Chapter 57: Together
The moonlight was beautiful outside the window, the hubbub of the day gradually fading away. Soft, weak moans, steady breathing, and the occasional sounds of footsteps became the theme of the hospital ward. The white incandescent lights overhead, on day and night, were a reminder that this was only a temporary rest and recovery hospital for the patients.
It was Gu Shi's fifth day in the hospital. Earlier she had been moved from ICU to the general ward. During the two days she was unconscious due to loss of blood, the deputy director of criminal investigation, the leader of the political section, Captain Liu, and Little Wu all came by in groups to see her, piling up fruit baskets and flowers by her bed.
Gu Zhichang stayed with her the whole time those two days. When she came to he was so excited his blood pressure skyrocketed and he didn't look so good.
Zhang Chi volunteered to take over for him and he gradually became familiar with the nurses' and doctors' shifts in the surgical department, and the families of neighboring patients… Gu Shi declined, but Zhang Chi insisted he was taking over for her father completely, even coming to see her after work, brining her some congee he'd made himself, and bird's nest & snow fungus soup. Later he simply brought in a mini fridge and put it at the end of her bed. It was filled with the pigeon soup, snakehead fish soup, etc, that he brought her during the day.
"People are going to think I'm convalescing after childbirth. What's with all these meals?" Gu Shi was finding Zhang Chi's kindness hard to take.
"Don't worry about what other people think. You were in good health to start with so there's no "too weak to handle strong supplements", and you don't have to worry about getting fat, so just eat all you can eat."
Gu Shi had no choice but to courteously concede. When she thought of her dad getting dizzy from excitement she decided to eat well so he wouldn't worry about her.
As soon as Zhang Chi entered the ward the other patients looked on admiringly. Some older ladies came over and remarked on his good looks and commended him for taking such good care of his girlfriend, much to Gu Shi's annoyance. Eventually, she just closed her eyes and rested.
Zhang Chi laughed, not minding. He sat next to her and read or leafed through files, each of them getting along peacefully as they passed the time.
One day, after visiting hours, a woman in a white doctor's coat came looking for Gu Shi, who was sitting up in bed eating sea cucumber congee that Zhang Chi had gotten from who knows where. She looked up and their eyes met.
"Are you Gu Shi?" The woman had good skin and wore gold wireframe glasses. She smiled bookishly.
Gu Shi heard the nurse who led the woman in say "Director Li, I'll leave you here." Then Gu Shi knew this was the much-fabled mother of Chen Ting. She had forgotten that his mother was the Chinese Medicine department head of this grade-A hospital.
"Chen Ting said his coworker was hospitalized here. He's been busy so I came especially to check on you for him. How are you? How are you feeling?"
Gu Shi smiled noncommittally. "The usual."
The nurse's aide off to the side was very clever. She helped Gu Shi sit up and said, "This young lady is too polite to say that this four-person room is not very relaxing. She's just been through major surgery, so what she needs most is good rest so she can recover."
"I just asked the doctor in charge, who said you got here in just in time, and that the initial actions taken to stop the bleeding were very well done. Otherwise you would have been in quite some danger. But there shouldn't be any after effects. Single rooms are in short supply here, but I will ask for you."
"No, no need. Don't listen to her. Please thank Chen Ting for me. I heard he came to see me before but I was asleep. A coworker told me about it later on. Today you've come here yourself. Thank you all for your concern."
Gu Shi felt tired after Chen Ting's mother, Li Yajuan, left. She lay down with her head propped up and closed her eyes to rest without a thought. She looked at the time. Zhang Chi had just sent her a message saying he had to work overtime and would be there in half an hour.
Auntie Wang came up to her and asked curiously, "How come that doctor looked at you like you were a potential daughter-in-law? Was she really here to see you or to size you up?"
"You could tell that?" Gu Shi smiled. "You're very perceptive."
Chen Ting's mother's judging eyes, her fake, polite smile, and her seemingly guileless courteous remarks made Gu Shi feel uncomfortable down in her bones. Even nonchalant Auntie Wang had noticed the strange vibes. Gu Shi's intuition told her that Chen Ting was unaware of his mother's visit, so she pretended like it never happened. Suddenly she felt a bit of sympathy for Chen Ting.
When Zhang Chi tiptoed into the room and took over for Auntie Wang, it was already 9 o'clock at night. He helped Gu Shi brush her teeth and wash her face, they he grabbed his notebook and lay on the single bedside cot and quietly watched Gu Shi.
No matter what angle, he never tired of looking at her natural face without any makeup on. Stray hairs hung down sexily on the tip of her nose. Her long eyelashes were like a butterfly alighting on a flower bud. Even as she rested she exuded an exquisite, unique air of sensitivity, fragility, and strength.
