BL Ch30

At 4 a.m. in Pingyi City, a plane from across the sea had just landed. The night was still resting, and the morning had yet to wake.

On Songchuan Road in Changhe District, sanitation workers had already started their day, sweeping the streets from east to west. Besides trash, they also swept up a few drunkards lying on the ground, using the earth as their bed and the sky as their blanket, sleeping as if they were dead. Across the street, the neon sign of the Yiqing Bar had just been turned off, and through the trendy, sticker-covered windows, the inside was pitch black.

A few of the street-sweeping women gathered together, leaning on their brooms and gossiping:

“Whose turn is it today?”

“Sister Zhou’s turn.”

“Oh dear, why is it me again? I’m such a scaredy-cat.”

“It’s been so long already; there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Easy for you to say. Why don’t you go then?”

After some back-and-forth, Sister Zhou was reluctantly pushed forward and shuffled unwillingly toward the alley next to the bar.

Last year, there had been a shocking murder in that alley. She didn’t know who had died or how they died, but she’d heard that many police officers had swarmed the place, sealing it off completely. The police had solved the case quickly, catching the killer in just a few days, so there hadn’t been widespread panic. The incident had long been buried under a flood of new news, and unless someone worked or lived nearby, no one would remember it anymore.

Grumbling to herself, Sister Zhou walked hesitantly, debating whether to turn back. Though it had been over six months, rumor had it that the case involved a man and a woman, but the man’s body was never found. Occasionally, in the dead of night, strange noises could be heard from the alley, eerie and unsettling—perhaps the restless spirit of the wrongly killed man still lingered.

With those thoughts in mind, she reached the mouth of the alley.

With her colleagues nearby, she wasn’t completely terrified. Swallowing hard, she took a few steps forward, using the streetlight to guide her. Suddenly, she froze—

“Tap, tap…”

The sound of heavy footsteps came from the dark depths of the alley.

Sister Zhou shuddered and gripped her broom tightly, anxiously looking toward the noise. Dawn hadn’t broken yet, and the alley was pitch black. She could only make out the vague outline of someone approaching.

At this hour, even the drunkards from last night weren’t awake yet. Who could it be? Never mind if it’s a person or a ghost—run!

Sister Zhou swung her broom twice, pretending to gather the cigarette butts at the entrance of the alley, and hurriedly picked up her tools, ready to leave.

But a strong arm shot out from the darkness, grabbing her shoulder, preventing her from taking another step!

Oh no! It must be the killer, back for more!

The “killer’s” voice was as cold as his grip, sounding like a hardened murderer. “Excuse me, could you…”

“AAAAAAHHH! HELP!!”

8 a.m.

Lu Qing was sipping on a soy milk straw and holding two steaming meat buns as she sluggishly drifted through the doors of the Xinjinfeng police station, her eyelids drooping with exhaustion. She bumped into Niu Feng, a colleague from the same team, who looked at her half-dead state and curiously asked, “Xiao Qing, weren’t you still enjoying yourself at the banquet last night? You’re back at work so soon?”

Lu Qing was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. “Enjoying myself, my foot! I almost died out there! Your poor Cinderella only got one night of glory. I got home at two in the morning, and I’m still jet-lagged… Wait, how do you know I went to a banquet last night?”

“Didn’t you check the news? Your photo with Mr. Yu Duqiu from the banquet made it to the city’s trending topics! You dazzled the entire station! Who knew you’d clean up so well—you’re quite the beauty.”

“What do you mean, ‘who knew’? You straight men have no emotional intelligence compared to the gay guys…” Lu Qing muttered. “That little thing made the news? It’s not that big of a deal.”

Niu Feng leaned in closer, speaking mysteriously. “The banquet wasn’t the main story. The real news is that Yu Duqiu’s recent visit to the U.S. earned him the recognition of international experts. The city government’s attitude toward his brain-machine project has gotten more optimistic. Plus, with the new drug case still unsolved, it’s important to send a strong message to the dealers, so they’ve ramped up publicity. I heard Director Peng had a hand in it too. The city bureau’s been pressuring the task force to close the case quickly. He’s been under a lot of stress, hasn’t touched a drink in ages.”

