[I was overthinking things]
The corridor fell silent for a long while until Lu Ting’an finally lost his patience. Stepping back, he said, “It doesn’t matter to me whether I go or not, but you absolutely must find out where Zhou Daqing’s son is.”
Deep down, Fu Yirong felt Lu Ting’an was talking nonsense. In his mind, this guy was utterly unreliable—someone who would say or do anything to get his way.
What if he had malicious intent? What if he was intentionally stalling for time, leading to Jiang Caiting’s murder? No one in the station could afford to have a life on their hands.
Just as he was about to argue, Gu Yingzhou walked straight up to Lu Ting’an.
He turned to face Fu Yirong and the others, his tall frame shielding half of the figure behind him, giving off the unspoken impression that Lu Ting’an was under his protection.
“Yirong, you and Perla go to the Baihui Club and Wanhe Pharmaceuticals for questioning. Don’t miss a single detail regarding Jiang Caiting.”
“Brother Zhen, you and Chongyang go stake out the public toilets at Pingnan Ridge and the surrounding old streets. Keep a sharp eye out for anyone suspicious. If the person who kidnapped Jiang Caiting is the same one who killed Zhou Wanxi last night, then there’s a high probability Jiang Caiting is still alive.”
People tend to stay within their comfort zones. The killer chose to dispose of the first body at night; in his eyes, the darkness was his camouflage.
Jiang Caiting had only left Hu Zounan’s house after the early hours of this morning. Factoring in the kidnapping and the transfer to a new location, the killer had clearly missed the optimal window for body disposal. Therefore, he would let her live for one more day.
Furthermore, Gu Yingzhou’s intuition told him that the kidnapping wasn’t motivated by affection. According to Lu Ting’an’s previous psychological profile, the killer had an extraordinary obsession with Zhou Wanxi. Jiang Caiting was the woman who had stolen Zhou Wanxi’s man; they were enemies.
It was revenge.
The killer wanted to avenge Zhou Wanxi’s rival in his own way—and the man she once loved might very well be on his hit list too!
Gu Yingzhou’s expression turned sharp. “Move fast! Send a few more people to protect Hu Zounan. Do not let him out of the police’s sight.”
“Yes, sir!” Li Chongyang’s eyes sparkled as he stared at Gu Yingzhou, turning on his heel to go organize the men.
In Major Crimes Unit 1, Gu Yingzhou held absolute authority.
It wasn’t just because he had become a Captain at such a young age, but rather because of his superior ability. Under his leadership, Unit 1’s clearance rate was far higher than the other units. He was always at the front lines during an investigation, and his decisions were almost never wrong.
Fu Yirong reflexively moved to stand with Yu Qiyin, but couldn’t help asking, “Officer Gu, are you really planning to go to Zhou Daqing’s house?”
Gu Yingzhou glanced at him indifferently and answered with action.
He turned around, pausing slightly as he walked past Lu Ting’an.
Lu Ting’an caught the hint instantly. Without even stopping to say goodbye to Yu Qiyin, he followed right at Gu Yingzhou’s side.
As their figures disappeared around the corner side-by-side, Fu Yirong’s face looked a bit sickly. He nudged Yu Qiyin with his elbow. “Perla, don’t you think Officer Gu’s attitude toward Lu Ting’an is weird?”
Yu Qiyin gave a drowsy yawn, smoothly leaning against the doorframe. “How so?”
“It’s…” Fu Yirong frowned, searching for the word for a while before finding it: “Indulgent!”
“Isn’t he spoiling Lu Ting’an a bit too much? First off, Lu Ting’an isn’t even a member of Major Crimes, yet he’s meddling in our case. Second, he suspects Zhou Daqing’s son without a shred of evidence!”
Yu Qiyin’s voice was lazy. “Then why would he indulge Lu Ting’an?”
Fu Yirong stammered, unable to come up with a reason.
Yu Qiyin continued, “Because Lu Ting’an is good-looking. You could search all of Hong Kong and not find another as handsome as him. I heard his mother wasn’t born here—she was a lady from the Jiangnan region, a very famous beauty.”
That was why Lu Ting’an’s genes were so top-tier; beautiful, yet without being effeminate.
Hearing her explanation, Fu Yirong’s expression twisted as if he’d swallowed a fly.