Her scent when he embracing, the taste of makeup when kissing… By comparison, Gu Shi was a pure and natural, unadulterated health food that most people would keep their respectful distance from, finding it tasteless. But he felt she was a sumptuous banquet. As he watched her, the notebook in his hand slipped and fell to the floor. Gu Shi heard it and looked at him.
"What's the current case?" Gu Shi asked as she watched him deftly retrieve his notebook.
"Looks like it might be a case that has no use for me." He smiled wryly.
She was skeptical. "Have you been to the scene?"
"Followed it closely, but I've somewhat lost my train of thought," Zhang Chi said frankly.
Her expression was encouraging. He knew that even though she didn't say thanks, she wanted to use her professional experience to help him. Her face had gotten more color over the last few days, and anyway she couldn't sleep, and the other patients were not asleep either. Maybe whispering about the case might prove to be beneficial.
The case came right after Gu Shi had been attacked. Lacking their general, the tech team had to ask a fraternal unit to lend their trace analysis expert to help out, and Chen Ting came to assist.
The scene of the crime was a niche-themed hotel modeled after a Japanese love hotel. It was a self-service establishment. There was no main light in the room; it was kept dim to create a certain mood. Most of the windows airtight, the curtains drawn tight. It was dim and gloomy.
The hotel's staff member was cleaning a room when she noticed a door lock had been damaged. This guest room's theme was a sailboat, lit by a blue overhead light. She saw a wadded-up bath towel on the floor and was about to enter and pick it up when she noticed there was something under the towel——the corpse of a young man with his eyes open and tongue sticking out!
"The rope around his neck was from the sailboat decorations on the wall," Zhang Chi stressed.
The janitor ran out screaming, drawing the attention of several guests. Some of the bolder ones entered the room to have a look, but every one of them quickly turned and ran out, pale-faced.
"Those guests made the scene into a real 'haunted house'. How badly was the crime scene disturbed?" Gu Shi shook her head.
Chapter 58: Invested
"Even if someone sees evidence on the scene, it doesn't mean they will discover a clue," Gu Shi said, her head tilted. "How was the room entered?"
"One of the suspicious things about this case is the door lock. The entire cylinder was dislodged before the janitor entered the room."
"One of the suspicious things, meaning there are more unusual circumstances?"
"I think there's a problem with the nightstand."
"Pried open?"
"If it was only pried open there'd be no issue. But our technician examined the screwdriver marks from prying it open for their depth, angle, as well as the marks left from the force applied to the drawer and top of the nightstand. I think they will probably find something there."
"Did the drawer need a key to unlock it, or was it made to look like it was forced open?" Gu Shi said.
Zhang Chi nodded. "We don't know right now, but I think that's how it was. Similarly, I have my doubts about the door."
Gu Shi got into analysis mode and said clearly and logically, "Perception is great, but we still must rely on evidence found at the scene. Detailed deconstructing it will reflect the criminal's or pretender's mentality, and after the lock and micro traces from the floor are deciphered, no matter the degree of difficulty, in the end the facts will be revealed. So then there must be some verdict?"
"Not as of right now. This case is quite difficult. Boss wants me to have go at sketching again."
"It's a challenge and an opportunity, but have they determined that conditions are appropriate for making a sketch?"
"That's the problem I'm facing." Zhang Chi seemed a bit helpless. "Right now there are too many indeterminate factors, but what is clear is how difficult this case is."
"No witnesses?"
Zhang Chi nodded. "Not only are there no witnesses, the victim's registration information used someone else's ID card."
"Is it an unknown person?"
"No, you can't say that. But we found him and he said the two of them ran into each other on the street, that he lived in a nearby area. The deceased arranged a time with him and every time would give him something. This week they missed each other, and in the end he didn't know anything about the victim."
"So that lead is cut," Gu Shi said. "Has the deceased been identified?"
Zhang Chi smiled wryly. "The deceased's family has been very uncooperative., equivocating, muddling things, and not offering up much information unless you ask. And when you do ask you feel something is off. When we finally went and checked we found that he had checked into this hotel more than sixty times over the last six months."
Gu Shi shook her head scornfully. "So he had the habit of visiting prostitutes, a man of his age."
"You'd never guess it. A good-looking man of twenty-five and manager at a Fortune 500 company. Supposedly was number one in his group within six months of entering the profession. Promoted very quickly, now in charge of sales for the Greater China region."
"A lot of energy, working nonstop, not wasting a second." Gu Shi pondered, then turned to Zhang Chi. "In that case, you can investigate his phone and internet usage."
"Captain Liu already thought of that."
"Dead end?"
"It's rough. For now at least there's nowhere to go. We couldn't find his cellphone at the scene. It was turned off. Security camera footage wasn't helpful either. There were a lot of dead ends with the internet investigation as well."
"So, everyone's hopes rest on you. That makes sense. Security footage was no good?"
"You remember last time I had to sketch from security footage, don't you? Wasn't that a tragedy?" Zhang Chi didn't want to talk about that embarrassment.
