Wei Congjia was still persuaded by Lu Hui. He utilized some connections and borrowed a search team from the Zhongchuan City Fire Brigade to cooperate with the Zhongchuan City Public Security Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Second Team to search the lake behind the mountain.
Although it was a pretense, Wei Congjia did not disclose the true meaning to the search team. Even if there were onlookers from the Liu family among the crowd, they couldn’t distinguish whether it was a genuine search or a staged one.
Lu Hui had just finished showering when he received a call from Wei Congjia, “What’s up?”
“At the lake behind the mountain, a real body has been salvaged,” Wei Congjia said, “I called the Lian Gang City Bureau to inquire, and they said Du Chengxian, Wang Jing, and their daughter Du Huanyue went missing two years ago.”
“Missing? Why wasn’t it reported?” Lu Hui wrapped a towel around himself, his wet and messy hair sticking up as he walked out of the bathroom.
“It was reported, but what’s the use if they can’t be found?” Wei Congjia said, “The autopsy report will be out in three days, and by then, we’ll know who it is.”
“Three days? I can’t wait for three days.” Lu Hui said, sitting next to Ji Fanyang with a towel in his hand, shaking his head to flick water at the young man, “Tell the Zhongchuan City Bureau I want to see it tomorrow.”
“Do you think Director Wang and Chief Gao have the same good temper?” Wei Congjia chuckled at Lu Hui’s tone, “If they tell you to wait for three days, you’ll wait for three days. Are you in a hurry to be reincarnated?”
Ji Fanyang picked up the towel and wiped Lu Hui’s head like rubbing a big dog, and Lu Hui’s voice became less clear due to Ji Fanyang’s actions, “Then I’ll go to Zhongchuan.”
“For what reason?” Wei Congjia asked.
“Donghua Police University criminal psychology lecturer Song Qingchuan requested to become a consultant for the Zhongchuan City Bureau to follow the case.” Lu Hui said solemnly.
Wei Congjia thought for a while and surprisingly found it feasible. After all, he didn’t want to be harassed by Lu Hui’s seven or eight phone calls every day. “I’ll talk to the Zhongchuan City Bureau and see if they can issue you an appointment letter.”
“Okay, wait for your good news.” Lu Hui said with a smile. Then he changed the subject, “If it’s not good news, don’t bother calling me.”
“You bastard.” Wei Congjia hung up the phone.
“How’s it going? Any progress?” Ji Fanyang asked.
“A body was salvaged at the lake behind Zhongchuan,” Lu Hui said, taking the damp towel and putting it on the sunny coat hanger, “Strictly speaking, this case is not within the jurisdiction of the Lin Hua City Bureau. We have to go to Zhongchuan for an official appointment.”
“We?” Ji Fanyang was puzzled. “Do I have to go too?”
“Not only you, but also Rao Feifei and Yang Jie,” Lu Hui said, his tone of disgust becoming more apparent, “The people in the Zhongchuan City Bureau are really annoying.”
“They’re all old acquaintances.” Ji Fanyang suddenly realized, teasing, “Then I’m looking forward to it.”
“Looking forward to what?” Lu Hui gave his mischievous friend a glance, “You’ll know their quirks when the time comes.”
“What are we going to do later?” Ji Fanyang asked.
They had been idle for two days, playing cards, chess, watching soap operas in the hotel, very leisurely.
“Go out for dinner and then go to a bar?” Lu Hui rubbed his chin, thinking of Huang Zili’s words before, [Do you and Fan Zhe look alike?], “I like easy-going girls.”
“Sure.” Ji Fanyang nodded in agreement, standing up and putting on his coat. “I don’t have any extra money.”
“Poor guy.” Lu Hui picked up his wallet and pulled out five red bills, handing them to Ji Fanyang. “Ask me for more after you spend it.” He walked into the bathroom, applied hair gel, put on reading glasses, shaved cleanly, and restored the gentle and elegant demeanor of Song Qingchuan.
“Cultured scoundrel.” Ji Fanyang put the money in his pocket, and the two walked out of the room together. “I want to eat seafood hot pot.”
