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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 89: The Mystery of the Alley (Part Four)
"What do you think I should do?" Qin Jian said. It felt too lonely; we weren't very familiar with each other, and we rarely called unless it was necessary to meet. Now he was calling me frequently, not to discuss serious matters, but to grab a meal or have some skewers. Serious discussions usually happened after meals or while eating.
I knew the purpose of his invitation for breakfast was to continue our conversation from yesterday. I, Qin Jian, was overthinking it. This case seemed outside his jurisdiction, yet he still wanted to get to the bottom of it. I wanted to go, but Shen Shoucai had already prepared porridge, and I couldn't let his kindness go to waste by leaving him to meet Qin Jian. So I declined Qin Jian's breakfast invitation and finished the porridge with Shen Shoucai instead.
"You still need to stay home today."
Shen Shoucai nodded.
"Actually, do you really want to find a maiden?"
"To be honest, I do have that thought, but it's quite a distant possibility. Unless the girl is a fool, who would willingly offer herself to an Azure-Headed Ghost for no reason?"
"Take your time! I don't like you underestimating yourself here; I'd really like to introduce you to a place where you can showcase your abilities." The porridge made by Shen Shoucai was truly delicious; even plain rice porridge couldn't compare. I had heard that the King of the Underworld had a good appetite, and I thought about introducing Shen Shoucai to him through my master.
Besides, as a grown man, having an Azure-Headed Ghost by my side wasn't exactly convenient; it made things difficult when trying to get things done.
Fortunately, aside from my master and Mi knowing about the Azure-Headed Ghost with me, no one else was aware.
With Qin Jian around, I couldn't take Shen Shoucai out because he could see him.
I stepped outside while Shen Shoucai watched television. As I went downstairs, I forgot my phone and hurried back in. Upon entering, I saw a scene on the TV screen depicting a romantic encounter between a man and a woman. Shen Shoucai might not have expected me to return so quickly. He hesitated for a moment but didn't immediately turn off the TV since we were both men.
I grabbed my phone and warned him, "Know when to stop."
"I'm just watching to satisfy my curiosity."
I shut out Shen Shoucai's voice behind the door and hurried downstairs to the breakfast place where Qin Jian had arranged to meet me.
I expected it to be just Qin Jian, but to my surprise, Chi Xinrong was there too. The two of them looked like a couple, exchanging smiles and enjoying their breakfast together. Did I feel envious? Not really. Jealousy? I didn't even know how to feel that way!
"Ma Qi, over here." Chi Xinrong, with her sharp eyes and loud voice, called out to the busy waiter, "Another serving of oil tea and fried sauce noodles."
I didn’t wait for the waiter to respond and waved my hand dismissively. "No breakfast for me; I've already eaten."
Chi Xinrong looked at me with suspicion, her gaze scrutinizing as she asked, "You’ve eaten? You’re so lazy; how could you have breakfast? Who made it for you?" Unable to stand the greasy smell of the breakfast shop, I chose not to respond to Chi Xinrong's unreasonable attitude.
"It’s not anyone; you two eat. I'm going out for a bit." Without caring about Qin Jian's reaction, I strode out confidently.
After just a few steps, Qin Jian and Chi Xinrong seemed anxious. I couldn’t tell if they had finished eating or not; they simply put down their bowls and rushed towards me.
"Ma Qi, I have something to discuss with you."
It was about a special department related to a confidential case—bringing Chi Xinrong along was irrelevant. It seemed Qin Jian understood my thoughts; he quickly walked up beside me as we moved forward together. Chi Xinrong lagged behind because she was wearing high heels and trying to maintain an air of modesty, so she couldn’t keep up with us two men.
"I didn’t invite her; do you believe me?"
I smiled lightly. "It’s fine."
Chi Xinrong shouted from behind, "Hey, you two are ruthless." Frustrated and gnashing her teeth in jealousy, her anger was pointless since we weren’t the type to coddle women.
"You can take a taxi back; we have important matters to attend to." Qin Jian and I said this in unison, surprised by each other’s words. We exchanged knowing glances and shared a smile before ignoring Chi Xinrong's various pouts and stomps as we quickly walked toward Fruit Street. As we turned the corner, I casually glanced back; Chi Xinrong hadn’t followed us, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As we continued walking, Qin Jian handed me a gun.
"Really?"
"Don't worry, it's a realistic model gun. It only works when you're using it."
"Is that true?" I took the gun, noticing its complex structure, with a sharp point pressing against my index finger. It felt light and weightless. I had no interest in it and handed it back to Qin Jian. "I really don't need this."
"Are you rejecting it?"
"No."
"Alright! The Fruit Street case is now our responsibility, so you understand."
"Weren't you assigned to someone else?"
"Can anyone else handle this like we can? I'm worried that if we let them take over, it might turn into a cold case again, and in the end, it'll still be us dealing with it. So it's better to uncover the truth now and avoid the hassle of sifting through all the details later."
"That's true."
Qin Jian went to inspect the scene; it looked different in the daylight compared to at night. Then we headed to check on the deceased at the funeral home. My schedule for the day was mostly arranged by Qin Jian. We made our way to Xi Men on foot.
This way, Qin Jian could truly experience the flavors of life and notice things that usually go unseen and unheard.
Fruit Street was bustling with activity. Parents pushed strollers along shortcuts to join in the fun, while shoppers glanced around for their favorite fruits, which were cheaper here than elsewhere. Qin Jian and I stood out like cranes among chickens—tall and handsome, drawing attention from everyone on the street.
People pointed and stared at us, whispering among themselves, "Are they movie stars?"
Others chimed in, "They look so impressive; they resemble undercover police." I thought to myself that this Buddy had a good eye.
The following words might be a bit harsh.
"Look at how close those two are; is it the glass mentioned in the rumors?"
Damn! Upon hearing this, I quickly distanced myself from Qin Jian. I'm not a fan of glass; I'm a full-fledged man. If fate hadn't dictated otherwise, I should have been a father by now. Sometimes, I genuinely envy ordinary people. They have their own families and lifestyles, but I'm destined to spend my life in the Underworld, earning a meager living.
The restroom was still the same restroom, with a brand new wooden sign at the entrance: "Slippery Floor!" Then I saw a woman in worker's blue attire walking over with a dripping mop. "This restroom is out of order; you need to go elsewhere."
"Auntie, I'm sorry, but we're investigating a case."
Qin Jian's words made the woman blush deeply. She didn't dare look at us and instinctively hurried to step aside, repeatedly apologizing, "I'm so sorry; please go ahead."
We stood frozen at the door.
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