Five Cases - CH 28

Rao Feifei angrily hid from the pestilence Xi Junhong. Lu Hui brought three or four bags of potato chips every day but did not watch his soap operas. He reclined in the office chewing the fat with Xi Junhong and Ji Fanyang.

“The DNA test report came out.” Rao Feifei placed the test report on the desk, “There was a match, but he’s still living.”

“What?” Ji Fanyang straightened up.

Lu Hui languidly leaned over: “I recall that we found a dismembered corpse, dead for two years.”

“Mm, they checked three times. Definitely living.” Rao Feifei answered.

Lu Hui lifted his eyebrows in disbelief, then reached out to grab the report and flipped through it: “Someone from Liangang City?”

“Sister Dongshan found some information relating to him.” Rao Feifei passed over another paper dossier, “Two years ago, he brought his daughter to go sight-seeing in Linhua City for seven days.”

“So he’s still alive, and we found a corpse with the exact same DNA as him?” Lu Hui clearly stated his disbelief, “Contact Liangang City’s Public Safety Bureau.”

Now, Lu Hui was finally interested. The living dead: at first listen, it sounded like a bizarre xuanhuan[1] plot. It could not have suited Lu Hui’s interests more.

“So, we’re going to Liangang City?” Ji Fanyang asked, “That’s two thousand kilometers from here.”

“Correct. Get ready, we’re traveling.” By the tone of his voice, Lu Hui was ecstatic. He turned toward Xi Junhong to say, “Does the Young Master Xi want to come with us?”

Xi Junhong was a bit dumbfounded: “You want to bring me along?”

“Chief Lu, you want to bring him along???” Rao Feifei raised her voice.

“Why not?” Lu Hui laughed lowly. He patted Xi Junhong’s shoulder, “A walking ATM, who wouldn’t like him?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll hold up your work…” Xi Junhong had a bout offstage fright.

Lu Hui’s eyes curved as he smiled and shook his head: “You’re far more interesting than TV dramas.”

Rao Feifei’s eyes widened: “Chief Lu, didn’t you say you weren’t gay?”

Lu Hui adjusted his facial expression: “Xiao Jun’s target is you, not me. Don’t change the topic.”

“Yeah, I’ve always liked you.” Xi Junhong added hurriedly.

Rao Feifei held the report to her chest: “Like I’d believe your lies.” She walked out of the office.

Ji Fanyang stood up and dragged Lu Hui out of the office into an empty interrogation room and shut the door. He stared at Lu Hui and asked: “Why are you bringing Xi Junhong?”

“His stupidity is entertaining.” Lu Hui said.

Ji Fanyang frowned: “Nonsense. You just like making conflict, right?”

“Can harmony push things along? No.” Lu Hui said, “The fastest way to resolve a problem is inciting conflict.”

Ji Fanyang suddenly understood: “So you want to intensify the conflict. You want to see Rao Feifei’s moral character, so in the end, you’ll get two results…”

“Either Xi Junhong pesters Rao Feifei into softening her character, and they end up together.” Lu Hui said, “Or Rao Feifei cleanly cuts off all connection with Xi Junhong.”

“An experiment?” Ji Fanyang wanted to sigh, “A love experiment?”

“A match-making experiment.” Lu Hui was in high spirits. He reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet, withdrawing two red bills[2], “A bet?”

Ji Fanyang smiled sardonically: “Someone who’s never even fallen in love is going to bet against me in a love experiment?”

“What you just said sounded like you actually loved your ex-girlfriends.” Lu Hui refuted, “I’ll bet they don’t end up together.”

“Fine, I bet they will.” Ji Fanyang agreed readily.

“It’s too boring with just the two of us betting on it.” Lu Hui opened the interrogation room’s door and walked into team one’s office, “Anyone want to place a stake on whether or not Young Master Xi can get Miss Rao.”

The office was quiet for a moment, then team one’s captain turned around to ask: “How much?”

“Two hundred.” Lu Hui said.

“I bet he will.”

“Definitely not.”

“The chaste woman fears the pestering gentleman[3]. He will.”

