Chapter Forty-Two: Recognizing Evil by Its Footsteps

The next morning, Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi arrived at the entrance of the Frost Delight Detective Agency. The two exchanged a knowing glance.

“Detective Ying, it’s up to you now,” Lu Hehuan looked at Ying Xi with anticipation.

Ying Xi shot Lu Hehuan a pointed look. “Depends on my mood.”

Lu Hehuan followed Ying Xi into the detective agency.

In the main hall, Liu Rushuang sat idly, propping her chin in her hand and looking worried. Next to her, Bai Yulou sat sneezing incessantly.

“Miss Liu,” Lu Hehuan greeted her warmly.

Liu Rushuang looked up. Seeing Ying Xi, her face lit up briefly before she composed herself and put on an air of cool indifference. “Why are you two here? I don’t have any curvy, alluring ladies to keep you company over drinks.”

“Miss Liu, we’re here to ask a favor,” Lu Hehuan got straight to the point.

“Oh, so you only come to my door when you need something,” Bai Yulou mocked them in a singsong, sarcastic tone.

Liu Rushuang snorted angrily, “I’m not helping.”

“It’s just a small thing for you, Miss Liu,” Lu Hehuan persisted.

“Not even if it only took me moving a finger. Why don’t you get one of those women at the brothel to help you instead?”

Seeing Liu Rushuang’s anger hadn’t subsided, Lu Hehuan suddenly had an idea. “Miss Liu, you might have misunderstood. Detective Ying and I only went to the brothel for investigation purposes.”

“What kind of case needs you to go to a brothel? Don’t try to fool me.” Liu Rushuang turned her face away.

“We were looking into that piece of broken shoe heel. Dabao often frequents those places, so we had to go there to investigate,” Lu Hehuan said, giving Ying Xi a covert look.

Ying Xi caught on, cleared his throat, and put on a pitiful act. “Forget it. Since Rushuang’s unwilling, let’s not push her. Even if Chief Bao gets harsher with me for not solving the case—maybe making me catch bugs for Ah Hua all day and night, or punish me by scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush until I throw up, or even make me slap myself until my face is swollen and bruised—I’ll just bear it. Who told me I’m incapable of finding clues?”

Lu Hehuan kept sneaking glances at Liu Rushuang, whose expression grew sympathetic; she opened her mouth to speak.

“No matter how he chooses to torment me, I’ll endure it. It’s my fault I couldn’t find a lead,” Ying Xi finished, turning to Lu Hehuan. “Detective Lu, let’s think of something else.”

“Oh.” Lu Hehuan made to leave with Ying Xi.

“Wait!” Liu Rushuang finally gave in, biting her lip and dropping her pretense.

The two were overjoyed, but when they turned around, they still wore somber faces.

“What is it?” Ying Xi asked Liu Rushuang coolly.

“What exactly do you want me to help with?”

Ying Xi and Lu Hehuan exchanged a glance, secretly pleased.

Lu Hehuan couldn’t help but blurt out, “We’d like you to find out which entertainment venues Dabao visits most often, so we can investigate more efficiently.”

“That’s simple enough. I’ll help,” Liu Rushuang agreed.

Seeing her relent, Ying Xi was delighted and clapped Lu Hehuan on the shoulder. “Then Detective Lu and I will wait at the station for your news.” With that, he strode out with Lu Hehuan in tow.

“If you need something, come to me. If not, you two just go off happy together,” Liu Rushuang grumbled discontentedly as she watched Ying Xi’s departing figure.

Bai Yulou, in a singsong voice, added, “Well, he is the Happy Detective, after all.”

Liu Rushuang shot Bai Yulou a glare, silencing him.

Early that morning, Lin Zhi hurried to the police station. After hearing Zhu Wolong say last night that Lu Hehuan had been frequenting the brothels, she was anxious to find her son and get to the bottom of it. Unexpectedly, on her way to the station, she ran into Zhu Wolong, who was loitering nearby.

“How am I supposed to explain to Miss Bao? Say I went to the brothel to find someone? That sounds too fake... Say it was business? That doesn’t seem right either...” Zhu Wolong muttered to himself as he paced.

Seeing him, Lin Zhi was filled with rage. As she passed Zhu Wolong, she deliberately stomped hard on his foot and walked off with a cold snort.

“Hey, lady, can’t you watch where you’re going?” Zhu Wolong was both annoyed and bewildered.

Lin Zhi spun around, pointing at Zhu Wolong. “Who are you calling lady, you uncouth brute!”

