house. I also got a chance to count the guards on this property. There were around 25 whereas I saw how two of them escorted Yibo upstairs after he got taken away his phone. He was probably talking with that Xiao Zhan.

'Just what does he like about him...?'

James Huang noticed me looking through the window into the kitchen and he glared at me before closing the curtain.

'What an unfriendly man.' I thought and pitied Yibo. What he said to me earlier had me smile secretly and I wished I could grant his wish and let the thief escape but that was not possible. Not in this kind of situation I was in. I looked around some more before going back to the car.

Coincidentally I happened to see Officer Wang Zhou Cheng and I walked up to him.

"What are you doing here? I thought it's your free day today and tomorrow?" I greeted him. He looked shocked at first but quickly pulled himself together.

"Well, I heard about that thief coming here to steal and thought you might need some support. I was bored at home anyway." He answered and smiled slightly.

'Wow. Rumors are spreading fast' I thought and gave him a pat on the back. "Sure. I take as much help as I can to catch that criminal." I said and he nodded. "By the way, what do you think about James Huang?"

"Him? I heard he is obsessed with money, status, and fame. I bet he was overjoyed when the crown princess fell in love with his son. Poor boy...."

"Why poor?" I wanted to know and he looked at me.

"I am not blind. I know how someone looks when he or she is in love. Yi Fei is but Yibo is certainly not. At least not with her."

"Hmm... Do you know him well? Yibo, I mean?"

"No. I was the one guarding his cell when he was in jail but that's it already."

I widened my eyes. "Yibo was in jail? Why? What did he do?"

"Disobedience to his father if I have understood it right. Apparently, Yibo rejected the engagement and tried to run away. He did not come far and was sent into jail by his father."

"Is that a joke?" I asked him irritated.

"Hey, don't get angry at me. I am only saying what I witnessed and heard. He stayed in jail for a week before his father picked him up again. I bet that princess does not know about this."

"This is deprivation of liberty! Something like this is a crime too! I wouldn't be surprised if Yibo has a trauma. Please tell me he did not suffer much while being in there!"

"I doubt that. I was the one who suffered more, believe me. He was not happy at first but I saw him on good terms with his cellmate. I don't think he was traumatized by his adventure in jail."

"At least he made a friend ... albeit I think making friends with someone in jail is not a good idea."

"Not everyone is a bad person, Officer Song. Everyone makes mistakes at some point in his or her life. Moreover, I am pretty sure they are not just friends. At least it did not look like that when I saw them making out."

"M-making out?" I asked in shock. "Did they-?"

"I don't know and it does not concern me. But if I remembered it right it was you who put that cellmate of Yibo in jail after beating someone up. I forgot his name but he was sent here at the night you lost the Halfmoon Thief. You gave him the fault for losing that thief."

I looked at him with an open mouth. 'It was Xiao Zhan? So Yibo and Xiao Zhan met in jail? What a weird coincidence...' I thought and heard Officer Wang's phone ringing. He excused himself and walked away. I shook my head hearing this story and walked to the car.

I decided to watch the house the whole night. I knew that James Huang was not going to give the Halfmoon Thief a chance but I doubt he would do anything.

"Hello, Officer." I heard someone say behind me and I flinched, turned around, and wanted to grab my gun but the person in front of me stopped me by pressing me against the car. "You are too slow, my love. What if I was not your boyfriend, hm? You could have gotten hurt."

HaoXuan smirked at me, took my hands in his, and pressed them gently against the car.

"Why are you here?" I asked him confused.

"I missed you and wanted to see you." He answered.

"How did you know I was here?"

"My heart always knows where to find yours, my love."

I blushed at his cheesy words and could have slapped myself. "Stop spouting nonsense and let me go. I am working right now."

"Please never say that my love to you is nonsense. It hurts. Also, I don't see you working. You only stare at a building the whole time."

"That is part of my job!" I said and saw him smiling.

"Then take a break and give your boyfriend some attention." He said and kissed my lips softly. I almost gave in but then I moved my head away.

"No! I need to work. Tomorrow is a big day so don't distract me!"

"Good to know that my presence is distracting you." He mumbled amused and kissed me deeper than before while softly stroking over my butt.

