“How are five people going to stay?” Lu Mingyue leaned against the railing, watching the torrential rain with a faint, mocking smile as he looked at the others.
Three hours ago, they had arrived at a small town near the border. Because of its proximity to the national line, the locals mostly made a living off the passing trade. There were few people in town, and the residents were cold and indifferent, showing no interest in questioning the foreign faces that had appeared. With no further clues ahead, they decided to find a place to stay and discuss their next move.
They had stepped out of the car to grab a meal just as a heavy downpour began. Without umbrellas, they had bolted through the rain into a restaurant, and by the time they finished and headed for the door, the rain still hadn't let up.
Fei Zuohua was soaked, the dampness of his clothes clinging to him in an irritating way. He stomped his foot hard, watching water squeeze out of his shoe, and let out a sharp click of his tongue.
Shi Yuanchen lifted his glasses, peering into the distance. “There seems to be a hotel up ahead.”
Kong Ping hesitated. “In this rain... we’re running for it?”
Hou Qi’an glanced at him. “You can wait here for the rain to stop before moving. I’m going to check it out.” As he spoke, he pulled up his hood and charged into the rain.
Hou Qi’an called to tell them there were rooms. The others exchanged looks, and Kong Ping gritted his teeth, running after him. When he arrived, Hou Qi’an looked surprised. “You could have waited, or I could have brought an umbrella back for you.”
Kong Ping shook his head and let out a string of sneezes.
“Now we’re back to my question.” Lu Mingyue leaned against the counter—he always seemed to need to lean on something, as if he couldn't stand on his own. Fei Zuohua frowned at the sight of him. Lu Mingyue looked at the only two keys remaining on the hanging board. “How are five people going to stay?”
“You’re staying with me,” Fei Zuohua said, pointing at him.
Hou Qi’an added, “Me too.”
Lu Mingyue raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Please, don't. You two put too much pressure on me.”
Hou Qi’an looked at him flatly. “Even with the two of us, we might not be a match for you.”
Lu Mingyue put on a look of great surprise. “You’re far too modest.”
“Enough.” Fei Zuohua cut him off, grabbed a key, and started walking, gesturing for Lu Mingyue to follow. Lu Mingyue turned to the others and shrugged. “Off I go to be the young mistress’s pet dog. Bye, everyone.”
Shi Yuanchen took off his glasses to wipe them, glancing at Kong Ping, who was stifling a cough. “I’m afraid you’re going to be sick tonight.”
Kong Ping’s face was pale, and he nodded at the remark.
That night, Lu Mingyue didn't get any sleep. Fei Zuohua and Hou Qi’an sat at the table, making him sit on the opposite side while they watched him with grim expressions. Shi Yuanchen joined them as well, while Kong Ping slept in the other room.
Fei Zuohua’s expression was dark as he lit a cigarette. “Talk. How are you going to find Bai Shi?”
Lu Mingyue looked at each of the three men in turn. “First, you have to understand Bai Shi’s style of accommodation. He is very particular...”
Shi Yuanchen interrupted him directly. “Are you trying to say we should look for villa districts?”
Lu Mingyue blinked. “Oh, yes. How did you know?”
Fei Zuohua’s expression darkened further. He leaned forward. “Are you trying to tell us that you planned to come along and then just slowly search?”
Lu Mingyue was halfway through a nod when Fei Zuohua grabbed him by the collar. “Who the hell are you trying to fool!”
Lu Mingyue looked toward Shi Yuanchen, pleading. “Hey, hey, let’s just talk. No need for violence, friends, right?”
Shi Yuanchen ignored him.
Lu Mingyue had no choice but to look back at Fei Zuohua. “Student Fei, Officer Fei, please let go first...”
Fei Zuohua released him, and Lu Mingyue fell back into his chair.
He adjusted his neck and coughed. “That’s a rough grip...” He then looked at Fei Zuohua. “I really don’t know. If I knew the exact location, would I even need you guys?”
Hou Qi’an watched him calmly. “You said before that you could find him. How?”
