Ji Fanyang discovered that after Lu Hui and Ding Xinyu’s date, Lu Hui became noticeably restless. Given Lu Hui’s personality, it seemed he wasn’t particularly concerned about the progress of the case, even if the suspect was himself. He continued to act as if nothing was happening, immersed in soap operas or baking cakes. Ji Fanyang even thought that the downstairs LGBTQ+ association should consider hiring Lu Hui as their spokesperson.
However, the current Lu Hui seemed to be waiting for Ji Fanyang to finish work every night. As soon as the young man stepped through the door, Captain Lu’s greeting was inevitable: “How is the case going?”
Daily inquiries didn’t bother Ji Fanyang, but it raised his suspicions. “Not much substantial progress, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Lu Hui reclined on the sofa, watching TV.
“If something happens,” Ji Fanyang hung his coat on the rack, “you must tell me.”
“Sure, sure, sure.” Lu Hui responded absentmindedly.
Ji Fanyang helplessly glanced at the sprawled Lu Hui on the sofa. “How far have you and Miss Ding gone?”
“Getting married tomorrow.” Lu Hui casually joked, “Go find the best suit for yourself and be my groomsman.”
“…” Ji Fanyang took a lollipop from his pocket and tossed it onto the sofa. “For your son.”
“It’s a girl in my belly.” Lu Hui unwrapped the candy, “I bribed the doctor secretly.”
“Get out of here.” Ji Fanyang couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head as he walked into the kitchen with a bag of groceries. “Roll in and wash the vegetables.”
“Okay, old lady.” Lu Hui stood up, biting the lollipop, and walked into the kitchen. “I told Ding Xinyu that our child will take her last name when born.”
“Haven’t even married, and you’re already planning to abandon ship?” Ji Fanyang handed a bundle of shepherd’s purse to Lu Hui. “Pick clean, unfaithful man.”
“Because I want to be with you.” Lu Hui took the shepherd’s purse, pulled out a stainless steel basin from the cabinet, and began picking the vegetables one by one. “I have a house being demolished; it will be my dowry for you.”
“You also have a broken car.” Ji Fanyang lowered his head, earnestly peeling eggplants. “Oh, by the way, where is your car?”
“Sold it as scrap metal, to buy flowers for Ding Xinyu.” Lu Hui said, “Surrogacy fee.”
“You really are a comedian delayed by the criminal investigation career.” Ji Fanyang chuckled, unable to resist, shaking his head as he entered the kitchen. “Roll in and help wash the vegetables.”
“Sure, mom.” Lu Hui stood up, holding the lollipop, and walked into the kitchen. “I told Ding Xinyu that when the child is born, it will have her surname.”
“When will your house be completed?” Ji Fanyang took out a bundle of mugwort and handed it to Lu Hui. “Clean it, unfaithful man.”
“In August this year.” Lu Hui washed the mugwort, poured clean water, and placed it next to the cutting board. “After passing the door, the property certificate can have your name on it.”
“No, that won’t do. What did we agree on back then?” Ji Fanyang followed Lu Hui’s words, “If you don’t give me the house, I’ll go downstairs later and tell Miss Ding that you’re a fraud marrying a gay bastard.”
“I’ll confess right away, tell the police uncle that you instigated me, a promising young gay, to deceive a girl into marriage.” Lu Hui raised his hands, “Is there anything else to do?”
“Break three eggs.” Ji Fanyang commanded.
After dinner, Lu Hui sat on the bed writing notes.
He hadn’t been idle in the morning, selling the car for scrap, adding some money to buy a used Wuling Hongguang, and tampering with the brake pads. Ji Fanyang’s sense of smell was keen. To avoid detection, Lu Hui deliberately chose a less reputable second-hand market where stolen goods were cheaper than legitimate ones.
The man who sold him the vehicle seemed somewhat familiar, and Lu Hui thought, his puzzled thoughts flashing through his mind. He suppressed the doubts, planning other things.
There were many ways to commit suicide, and Lu Hui wanted something grand, out of the ordinary.
In other words, he was succumbing to chuunibyou.
He had once fantasized about jumping into a river, leaping from a viaduct, crashing onto the water’s surface like a plane’s failed emergency landing.
But what he was planning now wasn’t bad; it just needed some refinement.
This case couldn’t be delayed any longer, with solid evidence pointing directly at him. If not for the high bureau’s intervention, he would have been sitting in the interrogation room rather than on his soft bed at home.
He had been idle for half a month, and it was likely that the time the high bureau fought for was running out. It was impossible to say it wasn’t urgent. If he showed signs of anxiety, Ji Fanyang would surely be even more anxious. The young man’s fussiness could drive him crazy. Before meeting Ji Fanyang, what annoyed him the most was this kind of saintly father, seemingly caring about everything but actually caring about nothing, always smiling at everyone as if he owed the world a huge sum. In fact, only a saintly father could tolerate Lu Hui’s sarcasm.
Moreover, Ji Fanyang’s unexpected humor and stubbornness sometimes appeared a bit cunning, fitting Lu Hui’s taste.
After finishing the notes, Lu Hui closed the notebook, bent over to put it in the third cabinet of the bedside table, stood up, walked to the living room, and sat on the sofa. Ji Fanyang was playing Angry Birds on Lu Hui’s tablet.
The red triangular bomb bird drew an arc in the air and exploded on the bamboo base; the green pig’s head hummed and fell all over.
“I baked a cake today.” Lu Hui said, “As a gift.”
“A gift for what?” Ji Fanyang looked up at Lu Hui. The young man’s pupils were lighter than usual; the brown color of his eyes seemed to drip like honey under the warm yellow light.
Lu Hui sighed inwardly; no one could say words of refusal to those eyes. He stood up and walked into the kitchen to take out the cake. It was a square cake covered with a thin layer of white cream, embedded with two rows of strawberries. In the middle, it vertically read four words: “Friendship Certificate.” Lu Hui handed a fork to Ji Fanyang, “It’s about time I gave it to you.”
Ji Fanyang’s eyes lit up. He took the plastic fork and stabbed a strawberry into his mouth, chewing, “Hmm, delicious.”
“And this.” Lu Hui took out a card with a few lines written on it, “Friendship certificate, awarded to Citizen Ji Fanyang for being very good to the undersigned.” It was signed with Lu Hui’s flamboyant signature.
Ji Fanyang took the card, glanced at it, and picked up a neutral pen from the coffee table to sign next to Lu Hui, “Is today a memorable day for something?”
“Friendship Day.” Lu Hui poured two glasses of apple juice and handed one to Ji Fanyang, “Every year today, we celebrate together.”
“Soap opera and cake day.” Ji Fanyang raised the apple juice, smiling, “Cheers to April.”
“Cheers to April.” Lu Hui tilted his head and drank the apple juice. Unfortunately, he couldn’t drink alcohol tomorrow; otherwise, he would definitely get drunk and tell everything to the young man in front of him.
But he couldn’t.
Ji Fanyang had excellent family conditions, a handsome appearance, and a bright future. He couldn’t burden him.
After finishing this glass, tomorrow would be the time to part ways.
