Chapter 40: Don’t run on a stormy night

Translator: Abo Dammen

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Case Two: Dance of the Night Charm

By the bulletin board at the police station entrance, someone was taking down Shao Hui’s poster. An eerie quiet permeated the station. Officers who usually walked with purpose now deliberately softened their footsteps, as if afraid to disturb something.

In the first-floor break room, two people were whispering.

“The investigation team is here. So scary.” 

“Chief Shao is definitely in for it. Who do you think will take his place?”

“Superintendent He? There’s really no one else in our Binshi PD.”

“But he’s only 30. His seniority is too shallow, isn’t it?”

The break room door was open. As He Yixun and Xu Pei passed by, the two spotted He Yixun, respectfully called out “Superintendent He,” and quickly retreated to their offices with their cups. 

Taking the elevator down to the second basement level, Xu Pei said to He Yixun, “You’re getting promoted again.”

Becoming Chief might be difficult, but at least his rank would go up one level.

After Superintendent comes… Chief Inspector, right? Sounds kinda cool.

He Yixun didn’t respond, seeming uninterested in the topic of promotion. They wound through the maze-like corridors, eventually arriving at a remote records room. 

The manager was an old police officer with a full head of silver hair, wearing reading glasses and pecking at the keyboard with two index fingers, inputting old case files from beside him into the computer.

Paperless offices were only implemented in the last decade. The archives from earlier years were like a vast ocean; you could input them till the cows come home and not finish. But these files were rarely consulted anyway. The old officer inputs a little each day, treating it as a way to pass the time.

“The Zhen Li wife-murder case?” The old officer searched for the keyword. A record popped up on the page, followed by the word “Confidential.” He pointed at the record. “Isn’t it already in the system?”

“I want to see the original file,” said He Yixun. He now had the authority. 

“Well, that might take some finding.”

The old officer led the way. Under the dim light, metal filing cabinets stood in neat rows, yellowed case files emitting a faint musty smell. The further in they went, the stronger the old smell became, carrying a heavy sense of history.

After rummaging for a long time in the compartment storing confidential documents, the old officer finally pulled out a thin file, patting off the accumulated dust. “Here, take your time looking.”

He didn’t have clearance to view it and consciously went back outside, leaving only He Yixun and Xu Pei in the compartment. The bound case file couldn’t be taken apart, so the two had to lean shoulder-to-shoulder to read it together. The paper file was completely identical to the electronic version in the system, with no abnormalities. They quickly flipped through the scant few dozen pages. Xu Pei found it strange and casually shook the file folder. A crumpled piece of paper fluttered out. 

It was an evidence page.

The medical examiner had isolated white polyester fibers from the rope used to hang Si Lei. Tests confirmed they came from a type of work glove. In other words, when the killer strangled Si Lei with the rope, they were wearing white gloves. However, no gloves matching that description were found in the house, meaning Zhen Li couldn’t have committed the crime.

“This can prove Zhen Li isn’t the killer,” said Xu Pei. “Dr. Zhen can clear his name.”

Shao Hui hadn’t destroyed this evidence page. Perhaps he wanted to keep a backup for himself, or perhaps he simply thought Zhen Li had no hope of overturning the case and didn’t pay it much mind. His motives were now unknown, but with this page, Zhen Li could soon regain his freedom. 

He Yixun didn’t comment, repeatedly scanning the file in his hand. Xu Pei knew what he was thinking. “You still want to catch the real killer.”

“I feel like we’re only separated from the killer by a thin veil,” He Yixun said, closing the file. “Shao Hui knows who the killer is. Lin Mei knows too. But they won’t say.”

“If Luo En sent professional hitmen, they’d be basically impossible to find,” Xu Pei added.

“I’ll keep investigating.” 

Xu Pei’s first reaction was to offer to help He Yixun investigate, but he swallowed the words and asked, “By yourself?”

Once Zhen Li was released, Xu Pei could immediately return to his own world. He couldn’t stay here to investigate a case completely unrelated to him. Even though his time with He Yixun had been novel, exciting, relaxed and happy, he ultimately had to return to his original life.

If nothing else, he still had an Outstanding Achievement Award in Biomedicine to collect.

Of course, if He Yixun needed him… 

“Mm,” He Yixun said with little reaction. “I’ll investigate by myself after you leave.”

Alright then. Xu Pei thought silently. I can only wish you success.

The procedures for reopening the investigation into the Zhen Li case were very complex, requiring coordination across multiple departments. It would take some time before Zhen Li could be released from prison.

However, the newly inaugurated Li Menglan was very proactive in pushing this matter. She seemed keen on opposing the faction associated with Lin Mei. Consequently, the court expedited the retrial. In less than a week, Zhen Li was declared not guilty and released. 

It coincided with the approaching thunderstorm.

