Chapter Twenty-Four (Part 1): Breakdown
There was still a week to go before Lu Qiang and Lu Yin's wedding, and summer was already in full swing, the weather stifling and unbearably hot.
There were plenty of customs and particulars when it came to getting married in the countryside. Lu Qiang found them bothersome and planned to keep everything as simple as possible, which earned him a thorough scolding from Qian Yuanqing.
The two of them found time to go order their wedding attire. In the countryside, a wedding gown was of little use, and for the sake of a festive atmosphere, Lu Yin planned to choose a qipao. Because of her work, she knew a wedding dress designer who had opened a private custom-design studio on the Style Street. He was a man, but in his every gesture there was a distinctly soft and effeminate air. He had some reputation in the industry, and anyone wanting to have a wedding dress custom-made by him had to book more than two months in advance.
Since they were acquainted, he made an exception for her. But there still wasn't enough time to make a new design, and Lu Yin had a standard figure with a small frame, so he planned to pick out several finished samples for her to try on.
The studio was a little over a hundred square meters, divided into two floors. When they arrived, there were only two sales assistants helping customers try on clothes. Lu Yin had been here twice before and directly pulled Lu Qiang upstairs. The upper floor was not as luxuriously decorated as the lower one. It was basically his workroom, with a long wooden table covered in all kinds of design sketches. A mannequin stand stood beside it, a wedding gown only half-finished, snow-white lace hanging in scattered pieces over it.
Lu Yin stood at the top of the stairs. “Beat!”
The man raised his head from his sketches. Seeing that it was Lu Yin, he put down what he was holding and came over, his gaze settling on Lu Qiang for several seconds as he looked him up and down.
Lu Qiang was wearing a sleeveless undershirt and cuffed casual trousers, and on his feet were still a pair of old cloth shoes, though the quality and style were much more upscale than last year. The entire outfit had been chosen by Lu Yin. The undershirt was made of soft, close-fitting fabric, faintly revealing the two slabs of muscle across his chest. The shoulders were exactly the right size, wrapping around his strong, muscular arms. The casual trousers were black, their elastic waistband eliminating the need for a belt, the cuffs stopping at his ankles. He wore no socks, simply stepping into a pair of low-cut cloth shoes.
Before, he had not been refined. He was casually rough around the edges, without any embellishment. Now, by contrast, there was a kind of rugged refinement to him. It was all thanks to the woman beside him. His taste had improved, bringing out the masculine, healthy side of him while making the way he lived much more meticulous.
The two of them stood together with about half an arm's length between them. Their manner was not particularly intimate, yet there was an inexplicable closeness and clinging intimacy between them.
Beat looked them over twice and said, “Yinyin, is this your husband?”
Lu Yin gave a little “oh” and immediately introduced him. “His name is Lu Qiang.”
Beat turned toward him and held out his hand with a smile. “Just call me Beat.”
Lu Qiang stood with his hands in his pockets, lowered his eyes to glance at the man's fair, delicate hand, then raised an eyebrow. “Bi what?”
Lu Qiang deliberately mishears Beat's name as bi shenme? (“逼什么?”), literally “What the fuck?” or “What [do you mean by] ‘bi’?” Here, 逼 (bi) is vulgar slang referring to female genitalia, making his response intentionally crude and insulting.
Lu Yin sucked in a breath and nudged him with her elbow, casting Beat an apologetic look. The other man smiled awkwardly and withdrew his hand. “Luo Shengnan. That's my Chinese name.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries at the door, they had Lu Qiang sit on the sofa opposite the fitting mirror. He selected several red qipaos for Lu Yin and told her to take them inside to try on.
Beat wanted to chat casually with Lu Qiang. When he turned back, he realized there was practically nowhere for him to sit. Lu Qiang had his arms folded, his legs spread wide, taking up almost the entire sofa.
He hesitated where he stood for a moment, then walked over and sat pressed against the armrest.
He tried to find something to talk about, but Lu Qiang responded with little interest. In the end, all he could do was let his gaze settle on the fitting-room door.
Lu Yin tried on several pieces at first, and Lu Qiang rejected every one. He either complained that the waist was cinched too tightly or that there was a strange opening in the chest. The skirts also had high slits on both sides, almost exposing her entire thighs.
