Chapter 8 – Du Xue is Dead

“Everyone who was in the way has been taken out by me.”

As he spoke, Shen Xingchen raised his hand and made a sharp, throat-slitting gesture. It was clean, swift, and carried a chilling sense of efficiency.

A faint jolt of alarm flared in Pei Yu’s heart. He shot the youth a sharp glare before turning and striding toward the small electrical room. The building sat at the foot of the main tower, not far from the flower beds. He reached the door in a few large steps, but as he moved to push it open, he noticed a dim, yellowish glow flickering from the window.

Pei Yu stepped over to the window and peered inside. There, he saw Xiao Hu slumped in a rocking chair, his eyes closed. His chest rose and fell in a steady, deep rhythm, and the faint sound of snoring drifted through the cracks in the window frame. On the table beside him sat an open thermos, a thin wisp of steam still curling into the air.

Letting out a quiet breath of relief, Pei Yu stepped away from the room. He began walking toward the main gate, glaring at Shen Xingchen as he went. “How much did you give him?”

Shen Xingchen offered a playful grin, holding up three fingers. “I swear to the heavens, I only gave him half a pill. Mmh… and if I’m lying, may I be cursed…” He rolled his eyes thoughtfully. “May I be cursed by never having Brother Pei in my bed.”

Pei Yu choked on his words, returning the gesture with a cold roll of his eyes. “What a magnificent blessing from the heavens that would be.”

“Don’t be like that, Brother Pei,” Shen Xingchen said, his voice half-pouting and half-sincere. “I’m certainly looking forward to it.”

He reached out again to take Pei Yu’s arm. Pei Yu pursed his lips with resignation and shook him off once more. “Is there even a single word of truth that leaves your mouth?”

“Of course!” Shen Xingchen widened his eyes, his obsidian-dark pupils shimmering with amusement and a shifting, liquid light. “When I said it was love at first sight, Brother Pei, that was the absolute, truest truth I’ve ever spoken.”

Pei Yu let out a cynical snort in his heart, not even bothering to respond. To use such blatant lies to deceive others, and yet find people foolish enough to fall for them… the living were truly as thick-headed as they were utterly boring.

What a shame that such a magnificent skull as Shen Xingchen’s was cursed with the ability to speak.

Perhaps he really shouldn’t believe a single punctuation mark of what this man had said regarding the Jiang Tianxiao case or Yan Lang. It was entirely possible the man was simply a madman seeking entertainment at his expense. At that thought, Pei Yu instinctively touched the folder tucked against his chest, his brow furrowing slightly.

As they spoke, they reached the main gate. Just then, Pei Yu’s phone began to ring. On the other end, Dou Hua’s voice lacked its usual brightness, replaced by a heavy, somber note.

“Brother Pei, Du Xue is dead.”

Pei Yu’s knuckles twitched. “Who?”

“The girl we met a week ago, the one who tried to jump. I told you about her; she worked at one of the canteen windows.” Dou Hua paused, a trace of pity coloring his tone. “I heard she committed suicide at home. She slit her wrists.”

“You heard?” Pei Yu repeated.

“Yes. You remember her boyfriend, Zou Sheng? The canteen procurement officer with the glasses,” Dou Hua said. “He called me to report the death. Captain Liao and I are heading to the scene now. The Captain said he wants you there too.”

Pei Yu gave a slight nod. “Fine. Send me the address.”

“The Captain and I have to get the investigation van from the bureau.” Dou Hua sounded as if he were walking, his breathing slightly uneven. “Where are you? We’ll come pick you up.”

“I’ll meet you at the bureau.”

After hanging up, he turned to Shen Xingchen. “I have a scene to attend. We’ll look at the file later.”

Shen Xingchen nodded obediently, putting on a submissive front as if to say he would never dream of interfering with Pei Yu’s work. He pointed toward the folder in Pei Yu’s hand. “Then… should I take it back and keep it safe for you?”

“No,” Pei Yu refused flatly. He had not yet reached a level of trust where he would hand over the file to this devious living soul. After a moment of silence, Pei Yu lowered his gaze to the other man. “I’ll lock it in the bottom of my toolbox. I don’t use that compartment often.”