"No case is exactly alike. Just because you failed before doesn't mean you will every time. And you've just broken a major case, which proves that you've improved by leaps and bounds."
"Looking after you is an assignment Teacher gave me. You don't have to encourage me like this to repay me." Zhang Chi scratches his head awkwardly. Gu Shi's uncharacteristic reaction through him off-guard.
Gu Shi pulled a poker face, asmused by his rare show of bashfulness. She covered her mouth as she laughed. "So that's what you're worried about."
"It's not a worry. What I'm most worried about is that everyone's looking to me to solve the case, but if the person in the security footage was not at the scene at the time of the crime then I'll be letting everyone down. Which is more unbearable for me than my sketch misleading us down the wrong path."
Gu Shi suddenly realized something and muttered to herself, then she told him some things he should do the next day when he went to the office, earnestly making him write it down in his notebook. "With these things I can help you analyze and explain your worries. If you can't draw your sketch after that then don't look for excuses!"
"YES MADAM!" Zhang Chi saluted her and joyfully put an asterisk by his notes in his notebook.
"Did someone come to visit you today? he asked as he looked at the fruit and fresh flowers on her nightstand.
"Oh, Director Li from the Chinese Medicine Department," she said plainly.
Zhang Chi's mind raced. Director Li… Wasn't that Chen Ting's mother?
Gu Shi didn't look at him. She closed her eyes again and continued resting, without a hint of agitation on her face, as if she felt particularly at east with him beside her.
Seeing her indifferent reaction, he said "oh", relieved, and lay back down and resumed staring blankly at Gu Shi's profile.
He closed his eyes and thought of Gu Shi's earnest expression as she instructed him, and he felt a surge of indescribable joy fill his heart. This wasn't her job, she didn't need to take any heed of it. He had a countdown going in which to draw his sketch before the forensic autopsy report. She was helping him race against time.
"Evidence is unbiased, independent of man's will and does not lie." Gu Shi always held that theory, believing that reconstructing the scene of the crime was the best way to reveal the truth.
She urged him to focus his attention on the details of the crime scene investigation. They could help determine the time of the murder and the suspect's main motive.
"Was there anything unusual about the rope when it was removed from the body?"
"What do you mean unusual?"
"The condition of the rope, any traces of blood."
Zhang Chi closely scrutinized the crime scene investigation videotape and went through every photo taken. If it had not been for Gu Shi's advice he never would have paid attention to those minor details. It was just like she had said: "Just because you see something doesn't mean you discovered something."
He called her and impatiently reported back. "When the rope was removed from the body the blood was already congealed. There were no drops of blood."
"Was any part of the rope dropped on the ground soaked with blood?" She could only direct him remotely. Zhang Chi was her eyes, taking her on a tour of the crime scene.
"I'll look again." There was the sound of riffling papers on his end, and the clicking of a mouse. "Found it. And? I don't see anything different."
"In other words, when the rope was removed from the blood on the ground, there was no string of blood attached?" Gu Shi asked from her end.
"I didn't see any."
"Any traces of blood near the rope, like it had been moved?"
There was a pause, then an excited voice, "Yes!"
Zhang Chi felt like a blind man groping in the dark, being led this way and that, but not knowing himself what he was avoiding or passing by.
Chapter 59: Invitation
The traces at the scene were just as Gu Shi had expected.
Gu Shi explained, "In the climate of the current season, judging by the temperature in the hotel, if the blood didn't cling to the rope in strings when the rope was moved then it must have sat there over twenty minutes."
A light turned on in Zhang Chi's head. He strode to the window. "In other words, the suspect must have stuck around at least half an hour after the victim died?"
"I can't say that for sure right now, but it's something to go on for now. You should go check my second point."
She was referring to focusing on the details of the fingerprints found at the scene.
"If your description was correct, then from what I understand, the top of the nightstand must be longer than the front panel of the drawer. You need to confirm the location of the fingerprints in that area, and the shape."
"The fingerprints obtained on the drawer panel are on the outside at the top," Zhang Chi said, looking it over.
"And the shape?"
Chen Ting whispered to Zhang Chi from the side, "At the very top the fingerprints are stuck to the veneer, partially wrapped around it."
Zhang Chi related exactly what Chen Ting had said.
Gu Shi distinctly heard Chen Ting's voice. "Ask Chen Ting what problem arises from this situation?"
Chen Ting realized she was asking himself, but he didn't take the phone right away. His train of thought was still on the medicinal supplements he was preparing for her that his mother was going to bring over after she got off work. He hadn't thought Gu Shi's question so he didn't know how to respond.
Gu Shi said impatiently over the phone, "Under normal circumstances, a person's hand couldn't reach that place if it was airtight. Only when the drawer is opened could the fingerprints show up there."
"So then we can say that the lock being pried open was faked?" Zhang Chi said.
