Chapter Eleven: Return to Duty and Rejoining the Police

Ying Xi bought wine and dishes, setting them out with roast chicken on the small table in the courtyard. The two sat outside, drinking and admiring the moon.

The chill of early spring crept into the night, and Ying Xi raised his cup to Lu Hehuan.

“Come, let’s have a drink to warm ourselves.”

Lu Hehuan stared at his wine glass, suddenly feeling melancholy. Under this same moon, he and Ling Yan had once admired its glow together, but the moon then was fuller—it was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

“Are you sure your father won’t scold you for not coming home tonight? It’s Mid-Autumn, a day for family reunions,” Ling Yan had asked, anxious.

“You’re family too,” Lu Hehuan replied, smiling, his voice full of affection.

Ling Yan’s cheeks flushed instantly. The autumn breeze brushed past, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.

Lu Hehuan handed her the wine glass. “Here, take a sip, it’ll warm you up.”

Ling Yan shook her head; she’d never touched wine before. “It’s too strong, I don’t want it.”

“The more you drink, the less it burns. Take your time, and you’ll taste its fragrance—I’m not lying, try it.”

Seeing Lu Hehuan was sincere, Ling Yan took the glass and drank a large mouthful, only to choke and cough uncontrollably.

“Lu Hehuan, you’re awful! There’s no fragrance at all—it nearly killed me!”

Lu Hehuan watched her face turn red, suppressing a laugh.

“You shouldn’t have gulped it down.”

“Didn’t you say the more I drink, the less it burns?” Ling Yan complained.

Lu Hehuan chuckled, “I meant a little at a time, slowly—not all at once.”

Ling Yan stuck out her tongue, waving her hand to dispel the taste. Lu Hehuan smiled indulgently at her adorable expression.

A cold wind swept through, and Lu Hehuan shivered, returning from memory to reality. He looked at Ying Xi, his face full of disappointment.

Ying Xi raised his glass. “Daydreaming? You’re a grown man—stop moping around. Come on, finish this cup.”

He placed a glass in front of Lu Hehuan, who picked it up, clinked it with Ying Xi’s, and the two drained their cups.

Lu Hehuan reached for the peanuts in front of Ying Xi, but Ying Xi tapped his hand with chopsticks.

“These peanuts are my treasure—no one touches them.”

“That’s hardly a rare delicacy. Why so stingy? And you had the nerve to call me miserly,” Lu Hehuan wondered.

“I said no, so no. I don’t mind sharing a bed, but the peanuts are off-limits. If you want some, buy your own.”

Ying Xi pulled the plate closer to himself.

Lu Hehuan knew Ying Xi was stingy about everything, but hadn’t expected such penny-pinching over a plate of peanuts. He turned away in disdain.

“What, you disagree? I’m not stingy—if you want, I’ll treat you to a feast at the ‘Boudoir Pavilion.’ The girls there are far tastier than peanuts.”

Ying Xi’s irreverence returned. Lu Hehuan frowned, continuing to drink.

He looked up at the starry night, memories swirling.

“Did you know? I used to climb onto the roof with Ling Yan to watch the moon.”

Ying Xi munched peanuts, asking offhandedly, “Is she really so wonderful, worth all this?”

“You don’t know her. If you did, you’d understand how extraordinary she is,” Lu Hehuan replied, happiness shining on his face.

“Come on, there are plenty of good women in Shanghai. Why hang yourself on one tree?” Ying Xi scoffed.

“I’d rather hang myself on one tree,” Lu Hehuan retorted.

There’s a saying: better to destroy ten temples than one marriage. Ying Xi never cared for such sentiments—he was determined to break up Lu Hehuan and Ling Yan.

“You may be willing, but the tree isn’t! Since Ling Yan left, there’s been no news. I doubt she’ll come back. You’d best forget her. Look at you now—almost lost your job, and you can’t even go home.”

Lu Hehuan smiled bitterly. “I can’t forget.”

“Why not? Bao Ying is clearly infatuated with you; the Chief’s sister—she’s more than worthy.”

“But I’ve always considered her a sister.”

“She certainly doesn’t see you as a brother,” Ying Xi observed.

“Enough about me. What about you and Liu Rushuang?” Lu Hehuan shifted the topic.

“Me and her?” Ying Xi shrank awkwardly. “She’s too innocent, not my type. I prefer voluptuous, alluring women.”

“Vulgar,” Lu Hehuan said, glancing at him.

Ying Xi grinned shamelessly. “We’re the Happy Detectives, a perfect pair. To highlight your refinement, I’ll always be vulgar.”

Lu Hehuan smiled helplessly, clinking glasses with Ying Xi, and they drank.

