Five Cases

Lu Hui drove his clanky, old car into Linhua City’s Bureau of Public Safety’s parking lot. If Liuting district had not been as far away as it was from Linhua district, he would have biked instead. 

Squeezing his car into a random spot, Lu Hui breezed into the main entrance, soared up to the second floor, and as he turned a corner, he saw Yang Jie. He hesitated for a moment, then used her customary address: “Sister Yang.”

“Xiao Lu, you’re here?” Yang Jie smiled as she called him over, “Come, it’s good you’re here. I’ll introduce you to the two people on your team.”

“Two?” Internally, Lu Hui wanted to say, “Only two?” But in front of the older woman, he unconsciously restrained the biting comment. 

“The Director will bring one this afternoon.” Yang Jie could see at a glance that the young man in front of her had some unspoken criticism on his mind, but she good naturedly patted him on the shoulder, “Take a look at them first.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui pressed his lips together, then followed Yang Jie into her office. 

Yang Jie was the captain of the criminal police’s third team and a seldom-seen female captain in the criminal police division. Difficult situations such as rape cases often fell on her shoulders. When she smiled, she looked particularly nice and approachable, but when she did not, she had a kind of intimidating air about her. 

Yang Jie introduced the young man and woman next to her to Lu Hui: “This is Rao Feifei, who just graduated from the Police Academy two years ago. This is Qi Zhou, Feifei’s senior of four years.”

Lu Hui carefully sized up the two of them, his gaze as pointed as the tip of a knife. His entire person seemed like an unsheathed blade, cold and threatening. Then, suddenly, he reached out to shake hands: “Lu Hui.”

Rao Feifei was quite tall, about one meter seventy-two, with long legs, a slender waist, and a sweet appearance. Her long ponytail was as glossy as caramel and her skin was as clear and fair as milk. Long story short, she looked like a princess from a well-to-do family. 

Qi Zhou was about the same. Standing at one meter eighty-one, he was slightly shorter than Lu Hui. His facial features looked steady and composed and he looked directly into Lu Hui’s eyes, ready to confront him head on without the least concession. 

Once he shook hands with them, he immediately let go, his lips curving upwards slightly before suddenly dropping. From Yang Jie’s perspective, it looked like a brief flash of a smile to indicate goodwill. 

If Captain Wei had been there, he would have definitely slapped Lu Hui upside the head. This brat was looking down on others again. 

Yang Jie smiled lightly: “Xiao Lu, your office is on the third floor, on the right hand side of the corridor to the left.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui nodded his head and was the first to walk out of Yang Jie’s office. 

The three of them went up to the third floor and walked into the office without exchanging any words. 

The atmosphere was inexplicably awkward. 

Lu Hui had no interest in saying anything. Rao Feifei blinked nervously while Qi Zhou stared blankly, thinking about something unknown. 

“Um…” Rao Feifei said softly before halting embarrassedly because she had become the focus of both Lu Hui and Qi Zhou’s attention.

“Cough, my name is Rao Feifei. I’m—” Rao Feifei summoned up the courage to continue speaking.

“Why were you kicked out of the third team?” Lu Hui asked.

“…Ah?” Her words stumbled, Rao Feifei’s almond-shaped eyes widened into saucers as she asked Lu Hui in astonishment, “How did you know I was…”

Lu Hui frowned impatiently. 

“…Because of a scuffle.” Rao Feifei swiftly confessed. Her voice gradually dropped and she looked incredibly wronged, “I couldn’t help punching a rapist.”

“…” Lu Hui sat upright, his expression shifting as he became more interested, “Oh?”

“Sister Yang didn’t stop me…” Rao Feifei propped her arm up on her knee, and for a moment, the little princess became a little timid, “Of course, I don’t blame Sister Yang.”

Lu Hui: “…”

“Why didn’t you ask Brother Qi?” Rao Feifei asked curiously. 

Lu Hui let out a scornful breath, “Director Gao prioritizes talent cultivation and nonsense like that. There’s nothing to ask.” Lu Hui slouched indolently in his chair, his gaze sweeping over Qi Zhou’s seat, “Study well, little one.”