“Wasn't I just saying? Searching district by district.” Lu Mingyue nodded. “That’s how I’ve always found him.”
Fei Zuohua crushed his cigarette out violently and moved to stand up, but Shi Yuanchen beat him to it. He looked at Lu Mingyue. “Fine. Then let’s begin.”
Fei Zuohua stiffened, looking at Shi Yuanchen in confusion.
Shi Yuanchen continued, “I’ll get the map. We’ll start by searching for villa districts that meet the criteria within a fifty-kilometer radius. If we find nothing, we’ll expand the search.” He moved immediately to his room to get the map.
Fei Zuohua stood up and hurried after him.
Left behind, Lu Mingyue shrugged at Hou Qi’an. Hou Qi’an remained with his arms crossed, expressionless.
Fei Zuohua caught Shi Yuanchen at the door. “What’s going on? He definitely knows something. We’re just letting him lead us by the nose.”
Shi Yuanchen pulled out his key and opened the door. “Then let him lead.”
“Hey...”
He got no answer from Shi Yuanchen. Lu Mingyue took the map and spread it out with great ceremony. Kong Ping searched on the computer while Shi Yuanchen translated the text on the screen for him. Kong Ping leaned into the monitor, clicking away. “Villa districts nearby... let me see, there are quite a few... ah, there’s one in the next town over...”
Fei Zuohua looked at Hou Qi’an. Hou Qi’an, watching the three of them spring into action, clearly had no better ideas. “Let’s just help for now,” he told Fei Zuohua, then went over to help look at the map.
Fei Zuohua frowned, feeling incredibly restless. After standing there for a long time, he grabbed his coat to head out.
Shi Yuanchen asked from behind him, “Where are you going?”
Fei Zuohua bit his key as he pulled on his shoes. “Going for a walk.”
Kong Ping turned and shouted, “See if there’s any fruit for sale while you’re at it! I haven't had fruit in ages.”
Fei Zuohua glanced up at him, then looked back down to finish with his shoes. “Got it.”
After he left, Lu Mingyue looked at the others. “He’s actually quite easy to talk to, isn't he?”
Shi Yuanchen glanced at him. “Keep searching.”
***
They spent three days poring over maps and visited six villa districts, all to no avail. Fei Zuohua grew increasingly anxious during the process. Their lives over these few days were extremely disciplined: waking up at 6:30 AM to determine the day's targets, departing at 9:00 AM, finishing one location by 12:30 PM, heading to the second in the afternoon, and returning to continue cross-referencing the map. Sometimes Shi Yuanchen would stay up all night working; when Kong Ping and the others couldn't hold out, they would sleep for a while on the sofa in the back. It seemed they didn't really need two rooms at all; aside from showering, they were basically together at all times.
This kind of life wasn't unfamiliar to Fei Zuohua. When he used to follow his mentor to catch suspects, they worked around the clock just like this. But for Kong Ping, it was entirely foreign; he had been in a low mood for a while because he couldn't shower regularly. Still, Fei Zuohua felt that for a "good student" who didn't even smoke much, he was doing quite well. Hou Qi’an was slightly better off, having superior physical stamina and a resilient will; he never complained. Fei Zuohua also noticed that Hou Qi’an was actually watching Lu Mingyue every single moment.
It was already 1:30 AM, and they were still flipping through maps. Shi Yuanchen wore his glasses, his pen scratching rapidly across the paper. Kong Ping was asleep on the sofa, and Lu Mingyue was nodding off as well. Hou Qi’an propped his head on his hand, likely exhausted. The room was very quiet. Fei Zuohua let out a yawn.
He tapped Shi Yuanchen and made a gesture for a cigarette. Shi Yuanchen nodded.
Fei Zuohua walked out quietly, closed the door, and headed down the hallway toward the shadows. He wanted to make a call.
He sat on the stairs and smoked, the glow of the cherry lighting his face in the gloom. He turned to look at the light coming from their room a few steps away, then took out his phone.
