Chapter Sixty-Two: The Clouds Disperse

Soon the day of the engagement between Lu Hehuan and Liu Sixue arrived. The grand, opulent banquet hall was filled with guests: Bao Kang, Bao Rong, Ying Xi, Bai Yulou, and the police officers all took their seats. In the center of the hall hung a banner reading, “Mr. Lu Hehuan and Miss Liu Sixue’s Engagement Ceremony.”

Bao Rong, thinking of Lu Hehuan about to marry Liu Sixue, could not hide the disappointment on her face. Seated beside her, Bao Kang, seeing Lu Xiang able to forge a family tie with Liu Shan, was visibly envious.

Lu Hehuan, dressed in a suit, sat at the table with Lu Xiang and Lin Zhi, his face clouded with worry, while Lu Xiang, in contrast, was beaming, having polished his leather shoes to a brilliant shine for the occasion.

The auspicious hour for the engagement arrived. Lin Zhi anxiously watched the door. “Why hasn’t anyone from the Liu family arrived yet?”

No sooner had she spoken than Guangtou hurried in and whispered to Lu Xiang, “Deputy Director Lu, the Liu family says Miss Liu isn’t ready yet.”

Lu Xiang’s expression didn’t change.

“It’s nearly an hour late—how is she still not ready?” Lin Zhi’s patience began to fray.

“The more important the occasion, the more carefully one must prepare. Don’t worry.”

After a moment, Liu Shan entered the hall with a stony face, bringing Liu Rushuang with him.

Lu Xiang quickly went to greet Liu Shan with a handshake. “Boss Liu, please, have a seat.”

But Liu Shan didn’t move, standing awkwardly before Lu Xiang. Seeing that Liu Sixue was nowhere to be found, the gloom vanished from Lu Hehuan’s face.

Lu Xiang sensed something was wrong. Noticing Liu Sixue’s absence, his brows knitted.

Lin Zhi looked at Liu Shan in confusion. “Boss Liu, why isn’t Sixue here? Is she still not ready?”

Liu Shan, deeply embarrassed, bowed to Lu Xiang and Lin Zhi in apology. “Deputy Director Lu, Madam Lu, I’m truly sorry, but the engagement will have to be postponed.”

“Why? Did I do something to displease you?” Lu Xiang was taken aback.

Liu Shan waved his hands repeatedly. “No, not at all, it’s just… my daughter Sixue has gone missing.”

“Missing?” Lu Xiang could not believe his ears.

Liu Shan nodded.

Liu Rushuang spotted Ying Xi sitting nearby and quietly slipped over.

Ying Xi asked in a low voice, “What happened? How could your sister go missing?”

Liu Rushuang glanced around cautiously, then lowered her voice. “My sister isn’t missing. We found a letter in her bedroom. She said she’s pregnant and couldn’t face her family or neighbors, so she had no choice but to elope with her boyfriend from her time studying abroad.”

“Your sister is that bold?” Ying Xi’s jaw nearly dropped.

Liu Rushuang shook her head. “Those who studied overseas really do act fearlessly.”

Ying Xi looked at Lu Hehuan, nodded thoughtfully, then took out a slip of paper and handed it to Liu Rushuang.

Liu Rushuang took it, curious. “What’s this?”

“Give this to Lu Hehuan,” Ying Xi replied, then got up to leave.

Liu Rushuang, unbothered, opened the note and saw it read, “Waiting for you at Ruyi Teahouse.” Immediately she grew jealous. “Why so secretive? He could have just asked me to pass on the message directly.”

By midday, Ruyi Teahouse was crowded with merchants and travelers taking a break. Ying Xi sat by the window, sipping tea and gazing outside. Before long, Lu Hehuan, Liu Rushuang, and Bai Yulou arrived and took seats beside him.

Ying Xi eyed Liu Rushuang and Bai Yulou. “Why are you two here?” He seemed to realize something and stared at Liu Rushuang. “You peeked at the note, didn’t you?”

“You never said I couldn’t.” Liu Rushuang was a little guilty.