He was only four years older than Qi Zhou.

While Lu Hui and his team assembled together and chatted idly, Director Gao brought someone into their office. 

The person behind Director Gao was young, with a sunny, righteous appearance. Lu Hui casted a sideways look at the young man, then stood. 

Director Gao spoke: “This is Ji Fanyang, the third member of the group.” He glanced at Rao Feifei, “One year Feifei’s senior.”

“I know of you, Lu Hui.” Ji Fanyang said first, both eyes bright, like they held suns in them. “Your clearance rate is quite high, I’ve been following your career for a while.”

Lu Hui the Hedgehog retracted his disdainful smile at once, becoming much more respectable, then reached out a hand to Ji Fanyang: “Let’s have a happy cooperation.”

“A happy cooperation.” Ji Fanyang smiled. 

To someone gloomy, like Lu Hui, Ji Fanyang’s appearance was too dazzling. 

Rao Feifei’s eyes curved into a smile: “Sister Yang said you would come this afternoon, but it’s not even noon yet.”

“I wanted to meet Chief Lu, so I came early.” Ji Fanyang responded. 

Sentence by sentence, Lu Hui’s quills flattened back down, and he leaned back in his chair comfortably, not bothering to find faults.

“How about I treat everyone to some ice cream at lunch, then.” Rao Feifei said. 

“Then I will treat everyone to some lunch.” Ji Fanyang said. 

“Fine.” Lu Hui answered without hesitation. 

The leftover Qi Zhou was silent for a moment before speaking: “Okay.”

The four people around the lunch table appeared harmonious. Lu Hui did not plan to make things difficult for Ji Fanyang, and he liked ignoring Qi Zhou. Rao Feifei had a lively personality, so with her pushing things along, conversation topics almost never ran out. It was like the morning’s awkwardness had never happened. 

Once they finished, each person held an ice cream, and just as Lu Hui brought the three youngsters to the main area of the first floor, Yang Jie walked up to them: “Looks like you all get along with each other well.”

“Chief Lu has a good disposition.” Ji Fanyang said.

Director Gao, who was passing by, could help but pick his ears, looking at Ji Fanyang doubtfully⸺ Lu Hui had a good disposition? Don’t be ridiculous. 

“We can start working this afternoon.” Lu Hui said. 

“How about you take a break for today, then follow the seventh team tomorrow.” Director Gao said, “Right, come to the seventh team’s office to meet their captain.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui nodded his head, leading the other three to follow Director Gao, “So, my group will be working with the seventh team?”’

Hearing the implicit annoyance, Director Gao appeased him: “The seventh team specializes in managing complicated cases, but their case backload has accumulated. Your group can help lighten the load for them.”

Lu Hui’s chilly, black eyes stared at Director Gao’s back for a bit before begrudgingly agreeing: “Mm.”

Lu Hui’s light and breezy “Mm” did little to reassure Director Gao. As they entered the seventh team’s office, the team’s captain, Chang Hui, and some team members were talking.

“Chang Hui.” Director Gao waved a hand in greeting, “Here, come meet Lu Hui. He’s the one I told you about before.”

“Hello.” Chang Hui stretched out his right hand. He was tall and serious, his speech methodical. 

“Lu Hui.” Lu Hui shook his hand and blinked. His eyelashes covered most of the disdain and derision in his eyes. 

“Your collaboration will last for a while. I wish you a happy cooperation.” When he saw the agreement between the two generals, Director Gao’s eyes curved cheerfully.

“Mm, I will.” Chang Hui said. 

“…Mm.” An unclear sound of agreement squeezed out from between Lu Hui’s teeth. 

From the author:

*Police appearance regulations: bound hair must not be longer than the shoulders, Rao Feifei’s long ponytail is unrealistic. 

From the translator:

RAO FEIFEI IS BEST GIRL

Also, this is the end of the prologue, first case starts next chapter. So far, I’m planning on updating at least once a week (probably Sundays?) moving into March. I’m starting a new semester and I’m taking 25 credits at once, so…