Chapter Fifteen: Coming to the Rescue with Sword Drawn

As dusk settled, Zhu Wolong appeared once more to trouble Bao Rong. This time, he did not barge into the station but stood at the entrance with flowers in hand, waiting for Bao Rong to finish work. Zhu Wolong stood beside a luxurious sedan, glanced at his watch, and impatiently peered inside.

Just as Bao Rong was about to leave, she caught sight of Zhu Wolong craning his neck, startling her into retreating, and in her haste, she collided with Lu Hewan.

“Rong, why are you so flustered, even here in the station courtyard?” Ying Xi, standing beside Lu Hewan, asked casually.

Before Bao Rong could reply, Zhu Wolong entered, drawn by the sound, flowers still in hand. Bao Rong hurriedly hid behind Lu Hewan, who, upon seeing Zhu Wolong, immediately understood.

“Rong?” Zhu Wolong was puzzled by Bao Rong’s avoidance. “I’m here to take you home.”

“No need,” Bao Rong replied coldly.

“You don’t have to be so formal with me. My car’s right outside—come on, let’s go.” Zhu Wolong reached out to take Bao Rong, but Lu Hewan blocked him.

Seeing Lu Hewan in his way, Zhu Wolong glared with undisguised hostility. “You, you must be that Su Shi, right?”

“He’s Lu Hewan, the new detective,” Ying Xi quickly interjected.

“So, just a junior detective.” Zhu Wolong relaxed his guard, his eyes tinged with contempt.

Ying Xi knew Zhu Wolong was trouble and flashed a warning look at Lu Hewan. “Lu Hewan, this is Zhu Wolong, one of Old Zha’s top real estate tycoons. Zhu wants to drive Rong home, shouldn’t you step aside?”

“Rong doesn’t want him to,” Lu Hewan continued to shield Bao Rong.

“How do you know?” Zhu Wolong snapped.

“When Rong saw you, she instinctively stepped back, her whole body leaning away—in both mind and body, she wants nothing to do with you.”

Zhu Wolong looked at Bao Rong, who nodded, but he refused to give up.

“Feelings take time to cultivate. With familiarity, someday she’ll lean forward, not back.”

“Zhu’s right. It’s like when someone’s heart is empty, but another keeps pacing through it and drives all others out, until eventually, only he remains,” Ying Xi chimed in.

“Exactly. I intend to pace around in Rong’s heart as much as I please,” Zhu Wolong boasted.

“It’s pace, not stomp, Mr. Zhu,” Ying Xi corrected with a laugh.

“Don’t you need to stomp first to pace? Same thing.” Zhu Wolong shoved past Lu Hewan, forcibly pressing the flowers into Bao Rong’s hands. “Come on, Rong, I’ll drive you home.”

Bao Rong looked pleadingly at Lu Hewan, who caught her meaning and stepped forward again.

“Rong won’t be home for a while. She has to work late—dissecting a corpse. Would you care to observe, Mr. Zhu?”

Zhu Wolong was dumbstruck into silence.

Lu Hewan began an exaggerated demonstration, gesturing over Zhu Wolong as he described the autopsy process. “With a sharp scalpel, make a straight incision from beneath the chin, along the midline, past the navel to the pubic symphysis, cutting through skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, then remove the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys for examination...”

Zhu Wolong turned green, interrupting, “Rong, I suddenly remembered I have urgent business. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that, he hurried away.

Watching Zhu Wolong retreat, Bao Rong finally breathed out, grateful as she looked at Lu Hewan. “Hewan, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Lu Hewan replied with a smile.

“This Zhu won’t leave me alone—I can’t take it anymore. Hewan, can you find a way to stop him from pestering me?”

“You don’t like him?”

Bao Rong nodded vigorously.

“All right, I’ll help you.”

Lu Hewan resolved to rid Bao Rong of the burden that was Zhu Wolong, to her delight and gratitude.

“Thank you, Hewan.”

“It’s nothing.”

“I’ll head home then.” Lu Hewan watched Bao Rong depart, her steps lighter now she was free from Zhu Wolong.

Ying Xi looked at Lu Hewan and shook his head. “You’re breaking up a pair of lovebirds.”

“What lovebirds? With that size, they’d sink right to the bottom,” Lu Hewan retorted, knowing Ying Xi was displeased at his interference.

“Even if they sink, it’s only because of all the riches,” Ying Xi replied bitterly.

Lu Hewan didn’t bother arguing, turning away, his figure fading into the sunset.