Lu Qing’s soy milk made a gurgling noise as she finished it and let out a burp. “If he’s under pressure, we at the grassroots level feel it even more. That’s why I’m back at work as soon as I got home. By the way, where’s our beloved Captain? Don’t tell me he’s later than I am?”

At the mention of Ji Lin, Niu Feng couldn’t help but laugh, gesturing toward the director’s office. “He’s been here for a while. Our brilliant captain was caught sneaking around the crime scene at 4 a.m. and mistaken for a criminal by the sanitation workers. Those aunties are tough—held him at broomstick point and marched him to the local police station! They had to report it to the Changhe precinct, which then called us to verify his identity. You can guess the rest. He just got chewed out by Director Peng, looking all deflated—it was hilarious.”

Lu Qing burst out laughing at the mental image of Ji Lin being escorted by the aunties. “Haha… what was he thinking? Where is he now?”

“He’s in the interrogation room, questioning that chef you guys brought in.”

“Chef Dong? It’s been three days, and you still haven’t finished the interrogation? The evidence is solid; what’s left for him to deny?”

Niu Feng sighed heavily. 

“The evidence is ironclad, but he won’t name the person who hired him. We’ve gone through his phone records and bank transactions—nothing suspicious. We can only assume he was instructed verbally by someone he trusted. Otherwise, why would he agree to carry out the task without even taking a deposit?”

Lu Qing’s mind clicked, recalling a conversation from the plane a few days ago. “Actually, we’ve pretty much figured out who’s behind it…”

Niu Feng was about to ask for details when his attention was suddenly drawn to something. His eyes bulged as he looked past Lu Qing toward the station’s entrance. “Holy crap… what big shot is visiting us today? We didn’t get any notice!”

Lu Qing turned her head, swinging her ponytail, just in time to see a long black limousine slowly pull up to the door. The car was about six meters long, like a giant black curtain blocking the station’s double glass doors and dimming the light in the lobby.

“No official would be this flashy these days.” After a week of traveling in private jets and armored cars, Lu Qing was unimpressed by a single limousine. “I’ll bet you won’t find another rich guy in our district who loves showing off this much.”

Niu Feng was about to say that there was no one else with such wealth, but just then, the electric door of the luxury car opened, and the occupant stepped out, putting on a pair of sunglasses that shielded him from the early summer sun, while his silver hair reflected a blinding light in all directions.

Yu Duqiu, rarely seen alone, walked from the door to the lobby as if on a Paris fashion show runway. His shirt was worn in a disheveled manner, intentionally leaving a button undone, exposing half of his shoulder, giving an artistic sense of allure.

When he stopped in front of them, the allure abruptly ceased.

Beauty and elegance are often associated with fragility, but Yu Duqiu resembled a majestic, noble white stallion. Only up close could one appreciate his tall and robust physique and his aloof demeanor.

“Are you two here to welcome me?” Yu Duqiu’s sunglasses were so dark that his eyes were hidden, reflecting his usual narcissism.

Having spent a few days together in mutual hardship, Lu Qing was somewhat familiar with him and teased, “Yes, but why has Young Master Yu graced us with his presence so early? Didn’t you come home in the middle of the night too? And I recall you need to report when you leave the country; how come you’re out without permission? Turning yourself in?”

Yu Duqiu smiled with refined charm. “I requested permission and received approval. While Lingya is still asleep, I came to handle Chef Dong’s matter. By the way, I’d like to ask Captain Ji, what’s he doing staying overnight at the crime scene?”

Lu Qing was shocked. “How did you know so quickly? Were you spying on him?!”

“Why would I do such a thing? I just have well-informed sources.”

“Where did you get this information? Not through illegal channels, I hope?”

“Haha, Miss Lu is joking.”

