Profiler

CHAPTER 19

"Uh-huh… Okay, I understand. Then keep it that way for now. Bye." Fang Mu hung up the phone and pointed at the tangerines on the fruit stand. "How much per pound?"

Tai Wei's tone had been gloomy when he had spoken with Fang Mu just then over the phone. As he'd told Fang Mu on the night of the attempted murder, the police had made a huge effort and spent vast manpower combing the campus in search of the killer. However, they hadn't found a single clue. Because of this they still needed to be stationed on campus for the time being.

Fang Mu understood exactly how Tai Wei was feeling. He had finally been within striking distance of the killer, only to watch him escape from out of the palm of his hand. This was something that no cop could endure. He was probably going over and over every aspect of the event in his head: If only he had been a little faster… If only he had pulled out his gun more decisively… If only he had fired more accurately…

For his part, Fang Mu was much more at ease. Perhaps it was because they were approaching the problem from different perspectives. Tai Wei, for his part, was comparatively concerned with how soon he cracked the case. While Fang Mu also wanted to catch the killer as soon as possible, having stopped the man from committing another murder was even more important to him. After being questioned by the police on the night, Fang Mu had returned to his dorm and had a long and restful sleep. The next morning, when his fellow students heard the news, they started coming in droves to ask him what had happened, Fang Mu was still asleep.

After sending the last of them away, he and several of his friends decided to go visit Liu Jianjun in the hospital.

Carrying the fruit that they had bought at exorbitant prices from the stand near the provincial hospital entrance, Fang Mu and the others signed in inside and then headed to the third floor inpatient department. While Du Yu scowled as he searched for Ward 312, Fang Mu proceeded straight to the end of the hall where two police officers were standing guard outside one of the doors. Since one of them recognized him, no further questions were asked and they were allowed inside.

The bed beside the window was already surrounded by people, all of whom looked back at them as they entered. Fang Mu recognized two of them as the cops who had rushed to the gymnasium the night before.

They nodded at Fang Mu in greeting and then one turned back to the doctor and said: "So what you're saying is he's not fit to answer questions in his current condition?"

"Isn't that obvious?" said the doctor gruffly. "He's still half-comatose. How are you going to ask him anything?"

The two cops looked at one another helplessly and then silently left the room.

After placing the fruit on the windowsill, Fang Mu gave Liu Jianjun a long look.

Liu Jianjun's head was wrapped in bandages and his skin was deathly pale. His eyes were half-closed and an oxygen mask covered his mouth. He looked terribly weak.

Fang Mu's heart fell. Liu Jianjun's injuries were far worse than he had imagined. When the two policemen had carried him down to the court the night before, they had said he was "fine". Now it looked as if the word only meant was that he was still alive.

Fang Mu looked down at the health record hanging beside his bed. At the top of it was written simply: "Depressed skull fracture."

"Depressed?" he said quietly. The killer had probably hit him with a blunt object — a hammer, he guessed.

Liu Jianjun's roommate, Zou Tuanjie, was sleeping beside the bed.

Du Yu nudged him. "How is he?"

Zou Tuanjie yawned and said, "He finished surgery last night. The doctors said there's no threat to his life, but he's going to have to stay here for a little while so they can monitor him."

A sudden burst of noise sounded from the hallway. A man was heard arguing with the policemen on the other side of the door while a woman cried. "I'm his mother," she said through her sobs. "How can I not be allowed see him?"

The door opened and a travel-worn, middle-aged couple walked quickly inside. After anxiously scanning the crowded ward, they hurried over to Liu Jianjun's bed.

Before she had even reached his bedside, the woman began to wail.

Zou Tuanjie jumped to his feet and hurried to support her. "Come on, Auntie," he said consolingly. "Please sit down. Jianjun is going to be fine."

Liu Jianjun's mother sat down beside him. As big tears rolled down her face, she held one hand over her mouth, seemingly worried she would wake up her still-comatose son. She leaned over and lightly stroked his face with her hand.

Liu Jianjun's father softly read the words on his son's health record. "Depressed skull fracture?" Fear and sadness were written across his face.

"Don't worry, Uncle," said Du Yu quickly. "The doctors have already finished his surgery. They said he's not in any danger."

The father nodded, his expression relaxing slightly. He looked at all the young men. "You guys are Jianjun's classmates? What exactly happened?"

Du Yu looked at Fang Mu. "I don't know the specifics. However," he said, nudging Fang Mu, "this guy saved Liu Jianjun’s life."

Liu Jianjun's father turned to look at Fang Mu as his mother grabbed Fang Mu's hand.

