Early in the morning, Lu Hui and Gao Zhengcheng secretly met at the street corner, taking away Commissioner Gao’s off-road vehicle.
“Poor Commissioner has to walk to work now,” Lu Hui said with a cheeky smile.
Gao Zhengcheng glanced at him, “Get lost.”
“I’m leaving,” Lu Hui turned the car key and steered the wheel to drive away.
The car was fueled up, so Lu Hui didn’t have to worry about finding a gas station. He drove all the way to the mountains behind Zhongchuan City, where there was a sizable lake at the foot of the mountains. Lu Hui rented a cabin and a speedboat, paid in full upfront, and declined the landlord’s offer of cigarettes, saying, “Seven days are enough for a relaxing vacation.”
“Have fun,” the landlord said, lighting his cigarette, “Don’t even think about hunting rabbits with a shotgun. Last time, some idiot brought a bird gun and is still stuck in jail.”
“A pacifist, avoiding violence,” Lu Hui replied, “I’m waiting for a friend and enjoying some leisure time.”
“Putting so much effort into it, a girlfriend perhaps?” the landlord guessed.
Lu Hui smiled, “Close enough.”
It seemed like a bond of life and death was more profound than having a girlfriend, Lu Hui thought.
“Still not official?” the landlord prodded, patting Lu Hui on the shoulder, “Then I wish you success.”
“It has to be successful,” Lu Hui twirled the key in his hand, “I’ll go tidy up the house.”
“Go ahead, I need to pick up my wife too,” the landlord nodded, “If you’re late, you won’t be able to enter the house tonight.”
“That would be unfortunate; better go now,” Lu Hui sympathetically looked at the landlord, “See you after seven days.”
“See you in seven days,” the landlord closed the car door, started the engine, and drove away.
Lu Hui stood in place, watching the landlord’s car disappear at the end of the road, then turned back to the cabin.
“Will Mr. Liu like this?” Fan Zhe looked worried, holding a pen box, “This pen is not particularly expensive…”
“Your dad will like it,” Liu Wei reassured him, gently kissing Fan Zhe’s cheek, “Don’t worry.”
“But still,” Fan Zhe held the pen box, “Does your father usually write? What if it’s not practical?”
“He’ll write if you give it to him; if he doesn’t, I’ll force him to,” Liu Wei took the pen box from Fan Zhe’s hand and put it aside, “My little doctor, have I ever told you that you look cute when you worry about me?”
“Don’t tease me,” Fan Zhe glanced at the pen box, “I don’t want any complications in this matter.”
“I know.” Liu Wei adjusted Fan Zhe’s collar tenderly, “If you don’t have anything else, let’s have another…”
Fan Zhe kissed Liu Wei, saying, “I’ll take a shower, then we can go pick out clothes.”
“The customized one, don’t you like it?” Liu Wei asked.
“That’s a white suit,” Fan Zhe said, looking a bit embarrassed, “Wearing a white suit is too ostentatious.”
“If you don’t wear a white suit, then who in the world is suitable for it?” Liu Wei said, “You need to be the little sun at the banquet.”
“Liu lao is the focus,” Fan Zhe pinched Liu Wei’s nose, “Don’t be silly, let’s choose something more low-key.”
“Fine, you have the final say,” Liu Wei pretended to nibble on Fan Zhe’s fingertip, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Fan Zhe rewarded Liu Wei with another kiss, stood up from the bed, and went to take a shower.
Lu Hui sat on a small stool, holding a fishing rod, lazily watching the colorful float motionless on the water surface. He yawned.
The mountain behind Zhongchuan City had an official name, but it was too complicated. People were accustomed to calling it “the mountain behind.” On the sunny side of the mountain, fruit trees were planted, while the shady side had vertical cliffs. Below the cliffs was a lake surrounded by dense forests. In theory, this should have been a resort. However, when Zhongchuan City built roads, they deliberately bypassed this mountainous area, making it inconvenient to reach, and fewer people came for vacation. There were five or six solitary cabins by the lake, with basic facilities, no electricity, and uncomfortable in winter and hot in summer. Lu Hui circled around, finding that none of these cabins were rented out, and a few of them were even dilapidated, lacking roofs.
So, Lu Hui’s life turned into that of a mountain hermit. He dragged over a few pieces of wood from the cabin compartment to burn hot water, refusing to eat canned food. He found a fishing rod, dug up some earthworms for fishing, hoping to catch a few fish for a grilled fish dinner.
“You’re living pretty well.”
A male voice startled Lu Hui. He shook the fishing rod, opened his eyes, and focused to recognize the person. Relaxing, he said, “Oh, you’re here.”
“What’s this? You come back without telling me?” Wei Congjia’s reaction amused Lu Hui. “Because of you, your sister is going crazy.”
“What happened to my sister?” Lu Hui asked.
“Nothing much, just driving me crazy,” Wei Congjia walked to Lu Hui’s side, “Is there still a rod?”
“Yes, in the warehouse,” Lu Hui replied, “You can get it yourself.”
Wei Congjia kicked him, “You go get it.” He bent down and snatched the fishing rod and the stool from under Lu Hui.
Lu Hui watched Wei Congjia’s childish actions, and since he didn’t want to argue, he stood up and went back to the warehouse to get a stool and a fishing rod, sitting next to Wei Congjia. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know,” Wei Congjia sighed, “I just didn’t expect you to take such a radical approach.”
“Otherwise, should I keep dragging it on?” Lu Hui extended the fishing rod, throwing the hook into the lake, “What about my house?”
“Your sister took it,” Wei Congjia said, “Little Ji knew enough to terminate the lease on your house. She wanted to give your half of the money to Lu An, but Lu An refused.”
“Ji Fanyang went undercover,” Lu Hui said.
“I know,” Wei Congjia said, “I arranged a new identity for him.”
Lu Hui turned his head to look at Wei Congjia, who calmly admitted, “You know?”
“Only I can hide things from you, not the other way around?” Wei Congjia raised an eyebrow, “I have several informants keeping an eye on him. Don’t worry.”
“If anything happens to him—” Lu Hui squinted at Wei Congjia, “I’ll kill Liu Kai’s entire family.”
Wei Congjia shivered, shaking the fishing rod.
