When Lu Guang Ming woke up, he was utterly bewildered. He had clearly gone to the bar to drink himself senseless, so how had he ended up sleeping in Xie Jia Hua’s bed? He was also completely naked. Had Xie Jia Hua taken advantage of him? After carefully checking himself over, it did not seem so.
He thought uneasily, Could it be that I took advantage of Xie Jia Hua? Am I some violent rapist when I’m drunk?
Not only had Xie Jia Hua inexplicably picked him up and brought him home, but he was also treating him with unprecedented kindness and had even cooked instant noodles for him. Aside from alcohol, Lu Guang Ming had eaten nothing for an entire day and night. He picked up the bowl and wolfed the noodles down. Halfway through eating, he suddenly recalled a few scattered fragments from the previous night:
Lying hazily in the back seat and watching Xie Jia Hua drive. Clinging to Xie Jia Hua’s back and kissing the nape of his neck. Shamelessly seducing Xie Jia Hua in the bathtub. He had even asked Xie Jia Hua, “Hey, when you and Brother Jia Qi were together, were you always on top? He never fucked you?”
He could not remember what happened after that…
“Kh! Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!”
A mouthful of instant-noodle broth went down the wrong way, and he nearly coughed up his lungs! He hastily leapt to his feet, rushed into the bathroom, and vomited violently. After throwing up the last traces of alcohol in his stomach, he became completely sober.
Something else must have happened afterward! If it had only been those earlier fragments, how could Xie Jia Hua possibly be treating him so pleasantly now? It would already have been merciful if Xie Jia Hua had not beaten him to death on the spot, chopped his body into pieces, and flushed them down the drain!
He leaned over the sink and splashed cold water on his face for a long time, yet he still could not recall the slightest thing that had happened afterward. A strangely amiable Xie Jia Hua was still sitting outside. Lu Guang Ming walked anxiously out of the bathroom, not daring to ask about anything else, and smiled as though nothing had happened. “Why were you at the bar last night, Inspector Xie? Did you go there to drown your sorrows too?”
Ordinarily, if he mocked Xie Jia Hua like this, the man would already have jumped up and beaten him. But Xie Jia Hua merely glanced at him without changing expression and even transferred several more chopstickfuls of noodles from his own bowl into Lu Guang Ming’s. “Hurry and eat. I have to go to work soon.”
Lu Guang Ming ate the noodles in utter disbelief. Every mouthful felt like swallowing fragrant, delicious poison. Did I really top him last night? Was my technique so good that I fucked him into a wonderful mood?
He noticed a wound on Xie Jia Hua’s arm and assumed he had caused it, but Xie Jia Hua said he had not. After the meal, Lu Guang Ming offered to wash the dishes, but Xie Jia Hua would not let him. Once Xie Jia Hua finished washing them, he even offered to drive Lu Guang Ming to the ICAC on his way to work. Lu Guang Ming remained silent for a long time, partly because Xie Jia Hua’s completely different attitude frightened him and partly because he still did not know how to return to the ICAC and apologize to Chief Investigator Xu. He knew he had been wrong, but actually saying it aloud still felt awkward.
Who knew what medicine Xie Jia Hua had taken incorrectly, but after a while, he actually walked over and said earnestly and gently, “Regarding what happened last time, it wasn’t that I didn’t believe you. I only thought there might have been some misunderstanding, which was why I spoke to you that way. I failed to consider your feelings. That was my fault. I’m sorry. You once said that Tang Jia Qi approached me back then because he was investigating one of the cases I was handling. I found every case I worked on during the period when he and I were in contact and reviewed them all again, but I didn’t discover anything suspicious. Those files are in my office now. Whenever you have time, you can come and examine them yourself to see whether you can find any connection.”
Lu Guang Ming looked at Xie Jia Hua with a complicated expression, having never expected to receive such an answer. He did not know what had happened to Xie Jia Hua or what change had taken place in the man’s state of mind. Or perhaps, just as Chief Investigator Xu had criticized him, had Lu Guang Ming been too extreme? Had he always imagined Xie Jia Hua to be colder than he truly was, when Xie Jia Hua had actually felt the faintest trace of fondness for him?
A sudden, feverish impulse surged through him, urging him to tell Xie Jia Hua everything he knew. Perhaps Xie Jia Hua really would believe him and investigate his own father. Perhaps Xie Jia Hua truly could cast aside all his past prejudices and every misunderstanding and unpleasantness between them.