Gu Shi affirmed that without hesitation. Therefore, Zhang Chi completely relaxed. All he had to do was examine the security footage and dig out a sketch. Why dig? The resolution was too low and there was not a clear image of the face head-on. The clearest image was of the profile of a girl waiting at the elevator, looking back.
When he went to the hospital that day, Gu Shi saw him and exclaimed. "What happened to your eyes?"
Zhang Chi didn't realize anything was wrong. He picked up a compact mirror from the nightstand and noticed the whites of his eyes were completely red. He set the mirror down indifferently. "I was looking at security footage for a long time today."
He said it lightly. Only he knew how his eyes and brain felt like that were going to explode. No one knew how he had poured over every frame of that less-than-five-minute video, engrossed in it for four hours. His mouse finger as all red.
Little Wu had come over and shook his head right away. "It's so dim I can only make out that's it's a person, and whether it's male or female. I know your power of discernment is better than most of us, but it's still just a person. If you can make a face out of that you can ascend to immortality. I can't tell."
Zhang Chi laughed, but said nothing. He knew it was going to be difficult so it was pointless to grumble about it. His canvas had been blank for the last three hours. He changed perspectives, distance, looked at it on a big screen, and it seemed to distinguish something within the mosaic. No, not distinguish, more like he could guess the familiar structure of the face, but it still seemed to be lacking something.
"Pretty difficult?" Gu Shi asked him plainly.
He nodded. It seemed there was nothing he could hide from her, so he could just be himself.
He washed his hands and peeled her an orange, handing it to her piece by piece. Her complexion was a little better, and his heart, little by little, sank down from the air until it hit the ground. "Where's the difficulty?" She always did like to get to the point.
"The resolution is too low and the face is not complete. And it's too dark."
"There's always more ways than difficulties."
"I knew you would say that. I finally finished the sketch before I came here."
"I want to know how you got around the lighting problem? After all, that's the first problem you face when drawing a sketch."
Zhang Chi looked at her calmly. Gu Shi shot back a reproving look. "Yes, actually I know composite sketching was started in the 1880s by Chair of the Paris School of Anthropology, Louis-Adolphe Bertillon. Since it's a school of science, a criminal investigative science, then shouldn't you use criminal investigation methods to assist you in increasing the effect?"
"Great minds think alike." Zhang Chi smiled and told her what he had done that afternoon. He closed his sketch folder and went to the hotel where the crime took place. Under the same lighting, he asked a woman attendant to stand in the same spot and turn her head in the same angle, then observed the security footage and pondered it for a while before he finally finished his sketch.
"Seems like you accidentally used criminal investigation experimentation and just happened to corroborate your sketch?"
"Yep. After I guessed at the sketch, aside from the structure of the body, I felt something was off. Later I went back to the studio and pulled the curtains, and as the light spilled in I suddenly saw the light."
Gu Shi pursed her lips and smiled. "You're making it sound mysterious."
"I'm not making it mysterious. Think about it, when you women go out window shopping to buy clothes, why is it that it looks so much different on you in the store than when you get it home?
"Mirror, lighting, plus the staff making all kinds of compliments to convince the customer."
"Right. Lighting has a huge effect on one's figure. So when light shines on a person's face it definitely will create a difference; changing the position and angle will directly influence the accuracy of the sketch." He waited until Gu Shi was finished eating, then handed her a tissue. "Let's not talk about work. It feels like that's the only thing we have in common to talk about."
"What else?" Gu Shi lowered her eyes. Every time this subject came up she felt like running away, which disappointed the ever-hopeful Zhang Chi.
"Did the doctor tell you when you can leave the hospital? Zhang Chi covered up his disappointed expression and turned and tidied the orange peels on the table.
"Soon. I can leave this weekend if I want. There's no reason not to, it's stifling in here."
"You're used to being busy and never stopping. A lot of people eagerly look forward to taking off work and public holidays." Zhang Chi turned and looked her in the eye. "Well, that's perfect. My birthday is this Sunday. I invited some friends to eat out and sing karaoke. You want to come?"
Chapter 60: Unrequited Love
Zhang Chi's birthday party on Sunday was one of two good things happening at once. In addition, the criminal immediately recognized himself from Zhang Chi's sketch, and thought he could get a reduced sentence if he turned himself in. No one needed to work overtime right now, so they enjoyed a relaxing meal and went to the next leg of the night: they had already booked a KTV room. The older ones like Captain Liu and Gu Zhichang excused themselves, citing the need to rest, and took their leave.
Everyone knew it was because they didn't want their presence to spoil the fun and make the younger people hold back. Instructor Fan was a special case, however. He always hung out with the youngsters. He stood with Little Wu before the big KTV screen, insisting on giving everyone a moving performance as a birthday present for Zhang Chi.