"Child, please tell Auntie, what on earth happened?" she implored. "Who did this?"

"Auntie, I also don't know what exactly happened," Fang Mu told them. "I was just lucky enough to be there in time."

She suddenly got down on both knees and, choking with sobs, said: "You wonderful child. Auntie is so grateful. I only have this one son…thank you, thank you."

Fang Mu quickly helped her up, his face red from embarrassment.

"Auntie…Auntie, don't do that… It was nothing…"

After he finally convinced Liu Jianjun's mother to return to her seat, Fang Mu knew he couldn't stay there any longer. More than anything else, the mother's endlessly grateful eyes were too much to bear.

After all, Liu Jianjun's attack had been because of him.

Looking once more at his comatose friend, Fang Mu's heart grew heavy. He balled his hands into fists.

Son of a bitch! I swear I'll catch you.

Not wanting to let Du Yu and the others see the change in him, he quietly left the room.

Back in the hallway, Fang Mu felt much better. Suddenly he really wanted a cigarette. After looking at all the doctors and nurses passing back and forth, he decided to find a bathroom and covertly smoke there.

He was strolling down the hallway toward the bathroom when he unexpectedly saw Tai Wei sprinting up the stairs.

"Hey, you're here, too?" Tai Wei asked upon seeing Fang Mu.

"Yeah, I came to see my friend."

"The boy? How is he?"

"His life's not at risk, but he's still in a coma. What are you doing here?"

"I'm going to go ask the girl what happened. She's here, too, on the fifth floor. Want to come?"

After thinking about it, Fang Mu nodded and followed him up.

Deng Linyue's police protection was much tighter than Liu Jianjun's. Four cops in SWAT gear were standing guard outside her door. The room itself was very spacious and outfitted with every amenity, and she was the only occupant. It looked like an upscale two-bedroom apartment.

Also inside Fang Mu and Tai Wei found a dignified, very well-kept woman arguing with two policemen.

"Wait a few days and we'll see," she was telling them. "How can you expect Linyue to answer any questions in the condition she's in?"

The two policemen appeared to be in an awkward situation. "We understand your daughter's condition very well," said one with distinct politeness. "But she is the only person to have been in close contact with the killer. The sooner she can provide us with any helpful clues, the sooner we can crack this case."

"Well, that will just have to wait!" said the woman decisively. "My daughter must be fully rested." Then seeing Tai Wei enter the room, she snapped, "Who are you?"

The two policemen looked back and nodded. "Captain Tai."

"You're their commanding officer? Perfect," she said. "Then I'll ask you; when can those doorkeepers outside leave? Or do you take us for criminals as well?"

"For now they're going to have to stay put," said Tai Wei, looking around the empty room. "Where's your daughter?"

Deng Linyue's mother didn't answer him. Instead, a dark look covered her face. "Well then, is my husband going to have to give your department director a call?"

Tai Wei met her eyes for a moment. "I can't give you all the specifics," he said coldly, "but it is very likely that the killer is still after your daughter." He paused. "So then, how about it? Still want us to leave?"

All the color immediately drained from the woman's face. After several seconds she managed to squeeze out a few words. "In…in that case, perhaps things should continue like this for now."

A toilet was flushed in the bathroom, and then two nurses emerged and helped Deng Linyue into the room.

Her face was deathly pale and her hair was tied up in a bun. She wore a cast on her shoulder and her arm hung in a sling in front of her chest. Seeing Fang Mu, she smiled weakly and said, "It's you." Then nodding toward the woman, she continued. "This is my mom. Mom, it was these two who rescued me."

Deng Linyue's mother looked a little embarrassed. As if to make up for her disrespectful behavior from before, she forced a smile and waved for them to each have a seat.

The two nurses helped Deng Linyue to lie down and then placed the blanket over her. They raised the bed so she could talk comfortably with her visitors.

Curled up under the snow-white covers, she smiled at Fang Mu. "Thank you for coming to visit me."

"I came to visit Liu Jianjun." As soon as the words left his mouth, Fang Mu realized they were a bit rude, so he quickly added: "And you as well."

For a moment, she looked a little embarrassed, but she quickly regained her composure. "Oh, how is he?"

"He finished surgery, and the doctors have said he's no longer in danger."

Deng Linyue's mother snorted disdainfully.

Opening his briefcase, Tai Wei took out a notebook and pen. "Ms. Deng, would you be able to tell me a little about what happened last night?"

At once Deng Linyue's face grew even paler. Her breathing sped up with anxiety and her eyes filled with tears. Obviously, she was not yet able to get past what had happened to her.

