When Pei Cangyu answered Tu Ziyun's call, his "Hello?" was laced with an ill-tempered tone, the scent of a delinquent practically wafting through the screen. Tu Ziyun chuckled. "Is this Pei Cangyu?"
"Who are you?"
"Tu Ziyun. The detective from the Z-District homicide case. Remember me?"
There was a pause on the other end. "What's up?"
"Is it convenient to meet?"
"...Is something wrong?"
"I just want to ask about a few more details. Would it be alright if I stopped by your school this morning?"
The other side went uncharacteristically silent. After a moment, he muttered sullenly, "I didn't go to school this morning."
Tu Ziyun glanced at the calendar on his desk. "Isn't today Monday?"
"..."
"What about the afternoon? Is the afternoon convenient?"
"Fine."
"By the way, I heard from Xiao Fei that something happened at your house. Where are you staying now?"
"...Bai Shi's. I'm at Bai Shi's place."
Tu Ziyun arched an eyebrow. "Alright then, see you at school this afternoon. I'll call when I arrive. Sorry for the trouble."
"Yeah."
"Student Pei Cangyu."
"Huh?"
"Please don't tell Bai Shi about our conversation for the time being."
"...Okay."
After hanging up, Tu Ziyun stared blankly at his phone. Pei Cangyu had agreed not to tell Bai Shi so easily that he hadn't even needed to use the excuses he’d prepared.
What had happened? Had a rift formed between the two of them?
Tu Ziyun flipped through an evidence bag, his finger tapping rhythmically on the desk.
His phone rang. He glanced at it: Fei Qisheng.
Tu Ziyun looked at Fei Zuohua and answered the call.
Fei Zuohua, meanwhile, kept an ear out the moment the call was picked up. Hearing them arrange a meal, Tu Ziyun paused and turned to ask him if he wanted to join them for lunch. Fei Zuohua gathered the clutter on his desk. "No, I have things to do."
Tu Ziyun watched him for a moment before returning to the phone and accepting the invitation.
Tu Ziyun stood up, grabbed his overcoat, and pocketed his keys. He looked at Fei Zuohua and smiled. "Your dad really wants to see you."
Fei Zuohua nodded repeatedly, his hands never stopping their busywork on the desk. "Yeah, I've been a bit busy lately. I still have to investigate the Bai Yinhua matter."
Tu Ziyun watched as his hands did nothing more than move a stapler back and forth. He leaned against the desk, looking at Fei Zuohua with a smile. "It's good to have drive. But I should remind you—Bai Yinhua's status dictates that this case won't stay in the hands of the Z-District. Sooner or later, someone from above will come and tell you to hand it over."
Fei Zuohua froze.
Tu Ziyun patted him on the shoulder and left for his lunch with Fei Qisheng.
They met at a restaurant in an ancient-style building. It was a grand, oriental-retro structure, seven stories high with octagonal corners and painted eaves—an incredibly expensive establishment.
Tu Ziyun let out a whistle as he stood at the entrance. He brushed the dust off his plain jacket and stepped up the high stone stairs. As soon as he entered, a server in a qipao led the way, asking in a sweet voice which room he was looking for.
"Uh... Fei Qisheng."
The server gave a professional smile, said "Certainly," and led him to Fei Qisheng's private room.
"It's just the two of us. Did we really need a private room?" Tu Ziyun took off his coat as he entered.
Fei Qisheng stood up to help him with it.
Fei Qisheng was a rigid, serious, and tall man. He had been just as straight-laced in his youth. In some ways, Fei Zuohua was the spitting image of his father, though saying that to Fei Zuohua would surely incense him.
"Thank you for coming," Fei Qisheng invited Tu Ziyun to sit.
Tu Ziyun plopped down and waved a hand. "You don't always have to be so polite, acting like you owe me something."
Fei Qisheng looked away and poured him tea. "You can't say that. Back then, you withdrew from the competition, which is why Section 8 was handed to me. After Zuohua graduated, you requested a transfer to the Z-District and even became his subordinate..."
"Hey, hey, that's enough. I didn't want to do it anymore anyway. Staying in Section 8 was just coasting; I'd rather spend my time mentoring." Tu Ziyun patted his pockets. "Got a smoke?"