He argued defiantly, “No matter how good-looking he is, he’s still a man! How could Officer Gu give him special treatment just for his looks? Have you forgotten how badly you were scolded when you first wanted to join Unit 1? He made you run ten kilometers with a full pack—did he show any ‘pity for the fair sex’ just because you’re pretty?”
Yu Qiyin was the undisputed “Station Flower.” She was gorgeous with a stunning figure; when she was first transferred, half the men in the station were leaning over the railings just to get a look.
Back then, she’d naturally had some feelings for the most outstanding man in the station, only to realize later that it was like throwing flirtatious winks at a blind man.
At the mention of her past embarrassment, Yu Qiyin didn’t get angry. She just laughed, straightened up, and gave Fu Yirong a playful kick.
“You’re Officer Gu’s younger brother, so you should be the one who understands him best. Since he chose to go on this call with Young Master Lu, it means he has his own suspicions about Zhou Daqing’s family.” As she spoke, she grabbed Fu Yirong by the collar and hauled him forward. “The ‘Emperor’ isn’t worried, so why is the ‘eunuch’ in a tizzy? Instead of targeting Lu Ting’an behind his back, you’d better think about how to interrogate Hu Zounan later. He isn’t exactly an easy mark.”
Fu Yirong broke free from her grip, annoyed. “Who’s targeting Lu Ting’an?!” He froze for a second, then flared up. “Perla! Who are you calling a eunuch, you woman!”
In the taxi, Lu Ting’an seized the chance to close his eyes.
They hadn’t taken a patrol car this time; if Zhou Daqing’s son really was the killer, a police car would only alert the prey. They couldn’t use Gu Yingzhou’s car either. Zhou Daqing lived in Dunbu, a neighborhood surrounded by old residential compounds for kilometers. The residents were mostly elderly; forget a car—if a random motorcycle drove by, the aunties and uncles would dig up the owner’s entire life story and career. And if they couldn’t find the truth, they’d simply invent one.
Considering everything, a taxi was the most low-profile option.
Lu Ting’an had no intention of chatting with Gu Yingzhou. Gu was a man of few words and certainly wouldn’t initiate a conversation.
However, sitting side-by-side in the backseat, their peripheral vision inevitably caught one another. Gu Yingzhou had originally intended just to keep an eye on his movements, but seeing that Lu Ting’an did nothing but sleep the moment he got in, he tilted his head slightly to observe this “sinister and toxic” Young Master Lu from the rumors.
Lu Ting’an seemed to have planned for field duty today. He wasn’t in uniform, wearing instead a crewneck sweatshirt with a plaid shirt-jacket over it, buttoned dutifully all the way to the top.
With his eyes closed and his head leaning toward the window, a single tuft of soft hair poked up stubbornly. He was just like that tuft—outwardly non-threatening, yet so “unbearable” in the rumors.
Gu’s gaze finally settled under Lu Ting’an’s eyes. His eyelashes were thick, casting a small shadow even when closed. But a closer look revealed that the darkness wasn’t just a shadow; they were heavy dark circles, appearing somewhat sickly against his pale skin.
‘He always seems so tired,’ Gu Yingzhou thought.
‘Perhaps the rumors were true: he didn’t sleep at night, sustaining his life force purely through debauchery at places like the Baihui Club.’
…
The moment Lu Ting’an’s mind relaxed, he began to drift off.
A person can survive on very little sleep; back when he was a streamer, he could maintain high energy on just four hours a day. But a person cannot survive on bad sleep. Now, even if he slept eight hours, his eyes felt gritty when awake, and a vein in his temple throbbed incessantly.
There were no strange smells in the taxi. Sunlight spilled through the window, and with a “human cheat code” sitting next to him, he couldn’t stop the waves of drowsiness.
He intended to sleep until they reached the orchard, but a gaze with a powerful sense of presence forced him to open his eyes.
“Gu—”
Lu Ting’an turned his head, his stubborn cowlick flattening against the seat. He was about to habitually say “Officer,” but caught the driver looking curiously in the rearview mirror. He pivoted instantly.
“Brother.”
Gu Yingzhou froze, his gaze momentarily locked.
