Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Jiang Li brought Yu Huannian and Ning Rou back with her.

Wu Ming and Miao Anji were at home, heating up food.

"Miao Anji, do you even know what you’re doing?" Wu Ming stared at the blackened pig’s trotter in the pot, completely dumbfounded.

"I don’t. I only know how to light the fire. Sister said we could order from outside."

"That’s called takeout!" Wu Ming resignedly took out her phone to order.

’My fragrant, braised pig’s trotter... it’s gone! WAHHH!’

Suddenly, they heard the sound of a key in the lock. The two of them rushed out of the kitchen in unison and saw the three people walking in through the door.

"You’re back so early! Jiang Li, Xiao Nian, you guys sit down. I’ll clean up, and then we’ll go out to eat. I know a really good hot pot place."

Thinking of the disaster in the kitchen, Wu Ming turned around to clean up.

Yu Huannian glanced over and set down the suitcase in his hand. "Let me do it. You won’t be able to get it clean."

"Yu Huannian!" Ning Rou tugged on his arm. ’What is he doing? If she wants to wash it, let her. Why is he so eager to play the hero?’

Jiang Li sat on the sofa, took the peeled orange from Miao Anji, and popped it into her mouth. ’Shatang tangerines are the sweetest this time of year.’

Miao Anji happily continued peeling oranges.

Jiang Li watched Ning Rou and Yu Huannian.

"Little Rou, what are you doing? It’s just washing one thing. I’m staying at Sister’s house, shouldn’t I do what I can to help?" Yu Huannian frowned at Ning Rou.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I can wash it. You all have had a long day, just sit and rest." Wu Ming gave an awkward laugh and slipped back into the kitchen to wash the pot.

"I’m sorry. I was just worried about you. Don’t be mad." Ning Rou realized she had overreacted and shook Yu Huannian’s hand gently.

"Little Rou, you can stay in the room next to Xiao Nian’s. Don’t rush finding a place; take your time."

Jiang Li was just about to wipe her hands when Miao Anji had already taken out a wet wipe to clean the juice off for her.

Wu Ming came out after finishing her cleaning. ’Good thing I live next door to Jiang Li.’

Jiang Li asked Wu Ming to help divine an auspicious date.

"The twenty-eighth of next month is a good day." Wu Ming gathered her Copper Coins and looked at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li looked at Yu Huannian.

Yu Huannian nodded repeatedly. "Okay, that works for me."

’The twenty-eighth of next month? That’s so far away?’ Ning Rou was a little displeased but didn’t feel she could say anything.

Jiang Li’s gaze swept over her coolly.

"Jiang Li, how many days are you taking off this time?"

Wu Ming looked at her curiously. She had heard about the incident at the sanatorium and figured Jiang Li would be off for ten days to half a month.

"Why do you ask?" Jiang Li tilted her head to look at her.

Wu Ming looped her arm through Jiang Li’s. "Nothing, just asking. It’s not good for your health to be leaving early and coming back late every day."

Wu Ming pulled a peace charm from her bag and handed it to her. "This is a special one made by my master. It’s very effective."

"Okay, thanks." Jiang Li accepted it with a smile.

"Don’t mention it, we’re friends. By the way, should we invite Lu Xingye to come with us?"

Jiang Li paused for a moment. "I’ll ask if he has time."

Jiang Li picked up her phone to call Lu Xingye, figuring she could also get an update on the case.

"Sure. Send me the location, and I’ll come over after work." Lu Xingye looked at the organized files in his hand, then put them away in a drawer.

Lu Xingye called Huo Qing. "Brother Huo, do you have any friends who are good at combat? I want to get some practice."

Hearing this, Huo Qing felt as if the sun had risen in the west. "That’s easy. Just come find me. I’ll train with you."

Lu Xingye’s mouth twitched. He was a police academy graduate, and Huo Qing was a retired soldier. ’He’d probably beat me to death.’

"Uh, your place is too far..."

"Not far, not far at all! It’s a deal, then." Huo Qing hung up immediately, giving him no chance to refuse.

Huo Qing hung up with a smile. ’This is a good chance to interact more with Jiang Li. Who knows, it might turn into another great achievement.’

Wu Ming was quick. Since there was a large group, she booked a private booth that was spacious and had a great atmosphere.

"Here’s the sauce bar and free fruit—you can take as much as you want. The bowls are in the cabinet below. This combination for the dipping sauce is to die for!"

Wu Ming enthusiastically explained to the group.

Jiang Li nodded along. She was socially anxious and rarely went to hot pot restaurants alone. Crowds made her feel awkward and fearful.

With Wu Ming and the others there, that oppressive feeling lessened considerably.

Yu Huannian and Miao Anji copied the two women and prepared their dipping sauces.

Ning Rou watched them, feeling like she was being isolated.

"Little Rou, can you handle spicy food? Let me help you..."

"I can do it myself!" Ning Rou shot Yu Huannian a glare, picked up a saucer, and went to make her own sauce.

The four-sectioned broth pot arrived quickly. Lu Xingye parked his vehicle and walked inside, rubbing his arms.

