Jian Yao is in entrance of his ‘physique’.

They’re in a morgue that belongs to the Ministry of Public Safety.  A room with uninteresting gray partitions.  A dull and chilly room.

Although she thinks she is ready, she continues to be repelled by the sight. 

His physique burnt into an unrecognisable charred corpse.  The one conclusions they’ll make of the stays are that he’s very tall, not too skinny, however not fats both, which inserts Yin Ziqi’s description of him.     

In response to the police, his automotive went off the cliff throughout a excessive pace pursuit with the police.  There was an explosion on the backside of the hill.  

“Is that ‘him’?” Jian Yao asks Bo Jinyan.

Throughout the scorching summer season days, Bo Jinyan normally wears a white shirt and pant with out his jacket.  However at this time, he has his full swimsuit on.  Even his footwear are properly polished.  It’s an indication of respect for assembly somebody for the primary time, although he’s now not alive.  

He doesn’t reply Jian Yao’s query.  As a substitute, he appears to be like on the physique for a number of seconds, then he greets ‘him with a small smile’: “Hello.”

His voice is mellow and tender. 

Jian Yao is used to his uncommon behaviour.  However others are perplexed: “You recognize this man?”

Earlier than they get a solution, Bo Jinyan has walked out of the room.

——————

The convention room of the Ministry of Public Safety.

It’s a gathering between the representatives from China and the FBI from the US.  Bo Jinyan appears to be like like a distinct particular person from the charmer who referred to as her “Your Majesty” yesterday.  Immediately, he’s knowledgeable with a pointy thoughts and distinguished functionality. 

Jian Yao sits quietly on the again with a number of different supporting employees members.  

One the aspect of the spherical desk sits the reps from FBI. They share the outcomes of the DNA testings: “We now have efficiently recognized the deceased.”

They undertaking an image of an Asian man on the display screen.  He’s carrying a swimsuit.  He appears to be like like he’s in his late twenties. 

“Jiang Hao.  American born Chinese language. IT engineer.” FBI rep appears to be like at Bo Jinyan: “Simon, you need to be conversant in who he’s.”

Everyone seems to be shocked by the assertion.

Bo Jinyan replies with a mocking tone: “What an honour – He’s one of many survivors I helped rescued from Flower Cannibal No.1.”

—————-

Jiang Ho matches the profile drew up by the FBI.  The bodily attributes, his nationality, what he was carrying on the time of dying (a match to Yin Ziti’s descriptions)… He’s a wealthy and clever expat that returned to China about 6 months in the past.  He had the means to stalk Bo Jinyan, and the power to depart the clues on the crime scene.  

What’s his motive?

The FBI have give you two explanations:

1. Publish traumatic stress dysfunction prevented him from residing a traditional life. The psychological sickness turned him into an abuser.  

2.  Maybe he was an confederate of the Flower Cannibal from the beginning.  He pretended to be one of many victims to flee from being arrested when the Flower Cannibal was captured by Bo Jinyan and the FBI.  

——————

On the finish of the assembly, Jian Yao walks as much as Bo Jinyan.  He’s nonetheless standing by the desk, studying the doc that comprises details about Jiang Ho.  

One of many FBI investigators comes over to Bo Jinyan: “Simon, good job.”  He offers Bo Jinyan a handshake.

They stated they owe the success of this operation to Bo Jinyan.  He efficiently set a lure for Jiang Ho to step into.  With out his assist, they’d not be capable of establish him so rapidly.  

Jian Yao is glad for Bo Jinyan too.  However Bo Jinyan simply hangs a faint smile on his face. He doesn’t present any indicators of pleasure, or relieve.  

—————-

Once they depart the Ministry of Public Safety, it’s previous lunch time. 

Bo Jinyan may be very quiet.  Jian Yao asks: “So, case closed? “  She heard the FBI investigators discussing about reserving their air ticket to go dwelling.

Bo Jinyan: “Sure.  Case closed…a minimum of formally.”

There appears to be extra to his sentence.  Jian Yao asks: “Are you saying Jiang Ho will not be the particular person we’re searching for?”

Bo Jinyan solutions: “I don’t know.”  

Bo Jinyan offers a smile: “Effectively, time will inform.  If he’s nonetheless alive, he’ll come again, gained’t he?”

————————-

Night time.  The moon is shining brightly in a cloudless and clear sky.

Jian Yao is in Bo Jinyan’s condominium.  She is studying a e book in his research.  

Since she has made up her thoughts to ‘comply with his footsteps’, she will not be dropping any time to upskill herself. 