He paused on a number, ran a hand through his hair, took a drag of his cigarette, and slowly pressed the call button.
He didn't have to wait long before the other side picked up.
His mother’s voice was soft and weary.
“Hello?”
Fei Zuohua realized belatedly that this was a temporary, local number.
Before he could speak, she spoke again. “Xiao Hua?”
Fei Zuohua gave a raspy grunt of affirmation.
The other side fell silent.
Fei Zuohua thought about what he should say to comfort her. More importantly, he should apologize. After the incident, he had walked away with the grand notion of "catching Bai Shi for revenge," leaving his father’s funeral and his mentor’s care entirely to his mother. When he had seen the letter Pei Cangyu wrote to Liu Yaosheng, the first person he thought of was his mother—he had said nothing, asked nothing.
But he didn't speak. His mother asked, “Is it about time for you to sleep over there?”
Fei Zuohua felt a pang of heartache. “No...”
His mother said, “Well, it’s close enough. Go to sleep early.”
Fei Zuohua called out, “Mom,” hearing how hoarse his voice was. He dropped his cigarette on the floor, but he still heard the immediate concern from the other end: “What’s wrong? Is your throat bothering you? Do you have a cold?”
Fei Zuohua felt even more regretful. He couldn't just run far away and then call her only to make her worry.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” The words came faster than his thoughts; he decided to voice the reflections of the past few days. When people pour their hearts out, they always want to ensure their safety, so Fei Zuohua instinctively looked back to make sure no one was coming.
With that glance, he saw the sign hanging on their door sway twice. This immediately put him on high alert.
His mother asked, “Hmm?”
Fei Zuohua stood up abruptly and said quickly into the phone, “That’s all for now. I’ll call you back later.”
He hung up and walked over quickly, pushing the door open. He saw Hou Qi’an and Kong Ping asleep, one on each end of the sofa. Shi Yuanchen was putting on his coat; he raised a finger to his lips, whispering, “Lu Mingyue ran.”
Fei Zuohua frowned. Shi Yuanchen walked toward the door as he dressed. “We’re following him.”
Fei Zuohua grabbed his keys and followed.
They took the elevator and waited in a dark corner of the first floor for a moment before they saw Lu Mingyue emerge from the stairwell. Lu Mingyue even took a deliberate scan of the lobby; Shi and Fei quickly ducked back, avoiding his gaze.
Lu Mingyue walked outside, and the two followed.
To keep him in sight, Shi Yuanchen walked a bit too fast. Fei Zuohua pulled him back, telling him, “This distance is enough.”
They maintained a distance of a hundred meters behind Lu Mingyue, watching him walk into the crowds. Shi Yuanchen took the opportunity to explain: “I suspect Lu Mingyue knows something, but I don't think we can get anything out of him by force. He seems very professional.”
Fei Zuohua nodded grimly.
“So it’s better to let him go for a bit. Maybe he’ll lead us to Bai Shi.”
Fei Zuohua’s eyes were locked onto Lu Mingyue ahead. When it was time to turn, he pulled Shi Yuanchen, who had been walking straight.
Lu Mingyue waited at a station for a while before hailing a taxi. Fei Zuohua and Shi Yuanchen quickly followed. Fei Zuohua felt somewhat fortunate that it was the two of them out here—one could speak to the locals, and the other knew how to tail someone.
The car drove for half an hour, leaving their town and entering the next. On the sign standing at the entrance of the town, the words "Olive Verte" were written in a rather vintage style.
As soon as Shi Yuanchen saw it, he told Fei Zuohua, “This is a very likely spot. This isn't where locals live.”
“Why?”
Shi Yuanchen pointed at the sign. “That should be French, not Greek.”
They drove for a while longer; it seemed this town was divided into many sectors.
Finally, Lu Mingyue’s taxi stopped. Before long, his long legs stepped out. Shi Yuanchen and Fei Zuohua stopped far behind and got out as well.
The place where Lu Mingyue got out was a busy street. Fei Zuohua frowned, thinking surely he hadn't come here just to have fun, then realized there was no need to travel to another town just for that.
