Chapter Twenty: Father and Son as Neighbors

“Father?” Lu Hehuan stared at Lu Xiang beneath the moonlight, incredulous. He had imagined countless scenarios for Lu Xiang after returning home, but never had he thought Mother would drive Father out so quickly.

Ying Xi nudged Lu Hehuan's arm, a tone between admiration and mockery, “Your mother is really something. To think the deputy director of Old Gate Police Station is thrown out just like that.”

Lu Hehuan’s face grew tense, eyes fixed on the slowly approaching Lu Xiang, “Why is my father here?”

“He’s got nowhere else to go, so he’s staying here for now. I heard there’s an empty dorm next door; I bet Deputy Director Lu will be our neighbor,” Ying Xi said carelessly, munching on peanuts.

Lu Hehuan was dumbfounded, as if facing a formidable foe. “What? This is bad…”

As Ying Xi predicted, Lu Xiang, carrying a few articles of clothing, entered the vacant dorm next door, unlocked the door, and went inside. He tossed his clothes onto the bed in a heap, then strode out, stopping before Ying Xi’s door and knocking forcefully.

“Lu Hehuan, you brat, get out here!”

Hearing his father’s shout, Lu Hehuan hurried over and opened the door. “Father, what brings you here?”

Ying Xi squeezed into the doorway, eager to witness the commotion, and greeted awkwardly, “Good evening, Deputy Director Lu.”

Lu Xiang glanced at Ying Xi, then cleared his throat toward Lu Hehuan, “Your mother has gone too far. I’ve run away from home to make her reflect on her actions. I’ll return when she admits her mistake.”

Lu Hehuan looked at the wounds on Lu Xiang’s face and said bluntly, “Mother was out of line. How could she hurt you like this!”

“She dared hit me? She’s gotten out of hand,” Lu Xiang lied without blinking.

“She’s never been afraid to defy you. Hasn’t she always been rebellious all these years? Father, it was Mother who drove you out, wasn’t it?”

Lu Hehuan’s words struck a nerve. Lu Xiang raised his hand as if to slap him, “Shut up and go tidy up the dorm next door for me.”

Lu Hehuan gathered his clothes, “OK.”

“Don’t throw English at me!” Lu Xiang lifted his foot as if to kick him, but Lu Hehuan darted away.

After Lu Hehuan left, the atmosphere grew awkward. Ying Xi tried to curry favor with Lu Xiang, “Deputy Director, Madam Lu was only impulsive because she cares about you so much. Don’t be too angry—just a little punishment will do. You’ve been married so many years.”

“Hmph, that woman needs to be taught a lesson. I’ll stay here for a while longer, let her see how lonely and miserable life is without me,” Lu Xiang said with bravado, unaware that Ying Xi saw through the act and was just flattering him.

“Yes, yes,” Ying Xi nodded with a forced smile.

A moment later, Lu Hehuan emerged from the dorm.

“Father, everything’s sorted. Please rest early.”

Lu Xiang grunted, hands clasped behind his back, and swaggered back to his room.

“Your father’s actually quite charming,” Ying Xi whispered, watching Lu Xiang’s retreat.

Lu Hehuan squeezed out a meaningful smile, “Wait and see.”

He slipped inside, leaving Ying Xi puzzled. “What kind of smile was that? What does that phrase mean?”

“It means ‘you’ll see soon enough.’”

Lu Hehuan entered, and Ying Xi shook his head, entirely baffled by this father and son pair, then followed him inside.

Back in the dorm, Ying Xi hadn’t even warmed his seat when loud knocking came from the wall next door.

“What time do you think it is? Lights out and sleep!” Lu Xiang’s voice roared from the adjacent room.

Ying Xi and Lu Hehuan exchanged glances, easily imagining Lu Xiang’s fierce expression.

The knocking came again, louder.

“Lights out! Immediately!” Lu Xiang barked as if they’d be forced to sleep at midnight whether they liked it or not.

Ying Xi hurriedly turned off the light, and the two clambered into bed in the dark, bumping their heads together and crying out in unison, “Ouch…”

Another knock rang out, “Quiet!”