Instructor Fan took the microphone nad mimicked a criminal suspect, holding his throat and choking through his fake sobs, "I knew this day would come, just not so soon. I'm not mentally prepared…"
Little Wu motioned like he was holding up a sketch. "See, isn't that you? You want to say it or you want us to? You seemed so powerful and strong when you were murdering."
Instructor Fan sidled up to Little Wu and looked, then covered his mouth in shock. "A, When… when did you draw me?"
Their performance was animated, Instructor Fan's huge frame in stark contrast to his thin voice and everyone's relaxed mood made them bust out laughing. Even Gu Shi couldn't help but laugh, her hand pressed to the scar where she was wounded.
The door to the room slowly opened behind them and He Meng's slim figure was blocked by the two of them. Gu Shi, ever observant, pushed Zhang Chi and then everyone noticed He Meng's presence. Little Wu and Instructor Fan stopped and waited for the host to greet his guest. The atmosphere in the room cooled a little.
He Meng saw everyone was decked in the same police attire and set down the cake, an apologetic look on her face as she made to leave. "I didn't know you were meeting with your coworkers today. Sorry for disturbing you. I just came to say happy birthday and I'll be off."
Zhang Chi thanked her politely, but didn't urge her to stay.
Little Wu, who didn't know the inside story, came forward. "Don't go, stay, come give our birthday boy some face. Everyone is welcome here, the more the merrier. Sing a song before you go."
He Meng eyed Gu Shi in the corner. Gu Shi gave her a friendly smile and moved to make room for her and beckoned her over. Zhang Chi glanced at them but said nothing, and let everyone begin choosing songs. He Meng could only walk over uneasily and sit down.
Around this time there were rumors at the office that Zhang Chi would soon be transferred to the Ministry of Public Security and his house was already selected. They said the political section had already recommended him for meritorious service, it only needed to be announced. They also said that his father had a business associate who was an old army buddy, now a high official… In a word, praise and criticism were mixed; people had different opinions about it. Zhang Chi just laughed it off whenever he heard it.
Gu Zhichang once regarded him with new respect, and said, "Your temperament is good. When I was your age I was full of piss and vinegar. If I had heard rumors and slander like that about me I would have went off."
Zhang Chi shrugged. "Those who know me or respect me won't make such wild talk in the first place. All the negative criticism seems to be coming from those who are mere acquaintances. I can't change their minds, and I won't let their negativity affect me."
And so it was. That day, Zhang Chi had only invited those he knew well. They would end up chatting about the cases anyway, which would be inconvenient for outsiders. And the most important reason was that ever since he had entered public security he had had to break appointments because of work or overtime, so those outside his circle of friends drifted apart.
His old classmate He Meng, though, had come because she remembered his birthday. Zhang Chi had told her not to do anything as it wasn't a big deal, not worth wasting money on. She still insisted on giving him a cake.
Gu Shi sat properly beside He Meng and could feel the graceful bearing of this former school beauty queen. Her fragrance wafted over, at first a clean, elegant aroma, with attractive afternotes. Even though she was a woman, Gu Shi was still taken aback by her charm. Her elegant, lovely profile was vivid and exquisite.
In another corner the single cops' eyes were drawn to her, especially Little Wu, who very much wanted to trade seats with Gu Shi. Gu Shi noticed He Meng's eyes suppressing their worshipful gaze, but kept furtively looking at someone, but that someone had no idea he was being watched as his loving gaze passed over He Meng and landed on her!
Even the slow-witted Chen Ting noticed it. He asked Instructor Fan, "Is Zhang Chi pursuing Gu Shi?"
Instructor Fan shot back, "He's not the only one, am I right?"
Chen Ting's face flushed, but no one noticed in the dim light of the room.
Instructor Fan excused himself, saying her had to get his shop ready for the next day, and took his leave. Zhang Chi put his arm around his shoulder as he led Fan out. When they were alone, Fan turned and asked, "So, are you prepared to make your selection?"
"I kinda have no choice, you know? I can't simply do things in a slapdash manner and keep a foothold in two boats at once. But I don't know."
Instructor Fan nodded. "All the same, girls are sensitive. You have to give them a way out and let someone help you take their attention away. Otherwise you might come away emptyhanded.
Zhang Chi nodded gratefully. When he got back to the KTV room he found He Meng beginning to drink heavily, and skillfully. He lost no time motioning Little Wu to stop her, but she was having none of it and said she wanted to sing a duet with Zhang Chi, who felt helpless and gave Gu Shi a look. Gu Shi frowned, her expression seeming to say, "Stop dawdling, go on and sing." So he went and chose a song, looking for "Hiroshima, My Love". He Meng was clearly drunk. She finished singing the song with tears in her eyes and sat in a corner and drank by herself with a mind to get herself wasted.
"Tomorrow is a work day so we should leave early so everyone can go home and rest," Zhang Chi said after everyone had had a round singing.