Lu Mingyue walked straight into a rest stop. Many tourist SUVs were parked there, and foreign faces didn't attract much attention. Still, Fei Zuohua and Shi Yuanchen carefully circled around before entering, watching from across the crowded room.
Lu Mingyue sat at a high table, ordered a drink, and then didn't move again.
Fei Zuohua looked at Shi Yuanchen. “Looks like he’s waiting for someone.”
Shi Yuanchen nodded, looking toward the door. “Bai Shi?”
“Then he might have been telling the truth,” Fei Zuohua added. “Otherwise, he could have just gone straight to find him.”
Shi Yuanchen nodded.
Time passed quickly. After 4:00 AM, the people in the venue grew fewer. Fei Zuohua shifted his sitting position so his back was to Lu Mingyue, asking in a low voice, “He’s been waiting for two hours now, hasn't he?”
Shi Yuanchen lowered his head. “More than that.”
“Will he show up?”
“I don't know.”
As they spoke, they noticed Lu Mingyue suddenly stand up and look toward a direction outside the window. Shi Yuanchen followed his gaze immediately, but Fei Zuohua didn't dare take his eyes off Lu Mingyue.
But after watching for a while, Lu Mingyue sat back down in disappointment. Shi Yuanchen shook his head. “Probably not him.”
They were back in a stalemate.
The sky was nearly beginning to brighten.
Shi Yuanchen pushed up his glasses and looked at Fei Zuohua. “I suddenly realized that Lu Mingyue didn't plan on going back this time.”
“What do you mean?”
“He left before you got back. You would have noticed as soon as you returned. No matter what, it would be impossible for him to go back and keep acting with us.”
Fei Zuohua nodded. They turned to look at Lu Mingyue, who was standing up with his head hanging low, his silhouette looking dejected.
“He didn't get what he was waiting for,” Fei Zuohua said coldly.
“It seems so.”
Fei Zuohua watched his slumped back and turned to Shi Yuanchen. “Then he’s going to have to accept our help this time.”
***
When he was cornered in the alley, Lu Mingyue’s shock lasted only a few seconds before he broke into a bitter smile.
“What are you laughing at?” Fei Zuohua glared at him.
Lu Mingyue sighed. “Maybe he didn't show up because he saw you guys.”
Shi Yuanchen narrowed his eyes at him. “I don't think so, Mr. Lu. You look like you were prepared for this outcome.”
Lu Mingyue shrugged as if caught, giving a small laugh. “Something like that.”
Fei Zuohua interrupted his flippant tone, getting straight to the point. “Tell us everything you know now, and we still have a chance to cooperate.”
Lu Mingyue didn't mock him, nor did he answer. He just looked at him quietly.
Fei Zuohua stared back. “You won't find him alone. Maybe he cast you aside on purpose.”
For a fleeting moment, a look of great pain crossed Lu Mingyue’s face, but it vanished quickly. He took a step back, leaning against the wall, and turned to ask Fei Zuohua, “Got a smoke?”
Fei Zuohua hesitated, then handed him one.
Lu Mingyue took it, slid down the wall to sit on the ground, and lowered his head to light the cigarette.
The other two watched him.
When the cigarette was finished, Lu Mingyue looked up at Shi Yuanchen. “Will you find him? That Pei Cangyu?”
Shi Yuanchen nodded with absolute certainty. “That is the purpose of my actions.”
Lu Mingyue stubbed out the cigarette and spoke. “Bai Shi has been to many places, and he has prepared many hideouts. A great many. The villas you guessed count as one type, but they are by no means the only ones. I know some towns where he might stay, but I don't know the specific town, or which house in that town...”
“Meaning you have a list of towns he might go to?” Shi Yuanchen interrupted.
“It’s this town. When I saw the locations you marked, I had a rough idea.”
Shi Yuanchen asked cautiously, “But?”
“But I don't know where in this town he is.”
Shi Yuanchen turned to look at the small town. Even at this hour, there were still people coming and going.
***