Hesitant and tentative, like a little squirrel hiding deep within a dense forest, he carefully extended one paw from beneath layer upon layer of concealing leaves. “Brother Jia Qi… found a photograph connected to the case at your home back then. He brought it back and showed it to me.”
Xie Jia Hua furrowed his brows, and Lu Guang Ming’s sensitive heart was suddenly pierced hard by a needle.
Sure enough, Xie Jia Hua said, “That’s impossible. He never came to my home.”
The squirrel’s paw withdrew.
Lu Guang Ming fell silent and turned his head away, overcome by despair and discouragement. He truly had been indulging in wishful thinking after all. Xie Jia Hua’s earlier words had sounded so pleasant, but perhaps they had merely been kindhearted consolation. Xie Jia Hua did not trust his character at all and would still instinctively question and resist everything he said. There would always be an uncrossable gulf between them, wouldn’t there?
His brick phone suddenly rang at that moment. He had specially set that ringtone for calls from He Chu San’s assistant. He quickly picked up the phone, slipped into the bedroom, and slammed the door shut.
“Hello?” Kevin’s voice came from the other end.
“It’s me.”
“Mr. He would like to meet with you. Seven o’clock tonight at XX Hotel, during the charity gala hosted by Master Qiao. Please attend while posing as a guest.”
“All right.”
He hurriedly ended the call. Proper business was more important, so he would put aside his disappointment and frustration with Xie Jia Hua for now! Attending a formal banquet required suitable attire. He rummaged through every drawer and cabinet, pillaging Xie Jia Hua’s wardrobe, and soon found an expensive suit made from excellent fabric and custom-tailored by a famous brand. Young Master Xie indeed. He hurriedly put it on, only to find the shoulders, back, and arms somewhat loose and empty. Why had that violent Big Sweet Potato trained himself to be so sturdy?
He stuffed two socks into each shoulder of the shirt and finally managed to fill out the suit jacket. He hurried out of the bedroom, ignoring Xie Jia Hua, who had been pressed against the door eavesdropping. At the entrance, he found his own shoes and discovered that he had vomited all over them until they were beyond recognition. He therefore pulled open the shoe cabinet without the slightest courtesy, took out a pair of Xie Jia Hua’s slippers, and left wearing a suit with slippers.
Xie Jia Hua actually chased him all the way to the elevator. Lu Guang Ming thought, I was always the one coaxing you before. You’ve never had me treat you this coldly, so now you can’t accept it, can you? Too lazy to argue with Xie Jia Hua any further, he silently cursed, You’re a huge iron slab that can never be warmed! This young master is done indulging you! He repeatedly struck the button to close the doors and finally shut Xie Jia Hua’s sour face outside the elevator.
…
He rented a Lamborghini, went to the shopping center to buy a suitable pair of shoes, and had his hair styled into a fashionable slicked-back pompadour at a salon. Disguising himself as the eldest young master of the Tang family, he arrived at the banquet punctually that evening. He quickly struck up a conversation with He Chu San, and the two exchanged updates regarding the Xie Ying Jie case. Unfortunately, before they had spoken for long, someone on Master Qiao’s side discovered them. To dispel suspicion, He Chu San reacted quickly and poured an entire glass of wine over Lu Guang Ming’s head. Lu Guang Ming punched He Chu San in return, and the two pretended to quarrel and caused an uproar at the banquet. In the end, Master Qiao protected He Chu San as though he were some precious treasure and took him away, while security seized Lu Guang Ming and handed him over to the police.
The officers assumed he was a street gangster who had impersonated an important guest to freeload at the banquet before picking a fight and causing trouble. They treated him without the slightest courtesy and dragged him all the way back to the interrogation room. He had no identification on him and lazily refused to answer no matter what they asked. The officers lost their tempers, shut the door, and prepared to beat him. But Lu Guang Ming was hardly the sort to suffer a loss quietly. Covering his head with both arms, he immediately began shouting, “I know the law! Using violence to force a confession violates the Police Force Ordinance! Be careful, or I’ll sue you into the ground once I get out! I… I’m A’Ming, an informant for your Inspector Xie Jia Hua. Call him here!”
“What Xie Jia Hua?!” The officer stepped forward, still intending to hit him.