This week, He Yixun was extremely busy. Not only did he have to advance the Zhen Li case, but he also had to handle all sorts of affairs within the police station. Often, he left for work before Xu Pei woke up and hadn’t returned by the time Xu Pei went to sleep.

On Friday, the day before the thunderstorm night, Xu Pei sent He Yixun a message, asking him to come home early. No matter how busy he was, they should have a proper goodbye, right?

He Yixun never replied. Xu Pei had already given up hope, but just after sunset, the sound of the fingerprint lock chimed, and He Yixun’s figure appeared at the door. 

Xu Pei swiftly appeared from the kitchen into the entryway. “You’re done for the day?”

“Mm.” He Yixun hung up his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and walked towards the kitchen. “Let’s keep it simple tonight.” 

For some reason, Xu Pei imagined a pet owner finally finishing work and coming home to cook for their dog.

But he didn’t care for that.

“You don’t need to cook. I’ve already started,” Xu Pei said, walking to the cupboard, opening the door, standing on tiptoe, and taking down two extra packets of instant noodles. “Just wait.”

Glancing at the haphazardly chopped green onions on the counter, He Yixun fell silent for a moment, then thought, Forget it, it’s the last day. Let Xu Pei do whatever he wants. 

Five minutes later, two steaming bowls of instant noodles were placed on the dining table.

Although the soup were spilled everywhere on the other side of the counter and eggshells were tossed about carelessly, the noodles looked quite presentable. The fried egg was perfectly shaped, garnished with a green vegetable, looking quite appetizing.

Even the usually cold room felt a bit warmer.

“Is it good?” Xu Pei asked. 

He Yixun took a bite and said objectively, “It’s okay.”

Xu Pei smiled. “Credit goes to the flavoring packets.”

He Yixun knew perfectly well there’s no such thing as good or bad instant noodles. He asked, “Have you coordinated with Zhen Li?”

“Yes,” Xu Pei nodded. “The weather forecast shows thunderstorms tomorrow night at nine. I’ve arranged to meet him at Central Square at 8:30.” 

That was where Xu Pei had arrived.

“I’ll go with you,” said He Yixun.

“I thought you wouldn’t accompany me,” Xu Pei mumbled around his chopsticks. “You’re never around.”

“Busy.” 

Actually, being busy was just an excuse, and He Yixun knew it well.

He just felt that there shouldn’t be an emotional connection between him and Xu Pei. It wasn’t about any special feelings, but when two people live together day and night, a mental connection is bound to form. It was like how, even though he had no particular feelings for Lin Mei and He Maohu, he had to admit these two were special people to him.

It was the same with Xu Pei.

No one had ever entered He Yixun’s private sphere so closely. Not to mention they had engaged in some intimate acts, like kissing, caressing, and what Xu Pei called marking, etc. All these would form a kind of mental connection. 

This was completely superfluous for He Yixun because Xu Pei would eventually disappear from this world. This connection would only become a burden for him.

Therefore, what he needed to do was detach this connection as soon as possible, returning to the initial state, so that whether Xu Pei left or not wouldn’t matter.

After dinner, He Yixun cleaned up the kitchen. Two bowls and one pot could be washed quickly, but he took out the descaler and started scrubbing the limescale off the sink and the grease stains inside the range hood.

A comedy show Xu Pei liked was playing on the TV, but he was distracted, resting his head on the back of the sofa, watching He Yixun’s back in the kitchen. 

Officer He’s back is so broad, and his butt is perky too.

He remembered during their mutual aid sessions, when Xu Pei touched He Yixun’s back, he felt the muscle lines were as if meticulously sculpted, possessing a wild, primitive appeal.

He slowly turned the scent blocker down a bit. The juniper scent drifted into his nostrils. Xu Pei took the chance to inhale it deeply because after tomorrow, he wouldn’t be able to smell it anymore.

Was the scent particularly pleasant? Actually, there were plenty of more alluring alpha pheromones out there. But normally, alphas don’t actively release their pheromones—it could easily be considered sexual harassment. It was just that He Yixun couldn’t control his scent, forcing Xu Pei to get accustomed to it. 

Accustomed to the point where smelling it felt very comfortable.

Ah, forget it.

Professor Xu thought pragmatically. We’re not even from the same world, and he’s impotent. What’s the point of me fantasizing about his back?

It must be all the recent pseudo-estrus episodes making me abnormal. 

After thoroughly cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, He Yixun checked the time and went to the bedroom to change into his moisture-wicking running clothes.

Xu Pei knew he was going out for a run again. “Can I come with you?”

It was their last bit of time together. Xu Pei didn’t want to waste it. Most likely, after tomorrow, he would never see He Yixun again in his lifetime. They had shared a remarkable experience, after all. The thought of never meeting again was somewhat saddening.

A human life is only a few decades long. How many truly memorable experiences can one have? 

“I’m going for a run, not a walk,” He Yixun mused.

