CW: Some ableist language on this chapter. Nothing egregious, however please take word if that is notably delicate for you. I’m making an inventory of CWs for the guide as a result of I haven’t been in line with my indications, so I’ll add it there. 

The curtain of rain exterior the window forged the sky in grey. The scent of damp earth wafted into the balcony by the window’s display screen. 

“Are you going to maintain gazing me?” Lu Hui frowned. He pulled his proper foot again from Ji Fanyang’s knees, “I’m hungry.”

Ji Fanyang withdrew his gaze. For a second, he was upset: upset that he didn’t meet Lu Hui sooner. The younger man’s eyes shifted barely: “What do you need to eat?”

“Similar to that? ‘What do you need to eat’, is that this your methodology for comforting others?” Lu Hui immediately turned overbearing, “I actually can’t think about how these ladies managed to take the bait.”

Coping with Lu Hui was a masterclass in how you can write the phrases ‘impervious to motive.’ Ji Fanyang blinked: “Usually, I might pat their palms and say that it was all prior to now.” He shifted the subject, “However you undoubtedly wouldn’t really feel comforted, in order that’s that.”

Lu Hui snorted: “I might break your nostril, Mr. Angel.”

Ji Fanyang touched his personal nostril: “Then I’m extraordinarily grateful that you just let my nostril off the hook.”

Lu Hui stood up. He shifted his weight to his left leg, doing his greatest to maintain the stress off of his proper leg. He headed into the lounge to have a look: a settee, espresso desk, fridge, kitchen utensils. The whole lot wanted was there. He mentioned: “I need to purchase some audio system.”

“For the lounge?” Ji Fanyang requested. 

“Mm.” Lu Hui nodded, “And a bass guitar. How does that sound?”

“No.” Ji Fanyang refuted him sternly, “I don’t need complaints from the neighbors.”

Lu Hui frowned, and with some effort, he retreated a step: “An acoustic guitar.”

“Fantastic.” Ji Fanyang knew that compromising with Lu Hui was as possible because the fantastical tales of One Thousand and One Nights, and he figured that an acoustic guitar can be a little bit quieter than a bass. 

“Let’s go to the furnishings retailer.” Lu Hui proposed. 

“In your present situation?” Ji Fanyang raised an eyebrow, showing solely uncertain. 

Lu Hui shot a chilly have a look at Ji Fanyang: “Cripples save the world. Let’s go.”

They left the condo collectively. Lu Hui mentioned: “Ji Fanyang, when you trick one other woman into courting you, don’t come again right here. Go to a resort.”

“…” Ji Fanyang had no different, “Okay.”

“When you don’t manage to pay for, go verify some prostitution den.” Lu Hui supplied solutions, filled with zest, “Or go to a public park.”

“I’m not part of some anti-pornography brigade.” Ji Fanyang mentioned, “And I don’t have an curiosity in discipline operations.”

They pressed the down button for the elevator and waited, standing subsequent to one another shoulder to shoulder. 

“If I discover a new girlfriend, and I’m solely saying if.” Ji Fanyang mentioned, “I’ll do my greatest to beautify your picture and introduce you to a woman with temperament.”

“No.” Lu Hui refused, “If I have to, I’ll name a prostitute, or go for a one-night stand. I choose to unravel this stuff with cash.” 

“Do you continue to do not forget that you’re a police officer?” Ji Fanyang raised his head to take a look at the elevator’s rectangular flooring show because the numbers modified, “And, have you ever by no means considered getting married?”

“I haven’t.” Lu Hui answered. With a ‘ding-dong’, the elevator arrived, and Lu Hui walked into the elevator first, “I’m too good. I don’t have the guts to pull a naive woman into the mire.”

Ji Fanyang rolled his eyes: “Late-onset eighth-grader syndrome.”

“I do know what that phrase means.” Lu Hui pressed the ‘1’ button, and the elevator’s doorways shut, “Many thanks for the praise.”

The elevator descended a flooring, then the doorways opened, and a lady sporting a turquoise skirt appeared. Ji Fanyang supplied a smile: “Good day.”

The corners of Lu Hui’s lips rose derisively as he watched the charming Mr. Sunshine flirt. 

“Good day.” The lady smiled generously. She walked into the elevator and Lu Hui and Ji Fanyang exited, so the three of them brushed shoulders. 

The elevator’s doorways closed, and Lu Hui bumped Ji Fanyang’s shoulder: “Love at first sight?”

“Simply being well mannered.” Ji Fanyang ignored Lu Hui’s provokation. He pulled on Lu Hui’s forearm, “Don’t fear your self over it, cripple.”

“I’m solely going to be crippled for a day. Don’t be too happy with your self, little demon.” Lu Hui had no different however to observe Ji Fanyang, “She was fairly and dressed properly.”

“Shut up, you previous hen.” Ji Fanyang opened the umbrella and punctiliously made certain Lu Hui was lined, “We nonetheless should go purchase some audio system. I belief that you just’ll be simply as energetic then.”