Late at night, Ying Xi’s snoring thundered. Lu Hehuan lay on the hard bed, tossing and turning. Since returning home, he hadn’t even stepped through his own door; instead, he’d stayed at the police station. He wondered about his mother and felt guilty.

Ying Xi, dead asleep, clung to him like an octopus. Lu Hehuan turned away in resignation.

The ink on their cohabitation contract had barely dried, and Ying Xi was already breaking the rules. The fault lay with Lu Hehuan’s naivety—how could a thin sheet of paper restrain Ying Xi’s wild spirit?

Lu Hehuan pushed Ying Xi back to his side and closed his eyes.

Morning sunlight gilded the dormitory, dividing the room in half, dust motes swirling in the shaft of light. Standing amidst the dust, Lu Hehuan elegantly prepared a Western breakfast in the small kitchen. He was calm and reserved, but the breakfast he made was fragrant and abundant.

Ying Xi, a late riser, smelled the food and stretched lazily before heading to the kitchen, where Lu Hehuan sat at the table, sipping coffee. Unable to resist a jab, Ying Xi mocked him.

“Keeping foreign habits, even eating like a foreigner—what a fake.”

Lu Hehuan didn’t get angry, set down his coffee, and beckoned Ying Xi over.

Ying Xi sat opposite, eyeing the Western breakfast curiously.

“The morning is the foundation of the day. Breakfast is crucial—needs to be balanced, with both meat and grains.”

Ying Xi picked up a slice of bread, rolling his eyes. “As long as you’re full, who cares about your fancy theories?”

He dug in heartily.

“There’s scientific basis for this—it’s Western nutrition,” Lu Hehuan insisted.

“Eating breakfast and citing theories—pretentious,” Ying Xi scoffed.

“Don’t talk while eating or sleeping. Shut up,” Lu Hehuan said, unwilling to argue further.

Ying Xi rolled his eyes and stuffed his mouth with eggs, realizing he hadn’t had such a lavish breakfast in ages. He soon choked, craning his neck.

Lu Hehuan calmly pushed the milk toward him; Ying Xi drained it in one gulp, leaving a ring of cream on his lips. Lu Hehuan couldn’t help but smile, while Ying Xi, oblivious, continued feasting.

After breakfast, Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi reported to Bao Kang’s office. Bao Kang sat firmly at his desk as Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi stood respectfully before him.

“Ying Xi brings new detective Lu Hehuan to report to Chief Bao!”

Bao Kang eyed Lu Hehuan with a harsh tone. “Lu Hehuan, you’re new here and unfamiliar with the station’s rules. Though you’re the Deputy Chief’s son, I treat everyone equally. Now that you’re one of us, you must obey commands.” He glanced at Ying Xi. “Ying Xi, recite the eight prohibitions, sixteen guidelines, and thirty-six bans of the station.”

Ying Xi was dumbfounded. These regulations were Bao Kang’s invention, initially enforced daily, but after a few weeks, Bao Kang lost interest. Now, unexpectedly, he revived them.

Ying Xi stammered, “No accepting bribes, no colluding with outsiders, no disrespect to superiors, no… no…”

He managed a few phrases before falling into deep thought.

“That’s enough, you’ve started it. Lu Hehuan, you continue,” Bao Kang ordered.

Lu Hehuan hadn’t expected Bao Kang to hold such a grudge and was at a loss.

“No…”

Lu Xiang passed by, saw his son being troubled, and entered to argue with Bao Kang.

“Chief Bao, Hehuan only started today—you needn’t make things so difficult for him.”

“As Chief, it’s my job to discipline the detectives. It’s not your place to interfere, Deputy Chief Lu. If you care so much, keep him at home. But this is the station—official business only.” Bao Kang showed no intention of giving Lu Xiang any face.

Lu Xiang wasn’t shy, retorting, “Official business? There’s never been a female coroner here, yet you let your sister take the role. You’re quite the brother.”

Bao Kang countered confidently, “Bao Ying’s character and knowledge fully qualify her for the job! You stubborn old man, always glaring and plotting. Remember, as long as I sit in this chair, I’ll outshine you.”

“Bao Kang! You fool!” Lu Xiang exploded.

Bao Kang fumed, and a bigger quarrel seemed imminent.

Ying Xi seized the moment, forced a smile. “Chief Bao, Deputy Chief Lu, if there’s nothing else, we’ll go.”

“Get out!” Bao Kang and Lu Xiang, for once, acted in unison.

Ying Xi quickly turned to leave, dragging a dazed Lu Hehuan with him.

Once outside, Ying Xi breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Hehuan still worried about those inside. “Detective Ying, what if they start fighting?”

Ying Xi shrugged. “You really are dense. If the Chief and Deputy Chief fight, what can we do?”