…

In a short afternoon, Lu Hui had gathered all of the teams into the bet. The whole Bureau seemed to be spectating Xi Junhong and Rao Feifei’s relationship progress.

Director Gao swiftly approved the paperwork for them to go to Liangang City to handle a case. The serious crimes squad would have a half-day’s leave to go home and pack their things.

Lu Hui and Ji Fanyang drove home to their shared apartment.

“You’re sure you only need a backpack?” Ji Fanyang pulled a trunk out from beneath his bed and opened it, “Hey, don’t put your stuff in my trunk.”

Lu Hui shrugged: “It’s just a few small things.”

“No small things, either.” Ji Fanyang lifted his eyebrows, “Are you incapable of bringing a razor?”

Lu Hui ran his hand along the dark stubble on his jaw: “Little kids wouldn’t understand.”

“Bullshit. You just don’t want to comply with the appearance regulations.” Ji Fanyang poked holes in his roommate’s thinking, “Bring a few more jackets. It’s damp near the coast.”

“Understood, Mr. Policeman.” Lu Hui agreed obediently.

Men’s luggage wasn’t too much trouble; they didn’t need to bring any cosmetics, after all. When Lu Hui saw Ji Fanyang’s cologne, he raised his eyebrows: “If there comes a day when you don’t put on cologne, I’ll think it’s the end of times[4].”

Ji Fanyang picked up a bottle of the cologne and put it in his trunk. He slanted a look at Lu Hui: “You want to try some?”

“Sure.” Lu Hui happily agreed.

“…What?” Ji Fanyang thought there was something wrong with his ears, “You. want. to. try. some?”

“I want to try something different.” Lu Hui said honestly.

Ji Fanyang stood up. He grabbed a bottle of the remaining cologne and passed it to Lu Hui: “Try this one.”

Lu Hui sprayed a little on his wrist. The fragrance’s top note dispersed faintly between them.

It was the lingering scent of the sea. Lu Hui sniffed: “Not bad.”

“Congratulations on your first step into the realm of straight men.” Ji Fanyang said ironically. He leaned down to continue packing.

Early the next morning, Lu Hui led the squad as they boarded their scheduled flight.

They sat in two rows: Lu Hui and Ji Fanyang in the first, and Yang Jie, Rao Feifei, and Xi Junhong in the next.

“Did you do this on purpose?” Ji Fanyang said, his voice low, “Isn’t Feifei sitting close to Xi Junhong an explosion waiting to happen?”

“No, Sister Yang’s there too.” Lu Hui shut his eyes calmly, “Stop being noisy, I’m catching up on some sleep.”

Ji Fanyang shut up.

After a two hour flight, Lu Hui was sleeping contently with his head slanted on Ji Fanyang’s shoulder.

The plane had not exploded. They had landed safely.

Ji Fanyang shook Lu Hui awake: “We’ve landed, wake up.”

“Mm? Mm.” Lu Hui was dazed and responded vaguely.

Ji Fanyang said coldly: “You drooled on my jacket.”

“…” Lu Hui subconsciously darted a glance at Ji Fanyang’s shoulder. The jacket was perfectly clean. “Next time, I’ll do my best to meet your requirements.”

They stood up. Rao Feifei’s expression looked alright.

The group disembarked the plane. The Liangang City Bureau’s people were waiting in the terminal to receive them.

After he picked up his checked luggage, Lu Hui walked to the exit and met with the person from the Liangang City Bureau.

“You’re Lu Hui, then?” The person meeting then stretched out a hand, “I’m the captain of team seven, Liangang City Bureau, Zhong Yuxiu.”

“Zhong Yuxiu, ‘to be endowed with natural talents’[5]. A good name.” Lu Hui said, an enormously false smile on his face, “I’m Lu Hui.” He shook hands with Zhong Yuxiu.

Ji Fanyang, who was following behind, shuddered. This kind of attitude from Lu Hui was truly revolting.

Rao Feifei and Yang Jie averted their eyes, looking off in a random direction. The expression Lu Hui made as he praised people was enough to leave behind permanent psychological damage.

Xi Junhong, however, seemed to take it all in with relish.