A Lunatic Says He Loves Me: Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Cat 2

To figure out the exact nature of their unusual relationship, Ding Ding and Yuan Fei would need to continue interviewing witnesses and investigating the victims’ social connections.

“You two go ahead with the investigation, while Han Rong and I continue reviewing the remaining surveillance footage.”

“Yes, sir!”

At that moment, a colleague from the anti-narcotics team knocked on the door and poked his head in, asking, “Shi Jie ¹, do you have a moment?”

“What’s up?”

“Our colleagues from the testing lab are out, and there’s an urgent report that needs checking. Can you help out?”

Bai Xinhuai didn’t reply immediately; she just glanced at Ling Feng, then continued playing the tape. The colleague quickly caught on, nodding and bowing to Ling Feng, “Captain Ling, borrowing Bai Jie for a bit ah. We’ll return her as soon as the report is done!”

Ling Feng waved his hand, “Go ahead. It’s a waste to have a Ph.D. holder here just playing ‘PPT’.”

Han Rong watched Bai Xinhuai leave with the anti-narcotics colleague, and curiously asked with a smile, “What’s Bai Jie’s specialty? She seems like a brick—useful anywhere!”

Ling Feng pointed at his laptop, half-jokingly saying, “You can check her file in the system yourself.” He continued watching the surveillance footage but found nothing. Feeling the urge to take a break, he stood up and excused himself to the restroom.

Although Ling Feng’s suggestion was casual, Han Rong took it to heart. He wasn’t really interested in Bai Xinhuai’s background; instead, he wanted to check his own file.

To discern how much of his dream was true or false, all he had to do was open the system, enter his name, and press Enter. But if the result wasn’t as he hoped, what would he do then? After battling with his thoughts for a while, he finally made up his mind, stood up, and sat in front of Ling Feng’s laptop, moving the mouse with his left hand.

[Please enter the user password]

“Shit!”

He couldn’t help but curse softly. No wonder Bald Head Ling was so generous in suggesting he check the system; the guy had planned this!

Hearing steady footsteps in the hallway, Han Rong quickly returned to his original seat. Ling Feng walked back in and asked, “Any discoveries?”

“Nothing at the moment。”

Ling Feng sat down beside him and focused on the footage again. Han Rong casually asked, “Officer Ling, you mentioned something about my college days last time. Have we met before?”

Ling Feng seemed taken aback by the question, furrowing his brows like an upturned watermelon knife. “We…”

Ding-ling-ling—

The piercing sound of the landline interrupted him. Ling Feng answered the phone, and Ding Ding’s excited voice came through, “Boss, we found out! Zhurou Qiang was Lin Qin’s lover! She was having an affair!”

Yuan Fei chimed in, “I think Qin Jiadong is looking more and more like the prime suspect! Because Zhurou Qiang was involved with his stepmother, he might have decided to kill both of them!”

Ling Feng asked, “Do you have any evidence to prove their affair?”

Ding Ding replied, “Zhurou Qiang was a widower. I found condoms in his room! Surveillance from the night before Lin Qin was murdered showed her carrying a bag of items from the supermarket, including the same brand of condoms!”

Yuan Fei added, “We checked with the supermarket. That brand has been out of stock for a long time.”

“This could just be a coincidence. Zhurou Qiang might have bought that brand before they ran out. These aren’t direct evidence of their relationship.”

Ding Ding said, “I knew you’d say that! We found women’s clothing in Zhurou Qiang’s wardrobe. I’m bringing it back for forensics to check for Lin Qin’s fingerprints!”

Ling Feng instructed, “After dropping off the evidence, go investigate Pianzi Zhang’s social connections. If you find any links to Qin Jiadong, follow the procedure to summon him.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ling Feng hung up the phone and, while quickly heading out, said, “Ding Ding went to Zhurou Qiang’s place and brought back some evidence. I need to head to forensics to get it examined. The government’s been downsizing, and we’re short-staffed everywhere. If we don’t hurry, other teams will get ahead of us.”

Han Rong said, “Looks like I’m not needed here. I’ll head out.”

Ling Feng waved him off, “See you! I’ll contact you on WeChat if anything comes up.”

****

Han Rong opened the apartment door, and a mouth-watering aroma of food hit his nose, making his stomach growl involuntarily. He changed his shoes and walked in. Ji Yan, wearing a Peppa Pig apron, was busy cooking with his back to him.