Niu Feng, who had previously encountered Yu Duqiu’s arrogance at the Junyue Hotel and had a poor impression of him, said coldly, “Mr. Yu, are you here to inspect work again? Riding such a long luxury car, it’s like you have more presence than national leaders.”

Yu Duqiu shook his head lightly. “I didn’t want to make such a big fuss, but recently I’ve been facing many challenges, so I had to use a decent bulletproof car.”

Niu Feng and Lu Qing were momentarily speechless, as it seemed Yu Duqiu had a misunderstanding of the term “decent.”

In the meantime, the Pullman at the entrance had found a place to park. The driver who got out was Zhou Yi, which was not surprising. What was surprising was that he went around to open the back door.

Who could be more important than Yu Duqiu? Lu Qing and Niu Feng couldn’t help but be curious, stretching their necks to see.

To their surprise, Zhou Yi helped out a girl around fourteen or fifteen years old.

The girl clung to his arm, and the two walked in together, chatting and laughing. They looked very similar, making their relationship obvious.

Niu Feng was puzzled. “Mr. Yu, why did you bring your family?”

“Didn’t I just say? I need to be cautious when traveling these days,” Yu Duqiu’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, “Bringing an extra person adds an extra layer of security.”

Niu Feng was confused. “A little girl can’t protect you; what kind of security is that?”

Lu Qing, having dealt with his cunning before, quickly realized. “He’s using the girl as a hostage, so Zhou Yi won’t dare to betray him. Mr. Yu, you’re really something, using a child like that.”

“The situation is exceptional, and I had no choice,” Yu Duqiu shrugged. “Old Zhou will understand. As long as he follows the rules, I will ensure his family’s safety and prosperity.”

Niu Feng was astonished. “Now I understand why even with such a high salary, Dong Yongli would betray you. He must not be getting any respect or trust from you.”

Zhou Yi, who had just arrived, heard the mention of “Chef Dong” and, fearing something had happened, asked anxiously, “What happened to Chef Dong? He didn’t do something drastic, did he? He seemed very down when I brought him here the day before yesterday.”

Zhou Yi’s daughter, Zhou Yangguo, often came to No. 1 Palace for meals and had even had a children’s set meal prepared by Dong Yongli on Children’s Day. She was shocked to hear about his arrest. “What? Chef Dong was arrested? What did he do?”

To children, entering a police station usually meant serious criminal behavior. With Dong Yongli’s amiable and gentle image, Zhou Yangguo was understandably shaken, her face turning pale.

Lu Qing, who frequently engaged with children through educational activities, quickly reassured her. “It’s not a big deal, just an investigation. He’ll be able to leave once it’s over.” She glanced at Yu Duqiu.

Dong Yongli’s case could be major or minor; it could be related to the previous three murder cases if considered serious, or it could be a minor crime if he didn’t cause significant harm, as the poison was relatively harmless. Yu Duqiu seemed uninterested in pursuing it further; once the mastermind was identified, Dong Yongli would likely be released.

Lu Qing waited for Yu Duqiu to align with her explanation and comfort the anxious little girl.

Yu Duqiu seemed to understand, gently patting Zhou Yangguo’s head, and said softly, “Chef Dong poisoned my food.”

Zhou Yangguo screamed in fright, her eyes filled with disbelief. “How could that be…”

Zhou Yi had to interject, “Young Master… Xiao Guo is just a child.”

Lu Qing, not being his subordinate, spoke bluntly. “Have a bit of humanity, will you? Don’t make it sound so terrifying. It will leave a psychological scar on the child.”

“Isn’t it frightening that someone you’ve been around for over ten years would harm you for a little money?” Yu Duqiu’s dark sunglasses concealed his gaze, making it seem like he was looking into an abyss. “You should worry not about what the child knows but about what she doesn’t. Xiao Guo, listen carefully, don’t trust anyone completely, not even your own father; it might not be in your best interest.”

Zhou Yangguo frowned and nodded earnestly. “Yes, he still won’t let me use a smartphone.”

Zhou Yi was exasperated. “Is this relevant?”