Under the bright moon, Lu Hewan leaned on his dormitory window, gazing upward. The cool breeze swept by, carrying a chill.

Ying Xi reclined in his chair, popping peanuts into his mouth, watching Lu Hewan’s lonely silhouette.

“What are you doing? You’ve been standing there for nearly an hour,” Ying Xi wondered what could be so interesting outside.

“Moon gazing,” Lu Hewan answered quietly.

“Is tonight’s moon special?” Ying Xi was perplexed. “Let me see.”

He put away his peanuts and squeezed in beside Lu Hewan at the small window. Two grown men, heads together, stared at the moonlit sky.

Suddenly, the moon before Lu Hewan rippled like water, and he was swept into memory.

Long ago, Lu Hewan and Ling Yan sat in the grass, surrounded by silence, the faint whispers of spring insects drifting through.

Their heads nestled together, sweetly admiring the moon.

“Yan, what do you like?” Lu Hewan asked on a whim.

Ling Yan smiled wistfully. “I never dare to like anything. Since childhood, everything I liked was taken from me, as if cursed.”

“There are no curses in this world. If you want something, fight for it—you’ll get it in the end,” Lu Hewan said resolutely.

Ling Yan smiled. “I like flowers.”

“Close your eyes, then.”

Ling Yan obediently straightened up, smiled, and closed her eyes.

Lu Hewan hurried into the nearby grass, quickly picking flowers.

“Hewan... Are you done yet?”

Ling Yan couldn’t help wanting to peek, but kept her eyes shut. After a moment, Lu Hewan returned, hands behind his back, sitting before her.

“All done.”

Ling Yan opened her eyes and saw him presenting a dazzling garland, both surprised and moved.

“It’s beautiful. Did you weave it?”

Lu Hewan placed the garland around her neck. “Do you like it?”

“Mhm,” Ling Yan nodded vigorously.

Lu Hewan drew Ling Yan into his arms. Her face radiated happiness, as though she wore all of spring around her neck.

“Hewan, what do you like?”

Lu Hewan gazed at her with indulgence. “I like you.”

Ling Yan blushed, a purple petal like a butterfly landing on her shoulder and fluttering away.

The night wind swept in from the horizon, swirling their clothes and unsettling Lu Hewan’s thoughts.

“Detective Ying, what do you like?” Lu Hewan sighed and asked Ying Xi beside him.

Ying Xi grinned wickedly at Lu Hewan’s profile. “I like handsome, talented young men like you...”

“Disgusting.” Lu Hewan turned to escape.

Ying Xi lingered in the window frame, gazing at the moon, reluctant to leave.

Early the next morning, Zhu Wolong changed tactics, arriving at the Bao family home to pick up Bao Rong for work, but she still rebuffed him. Bao Rong marched angrily down the street while Zhu Wolong drove, Bao Kang in tow, following her all the way.

As they neared the station, Bao Kang leaned out the car window and shouted, “Rong, stop right there!”

Reluctantly, Bao Rong paused.

Bao Kang stepped out and approached, keeping his voice low so Zhu Wolong wouldn’t hear. “You insist on walking instead of riding in the car. What am I supposed to say?”

“I’m not used to cars, and I don’t want to ride,” Bao Rong retorted.

Bao Kang glanced at Zhu Wolong, who had also exited, and continued in a low voice, “Just say a few words to Mr. Zhu. He did bring me to work, after all.”

Trying to create an opportunity for Zhu Wolong and Bao Rong to be alone, Bao Kang smiled at Zhu Wolong. “You two chat, I’m off.” With that, he quickly entered the station.

Bao Rong tried to leave, but Zhu Wolong blocked her.

“Miss Bao, let’s have lunch together.”

“Sorry, I have work—no time.”

“No problem.” Zhu Wolong persisted, “I’ll bring lunch here. How about Western food?”

Bao Rong ignored him and went inside.

“Hey, Miss Bao...” Zhu Wolong followed.

“Mr. Zhu, this is the police station. Please stop following me,” Bao Rong warned.

“It’s fine. Chief Bao has granted me special permission to come and go as I please.”

“You...” Bao Rong was speechless.

Suddenly, she recalled something and smiled, looking warmly at Zhu Wolong.

“In that case, Mr. Zhu, please follow me.”

Zhu Wolong, believing he had finally won her over, joyfully followed.

Bao Rong was dissecting a female corpse in the forensic room. Zhu Wolong stood with his back to the corpse, unable to look.