Lu Yin lost interest and perfunctorily tried on the last one.
She came out in high heels, and Lu Qiang looked over, raising an eyebrow.
This one was not sleeveless. It had a high mandarin collar and a front opening, but the waist was still too narrow, and the hem was just as short. Still, it was much better than the previous few. At the very least, there were no slits and nothing was exposed at the chest.
The qipao fit her perfectly, bringing out the advantages of her slender waist and broad hips. Her legs were straight, her ankles slender and delicate.
Even Beat was staring in a daze.
“This one is good. It really brings out Yinyin's temperament, and the size fits perfectly too. It's like it was custom-made for you!” Beat was so excited he forgot himself. He patted Lu Qiang and naturally rested a hand on his shoulder.
Lu Qiang gave him a sidelong look, shrugged, and shook his hand off. He raised his chin toward Lu Yin. “Turn around and let me see.”
Lu Yin tugged at the hem and obediently turned slowly, showing him her back. Seeing herself in the mirror, she was also a little dazzled by how she looked.
But the man behind her was frowning deeply. He clicked his tongue, pulled a hand out from his folded arms, and waved his fingers twice, indicating that she should change it. There was not a single intact piece of fabric covering her entire back. It was all red organza, thin and revealing, extending down to her waistline, with even the shallow indentation along her spine clearly visible.
Lu Yin retreated into the changing room. Lu Qiang asked, “Don't you have any proper clothes here?”
“……”
Beat picked out another piece for Lu Yin. It was not a qipao in the traditional sense, but a modified version, with a fluffy curve to the hem. The upper half was also dignified and elegant.
They chose this one in the end. Lu Qiang took out his wallet to pay. His gaze lingered in the direction of the changing room. “Take the one from just now too.”
Lu Yin was puzzled. “Didn't you say it was no good?”
Lu Qiang smiled meaningfully and whispered in her ear, “Keep it. Wear it tonight.”
Lu Yin's cheeks immediately burned fiercely, and she pinched him hard around the waist.
Lu Qiang jumped. It was as though a hundred claws were scratching at his heart. He mouthed a curse at her, but with an outsider present, he gave her some face and did not retaliate.
Lu Yin raised her eyebrows, finally coming out on top for once.
After thanking Beat, the two of them left.
Walking through the old, quiet little lanes, Lu Yin took his hand and swung it lightly. “Do you have something against Beat?”
Lu Qiang naturally clasped her hand. “I was going to ask you, where did you meet a half-man, half-woman like that?”
“How is he half-man, half-woman? He's just a little more refined in his manner.”
Lu Qiang gave a scoff. “Whether he is or not is one thing. With that kind of behavior, he's just waiting for someone to fuck him.”
Lu Yin's steps stopped. “You…” She flung his hand away. “Are you a pervert?” She ignored him angrily and quickened her pace, the braid at the back of her head swinging wildly from side to side.
Lu Qiang watched her retreating figure, scratching his forehead with his finger. He was just about to catch up when the phone in his pocket began to vibrate.
He took it out and glanced at it, unable to keep himself from frowning. The number belonged to Old Xing. He had called several times during this period. Later, Lu Qiang stopped answering, and he had even gone to the security booth. Lu Qiang's attitude had been quite firm. He did not want to cause trouble. Besides, this was not simply a matter of clearing things up. Right now, he could not be apart from Lu Yin. He could not bear to be separated from her even for a second.
Lu Yin had walked some distance before realizing he had not followed. She turned back and saw him standing where he was, head hanging loosely, weighing the phone in his hand again and again.
She called his name.
Lu Qiang looked up and paused. He tapped the screen a few times, slipped it into his pocket, and walked toward her.
The road led out to a bustling area. It was already three or four in the afternoon, and they needed to find somewhere to eat. Lu Qiang would have to change shifts later.
A row of shops lined the outside of the shopping mall. Some had just opened, with gongs and drums beating noisily.
They went over to join in the excitement. It was a tattoo shop, and the entrance was crowded with people. A tattoo artist was demonstrating his superb drawing skills on paper, his strokes smooth and flowing, the designs intricate and imposing.
This way of attracting customers was quite novel, and Lu Yin could not help watching for a while longer.
Lu Qiang stood behind her like a wall, doing a good job of keeping the crowd away from her. Bending slightly, he pressed close to her ear and said loudly, “I can do this too.”