Everyone looked at each other, then at He Meng. Her eyes were squinted, her hand propping up her chin, her speech a bit slurred. "He hasn't made his wish, and no one's eaten any cake. How can you call this a birthday? I made it myself, isn't anyone going to try it?"
Background music swirled around the room as everyone lively handed out pieces of cake and praised He Meng's baking. The whole time she just stared at Zhang Chi. He felt the situation was beginning to get out of hand.
"Little Wu, can you take my classmate home in a bit?" Zhang Chi said.
"No problem. I'll get her home safely."
He Meng suddenly stood and staggered around the table and stumbled into Zhang Chi and wrapped her arms around him like a creeping vine. "Can you take me home? I only want you."
Zhang Chi signaled to Little Wu and pushed her away and handed her over to Little Wu who helped support her because she could barely stand up. "Little Wu is the only one here who didn't drink. I can't drive. You all go on first. Safety first."
He Meng, helped along by Little Wu, turned back when they reached the KTV room door. "You won't regret not choosing me, will you?"
Zhang Chi was taken aback. He looked at her camly. "Fellow classmate, all I can say is thank you. We will forever be just friends."
He Meng stood there blankly for a moment, wiping her tears. She put her arms on Zhang Chi's shoulders and hugged him lightly, then leaned her head on Little Wu's shoulder and left with him without looking back.
Some of the others in the room went to the restroom while others were still engrossed with singing. Zhang Chi sighed. When he turned to look at Gu Shi she was reclined on the couch watching him with her bright, piercing eyes. He didn't hesitate, but went right over to her.
Chapter 61: Melting
"Do you want to go home and rest? I can take you." Zhang Chi was pressed close to Gu shi, talking into her ear. With all the noise in the room this was the only he could be heard. The smell of alcohol on his hot breath made her recoil away. She quietly nodded after she heard him.
"I didn't invite her here today," Zhang Chi said after they left the KTV room. "But it's just as well. Now everything is clear."
"You don't need to tell me all this."
Zhang Chi sped up and stood in front of her, blocking her path. He said firmly, "You know why it was necessary. Because I want you to be my only girlfriend."
Gu Shi went around him and kept on walking. "Everyone is free, no one is anyone's anything."
"I can grant you that freedom, but I don't care about that. I want to be your boyfriend and care for you only." He came forward and grabbed her arm.
She threw him off lightly. "You don't really know me. How do you know we're right for each other? We're not children. You can't just say I like you and then be able to get along."
"Don't you even want to try? What are you afraid of? Can you give me a chance to get to know you?" Zhang Chi felt his patience, which he had endured for so long, was about used up. He felt he was walking through dense fog and was trying desperately to see clearly ahead, but he just couldn't.
Zhang Chi flagged down a taxi and opened the door for her and sat beside her and told the driver her familiar address.
"Once you know everything you won't want to know me." Those were the last words she spoke that night. After that she fell into a deep silence, or perhaps it would be better to say she fell to pointless remembering the past.
Zhang Chi didn't push it any further. He knew he had to wait. Fortunately there would come a day when a corner of this iceberg would melt.
At the regular meeting that week no cases suddenly came up, and the special investigations case had been closed. It was a rare time when everyone was gathered in the conference room at the same time.
"This vicious murder case triggered by internet prostitute soliciting has really enlightened us about how we work." Captain Liu summarized, "First of all, we need to change our way of thinking. Before, the first things we thought of were traces and other evidence left at the scene of the crime, and then analyze that evidence. But the experiences and from these last few cases has shown us that if there is a witness, the more time that passes, the less clear the witness is about their testimony, and that we have often missed the best time for composite sketching to be effective, thus reducing quality of the sketch.
"If there isn't a witness then we have found the case is quite complicated and only when we don't have any other clues do we turn to composite sketch techniques. This is not desirable either. Composite sketching, or to put it more simply, Zhang Chi's work, has redoubled our efforts and is indispensable."
The room was filled with applause, everyone turning to Zhang Chi one after another clapping enthusiastically. He nodded modestly and continued writing in his notebook.
"Secondly, we must also pay attention to the importance of taking our work a step further. Prostitutes and those who visit prostitutes use the internet, making it more difficult for us to solve the case. How to stop this devious social phenomenon at the source and control these communities that came make people become victims of the victimizers at any time, is a topic for discussion not to be ignored. We've already distributed reports of related cases to each region so we can all learn from it…"
Zhang Chi looked up and just happened to see Gu Zhichang waving to him, indicating he should come outside the conference room with him to talk. He put down his notebook and stooped over and quietly went out.
"Recently the cases have been smooth sailing, but I want to warn you, don't let it go to your head, otherwise a cocksure army is doomed to defeat. I'm sure you understand this."
"Teacher, you didn't call me out here just to tell me that. Just say it."
"First, I have some good news. The Ministry of Public Security sent the order, and the city council is taking the lead and the branch office is preparing it, but at the end of the month you will be given your own office."