“Then you must have seen it said to wait for you at Ruyi Teahouse, not for both of you, right?”

Liu Rushuang sidled up to Ying Xi, grinning. “Drinks are on me. Brother Xi, order whatever tea you like.”

“Then I’ll take the best you have,” Ying Xi replied with a mischievous smile.

Liu Rushuang snapped her fingers boldly. “Boss, two pots of your finest tea!”

Lu Hehuan was amused by their banter, while Bai Yulou looked a little uncomfortable.

Remembering his purpose, Ying Xi turned to Lu Hehuan. “Hehuan, you don’t have to worry about the engagement anymore.”

Lu Hehuan nodded seriously. “Did you have anything to do with Liu Sixue’s disappearance?”

Ying Xi rubbed his chin. “How could we manage that? Liu Rushuang said Liu Sixue left a letter for her family, saying she was pregnant and, unable to face her kin or neighbors, she eloped with her boyfriend from her time abroad.”

“Eloped?” Lu Hehuan was skeptical.

Ying Xi chuckled. “The plan I racked my brains over to help you escape this engagement hadn’t even been set in motion before Liu Sixue sensibly took matters into her own hands.”

Lu Hehuan pondered a moment. “I can’t help feeling something’s off. Could something have happened to her?”

Liu Rushuang shook her head. “I’ve asked around. The night before the engagement, witnesses really did see my sister with a man heading toward the docks, and the two of them bought tickets for a ship to America.”

“I just find it strange—if she already had someone, why would your father still come to propose to my family?” Lu Hehuan frowned in thought.

“My sister was already open-minded and modern from her years overseas. Don’t overthink it, Lu Hehuan,” Liu Rushuang dismissed his doubts.

Ying Xi agreed, “Bao Rong is much nicer anyway.”

The more Lu Hehuan thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He shook his head. “I still think there’s something odd about Liu Sixue’s sudden elopement. Detective Ying, we should keep investigating.”

Liu Rushuang grew anxious and waved her hands. “No, no, we can’t! Our family is already too embarrassed and refuses to mention it. Lu Hehuan, please, I beg you, don’t look into it. My father is furious right now.”

Ying Xi, seeing that Lu Hehuan wouldn’t let it go, couldn’t help but tease, “Lu Hehuan, you’re not hoping to find Liu Sixue and carry on with the engagement, are you?”

Lu Hehuan was startled, then after a moment, nodded. “Alright, if that’s the case, I’ll drop it. Better to focus on finding a way to clear Ling Yan’s name.”

“If you’re not investigating Liu Sixue, you’re investigating Ling Yan. Lu Hehuan, can you not stand it if you’re not working on a case?” Ying Xi muttered in protest.

Night fell, and the lanterns on Xiafei Road began to glow. Bao Kang, drunk, staggered down the middle of the street, singing broken snatches of song.

A cold wind brushed his face, and suddenly Bao Kang burst out laughing. “Lu Xiang, your careful schemes have come to nothing, haven’t they? Ha! You said my sister’s dream of marrying into a wealthy family has burst—what about your son? He didn’t marry into money either—ha ha ha…”

At that moment, a frightened horse carriage came barreling straight for Bao Kang. The foreign coachman shouted, “Get out of the way! Get out of the way!”

Not understanding English, Bao Kang wandered on, oblivious.

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi, just emerging from a side alley, saw the carriage hurtling toward Bao Kang and were both alarmed.

“It’s Director Bao!” Ying Xi cried out.

In a flash, Lu Hehuan dashed forward, and at the very moment the carriage would have struck Bao Kang, he grabbed him and rolled them both aside, saving his life.

The carriage sped past, missing Bao Kang by a hair.

Still shaken, Bao Kang sat up, half sobered by the fright.

Ying Xi ran over. “Director Bao, are you alright?”

Bao Kang shook his head and looked at Lu Hehuan. “You saved me…”

Lu Hehuan smiled it off. “Just happened to be there.”