Furthermore, his small toolbox was an essential piece of equipment that he kept with him constantly. It was safe enough.

“Are you planning… to sneak a look alone first, Brother Pei?” Shen Xingchen leaned in closer, a soft laugh escaping him.

Having no desire to waste more words on him, Pei Yu silently inhaled the scent of the man—a fragrance so different from any other living person—and offered a cold assurance. “We’ll read it together.”

“It’s a deal then.” Shen Xingchen chuckled softly, extending his pinky toward Pei Yu’s hand. “Pinky-swear on it. You mustn’t lie to me.”

Pei Yu jerked his hand back, avoiding the contact. Seeing this, Shen Xingchen’s smile grew even more suggestive. “Does Brother Pei really loathe my touch that much?”

The faint, ethereal perfume swirled around his senses. Pei Yu steadied his mind, making his stance clear before his next deep breath. “I despise all unnecessary physical contact with the living.”

Shen Xingchen blinked, letting out a long, knowing “Oh…” his eyes filled with understanding.

The sound of voices drifted from not far away; someone was approaching. Pei Yu glanced at Shen Xingchen. The youth smiled and mouthed a silent promise: “I’ll come find you.” Then, with a quick movement, he vanished into the shadows of the trees by the gate.

Pei Yu immediately turned back toward the main building. He had to lock the file into his toolbox before Dou Hua and Captain Liao arrived.

——

“Are you still at the bureau, Brother Pei? Working this late?”

Perhaps because they were heading toward a scene that likely held a corpse, Pei Yu could hear a trace of heaviness and panic beneath Dou Hua’s routine greeting.

“Mhm.” He nodded, his tone as calm and steady as ever.

“Tofu Pudding¹Should I just use Tofu Pudding (豆花 / dòuhuā) or still Dou Hua? With no changes with his name Dou Hua (窦华 / Dòu Huà). Or maybe Douhua? I’ll use Douhua for the next chapter. But what do you all prefer? Tofu Pudding, Dou Hua, or Douhua? Please comment down below. Thank you..” It was Liao Ming, who had been silent until then, who voiced the question they both shared. “Why did this Zou Sheng call you specifically?”

Under normal circumstances, if someone discovered a body, the first thing they did was call emergency services.

“When Du Xue tried to jump last time, Zou Sheng went to see her. We chatted for a bit and I left my number for him,” Dou Hua said gloomily. “He probably thought calling me directly would be faster.”

Pei Yu and Liao Ming exchanged a look but said nothing.

As they spoke, they reached the top floor and arrived outside Du Xue’s apartment. It was the same residential building as before. Dou Hua pointed to the half-open door of the east unit on the sixth floor. “We’re here.”

Hearing their voices, a man hurried out from inside. Seeing the group, he froze for a moment. “So many of you?”

Pei Yu glanced at him. The man’s hair was disheveled, and his expression was a frantic mix of panic and sorrow. Behind his glasses, his eyes were red-rimmed as if he had just been crying. This was the same man who had rushed to support Du Xue after she was saved the week before.

Pei Yu moved past him, carrying his small toolbox into the apartment. He stopped just inside the entrance. Behind him, Liao Ming was already confirming the man’s identity: Zou Sheng, Du Xue’s boyfriend.

The woman he spoke of, Du Xue, was currently slumped against the living room wall. Her skin appeared ghostly pale from catastrophic blood loss. Her equally pale wrist hung limply inside a small bucket; the water within had turned a deep, morbid crimson. The metallic tang of blood permeated the entire living room.

The owner of the wrist kept her eyes closed, remaining utterly still. She looked as peaceful as if she were merely asleep.

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  Should I just use Tofu Pudding (豆花 / dòuhuā) or still Dou Hua? With no changes with his name Dou Hua (窦华 / Dòu Huà). Or maybe Douhua? I’ll use Douhua for the next chapter. But what do you all prefer? Tofu Pudding, Dou Hua, or Douhua? Please comment down below. Thank you.