Chapter 32: Call him Beibei

Translator: Abo Dammen

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Case Two: Dance of the Night Charm

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Suburbs, Villa District.

Tranquil moonlight spilled onto the deserted road. Neatly trimmed hedges rustled in the wind.

A red car was concealed in the shadow of a jacaranda tree, a few fallen leaves resting on its body. The low purr of an engine sounded in the distance as a black luxury sedan slowly approached, its headlights cutting through the night, casting long beams of light on the road. 

As the beams drew near, the person inside the red car quickly ducked, lowering their head below the window line. The black luxury car passed the red car and stopped in front of a European-style villa. The motion-sensor light on the porch lit up, illuminating the ivy climbing the wall.

Two pretty girls in tight minidresses got out of the car. A man in the passenger seat warned, “Don’t run off.” Then the luxury car drove on, disappearing into the night.

The late autumn wind was no trifling matter. The two girls tucked their wind-blown long hair behind their ears, tightened their fur coats, and walked towards the porch on their sky-high heels.

Zhu Mingfei got out of the red car and called out softly, “Xiao Xi! Tang Tang!” 

The two girls stopped at the sound of her voice. “Fei-jie!”

Noticing He Yixun and Xu Pei behind Zhu Mingfei, looks of confusion flashed across their faces.

“This is Superintendent He and Professor Xu. They’re here to help us.”

The Night Charm matter was happening in Binshi and involved the Progressive Society. He Yixun had no reason to stand by and do nothing. They had come to the suburban villa with Zhu Mingfei in the middle of the night. After waiting for over an hour, some Night Charms who had been “working” were finally brought back. 

According to Zhu Mingfei, several villas here served as dormitories for the Night Charms. Five or six people lived in each villa, originally watched over by He Jun’s lackeys. But after He Jun’s incident, due to insufficient manpower, these lackeys had all withdrawn. No one even bothered to fix the broken surveillance cameras on the villas.

But even without guards, these young people were already addicted to drugs and found it hard to leave.

Passing through the garden into the first-floor living room, Xu Pei expected to see used needles everywhere, but that scene didn’t materialize. The cleaning aunt kept the place very tidy.

“Hua-jie, get us some water, please,” the girl called Xiao Xi said, kicking off her high heels in the entryway, tearing off her wig and throwing it onto the shoe cabinet, then plopping down on the sofa and lighting a cigarette. Without the wig covering it, the line of his Adam’s apple became visible, and his previously ambiguous voice took on a more masculine tone. 

Oh, alright. It was only at this moment that Xu Pei realized Xiao Xi was male.

Tang Tang sat down beside Xiao Xi, snatched his cigarette, and stubbed it out in the ashtray. “Smoke less. We have guests.”

Xiao Xi pouted listlessly and looked at He Yixun and Xu Pei. “How are you going to help us?”

He Yixun answered the question with another question. “Are you adults?” 

—Someone’s professional habit: wanting to check the identity of anyone unknown.

“They’re adults,” Zhu Mingfei interjected. “Xiao Xi is a computer science student at Bin University, but he dropped out. Tang Tang was a nurse before. They both went to He Jun’s bar to have fun and were picked out by He Jun.”

“Haven’t you thought about reporting to the police?” Xu Pei asked.

“It’s useless,” Xiao Xi said lazily, looking at his manicured nails. “Getting addicted to drugs is like having one foot in the coffin. Can reporting to the police pull that foot back?” 

“Actually, the main thing is they have people in the police department. We might show up at the station, and a car could come and take us away right after,” Tang Tang interjected. “And besides, they control us with drugs. That’s our weak spot. Before, there was a sister who didn’t obey. They stopped supplying her, and in the end, she couldn’t take it and killed herself.”

“But you can’t go on like this forever,” Xu Pei said gravely. “Do you know the consequences of drug use? You might look glamorous now, but in the future, with your teeth falling out, disfigured, dying in some forgotten corner—is that what you want?”