Yes, his presence was distracting me. How should I be able to work when this idiot keeps kissing me while touching me at places he knew too well I was sensitive at? His right hand was tilting my head so he had more access to my lips while his other hand started to knead my butt-cheeks.

Over the past days, I got weak and my body got very sensitive. HaoXuan trained my body to react to him. I didn't find that annoying but right now was not a good time to get distracted. But try to tell this my body and heart. They kept demanding more while my mind tried to stay focused on my work.

It was two versus one. Of course, my mind lost and I found myself pressed behind a tree minutes later where HaoXuan started to touch my whole body. He never stopped kissing me, his hands were disappearing in my shirt, pinching my hardened nipples and his lower region rubbed against mine.

When he had enough of my nipples, he tried to open my pants. I knew what he wanted, hell I wanted it too but this place was in public. I was working right now and my colleagues were close by.

"H-HaoXuan. Not here! We cant!" I panted and grabbed his hand before he could pull down my pants.

"You are hard, my love. Don't you feel uncomfortable?"

"So what? Who's fault is it? We cant do it here. After I caught the thief tomorrow. Then we can do it. Not now, not here." I insistent and saw him frowning for a moment before he smiled.

"I know you are shy, my love. But I also know how excited you get when you know that someone is watching. You proved it last weekend. Okay, we will not do it here but at least let me help you with your uncomfortableness down there." He said and before I could complain about his words or even stop him, he took out my tail, knelt, and put it into his mouth.

I groaned and quickly pressed my palm against my mouth. I was scared that someone would see us yet I couldn't help but enjoy this moment. I grabbed the back of HaoXuan's head and moved my hips forward. His tongue swirled around and his teeth nibbled softly at the tip. My legs started trembling but I managed to keep my balance. The closer I got the faster his lips moved.

Then sucked me hard. I arched my back and came into his mouth. He swallowed everything before he let go of me. He closed my pants while I was trying to calm down. He stood up and kissed me hungrily. I could taste my come but had to say that he tasted better.

When he stopped kissing me and I looked at him, I almost forgot how to breathe. He looked at me like he was about to eat me. His desire for me was obvious and I feared he would forget what he said and just take me somewhere to make love to me the whole night. Strange thing was, I didn't mind that at all.

"I will train myself in patience, my love, but I can't promise that I will manage to wait that long." He whispered and I gulped.

"You have to. Wait until I caught him tomorrow. Then I will belong to you and we can make love the whole night. Until then, you have to wait. I love you." I answered and was surprised how easily these words came over my lips. I blushed.

He growled and pulled me closer. "Say that again and I will take you right here, right now."

I got excited and my mind was full of images of us two having the best time of our lives but I remembered my duty. So I just smiled and pushed him away gently.

"Go now," I said and walked back to my car. I could feel his eyes in my back but when I turned around five seconds later, he was gone.

I sighed and was about to climb into my car when one of my colleagues walked up to me.

"Ji Yang, James Huang is calling for you."

"For me? Why?" I was surprised.

"Don't know but it's probably about the safety of the crown. He said he wants to talk with the officer in charge of this case." He answered and I nodded before walking up the house.

I rang the doorbell and James Huang personally opened the door. "Ah, Officer Song, right? Come in."

"Is it about the crown?" I asked and saw him rolling his eyes.

"Of course. Why else would I call for you? Let's go into the living room."

I frowned at his unfriendliness but did not say anything. I looked around and saw a few servants and maids standing around, including that Feng Jing Ming. When I entered the living room, there were two guards which were introduced to me as the head guards of the whole team. On the coffee table was a notebook and I could see the police president's face via video call.

"Now that everyone is gathered, I want to talk about tomorrow night. I want the Halfmoon Thief to be arrested and I want the crown safe!" James Huang said firmly.

"We all want that, Mr. Wang. The police already suggested many ways to keep the crown safe but you were not satisfied with any of them." I answered and he stared at me.

"Because none of the was safe enough! But I found a way so the crown can't fell into the Halfmoon Thief's hands."

"Share your knowledge with us, James." The police president said and I was surprised that they knew each other so well. This man probably has connections to most of the influential politicians.

"We will bring the crown to China Construction Bank. I want the police there, my bodyguards as well as King Qilin's."

"Where is his highness the king? Why is he not taking part in this meeting?" I wanted to know.