“Eat, eat, eat.” Lu Hui’s tone was disdainful, but the corners of his lips betrayed his inner feelings. He particularly liked the way Ji Fanyang asked him for things, as if he were the only one in the world worth relying on.
When the two of them ate seafood hot pot, the girls at the adjacent table secretly glanced over. The mild and elegant university lecturer and the handsome, sunny young man, when they laughed together, resembled a picturesque scene.
“How did you first meet Liu Wei?” Lu Hui asked. “I’m curious about the story of the witch falling into the hands of the innocent rabbit.”
“I met her through a friend at the gym who did me a small favor,” Ji Fanyang said, taking a bite of a green shrimp. “I accidentally knocked over her coffee, and I steadied it for her.”
“Sly move,” Lu Hui picked the shrimp meat that Ji Fanyang had peeled off from his plate, “It sounds like a pure and innocent soap opera.”
“It wasn’t in vain to watch so many melodramas with you,” Ji Fanyang wolfed down the remaining meat on his plate, not giving Lu Hui a chance to steal.
“I remember I used to say you weren’t suitable for undercover work,” Lu Hui said. “I take back that statement.”
“Haha, I accept your apology,” Ji Fanyang smiled. “Liu Wei likes tender and delicate types.”
“I guess so,” Lu Hui said, wiping his mouth with two napkins. “I’m full.”
“I’m almost done too,” Ji Fanyang said, patting his stomach and leaning back in his chair like a satisfied cat.
Lu Hui, with his chin resting on his hand, smiled and looked at him.
In a lazy tone, Ji Fanyang said, “If you keep looking at me like this, we don’t need to go to the bar.”
“Why? Want to get in bed with me?” Lu Hui had no filter, “My rates are pretty high.”
“For how much, I’ll sell my pots and pans to support you,” Ji Fanyang followed along with his words. His brown eyes, reflecting the dim yellow chandelier, resembled fireflies flying low over the lake.
Lu Hui smiled without saying a word, and a string in his heart was gently tugged by a cat’s paw, as if a seed had taken root and sprouted.
“Alright, let’s go,” Ji Fanyang took his coat and draped it over his shoulders. “You go pay the bill.”
Lu Hui stood up and walked to the front desk. After settling the bill, he walked out of the restaurant with Ji Fanyang.
As the night fell, neon lights began to glow.
The two strolled on the street, and Ji Fanyang asked, “Which one do you like?”
“At the end of this street, there’s a Cat’s Eye Bar. I used to go there for surveillance,” Lu Hui said, pausing for a moment. “Now it’s April, let’s celebrate Friendship Day.”
“Yeah, I thought you forgot,” Ji Fanyang pursed his lips, looking particularly happy. “Let’s go.”
The neon lights illuminated the long street for ten miles. Two slender figures walked side by side, talking and laughing, like a painting drawn by hand.
Entering the bar was like stepping into a secluded and alien world. Lu Hui and Ji Fanyang sat at the bar, ordering two beers.
“Just choose whatever,” Lu Hui took a sip of his beer. “We’re two lions.”
“Do you think it’s a nightclub?” Ji Fanyang shook the ice in his glass and surveyed the men and women around.
Lu Hui patted him on the back and leaned in to his ear, “Look at the 8 o’clock direction, that girl is smiling at you. Hurry up and go.”
“She might be looking at you,” Ji Fanyang hesitated.
“Definitely looking at you. I bought her a drink and sent it over. Look, she accepted it,” Lu Hui encouraged, “Go quickly.”
Ji Fanyang sighed, put down his glass, and walked over. Lu Hui sat on the swivel chair, confidently watching.
Ji Fanyang smoothly sat next to the beautiful woman, and Lu Hui breathed a sigh of relief. Tilting his head, he finished the drink and boldly told the bartender, “I’ll buy a round for everyone.”
The atmosphere in the bar suddenly boiled.
A stylish and handsome short-haired lady sat down in the seat next to Lu Hui, saying, “Hi, interested in chatting?”
“Of course,” Lu Hui agreed readily.