If this conversation continued, the little flower of the nation might grow crooked. Lu Qing quickly changed the subject, taking the hot potato away. “You’re looking for Captain Ji, right? He’s in the interrogation room; I’ll take you there.”

Yu Duqiu nodded and then instructed Zhou Yi, “Let Xiao Guo take a tour. She’s supposed to do a social practice during the summer vacation; she might as well finish it early.”

Zhou Yi was surprised. “Young Master, how did you know?”

“You were chatting in the car, weren’t you?”

“Oh, I thought you were catching up on sleep.”

Yu Duqiu gave a slight, amused smile. “I never sleep in the car.”

Lu Qing led them inside, and once their figures disappeared around the corner, Niu Feng stroked his chin and clicked his tongue. “This big brother of yours, isn’t it tiring working for such a boss?”

Zhou Yi gave a wry smile. “At least it’s stable.”

“Stable? How is it stable if incidents keep happening wherever you go?”

“That’s because you don’t know what I used to do. At least under the Young Master’s command, I haven’t ended up with such unsightly scars,” Zhou Yi pointed to his own face, then took his daughter’s hand. “He may seem dangerous to you, but to someone like me who has received his favors, he’s a savior. As long as he doesn’t have any malicious intent, he won’t bother with you. Come on, Guo, Dad will show you around the police station. It’s a small place; we’ll be done quickly. Next time, if we have the chance, we’ll visit the military camp where I used to be…”

Niu Feng almost blurted out, “You think it’s a small place?” but caught himself.

The Xinjin Police Bureau, among all the police stations in Pingyi City, is not actually small. It takes about half a minute to walk from the lobby to the security checkpoint at the gate. As Zhou Yi led his daughter out, intending to show her the exterior of the police building, they suddenly saw a familiar figure being let through by the security guard, quickly approaching them.

Zhou Yangguo blushed and shyly hid behind her father, whispering, “Hello, Brother Bai.”

Bai Zhao, unaware of the impact his “bad boy” look had on the budding young girl, simply responded with a nonchalant “Hmm” and asked with a stern face, “Where is he? Why didn’t you call me when you went out?”

Zhou Yi, seeing a bodyguard who had come without a mission for the first time, thought this was definitely not the kind of bodyguard Yu Duqiu had in mind.

“Master just went inside. Why are you here? Go back and rest a bit; it’s rare you don’t have to follow.”

After two nights of guarding in Charlotte and then a long flight, Bai Zhao looked exhausted, his facial features tense, and he shook his head. “I have to come.”

Zhou Yi understood. “You’re here to follow up on the case, right? There might not be any results today; Chef Dong isn’t cooperating well…”

“No,” Bai Zhao interrupted. “I’m here to keep him company.”

Zhou Yi was taken aback. “Keep whom company? The Young Master?”

“Who else could it be?”

Zhou Yi looked at him with new respect. “So dedicated? Afraid he might be in danger?”

“Hmm.”

Zhou Yi reassured him, “It’s fine; the security is better here in the country, and it’s a police station. What danger could there be? Before Guo came, the Young Master only had me as his bodyguard, and I kept him safe all these years. Besides, you should know how skilled the Young Master is; anyone who crosses him is out of luck.”

“I know he’s formidable,” Bai Zhao said as he stepped inside, “but he’s not as invincible as you all think. He still needs someone to be with him when he’s feeling down.”

Zhou Yi was puzzled. “When has the Young Master been sad or upset? He seems in good spirits today.”

Bai Zhao sighed and didn’t respond further, disappearing quickly.

Zhou Yangguo looked regretfully at Bai Zhao’s departing figure and said, “Ah… So Brother Bai has someone he likes now.”

Zhou Yi was surprised. “How do you know? Has he told you?”

Zhou Yangguo rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask about matters of the heart, Dad. You wouldn’t understand even if you asked.”

Zhou Yi, annoyed by her mature tone, grabbed her pigtail. “Hey! Do you understand? Where did you learn about this? I’ve told you so many times, stop reading those romance novels! Focus on your studies! No early relationships before you turn thirty!”