“I know,” Xu Pei retorted. “Who do you think you’re looking down on?”

The city had shed its daytime bustle, revealing the tranquility of night. The night wind, carrying scents from the roadside greenery and street food stalls, whistled past their ears. The sound of their footsteps was clear under the streetlights.

Xu Pei didn’t have workout clothes. He was wearing He Yixun’s thin shell jacket. The sleeves were too big, flapping noisily in the wind. He kept up with He Yixun effortlessly, still having the energy to chat. “You’re not running very fast either.” 

He Yixun looked at the snail’s-pace on his sports watch, his expression neutral as he didn’t respond.

The two ran along the green belt to Central Square. After the sniper incident, it had been quiet for a while, but now it had returned to its usual hustle and bustle. Some were breakdancing, others were skateboarding. The scene was particularly lively. Along the way, Xu Pei saw many dogs and would stop to play with them from time to time. He Yixun had no choice but to stop and wait quietly for him.

Gradually, they stopped running and switched to a slow walk. Xu Pei joked, “After I’m gone, you won’t even have a pet.” 

“Not true,” said He Yixun. “That Beagle police dog is about to retire. I applied to adopt him.”

“What?” Xu Beagle said displeased. “You’re getting a new favorite so quickly?”

“You are the most special one.”

He Yixun was just stating a fact objectively, but Xu Pei’s feelings became subtle. Of course, he knew He Robot meant nothing else, just that he was a human-shaped puppy, so of course he was special. But just like being needed, being seen as special could easily stir ripples in one’s heart. 

“He Yixun.” Xu Pei stopped and looked at him. “Do you want to…”

The narrow path was empty of others. Only the streetlights cast a dim glow. It was so quiet Xu Pei could hear his own heartbeat.

He had crossed over to another world. Such a once-in-a-millennium event happened to him. Was he just going to go back like this?

Why not create some even more special experiences? 

Exercise stimulated hormone secretion, like a natural stimulant, making the brain produce thoughts it normally wouldn’t have, like thoughts about hunting the opposite sex.

Xu Pei could smell the slight sweat on He Yixun, mixed with the juniper scent, comparable to a particularly potent hallucinogen.

An idea appeared in Xu Pei’s mind, taking root and sprouting rapidly along his blood vessels. This thought was so clear and intense that once it appeared, it could no longer be shaken off, as if burning in his heart.

—He didn’t want to have regrets. 

“Do I want to what?” He Yixun asked.

“Have sex with me.”

Boom! A clap of thunder crashed down, drowning out Xu Pei’s voice.

He jolted awake, startled. What the heck? The one time I drop my reserve, I get struck by lightning? 

He Yixun looked up at the dark sky, then back at Xu Pei. “What did you say?”

The thunder had shocked Xu Pei back to his senses. The earlier impulse instantly dissipated, replaced even by a sense of fear about his own behavior—

What was he doing? What would He Yixun think of him if he heard? Even in another world, he couldn’t ruin his lifelong reputation, okay!

“N-nothing,” Professor Xu stammered. “Looks like it’s going to rain.” 

As soon as the words left his mouth, another roll of thunder came rumbling. Large raindrops began pattering down on them. People around were already starting to jog, complaining about the inaccurate weather forecast. He Yixun also said, “Let’s go back.”

The rain came on with extreme ferocity. One moment it was individual raindrops, the next they were falling like broken strings of beads. The thunderstorm clouds seemed right overhead, exploding with deafening claps of thunder that drowned out the rustling sound of rain on leaves. There was no way they could run home in this downpour, but they at least needed to find shelter.

He Yixun grabbed Xu Pei’s wrist and started running back. There was no one else around now. The streetlights emitted a faint glow in the heavy rain. Lightning tearing through the night sky illuminated the square as bright as day. The deformed tree trunks, the boundless dark lake surface—the atmosphere suddenly became eerily strange.

As they ran, the rain seemed to lighten. No, it stopped. The surroundings plunged into pitch darkness. The streetlights were gone, the trees were gone, as if enveloped by a layer of black fog. Visibility abruptly dropped to zero. 

Xu Pei suddenly had a bad feeling.

When the lab exploded and he fell down the emergency stairs, his surroundings were also pitch black. But back then, there was a fire in the building, so black smoke was normal. But here, black fog suddenly appearing after rain? Absolutely not normal.

Afraid there might be something wrong with his eyes, Xu Pei asked, “What do you see?”

He Yixun also found it strange. He changed from holding Xu Pei’s wrist to grasping his hand. “Fog has rolled in. Can’t see anything.” 

Their speech had an echo.

It was the same last time. Xu Pei was alone in the darkness, asked “Is anyone there?”, and the echo made him think he had arrived in hell.

“We’re done for,” Xu Pei slapped his own forehead. “It seems you’ve crossed over with me.”