Lu Hewan and Ying Xi knocked and entered. Bao Rong threw Lu Hewan a desperate look.

Lu Hewan nodded, then raised his voice deliberately. “Mr. Zhu, you’re just in time to help. We need someone to hold the corpse’s organs during the autopsy.”

“Organs?” Zhu Wolong nearly gagged.

“Or you could hold the eyeballs. Be careful, though—we need to preserve them as specimens,” Lu Hewan continued with a straight face.

Zhu Wolong could no longer stand it, retching.

“If you’re feeling unwell, you should rest. That’s what it’s like here—murders every day,” Lu Hewan concluded.

“Alright, I’ll head home then,” Zhu Wolong stammered. “Miss Bao, we’ll eat together another day.”

Just as Zhu Wolong was about to leave, Ying Xi interfered.

“Mr. Zhu, you could stroll around the station courtyard and wait for Rong to have lunch with you.”

Zhu Wolong’s eyes lit up. “Great, I’ll go wander... Miss Bao, I’ll be waiting!”

He left in high spirits.

Lu Hewan and Bao Rong glared at Ying Xi; if looks could kill, Ying Xi would be dead.

Ying Xi scratched his nose indifferently. “Rong, I’m doing this for your good. Mr. Zhu’s wealth could buy the whole station—marrying into his family would mean a life of gold and jewels, much better than dissecting corpses every day.”

Bao Rong seethed, clutching her scalpel.

“What are you planning?” Ying Xi grew nervous.

“If I’m not mistaken, Rong wants to cut out your heart and liver,” Lu Hewan teased.

Ying Xi instinctively covered himself and slipped away.

Bao Rong and Lu Hewan leaned out a corridor window, watching Zhu Wolong play gleefully in the courtyard with Ah Hua, deeply troubled.

“Hewan, what should we do?” Bao Rong sighed.

Lu Hewan thought for a moment, then brightened. “Got it. Fetch a rope.”

Ying Xi peered at Lu Hewan. “What scheme are you plotting now?”

“None of your business,” Lu Hewan replied, wary of further interference.

In the courtyard, Zhu Wolong chased Ah Hua, holding a bug, enjoying himself immensely.

“Ah Hua, come have some bugs... come on...”

Lu Hewan, with a hemp rope, approached with Bao Rong.

Zhu Wolong straightened his clothes, cleared his throat. “Miss Bao, can we leave yet?”

“Not yet,” Bao Rong refused. “Mr. Zhu, I need a volunteer for an experiment. Will you help me?”

Zhu Wolong was eager. “Of course, just tell me how!”

Bao Rong and Lu Hewan exchanged a meaningful glance.

Lu Hewan explained, “We’re investigating a hanging death. Evidence suggests suicide, but I suspect murder. We want to prove if a person who hangs themselves can save themselves.”

“What do you mean?” Zhu Wolong was confused.

“Let me finish. If someone hangs themselves and regrets it, can they save themselves? If so, it proves the victim committed suicide. If not, our hypothesis fails.”

“I still don’t get it. How do you prove it?”

Lu Hewan walked to a tree, tied the rope, and set bricks beneath it. “Simple. Mr. Zhu, stand on the bricks, put your head in the noose, then kick away the bricks...”

“You want me to hang myself?” Zhu Wolong’s face fell.

“Not suicide. Once you’re hanging, try to save yourself. If successful, our hypothesis holds—the victim committed suicide,” Lu Hewan explained.

“And if I fail?” Zhu Wolong was terrified.

Lu Hewan scratched his head. “Ah, I forgot about that. But don’t worry, Mr. Zhu—even if you can’t save yourself, we’ll rescue you right away.”

Zhu Wolong looked miserably at Bao Rong.

“Mr. Zhu, are you afraid? I don’t like cowardly men,” Bao Rong feigned displeasure.

Zhu Wolong hesitated, stammering, “I’m not a coward, but... but...”

Just then, Ying Xi came to his rescue.

“Lu Hewan, since it’s your idea, why aren’t you the one proving it?”

“Exactly! Why don’t you try it yourself? My life is worth more than yours—what if something goes wrong?” Zhu Wolong echoed desperately.

Lu Hewan was momentarily speechless, but Bao Rong stepped forward.

“Mr. Zhu, this experiment not only investigates the cause of death, but also tests your sincerity toward me. What does it mean if you ask Hewan to do it?”

Zhu Wolong was torn, but decided his life was more important. Discretion was the better part of valor.

