HH Chapter 55

Seeing that Zhang Yibao had not yet come down, Pei Qinghuai chatted with the workers a bit longer until they dispersed, needing to get back to work.

“Teacher Pei,” Zhang Yibao called from upstairs, “I asked around. Someone occasionally sleeps here at night, but on June 19th, the workers had a gathering, so no one was here.”

Pei Qinghuai didn’t seem too disappointed. Back at the station, after recounting the events, Cheng Ye asked, “How do you plan to lure the suspect out?”

“I remember Chen Mengyao’s next-door apartment is vacant,” Pei Qinghuai began, “The perpetrator’s method is rough and efficient, and this fantasy behavior likely isn’t a first. After his first crime, he’s bound to strike again.”

“This killer is very patient. Although the harassment letters to Chen Mengyao showed eagerness, he waited a full month before acting,” Cheng Ye leaned back in his chair. “So, who do you plan to use as bait?”

“I’ll go, Captain,” Chen Xiaonuan volunteered, standing up.

“Sit down!” Cheng Ye ordered, “The killer is more dangerous than you think.”

Chen Xiaonuan walked up to Cheng Ye, “Captain, I know you want to protect me, but I can’t just be a flower vase in the police force. Otherwise, my free combat training would be for nothing.”

Jiang Fei clapped from the back, “Well said!”

Cheng Ye clicked his tongue, turning away, “Stop adding to the chaos.”

When Jiang Fei caught Cheng Ye’s gaze, he immediately lowered his head. Cheng Ye looked at Chen Xiaonuan, then at Pei Qinghuai, “What’s the plan?”

“Firstly, there aren’t many young people in this neighborhood. I suspect the killer is someone who’s spent a lot of time here and is familiar with the area, possibly even one of the workers,” Pei Qinghuai explained. “So, when a young and beautiful woman appears, especially living alone, it will attract attention.”

Listening to Pei Qinghuai, Chen Xiaonuan looked herself over, “Do I look young and beautiful enough?”

“Well, self-awareness is good,” Fang Yuan teased, seeing Chen Xiaonuan’s face darken, he quickly added, “But our Officer Chen, when dressed up, can outshine young and beautiful. Right, Jiang Fei?”

Fang Yuan exaggeratedly winked at Jiang Fei, who caught on and shouted, “Right! Absolutely.”

Chen Xiaonuan rolled her eyes at Fang Yuan, “Good you have eyes.” She then looked at Pei Qinghuai, “Teacher Pei, when do we start?”

“Tonight,” Pei Qinghuai replied.

Chen Xiaonuan quickly said, “Let me go home and change.”

“No need,” Jiang Fei said, seeing Yan Ya come out, “Dr. Yan, Officer Chen wants to dress up as a woman tonight. You understand?”

Yan Ya froze for a moment, then looked Chen Xiaonuan up and down, “Alright, she’s awakened. No problem, leave it to me! I have a dress in my closet, you can borrow it.”

Chen Xiaonuan said, “I have dresses.”

Fang Yuan chimed in, “Your dresses don’t look like a woman’s. Learn from Dr. Yan.”

Chen Xiaonuan clenched her fists, “Fang Yuan, are you itching for a fight?”

As the two bickered, Pei Qinghuai leaned against the desk, “Any leads today?”

Cheng Ye shook his head, “Nothing. Li Cheng was at Red Charm from June 18th to 19th, didn’t leave.”

Cheng Ye remembered something, raising an eyebrow, “Do you know what Red Charm is?”

Pei Qinghuai tilted his head, his lashes lowered, “I know. I also know the most expensive room is ten thousand a night.”

Cheng Ye looked at Pei Qinghuai, seemingly pure, yet always surprising, “You know about that? And those novels at Zhang Pingshun’s house, you recognized those too?”

Last time they visited, those novels were mostly in English, with covers that seemed highbrow. No one would have linked them to such content.

And this time, Red Charm, though suspected of illicit activities, had no evidence. It was just a secluded bar where the clientele’s interactions were consensual, making it hard for the police to intervene.

Pei Qinghuai’s ears reddened slightly, his voice lowering, “Just a bit.”

Cheng Ye pressed, “Ten thousand a night isn’t just ‘a bit’.”

Pei Qinghuai turned to Cheng Ye, their eyes meeting, “A police officer who doesn’t know Red Charm, still dares to ask why I know it’s ten thousand a night?”

“You!” Cheng Ye was left speechless, his face twitching, “Well, I know now.”

“Do you need me to praise you?” Pei Qinghuai said, hands on the table.

Cheng Ye’s face reddened further, “No need!” he said through gritted teeth.

Just then, Zhang Deli came out of his office for water, muttering, “Like coaxing children.”

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That afternoon, Yan Ya finished her work and took Chen Xiaonuan to the lounge to get her ready. Cheng Ye and Fang Yuan also prepared for the night’s 12-hour stakeout.

After half an hour, they emerged from the lounge. Chen Xiaonuan was wearing a clean white dress, with her hair neatly done. Whether by chance or design, she exceeded expectations.

“Let’s go,” Pei Qinghuai said.

They were dropped off 300 meters from the neighborhood. Cheng Ye and his team entered through the back gate, parking inside.

“Hey, saw you at noon, and here you are again?” Feng Daqiang called from the security room.

Pei Qinghuai smiled, “Dropping off my girlfriend.”

Feng Daqiang glanced at Chen Xiaonuan, then went back to watching his TV drama, where a man aimed a gun at a criminal.

Pei Qinghuai and Chen Xiaonuan strolled around the neighborhood before heading upstairs. As night fell, Pei Qinghuai sneaked up after ensuring no one was around.

“Will this work?” Cheng Ye reclined his seat, asking.

Pei Qinghuai watched the room light up, “This is the famous Weber-Fechner law.”

“When a person experiences a strong stimulus, subsequent stimuli feel weaker. In the same scenario, he will counteract the stimulus unless a stronger one entices him more than the first.”