Bao Kang was silent for a moment, then patted Lu Hehuan’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

Lu Hehuan smiled. “No need for thanks, Director Bao.”

Ying Xi’s mouth fell open in astonishment. He whispered to Lu Hehuan, “Who’d have thought Director Bao would actually thank you?”

“What’s so strange about that?” Lu Hehuan replied, puzzled.

Returning to their dormitory exhausted, Ying Xi rolled up his sleeves and headed straight for the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” Lu Hehuan asked, baffled.

Ying Xi smiled. “To celebrate you solving two problems at once, I’m going to cook a few dishes myself.”

“What’s there to celebrate?”

“I’ve learned a new dish. I’ll make it for you, and we’ll have some wine.”

Lu Hehuan eyed him. “You just want me to drink with you, right?”

Ying Xi raised an eyebrow. “You know me better and better.” With that, he eagerly picked up a radish. “This dish will be called—”

Before he could finish, Ying Xi suddenly collapsed to the floor.

Lu Hehuan rushed to help him up. “Detective Ying! Ying Xi, what’s wrong?”

Panicked, Lu Hehuan hoisted him onto his back and prepared to rush out.

Ying Xi came to, feebly patting Lu Hehuan’s back. “Put me down.”

Lu Hehuan quickly stopped and helped him to the bed.

“You’re awake?” Lu Hehuan looked at him, worried.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“You look unwell. You should see a doctor.”

“It’s just my chronic stomach trouble. Medicine will sort it out—the hospital won’t find anything.”

“Still, you should go to the hospital.”

“I know my own body. Those doctors aren’t half as good as me,” Ying Xi insisted stubbornly.

“But Detective Ying—”

Impatiently, Ying Xi waved him off. “Enough, I’m starving. Go cook.”

“You should really see a doctor,” Lu Hehuan hesitated.

Ying Xi shoved him roughly. “If we go to the hospital, I’ll starve to death. Enough talk—go make dinner.”

“Then rest while I cook,” Lu Hehuan conceded helplessly.

Ying Xi nodded.

The next morning, Bao Kang arrived early at the office, deep in thought as he sat in his chair. While he was pondering, there was a sudden knock at the door.

He snapped back to reality. “Come in.”

“Director Bao.” Ying Xi entered.

“What brings you here?” Bao Kang asked.

Ying Xi sidled up with a smile. “Director Bao, there’s something I shouldn’t meddle in…”

“Then don’t meddle,” Bao Kang cut him off.

Ying Xi was taken aback, awkwardly rubbing his chin. “But if I don’t meddle, a good thing might not happen.”

“A good thing? What good thing?” Bao Kang’s interest was piqued.

“Lu Hehuan and Bao Rong—they’re a perfect match, made for each other.”

Bao Kang hesitated. “Lu Hehuan risked his life to save me. He’s not bad.”

Seeing Bao Kang’s attitude soften, Ying Xi was delighted and pressed on. “Lu Hehuan is brave, responsible, and reliable. Bao Rong will be happy with him.”

Bao Kang sighed and nodded. “I’ve come around. As long as Bao Rong herself feels happy, that’s all that matters.”

“So, we must bring them together.”

Bao Kang looked at him, puzzled. “How? Even if I don’t object, Lu Hehuan must be willing, right? And then there’s Lu Xiang.”

Ying Xi grinned confidently. “Leave it to me.”

That evening, Ying Xi returned to the dormitory and found that Lu Hehuan had torn the place apart, every drawer open, belongings scattered everywhere.

Ying Xi stared, bewildered. “Looks like a robbery—what are you looking for?”

“A photograph,” Lu Hehuan said, his face anxious.

“What photograph?”

“A photo of Ling Yan and me.”

“It’s just a photo—”

Lu Hehuan cut him off. “It’s the only one we ever took together.”

He frantically rummaged through the drawers, with Ying Xi joining the search. After a long while, the photo was still missing. Frustrated, Lu Hehuan muttered, “I always kept it with me. How could it be gone?”