The weather was getting colder.

"Lu Xingye, over here!" Wu Ming spotted him right away and quickly waved him over.

Lu Xingye walked over, took off his jacket, placed it aside, and sat down.

"Ah, this is so good!" Miao Anji’s face was flushed from eating. It was spicy, but he couldn’t stop.

Yu Huannian nodded in agreement. It was indeed delicious. He didn’t forget to take care of Ning Rou as he ate.

Ning Rou looked at the beef in her bowl and snorted softly, but she didn’t feel so upset anymore.

"The doctor said something’s off with Wu Jianzhang. It seems like a stress response; he doesn’t want to wake up. We also have people keeping an eye on Liu Meiling.

"We shouldn’t be too busy lately. Zhou Fuhai is about to be finished, too."

Lu Xingye said, sneering inwardly. ’I can’t believe I called it. His seat wasn’t even warm before it went cold.’

"But we got a report this afternoon that someone fell off a cliff. Brother Zhao took some people to the scene, but we don’t know the details yet."

Jiang Li’s hand, which was bringing meat to her mouth, froze. The couple she had seen struggling with each other during the day immediately came to mind.

Lu Xingye glanced at Yu Huannian. "Xiao Nian, let me get your contact info."

’They can catch two suspects in one day. Their speed is frightening.’

Yu Huannian took out his phone. Miao Anji put down his chopsticks and held out his phone as well.

After they finished hot pot and went outside, Lu Xingye’s vehicle was surrounded by a crowd.

"So many stuffed toys! They’re so cute."

"Quick, quick, take a picture of me! A motorcycle with plushies, what a strange combination."

Lu Xingye’s lips twitched, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"Who would’ve thought? Officer Xiao Lu is such a kid at heart," Wu Ming said with a meaningful smile.

Lu Xingye stepped forward. "Sorry, please excuse me."

"Wow, the guy is so handsome too! So cool!"

"Can we get a photo together?"

"Sorry, my friends are waiting for me."

Lu Xingye quickly dodged their advances, reached out, and pulled the stuffed animals off his vehicle—a large white lamb, a brown bear, and a bag full of more behind them.

He slung them over his shoulder and walked toward Jiang Li. Wu Ming quickly stepped aside to make way.

Jiang Li looked at him, confused.

"Ahem, they’re for Little Li."

"Thank you." Only then did Jiang Li reach out to take them, looking a bit shy. ’I should ask how much they cost,’ she thought, but the words wouldn’t come out. ’A return gift would probably be better.’

"It’s nothing. It’s getting late, you all should head back early," Lu Xingye said, smiling at her.

Jiang Li nodded blankly. "You be safe, then."

"Okay." Lu Xingye watched them get into their car and drive away before getting on his own vehicle and heading home.

「In the room.」

"Sister, I want to put all of these on my little bed! The little rabbit goes here, the little bear goes here..."

Jiang Li stood by the bed, the little rabbit in her hands now swapped for the little lamb. She excitedly directed Jiang Li to help her arrange the stuffed animals.

"Okay."

Jiang Li smiled and helped her fill the small bed. There were a few she had bought before, but they looked pathetically few compared to Lu Xingye’s gifts.

The bag was full of large and small toys of all kinds—various animals, food-shaped plushies, and in many different colors.

"From now on, they’ll all be Little Li’s friends. Brother Xingye is so nice." Jiang Li looked happily at the toys on her little bed.

"Sister, can you tell Brother Xingye thank you for me?"

Jiang Li found it hard to say. "Why don’t you tell him yourself?"

"Then I won’t say it. Sister, let’s go to sleep now." Jiang Li, wearing a nightdress, climbed into her own bed. "Good night, Sister!"

Jiang Li went to wash up and go to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Lu Xingye’s phone screen lit up. He squinted and picked it up. Seeing the message was from Jiang Li, he coughed and became wide awake. ’Did something happen?’

"Brother Xingye, thank you. Little Li likes them a lot!"

Lu Xingye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The message was not smooth at all.

Lu Xingye put down his phone, smiled, and fell back asleep.

"Little Rou, when Sister wakes up, let her know we’ve headed out." Yu Huannian, now dressed, said to Ning Rou, who was sitting in the living room.

"I want to go with you."

"No, it’s too dangerous."

"She can go, so why can’t I!" Ning Rou pointed at Wu Ming, her eyes red.

Yu Huannian frowned at her. "We’re going out for serious business. It’s not safe for you to come along."

"I’m going, I’m going!" Ning Rou clenched her fists. ’If Yu Huannian spends too much time with Wu Ming, he’ll definitely fall for her.’

"Ning Rou!" Yu Huannian couldn’t help but raise his voice. ’What more does she want?’

CLICK. The sound of a door opening. Jiang Li yawned as she looked outside. "Wu Ming, Xiao Nian, you two go do what you need to do."

Jiang Li looked at Ning Rou, then walked over to the sofa and sat down.

Yu Huannian glanced at Ning Rou, then turned and left without another word.

Ning Rou wanted to follow but didn’t dare. She always found Jiang Li a little scary.