Five Cases – Chapter 36: Brother-In-Law

And just like that, Wei Congjia detained Lu Hui at Zhuchuan Province’s Public Security Department. 

Wei Congjia was well aware of Lu Hui’s propensity to run at any given opportunity, so he brought Lu Hui with him everywhere and did not give him so much as an inch of freedom. He and his team discussed cases, with Lu Hui strong-armed into listening along. 

Around the time when Lu Hui let out his forty-eighth derisive chuckle, Lu An arrived. 

Wei Congjia breathed a sigh of relief, then waved Lu Hui away: “Your sister’s here. Go on.”

Lu Hui slanted a look at Wei Congjia: “Aren’t you going to suck up to your future brother-in-law?”

“Shut up. Go away.” Wei Congjia’s patience was utterly exhausted. 

Lu An stood in the doorway, her incisive gaze first landing on the red mark on Lu Hui’s face. Her expression sharpened: “What happened.”

“…” Lu Hui was a bit bashful and beat around the bush, “Bumped into the doorframe.”

Wei Congjia almost choked on his tea. This bastard didn’t even try to find an excuse. 

Lu An rubbed her hand on the red imprint. Her hand was cool; she had clearly just been outside. 

Lu Hui grimaced, holding the imprint on his face: “Sss—”

“Let’s speak outside.” Lu An slanted a look at Wei Congjia and pulled her younger brother out of the office, leaving Wei Congjia to shake his head and smile wryly. 

Lu An had graduated from a prestigious university and studied abroad for two years, receiving her doctorate in finance and later working for a famous financial institution. She was on business trips for most of the year, and her salary was quite generous. Whenever she returned to the country, she spent eighty percent of her time with Lu Hui, while the other twenty percent was spent visiting her parents for the New Year. 

So, Lu Hui was greatly interested in how Lu An managed to sleep with Wei Congjia. 

“Xiao Wei will often call me for updates about your situation.” Lu An spoke straightforwardly, “We got familiar with each other after a while.”

“You bought him dinner.” Lu Hui stared at Lu An. 

Lu An nodded: “About half a year ago, I came to see you, then spent the night with him. I had a meeting the next day.”

“…That’s quite efficient, huh.” Lu Hui said. 

This pair of siblings had no concept of marriage and family life, and Lu Hui didn’t even have any idea what love was, so their conversations were quite clinical. 

“Wei Congjia just got divorced not too long ago.” Lu Hui said, “But he doesn’t have any kids, he left his house to his ex-wife, and he’s only got twenty thousand in his bank account. I guess that counts as a clean slate.”

“Can’t I support him?” Lu An smacked her brother on the head, “Don’t look at everyone like they’re stealing your property.”

Lu Hui grumbled: “Don’t I know about the lowliness of men?”

“Xiao Wei’s been a friend of yours for over ten years, ever since you were in college, and you still don’t trust him?” Lu An said.

Lu Hui shook his head, then nodded: “I don’t trust him, but I do trust you.”

“Of course. I’m your sister, after all.” Lu An couldn’t help but smile, “Little bastard.”

Lu Hui narrowed his eyes, but declined to comment. 

“You have a little tail. Ji Fanyang, right?” Lu An asked, “Congratulations on making your first friend.”

Lu Hui was silent for a moment: “That’s about right.”

“At least you’re trying.” Lu An said with relief in her voice, “I want you to live well.”

“I am living well.” Lu Hui said. 

Lu An shook her head: “I don’t ever want to receive news that you’re missing again.” As she recalled those dark days, she slung her arm over her little brother’s shoulders, “I can’t be beside you constantly, and Xiao Wei can’t wait to receive news from you all the time. Ji Fanyang is good-tempered and warm. He’s a good choice to have by your side.”

“I know.” Lu Hui said in low spirits, “Those things back then weren’t your fault.”

“They aren’t mom and dad’s fault either…well, maybe a little bit.” Lu An’s eyelashes fluttered, her rosy lips illuminated by wintry sunlight, “Come spend the New Year with us.”

