Chapter 37: Actual You

At round 11:00, solely He Wei and Chong Zhen had been left working additional time within the metropolis bureau.

“Ship somebody to convey Cheng Zhenqing over.”

Chong Zhen yawned, “Does it need to be presently? It’s late at evening, and I’m afraid I would go to sleep whereas interrogating him.”

“You’ll be able to sleep if you would like; I’ll deal with the interrogation.” He Wei initially didn’t plan for it to be this late, however he had acquired a touch from Cheng Zhenqing earlier, so he intentionally scheduled the interrogation for this time to see what methods he was as much as.

Earlier than lengthy, Cheng Zhenqing was introduced in. He confirmed no indicators of sleepiness and appeared fairly alert. He even greeted He Wei, “Officer He, nonetheless working additional time? You’re actually placing within the effort.”

“Simply used to it.” He Wei and Chong Zhen entered the interrogation room one after the opposite. After Cheng Zhenqing’s palms had been handcuffed, the interrogation formally started.

He Wei glanced by way of the afternoon’s interrogation data, skipped a few of the formalities, and went straight to the purpose, “How did you come to know Cheng Zesheng?”

“Huh? Does this have something to do with my brother’s case? That was years in the past.”

“Clarify.”

Cheng Zhenqing shrugged and informed him that three years in the past whereas washing dishes at a Chinese language restaurant in Canada, he by chance met Cheng Zesheng. They felt an odd sense of familiarity with one another as a result of their related appearances. They took a paternity check and confirmed they had been certainly brothers, so that they acknowledged one another.

“Why did you retain it a secret out of your mother and father?”

He Wei’s tone was chilly, and he requested questions that Cheng Zhenqing didn’t wish to reply. Cheng Zhenqing’s mouth twitched, “I’m not near them.”

“Did Cheng Zesheng willingly be part of within the concealment?”

“No, he was really excited and wished to inform our mother and father. It was I who requested him to not say something. Zesheng listened to me lots.”

He Wei continued to evaluation the transcript and all of the sudden requested, “Can your youthful brother use a gun?”

“Sure.”

“Did you train him?”

“Sure.”

“How lengthy did it take him to be taught?”

“He’s very intelligent and realized rapidly, no matter what it was. He even purchased books and studied gun disassembly and meeting on his personal. About three months, and he grew to become fairly expert.”

He Wei glanced at Cheng Zhenqing and turned to the following web page of the transcript, “How did you smuggle the weapons into the nation?”

“At this level, is that this associated to the case? Why don’t you ask about what I used to be doing on the day Cheng Zesheng had the accident?”

He Wei’s angle remained chilly and unaffected, “Proper now, I’m the one asking questions. The initiative is in my palms, and also you don’t have the choice to decide on.”

Cheng Zhenqing shook his head with a bitter smile, “Officer He, you actually give me totally different surprises each time.”

He Wei’s eyelid twitched, however he didn’t pay it any thoughts. He continued, “The place had been you on the 14th afternoon?”

“I used to be at Fusheng Jinlong Backyard. I used to be there the entire afternoon and night, and I left the following morning.”

“Who can verify that?”

“The previous man subsequent door. I even greeted him. I needed to go by their home once I left. In the event you don’t consider me, ask him if he noticed me depart that day.”

He Wei reminded him that everybody knew in regards to the again door, and it was simple to keep away from the previous man’s gaze. Everybody was skilled; there was no must play these fancy methods. If he has one thing to say, say it clearly.

Cheng Zhenqing protested that he was actually at Fusheng Jinlong Backyard, however why was it that nobody believed the reality?

Chong Zhen leaned on his hand and yawned, and He Wei nudged his arm, “Make your self some espresso. There’s a dessert from Youqing within the fridge. Go replenish your power and perk up.”

“Are you able to deal with this by yourself?” Chong Zhen’s query felt redundant the second it left his lips. Might He Wei not deal with it? Might he actually make Cheng Zhenqing lose his mood?

After Chong Zhen left, He Wei turned off the audio and video recording, and after coming again in, he walked as much as Cheng Zhenqing and regarded down at him, “Have we met earlier than?”