“So we’re just dragging them down with us now,” Xiao Xi stated.

Xu Pei let out a heavy sigh, feeling pity for these young people who had lost their way. 

“What’s your plan?” He Yixun asked.

Zhu Mingfei said, “It’s like this, the venue for their parties changes every time. This time it’s the Vidley Winery. Generally, Night Charms are searched every time they enter and can’t bring in any devices. So, over the next two days, I’ll apply for a job as a server. They happen to be hiring, probably preparing for the upcoming party.

“The security check for applicants isn’t very strict. I’ll take the chance to bring some equipment in and hide it in the restroom. After the Night Charms enter, they can go to the restroom and put these devices on.

“Of course, it would be best if I get the job. I can look out for the Night Charms. But if I don’t get hired, then we’ll have to rely on the Night Charms themselves.” 

“Don’t worry, Fei-jie,” Xiao Xi reassured. “As long as you can get the pinhole cameras in, we’ll definitely manage.”

Zhu Mingfei nodded. “The old men from the Progressive Society will all be wearing masks. You’d better find a chance to pull their masks off. We don’t need to get everyone on camera, just get who you can. Then put the pinhole cameras back in the restroom to avoid discovery.”

“But what if we get caught?” Tang Tang asked worriedly. “Those people are all powerful. They’d probably fill us with cement and dump us in Binhai Bay.”

“That’s why I found backup,” Zhu Mingfei said, looking at He Yixun. “To be honest, Superintendent He, my original plan was to gather evidence and give it to you. Because you exposed Lin Mei’s self-staging, I believe you are the least likely person in the entire Binshi Police Department to cooperate with the Progressive Society. I’m hoping you can wait outside the winery. If anything unexpected really happens, you can rush to the scene in time.” 

“Let me think,” He Yixun said, crossing his arms, his index finger tapping his arm rhythmically. “You only want me as external backup?”

Xu Pei knew what Officer He was thinking.

In police operations, this Senior Superintendent always played the role of commander. Suddenly being relegated to a support role would definitely feel unfamiliar. Moreover, in such a dangerous operation where the police were already involved, letting civilians take the lead was somewhat inappropriate.

“Perhaps you have a way to get me mixed in with the guests?” He Yixun asked. 

Sure enough, Professor Xu guessed correctly. Officer He wanted to lead the operation.

Zhu Mingfei looked at Xiao Xi and Tang Tang, as if asking if they had any ideas. Xiao Xi just shrugged, and Tang Tang shook her head. Zhu Mingfei also let out a helpless sigh. “The guests are really hard to manage. For that level of party, guest identities are checked even more strictly.

“It’s easier to blend in using a Night Charm identity. Many of the new lackeys don’t even know all the people. But Superintendent He, you…”

…are completely incompatible with the term “Night Charm.” 

“Hey.” Xiao Xi’s gaze suddenly shifted to Xu Pei beside He Yixun. “Couldn’t you go?”

A certain 30-year-old professor from a national research institute pointed at himself confusedly with his index finger. “Me?”

“No,” He Yixun vetoed immediately. “Too dangerous.”

Xiao Xi made a dismissive sound, but Xu Pei began to think about it. 

To be honest, he was very willing to help. These young people in their early twenties reminded him of the younger kids at the orphanage where he grew up. They were all people forgotten by society, left to fend for themselves.

If Zhu Mingfei failed to get the server job, wouldn’t these kids have no one looking out for them inside?

Xu Pei had lived an extra ten years; his judgment was more mature. Having him inside would allow for better assessment of the situation.

Besides, with He Yixun waiting outside the winery, there was no need to worry about mortal danger. What did Xu Pei have to be afraid of? 

“I think I can do it,” Xu Pei said after careful consideration, interrupting the others who were discussing communication methods. “An extra person means extra support. I’m more useful inside than outside.”

He Yixun’s brow furrowed slightly. “You’re so clumsy. What can you do?”