Lu Hui shook his head: “No. They don’t want me.”

“I do.” Lu An pulled out a cold pack from her bag and slapped it onto Lu Hui’s face, “You know that even if you don’t come see them, they won’t care.”

“They only care about their experiments.” Lu Hui’s voice was even, without a trace of wavering. He spoke of his own parents as he would established facts, “So what meaning is there in me spending the New Year with them?”

“…Ai.” Lu An sighed, “Maybe it’s the only thing connecting them to humanity.”

“If I go this time, won’t that indicate that I have to go every year?” Lu Hui asked. 

Lu An thought for a moment: “No. I want you to come…because I want to bring Xiao Wei home.”

“…” Lu Hui’s thoughts suddenly came to a halt. He shouted, “What?!”

“It hasn’t been long.” Lu An’s smile was confident and beautifully radiant, “And it’s not certain whether it’s love or not, but I want to stabilize the relationship.”

“Acting like that is very shameless.” Lu Hui pointed out, “Does Wei Congjia know?”

“No, he doesn’t.” Lu An laughed and pinched Lu Hui’s cheek, “Who are you protecting, here?”

“I’m protecting the knight in shining armor from the queen’s harassment.” Lu Hui said, “Wei Congjia is a divorcee, a pitiful man with twenty thousand in the bank, and you still want to cheat him out of his feelings?”

“Am I some kind of licentious rake to you?” Lu Hui’s slender fingers rubbed her own chin, “I can be responsible.”

“You’ll dump him off at your apartment then go fly to your next meeting.” Lu Hui said, “This isn’t being responsible. This is seduction and abandonment.” 

“What if I promise that it’s a big apartment near the city center.” Lu An said. 

Lu Hui rolled his eyes: “As long as you’re happy.”

“Since when have you been this morally upright?” Lu An asked in amazement. 

“I don’t want someone even more annoying to come monitor me.” Lu Hui said, “At least I know him well.”

“So, you’ll come home for the New Year this time?” Lu An asked. 

Lu Hui hesitated, then said: “Yes.”

Lu An stood on her tip toes and planted a scarlet kiss mark on Lu Hui’s cheek: “Is the person coming up stairs now the one pursuing you?”

He grabbed his mischievous sister’s waist, then tilted his head slightly, glancing at the slender woman hurrying about. He nodded: “Mm.”

“A bit of revenge.” Lu Hui smilied cunningly. She waited for the woman’s silhouette at the end of the hallway to disappear before taking out a paper towel and wiping the lipstick mark off of Lu Hui’s cheek. 

Lu Hui gave Lu An free reign to act, silent and magnanimous. 

“I’ll be in Zhongchuan City for four days. Live with us.” Lu An said, “In the West Courtyard Villa. It has a swimming pool.”

“…Mm.” Lu Hui agreed. 

“Have you sold your apartment in Zhongchuan City?” Lu An asked. 

Lu Hui shook his head: “No.”

“I heard that your place in Linhua City was torn down, and that you co-rent with Ji Fanyang. Why don’t you sell your apartment in Zhongchuan City and buy one in Linhua City instead?” Lu An asked. 

Lu Hui’s eyelashes dropped: “You bought it. I don’t want to sell it.”

“Little idiot.” Lu An said helplessly, lifting a hand to ruffle her little brother’s hair. 

“Have you finished talking?” Wei Congjia walked into the office and stood next to the two. 

Lu An slanted her head across Wei Congjia’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. Wei Congjia’s neck flushed red: “Cough!”

Lu Hui scoured Wei Congjia with a look: “You’re like a little girl.”

“Shut it.” Wei Congjia lightly caught Lu An’s waist, “It’s lunchtime. Should we go eat?”

“What does the little bastard want to eat?” Lu An asked. 

Lu Hui thought back to the missed dinner in Liangang City and said: “Seafood hotpot.”

“Alright.” Miss Lu, the madwoman who loved spoiling her little brother, ordered dinner while Wei Congjia just nodded agreeably. 

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Officially halfway through the main story! 

On a side note, Lu An can step on me.