“Break them up!” Lu Hehuan blurted.

“That’s exactly why you’re dense. Who do you break up? If you side with Chief Bao, he’ll think we’re helping your father. If you side with your father, Deputy Chief Lu will think we’re helping Chief Bao. So the best thing is to hide.”

Lu Hehuan nodded, half-understanding.

Bao Ying appeared, greeting Lu Hehuan.

“Hehuan, you’re reporting today. Are you used to living in the dormitory?”

“It’s fine.”

“That’s good… By the way, how’s the investigation into Ling Yan’s case?”

Lu Hehuan shook his head. “No progress yet.”

Ying Xi looked unconcerned. “Don’t get your hopes up with such cold cases. Take it slow.”

Lu Hehuan nodded helplessly.

Inside, Bao Kang and Lu Xiang continued their verbal sparring.

“You’re henpecked—see your wife and you’re a mouse before a cat!”

Bao Kang attacked; Lu Xiang countered, “You… you old bachelor… you tremble when you see women!”

“You’re an old relic, always faking refinement.”

“You’re a big brute, can’t even recognize the character for ‘ten’!”

“You’re the eternal runner-up—always beneath me!”

“You’re a lifelong bachelor, parading your mother hen for power!”

Each seized the other’s weakness, sparring fiercely, but neither could best the other.

“Humph!” Bao Kang snorted.

“Humph!” Lu Xiang followed suit.

After the quarrel, both panted, but as they looked out the window and saw Bao Ying and Lu Hehuan chatting in the corridor, they hurriedly stopped and pressed to the window, watching.

Seeing Lu Hehuan’s gloom over Ling Yan, Bao Ying tried to comfort him.

“I feel the same. I don’t believe Sister Ling Yan could kill. Heaven favors the innocent—she’ll return safely and be vindicated.”

Lu Hehuan looked somber. “It’s been years since the incident, those involved are dead or gone—where can I seek the truth?”

“You could ask her teacher at Mingde High School. He might know something.”

Lu Hehuan looked up, eyes brightening, his discouraged resolve rekindled.

Lu Xiang and Bao Kang exchanged cold glances and rushed out, inserting themselves between Lu Hehuan and Bao Ying.

“You, Lu Hehuan, from now on, don’t get close to my sister—ten meters, no, one meter’s distance. Don’t even greet her!” Bao Kang warned.

Lu Hehuan was stunned.

“Brother, don’t be like that. Hehuan and I grew up together—we’ve always been good friends,” Bao Ying pleaded.

“From today, you’re enemies. He and his father are no good. Stay away from anyone named Lu,” Bao Kang vented his anger at Lu Hehuan.

Lu Xiang was no pushover, glaring at Bao Ying. “Hmph, the Lu family will never marry into the Bao family! Don’t cling to my son.”

“Father, Bao Ying is my friend,” Lu Hehuan interjected.

“Friend or not, you mustn’t get too close to any Bao,” Lu Xiang parroted Bao Kang’s words.

Bao Kang and Lu Xiang glared daggers at each other. Bao Kang pulled Bao Ying away.

Lu Xiang, still angry, jabbed his finger at Lu Hehuan. “Useless!” Then he turned and left.

Only Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi remained in the corridor. Lu Hehuan was at a loss, while Ying Xi gloated.

“Lu Hehuan, you’re sailing straight into a headwind. You’re in for a tough time.”

Lu Hehuan looked innocent.

Bao Kang dragged Bao Ying along the corridor.

“Brother, where are you taking me? I’m on duty!”

“I’m taking you somewhere good,” Bao Kang said, excited.

“What place?”

Bao Kang covered his mouth, whispering, “Real estate tycoon Zhu Wolong is hosting a banquet at his mansion today. All kinds of celebrities, wealthy businessmen, and socialites will be there. I got an invitation from Mr. Zhu—time for you to see the world.”

Bao Ying stopped immediately. “I’m not going.”

“How can you not?” Bao Kang was anxious, persuading earnestly, “Bao Ying, you’re not young anymore. I should think about your future. At Zhu’s banquet, everyone’s rich and noble—grab any young man and you’ll marry into wealth, live in comfort, and your brother will bask in glory.”

“Brother, I only wish for one heart, to grow old together—I won’t chase after the rich and powerful,” Bao Ying said, a hint of anger at Bao Kang’s greed.

Bao Kang looked at her, frustrated. “Silly girl, is a true heart so easy to gain? Marry into wealth, enjoy riches—why bother with feelings?”

He dragged Bao Ying along. “Hurry up—first time at a banquet, being late would be bad.”

Bao Ying was unwilling, but her resistance was useless against Bao Kang’s insistence, and she let him lead her away.