"That's unprecedented for the city council. I don't know about this." Zhang Chi was a bit troubled. He just wanted to sketch in peace and help solve more cases. The reputation he was getting nowadays was not what he wanted.
"The higher-ups also ordered for you to be given our city's first special appointment as a composite sketch expert. You ought to be aware that this is a double-edged sword for you. From here on you'll have to put your head down and work hard. Fame follows merit. No one can cover for you."
"So does that mean there's another case?" Zhang Chi felt inexplicably excited. This was made him much happier than the previous "good news".
Gu Zhichang nodded and showed him a text message and told him, "Later I'll give you the specifics. Starting now you need to prepare yourself mentally. The higher-ups giving you this office means the administration could send you anywhere to help solve cases. Everyone thinks composite sketching is simple and direct, that the artist just deftly uses his pencil and sketches out facial features with ease, and that it's an extraordinary method. You should understand that continuing to do your work well will not be easy."
"What's the case this time?"
Gu Zhichang smiled. "It's a case in a foreign land. It's not simple and the details must be heavy. You'll know more when you get there."
"Teacher, don't leave me in suspense. Can't you at least tell me when I'll be leaving?"
"Of course. I just asked the man on duty and he agreed to take you and Gu Shi to the airport in a bit."
"Gu Shi is going too?"
"Gu Shi is going out on assignment as well. You'll be on the same plane, but you'll have to take a bus on a long trip after you get off the plane to get where you're going. For now, go on back and pack a light suitcase. I'll see you tonight at seven in front of the compound garage."
Zhang Chi assented, not trying to hide his smile.
"You're satisfied with this case?" Gu Zhichang crossed his arms in front of his chest, very interested in his response.
Had Teacher heard something? What did he mean by "satisfied"? Zhang Chi had no idea and could only smile quietly and leave quickly.
Instructor Fan was in the hallway smoking a cigarette after delivering his last meal of the day. He heard them talk and came over. "That guy is pretty good, wouldn't you say?"
Gu Zhichang watched with a smile as Zhang Chi's big frame walked away, strutting. He nodded. "Too bad I'm old and can't really do anything."
"Little Gu is stubborn on the outside, but she actually cares a lot about your opinion," Instructor Fan said, continuing to "stir the pot". "Sometimes destiny needs a little push to get things started."
Gu Zhichang laughed. "Have you resolved your own personal problems? And your anxiety ought to be greater than a young man's. You keep this up and you'll be finding love as an old man."
"I'm not anxious. Whatever will be will be. Being single is fine too. I'm always comparing to my first wife, not satisfied with this or that about someone else, but actually I have no place being so picky. Why should I harm an innocent?"
Gu Zhichang patted his chest. "As long as you understand. You're a sentimental person as well. Your way of thinking is good. One should not harm another. But these kids, we have to let nature take its course. They'll be together if it's fated."
Chapter 62: Warm Harbor
The planes were tiny dots as they slowly glided up and off the runway one after another. Zhang Chi and Gu Shi sat next to each other, holding cups of coffee as they sat in the airport lounge outside the boarding gate. They were watching the planes take off outside the glass window, lost in thought. The airport was brightly lit and moonlight shimmered outside. This was a rare moment of leisure in their busy line of work.
Zhang Chi liked the feeling of guessing while he waited. The complicated details of the case still made him fidgety, but it wasn't so scary now as it had been when he knew nothing of the case. His job was a lot like piloting an aircraft. No matter what type of plane or how many passengers, this final goal was always to safely reach the destination according to a set of fixed principles.
They didn't check their luggage. He hadn't expected that Gu Shi would pick the same twenty-inch size suitcase, large enough for the personal effects of someone who will be gone for an unknown number of days. She really was a simple, unsophisticated girl. Her phone was out of juice so she wanted to get her charger from her luggage. She had Zhang Chi hold her coffee.
Her hardshell suitcase was not pink, nor adorned with flowery stickers, but checkered in black and gray, a typical stripped down style. Everything inside was neatly put away in pockets. But after Gu Shi rummaged around in there she couldn't close it again. She unzipped the extra capacity zipper and pressed down hard on the suitcase, but to no avail.
"Let me try." Zhang Chi handed the coffee to her. She looked at him doubtfully, but figured she might as well let him try.
Zhang Chi rolled up his sleeves and squatted and turned the suitcase to the side so others can't see and spread out a newspaper beside it and began taking things out of the suitcase.
Gu Shi was shocked and got up to stop him. "What are you doing?"
He looked back at her with an even expression. "Relax, I'm not looking at your things. But if I don't take them out how can I rearrange everything? Arranging is an art. Just watch and you'll see."
He neatly arranged everything by level of fragility and size, putting everything in its proper category and packing it into the suitcase. Then, despite Gu Shi's protests, he took her jacket and clothes and rolled them into cylinders and fit them into every available crack. In less than two minutes everything was neatly packed away and it closed easily.
