Chapter Fourteen: Mismatched Lovers

Zhu Wolong was enjoying tea at the "Come Again" teahouse next to the police station. There were no other patrons inside, and he sat in a corner, occasionally glancing out the window. After a while, Bao Kang sneaked in furtively, looked around with caution, and, seeing no one else, relaxed and sat opposite Zhu Wolong.

"Director Bao, you’re here?" Zhu Wolong’s eyebrows danced with delight, immediately pushing the teapot toward Bao Kang. "Freshly brewed premium Dahongpao—try it and see if you like it."

"Tea is a minor matter; we have serious business to discuss." Bao Kang lowered his voice.

"Director Bao, weren’t you going to tell me about Xiaoying’s preferences today so I could court her accordingly?"

"Keep your voice down, Boss Zhu. Walls have ears. If Xiaoying finds out I’m secretly feeding you information, she’ll never see you again."

Seeing Bao Kang so nervous, Zhu Wolong laughed to reassure him. "Don’t worry, Director Bao. When I heard you wanted to meet me here today, I went ahead and bought the teahouse. It’s safest in one’s own place."

Bao Kang was again taken aback by Zhu Wolong’s wealth and swagger. He hunched his shoulders, grinning obsequiously. "Boss Zhu, you truly are a man of means. If our families could join, it would be a blessing my sister earned over lifetimes!"

Zhu Wolong looked smug, pleased to have won Bao Kang over so quickly.

"Boss Zhu, this paper details my sister’s likes." Bao Kang handed him a sheet.

Zhu Wolong opened it as if it were a treasure, but struggled to recognize the words, seeing only squiggling lines that resembled worms. He bit his finger, stammering, "Uh… the first item—is it, does Xiaoying like… books?"

"That’s right! She’s loved reading since childhood—she’s hopeless once she sees a book!"

Zhu Wolong hadn’t expected his guess to be right and continued, "The second item… this character is hard to read…"

"The second—"

Before Bao Kang could finish, Zhu Wolong interrupted, "Forget it. Since Xiaoying likes books, I’ll start there."

Bao Kang nodded. "If Boss Zhu wants to give her a gift, let it be books… And another thing, my sister admires learned and talented people…"

Zhu Wolong perked up. "I have both wealth and talent! Wealth, needless to say, is second to none in Old Zha. As for feelings, rest assured, Director Bao, my affection for Xiaoying is sincere. If she marries me, I’ll guarantee her a life of comfort and plenty."

"Boss Zhu truly has both talent and feeling… talent and feeling…" Bao Kang flattered, a bit awkwardly.

Chen Xiu’e’s body was taken to the forensic room at the police station. Bao Ying and Lu Hewan stood by the corpse, examining the clear ligature marks on her neck.

"The estimated time of death is around nine in the evening. There's no sign of struggle, and the features basically match death by hanging." After careful examination, Bao Ying concluded.

Lu Hewan frowned slightly. "Shouldn’t we consider the possibility she was strangled first and then hung from the beam?"

Bao Kang, having heard of another murder at Huaihua Alley, came to inquire about the case. To his chagrin, he entered to find Lu Hewan and Bao Ying standing shoulder to shoulder.

"Lu Hewan!"

"Director Bao?" Lu Hewan hadn’t expected him.

"Brother, why are you here?"

"Why am I here?" Bao Kang stepped between them, facing Lu Hewan. "I should be asking why he’s here!"

"Director Bao, I’m here to discuss the case with Xiaoying."

"Discuss the case, my foot! You’re just using official business as a pretext to get close to my sister! And Xiaoying—who gave you leave to call her that? From now on, address her as Forensic Bao! I’m warning you, if you keep hanging around Xiaoying, don’t blame me for being rude!"

Lu Hewan tried his best to explain. "Director Bao, you misunderstand. There’s nothing between Xiaoying and me…"

Bao Kang, in his fury, ignored the explanation. "Are you treating my words as wind? Still calling her Xiaoying! Get out! And don’t hang around the forensic room anymore!"

Pressed by Bao Kang’s domineering attitude, Lu Hewan hesitated, then said, "Xiaoying, I’ll go now."

"You brat, still calling her Xiaoying!" Bao Kang flew into another rage at the sound of the name.

Seeing Bao Kang about to raise a hand, Lu Hewan quickly left.

Bao Ying, seeing Lu Hewan bullied, glared angrily at Bao Kang. "Brother, you’re being unreasonable. Hewan and I are just friends."

"Don’t use ‘friends’ as a shield. In any case, you two are not to see each other."

"Brother…"

"If you won’t listen, don’t call me brother anymore!" Bao Kang put on a stern face.

"Director Bao…" Bao Ying changed her address.

Bao Kang hadn’t expected Bao Ying to defy him for an outsider and refuse even a ‘brother.’ He was instantly frustrated. "You—fine! You’ve grown wings, I can’t control you anymore. Our parents died early, I’ve worked myself to the bone raising you, and this is how you repay me… Father, Mother, look at your good daughter…"

Bao Ying, seeing Bao Kang’s unreasonable behavior and victim act, tried to comfort him. "Brother, our parents have long been at peace. Don’t disturb them. I am innocent with Hewan, as clear as day."