He asked, “How was Conan’s check-up this morning?”

“Everything else is normal, just a bit malnourished.” Ji Yan turned his head and said, “Wash your hands, dinner is ready. Conan is playing in the room. You can hold him after dinner.”

“I’m not going to hold him, just want to take a look.” Han Rong said as he walked towards the bedroom, “After you guys left, I thought calling him Conan might be unlucky, people die wherever he goes. Things are chaotic enough already, fewer cases would be better. But I haven’t come up with a good name yet.”

Han Rong turned the doorknob and opened the door. One look inside and he was stunned, deeply experiencing the “bittersweet feeling brought by the demolition crew.”

The pillowcase was torn off, and cotton fluff was flying everywhere like snow. The nightstand was knocked over, the lamp shattered on the floor. Chairs, clothes, and pants were scattered all over, and the culprit was still happily stamping its paw prints everywhere.

At first, Han Rong felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, his body frozen. Then all the blood rushed to his head, and even his hair stood on end.

“What are you doing now!!!”

A dragon-like roar filled the entire room.

Conan froze for a moment, lifted his round head to meet Han Rong’s eyes. Three seconds later, Han Rong was the first to back down.

“I give up.” He sighed, holding his forehead. “Did I pick up a husky? Are you actually a dog in a cat’s disguise?”

Conan was delighted to see him, abandoned the bedsheet, and meowed as he jumped onto Han Rong, seemingly asking for hugs. Han Rong had already forgotten Ji Yan’s warning, bent down to pick up Conan, and nuzzled his head. “From now on, you’ll be called Demolition. You little rascal, you’re just like me when I was a kid.”

“Dinner’s ready.” Ji Yan walked into the room, calling him. “Let’s eat first, I’ll clean up later.” He saw Han Rong holding Demolition, frowned slightly, and said helplessly, “I told you not to hold him. He just got a shot and might shed hair. It’ll stick to you, and you might get a stomachache if you swallow it.”

Ji Yan didn’t like to talk much, usually very quiet, but when it came to things related to Han Rong, he would nag endlessly. Han Rong enjoyed it and didn’t find it annoying at all. Ji Yan’s caring and domestic demeanor reminded him of his mother.

Han Rong walked over, lifted Demolition, and brushed its whiskers against Ji Yan’s cheek. Then he smiled, his eyes crinkling.

“Haha!”

Ji Yan didn’t know what he was laughing about but couldn’t help but slightly curl his lips.

Han Rong leaned in and gave Ji Yan a peck on the lips, leaving a faint bite mark, before briskly walking to the living room.

He thought: Now he can control the frequency of his episodes, has an energetic cat, and a lover who deeply loves him. What more could he want? Why cling to the elusive past?

Just as Han Rong was about to sit down for dinner, the doorbell rang repeatedly. Ji Yan was busy cleaning the bedroom and couldn’t come to open the door, so the task fell to Han Rong.

“I’m coming!” Han Rong called out as he walked, muttering to himself, “Has Ling Feng got news so soon?”

When he opened the door, he was stunned, and the smile on his lips faded.

Standing outside was Chen Sheng, still as handsome and upright as ever, like a decorative peacock. He pressed his lips together, adjusted his hair, and then sighed, saying, “We need to talk.”

Compared to his emotional display, Han Rong appeared much colder, and firmly said, “I don’t think there’s anything left to discuss.”

Chen Sheng was taken aback by his words, feeling like his insides had turned upside down, his face turning pale. After a long moment, he released his clenched fists and said hoarsely, “If I said I have never betrayed you, would you believe me?”

Han Rong wanted to say “no,” but found himself opening his mouth without making a sound. So he chose to remain silent instead.

Chen Sheng was about to say more but noticed Ji Yan watching them intently from inside the room. He leaned in and said quietly, “This isn’t the place for a conversation. Come with me.”

Han Rong frowned and asked, “What’s so hard to talk about? What do you want to say?”

“It’s not appropriate with others around,” Chen Sheng indicated.

“The vinegar is used up. I’m going to the supermarket to buy a bottle,” Ji Yan, pretending not to have overheard, changed his shoes at the entrance. Passing Han Rong, he took Demolition from his arms and said calmly, “I’ll take him for a walk too.”

— 

Author’s note:

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Translator Notes

1. Senior sister[↩]