Stifling their pain, Ying Xi and Lu Hehuan helped each other up and found their beds in the darkness.

“Why aren’t you going to wash up?” Ying Xi whispered teasingly.

“I’m used to it,” Lu Hehuan replied, a little annoyed.

Suppressing his laughter, Ying Xi lay down beside him.

Just as dawn broke, Ying Xi was snuggled up with Lu Hehuan, sleeping soundly, when a ferocious banging at the door startled them awake.

“What’s happening?” Ying Xi wondered aloud, suspecting a police emergency.

Lu Hehuan, however, remained calm. “Do you know why my family never buys alarms?”

“Get up! Do you know what time it is? Hurry!” Lu Xiang’s voice boomed from the doorway, accompanied by loud banging.

Ying Xi understood, grimacing at Lu Hehuan, “Your dad is unbelievable. He’s up earlier than Ah Hua!”

“Young people shouldn’t sleep in. Get up for morning exercise!” Lu Xiang, full of energy, continued pounding the door.

Lu Hehuan seemed unsurprised, while Ying Xi was reluctant. Both finally dragged themselves from their warm beds.

Lu Xiang stood in place, swinging his arms as he watched Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi run laps around the police station courtyard.

“What did I ever do to deserve this? You father and son run, and I just want to sleep,” Ying Xi complained bitterly to Lu Hehuan.

“My father hates nothing more than being awake while others sleep soundly.”

“He’s too jealous.”

“No talking during the run!” Lu Xiang snapped when he saw them whispering.

Ying Xi and Lu Hehuan instantly fell silent.

After several laps, the two, panting, stood before Lu Xiang.

“Deputy Director, we’ve finished our thirty laps. Can we now…”

“You can go make breakfast!” Lu Xiang interrupted.

“What?” Ying Xi gaped, his mouth wide enough for a fist.

“What are you surprised for? Should the deputy director cook breakfast for a detective and an officer?” Lu Xiang said self-righteously.

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi had no choice but to obey.

Lu Xiang sat at the dormitory table, with six golden fried eggs and several slices of bread before him. Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi stood to the side, staring hungrily at the breakfast.

Lu Xiang grinned in satisfaction, “These foreign foods really do look nice.”

Without ceremony, he devoured all the eggs and bread.

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi exchanged a look of shock. After all their effort, they didn’t even get a bite.

Lu Xiang wiped his mouth and cleared his throat, “I’m off to work. You hurry up too.”

He left.

“Your dad polished off all the breakfast,” Ying Xi stared at the empty plate, unwilling to accept reality.

Lu Hehuan’s stomach growled, “I know, I was right at the ‘scene of the crime’.”

“What are we supposed to eat?” Ying Xi was nearly drooling.

“We wait for lunch.”

Lu Hehuan walked away, calm, leaving Ying Xi fuming.

Lu Xiang walked to the Old Gate Police Station, hands clasped behind him, and at the entrance ran into Bao Kang, who was just arriving for work. Lu Xiang snorted, intending to pass, but Bao Kang mocked him relentlessly.

“Who would have thought the deputy director of Old Gate Police Station is afraid of his wife? Hardly manly.”

“Hmph, and the director of Old Gate Police Station stammers whenever he speaks to a woman. He’s an eternal ‘bachelor chicken’,” Lu Xiang retorted.

“You!” Bao Kang was left speechless.

Lu Xiang snorted and quickened his pace.

Lu Hehuan decided to continue investigating the series of murders on Locust Blossom Lane, heading straight to the forensics room with Ying Xi.

Ying Xi leaned lazily against the doorframe, rubbing his stomach with a bitter face, “So hungry…”

Bao Rong held two autopsy reports, her expression grave as she stood before Lu Hehuan.

“I’ve checked repeatedly: the bodies of Chen Xiue and Liang Fang show no abnormalities, and everything fits the criteria for suicide.”

Ying Xi looked unsurprised, “I told you it was suicide. Lu Hehuan, you’re just making trouble for yourself. Let’s close the case and go eat—I’m starving.”

“No, it can’t be suicide. We must have missed a clue,” Lu Hehuan insisted.