“Who are you calling uncouth? You stepped on my foot!” Zhu Wolong snapped.

“A good dog doesn’t block the way. Didn’t your mother teach you that?”

“You—” Zhu Wolong was left speechless.

“What, ‘you’? Not only are you blocking the road, you’re biting people too! You’re a mad dog!”

“Say that again and see if I don’t hit you!” Zhu Wolong, at his wit’s end, raised a fist at Lin Zhi.

Lin Zhi leaned in, utterly unafraid. “Go ahead, hit me! The station’s right up ahead—why don’t you go inside and hit me in there?”

“Don’t think I won’t,” Zhu Wolong blustered, though his voice wavered.

“Oh my, he’s hitting me! Hitting a woman!” Lin Zhi shouted loudly.

Zhu Wolong panicked, glanced at the station, and, fuming, pointed at her. “I won’t bother with you.”

He turned away, but Lin Zhi glared after him and spat, “Try biting people again next time!”

With that, she continued on her way to the station.

“What a crazy woman!” Zhu Wolong muttered through gritted teeth.

Inside the station, Bao Rong stepped out of the forensics room just in time to see Lu Hehuan coming down the hall.

“Rong,” Lu Hehuan greeted her.

Bao Rong smiled and nodded, opening her mouth as if to speak but hesitated.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Hehuan asked, puzzled.

“Hehuan, there’s something I...” Bao Rong began awkwardly, but before she could finish, Lin Zhi’s voice echoed down the corridor.

“Son!”

Lu Hehuan turned at the sound, both surprised and delighted. “Mother? What are you doing here?”

“I have something to ask you,” Lin Zhi said, striding briskly toward him.

“Aunt Lin,” Bao Rong greeted her with a smile.

Lin Zhi smiled and nodded back.

Lu Hehuan looked at his mother in confusion. “You came all this way—what’s the matter?”

“Son, tell me, did you go to the brothel yesterday?” Lin Zhi asked bluntly.

“I did.”

“What? Why would you go to a place like that? I raised you with such care, you mustn’t go down that path!” Lin Zhi was heartbroken by his frank admission. Even Bao Rong looked shocked.

Lu Hehuan could hardly keep from laughing, and gently supported Lin Zhi. “Mother, I was investigating a case.”

Lin Zhi immediately brightened, pride blooming on her face. “Ah, so you were investigating! I knew my son wouldn’t go to such places for no reason.”

Bao Rong let out a quiet sigh of relief.

As they spoke, Ying Xi emerged from the office and glanced at Lin Zhi. “Mrs. Lu.”

Lin Zhi smiled and nodded. “Detective Ying.”

Ying Xi looked at Lu Hehuan. “Detective Lu, Chief Bao wants us in his office.”

“Mother...” Lu Hehuan looked at Lin Zhi, uncertain.

She understood immediately and waved him on with a smile. “Go on, don’t worry about me.”

“Hehuan, I’ll walk Aunt Lin out,” Bao Rong offered considerately.

Lu Hehuan nodded gratefully.

Chief Bao’s office was thick with the smell of tobacco. Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi stood before him with heads bowed.

“You two are getting more and more sluggish with your investigations. How many days has the Suzhou River corpse case been open? And you still haven’t caught the killer?” Chief Bao scolded them sternly.

“Chief Bao, don’t worry, we’ll solve the case as soon as possible,” Ying Xi said with a placating smile.

“As soon as possible? How soon is that? Don’t give me vague answers like ‘soon’ or ‘immediately’ anymore. I want a specific deadline!” Chief Bao snapped.

“Yes, sir!” Ying Xi answered, bracing himself.

Chief Bao snorted, glaring at him. “What have you been investigating lately?”

Ying Xi looked at Lu Hehuan, who stepped forward. “Reporting, Chief Bao. We’ve been investigating at the brothel. Although our previous lead ran dry, I’m confident we’ll have something new within a day.”

At the mention of the brothel, Chief Bao’s manner softened. “If you haven’t found a lead, then you should go to the brothel more often and investigate thoroughly.”

Lu Hehuan shot Ying Xi a puzzled look. Ying Xi, understanding, gave him a meaningful glance.

“Yes, sir!” they answered in unison.

Leaving Chief Bao’s office, Lu Hehuan turned to Ying Xi, perplexed. “Strange, why did Chief Bao’s attitude change as soon as the brothel was mentioned? He wasn’t stern at all—almost friendly.”

Ying Xi snickered, “Chief Bao wants you to hang around the brothel so his sister will give up on you.”

