Five Cases

Chapter 41: Appearance

Ji Lian may have been in a high-level position, but he was rather low key. With Ji Fanyang’s personality, he was unwilling to make friends with the children of these high officials. The father and son pair decided to have a small get-together. They only informed a few friends and family, a close gathering with a warm atmosphere. 

Ji Fanyang invited Rao Feifei and Yang Jie. All those girls at the Bureau who adored Ji Fanyang made a few indirect inquiries, but were sent away by Ji Fanyang’s perfunctory smile. 

Ji Lian personally called Director Gao and invited him to his son’s birthday party, making Gao Zhengcheng feel overwhelmed by favor. 

Within the few days spent preparing for the party, Wei Congjia called to first send him his blessings, then to ease Ji Fanyang’s worries. It was unknown whether or not lu Hui was alive. He had been missing for about half a month now, and there was no news from the capital’s police. Even if Ji Fanyang burned with anxiety, there was nothing he could do. 

The birthday party was held in the side room of a nature-themed hotel. The room wasn’t large, but it was enough for a dozen or so people. A bamboo forest grew along one wall, and the space was artfully sectioned off with waist-height shrubs. 

Ji Fanyang sat on one side of the table, chatting with Rao Feifei and Yang Jie. Ji Lian was conversing with some of his old friends while Fan Shuqin talked with a few gentle-looking women. 

Ji Fanyang treated others warmly, but not very closely. He didn’t have any friends he could confide in. There were many people of the opposite gender, but he always seemed to mess up his relationships. He even had four breakups on his track record. After the fourth breakup half a year ago, he’d felt a little disheartened. He followed Lu Hui around every day to sort himself out, but he had also been happy. 

He still lived in the co-rented apartment, ensuring that someone would be there to open the door if Lu Hui came home. Rao Feifei joked that he seemed devoted to Lu Hui. 

“It’s your birthday today, don’t have such a long face.” Rao Feifei suggested. 

Ji Fanyang rubbed his stiff facial muscles, forcing a smile: “Oh, I went to the Bureau, but I didn’t see Xi Junhong there. Isn’t he pursuing you?”

Rao Feifei smiled and shook her head: “He saw Chief Lu’s self-sacrifice and was greatly moved. He told me that he wanted to do something for the people. Uncle Xi told me that he signed up for a volunteering organization and left two days ago to work in the southern mountains.”

“Can Chief Lu encourage someone that much?” When Ji Fanyang heard that, he couldn’t help but feel a bit happy. He imagined Lu Hui’s face when he told him about it; Lu Hui would definitely hate it and refuse the ‘life coach’ label. 

“Nope.” Rao Feifei shrugged, “At the beginning, I didn’t understand Chief Lu’s intentions, and I didn’t expect that Chief Lu could influence Xi Junhong so much. Could this be considered a case of ‘everything has its vanquisher’[1]?”

“…That’s hard to say.” Ji Fanyang really admired Rao Feifei’s imagination. He supported his chin in his hand, “If Chief Lu could hear you say that, he’d toss you out of the fifteenth story window.”

“Then don’t tell him when he comes back.” Rao Feifei said. She observed Ji Fanyang for a moment, then hung her head dispiritedly, “Nevermind. You’re definitely going to tell him, then laugh at him.”

“One of life’s greatest pleasures.” Ji Fanyang’s eyes curved into a smile, “There must be some reward for being a babysitter.”

“Like you and Chief Lu.” Rao Feifei raised her glass, “Everything has its vanquisher. Happy birthday.”

“Mutual reinforcement[2])).” Ji Fanyang knocked his glass against Rao Feifei’s, “Thank you.”

Rao Feifei stuck out her tongue: “Happy thirty-third birthday to Chief Lu, too.”

“He could make trouble until he’s a hundred years old.” Ji Fanyang said. 

Rao Feifei nodded: “That’s for sure.”

…

The birthday party concluded. Ji Fanyang left the hotel, rubbing his nose with exhaustion. Fan Shuqin patted her son’s shoulder: “Mrs. Qi invited you to her house.”

“I’m not going.” Ji Fanyang refused. He looked at his mother, “My friend is missing. Why would I be in the mood to go mess around with Miss Qi.”

“I know.” Fan Shuqin nodded, “So I declined. I said that you just broke up with someone, so you’re not feeling up to it.”

“…Mom, what on earth?” Ji Fanyang smiled wryly, “You’re bringing up something from half a year ago. Any other reason would have been better.”

Fan Shuqin pinched Ji Fanyang’s cheek: “My son is so handsome and personable. Those girls who dumped you must have been blind.”

“…Lu Hui didn’t say so.” Ji Fanyang muttered. He looked down at his watch “It’s almost ten o’clock. Mom, you should go home with Dad. I’ll be going home too.”

“It’s late.” Fan Shuqin suggested, “For these next several days, another day without news is another day nothing has happened to your friend.”

“That’s not certain.” Ji Fanyang tried to smile. His smiling appearance was very much like Fan Shuqin’s, “Go on, Commander JI must be impatient with waiting.”

“He wouldn’t dare.” Fan Shuqin said, annoyed. With her son pressing her to go home, she could only leave, “Then, we’ll be going.” 

“Mm, good night, mom.” Ji Fanyang waved.

“Good night.” Fan SHuqin walked over to Ji Lian and waved.

Ji Fanyang watched his parents drive away before sitting in his car and heading home. 

When he got back to Lanshan Apartment Complex No. 1521, he walked into the elevator with his keys in hand and pressed ‘15’. He was the only one in the elevator. 

The number on the elevator’s floor display jumped to 15. The doors opened and Ji Fanyang walked out of them. As he passed by the dark entryway to the stairwell, Ji Fanyang’s steps faltered. He heard a rustling sound. 

It sounded like the shifting of clothing. Ji Fanyang frowned, and with light, cautious steps, approached the stairwell. 

The light in the stairwell was controlled with a sound sensor. Ji Fanyang suddenly stomped down hard, producing a huge noise to get the light to turn on. Light filled the stairwell—a person was sitting in the corner. 

It was just the beginning of spring, so it couldn’t be said to be warm. A man sat there on the concrete floor with one leg bent, wearing a black, tattered coat, his messy hair flaked with dust and his face covered in a beard. 

Ji Fanyang narrowed his eyes. Some people may have thought they were just a vagrant, but Ji Fanyang would not. All he thought was that the person absolutely seemed familiar. 

With the sudden light, the vagrant squinted his eyes until they adjusted. After a moment passed, he opened his eyes and looked at Ji Fanyang. His gaze was cold and piercing, like a far-wandering wolf, but a bit hazy as he looked at the young man. He pushed himself off the wall to stand up and said with a hoarse voice: “…It’s been a while.”

Ji Fanyang opened his mouth but could not find his voice. He stared at the vagrant, stupefied. His heart, suspended for half a month, finally settled back down. He gasped, only then finding his voice: “L-Lu Hui?”

The stairwell’s light flickered twice, the flashing of the light the only thing shifting in the frozen atmosphere. 

“Um…happy birthday?” Lu Hui’s beard moved like he was smiling. 

Ji Fanyang’s eyes suddenly reddened. He lunged forward and pulled Lu Hui into a hug: “You finally came back.”

Lu Hui stood in place stiffly. Alright, he really didn’t expect Ji Fanyang to be capable of doing such a thing in the state he was in.