Cheng Zhenqing smiled with out saying a phrase. He Wei continued, “After we caught you, you mentioned ‘assembly once more,’ and simply now you talked about ‘each time.’ I’m curious, the place does this tone of familiarity come from?”

“Guess, and guess in a extra particular path. Beneath what circumstances would I’ve met you?”

He Wei recalled the incident with Cheng Zesheng’s followers mistaking him for being associates with Cheng Zesheng. He mentioned, “It’s essential to have mistaken me. That was my twin brother.”

Cheng Zhenqing was momentarily surprised, then burst into laughter. If it weren’t for his palms being cuffed, he may need even pounded the desk.

“Officer He, critically, you’re way more fascinating than your chilly look suggests.” Cheng Zhenqing stifled his laughter and sighed in resignation, “Some issues are advanced and mysterious. I can’t inform you now, however you’ll perceive by yourself sooner or later.”

“You’ll be able to inform me now.” He Wei gestured towards the glass, “I’ve turned off the recording and video. Solely the 2 of us know what’s being mentioned.”

“Neglect it; I’ll inform you, however it gained’t have a lot impact.” Cheng Zhenqing leaned again in his chair lazily, “Because the surveillance is off, you possibly can select three questions from the transcript and ask them once more. I’ll reply in truth.”

He Wei sneered, “In keeping with you, had been all of the questions I requested earlier than pointless?”

“Don’t malign me, Officer He. You clearly know I haven’t lied a lot. In the event you’re not going to ask, I would as properly return to sleep.”

He Wei squinted his eyes. He had by no means encountered a suspect who all the time held the higher hand like this. Furthermore, He Wei might additionally inform that he was not simply swayed by both onerous or smooth approaches. Even together with his eyes closed, he might nonetheless discuss his method out of conditions, making it unattainable to pin him down.

He Wei retrieved the transcript, flipped by way of it, and requested, “First query, who had been the folks you killed as a sniper?”

“…Drug traffickers.”

He Wei was stunned, and he noticed that Cheng Zhenqing’s brows had been furrowed, his palms clenched into fists, and an expression that gave the impression to be gnashing his tooth, as if he wished to tear them aside.

“You appear to essentially hate drug traffickers,” He Wei remarked.

Cheng Zhenqing’s tone turned onerous and chilly, “They’re brutal, inhuman, and destroy human decency. After being involved with them, all I would like is to kill them swiftly.”

He Wei’s thoughts stirred, and he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Utilizing a key, he unlocked {the handcuffs} on Cheng Zhenqing’s proper hand and shook out a cigarette, handing it over.

“Thanks.” Cheng Zhenqing took the cigarette, first squeezed it from finish to finish, then waved it close to his nostril earlier than saying, “Do you may have a light-weight?”

He Wei handed him a lighter, his expression changing into sophisticated. With a click on, Cheng Zhenqing lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and smiled, “Hold asking; there are nonetheless two extra questions.”

“Why did you solely acknowledge Cheng Zesheng and never search for your mother and father?”

“This… It’s actually onerous to elucidate. To sum it up in three phrases: not acquainted sufficient.”

“One final query.” He Wei leaned on the desk, lowered his head, and spoke in a hushed tone that solely the 2 of them might hear.

“Have been you beforehand—an anti-drug officer?”

———

At three within the morning, He Wei returned dwelling, exhausted. He had been engrossed in his work earlier than, not feeling a lot, however as he relaxed now, that elbow strike he acquired from apprehending Cheng Zhenqing began to make itself identified. A heavy feeling settled in his chest, and even respiratory pulled at his muscular tissues in a faint ache.

He hadn’t come again the day earlier than, and there was takeout on the desk that regarded like Cheng Zesheng’s order. However he didn’t have a lot of an urge for food now. The primary challenge was his discomfort; he simply wished to go to his room, apply some ointment, and get some relaxation.

After heading upstairs, He Wei stood at his door, glancing at Cheng Zesheng’s door. He’s in all probability asleep by now, proper? Possibly it’s finest to not knock and disturb him. Some questions might wait till tomorrow.

Nonetheless, Cheng Zesheng had already woken up when he heard the neighboring door open. Tonight, he had ordered shredded hen for dinner, and after a complete evening with out He Wei returning, he figured he was working late on the bureau. So, he left the shredded hen on the desk, hoping He Wei would discover it upon his return.

