Five Cases

caught Lu Hui’s elbow, “Yours?”

“I know of you, Deputy Inspector Lu Hui.” Du Chengxian said, using an unfamiliar title, “You should be grateful that Captain Wei transferred you out of the Public Safety Bureau in time.”

Lu Hui’s lips pressed together, the curve of his jaw stretching taut.
He did not like others bringing up his past at all. 

“How about this.
I’ll say what I know and you’ll say what you know.” Du Chengxian stated his intention. 

“I’m afraid you aren’t clear on who’s in charge here.” Ji Fanyang said aggressively, his perpetually sunny disposition completely gone, “Did your easy life make you forget even the basic skill of judging a situation?”

Lu Hui’s eyes revealed a trace of a smile: “Du Huanyue knows your identity and decided to cover for you.
This isn’t hard to figure out.
Your little brother was a bastard.”

“Correct.” Du Chengxian laughed bitterly, “There’s no way to see through someone just by observing them from the outside.” His voice was downcast, like it was enveloped in thick thunder clouds, “He was a pedophile.”  

In that instant, the atmosphere grew still.
Lu Hui’s eyebrows shot up.
Ji Fanyang’s face went blank. 

Du Chengxian said: “I didn’t know either until about half a year later…Xiao Yue said, ‘Dad, why aren’t you touching me?’” His fist pound on the table, “I was even ashamed before I found out.”

“You were the one being chased.
Your younger brother died in your place.” Lu Hui said, “You got the golden ticket.”

“Yes.” Du Chengxian nodded, “I expected that I would die sooner or later.
I observed Du Chengxian for over a year.” He supported his forehead on his right hand, “He brought Xiao Yue with him, and I brought her back.
It was a perfect substitution.”

“Who is chasing you?” Lu Hui asked. 

Du Chengxian suddenly laughed, revealing a strangely carefree smile.
He said: “I’m extremely honored to be your final case.”

“What?” Ji Fanyang frowned, “What are you saying?”

Du Chengxian considered Ji Fanyang: “You’re a friend of Deputy Inspector Lu? Based on my understanding, Deputy Inspector Lu was a lone wolf.”

“You’re saying that the person chasing you is also out to kill me?” Lu Hui narrowed his eyes, “And it has something to do with my final case.”

“The person you killed.” Du Chengxian smiled maliciously with a distorted sense of satisfaction, “The most righteous act and the greatest error of your life.”

Lu Hui was solemn: “You, Wang Jing, and Du Huanyue will be entered into the Witness Protection Program.
Chief Zhong Yuxiu will guide you through the process.”

“It wasn’t for myself.” Du Chengxian said, “It was for Du Huanyue.”

“Du Huanyue can’t be left without a father.” Lu Hui said.
He stood up, “You’ve lived in Liangang City long enough.
You should go home.”

“Lu Hui.” Du Chengxian stood up and stretched out his right hand, “You’re a good person.”

“I’m not.” Lu Hui evaded his hand out of loathing, then left the interrogation room. 

Ji Fanyang stood and asked Du Chengxian: “You mean, Lu Hui’s in danger?”

“He was already a dead man the day he killed them.” Du Chengxian said sympathetically, “He’s a…”

“He’s a very good person.
It’s not your place to judge him.” Ji Fanyang was like a hedgehog.
He took a step back so he could pass, “Go pick up your daughter.”

Du Chengxian cast a meaningful look at Ji Fanyang, then left the interrogation room. 

Now, Ji Fanyang was the only one remaining in the interrogation room.
He stood there in place, his thoughts drifting. 

“Ji Fanyang.” Lu Hui pushed open the door, calling for him impatiently, “What’re you thinking about? It’s time to eat.”

Ji Fanyang was startled out of his reverie.
He exited the interrogation room and walked to the cafeteria side by side with Lu Hui: “Originally, we were going to have seafood hotpot.” 

“Now we can only have seafood hotpot instant noodles.” Lu Hui shrugged, “Not much difference.”

“You killed someone.” Ji Fanyang said, “When were you planning to tell me about this?”

“Tomorrow, when we were going to return to Zhuchuan Province and go to Zhongchuan City to pick up the files.” Lu Hui said, “You would find out.”