Lu Yin tipped her head back. “Really?”
“The year I first left my hometown, I worked as an errand boy at a tattoo shop. I can do the simple stuff.”
Lu Yin's eyes curved with her smile as she rose onto her toes and tilted her head up. Lu Qiang lowered his neck to accommodate her height and moved closer to her lips. Lu Yin said, “I don't believe you. You have a skill like this too?”
Lu Qiang raised an eyebrow. “One day I'll give you one, then you'll believe me.”
Knowing he was joking, Lu Yin asked, “Then what design would you tattoo?”
He suddenly gave the tip of her ear a light bite, his lips pressing tightly against the tiny hole so she could not dodge away. “The Lu from Lu Qiang. I'll tattoo it on your butt cheek.”
A current of electricity raced wildly up the back of her neck. Lu Yin hunched her neck and dodged. “I'm not some livestock.”
He was utterly suggestive. “Aren't you my little animal?”
Lu Yin's face grew hot. She shot back, “Then I'll sit you under my ass every day?”
Lu Qiang said, “I'd love nothing more.”
It took Lu Yin a few seconds to react before she suddenly understood what he meant. The deafening music all around them turned into a buzzing, muddled noise ringing in her ears.
It was all because she was not on his level. After being teased like that, she could only obediently shut her mouth.
They watched for a little longer before Lu Qiang pushed through the crowd and brought Lu Yin away. They ate Japanese food on the fifth floor of the shopping mall. She was so stuffed she could barely walk, while Lu Qiang was fine. He had barely touched his chopsticks. Lu Yin liked it, but he could not get used to that Japanese stuff. It was not even as good as steamed buns with pickled vegetables.
After the meal, they wandered around the mall and bought some things for their new home. Once the food had mostly digested, they drove back.
They drove all the way back to the residential complex. Lu Yin dropped him off at the guard booth at the entrance. Before getting out, Lu Qiang pulled her body toward him and gave her a deep, thorough kiss. Lu Yin bit him before he finally stopped.
He got out, but before he had even steadied himself, Lu Yin stepped on the accelerator and drove away.
Lu Qiang watched the tail of the car disappear. Standing with his legs apart, he raised a hand and rubbed his lips for a while.
“Yo!” A lazy voice came from behind him. “That was passionate enough.”
Lu Qiang did not move. Recognizing the voice, he frowned deeply.
The rural kid who had taken over for Old Li came running over. “Dage, that guy said he was looking for you. He's been waiting here for ages.”
Lu Qiang nodded. “Go home and eat after your shift.”
“Okay!”
Chen Sheng stood up from the bench and pinched out his cigarette. “Well, look at you, important and busy. I wondered what you were off doing. Turns out you were busy picking up girls.” He glanced in the direction the car had disappeared. “She's pretty. Where'd you find her?”
The car window had been open just now, and he had gotten a very clear look at Lu Yin's appearance.
Lu Qiang's pupils contracted slightly. “What do you want?”
“Not welcoming me?” Chen Sheng sneered. “You think I wanted to come? Boss Qiu told me to.”
Lu Qiang did not answer. He returned to the guard booth and changed into his uniform. Chen Sheng followed him inside. “Boss Qiu isn't convenient to meet with you personally. You know what happened. No beating around the bush. Your phone. Give it to me.”
Lu Qiang said, “What phone?”
Chen Sheng swept him a glance. The two of them had once followed Qiu Shizu together and entered the Chao Hui at the same time. He was clearly the more quick-witted one, yet for some reason he had never received much favor. Lu Qiang had nothing but brute strength and a reckless willingness to risk his life, yet he had earned Qiu Shizu's appreciation.
At first, Chen Sheng had been wary of his position. Ever since that nighttime ambush, however, Lu Qiang had turned into a coward, and from then on, Chen Sheng had become even more determined to completely subdue him.
“Don't play dumb. I want your phone.”
His phone was set to automatically record calls. The entire conversation that night, when Wu Qiong had called him, had been recorded. Although there was nothing particularly important in the recording, it could prove that Wu Qiong had used Qiu Zhen's phone to make the call. Before the case occurred, Wu Qiong had been holding Qiu Zhen's phone, which increased the possibility that the two of them had been together. This was unfavorable to him. Although Qiu Shizu did not know about the recording function he had set up, they had to eliminate every possible piece of evidence to ensure Qiu Zhen's safety.