Nevertheless, she is just ‘following his footsteps’ within the space of labor. However within the space of affection… 

“Why are you looking at me?” He asks with out even lifting his head.  He’s studying a e book within the different nook of the room.  He appeared to be specializing in his studying.  How did he know she was looking at him?

Jian Yao blushes and solutions: “Mmm… simply observing.”  In any case, she is studying a e book on behavioural proof.  

Bo Jinyan places down the e book he’s studying.  He appears to be like into her eyes: “You may transfer into my condominium.  You may keep within the research.” 

Jian Yao: “… I’m not going to maneuver in with you.”

Bo Jinyan offers a slight frown: “My assistant needs to be by my aspect 24 hours a day.”

Jian Yao is used to his self centred and unreasonable requests by now.  She merely solutions him: “I wish to have my very own area.  Simply name me if you want me.”

He decides to drop the topic, however he’s not glad that he’s ‘rejected’ once more.  He will get up, loosens his tie and will get prepared for a bathe.

Simply as he steps out of the research, he hears Jian Yao says: “Apart from… when I’ve a boyfriend… sooner or later… I will probably be residing with him, proper?  I can’t be at your aspect 24/7.”

Bo Jinyan stops and turns round to have a look at her.  His icy gaze is making her barely uneasy.  

“No matter…” He says in such a small voice that it’s nearly not audible.   Then he walks off.

Jian Yao can hear the ‘bang’ of his bed room door.  

Jian Yao can’t assist however snort.  He began it by first asking her to discover a boyfriend (after the unintended kiss).  Now he can attempt to think about what life may be like if she does have a boyfriend!

———————

Jian Yao reads for slightly longer.  Then she remembers about what occurred within the morning.  She stands up and walks over to the e book cabinets.  She pulls out the field that labelled “California Flower Cannibal”.

It’s the largest of all of the case bins.  She places the field rigorously on the desk and takes out the content material inside.  It has an enormous folder inside,   There are paperwork that designate why it was such a tough case to unravel.  There was no sample to how he selected his victims.  Individuals of all ages, from completely different backgrounds and ethnicity can find yourself being his sufferer.   Though he got here from a damaged household.  He had his fortune from investing within the inventory market.  His wealth made it simpler for him to hide his crime.  

Then there’s info on all of the victims.  She picks up a number of information randomly.  There are some images that are fairly grotesque.  She rapidly strikes to the following file.   She sees a well-recognized title.  Simon Bo,  Bo Jinyan.

Bo Jinyan comes out from his bathe.  His hair continues to be moist.  However he would not take an excessive amount of discover.  He is considering what Jian Yao stated earlier.  Clearly, he’s much less necessary than some strange man that doesn’t even exist but.  He’s not glad about that.  

He walks out to the lounge.  Jian Yao additionally walks out from the research.  She has the file in her hand.  His title is on the duvet of the file.  

Bo Jinyan sits down on the couch and activates the TV.  He’s intentionally ignoring Jian Yao.  

After some time, he feels somebody sitting subsequent to him.  Jian Yao is pulling his sleeve.  He turns round, and sees her lovely eyes: “Can I take a look at your scars?”

“No lady has seen my physique earlier than.”  He solutions.  He continues to observe TV.

“But it surely’s necessary.” Jian Yao pleads with him,” I’m your assistant, and it’s associated to the case.  I’ve the proper to examine.”

Bo Jinyan appears to be like at her.  He begins to unbutton his prime.  His eyes are nonetheless trying on the TV.

He takes off his prime.  The sight of his broad shoulders and muscular physique is earlier than her, she appears to be like all the way down to the center of his glossy chest.

Under the chest, near the guts, is a darkish pink scar.  Additional down, there’s one other lengthy, barely extra shallow scar that traces his stomach. 

There’s much less scars within the entrance of his physique in comparison with the again.  However they appear like wounds that implied life threatening accidents.   

The photographs and phrases from the file she is holding in her hand flashes by way of her thoughts.  Within the file, it was recorded that “Simon disappeared for six months.  When he was recovered, he was severely wounded, and affected by hypovolemia and early indicators of a number of organ failures.  He was unconscious and cared for within the intensive ward for 4 days.  The FBI ultimately captured the Flower Cannibal based mostly on info supplied by Simon.  He helped saved twelve different victims that have been in captive with him on the time.”

Jian Yao appears to be like at him.  He by no means talked about about his previous experiences.  Tears kind within the nook of her eyes.

“Have you ever seen sufficient?” He asks in a chilly tone.

Jian Yao ignores the query.  She reaches her hand out to the touch the scar on his chest.  The chilly rugged floor is warmed by her finger ideas.  