"Relax. By the time you're ready to wear them your clothes won't be wrinkled."
"Who taught you this?"
"You think I shouldn't be doing this kind of effeminate things?"
Gu Shi sipped her coffee and blinked. "It's just not what I expected."
"When you're by yourself you have to pack everything yourself. However, it looks like my skills still have some use. I can help you in the future."
Gu Shi smiled faintly. Seeing her relaxed and happy, he had a thought. "Oh, I almost forgot something."
"I don't think so. I watched you pack it all myself."
He took a plastic bag from his suitcase and handed it to her. She opened it and inside was a bar of dark chocolate made from 70% cocoa, a pair of new anti-fog swim goggles, a simple mobile phone, and a bottle of "pepper spray".
Gu Shi couldn't help but laugh. "You think I need a karate black belt as well?"
Zhang Chi put the phone and pepper spray back into the plastic bag and helped her pack these things into her backpack. "The phone is loaded with a phone card, and the emergency number on it is my number."
Gu Shi blushed slightly, but she still spoke firmly, "We're in contact with a lot of seedy people, but that doesn't mean there will be bad people everywhere we go."
"I don't care. Since I won't be there this is the only way I can ensure your safety."
What he didn't tell her, as his stomach rumbled, was that he only looked after these minor details for the person he considered his woman, forgoing sweet words, thinking hard about every little detail.
Fortunately, that aloof person from before was gone; now there was only the lady copy before he was fighting shoulder to shoulder with. Her bashful and touched smile made him think back to the night before when he didn't eat supper so he would have time to go to the import supermarket and cellphone store to get those things. All that trouble he went through was his sweet way of supporting her.
By the time they boarded and took their seats it was already 10:30 at night. As soon as she was on the plane she took her blanket and pillow from her bag and quickly prepared to sleep. Over two hours later the plane began its descent. The landing gear touched down with a bump and she was jolted awake. She tilted her face and looked into Zhang Chi's big, spirited eyes. His hand lifted a corner of her blanket and locked his fingers with hers.
Gu Shi was stupefied, but she didn't throw his hand off. He tucked the blanket around her shoulders and naturally, lightly tilted her head onto his shoulder and whispered over the top of her head, "Go on and sleep. I'll wake you when we get there."
Gu Shi could only shut her eyes, but she couldn't go back to sleep. In her daze, his warm face seemed to be leaning against her neck. If someone saw them they would think they were ordinary lovers. Only she knew that she was able to put up with these movements. Zhang Chi had waited a long time to get this close to her.
Everything felt warm and reliable, everything she had longed for but never dared imagine. It was just that, six months before she never would have guessed it would be the man with the earring she had once despised.
The long distance bus shuttled through the inky black night. The only sound was snoring. Zhang Chi leaned against the window. He didn't feel like sleeping at all. The scenery outside was bleak and unfamiliar, the bus breaking through ever darker and darker territory as if bound for hell, the entire cabin seemed to be absorbed in darkness like a sponge soaking up ink; the crowded suburbs and small towns looked especially desolate.
The loneliness didn't envelop Zhang Chi. He turned on his phone and swiped through the pictures and video he had just quietly taken. Gu Shi's expression was so peaceful; she seemed to be wearing a faint, sweet smile. This was enough to strengthen him from head to toe over the next several days.
He handed over an answer sheet he was satisfied with, and she accepted it with pleasure. Was it really that simple?"
He knew it was like handling a case. The truth was far, far away from the first answer, often going round and round in circles until it was lodged carelessly in a corner for some hard-looking person to find. He didn't know if it was close to what he had expected, but what he was understood was that layer of black ice covering Gu Shi was quietly melting, and melting ice water was sweet and cool, lubricating her heart that had been lonely and closed off for a long time, allowing her to come to life once again, no longer shutting the door to him like she had before.
The bus arrived as he was thinking about it. The person receiving him from public security was a thin keen-witted middle-aged man. He was at a loss at first when he first saw Zhang Chi, but he quickly came to and went over to him and helped him with his luggage, then shook his hand tightly. "You must be Zhang Chi, the criminal investigations expert from Zhenghai City. I'm Ji Liang from the criminal investigations team. I've heard all about you and finally have a chance to meet you. You're younger than I expected!"
Zhang Chi looked around. There was no one else around and he already knew the person handling him was Ji Liang. He was touched and said, "Hello, Captain Ji. Sorry to make you come out here late at night to pick me up."
"It's no trouble. There's wasn't enough time, otherwise the team would all be lining the street to welcome you. Everyone is all ready. In consideration for the days of battle ahead I let them all go back. You've been through a lot, coming from so far away to our little corner of the world. Let's go back first so you can rest. We will talk about work stuff tomorrow." Ji Liang put Zhang Chi's suitcase in the trunk of a Santana police car, stepped on the gas, and they were off.