Five Cases – Chapter 44: Advice

Director Gao and Jing Shan spoke inside her office while Lu Hui was dragged outside by Ji Fanyang. 

“The deceased is Yu Feiyang’s mother.” Ji Fanyang said. His expression was tense, looking more agitated than Lu Hui, “This is all a trap laid for you. They want you to die.”

Lu Hui was quiet for a moment, then asked: “Yu Feiyang’s mother?”

“Yes, Wang Yinyin. Her son is Yu Feiyang.” Ji Fanyang said, “I just came back from Sister Wu’s.”

“That makes sense.” Lu Hui analyzed, “Me losing my memories was an accident. Even if I didn’t, I would still be driven to a dead end.”

“A specter from your childhood. Holding resentment in your heart, you personally end the criminal behind your childhood friend’s death.”Ji Fanyang said, “So, what should you do?”

“I can’t join the case.” Lu Hui said, “And I don’t remember anything. I can’t do anything.”

Ji Fanyang suddenly didn’t know what to say. He stood in place awkwardly, “I’m not really accustomed to you being so hopeless.”

Lu Hui sneered: “You’ll get used to it.”

The psychology office’s door opened, and Director Gao stood at the doorway: “Lu Hui, you should go home.” His gaze landed on Ji Fanyang, who was just about to reply, “You and Lu Hui should go back together. We’ll get in contact if something happens.”

“I want to stay at the Bureau.” Ji Fanyang said. 

“No, go back and keep an eye on him.” Gao Zhengcheng said, “Don’t try anything. The case is being handled by team two.”

“Then, Sister Yang and Rao Feifei…” Ji Fanyang asked. 

“They’re with team two.” Director Gao, “I hope that there won’t be any bias to bog down the investigation.”

“…Okay.” Ji Fanyang answered reluctantly. 

Lu Hui frowned, but said nothing. 

The young man pulled Lu Hui out of the Bureau by the elbow. They sat in the car, and Lu Hui said: “Ji Fanyang, you forgot something.”

“What?” Ji Fanyang turned the key and started the engine. 

“This is my problem.” Lu Hui said, “Everything about it is my problem, not yours.”

“Lu Hui, how old are you?” Ji Fanyang smiled with anger, “Eight years old?”

“Being the son of a commander, you should join the military or run around flirting with girls.” Lu Hui said, “Instead of co-renting and cooking for me.”

“Don’t tell me what I should be doing. I’m an adult.” Ji Fanyang turned the steering wheel and left the parking lot, “Why don’t you try and convince yourself to leave, asshole.”

“Have you thought about yourself, for even one moment.” Lu Hui said. He seemed to have put the matter of him being a murderer to the back of his mind, “It isn’t appropriate for you to give me the same level of patience you give to your girlfriends.”

“Of course it’s not appropriate. You aren’t my girlfriend.” Ji Fanyang said. 

“No. What I mean is, you’ve crossed the line.” Lu Hui tried to set a clear boundary, “We’re roommates.”

“And friends.” Ji Fanyang turned his head, smiling cunningly, “You owe me a certificate.”

“…Is that important?” Lu Hui smiled with irritation. 

“Yup, you owe me a friendship certificate.” Ji Fanyang said seriously, “You need to write it up once we get back.”

“I lost my memories.” Lu Hui said shamelessly, shaking his left hand, “An attempted suicide.”

“You lost part of your memories, not all of them. If you forgot how to wash the dishes, then we’ll break up.” Ji Fanyang said, “And your left wrist was the one that got cut, so your writing should be fine.”

“You’ll divorce me cause I don’t do the dishes?” Lu Hui said with exaggerated affront, “My God, you’re such a narrow-minded man!”

Ji Fanyang clenched his mouth shut so he wouldn’t laugh out loud. 

Lu Hui tilted his head. As his dark eyes looked at Ji Fanyang’s profile as he held in a laugh, his gaze softened a great deal. 

Ji Fanyang’s smile at that moment was the first time he had smiled with such simple joy since the explosion. 

“Do you remember the girl who wore the turquoise dress?” Ji Fanyang asked. 

“Mm…the one who would come looking for you all the time?” Lu Hui lifted an eyebrow. 

“She was coming to see you.” Ji Fanyang patted the steering wheel helplessly, “We’ve spoken twice.”

“I don’t remember.” Lu Hui relaxed his grip. 