Fei Qisheng pushed the cigarettes on the table toward him.
Tu Ziyun took one and pulled a lighter from his pocket—a pure black lighter engraved with a cyan eagle. He brought it to the cigarette in his mouth and flicked the flame.
Fei Qisheng stared at the lighter. "You still have that?"
"What?" Tu Ziyun squinted as he took a drag, then realized what he meant. He shook the lighter and laughed. "It's evidence that brought down Ding Chuan, after all. Might as well keep it as a souvenir."
Fei Qisheng surprisingly didn't smile. "We never actually caught Ding Chuan. The two of us stayed by his side for so long, we were just one step away..."
Tu Ziyun also stared at the lighter, momentarily lost in thought as he rubbed the cyan eagle. Then he smiled. "Forget it, that's in the past. Speaking of which, I have something to ask you."
"What is it?"
"The Bai Yinhua case—can we keep it in the Z-District?"
"I'm afraid that won't be easy. The Bai family has petitioned the Police Department, claiming it might involve the criminal underworld and requesting Section 8's involvement. It hasn't been approved yet, but it's only a matter of time. You know, the previous head, Bai Jiang, is also dead. Counting Bai Yinhua, two people from the Bai family have died in the past few years."
Tu Ziyun frowned. "Isn't there one more... Bai Hai?"
"Bai Hai went abroad and announced he wouldn't participate in the family's affairs."
Tu Ziyun narrowed his eyes. "Did he really just go abroad?"
"I know what you're implying," Fei Qisheng took a sip of tea. "But being too much of a conspiracy theorist isn't a good thing."
Tu Ziyun spread his hands and smiled. "Just asking."
"Why do you want the Z-District to handle it? Did you find something?"
"I wouldn't call it a discovery, I just feel like something's off." Tu Ziyun suddenly thought of something. "Who is the current head of the Bai family?"
"Bai Shi. Didn't you see him at the scene? I've read the report."
Tu Ziyun was stunned for a moment. "Why hasn't there been any news about Bai Yinhua's case? He appeared at the murder scene of his own biological brother—aren't there any rumors?"
Fei Qisheng set down his teacup. "You don't quite understand the influence of Yaoguang Media, do you?"
Tu Ziyun fell silent.
Fei Qisheng asked point-blank, "Do you suspect Bai Shi?"
Tu Ziyun hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I wouldn't say he's completely uninvolved."
Fei Qisheng frowned. "If it really had something to do with Bai Shi, why would he petition Section 8 to get involved? Section 8 isn't easy to deal with. Wouldn't that be like stabbing himself with his own blade?"
Tu Ziyun remained silent.
Something was very wrong.
Finally, Tu Ziyun spoke up. "Then can we at least share information appropriately? We'll report any news we get from our side as well."
Fei Qisheng lowered his eyes and refilled the tea.
Tu Ziyun was persistent. "Please."
Fei Qisheng sighed. "I understand. I'll do my best."
***
After lunch, Tu Ziyun waited in a tea shop across from Pei Cangyu's school. He watched the students trickle in around one o'clock. Near two, when the school gates were nearly deserted, a Mustang Black Knight roared up and came to a steady halt by the curb. Pei Cangyu climbed out with a stony face, yanking his backpack hard as he strode toward the school.
Tu Ziyun looked toward the car. A tall man stepped out.
Bai Shi.
Bai Shi stood behind him and said something. Pei Cangyu, who had been rushing toward the school, turned around. With his head down, he walked stiffly back to Bai Shi's side, took his backpack, then turned back around with a tense posture and continued walking. He didn't look up at Bai Shi once during the entire exchange.
Bai Shi, on the other hand, seemed to be in a very good mood. Compared to his composure, Pei Cangyu appeared exceptionally flustered. It was as if Bai Shi enjoyed this panic, watching him with a faint smile.
Tu Ziyun frowned. What a bizarre relationship.
Tu Ziyun continued to wait. He waited for Bai Shi's car to drive away, and for the school bell to ring three times. It should be the long break now. He called Pei Cangyu.