“Xie Jia Hua from O Division Headquarters! The nemesis of the triads! A model officer of the police force! If you don’t even know him, just how terrible are your connections in the force?! Do you still want a promotion and a raise?!” Lu Guang Ming declared righteously.
Half believing and half doubting him, the officer went out to call Xie Jia Hua. Lu Guang Ming did not know what Xie Jia Hua said, but after a while, a different officer came inside and looked at him as though he were a fellow officer who had painstakingly disguised himself as a gangster for an undercover mission. With sympathy and friendliness, the officer “invited” him into a temporary holding cell.
Several gangsters arrested for fighting and causing trouble were also locked inside. When they saw him enter with his suit soaked in alcohol and torn to pieces, they called out, “Hey, brother! What did you do?”
Thinking of Xie Jia Hua’s sour expression when the elevator doors had shut in his face that morning, Lu Guang Ming answered irritably, “Had an argument with my wife.”
“Hahaha! Your wife beat you up like this?”
“What are you talking about? He dares hit me? He made me so angry that I went out and fought someone else.”
He lounged around bragging to the gangsters about his “wife,” getting plenty of mileage out of Xie Jia Hua’s name. After half an hour of boasting, Xie Jia Hua arrived at the police station to collect him and called him “A’Ming” in front of the other officers.
“A’Ming, come out.”
Lu Guang Ming thought, Hmph. At least you know what’s good for you. You’re afraid I’ll reveal our scandalous history to the entire police force, aren’t you?
Still feeling resentful, he followed Xie Jia Hua out of the police station, bickering with him several times along the way. Xie Jia Hua insisted that he get into the car so he could drive him back to the ICAC. Lu Guang Ming refused, so Xie Jia Hua eventually forced him down into the car.
“Why are you so violent?!”
“Why are you so annoying?! Shut up!”
I knew you found me annoying! Out of everyone in the world, I’m the one who annoys you most!
…
He was so furious that he had no idea how childish he currently seemed, like a stubborn little brat who had worked himself into a dead end. He slumped sideways against the seat without speaking, feeling unbearably miserable. The thought that Xie Jia Hua disliked him, and disliked him more than anyone else, and did not believe him, and believed him less than anyone else, made him feel so aggrieved that he wanted to bite Xie Jia Hua viciously.
Unexpectedly, after driving for a while, Xie Jia Hua actually restrained his temper and began reasoning with him. “What I said this morning… I wasn’t contradicting you. I only meant that I had no memory of Jia Qi ever coming to my home. Perhaps I remembered incorrectly. I hadn’t finished speaking when you reacted so strongly. I’ll investigate this and find out where and how Jia Qi obtained that photograph. What was in the photograph you saw?”
Lu Guang Ming kept his head turned away and refused to speak, but turbulent currents surged inside his heart. What did Xie Jia Hua mean by this? Why did he suddenly believe me again? Why was he speaking to me so gently? It was practically like a dream.
Lu Guang Ming remained silent for a long time. Xie Jia Hua sighed softly and continued, “Forget it if you don’t want to tell me. I won’t force you. From now on, I’ll believe everything you say. Whatever you tell me, I’ll investigate. But you also have to give me a chance to respond. Don’t always immediately assume the worst. Every time the two of us meet, we end up arguing. Can’t we speak properly to each other?”
I want to speak properly with you too! You’re the one who always suspects me first! You’re the one who thinks I’m annoying and tells me to shut up at the slightest provocation!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, so he continued tightly pursing his lips without making a sound. Still receiving no response, Xie Jia Hua could not resist glancing sideways at him. “Say something.”
Lu Guang Ming finally spoke in a huff. “Weren’t you the one who told me to shut up?”
“…”
“You also said I was annoying.”
“…”
“Is it my fault we argue every time we meet? When have you ever listened to me patiently? Wasn’t I always the one coaxing you before? You’re so impressive. You fuck me and hit me too.”
“…”
Lu Guang Ming’s barrage of accusations left Xie Jia Hua speechless. After an awkward silence lasting a long time, Xie Jia Hua unexpectedly took a deep breath and sighed. “I was also at fault. I’m sorry.”
Hey! I never expected this! The Big Sweet Potato actually admitted his mistake to my face! Heaven has finally opened its eyes!