“Am I mad? Why did I beg Director Bao to bring you back after you were fired?” Ying Xi groaned, nearly losing his temper from hunger.

At that moment, Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou rushed over, shouting.

“Brother Xi, someone’s dead again on Locust Blossom Lane!” Liu Rushuang never brought good news.

“Another widow, named Sun Fenglian,” Bai Yulou added.

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi were both shocked, exclaiming together, “Sun Fenglian?!”

Sun Fenglian’s body was hanging from her own roof beam, swollen-faced and bulging-eyed, seemingly a suicide by hanging.

“Take her down,” Ying Xi instructed two officers nearby.

Lu Hehuan carefully inspected the victim’s room, finding it neat and clean, with no clues left behind.

Bai Yulou followed behind Liu Rushuang, clutching her clothes and trembling.

Liu Rushuang brushed Bai Yulou off, glaring at him with disappointment. “Can’t you man up a bit? It’s broad daylight—what’s there to fear?”

“Three deaths in a row on Locust Blossom Lane, and I live here. How can I not be scared?” Bai Yulou whimpered, like a frightened kitten seeking comfort.

Liu Rushuang, instead of soothing him, grinned wickedly, “I heard ghosts love to torment people. The more scared you are, the more likely you’ll meet one. If you hear a woman’s voice at night, don’t look back.”

Bai Yulou was nearly in tears, hands clasped in prayer. “Sister Shuang, can I stay at your place tonight?”

“No.”

Liu Rushuang walked away toward Ying Xi, leaving Bai Yulou with a strange expression of fear and disappointment.

The officers, following Ying Xi’s instructions, laid Sun Fenglian’s body on the floor. Bao Rong donned gloves and began examining her.

Lu Hehuan looked at the rope hanging from the beam, then at the kicked-over chair, and noticed locust flower petals scattered by the chair. He frowned.

“Locust flower petals again…” he muttered.

He turned to Bai Yulou, “Was the victim living alone?”

Bai Yulou nodded, “Her husband died years ago, five or six maybe, and she had no children—lived alone.”

Lu Hehuan nodded thoughtfully.

“Officer Lu, you must solve this case quickly and clear these poor women’s names. Otherwise, what if their vengeful spirits return? I still have to live here,” Bai Yulou pleaded fearfully.

“Don’t worry. Their spirits won’t come back, but if they died unjustly, I’ll see justice done for them,” Lu Hehuan declared with resolve.

“Brother Xi, rumors are wild outside. They say Jin Lu is back to kill, and some claim they heard Jin Lu singing at night,” Liu Rushuang clung to Ying Xi.

Ying Xi remained impatient as ever, “If Jin Lu’s back, why not find me? I was her best customer.”

Liu Rushuang grew anxious, her face stern. “If she dares, I’ll call on a master to destroy her soul and banish her forever!”

“Women’s hearts are the most poisonous,” Ying Xi sighed, shaking his head.

Liu Rushuang looked displeased. Her good intentions went unappreciated.

Bao Rong finished her preliminary examination and began her report, “The victim was around thirty, with clear strangulation marks on her neck. Cause of death: asphyxiation. Time of death: around nine o’clock last night.”

“That time again…” Lu Hehuan was startled. Three murders, all at nine o’clock in the evening.

Ying Xi glanced at Lu Hehuan and quickly took over, “Another suicide. Let’s wrap this up with Chen Xiue and Liang Fang’s cases.”

“No, we can’t close it,” Lu Hehuan stopped him. “Detective Ying, this is the third case. All victims are widows, living alone, and died at nine o’clock. Locust flower petals at every scene. So many similarities—this has to be a serial murder.”

“Come off it. Evidence? What proof do you have these were murders?”

“As long as we keep digging, evidence will come,” Lu Hehuan insisted.

“Do you know how bad it’ll be if these cases are labeled serial murders? Higher-ups will pressure us, and if we can’t solve it in time, we’re out of jobs!” Ying Xi both pleaded and threatened.

“Even so, we can’t just close the case carelessly.”

Ying Xi saw Lu Hehuan wouldn’t budge, shaking his head, exasperated, “You’re like playing music to a cow!”

