Pristine Darkness - Chapter 70

“There’s something odd about Nie Shijun’s lifestyle habits,” Bo Jinyan said. “Yesterday, Jian Yao also pointed out that the places Nie Shijun most often frequented included the park, her workplace, and shopping malls. Her neighbours, roommate, and colleagues concurred. According to your description of her clothing and lifestyle habits, she was a very plain, simple girl, who very rarely owned or used expensive brands and luxury goods. She did not have a credit card, yet, according to her bank card records, there were two hefty withdrawals from her account each month. What did she spend all this money on? I think we need to visit the shopping mall she usually frequented to find out.”

Everyone was a little startled.

Jian Yao was in total agreement. Right now, they had no leads on the killer, so it was only sensible to focus on the victim. As Bo Jinyan had previously asserted, there must have been something special about Nie Shijun which enticed the killer to set off on his murderous journey. They could not miss out on any unusual detail, no matter how minor, even though it was highly likely to have nothing to do with the case in the end.

“Okay. Thanks for your hard work. We’ll contact you if there is any progress.” Shao Yong left, and Jian Yao handed the packed breakfast to the two otakus. An Yan softly uttered, “Oh yeah,” and sat down to eat at once.

A steaming hot takeout box was placed in Bo Jinyan’s hands. When he opened it, he smelled the light fragrance of yuxiang*.

*T/N 鱼香 (yu xiang) – a seasoning of Chinese cuisine that typically contains garlic, scallions, ginger, sugar, salt, chilli peppers (etc.) Although ‘yuxiang’ literally means ‘fish fragrance’, it doesn’t necessarily contain fish or seafood.

“Fishball noodles,” a gentle voice said in his ear. “The fishballs are made from fresh fish. Do watch out, there may be small bones.”

“Uhm, okay.” Out of the blue, Bo Jinyan was struck by an impulse, and reached out to grab Jian Yao’s hand. Unexpectedly, he actually got hold of her. Her hands were still so supple that they seemed almost boneless, but his fingertips detected a minute, almost indiscernible difference – he clearly felt the callouses on her palm. As a result, he was even more unwilling to let her go, and gripped her hand more tightly.

Jian Yao’s heart was in turmoil. As she bent her head, she could see his black hair, swept off his forehead, his pale face beneath the sunglasses. His slightly dry fingers pressed against her palm, and in that split second, she was trembling all over.

Someone walked into the room. She swiftly pulled her hand back and returned to her seat.

The new arrival was Fang Qing. He had woken early in the morning to discover that Jian Yao, next door to him, had long gone. He knew, sure enough, that this girl would be unable to do nothing once she had seen her man.

However, he never expected to be met by such a harmonious atmosphere when he walked into the office. All three people were placidly eating breakfast.

After careful scrutiny, though, he detected a tinge of awkwardness in the air.

With casual indifference, Fang Qing walked to the table, took one of the packed breakfasts and sat down by himself to eat. Talk could wait until they had finished eating.

For a time, no words passed among the four of them.

Soon, everyone finished eating. Bo Jinyan said, “Let’s go to the shopping mall to check out Nie Shijun’s expenditure record.”

Jian Yao responded, “Okay.”

Fang Qing swept her a glance but did not speak.

As they walked out of the door, An Yan clung onto Fang Qing’s shoulders, only to be shaken off. An Yan cursed softly, “Crap”. Fang Qing ignored him. After a while, when they had reached the ground floor, Fang Qing felt in his pocket for his cigarettes, but could not locate his lighter. An Yan picked up the lighter from where Fang Qing had dropped it and handed it to him. Fang Qing looked at him, took the lighter and said, “Thanks.”

An Yan replied, “No need to thank me.”

Fang Qing lit his cigarette. After a few puffs, he narrowed his eyes and smiled.

——

Luo Lang had to exercise every morning. If it was not raining, he would go out and run for two hours. If it was raining, he would run at home and do strength training.

It was after seven in the morning, and he had just finished exercising. He sat on the sofa in his white vest and sweatpants. His long, slender physique, taut muscles, his heated body covered in sweat – he looked nothing at all like a respectable gentleman from the elite class.

He looked like a real man. Clothed, he looked slim and well-proportioned, but, unclothed, he was all firm muscles* – this was the most appropriate way to describe him.