Insulted for no reason, Xu Pei resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “My work mode is different from how I am at home, okay? Just tell me, didn’t I help you solve the Lucky Number case?”

And he has the nerve to look down on me. Really. 

He Yixun moved his lips as if to veto again but couldn’t find a reason.

Because Xu Pei wasn’t wrong. He could only be effective inside the winery. Outside, he’d just be a spectator.

“That might be better,” Zhu Mingfei interjected. “Actually, I also hope an outsider can serve as a witness.”

“But,” Xu Pei said with some embarrassment, “I’m a bit worried my age might give me away. What if they realize I’m not a Night Charm?” 

“How old can you be?” Xiao Xi clearly had no concept of what “professor” meant. “Are you even twenty-five?”

“He’s a professor,” Tang Tang said, chiding Xiao Xi for his lack of common sense. “He must be at least twenty-eight.”

Actually, apart from Xu Pei, professors at the national research institute were all over thirty-five. He was the youngest, but he still hadn’t become a professor at twenty-eight.

“Don’t worry, Professor Xu,” Zhu Mingfei reassured. “Not only do you look about the same age as Xiao Xi and them, even if you were covered in wrinkles, I could make you look handsome. 

“Of course, if the physique isn’t up to par, there’s no helping it. Like me, I can only apply as a server. But your physique is fine, so no problem.”

Xu Pei made an affirmative sound, then suddenly glanced at the tight dress Xiao Xi was wearing and asked nervously, “Do I have to wear women’s clothing too?”

“Nah,” Xiao Xi waved his hand. “That’s my personal preference. Some old men are into that. Most male Night Charms still wear men’s clothes.”

That’s a relief. Xu Pei let out a sigh of relief. 

Even treating this other-world trip as a life experience, wearing women’s clothes was a bit too much for Professor Xu.

“But I just thought of a problem,” Tang Tang mused. “Night Charms have to show their tattoos to get in. What if Professor Xu doesn’t have one?”

“Oh right, almost forgot about that,” said Zhu Mingfei. “Every Night Charm has a succubus tattoo. That’s how they verify identity.”

“Using a temporary tattoo sticker won’t work either. Our tattoos have our names in them. There’s no time to get a custom one now,” Tang Tang said. 

“Just get Shui-ge to draw one,” said Xiao Xi. “Isn’t there that semi-permanent ink?”

“That could work,” Zhu Mingfei said, looking at Xu Pei. “Professor Xu, would you mind?”

“I don’t mind. But who is Shui-ge?”

“I’ll take you to see him.” 

The sound of an engine echoed faintly from outside; other Night Charms were being brought back.

Zhu Mingfei led He Yixun and Xu Pei through the kitchen and left via the back garden. Xu Pei was somewhat surprised to see the housemaid, Hua-jie, heating milk.

“Auntie is very good to them,” said Zhu Mingfei. “They’re all pitiful kids.”

The red car bumped along the potholed cobblestone roads of the old city, the malfunction indicator light on the dashboard flickering on and off.

Black smoke from the exhaust pipe startled rats by the roadside, sending them scurrying into the sewers. When turning, the chassis creaked, but the car body steadily navigated the narrow alleyways like an old horse that knows the way.

The car was beat-up, but it didn’t drop the chain. The “Student Driver” sticker on the rear, though faded, stubbornly refused to fall off. 

Parking the car in front of a neon sign, Zhu Mingfei rummaged in the glove compartment and pulled out a face mask, saying to He Yixun, “Superintendent He, put this mask on. It’s not good if people inside see you.”

Xu Pei looked at the words on the sign: So-and-So Mahjong Parlor.

It was clearly a gambling den.

But He Yixun wasn’t concerned with that. He looked at the black mask in Zhu Mingfei’s hand. “Has it been used?” 

Zhu Mingfei broke out in a cold sweat. “Let’s not be so fussy, alright?”

Xu Pei had already predicted the outcome.