"I don’t believe it…" Bao Kang’s eyes shifted, plotting. "Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Unless you try befriending another man… Then I’ll believe you and Lu Hewan are just friends, and won’t interfere anymore."

"You mean Boss Zhu?" Bao Ying instantly guessed his motive, her tone cooling.

"What’s wrong with Boss Zhu?"

"Brother, I am not suited to Zhu Wolong."

"You haven’t even met him. How can you know you’re not suited?"

Bao Ying sighed, unable to understand why Bao Kang was so fixed on Zhu Wolong. Though siblings, their tastes were worlds apart. She patiently explained, "He loves wealth and extravagance, I prefer simplicity and quiet. Our paths differ, our words clash, our minds are unaligned, our thoughts diverge. How could we be together?"

"Are you interested in Lu Hewan?" Bao Kang pressed.

"No." Bao Ying denied flatly.

Bao Kang stared, as if he’d seen through everything. "You can fool others, not me. You’ve followed Hewan around since childhood—clearly you like him!"

"Why can’t I reason with you?" Bao Ying sighed.

"In any case, if you don’t agree to befriend Boss Zhu, you can forget about being friends with Hewan!"

"So if I agree to be friends with Zhu Wolong, you won’t interfere with Hewan and me anymore?" Bao Ying asked helplessly.

"Yes."

"Fine, I agree, but I’ll only be his friend, nothing more."

"Start with friendship."

Bao Ying, unwilling to argue further, took the documents from the table. "I’m going to deliver these to Hewan."

"Go ahead." Bao Kang, now in high spirits, made no further objections.

Bao Ying left dejectedly, while Bao Kang secretly reveled, dancing and muttering, "Once you’re friends with Boss Zhu, you’ll see the vast gulf between a diamond bachelor and a penniless investigator…"

As required by Bao Kang, Bao Ying attempted to befriend Zhu Wolong. Though it was a bright spring day, she felt a chill invade her, her expression frosty as she stood beside Zhu Wolong, who cheerfully pointed at the signboard of "Yifeng Bookstore."

"I heard you like books, so I brought you to the largest bookstore in Old Zha."

Playing to her interests, Zhu Wolong earned a polite nod from Bao Ying.

"Please, after you." Zhu Wolong held the door open like a gentleman, following her inside.

Bao Ying picked up a book from the shelf, and, seeing the cover, murmured in delight, "‘Collected Poems of Su Dongpo’? This book is out of print—I didn’t expect to find it here."

"You like it?" Zhu Wolong was all eagerness.

Bao Ying nodded, then, looking up, spotted another book: "Collected Poems of Tang Yin." She was thrilled. "This one is hard to find too." On another shelf, she found "Complete Poems of Li Shangyin," holding it lovingly. "Even this one is here."

"Like it?"

Bao Ying nodded again. "Li Shangyin was a man of deep feeling and loyalty. Just look at the poem ‘Jinse’ he wrote after his wife passed—you can see he was never cold-hearted."

"Jinse?" Zhu Wolong was puzzled.

"'The Jinse, with its fifty strings, each string, each fret recalls years of splendor. Zhuangzi's butterfly dream at dawn, Emperor Wang's spring longing entrusted to the cuckoo. The moon bright on the sea, pearls weeping; warm sun on Blue Field, jade born of mist. This feeling, fit for remembrance, yet, alas, was already bewildered at the time.'" Bao Ying, inspired, recited the lines.

"So long as you like it." Zhu Wolong didn’t understand a word, scratching his head and shouting, "Shopkeeper!"

"Boss Zhu, this is a bookstore. Please keep your voice down," Bao Ying frowned.

Zhu Wolong paid no heed.

The shopkeeper hurried over. "Sir, what can I do for you?"

"I’m buying this bookstore," Zhu Wolong declared grandly.

"What?" The shopkeeper’s jaw dropped.

"Didn't you hear? I’m buying the store. My secretary will bring the money this afternoon."

Both the shopkeeper and Bao Ying were astonished—neither had seen such audaciousness.

Zhu Wolong turned to Bao Ying, awaiting praise. "Miss Bao, since there are so many rare books here, I’ll gift you the bookstore. Are you happy?"

The other customers looked at Bao Ying, some surprised, some displeased. Bao Ying was embarrassed, awkwardly returned the books to the shelf, and left.

"Hey, Miss Bao—" Zhu Wolong chased after her.

Bao Ying strode briskly down the street, Zhu Wolong in pursuit.

"Miss Bao, wait for me…"

Seeing passersby glance at them, Bao Ying stopped, looked at Zhu Wolong helplessly. "Boss Zhu, it’s getting late, I should head home."

Zhu Wolong glanced up at the midday sun, realizing she was making excuses, and thick-skinnedly replied, "You’re joking, Miss Bao. It’s still early, why hurry?"

At that moment, two children were playing nearby.

"You can’t catch me!" one shouted, the other chased. "Stop right there!"