“Wait, shouldn’t we go and signal the lease settlement?” Lu Hui requested suspiciously. He stared at Ji Fanyang as his lips involuntarily pulled upward, and he yelled in indignation, “You signed it? You knew I might select this one?”

“This condo has a big balcony.” Ji Fanyang made no try and cowl up his delight. He loved predicting Lu Hui’s conduct, particularly when he predicted it appropriately. It was merely a sweeter feeling than consuming ten kilograms of honey, “In our first case, within the depressed deceased’s house, you favored to face out on the balcony. His balcony was open, which wouldn’t take away the potential of you planning to leap from it, so I selected one with a big, enclosed balcony.”

Lu Hui walked round to the passenger seat, pulled open the door, sat down, and put his seatbelt on. He hurried on Ji Fanyang moodily: “Alright, alright, you’re so amazingly intelligent, Mr. Policeman.”

Ji Fanyang shut his mouth, glad. He mounted his seatbelt and began the automobile: “The place did you allow your baggage?”

“The Fu Resort on Wanlin Highway.” Lu Hui mentioned. 

“How a lot is there? Will all of it match within the trunk?” Ji Fanyang requested. 

Lu Hui’s elbow was resting by the automobile’s window. He leisurely answered: “Not a lot. Two packing containers.”

“Solely two packing containers???” Ji Fanyang requested in shock, “You didn’t carry any furnishings?”

“Are you referring to the couch, cupboard, and mattress that may collapse with one kick?” Lu Hui’s eyes crinkled right into a smile, “I solely introduced some essential paperwork and a few toys.” 

Ji Fanyang was speechless. Looks like he had underestimated the extent to which Lu Hui didn’t hassle with trifles. 

Ji Fanyang drove to the Fu Resort, put Lu Hui’s two packing containers within the automobile’s trunk, then the 2 of them went to the furnishings retailer. 

Ji Fanyang stood in the course of the shop, rubbing his brow. He was arguing with Lu Hui like he was wrangling his personal narrow-minded son: “Bluetooth audio system. At most as tall because the calf, no larger.”

And Lu Hui was squatting subsequent to an infinite speaker, wanting pathetic: “Is that this one okay? I can afford it.”

“It’s not a query of affording it.” Ji Fanyang took a deep breath, “I don’t need it as a result of, as a police officer, I don’t need to get reprimanded for disturbing the neighbors.” 

The gross sales clerk, sensing the ambiance, didn’t dare to even breathe closely. He checked out Ji Fanyang, turned to take a look at Lu Hui, then mentioned: “Uh…”

“This one!” / “One other one!”

Ji Fanyang and Lu Hui spoke concurrently. 

“…” The gross sales clerk compelled a smile, “How about you two attain a consensus first?”

Ji Fanyang walked over and half squatted beside Lu Hui. He had no selection, as a result of Lu Hui wouldn’t rise up. So, the 2 whispered amongst themselves for a bit earlier than Lu Hui nodded in compromise. 

Ji Fanyang stood up and confronted the gross sales clerk with a smile: “We’ve selected that one.” He pointed at a speaker about as tall as his thigh. 

“O-Okay.” The gross sales clerk let loose a relieved breath. He had actually been scared that the 2 of them would come to blows within the retailer. 

After Lu Hui swiped his card to pay, the 2 of them carried the speaker downstairs and laid it flat within the backseat of the automobile. 

Ji Fanyang clapped his palms: “Alright, subsequent cease is the instrument store.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui bought within the automobile. 

——— 【Flashback】Morning on the detention middle———

After his credentials have been checked, Ji Fanyan headed into the reception room. Li Yun was ready inside, and when he noticed Ji Fanyang, his eyes widened in shock: “It’s you?”

“Mm, appears such as you nonetheless bear in mind me.” Ji Fanyang shrugged, then launched the particular person subsequent to him, “That is Lawyer Wang. He’s accountable for your case.”

The youth stood up and shook palms with Lawyer Wang. After he sat again down, he requested Ji Fanyang doubtfully, “He isn’t the court-appointed legal professional?” 

“I went to search out one.” Ji Fanyang mentioned, “Lawyer Wang is a superb lawyer. You don’t want to fret.”

“I’m right here for 2 instances.” Lawyer Wang mentioned, “Your father’s case and yours can be dealt with collectively.”

The youth stared blankly at Ji Fanyang: “My father’s…case?”

“Sure.” Ji Fanyang nodded, “You deserve the reality.”

“I…” The youth’s eyes reddened, and he lined his mouth, “Thanks, thanks a lot.”

“Don’t simply thank me.” Ji Fanyang mentioned, “Chief Lu has been a giant assist as nicely.” He apportioned a part of the credit score to Lu Hui with out permission. 

The youth nodded repeatedly: “I’ll bear in mind you and Squad Chief Lu. You each are good individuals.”

Ji Fanyang smiled as he nodded: “Good boy.”