“Rong?” Lu Hehuan was taken aback.

Ying Xi nodded, giving him a look. “Don’t tell me you’re that dense? The whole station can see she likes you.”

Lu Hehuan frowned slightly. “Don’t talk nonsense. I see Rong as a sister. You know my heart belongs to Ling Yan.”

“Well, Ling Yan’s missing now, and Rong’s not bad either,” Ying Xi teased.

“Shut up. Say that again and I’ll get angry!” Lu Hehuan warned him seriously.

“Fine, fine, I won’t. Still, it’s not like it’ll stop being true just because I don’t say it.”

“You—!” Lu Hehuan was exasperated.

Ying Xi couldn’t help but chuckle again.

Just then, Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou came running up, calling out.

“Xi-ge, Xi-ge! We have a lead!” Liu Rushuang was panting for breath.

“Catch your breath first,” Ying Xi said, looking annoyed.

After a few deep breaths, Liu Rushuang continued, “I found a lead. There are two main places Dabao frequents.”

“Where?” Lu Hehuan asked.

“Paramount and the Grand Shanghai Club,” Bai Yulou answered for her.

“With specific locations, it’ll be much easier to investigate,” Ying Xi said, unable to hide his excitement.

Liu Rushuang looked at him eagerly. “Xi-ge, Bai Bai and I will help you investigate.”

“You two would just get in the way,” Ying Xi waved them off impatiently.

“I’m not getting in the way. I want to help,” Liu Rushuang insisted.

Seeing her determination, Lu Hehuan suggested, “It’s not a bad idea. The more the merrier. Let’s split up and cover more ground.”

Before nightfall, Paramount was still quite empty. Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi had just stepped inside when they ran into Jin Mei. The two questioned her about Dabao’s behavior at the dance hall. During the exchange, Ying Xi put his hand on Jin Mei’s shoulder, taking advantage of the situation.

“Detective Ying, is this really necessary for an investigation?” Jin Mei turned away, displeased.

Ying Xi, thick-skinned, ran his hand up her bare arm with a grin. “Why not?”

Lu Hehuan removed Ying Xi’s hand and offered Jin Mei an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that.”

Jin Mei sized him up, then smiled flirtatiously. “But if this handsome gentleman wanted to put his hand on me, I wouldn’t mind.”

Lu Hehuan managed an awkward smile. “I’m not used to that style of investigation.”

Jin Mei pouted in mock annoyance.

Getting back on track, Ying Xi asked, “Jin Mei, Dabao’s been a regular here lately, hasn’t he?”

Jin Mei thought for a moment, “Oh, you mean that nouveau riche fellow. Yes, he comes often, but none of the girls like to pay him any attention.”

“Isn’t there any dancer who’s friendly with him?” Lu Hehuan interjected.

Jin Mei hesitated briefly. “Only Yue Xiaodong is close to him. That woman’s so desperate she can’t afford to be picky.”

“Yue Xiaodong? I don’t know her,” Ying Xi’s eyes lit up.

“She’s new here,” Jin Mei explained curtly.

Lu Hehuan nodded. “Where is she?”

“She hasn’t come in yet. She’s on the night shift at eight.”

Lu Hehuan’s expression grew thoughtful.

“Don’t tell Yue Xiaodong we were here,” Ying Xi warned.

Jin Mei nodded.

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi exchanged a glance, deciding to meet Yue Xiaodong themselves that night.

Meanwhile, Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou made their way to the Grand Shanghai Club.

“If I’d known we’d be splitting up, I wouldn’t have helped. I’d rather just stick with Xi-ge,” Liu Rushuang grumbled as they walked.

Bai Yulou twirled a delicate finger and glanced at her. “You know Lu Hehuan’s as dense as a log. You can’t count on him.”

Liu Rushuang nodded, growing more annoyed. “He really is clueless. It’s obvious I only want to help because of Xi-ge. How can he not see that? Wooden as ever.”

Bai Yulou looked up at the sign for the Grand Shanghai Club, then turned to Liu Rushuang. “Here we are, Sister Shuang.”

Liu Rushuang nodded and went in with him.

As dusk settled, wisps of smoke curled up from the chimneys around the station. Lu Hehuan sat in his office chair, deep in thought. Ying Xi lounged beside him, feet propped up on the desk, tossing peanuts into his mouth.

Suddenly, the door banged open. Ying Xi choked on a peanut and began coughing violently.

Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou walked in. Liu Rushuang looked at Ying Xi in concern. “Xi-ge, are you all right?”

