Chapter 41: Look

Ji Lian might have been in a high-level place, however he was relatively low key. With Ji Fanyang’s persona, he was unwilling to make pals with the kids of those excessive officers. The daddy and son pair determined to have a small get-together. They solely knowledgeable a couple of family and friends, an in depth gathering with a heat ambiance. 

Ji Fanyang invited Rao Feifei and Yang Jie. All these ladies on the Bureau who adored Ji Fanyang made a couple of oblique inquiries, however had been despatched away by Ji Fanyang’s perfunctory smile. 

Ji Lian personally referred to as Director Gao and invited him to his son’s party, making Gao Zhengcheng really feel overwhelmed by favor. 

Throughout the few days spent getting ready for the get together, Wei Congjia referred to as to first ship him his blessings, then to ease Ji Fanyang’s worries. It was unknown whether or not or not lu Hui was alive. He had been lacking for about half a month now, and there was no information from the capital’s police. Even when Ji Fanyang burned with nervousness, there was nothing he might do. 

The party was held within the facet room of a nature-themed lodge. The room wasn’t massive, nevertheless it was sufficient for a dozen or so folks. A bamboo forest grew alongside one wall, and the area was artfully sectioned off with waist-height shrubs. 

Ji Fanyang sat on one facet of the desk, chatting with Rao Feifei and Yang Jie. Ji Lian was conversing with a few of his previous pals whereas Fan Shuqin talked with a couple of gentle-looking girls. 

Ji Fanyang handled others warmly, however not very intently. He didn’t have any pals he might open up to. There have been many individuals of the alternative gender, however he at all times appeared to mess up his relationships. He even had 4 breakups on his monitor file. After the fourth breakup half a yr in the past, he’d felt a little bit disheartened. He adopted Lu Hui round daily to type himself out, however he had additionally been joyful. 

He nonetheless lived within the co-rented condominium, guaranteeing that somebody can be there to open the door if Lu Hui got here house. Rao Feifei joked that he appeared dedicated to Lu Hui. 

“It’s your birthday immediately, don’t have such a protracted face.” Rao Feifei advised. 

Ji Fanyang rubbed his stiff facial muscle mass, forcing a smile: “Oh, I went to the Bureau, however I didn’t see Xi Junhong there. Isn’t he pursuing you?”

Rao Feifei smiled and shook her head: “He noticed Chief Lu’s self-sacrifice and was drastically moved. He instructed me that he wished to do one thing for the folks. Uncle Xi instructed me that he signed up for a volunteering group and left two days in the past to work within the southern mountains.”

“Can Chief Lu encourage somebody that a lot?” When Ji Fanyang heard that, he couldn’t assist however really feel a bit joyful. He imagined Lu Hui’s face when he instructed him about it; Lu Hui would undoubtedly hate it and refuse the ‘life coach’ label. 

“Nope.” Rao Feifei shrugged, “Firstly, I didn’t perceive Chief Lu’s intentions, and I didn’t anticipate that Chief Lu might affect Xi Junhong a lot. May this be thought-about a case of ‘the whole lot has its vanquisher’[1]?”

“…That’s laborious to say.” Ji Fanyang actually admired Rao Feifei’s creativeness. He supported his chin in his hand, “If Chief Lu might hear you say that, he’d toss you out of the fifteenth story window.”

“Then don’t inform him when he comes again.” Rao Feifei stated. She noticed Ji Fanyang for a second, then hung her head dispiritedly, “Nevermind. You’re undoubtedly going to inform him, then chortle at him.”

“Certainly one of life’s biggest pleasures.” Ji Fanyang’s eyes curved right into a smile, “There should be some reward for being a babysitter.”

“Such as you and Chief Lu.” Rao Feifei raised her glass, “Every little thing has its vanquisher. Comfortable birthday.”

“Mutual reinforcement[2])).” Ji Fanyang knocked his glass towards Rao Feifei’s, “Thanks.”

Rao Feifei caught out her tongue: “Comfortable thirty-third birthday to Chief Lu, too.”