Lu Ting’an spoke pleasantly, “The person we’re about to deal with is a tough nut to crack. Why don’t you get some rest?” ‘Stop staring at me! I really can’t sleep when I’m being watched!’
‘Rest?’ Gu Yingzhou retracted his gaze, his expression indifferent.
He never rested in unfamiliar environments. Furthermore, the person next to him had shown an intense interest in him only ten days ago. Even if their physical stats were worlds apart, he wouldn’t give him an opening.
‘How could a man like another man? Wouldn’t they just find each other stiff and stinky?’
Thinking this, Gu Yingzhou imperceptibly slid further away until his left arm was pressed against the door.
“You sleep,” he said, his voice cold and stiff. “I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
Lu Ting’an let out a satisfied smile. “Great.”
He found a more comfortable position, but just as he closed his eyes, the kraft paper bag in his hand poked him. Reacting quickly, he found a new owner for his breakfast. “Brother Gu, you probably haven’t eaten either, right? Here.”
Before Gu Yingzhou could refuse, the bag was thrust into his palm.
Because Lu Ting’an had held it for so long, the paper had absorbed his body heat, making it feel like a hot potato.
In the cramped space of the car, the bag’s opening loosened, and the aroma of tea eggs wafted out. One whiff was enough to know these were expertly made; the rich scent of star anise and fennel was prominent, yet the fragrance of the tea held its own. A single breath made one imagine exactly how savory and well-marinated the yolk must be.
Gu Yingzhou was determined to keep his distance. Specifically, he had to cut off this kind of “unsolicited kindness” and overly caring contact.
He hooked a finger through the handle, about to hand it back, when he heard the driver take two exaggeratedly deep breaths.
“Oh boy, I came out to drive so early I forgot to grab a bite. Young man, where’d you buy those tea eggs? They smell incredible.”
Lu Ting’an had no desire for small talk, his voice light and lazy. “Master, do you want one?”
The driver swallowed hard. “That’s a bit embarrassing… really?”
Lu Ting’an gave an almost imperceptible “mm.” “Sure. Two dollars each. I’ll deduct it from the fare.”
The driver: “…”
Gu Yingzhou: “…”
‘So they weren’t specifically for me.’
His hand, which had been holding the bag, silently pulled back.
…
Dunbu was a slum where development in Hong Kong had ground to a halt.
Forty years ago, it had been one of the most prosperous areas in the city; locals and outsiders alike swarmed the town. But as the population surged, the streets became congested, and incidents of robbery and murder grew frequent.
Eventually, the outside world began to develop—building houses, paving roads, and offering subsidies. The youth flocked elsewhere, leaving this dilapidated town trapped in the past.
Lu Ting’an and his companion got out of the taxi on the outskirts of the town. The moment they stepped into one of the alleys, the air felt noticeably thicker and more stagnant than elsewhere.
The scent of breakfast from various households lingered in the air, heavy with the smell of grease. Cigarette butts and discarded rotten cabbage leaves were scattered across the ground, and blackened oil stains were visible here and there.
The two wound through a couple of alleys before finding the address Zhou Daqing had written down when identifying the body. It was a four-story old building squeezed between taller structures. The walls were covered in messy graffiti, and each floor was split into two units.
As expected, the appearance of Lu Ting’an and Gu Yingzhou drew considerable attention. Groups of elderly people sitting under the eaves scrutinized them with blunt, unabashed stares.
“Young men, who are you looking for?”
Gu Yingzhou looked like someone you didn’t want to mess with, so the old woman directed her question at Lu Ting’an. Lu Ting’an stepped forward a couple of paces, his tone humble. “Grandmother, is this Zhou Wanxi’s home? We are her friends. We heard she passed away and came to pay our respects.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the white-haired seniors instantly turned peculiar.
Zhou Wanxi worked that kind of job; there was no such thing as “pure friendship” between her and men. They naturally assumed Lu Ting’an and Gu Yingzhou were her clients.
However, noticing that the two looked wealthy, the group didn’t say anything unpleasant. Instead, a hint of a smile appeared on their faces.
“That unit upstairs is indeed the girl Wanxi’s home, but you’ve come at a bad time. Daqing and his wife haven’t even started preparing the funeral arrangements yet. Even if you wanted to pay your respects, you wouldn’t find an incense burner to put a stick in.”