"He is busy trying to calm down the princess who is about to have a mental breakdown. But I already talked with him on the phone earlier. Back to the plan. We will bring the crown to China Construction Bank and hide it in a safe in the cellar. The whole police and all our bodyguard team which consists of 23 people, will be in that cellar. These two head guards will stay in the closed safe. Don't worry, there will be enough air for at least 24 hours." James Huang said and the two guards nodded obediently.

"The King and I will be upstairs in one of the VIP meeting rooms until the night is over so we are not in anyone's way. There is no way the Halfmoon Thief can get through all these people and into a closed safe and locked with a twelve-digit code."

I thought about this plan and decided that it was a safe one. The Halfmoon Thief would have to be a magician to get his hands on the crown. I nodded.

"That sounds like a good plan. How do we bring the crown safely into the bank?" I asked him.

"I will let one of the bodyguards change into a mailman's uniform tomorrow. He will be the one delivering the crown. Our people will wait for him at the bank."

We talked for two more hours about who will go where and when. I noted everything down and once everything has been decided I left the house to get my people informed. Officer Wang joined us and all of us were talking about what we will do when we spot the thief. Only when everyone knew where to position themselves and where to hide did I let everyone go home. I decided to stay behind to observe the house and Officer Wang offered to join me.  

Tuesday, 28. April

3rd POV

It was 11 pm when King Qilin entered the house of James Huang. The owner of the house greeted him and escorted him to the living room.

"Come in, my friend. Don't worry, I sent all servants away. How is the princess?" James Huang asked the king who sighed.

"She is still worried but I managed to calm her down. How is Yibo?"

"He too was very worried and even offered to guard the crown himself but I sent him to bed. He asked for the princess but I told him she needed rest." James Huang lied without batting an eyelash.

"Yibo is such a good boy and an enrichment for our country. I even think he might be a better king than I am." King Qilin laughed. "My daughter will be the happiest bride on earth. I can't stand seeing my girl unhappy therefore we need to make sure the crown will be safe. Did you talk with the police about everything?"

"I did. Everyone knows where to stand and to hide. I already sent most of my men to the bank to prepare everything."

"Good. So tell me, what did you want to talk to me about which couldn't be explained over the phone?" King Qilin asked curiously.

"I am worried because the Halfmoon Thief escaped every time the police tried to catch him. It's as if he knew where they would be and where to escape to without being caught."

"You mean.... You think the Halfmoon Thief is one of the police?"

"No, but he might have a spy within them. Therefore I decided to change the plan I discussed with the police earlier. Better safe than sorry."

"Change the plan? You know I don't care what we do as long as the crown is safe and our kids happy. So tell me, what did you think of?"

"We will send an empty box into the bank. While everyone, including the thief, will think they are protecting the crown in the bank, the crown will stay in this house. Hidden, of course. Don't worry. Only I know where it is."

"Hmm... and you think the thief will fall for this?"

"Of course! As long as we pretend the crown is in the bank, nothing will go wrong. With all the police, the bodyguards, and even us two inside the bank, who would come to the idea that the crown is still in this unprotected house?"

"Unprotected? I am not sure...." King Qilin mumbled and James Huang patted the King's shoulder.

"Don't worry, my friend. Even the Halfmoon Thief will not be that stupid to think I would let the crown unprotected here. Believe me." James Huang insisted and after a while, the King nodded.

"Alright. Then we will do it like that!" He agreed to the plan of James Huang and the latter grinned.

'Only two days more and I will finally be a part of the royal family. Try to steal an empty box, you damn thief!' James Huang thought satisfied before talking with the King about the upcoming wedding and a hopefully successful honeymoon.

Both were so deep in their conversation that none of them noticed the shadow which stood in front of the open door since the time the king entered the living room. Only when the king said goodbye did the shadow disappear.

To be continued.....

Wow.... this is going to be interesting... and you guys know what that means, right? 

In the next chapter, the time has come. The long-awaited appearance of The Halfmoon Thief. 

What will happen?  Well, we will find out in the next chapter.

I am so excited!

I don't know how long the next chapter is going to be but I will update on Saturday(27.03.2021). Unless I can finish the next chapter sooner. Then, of course, I will upload earlier ^^

If you enjoyed this update, feel free to leave a vote. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section too :D :D