“He might make hassle till he’s 100 years previous.” Ji Fanyang stated. 

Rao Feifei nodded: “That’s for positive.”

…

The party concluded. Ji Fanyang left the lodge, rubbing his nostril with exhaustion. Fan Shuqin patted her son’s shoulder: “Mrs. Qi invited you to her home.”

“I’m not going.” Ji Fanyang refused. He checked out his mom, “My good friend is lacking. Why would I be within the temper to go fiddle with Miss Qi.”

“I do know.” Fan Shuqin nodded, “So I declined. I stated that you simply simply broke up with somebody, so that you’re not feeling as much as it.”

“…Mother, what on earth?” Ji Fanyang smiled wryly, “You’re citing one thing from half a yr in the past. Every other purpose would have been higher.”

Fan Shuqin pinched Ji Fanyang’s cheek: “My son is so good-looking and personable. These ladies who dumped you will need to have been blind.”

“…Lu Hui didn’t say so.” Ji Fanyang muttered. He appeared down at his watch “It’s nearly ten o’clock. Mother, it’s best to go house with Dad. I’ll be going house too.”

“It’s late.” Fan Shuqin advised, “For these subsequent a number of days, one other day with out information is one other day nothing has occurred to your good friend.”

“That’s not sure.” Ji Fanyang tried to smile. His smiling look was very very like Fan Shuqin’s, “Go on, Commander JI should be impatient with ready.”

“He wouldn’t dare.” Fan Shuqin stated, irritated. Together with her son urgent her to go house, she might solely go away, “Then, we’ll be going.” 

“Mm, good evening, mother.” Ji Fanyang waved.

“Good evening.” Fan SHuqin walked over to Ji Lian and waved.

Ji Fanyang watched his dad and mom drive away earlier than sitting in his automotive and heading house. 

When he acquired again to Lanshan Residence Advanced No. 1521, he walked into the elevator together with his keys in hand and pressed ‘15’. He was the one one within the elevator. 

The quantity on the elevator’s flooring show jumped to fifteen. The doorways opened and Ji Fanyang walked out of them. As he handed by the darkish entryway to the stairwell, Ji Fanyang’s steps faltered. He heard a rustling sound. 

It sounded just like the shifting of clothes. Ji Fanyang frowned, and with mild, cautious steps, approached the stairwell. 

The sunshine within the stairwell was managed with a sound sensor. Ji Fanyang abruptly stomped down laborious, producing an enormous noise to get the sunshine to activate. Gentle crammed the stairwell—an individual was sitting within the nook. 

It was only the start of spring, so it couldn’t be stated to be heat. A person sat there on the concrete flooring with one leg bent, carrying a black, tattered coat, his messy hair flaked with mud and his face lined in a beard. 

Ji Fanyang narrowed his eyes. Some folks might have thought they had been only a vagrant, however Ji Fanyang wouldn’t. All he thought was that the individual completely appeared acquainted. 

With the sudden mild, the vagrant squinted his eyes till they adjusted. After a second handed, he opened his eyes and checked out Ji Fanyang. His gaze was chilly and piercing, like a far-wandering wolf, however a bit hazy as he appeared on the younger man. He pushed himself off the wall to face up and stated with a hoarse voice: “…It’s been some time.”

Ji Fanyang opened his mouth however couldn’t discover his voice. He stared on the vagrant, stupefied. His coronary heart, suspended for half a month, lastly settled again down. He gasped, solely then discovering his voice: “L-Lu Hui?”

The stairwell’s mild flickered twice, the flashing of the sunshine the one factor shifting within the frozen ambiance. 

“Um…joyful birthday?” Lu Hui’s beard moved like he was smiling. 

Ji Fanyang’s eyes abruptly reddened. He lunged ahead and pulled Lu Hui right into a hug: “You lastly got here again.”

Lu Hui stood in place stiffly. Alright, he actually didn’t anticipate Ji Fanyang to be able to doing such a factor within the state he was in.