Ying Xi shrugged. “It’s just a photo. If it’s lost, it’s lost. Forget it—come, I’ll take you for a drink.” He reached out to pull Lu Hehuan up.

Unexpectedly, Lu Hehuan shook him off roughly and shouted, “Leave me alone! I’m not going. Go by yourself!”

Ying Xi, stung by the outburst, grew angry. “Lu Hehuan, I invite you for a drink out of kindness and you fly off the handle at me?”

Lu Hehuan hung his head, slumping into a chair. “Sorry, I’m just not in the mood.”

Ying Xi’s anger evaporated. He had wanted to comfort Lu Hehuan, but the words stuck in his throat. With a sigh, he silently began tidying up the mess.

The last rays of sunset streamed into Bao Rong’s book-filled room. She sat at her desk, lost in thought over a volume of poetry. Again and again, the scene in the morgue that day—her “kiss” with Lu Hehuan—played in her mind.

A gentle evening breeze stirred her from her reverie. Sorrowfully, she opened her book and softly recited a verse: “There are trees on the mountain and branches on the trees, my heart delights in you, but you do not know.”

The door was ajar. Bao Kang stood at the threshold, quietly watching his sister. Though he didn’t understand the poem, he could sense she was troubled by something.

He raised his hand to knock, but after a moment’s hesitation, let it fall in silence.

At dusk, Bai Yulou walked Liu Rushuang to the gate of the Liu residence.

Liu Rushuang waved. “I’m home. You should head back.”

Bai Yulou lingered, reluctant to leave, gazing at her graceful figure.

Just as Liu Rushuang was about to enter, she turned and saw Bai Yulou still watching her from afar, puzzled. “Bai Bai, why aren’t you leaving?”

“Sister Shuang, there’s something… I wanted to discuss with you,” Bai Yulou stammered.

Liu Rushuang walked over, unconcerned. “What is it?”

“If your sister was pursuing Lu Hehuan, why did she elope with someone else on the day of their engagement?”

Startled, Liu Rushuang quickly covered his mouth, lowering her voice. “Are you crazy? If my father hears, we’ll be in trouble…” She glanced around, saw no one else nearby, and only then let go, whispering, “I told you, my sister eloped because she got pregnant with her classmate. That’s why.”

Bai Yulou frowned slightly. “If she liked Lu Hehuan, why would she get pregnant with someone else?”

Anxiously, Liu Rushuang dragged him into a corner. “What’s gotten into you? Why all these weird questions?”

Bai Yulou hesitated, then looked at her earnestly. “What I mean is, maybe she thought she liked Lu Hehuan, but in her heart, perhaps she didn’t.”

Liu Rushuang grew more confused and frowned in annoyance. “Bai Bai, what are you trying to say?”

Bai Yulou steeled himself and spoke solemnly, “Sister Shuang, I think your feelings for Ying Xi are just like Liu Sixue’s for Lu Hehuan. You think you like him because you can’t have him, but really, he doesn’t suit you at all. You only think he’s good because he never accepted you.”

“I’m nothing like Liu Sixue! My feelings for Brother Xi are genuine!” Liu Rushuang retorted, her voice rising.

“And if Ying Xi never accepts you?”

Liu Rushuang grew angrier. “That won’t happen! I’ll keep treating him well, and one day he’ll be moved and accept me!”

“Then why haven’t you been moved by me? I’ve always treated you well,” Bai Yulou blurted out. Both froze.

After a moment, Liu Rushuang regained her composure, staring at him awkwardly. “Bai Bai, what’s gotten into you today?”

“Sister Shuang, I…” Bai Yulou looked at her intently, wanting to confess, but before he could finish, Liu Rushuang panicked. “My father’s calling me for dinner. I have to go.”

She hurriedly ran into the house.

Unwilling to give up, Bai Yulou called after her, “Sister Shuang, will you go take a photograph with me tomorrow? I want a picture of us together.”

“I’m starving, let’s talk tomorrow,” Liu Rushuang called without turning back, running inside.

Bai Yulou gazed at the closed door, unable to hide his disappointment.