It took a moment for Ying Xi to spit out the peanut. He glared at her. “You think this is your house? Don’t you know how to knock?”

“Xi-ge, I have a lead,” Liu Rushuang protested, looking aggrieved.

He stared at her and bellowed, “Get out and knock!”

“Ying Xi, that’s too much. The station isn’t your house either!” Bai Yulou spoke up for Liu Rushuang.

Ying Xi glared at him. “You too. Out. Knock!”

Bai Yulou jumped in fright.

Liu Rushuang pouted, eyes brimming with tears. “Bai Bai, let’s go knock.”

They left, knocked on the door, and waited.

“Come in,” came Ying Xi’s cold voice.

They reentered. Bai Yulou shot Ying Xi a resentful look.

Lu Hehuan gave Liu Rushuang a apologetic smile. “Miss Liu, what did you find?”

“The dancers at the Grand Shanghai Club say none of them like Dabao. Only Yue Xiaodong at Paramount is close to him,” Liu Rushuang replied, somewhat crestfallen.

“That matches what we found,” Lu Hehuan thought to himself with satisfaction.

Ying Xi stroked his chin and looked at Lu Hehuan. “Looks like Yue Xiaodong is a real suspect. We should check her out tonight at Paramount.”

Lu Hehuan nodded. “I agree.”

“I’m coming too,” Liu Rushuang chimed in, eager to tag along.

“No,” Ying Xi refused flatly.

“Why not? There’s no rule against women at Paramount.”

“Because I said so!”

Still unwilling to give up, Liu Rushuang signaled to Lu Hehuan for help, but he remained silent.

“Let Lu Hehuan decide if I can go,” she pleaded.

“To avoid alerting the suspect, I think it’s best if you don’t come, Miss Liu,” Lu Hehuan said awkwardly.

“Hmph!” Liu Rushuang glared at him in anger.

Lu Hehuan looked away helplessly.

Night fell. Dressed in suits, Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi entered Paramount. The dance hall was bustling with music and dancing.

Sister Lan greeted them warmly. “Well, if it isn’t Detective Ying. Long time no see.”

Ying Xi smiled. “Sister Lan, look at how we’re dressed today. I’ve brought my brother to relax. We’re off duty—just call me Xi-ge.”

Sister Lan draped an arm around his shoulder, flashing a flirtatious smile. “Got your eye on one of the girls, or should I pick some for you?”

“I hear the new girl, Yue Xiaodong, is quite something. We’ll take her.”

Sister Lan glanced at Lu Hehuan, then back at Ying Xi, curious. “Just one girl for you two?”

“Why, can’t I like it this way?” Ying Xi retorted.

Sister Lan hurriedly nodded. “Of course, Xi-ge. Come with me to a private room.”

In the private room, Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi sat on the sofa, a table laden with fruit and drinks before them.

Soon, Yue Xiaodong entered, her heels clicking seductively. She wore a form-fitting blue cheongsam, her features charming, her large round eyes both adorable and captivating.

Both men immediately noticed her white high-heeled shoes and exchanged a subtle look.

Yue Xiaodong approached them with a coy smile.

Ying Xi ogled her, curling a finger to beckon her closer. She obediently leaned in, and he pulled her into his lap. Yue Xiaodong settled in, playing along.

“Miss Yue is a real beauty—you make my heart race,” Ying Xi praised.

“Xi-ge, you have a silver tongue,” Yue Xiaodong cooed.

Ying Xi toyed with her cheek, and she gazed at him with longing.

Meanwhile, with her attention diverted, Lu Hehuan slipped under the table to inspect her shoes.

Noticing his absence, Yue Xiaodong asked, “Xi-ge, where did that handsome gentleman go?”

Beneath the table, Lu Hehuan grabbed Ying Xi’s foot. Ying Xi started but quickly recovered. “Oh, he just went out—nature calls.”

“Nature calls?” She glanced at the door, uncertain.

Ying Xi tilted her chin back to him, feigning jealousy. “You’re not interested in him, are you? I’ll get jealous.”

“Oh, stop. My heart’s always been with you,” Yue Xiaodong replied, playfully hitting his chest.

“Then keep your eyes on me. No looking elsewhere.”

Yue Xiaodong giggled, charmed.

Under the table, Lu Hehuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked closer—he was startled to see that one of Yue Xiaodong’s heels was missing a piece. He quickly pulled the broken heel fragment from his pocket and held it to the gap.

It fit perfectly.