Chapter 554: The Late Night Visitor
Two hours later, the three of them arrived at the police station and met Mr. Li, the teacher who had been assaulted. His head was wrapped in bandages, and he sat in the hallway holding a cup of milk, having just finished his statement. Lin Dongxue approached, showed her credentials, and introduced herself. Mr. Li looked confused and said, “Detectives? Why are detectives here for me?”
“We’re here about your assault. Who attacked you?”
“I just told the police and gave them a sketch.”
Chen Shi pulled up a photo of Ai Guowei, Ai Lizhen’s brother, on his phone. “Was it him?”
Mr. Li nodded vigorously. “Yes, that’s him! He came up and hit me with a brick without saying a word. If I hadn’t run, I’d be dead. You detectives sure work fast.”
“Do you know why he attacked you?” Lin Dongxue asked.
“How would I know?”
“His sister, Ai Lizhen, graduated three years ago from your business management department. She was one of your students.”
Mr. Li looked puzzled. Liu Qin pointed to himself, “Mr. Li, do you remember me?”
Mr. Li shook his head, so Lin Dongxue showed him a photo of Ai Lizhen. After a moment of frowning, he said, “I might have taught her, but as a university lecturer, I leave right after class and don’t interact much with students. There are hundreds of students each year; I can’t remember them all.”
Chen Shi asked, “Did you ever have a relationship with a student?”
Mr. Li looked nervous. “Why are you asking this?”
“We’re just investigating the case, not prying into your personal life. We won’t disclose anything. We need your cooperation.”
After some hesitation, Mr. Li admitted, “I did have a relationship with a female student, but I was under thirty at the time, and we were only five years apart. We were both adults; it was legal and consensual.”
The student he mentioned had no connection to Ai Lizhen, but the timing coincided with four years ago. Chen Shi confirmed, “Just her?”
“Of course, I’m not some scumbag. There was only one.”
“What did the person who attacked you say?”
“He said I should pay with my blood. I was completely confused. I don’t even know him. Does he have something to do with that girl?”
“No connection. I think today’s attack was a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding!? I almost lost my life. A brick to the head, and it’s just a misunderstanding?”
“No, don’t misunderstand. Even if he was mistaken, injuring someone is still a crime. We’ll catch him.”
Mr. Li calmed down. “I trust you!”
It seemed rumors might have been spread by Sun Jun, or someone else with an agenda.
Lin Dongxue asked, “Should we arrest Ai Guowei?”
“Yes, arrest him!”
Night had fallen, and today’s work was done. Chen Shi still had to check on Xiaodong. He asked Liu Qin, “Are you planning to stay with us?”
“I don’t want to go home. What if I get killed?”
“Just lock your door.”
Liu Qin shook his head frantically. “I’m scared to be alone. Please let me stay with you.”
Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue exchanged glances. Chen Shi suggested Lin Dongxue take Liu Qin to her place, which would also let her check on Yueyue. Lin Dongxue said, “Yueyue is afraid of strangers.”
“It’ll be fine with you there. Liu Qin, don’t use my razor. If you need to shave, buy one at the convenience store.”
Liu Qin promised, “Don’t worry, I’m clean. I won’t trouble you.”
Lin Dongxue was reluctant but agreed. After they left, she texted Chen Shi, “I’m spending the night with a strange guy at your place?”
Chen Shi replied, “He’s gay. Nothing to worry about. Let him sleep on the couch.”
Lin Dongxue responded with a resigned, “Sigh!”
Chen Shi bought some food and drinks and went to see Xu Xiaodong. After two days of stakeout, Xu Xiaodong looked tired, with a stubble on his face. He had bought a box of manga from a nearby secondhand bookstore and was sprawled on the sofa reading.
“Thanks for your hard work!” Chen Shi said.
Seeing Chen Shi, Xu Xiaodong sat up quickly and stretched. “Chen, any progress?”
“Don’t be impatient. These things take time.”
“I’m so bored!”
“Bored? You’ve been bingeing One Piece up to the Marineford Arc. You’ve been having a great time today!”
“It’s not the same. I have to stay alert all the time. I can’t relax.”
“What’s the most important thing for a detective?”
“Patience?”
“For you, it’s patience.”
Xu Xiaodong started eating a boxed meal and suddenly realized, “Chen, are you saying I lack talent and can only do this kind of work?”
Chen Shi laughed, “You finally got it.”
“You’re so mean! I’ll punch you like Dongxue does!”
“If you do that again, I’ll record it and show it to Dongxue. She’ll come and kill you.”
“One Piece is really good!” Xu Xiaodong naturally changed the subject.
As night fell, Lin Dongxue texted updates: “Liu Qin and Yueyue are bathing the cat. Yueyue doesn’t seem to mind him,” “Liu Qin showed me a photo of his boyfriend. He’s quite handsome. Why are all handsome guys gay?” “He’s quite polite, always closes the bathroom door, unlike you!”
Chen Shi replied, “Did he use my razor?”
“He bought his own.”
“Tell him to put it away in the cabinet. He might need to stay tomorrow night too.”
“You’re not coming back tomorrow?”
“I’m having a deep conversation with Xiaodong. Don’t disturb!”
“Humph, I don’t need you!”
Putting down his phone, Xu Xiaodong continued talking about One Piece, “I think Luffy’s power…”
They chatted until eight o’clock when they both suddenly fell silent. Someone was approaching. Chen Shi listened as the person walked to the door and started banging loudly, shouting, “Sun Jun, you son of a bitch, get out here!”
Xu Xiaodong started to get up, but Chen Shi signaled him to wait.
The person banged on the door for a while, then they heard the sound of spraying. Chen Shi opened the door to see a burly man and a skinny guy. The skinny one was spray-painting “Pay your debts, murder demands a life” on the wall.
“Who are you?” the burly man asked, eyeing Chen Shi.
“Same as you.”
“What? Did he give the place to you? Where is he?”
“Inside.”
The burly man kicked the door open, cursing, “Sun Jun, you—”
Before he could finish, Xu Xiaodong, hiding behind the door, pinned him to the sofa. The man yelled, “What the hell? In broad daylight, are you trying to rape me?” When the handcuffs clicked on his wrists, he froze.
Chen Shi grabbed the skinny guy, pulled him inside, and shut the door. “Squat!”
The burly man scoffed, “Are you kidding? Are you guys cops?”
“You’re right.”
“Uh… spare me, please!”