Chapter 75: Stay with Me

They went together to the technical team to borrow someone from Peng Sijue. Slowly sipping his coffee, Peng Sijue said, “No way!”

“But I brought it all the way here. What if there are clues?” Lin Dongxue pleaded.

Peng Sijue rolled his eyes. “What do you mean ‘what if there are clues’? Do you know how many cases Long’an City handles in a day? How many assessments we have to perform? We are always short-handed. I can’t spare anyone to chase ‘what if’ clues unless you can guarantee there’s evidence.”

Lin Dongxue was disheartened. “Captain Peng, please.”

“I can’t help you. There’s a tool in that cabinet over there. You can use it yourself.”

Lin Dongxue opened the cabinet excitedly but found only a shovel inside. Her heart sank again. She thanked him glumly and took the shovel outside to clean up the trash.

Lin Dongxue still wasn’t ready to give up. As she cleaned, she kept looking for anything useful. Xu Xiaodong, growing impatient, said, “It’s useless. Without a bio-scanner, how can you find clues with the naked eye?”

“If Chen Shi brought the clues, he would help immediately. But I can’t. It’s unfair!” Lin Dongxue angrily plunged the shovel into the pile of ashes.

“Let me help you.”

“No, you go home.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll go home when I’m done.”

“Well, I guess three hundred yuan down the drain…” Seeing Lin Dongxue’s annoyed expression, Xu Xiaodong quickly added, “Don’t take it to heart. I’m off now. See you tomorrow.”

After cleaning up the trash, Lin Dongxue still felt indignant. She didn’t want to admit defeat so easily.

Thinking the gym might not close early, she decided to tail Wu Hao.

She took a cab to Wu Hao’s fitness club and stood in a bookstore across the street, eyes fixed on the club upstairs. She stood there for two hours, legs growing numb, and had to buy a few magazines after the owner urged her to leave.

Then her phone rang, and hearing Chen Shi’s voice made her happier than anything. “Why are you calling me?”

“Why aren’t you at home?”

“You went to my house?”

“A friend gave me some hairy crabs. I don’t have a steamer at home, so I thought we could enjoy them together.”

Lin Dongxue’s heart warmed, though she tried to sound annoyed. “You shouldn’t keep coming to my house. Don’t you know men and women shouldn’t be so close?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m on a stakeout.”

“A stakeout? Who are you watching? Did your brother send you?”

“No, I came by myself. I’m anxious about not finding evidence against Wu Hao.”

“Tell me your location. I’m coming over.”

Half an hour later, Chen Shi’s car arrived. He rolled down the window and waved her over. Sitting in the passenger seat, Lin Dongxue felt relieved. Chen Shi said, “You don’t even have a car. How are you supposed to do a stakeout? Don’t you know it’s usually done by two people?”

Lin Dongxue pouted. “Three days of investigation and nothing. I’m getting anxious.”

“You can’t rush this kind of case. Take it slow. Slow is fast, understand? Now, tell me about your progress.”

Chen Shi lit a cigarette while Lin Dongxue recounted the current progress. Chen Shi commented, “This guy isn’t easy. His defenses are tight.”

“What do you think we should do?”

“Just keep investigating.”

Lin Dongxue couldn’t help but laugh. “What does ‘just keep investigating’ mean?”

“Investigating is like sieging a city. You need to mix truth with falsehood. When you have evidence, don’t let the suspect know. When you don’t, create the illusion you do. Not every case needs subtlety. Sometimes, you need to pressure the suspect. What’s Wu Hao’s temperament like?”

“Short-tempered and irritable.”

“Exactly. Plus, with Pan Xiuying pregnant, she must be anxious. They’re both under a lot of stress. You need to let them know the police are suspicious. Talk to them occasionally, rummage through their trash. Make their lives uncomfortable. They’ll second-guess everything they’ve said and done, maybe even destroy evidence. That’s when they’ll slip up.”

Lin Dongxue had a moment of clarity. “So, even just standing here on a stakeout is useful?”

“Yes, but you shouldn’t do it.”

“Why not?”

“Sitting for long periods is bad for your health, and staying up late is bad for your skin.”

“Go to hell!” Lin Dongxue laughed, playfully punching him. “Where are the crabs?”

Chen Shi pulled a box from the back seat, pointing to the label. “Look, Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. Want some?”

Lin Dongxue pointed to a small character after “Yangcheng Lake.” “Idiot, it says ‘Yangcheng Lake brand’ crabs. They’re fake!”

“Damn, I got tricked… Still want them?”

“Can you cook them?”

“Of course!”

“Let’s go!” Lin Dongxue laughed.

At Lin Dongxue’s place, Chen Shi quickly steamed the crabs and made crab porridge, serving it with a plate of ginger vinegar. Lin Dongxue, just off the phone, said, “I told my brother. He said the plan to pressure them is good and will tell everyone tomorrow.”

“You didn’t mention me, right?”

“I said ‘someone’ suggested it. He probably guessed it was you. He has mixed feelings about you—doesn’t want you involved but also wants your help.”

“Your brother is too prideful. Even Sun Wukong often sought help from the Buddha without losing face.”

“Oh? You’re comparing yourself to the Buddha now? Shameless!”

“Can you stop being so critical? Come on, let’s eat.”

Though not real Yangcheng Lake crabs, they were a treat for Lin Dongxue, who usually had instant noodles or takeout. After finishing the last crab, she still craved more. Chen Shi laughed, “Stop licking. You’ll wear out your fingers.”

“Go to hell.”

“My cooking is great, isn’t it? Praise me a bit.”

“I have a suggestion. Why don’t I give you my house key, and you can come cook for me every day?”

“How much will you pay?”

“Fifty yuan a day, fifteen hundred a month! Plus, you can eat here, saving on your dinner.”

“I’ll think about it. Sounds like a trap.”

Lin Dongxue raised her fist. “You think I’ll take advantage of you?”

Chen Shi cleaned up and said, “It’s late. I should go.”

“Stay with me tonight.”

Having been rebuffed by Peng Sijue, Lin Dongxue still felt unsettled. Her face flushed as she made this request, embarrassed by her own fragile emotional state.

To her surprise, Chen Shi agreed immediately. “Alright, I’ll finish washing the dishes first.”

They watched a variety show together. Exhausted, Lin Dongxue’s head began to droop, and she eventually leaned on Chen Shi’s shoulder.

His shoulder felt solid, reminding her of sleeping in her father’s arms as a child. Her parents died too early, and she had forgotten what her father looked like.

When she opened her eyes, it was daylight. She found herself in bed and immediately worried. She lifted the covers and saw she was still dressed.

In the living room, the remains of their late-night snack were cleaned up. On the table was a sandwich and milk from the convenience store, along with a note from Chen Shi: “You fell asleep. I left early. See you at the hospital tomorrow!”

Seeing this, Lin Dongxue couldn’t help but smile.