Pei Cangyu was true to his word and came. He sat in the tea shop just a block from the school and ordered a milk tea. He looked drained, with heavy dark circles under his eyes. On Pei Cangyu's face, which usually wore its joys and sorrows openly, there was a strangely deep sense of melancholy.
It was the look of someone who wasn't good at hiding things being forced to keep a secret.
Tu Ziyun had seen that expression before. It was like a child being told their father was having an affair and forbidden from telling their mother—the look of a secret that should be told but couldn't be.
Tu Ziyun smiled, hoping to ease Pei Cangyu's tension. It worked. Pei Cangyu relaxed slightly and adjusted his posture.
He scratched his hair. "Is there something you need?"
"How have you been lately?" Tu Ziyun asked, catching Pei Cangyu off guard.
"What?"
Tu Ziyun pointed to his dark circles. "Not sleeping well?"
Pei Cangyu rubbed his face. "I'm fine."
"Have you been living at Bai Shi's for a week now?"
Pei Cangyu nodded.
Tu Ziyun stopped talking.
A sudden silence fell between them.
Pei Cangyu looked up and saw Tu Ziyun's eyes fixed on him, sharp as a hawk's.
He was stunned for a moment, about to ask what was wrong and why he was staring. He had just opened his mouth: "Wh—"
"Did he do something to you?" Tu Ziyun asked suddenly.
Pei Cangyu's eyes snapped wide, his face practically screaming that his secret had been hit dead-on. But he answered out of instinct: "No! Impossible! We're both men!" He tugged at his collar, revealing his tattoo. "Real man, see? Hah!"
He didn't realize how much his voice had risen.
Tu Ziyun waved a hand with a smile. "Right. Just asking."
Pei Cangyu indignantly gulped down his milk tea, chewing the pearls fiercely.
Tu Ziyun spread his hands and looked at Pei Cangyu. "Actually, I'm no longer in charge of this case. It's being transferred to Section 8. I had a nephew about your age, but he passed away. Your eyes look a lot like his."
Pei Cangyu blinked.
"Don't misunderstand, I don't mean to interfere too much. It's just that seeing you last time reminded me of him. You're still in school, you're all alone, and your house caught fire—it must be very hard for you."
Pei Cangyu lowered his head.
"If only there were a friend you could trust, if only the people around you were worthy of that trust... that's what I was thinking." Tu Ziyun looked at him sincerely. "This might be abrupt, but if you need a place to stay, I can provide one. My home isn't as big as Bai Shi's, but you'd have your own space to study."
Pei Cangyu looked at him in surprise.
His eyes blinked rapidly as he stared at Tu Ziyun.
"Could it be..." Tu Ziyun picked up his teacup, his gaze heavy as he looked at Pei Cangyu. "That you need his permission?"
Pei Cangyu slammed his fist onto the table, making the plates rattle. His face flushed red with anger. "Who needs his permission?!"
Pei Cangyu gritted his teeth and thought for a moment. "Fine. You wait. This is your number, right? I'll call you tonight!"
"Alright."
Pei Cangyu tilted his head back to finish the milk tea, pulled out two bills and slapped them on the table, then shoved his hands into his pockets and swaggered out.
*Wow, quite the temper.*
Tu Ziyun watched his retreating back and smiled.
The news of Section 8 taking over would reach Bai Shi's ears through Pei Cangyu first, giving Tu Ziyun a position in the shadows. Next, he would see for himself just how much of the gaze Bai Shi fixed on Pei Cangyu was active and how much was passive. Most importantly, with Section 8 acting as the blade, who exactly was it meant to stab? Pei Cangyu was Bai Shi's only weakness. From this opening, what kind of monster could be dragged out? His instincts from years on the force smelled blood; dangerous things always came with innate omens.
Bai Shi was full of omens.
*I'm counting on you, Pei Cangyu.*
The server came over to clear the cups. Tu Ziyun set his cup down and opened his wallet, but before he could ask for the price, the server counted the money Pei Cangyu had left and told him it was already paid for.
Tu Ziyun was taken aback for a moment, then stood up with a smile, preparing to leave. He took one last look at the school gates—at that simple, kind kid.
*Sorry, Pei Cangyu.*
***