“Miss Bao, it’s not that I won’t prove it, but I have urgent business. I must go.” With that, he fled.

Lu Hewan and Bao Rong glared at Ying Xi, who pretended nothing had happened, though every step felt prickly.

“Hewan, thank you.” Bao Rong’s tone relaxed, thinking Zhu Wolong wouldn’t return soon.

Night was falling. Frost Delight Detective Agency closed for the day. Inside, Liu Rushuang paced irritably, thinking Lu Hewan had gone back on his word—he’d promised to match her with Ying Xi if she helped him with a case, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Bai Yulou, sitting nearby, knew Rushuang was thinking of Ying Xi and scoffed. “Sister Shuang, Ying Xi is fierce, untidy, and lecherous—what’s so good about him?”

“You don’t understand. That’s real masculinity,” Rushuang replied, embarrassed by her own smile.

Bai Yulou, seeing his beloved sister so blind, sighed and shook his head, feeling a fine cabbage was about to be devoured by a pig.

Bao Rong left work and approached the station entrance, only to find Zhu Wolong waiting yet again. She hurried back, catching Lu Hewan and Ying Xi coming out.

“Hewan, what should I do? Zhu Wolong hasn't left—he's waiting and must be desperate to invite me to dinner,” she pleaded.

“It’s just dinner. What’s the difference? With Zhu, you’ll eat well,” Ying Xi said, thinking Bao Rong was ungrateful.

“I don’t want to eat with him. Just seeing him fills me up,” Bao Rong’s face was clouded with distress.

“Just say you’re busy,” Ying Xi suggested easily.

“No use—he’ll just say he’ll bring the food here,” Bao Rong sighed.

Lu Hewan, seeing Zhu Wolong’s persistence, decided to end it once and for all. He smiled, “Let him bring dinner here. Maybe after this meal, he’ll never bother you again.”

Bao Rong paused, sensing something in his words. “You have a plan?”

Lu Hewan nodded, then looked at Ying Xi. “You have to help too.”

“Don’t drag me into this. I don’t want to offend the wealthy,” Ying Xi protested.

Bao Rong put on a fierce face. “Do you want to offend the chief’s sister?”

Ying Xi wilted instantly, head bowed and submissive.

Night had fallen completely. The police office was dark, the table set for a candlelit dinner.

Zhu Wolong and Bao Rong sat face to face. He had wealth, she had beauty—from the outside, a scene both warm and romantic.

Zhu Wolong, believing Bao Rong was finally accepting him, pulled out a book. “Miss Bao, I asked a literary friend to find this. He said it’s a great book.”

Bao Rong, a lover of books, smiled as she accepted it. But upon seeing the title, her smile vanished—the cover bore the bold title “The Golden Lotus.”

“Do you like it?” Zhu Wolong asked eagerly.

Bao Rong was embarrassed, unsure how to respond.

Oblivious, Zhu Wolong continued, “My friend said I’d love it, and I thought our tastes were similar—you’d like it too, right?”

Bao Rong forced a laugh. “I prefer Pu Songling’s ‘Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio’—especially the story ‘Painted Skin.’”

“Your favorite story must be exciting,” Zhu Wolong complimented blindly.

Bao Rong’s smile faded; her expression turned eerie, her voice cold.

“That story is about a man named Wang Sheng, who one night meets a beautiful woman...”

“So it’s a romance between a handsome man and a pretty woman?” Zhu Wolong wasn’t impressed.

Bao Rong continued, coldly, “Wang Sheng pampered the beauty, even considered divorcing his wife for her. One day, he watched her put on makeup through the window, but she suddenly twisted her head backward to stare at him...”

Suddenly, a chilling wind rose, the candlelight flickered, and rustling sounds filled the empty office.

“If she twisted her head back, wouldn’t she die?” Zhu Wolong was frightened.

Bao Rong’s face grew colder; mechanically, she twisted her own head. “No, because she was already dead.”

“Huh?” Zhu Wolong’s voice trembled.

“The woman then tore off her face, revealing bloody flesh, and slowly painted eyebrows and eyes onto the skin...” Bao Rong continued to terrify him.

The wind rose again, and strange noises echoed.

“Miss Bao, what was that sound?” Zhu Wolong shrank in fear.

Bao Rong leaned closer, her face ghostly in the candlelight, voice icy. “Nothing. The station is often haunted.”

Zhu Wolong shivered, stuttering, “Ha-haunted? I—I never heard that.”

“It’s routine here. Why mention it?”

Suddenly, a shadow flashed past Bao Rong.