Lu Qiang said, “It got soaked a few days ago. I threw it away.”
Chen Sheng was furious. “I'm warning you, don't try any tricks with me. There's nothing to gain for you.”
Lu Qiang's gaze remained calm. He said lightly, “I really threw it away.”
He cursed under his breath. The difference in their builds was substantial. To avoid attracting attention, he had not dared to bring anyone with him. In a one-on-one fight, he would not have had the slightest advantage, and he certainly did not dare rashly try to snatch the phone from him.
Lu Qiang finished changing, made a few marks on the duty roster, and went about doing whatever he was supposed to do.
Chen Sheng watched him coldly. Then a thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly smiled. He did not press the matter any further. Instead, he asked, “I heard you've been getting pretty close to an old criminal policeman lately?”
Lu Qiang's hand paused. He did not answer.
Chen Sheng said, “You've got quite a wide circle of friends. You're even hanging around with the cops now? Boss Qiu told me to give you a word: don't say what you shouldn't say, and even more importantly, don't do what you shouldn't do.”
With that, he gave a cold snort, kicked away the stool at his feet, and walked out of the residential complex.
Lu Qiang braced one hand against the edge of the wooden table, head lowered. He tossed the pen aside, rolled his neck, and glanced out the door. “Wait a moment.”
Chen Sheng stopped.
Lu Qiang straightened. “Pass a message to Boss Qiu. Lu Qiang only wants to live a quiet little life, tell him not to worry. I don’t know anything. When I, Lu Qiang, give my word, I keep it. If I dare make a guarantee today, I won’t go back on it. He should know what kind of person I am.”
Chen Sheng shot him a sideways look from the corner of his eye, tugged at the corner of his lips, then drove off.
The car went straight to the clubhouse entrance.
Qiu Shizu was soaking in the hot spring out back. A hookah and a glass of red wine sat by the pool. His arms rested along the sides, eyes closed in repose.
Chen Sheng crouched halfway, half kneeling. “Boss Qiu.”
Qiu Shizu gave a lazy hum, squinting. “Back already? What did Qiangzi say?”
“He said he can’t hand over the phone. He’s keeping it to save his life.”
Qiu Shizu’s eyes snapped open, doubt flickering. “He really said that?”
Chen Sheng’s expression turned grave as he nodded. “I also found out he’s been getting very close lately with Xing Weixin from the criminal police unit. The guy goes to see him often.”
“Xing Weixin?”
“The same detective who took the lead in Xiao Zhen’s case six years ago. After that, he kept chasing it. Only stopped when he couldn’t find any evidence.”
Qiu Shizu asked, “What could the two of them even be talking about?”
“No idea.”
“That phone might not matter much, I’m just afraid…” Qiu Shizu trailed off, already guessing the gist.
Chen Sheng said, “Today I saw him with a woman. Heard he registered his marriage not long ago. Must be that little wife of his.”
Qiu Shizu lifted his eyes to him. “What are you getting at?”
Chen Sheng curled his lips, lowering his head slightly. “Looks like he cares a lot about that little wife. How about we stir something up, give him a warning?”
A long pause.
“Handle it as you see fit.” Qiu Shizu slowly swirled the wine in his glass, then added, “Mind the limits.”
Chen Sheng smiled, acknowledged it, dipped his head, and took his leave.
Qiu Shizu leaned back against the edge of the pool. Just as he closed his eyes, someone at his side called softly, “Boss Qiu, a call.” The phone was pressed to his ear.
After only a few words, Qiu Shizu’s eyes flew open. He snatched the phone. “What did you say?”
From the other end: “Zhen Ge wouldn’t let me get in the car. He drove off in his own jeep.”
“With him in that condition he can still drive!” Qiu Shizu roared. “Where did he go?”
“He… he went to the place where Zhen Ge went to university.”
“What’s he going there for?”
“Not sure,” came the awkward reply.
Qiu Shizu’s gaze turned sinister, his chest heaving violently. With a sweep of his hand, he knocked the hookah and wine by the pool to the ground. “A bunch of useless trash.”
No comments:
Post a Comment