Chapter 38: Factory

Lu Hui sat quietly in the passenger seat. Lu An placed both of her hands on the steering wheel, gazing forward. The vehicle traveled along the highway, the bare trees zooming by the window. 

It was the winter season; thick snow reflected the clear rays of sunlight, small birds darting through the treetops. 

The distant, dark-gray factory loomed over the snow banks. Several police cars were parked on the road. 

“We’re here.” Lu An applied the brakes and brought the vehicle to a stop. She removed the key from the ignition and said, “Let’s go.”

Lu Hui nodded. He seemed to have an unexplainable sense of unease. Indeed, he should be uneasy. He himself admitted that the person who was kidnapped was his friend. 

But once again, the choice he made when he was fourteen was now back on the table. Destiny turned round and round; Lu Hui may be thirty-two now, but he was still far too slow witted. 

“Chief Lu.” An officer from Linhua City’s Bureau came over to greet him, worry written on his face, “The kidnapper claims to want to meet you.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui acknowledged, following the officer, “What do you guys know?”

“We just arrived.” The officer said, “We’ve contacted the kidnapper once by phone. He would only answer that he wants to meet you.”

Lu Hui said: “Got it.”

Lu An and Lu Hui walked over and got inside the surveillance vehicle. Lu Hui nodded toward Director Gao, then took the phone: “I’m Lu Hui.”

“Lu Hui.” The kidnapper answered without a voice changer. By the sound of his voice, he was a worn-out, middle-aged man, “So you’re Lu Hui.”

“Your intentions.” Lu Hui asked. 

“Exchange him for you.” The man answered. 

Lu Hui muttered: “What makes you think I would sacrifice myself for him?”

“…” The man was speechless for a moment, then said, “Because he’s in your squad.”

“Looks like you’ve done your homework.” Lu Hui said, “Give him the phone. I need to confirm that he’s still alive.”

“Not right now.” The man said, “We have other things to discuss.”

“Why not right now?” Lu Hui flattened his lips, trying to keep his voice as even as possible. 

“The case you’re investigating.” The man said. 

“It was you.” Lu Hui said. 

“Correct.” The man replied, “Congratulations, you’ve solved the case.”

“Then, are you confessing or committing suicide?” Lu Hui asked. 

The man laughed: “I’ve kidnapped someone, so what do you think?”

“You’re bringing me down with you.” Lu Hui said, “And you never meant to let him go.”

“Yes.” The man said, “So are you coming?”

“Give him the phone.” Lu Hui demanded, “I want to hear his voice.”

There was a rustling on the other side. Lu Hui waited patiently for a while, then a voice sounded hazily from the speaker: “Chief Lu?”

“Mm.” Lu Hui suddenly felt both tense and helpless. His pinky finger curled tightly around the receiver, “You…”

“Don’t come.” Ji Fanyang interrupted him, “Don’t even think about it, not for a moment.”

“It’s the end of the line.” Lu Hui said, his voice detached, as if he held no regard for life and death, “I have to go in.”

“You can’t. You aren’t obliged to save me.” Ji Fanyang said, “I know you have the tendency to self-destruct. That time by the pond, you wanted to jump in, right?”

“…I didn’t.” Lu Hui denied. 

“You cowardly bastard.” Ji Fanyang cursed, “You’re not allowed to come.”

“You can’t decide that.” Lu Hui said with the shamelessness of a child, then hung up the phone directly. 

Director Gao lifted his head and looked at him: “You want to go inside?”

“Are there any other options?” Lu Hui turned his head and watched the armed police and snipers move about outside the window, “If there were, you wouldn’t be asking me that.”

“The inside of the factory is too dark, and there’s no clear line of sight.” Director Gao said, “They’ve concealed themselves behind a wall and can’t be taken down through the window.”

“Anything else?” Lu Hui asked. 

“We suspect that the factory was surrounded by explosives.” Director Gao said, “You were right. He means to bring you down with him.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui agreed. 

“You’re going in?” Rao Feifei came inside the surveillance vehicle with Yang Jie. 

Lu Hui’s dark eyes are like two deep wells: “Do I have any other choice?”

“We can negotiate.” Rao Feifei said. 

Lu Hui smiled sardonically: “Little girl, the kidnapper just admitted to the crimes we are investigating.”

“He has no way out.” Yang Jie said. 

“Ji Fanyang is a commander’s son. He can’t die.” Lu Hui said. 

“Bullshit.” Director Gao exploded in a seldom-seen fury. He smacked the desk, “The son of a commander can’t die, but you can?”

“…” Lu Hui blinked, “I’ll try not to die.”

“Does your sister agree?” Yang Jie asked. 

Lu Hui went silent. 

Rao Feifei grabbed Lu Hui by the arm and pulled him out of the surveillance vehicle. The two of them stood out in the snow. 

“How was it?” Lu An and the recently arriving Wei Congjia walked over to Lu Hui. 

“The kidnapper demands that he exchanges himself with Ji Fanyang.” Rao Feifei said. 

“You can’t.” Wei Congjia opposed. 

Lu An stared at Lu Hui: “You want to go in?”

“I…” Facing the person he was closest to, Lu Hui could not be as sure of himself, “I have to go in. I’m the chief.”

“You will die.” Lu An said. 

Lu Hui nodded. 

“I don’t want to lose you.” Lu An said, “But you should go.”

Lu Hui gazed at Lu An: “Thank you, sis.”

Lu An sucked in a breath through her nose, the tears flowing down her face ruining her makeup, “Do you still remember that you’re coming home for the New Year?”

“I…might not be able to make it.” Lu Hui lifted a hand and wiped away Lu An’s tears, “Don’t cry.”

Wei Congjia embraced Lu An, saying to Lu Hui: “Come back alive. Don’t make your sister sad.”

Lu Hui said nothing; he never made promises he could not keep. He turned toward Rao Feifei: “My resignation letter and will are in the second locked cabinet in my office. When the time comes, you can unlock it.”

Rao Feifei stared at him in disbelief: “You’ve already written them?”

“I put them there on my first day of work.” Lu Hui chuckled, “Fight no battle unprepared.” 

Rao Feifei rubbed her eyes and said: “Alright, I understand.”

Xi Junhong walked over: “What happened?”

Rao Feifei, with no time to consider her previous dislike of him, related the situation to him intermittently. 

Lu Hui waved at them, then turned and walked into the surveillance vehicle. 

“You’ve decided?” Director Gao asked. 

“Mm.” Lu Hui answered, “I’m putting on a protective suit.”

“Every little bit counts.” Director Gao sighed and gestured to the thick protective suit lying on the sofa, “Wear the helmet, too.”

Lu Hui removed his down jacket and put on the foundation layer of the protective suit. 

“What’s your plan?” Director Gao asked. 

“Act according to the situation.” Lu Hui said, “Ji Fanyang isn’t wearing any protective equipment. I’ll try to protect him.”

“You…ai.” Director Gao shook his head, “I wasn’t wrong about you. You’re a good police officer.”

Lu Hui maintained his poker face, saying nothing. The title of ‘Good Person’ was harder for him to accept than insults. 

After putting on the protective suit, Lu Hui walked out of the surveillance vehicle. 

Save Ji Fanyang, he thought. Ji Fanyang was his friend.