“Exactly, music to a cow,” Lu Hehuan shot him a meaningful glance.

As the two squared off, Bai Yulou suddenly remembered something.

“Detective Ying, Officer Lu, stop arguing. I think I recall something possibly related to the case…”

“Speak!” Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi were instantly attentive, urging him in unison.

“That night, after dinner, I went out for a walk…” Bai Yulou dragged it out, “Guess what I saw?”

Lu Hehuan grew impatient, “Can we skip the guessing at such a crucial moment?”

“Fine, I’ll just tell you…”

“Stop dithering, spit it out!” Ying Xi interrupted irritably.

Bai Yulou shot him a glare, “I saw Sister Hao visit Sun Fenglian’s home.”

“Sister Hao?”

Lu Hehuan was puzzled. Why did this woman keep appearing in connection with the Locust Blossom Lane murders? Regardless, he decided to visit Sister Hao’s home.

While Lu Hehuan and the others were busy, Bao Kang enjoyed leisure, sneaking into the police station’s lab with Zhu Wolong.

“Boss Zhu, Rong will be back soon. Hide here and surprise her,” Bao Kang schemed.

Zhu Wolong, holding a bouquet, nodded happily, “You’re considerate as ever, Boss Bao.”

Satisfied, Bao Kang left, confident Zhu Wolong would win Rong’s heart.

Zhu Wolong searched for a hiding spot in the lab, ultimately crawling under the table. But then he reconsidered, “Wouldn’t that be too uncool?”

He climbed out, tried hiding by the door, then worried, “What if Rong opens the door and hits my nose?”

He searched again, his gaze landing on the morgue drawers.

Sister Hao stood at her door, calmly facing Lu Hehuan, Ying Xi, and the others.

“I did visit Sun Fenglian last night, but I was only checking in on an old neighbor, chatting,” Sister Hao explained.

“Did you notice anything unusual about her?” Ying Xi pressed.

Sister Hao thought a moment, her tone neutral, “Her mood seemed off, but when I asked, she wouldn’t say. Who knows, maybe she just couldn’t cope. If I’d known, I would’ve tried to comfort her.”

Lu Hehuan scrutinized Sister Hao, inwardly suspicious, but said nothing, leaving quietly with Ying Xi.

As night fell, Zhu Wolong lay inside a morgue drawer in the lab, a thin frost forming on his face, eyelids heavy, mumbling, “Why isn’t Miss Bao back yet… So cold…”

This fool, intent on surprising Bao Rong, hid in the morgue drawer, but she didn’t return as expected.

His face grew pale as low temperature and lack of oxygen made him gradually lose consciousness.

The door opened. Bao Rong entered, noticing the drawer containing Zhu Wolong was ajar.

She walked over, pulled it open, and just then, knocking sounded at the door. Bao Rong didn’t notice the “corpse,” looking instead to the entrance—it was Officer Baldhead.

“Rong, Detective Ying asked me to collect the autopsy reports for Chen Xiue and Liang Fang. He said you’ve been notified.”

“They’re here.”

Bao Rong grabbed the reports from the table and handed them over.

“Another murder?” Bao Rong wondered, noticing an extra body in the morgue drawer.

“Not that I’ve heard. Why?”

“Nothing, just an extra body…” Bao Rong decided to begin the autopsy. “Baldhead, please help me move the body to the table.”

He nodded, placed the reports on the table, and called out, “Someone give me a hand.”

Soon, another officer entered, and together they lifted Zhu Wolong onto the autopsy table.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Baldhead took the reports and left with his colleague.

Bao Rong approached the “body,” covered its face with a white cloth, donned surgical gloves, picked up a scalpel, and prepared to begin, unaware that Zhu Wolong was merely unconscious.

As the scalpel neared his chest, Zhu Wolong’s hand twitched.

Bao Rong, startled, blinked. “Must be seeing things.”

She steadied herself, and again as the scalpel neared, his hand twitched.

Bao Rong, seeing the frost on the “corpse,” thought, “Probably just residual nerves reacting.”

Calming herself, she pressed the scalpel to Zhu Wolong’s chest and began to cut.