The car, dragging its dilapidated body, drove around the vicinity for a bit before returning to the front of the mahjong parlor.

He Yixun put on a medical mask bought from a pharmacy. “Let’s go.” 

The mahjong parlor was filled with smoke and stale air. The sounds of tiles clacking and people shouting rose and fell. Large stacks of cash sat in front of each person. This would definitely qualify as illegal gambling where Xu Pei came from. But in a place like Binshi, even illegal gambling wasn’t worth wasting police resources on.

Passing through the mahjong parlor and then a series of massage parlors, the three finally arrived at a tattoo shop.

Zhu Mingfei had contacted them in advance. As soon as they entered, the owner closed the rolling shutter door. However, upon seeing He Yixun without his mask, he was still somewhat surprised. “You brought the police?”

The owner was a man with sharp features and a crew cut, wearing a white tank top and a khaki leather jacket, around forty years old. This was the Shui-ge that Xiao Xi mentioned. 

“Having the police involved makes this safer,” Zhu Mingfei said, gesturing with her eyes towards Xu Pei. “Give him a succubus tattoo.”

Brother Shui looked Xu Pei over and asked, “What’s your professional name?”

Xu Pei: “Huh?”

“The tattoo needs to have the Night Charm’s name.” 

Uh… Pei Pei?

Better not. Using a character from his real name felt a bit awkward.

“Call him Beibei,” He Yixun suggested. “The ‘Bei’ from Beilei.”

Xu Pei: “……” You really just came up with that on the spot, didn’t you. 

The succubus tattoo symbolized temptation, mystery, and desire. It was a flat, inverted triangle, resembling angel wings or a woman’s womb.

The Night Charm rule was to tattoo it on the lower abdomen or the small of the back. Xu Pei naturally chose the latter, lying prone on the reclined tattoo chair, quietly feeling the soft, fine needle tip moving near the dip of his waist.

On the way there, Zhu Mingfei had told He Yixun and Xu Pei that all the Night Charm tattoos were done by Shui-ge; no one else could match his skill level. Shui-ge was also the middleman through whom Zhu Mingfei had connected with the Night Charms. Having witnessed too many tragic fates of the Night Charms, his conscience bothered him, but he felt powerless. He was easily “turned” by Zhu Mingfei.

“That’s enough.” 

A cold voice interrupted Xu Pei’s thoughts. He looked back to see He Yixun gripping Brother Shui’s wrist. That hand had been about to pull Xu Pei’s waistband down further.

It was already pulled down quite a bit, almost revealing the valley between the peaks.

“Enough? What do you mean enough?” Shui-ge, like an artist interrupted during creation, frowned impatiently, his eyes full of obsession with his work. “If you don’t want it noticed, then keep quiet.”

He Yixun’s hand clenched emptily in the air before he withdrew it. 

The waistband reached the summit’s position. The needle tip gradually approached the secret valley.

Actually, nothing could be seen in the valley, yet it inexplicably drew the eye.

“I said that’s enough.” Not wanting to delay the main task, He Yixun crossed his arms, forcibly suppressing the impulse to snatch the tattoo pen. His voice held an irritation even he couldn’t understand. “There’s no need to go that low.”

Shui-ge glanced back at He Yixun, then looked at Xu Pei lying obediently on the chair. He didn’t say anything more, changed the direction of the pen, and extended the intricate pattern outwards to the left and right. 

He Yixun reached out and hitched the loose waistband up a bit.

Even if it was just two centimeters, it felt somewhat better.

Finally, writing the characters “蓓蓓” below the pattern, Brother Shui put down the pen, his work complete. “Done.”

Layered black wings spread across the small of his back, a demon’s tail extending downwards, the triangular arrowhead pointing towards the depths of the secluded valley. This kind of voluptuous and decadent tattoo blooming on the dignified professor’s body created a bizarre aesthetic collision. 

He Yixun found himself wondering: Had Xu Pei’s waist always been this slender before?