Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 106: Bid A Farewell

"Thank you so much for your hard work," He Juan gave a deep bow toward the officers, then handed the packages of pig trotters he had bought on the way here with a courteous smile on his face. "This is just a small gift, but please enjoy it and fill your stomachs a little."

After saying this, he stepped aside to reveal Su Xieren who was carrying a bag of fruit juices. "Thank you for your hard work," he copied what He Juan said in a flat tone as he handed the beverages over.

The officers, who were just feeling mellow due to the revelation of Miss Zhao’s case, were immediately rejuvenated and thanked the two men loudly. For a while, the atmosphere in the division became especially rowdy and lively.

Who said that this was bribing? It was just a gesture of gratitude! Anyway, as long as they devoured the food cleanly into their stomachs, nobody would be able to find the evidence. If worse came to worst, they could just throw the blame to their Captain and claim that it was him who decided to treat everyone!

"Hey, that one looks so fat and juicy! I have tagged this set! Don’t you dare touch this one, okay?!"

"Woah, this juice is so fresh!!"

"Is this Heaven?"

"Hey bastard! Leave one for Laozi!!"

"Who wants this strawberry juice?! Let me exchange it with the melon one!!"

Amidst the lively scene, Mu Yuze gingerly stepped forward and whispered to He Juan in a low voice that only both of them could hear. "You don’t need to do this."

"Why can’t I? As I have said earlier, I am just thanking everyone for their hard work." He Juan gave a good-natured laugh. He picked one cup of green colored juice and offered it to Mu Yuze. "And you too. Here, you should drink this."

Mu Yuze lowered his gaze and saw a familiar looking juice. Almost in an instant, his face darkened. His brows furrowed in displeasure as he recalled the healthy yet disgusting potion He Juan had made for him just this morning. The words ’don’t want to drink’ were plastered on his forehead in bold capital letters. But in spite of that, he still took the juice from He Juan’s hand, albeit with a very reluctant look on his face.

Just looking at his reaction was enough to make He Juan burst out into laughter. Goodness, how could this man be so adorable?! He resisted the urge to ruffle Mu Yuze’s hair and flashed a mischievous smile instead. "What are you thinking about, Officer Mu? This is just cucumber juice with a few drops of lemon. It is very refreshing and tastes only mildly sweet. You will definitely enjoy it very much."

Mu Yuze knew that he had been teased again and shot He Juan with a look that said ’I know what you’re doing but you’d better behave in this place’.

He Juan also did not have any intention to continue teasing him, mainly because of the inappropriate location and also... because he was here today to accompany Su Xieren. He turned around in time to see Su Xieren finished talking with Captain Li Zhi.

"Done?" he asked gently.

Su Xieren nodded, his expression was carefully neutral to the point where people could not pick up his emotions. However, He Juan had not known him only for one or two days. People might not know, but He Juan could easily see that Su Xieren was very... shaken.

He gave a little nod to Mu Yuze, then approached Su Xieren to pat him on the shoulder. "Let’s go. Da-ge will accompany you there." If it was the usual Su Xieren, he would have refused outright and claimed that he did not need anyone to go with him. Yet this time, Su Xieren merely gave a very faint hum.

With Li Zhi leading the way, they made their way to the forensic center and joined the officer on duty who had already been waiting for them outside the morgue. The officer gave Li Zhi a salute before turning to Su Xieren and He Juan, asking. "Will the two of you enter together?"

"No," He Juan shook his head with a faint smile. How could he ever intrude on Su Xieren and Miss Zhao’s... last reunion? "Mr. Su beside me will go in alone. I am just tagging along with him." Then he pointed at the nearby bench and told Su Xieren, "I will wait for you over there, okay?"

Not feeling completely rest assured, he opened his mouth to say something more, but a glance at Su Xieren’s face instantly made him swallow whatever he was going to say. In the end, he merely said in a soft tone, "Take your time, didi."

"En," Su Xieren nodded, then entered the morgue with the officer.

As soon as the door opened, a burst of chilly air blasted his face, prompting goosebumps to appear along his arms. Yet it was as if Su Xieren did not notice the cold as his gaze immediately landed on the single occupied metal bed. The person’s body was covered in white cloth from head to toe, giving off the air of stillness and death. Su Xieren sucked in a breath and halted in his tracks. He had prepared himself for this along the way, but... in the end, he was still not ready at all...

It was like as long as he did not open the cloth and see that person’s face, then it would forever remain as a stranger to him.

Unaware of the turmoil in Su Xieren’s heart or perhaps he had been too used to it, the officer stepped aside and gestured for him to come forward. "Please don’t mind me standing here. It’s all procedure. Take your time to bid your farewell properly because after this... you will not have the chance to do it anymore."

Bid my farewell...

Feeling as if he was dreaming, Su Xieren walked forward, stopped beside the metal bed and stiffly tugged the white cloth down, revealing a face that was so familiar and dear to him. Such a pity, because the police had found Zhao Xinya too late, and also because of the condition of the place where her body was found was very unfavorable, livor mortis[1] had started forming on her skin, further shattering whatever doubt within him into a certainty that everything in front of him was real.

This was Zhao Xinya, his Xinya. And she had already died...

For a moment, Su Xieren neither moved nor uttered a word, and only the rapid pace of his breathing betrayed the pain he was feeling within. Then with a movement so stiff as if it took all his energy to do it, he slipped his hand into his pocket, took out the delicate ring he had been fiddling around for the past few days, then slowly... very very slowly took hold of Zhao Xinya’s left hand and slipped the ring into her fourth finger. His movement was so gentle and careful, as though he was afraid to disturb the woman who finally had her peaceful slumber.

Su Xieren held Zhao Xinya’s frozen hand and stared at the ring in a daze. Once, he had also imagined what the ring would look like when she wore it. Yet never had he expected that when he could finally see it happen... it would be in this kind of situation...

He could count the number of times he had held her hand. First, it was an accident a few months after their first encounter. At that time, Zhao Xinya accidentally slipped on something and he grabbed onto her by reflex only to be slapped away. He did not mind Zhao Xinya’s excessive reaction nor did he take it into heart. He merely let go and muttered an apology.

The second time was on their first date. Zhao Xinya was the one who initiated it. Though surprised, Su Xieren could tell that it was taking all of her willpower just to achieve this, as her hand was sweaty with cold sweat and faintly trembling. And hence, he kept himself quiet and still and only let Zhao Xinya hold his hand.

The third time...

It was when Zhao Xinya fell asleep on the sofa at his house whilst doing one of her commissions. Su Xieren had crept forward like a thief to measure the size of her ring finger, then hastily straightened up when she looked like she was going to wake up soon. He could still remember vividly how rapid his heart was thumping back then. There was anticipation, apprehension, nervousness and also a hint of excitement.

And now, this was the fourth time... and also the last.

Su Xieren gently bent down to press his lips onto the ring, careful not to touch her skin for fear that she would be startled again. Only when he was done with this subconscious movement that he was taken aback. Exactly what was he doing this for...? She was already dead. She would not open her eyes ever again...

"Xinya..." he had just uttered that one word when his voice suddenly cracked.

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[1] Livor mortis = the settling of the blood in the lower, or dependent, portion of the body postmortem, causing a purplish red discoloration of the skin