Ji Fanyang threw him a look, then said coldly: “Put on the watch.”

“Alright, alright.” Lu Hui put on the watch, covering the scar on his wrist, “How is she?”

“The day you left, she came to pay a visit.” Ji Fanyang said, “Do you want to see her?”

“Why would I?” Lu Hui replied. 

“Probably to be…polite?” Ji Fanyang said. He gripped the steering wheel, turning into the parking lot for the Lanshan apartment complex, and turned off the headlights.

“Polite? That’s the best reason you could come up with?” Lu Hui derided. In the dim light, his gaze flashed with satire and mockery, “I’d rather play guitar out on the balcony.”

“No, don’t talk nonsense.” Ji Fanyang parked the car carefully and removed the key from the ignition, “If you want to be pushed off the fifteenth story, go ahead and play it.”

“…Xiao Yang, Yang Yang, Little Sunshine^[1]小太阳, Xiao Tai Yang, same ‘Yang’ as in jfy’s name.” Lu Hui warbled, making Ji Fanyang slammed the car door in disgust: “Shut up.”

“I’m an old man, thirty-three, amnesiatic, and suicidal.” Lu Hui feigned pitifulness, “Broke, homeless, and bullied by little kids.”

“Yes, I’m Huang Shiren, and you’re Xi’er.^[2]From 《白毛女》 “The White-Haired Girl”, a Chinese opera, ballet, and film. Huang Shiren is an evil landlord, and Yang Xi’er is the daughter of a poor farmer under his tenancy who is sold … Continue reading” Ji Fanyang shook his keys, “Get out, or I’ll lock you in.”

“Take a red ribbon and tie it up for my Xi’er.^[3]Xi’er’s father bought her a red ribbon for her hair” Lu Hui got out of the car and walked up beside Ji Fanyang, snorting in an affected manner, “Who’s Yang Bailao^[4]Yang Xi’er’s father?”

“Director Gao.” Ji Fanyang sold out his boss mercilessly. 

The two of them walked up to the elevator together. Ji Fanyang pressed the ‘up’ button: “I saw your will.”

“Oh, then I’ll need to rewrite it.” Lu Hui said, “A will’s supposed to be secret.”

“You left your demolished apartment to me.” Ji Fanyang said. In the dim light, his brown eyes flashed with warmth, “It’s like I’m your widow.”

“…You’re overthinking it.” Lu Hui said. He turned his head, not looking at Ji Fanyang, “I only have that large property, nothing else.”

“Friends don’t leave each other an inheritance.” Ji Fanyang said, “You’ve crossed the line.”

“Aren’t you being too narrow-minded?” Lu Hui said, “I was just joking around.”

“Really?” The elevator doors opened and Ji Fanyang stepped inside. Lu Hui stood beside him: “Believe it or not, I just put down a random name.”

“Oh, so the emergency contact, medical signatory, and power of attorney all being under my name is a coincidence?” Ji Fanyang pressed the button for the fifteenth floor, and the elevator doors closed. 

“Yes.” Lu Hui said stiffly. 

Ji Fanyang didn’t even sigh. He placed his hand on Lu Hui’s forearm: “I’m just worried about you.”

The elevator’s doors opened and they made awkward eye contact with a woman outside of the elevator. Ji Fanyang immediately removed his hand from Lu Hui’s arm and said:”Oh, hi. My roommate returned. Do you have something to tell him?”

“So you both have that kind of relationship.” The woman said. 

“What kind of relationship?” Ji Fanyang asked. / “Yup, we do.” Lu Hui said. 

“…” The woman stepped back to let them through, “Alright.”

“No, we don’t.” Ji Fanyang was just going to refute when Lu Hui covered his mouth with a hand, smiling fakely, “See you another time.” And dragged the young man away. 

“You did it on purpose.” Ji Fanyang accused, walking into the living room, “Crafty cheater.”

“Mm, I did.” Lu Hui said, “I remember making a bet before we went to Liangang City, about whether or not Rao Feifei and Xi Junhong would get together. I bet they wouldn’t, and you bet they would.”

“Xi Junhong is volunteering at a mountain village. We can’t decide it yet.” Ji Fanyang covered his pocket, “You haven’t won.”

“Ai…” Lu Hui was a bit sorry, “Alright, we’ll wait. I’m going to win.”

“Keep dreaming.”

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