*T/N 穿衣显瘦、脱衣有肉 (chuan yi xian shou, tuo yi you rou) – lit. with clothes on, skinny; with clothes off, meaty.

Of course, he still had the characteristics of a businessman and public figure. For example, at this moment, he was watching the morning news report, a variety of financial news, as well as reports on current affairs. At the same time, he was unhurriedly wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel, seemingly indifferent to everything that was happening in the world.

Except for someone with the surname, ‘Jian’.

The minute the news report made mention of ‘Xun City’, he looked up.

If his memory was not in error, Jian Yao was currently in Xun City investigating a case.

The news report that followed caused his brows to furrow even more severely.

‘Butterfly Killer’ case.

Because the police had yet to make an official announcement, the people interviewed in the news report had already started exaggerating or inventing aspects of the case, making it even more incredible and mysterious. A serial killer who always appeared on rainy nights, targeting ladies dressed in red, and then making the body into a human butterfly. . . .

Up till the end of the news report, Luo Lang maintained a grave expression.

After a while, he looked down and laughed derisively.

Where did this little uncouth thief come from, making things unnecessarily complicated and even alarming the whole city? He reckoned that his Jian Yao must be up to her ears in work.

Luo Lang’s expression turned chilly.

If there was anything in this world that would cause him to be deeply concerned, it would only be Jian Yao. After that case, he swore that he would never again allow any case or person to harm Jian Yao.

And, he himself no longer wanted to suffer being wronged.

He stood up, took a shower in the bathroom, changed to a black T-shirt and black pants, donned a cap and a backpack, then called his secretary to say, “ . . . I have to go on a business trip for a few days, don’t call me during this time. If anything comes up, ask the other partners to handle it . . .”

He went downstairs to the garage, got out a car that he did not normally use and drove straight out of Beijing.

——

An Yan’s car was parked at the police station parking lot. He unlocked the doors and pulled open the driver’s door. At this moment, he heard Jian Yao’s voice, saying, “Fang Qing, let’s sit at the back.” Fang Qing and An Yan looked up at the same time and traded glances.

Fang Qing made a sound of assent and climbed into the back seat with Jian Yao.

Bo Jinyan gnawed on his lower lip lightly before settling into the front passenger seat with an indifferent expression.

The car drove off.

At first, everyone was silent. After some time, Jian Yao coughed twice. Fang Qing and An Yan took no notice, but Bo Jinyan dipped his head slightly. As the car was going round a bend, he suddenly spoke. “Why are you coughing?”

JIan Yao lifted her head to look at him and replied, “It’s nothing, just a dry mouth.”

Bo Jinyan kept quiet. An Yan immediately retrieved an unopened bottle of water from the centre console and handed it to her. Jian Yao said, “Thanks.” Fang Qing smiled and said, “My mouth is dry, too.”

An Yan said, coolly, ‘There’s no more.”

Jian Yao drank a mouthful of water and coughed twice more.

Bo Jinyan asked, “Is it because you kicked off the blanket as you slept last night?”

An Yan and Fang Qing both pretended they had not heard him.

Jian Yao did not know how to reply, feeling awkward and a little troubled. So, it turned out that this guy was still the same as before, speaking forth intimate details with nary a care for the people around them.

“None of your business,” she replied lightly.

An Yan and Fang Qing both looked out of the window.

Bo Jinyan was briefly silent before he said, “It is my business. Because I’m not by your side to cover you with the blanket.” He sounded quite pathetic, but An Yan and Fang Qing both had an inexplicable urge to laugh. Jian Yao bit her lip and turned to look out of the window while saying, “I no longer need someone to cover me with a blanket.”

Fang Qing interjected at this point. “I can attest to that. Jian Yao rises early every morning to train – running, hand-to-hand combat, target practice . . . right now, she is almost regarded as the most awesome female criminal investigator in the station; she can take down three burly men single-handedly. A measly little cold is not going to affect her.”

An Yan was somewhat surprised. “So powerful?”

Fang Qing said, “Oh . . . it would be just like a game for her to take down the both of you right now.”

An Yan said, “Really? Sister-in-law, let’s give it a try later.”

Jian Yao smiled faintly as she said, “Sure.”

Bo Jinyan spoke. “I will try, too.”

Jian Yao ignored him.