HH Chapter 17

Cheng Ye cleared his throat, unable to suppress a smile, gripping the steering wheel tightly. He said righteously, “It’s a habit. You don’t ride in a police car every day.”

Pei Qinghuai tilted his head and chuckled, “Learning from Captain Cheng, are we?”

The atmosphere between them finally eased a bit. It remained so until they got off the car, entered the same elevator, and pressed the button for the same floor. Pei Qinghuai finally turned his slightly stiff neck to look at Cheng Ye.

“Cheng Ye, are you trying to settle personal scores?”

Cheng Ye crossed his arms, stepped out of the elevator, and gave Pei Qinghuai a sidelong glance with a smirk. “What, you think you’re the only one allowed to live here? Am I not allowed to? New neighbor!”

Cheng Ye deliberately emphasized the words “new neighbor.” Pei Qinghuai couldn’t deny it; he had indeed moved in just a few days ago. This was more than a coincidence, and as he recalled finding the apartment, Director Zhang’s smiling face suddenly popped into his mind.

Pei Qinghuai sighed helplessly as he unlocked his door. Director Zhang really went out of his way for Cheng Ye.

In the quiet bedroom, the air conditioner blew a slight chill. Pei Qinghuai lay flat on his bed, replaying Li Xiaoyan’s words in his mind. Her face, which should have been sallow, was covered with makeup that didn’t match her skin tone. Though subtle, it was noticeable on closer inspection. Her neatly trimmed nails, painted with light nail polish, and the faint scent of perfume all suggested that she wasn’t someone who frequently handled fish. Unless, of course, she was an exceptionally clean person—something impossible to confirm.

Rain lashed at the windows, almost tearing the night to shreds. This rainstorm was the heaviest in days. Cheng Ye lay on his side, staring blankly out the window, lost in thought. Pei Qinghuai shifted positions, leaning against the bedhead, reading a book.

At around four in the morning, as the rain lessened, a sudden, urgent phone call shattered the quiet. It woke Cheng Ye from his drowsy state. He frowned, checked the time, and answered the phone.

“What is it this early?” he asked impatiently.

The voice on the other end was hurried. It was Fang Yuan. “Captain Cheng, our team found another body in the back mountain. It’s severely decomposed, right at the first crime scene of Tian Mingwei.”

Cheng Ye’s drowsiness vanished instantly. He threw off the blanket and was in the bathroom in less than a second.

“Wait for me. I’m on my way!”

He hung up, splashed his face with cold water, and rushed out. As he headed for the elevator, he remembered something, turned back, and banged on the door opposite his.

When the door opened, Pei Qinghuai stood there, glaring at Cheng Ye. “Are you still not done with your grudge?”

Cheng Ye had no time to explain. “Another body was found in the back mountain. I’ll be waiting downstairs. You have five minutes to get down.”

With that, Pei Qinghuai shook off his sleepiness, quickly washed up, and dashed downstairs. He got into the car, and Cheng Ye floored the accelerator.

“What’s going on?” Pei Qinghuai asked.

“I don’t know. Fang Yuan and the others went ahead.” Cheng Ye replied.

Watching the drizzle outside, Pei Qinghuai checked his phone. “There’s a play at Wencheng University at nine. Do you have time to attend?”

Cheng Ye glanced at him. “We’ll see how things go. If we’re done in time, maybe.”

They sped through the quiet, rainy streets, heading towards the back mountain to uncover yet another layer of the mystery that had enshrouded their investigation.