As they scuffled, the lead child bumped into Bao Ying. He was about to leave, but Zhu Wolong grabbed his ear.

"Ouch, it hurts!" the child cried.

"You little rascal—already up to mischief at your age! Watch yourself. Apologize to the pretty young lady," Zhu Wolong barked.

The child, aggrieved, apologized to Bao Ying. "Sorry, sister."

"It’s pretty young lady!" Zhu Wolong insisted.

The child was near tears. "Pretty young lady… sorry…"

Bao Ying never minded children, and seeing Zhu Wolong so harsh, grew angry. "Boss Zhu, what are you doing? Let him go."

"Get lost!" Zhu Wolong released him, shouting.

The child ran off in fear.

"Miss Bao, you don’t know—little rascals like these need a lesson," Zhu Wolong tried to please her, but Bao Ying’s face remained cold.

Bao Ying saw that not only were Zhu Wolong’s words coarse, but his whole demeanor reeked of street thug. She wanted nothing more than to leave, sighing, "Boss Zhu, you have plenty of business to attend to. Don’t waste time on me."

"How is it wasting time? Right now, accompanying Miss Bao is my top priority," Zhu Wolong persisted.

"I don’t feel well, I’d like to go home."

"Not feeling well? It’s midday and you haven’t eaten. You must be hungry. Come, let’s get lunch."

"Boss Zhu, I—"

Zhu Wolong didn’t let her finish, dragging her away.

He brought Bao Ying to the "Xilai Le" restaurant.

"Miss Bao, order whatever you like." Zhu Wolong flourished the menu.

"Boss Zhu, I’m not hungry. I want to go home."

"Eat first, then go home," Zhu Wolong insisted.

Bao Ying hesitated, but Zhu Wolong assumed she was dissatisfied with the restaurant.

"You think it’s inconvenient with all these people, right?" Before Bao Ying could reply, he loudly berated the owner, "Owner, is this how you do business? Zhu Wolong is here—clear the place! (Pointing at other customers) Kick them all out! How can I eat with them around?"

The diners stirred in surprise; who expected to be thrown out while having a meal?

At last, Bao Ying could stand it no longer. She slammed the table in anger. Zhu Wolong looked at her, bewildered. Bao Ying, seeing him, didn’t want to waste words, shook her head and left.

Bao Ying walked quickly down the street, Zhu Wolong chased after her.

"Miss Bao, you haven’t eaten yet…"

Bao Ying cut him off. "Boss Zhu, let me be direct: my mind is like ‘a heart of Zen, now a fluff tangled in mud, not tossed about by the spring wind,’ and besides, we are simply not of the same world. If I must say whom I admire, it’s someone like Su Shi—open-minded, spirited, straightforward and honest, able to find delight in life. That’s the kind of person I love."

"Who’s Su Shi? Is he richer than me?"

Bao Ying shook her head, finding Zhu Wolong unbearably vulgar. "You’re impossible."

She turned to leave, but Zhu Wolong clung to her.

"Don’t be angry, Miss Bao… How about this: tell me what you like, and I’ll do it with you?"

"I like composing poetry. Could you join me?"

Bao Ying looked at him, deliberately making things difficult, hoping he’d give up. But Zhu Wolong, confident as ever, replied, "Of course! You tell me who you want to ‘do battle’ with, and I’ll help you face them. Let’s see if they dare go against you!"

Bao Ying drew a cold breath, realizing they weren’t meant to inhabit the same world, and fled.

Zhu Wolong watched her leave, scratching his head in confusion. "Did I say something wrong?"

Lu Xiang and Lin Zhi sat at the table for dinner. Lu Xiang was in a good mood—his wife Lin Zhi had made his favorite white-cut chicken for once.

"When will you bring my son home?" Lin Zhi was still thinking about Lu Hewan.

"Bring him home? He’s shown no remorse. If he keeps being stubborn, he can forget about coming back." Lu Xiang’s face fell; he realized Lin Zhi was being nice because she wanted something.

"I don’t care, I want him home tomorrow," Lin Zhi demanded.

"No," Lu Xiang refused flatly.

Lin Zhi slammed the table, eyes blazing. "Why not?"

Lu Xiang shrank back in fear, but remained stubborn. "That brat is always obsessed with investigating Lingyan’s case, never listens, all because you spoil him."

"If he must investigate, let him. Just leave him be," Lin Zhi felt their son was above all.

"Indulgent mothers ruin sons," Lu Xiang lamented.

Lin Zhi grew angry, glaring, and threatened. "Lu Xiang, are you itching for trouble?"

"What are you going to do?" Lu Xiang sensed danger.

"Bring my son home now," Lin Zhi issued her ultimatum.

"I won’t. If you miss him so much, move out and live with him." Lu Xiang was resolute.

Lin Zhi, furious, landed a punch straight on Lu Xiang’s eye. Still unsatisfied, she beat him as she cursed, "Trying to drive me out? Are you tired of living?"

"Lin Zhi, not the face again! How am I supposed to show up for work tomorrow…" Lu Xiang covered his eyes, vision blurred, knowing from experience he’d be disfigured yet again.