Lu Guang Ming was rather surprised. He lifted his eyelids and glanced at Xie Jia Hua, almost failing to suppress his smile, and hurriedly turned his head away. He stared out the window and endured for a long time. He absolutely could not reveal even the slightest hint of happiness, yet he could not help thinking, He may be a stinking sweet potato, but why does he smell so fragrant and taste so sweet today? I really was too harsh with him today, though. Oh, right. I also ruined his clothes and got them filthy and torn.
“I’ll wash and iron your clothes before returning them,” he suddenly said without any context.
Young Master Xie clearly did not care about a single suit. Instead, he asked, “What were you doing this afternoon? How did you end up like this?”
This time, Lu Guang Ming finally understood Xie Jia Hua’s meaning correctly. It was neither suspicion nor curiosity. Xie Jia Hua was genuinely concerned about him.
He immediately grew smug and could not resist being sharp-tongued again. “None of your business.”
“…” Xie Jia Hua looked as though he very much wanted to pin him against the seat and spank him.
The atmosphere inside the car gradually became exceedingly strange. The instant Lu Guang Ming understood Xie Jia Hua’s sincerity, the air suddenly turned hot and dry. He really is concerned about me. Could he genuinely be interested in me? No, I’d better not flatter myself. He’s merely kindhearted. The Big Sweet Potato was always a good sweet potato. He can put aside our past grievances and show me genuine concern. What noble character. Hmph.
Despite that hmph, a faint and unfamiliar expectation still appeared within his heart. He secretly glanced at Xie Jia Hua, who was concentrating on driving, and felt his cheeks burning fiercely. What the hell was this heart-fluttering feeling? It hadn’t happened in so many years!
He grew somewhat flustered. The instant the car stopped outside the ICAC building, he hurriedly opened the door and attempted to flee, only for Xie Jia Hua to pull him back. Xie Jia Hua pressed him into the seat again and smoothed his nest-like hair. He seemed to want to say something gentle to him, but perhaps he also noticed the ambiguous atmosphere and swallowed the words again.
Lu Guang Ming lowered his head and allowed Xie Jia Hua to stroke his hair, his heartbeat growing increasingly violent and thundering in his ears. Earlier, when he told Xie Jia Hua that it was none of his business, it was partly because his wicked mouth wanted to tease him, but also because Lu Guang Ming had already reached a decision. Xie Jia Hua’s position was too special, while his character was upright and sincere. Using Xie Jia Hua to investigate Xie Ying Jie had been despicable of him. Forcing Xie Jia Hua to investigate his own father had been cruel. Lu Guang Ming had been wrong. From the very beginning, he never should have approached Xie Jia Hua, who had known nothing, and he should not continue using him this way in the future.
Perhaps the two of them could have a different beginning. Perhaps, after Xie Ying Jie had been brought to justice, Lu Guang Ming could casually walk up to Xie Jia Hua and say: Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Sunny. I was Tang Jia Qi’s friend…
Without any apparent connection to what came before, he said again, “I lied to you before because I wanted to get information out of you. I stopped at nothing. I’m sorry.”
Lowering his head, he gently picked at the hem of Xie Jia Hua’s shirt and continued explaining softly, “Your identity is too sensitive. I shouldn’t have involved you from the beginning. I’ll handle this case myself from now on. Many things are covered by ICAC confidentiality rules, so I can’t tell you.”
Xie Jia Hua peeled the dirty suit jacket off him, then removed his own clean jacket and draped it over Lu Guang Ming’s shoulders. “I understand. But anything I uncover that isn’t restricted by police confidentiality rules, I’ll tell you. I still believe my father hasn’t committed any crime, but I’ll do my best to investigate everything you mentioned. All right. Go inside.”
With his eyes lowered, Lu Guang Ming obediently got out of the car, his emotions surging even more strongly because of Xie Jia Hua’s words. His face felt hot enough to melt. After walking several steps, he truly could not resist and turned back.
He tapped on the car window. Xie Jia Hua rolled it down, still wearing that same solemn yet amiable expression. Lu Guang Ming clung to the window and stuck his head inside, asking with complete seriousness, “Did I top you last night? Is that why you’re suddenly treating me so well?”
Xie Jia Hua’s face turned green. “Shut up and get inside.”
Lu Guang Ming turned and scampered away, laughing aloud as he ran. Covering his burning face with claws that had gone icy from nervousness, he screamed inwardly, Oh my God!
Oh my God! When the Big Sweet Potato turns sweet, it’s absolutely lethal!