Instantly, she feels her hand is grabbed by his.  

She appears to be like at his hand, then steadily transfer her gaze as much as his face.  Is he…blushing?

She hears him say: “It’s ticklish.  Don’t contact my scars.”  

Jian Yao thought she may maintain her tears in.  However when he stated that, she will be able to’t assist however smile.  And the tears that she tried so arduous to comprise escapes down previous her cheeks.

Bo Jinyan clearly doesn’t anticipate her to cry both.  He’s surprised.  He appears to be like at her.  

Jian Yao is slightly embarrassed.  She turns round to seize some tissues to wipe her tears.

“If I knew it could make you cry, I might by no means have proven you.” Bo Jinyan says whereas buttoning up his shirt. 

Extra tears stream down her face.  Such a young assertion…

She takes extra tissues.   She is aware of he’s nonetheless looking at her: “Don’t have a look at me.  Watch your TV program!” she says to him.

“Okay.” He mutters and goes again to watching TV.

She sits down subsequent to him.  Her pink eyes are nonetheless moist.  She sniffles and clears her noses and throat.  Phew…Okay… 

Then she feels some weight on her shoulders.  Bo Jinyan has put his arm round her.

Her complete physique stiffens as he comes nearer in the direction of her.  

“Don’t cry.”  He says in a tender voice.

“…” 

The images and sounds from the TV continues.  There aren’t any different actions within the lounge.  Bo Jinyan’s hand continues to be draped over her shoulders.  She will odor the contemporary clear scent of cleaning soap that lingers on his physique after his bathe, and his heat that’s handed on to her due to their closeness.  

How a lot time has passed by?  Half an hour?  Fifteen minutes?  Nobody is aware of.  Nobody is counting…  The cell phone in Bo Jinyan’s pocket buzzes.

He retrieves his arm that was round her shoulders.  Jian Yao offers a small fast stretch. She wished the cellphone by no means ringed and he or she may stay in his arms perpetually…

He didn’t catch the frustration in her eyes.  He appears to be like on the caller ID, and solutions: “Hello, Fu Ziyu.”

Fu Ziyu is asking Bo Jinyan about Jiang Hao.  Jian Yao decides it’s time for her to return.  She takes the file to return it to the research. 

As she walks previous Bo Jinyan, she says to him: “I’m going.” 

Bo Jinyan appears to be like up: “Okay, bye.”

On the opposite finish of the road, Fu Ziyu says: “It’s late.  Jian Yao continues to be there?”

“Oh, she was crying simply now.  I used to be soothing (comforting?) her.” Bo Jinyan says it prefer it’s essentially the most pure factor on the earth.  

(Be aware from TB:  Re: translation for ‘soothe’ – The phrase used right here in chinese language is 哄, which is identical phrase Bo Jinyan used when he deboned the fish for Jian Yao. 哄 can be utilized in some ways, like coax, pamper, soothe.  It has connotations of intimacy 🙂 )

Jian Yao is extraordinarily embarrassed: “You aren’t allowed to inform him!”

————

After Jian Yao returns to her condominium. She washes up, will get became her pyjamas and lies on her comfy mattress.

It’s late at evening. She appears to be like on the ceiling for some time.  Then she sits up and walks to her purse.  She takes out a photograph.  A photograph she made a replica in Bo Jinyan’s research.

It’s a photograph of Bo Jinyan. He’s mendacity in a cave.  He’s mendacity on the bottom.  She couldn’t inform what the color of his shirt is, as a result of it’s stained with blood.  His good-looking face is pale. His eyes are shut.  He’s mendacity unconscious, subsequent to a pool of blood. 

Jian Yao appears to be like on the picture for a very long time.  Then she offers an enormous sigh.  She holds the picture near her lips and gently kisses Bo Jinyan’s ‘cheeks’.  

————

Shortly after Jian Yao leaves, Bo Jinyan can also be able to relaxation.

He takes off his prime subsequent to the mattress.  He appears to be like within the mirror and sees the scars on his physique.  He thinks about Jian Yao.  Her fingers touching his physique.

He makes use of his fingers to the touch the identical wounds Jian Yao lays her palms on earlier.

It’s not ticklish.  

Then why is it ticklish when she touched him?

He remembers her lovely hand.  And the feeling he felt when her fingers touched his pores and skin.  It’s like a white feather brushing previous softly and gently. 

A girl’s contact.

One thing stirs inside him.  Seems like warmth is popping out from inside him by way of the wound. 

He stands in entrance of the mirror for some time.  

He heads to the toilet and takes a chilly bathe earlier than going to mattress.