For some motive, with out a brief dialog with He Wei or any interplay, the evening felt exceptionally lengthy. He tossed and turned in mattress and solely managed to go to sleep round one within the morning. His sleep wasn’t deep, and when he heard the sound of the lock on the alternative door, he immediately awoke.

Cheng Zesheng rapidly bought up and went to knock on He Wei’s door. After a short time, the door slowly opened. The room was darkish with none lights on, and a pungent scent of Yunnan Baiyao ointment lingered within the air.

“Are you injured?” Cheng Zesheng flicked the sunshine change on, however then remembered the time was off. He Wei wouldn’t be capable of hear his voice.

He Wei was fairly speechless. He was exhausted, planning to use the ointment and head to mattress. Cheng Zesheng turned on the lights, flooding the room with brightness. How was he alleged to sleep now?

[Are you injured?]

There was a notice on the mattress, and He Wei put down the Yunnan Baiyao ointment. He tore off a chunk of paper and replied: [Yeah. Why aren’t you asleep yet?]

Cheng Zesheng discovered it even tougher to sleep now.

Although it was widespread for them as detectives to undergo from bruises and accidents, as “roommates,” it didn’t appear proper to show a blind eye. Cheng Zesheng thought for a second, tore off one other piece of paper, and requested the place He Wei was injured and which legal managed to harm him.

Seated on the fringe of the mattress, He Wei’s higher physique was naked, rubbing the black and purple bruise on his chest. He picked up a pen and replied briefly with simply two phrases: [Your brother.]

Cheng Zesheng was initially surprised, however quickly remembered that his brother from the neighboring world was nonetheless alive and was even a fugitive legal. He couldn’t fathom the state of affairs the place Cheng Zhenqing and He Wei would come to blows; in spite of everything, in his coronary heart, his brother solely dealt ruthlessly with criminals, and he had by no means seen him use pressure towards his colleagues.

[Where are you hurt? Is it serious?]

[Chest, elbow—luckily no bones were broken.]

Cheng Zesheng adopted the scent of the Yunnan Baiyao ointment to its supply. He stared on the empty mattress, the place He Wei had been, presumably nonetheless holding the ointment and rubbing away the accrued blood.

The overhead gentle flickered twice and all of the sudden went out.

Each He Wei and Cheng Zesheng regarded up concurrently. He Wei tried to show the sunshine again on, however after making an attempt a number of occasions, it grew to become obvious that one thing unlucky had occurred—the ability was out.

Nicely, now there was no must go notes anymore. They need to every go to their very own rooms, and sleep of their respective beds.

Cheng Zesheng additionally stood on the doorway, checking the change. The sounds within the air steadily grew to become extra advanced. In addition to his respiratory, there was an extra faint sound of respiratory.

He Wei’s senses had been sharp, and he had already sensed the presence. He felt stunned, not by the truth that somebody was behind him however by how a lot time had handed and he was nonetheless in a position to hear Cheng Zesheng’s voice.

And—this was simply too shut.

He Wei furrowed his forehead and instinctively pushed; this time his finger didn’t contact the skinny air however the smooth cloth of a T-shirt and a heat chest. His coronary heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly circled, solely to have his wrist caught once more. The heat transmitted by way of the skin-to-skin contact was plain, confirming that there was a residing particular person standing behind him.

“Cheng Zesheng…”

“Don’t transfer.”

Cheng Zesheng’s heat breath almost brushed He Wei’s cheek as he spoke in a low voice, “In the event you transfer ahead only a bit extra, we’ll virtually kiss.”

Cheng Zesheng was additionally nervous. He hadn’t anticipated to really contact the actual He Wei. The wrist he held was chilly and easy, however the palpitation of the heart beat was actual, thumping towards his chest, beat after beat.

“…” What sort of nonsense was he spouting? He Wei shook off the hand and stepped again in the wrong way, and at that second, the room all of the sudden brightened up—the ability was again on.

Nobody else was there; the room held solely him.

Cheng Zesheng stared at his palm, dazed. The heat lingered on his fingertips; it was the human physique temperature.

He couldn’t be mistaken. He had certainly simply touched He Wei.