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Deng Linyue's mother quickly spoke up. "I told you not to ask her. Can't you be considerate of the victims? Come back in a few days and we'll see." She rose to her feet, her expression telling them to head for the door.

Having no other choice, Tai Wei placed his pen and pad back in his briefcase. "All right then, make sure to rest up," he said to Den Linyue. He turned to her mother as he stood up. "We'll be back in a few days."

Fang Mu was about to follow him to the door when Deng Linyue called him back.

"Fang Mu," she said, doing her best to sit upright, "what room is Liu Jianjun in? I want to go see him."

Her mother cut off the idea at once. "I won't allow it! How can you go see him in the state you're in?"

Tai Wei gave the mother a dark look, and then turned and strode out of the room.

Helpless, Fang Mu gave Deng Linyue a little wave and then quickly followed Tai Wei out. As soon as they left, they could hear Deng Linyue and her mother arguing quietly.

"Christ!" said Tai Wei, lighting a cigarette. Ignoring the "No Smoking" sign in the hallway, he took several deep drags and then said, "That woman is too goddamn difficult!"

Not knowing whether he was talking about Deng Linyue or her mother, Fang Mu vaguely tried to calm him down, saying "Well, she is in a delicate situation."

"The whole thing's a mess," continued Tai Wei. "The father's some senior cadre, and so far he hasn't been willing to cooperate with us in the least." He tossed his cigarette away. "These are our two witnesses. One's in a coma, the other won't talk. How the hell are we supposed to continue the investigation?"

He waved to a nearby policeman: "You! Go ask the doctors when the boy is going to wake up."

The policeman immediately nodded and then sprinted downstairs.

For a few moments Tai Wei just stood there, hands on his hips, nearly panting with rage. Suddenly he said: "So what do you think is going to happen next?"

Fang Mu was caught off-guard. "What? What do you mean happen next?"

"What's the killer's next move going to be?" asked Tai Wei impatiently. "Will he look for another opportunity to finish off the girl? Or if he chooses someone else for the sixth murder, who's he going to copy this time?"

"How should I know?" replied Fang Mu angrily.

But Tai Wei had a point. What was the killer going to do next?

This time the killer had failed to complete his crime, and had also not left any clues behind at the scene. It brought up many questions: How were they supposed to prevent the next murder? What kind of victim was he going to choose? Deng Linyue or someone else instead? Everything was unknown.

It was as if an empty white space had suddenly appeared on the test paper in the middle of an exam. What were the next questions going to be? No one knew.

"Oh, it's you?"

"Yeah. Were you on the phone? I don't want to disturb you."

"It's no problem. I just finished."

"You asked me to come by. Is something up?"

There was a laugh. "It's nothing important. You just haven't been here in a while. I want to see how you were doing."

"Oh, I'm doing fine. Your complexion is looking a little off. Are you sick?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Just a little cold."

"You have a temperature?"

"No. Really, it's nothing."

"Should I go with you to the doctor?"

"No, no, no. Now back to my question. How are you?"

"I'm good."

"Still scared of roll call?"

"I don't think I am. I really have to thank you. I feel like I'm just about over it completely."

"Really? Are you certain about that?"

A few days later Liu Jianjun finally began to speak. Haltingly, he did his best to tell the police what happened that night. According to him, he had planned to tell Deng Linyue he loved her in the gymnasium after the game. He had borrowed the key from the stadium caretaker at lunch the day before, and had also asked him all about operating the broadcast booth's spotlight and microphone. Then during the game, he told Deng Linyue to wait for him on the basketball court after everyone had left. Everything went as planned, but just as he reached the most critical part of his romantic display, someone suddenly attacked him from behind and knocked him out. He had no idea about anything after that.

Eventually, Deng Linyue was also able to calmly recall what happened to her that night, and she described it for the police in detail. But because of the darkness and her extreme terror at the time, she could only attest that the killer was a man standing at least 5'7".

Fang Mu and Tai Wei had also seen the killer that night, and in fact Tai Wei had even chased him, but because of the darkness and their distance away, the attacker hadn't made a distinct impression on either of them.

There was something else the police were interested in, too: How had the killer known that Deng Linyue would be in the gymnasium by herself?

He had specifically removed a screw from the locker she was using that night, changing the 9 to a 6. This showed that he had already made Deng Linyue his target, and his actions made it clear that he knew she would be using locker nine and would be alone in the arena after the game. In which case, he had to be among those privy to this information.

This thought encouraged the police to no end, because it meant the scope of their investigation could be drastically decreased.

But after looking into it, they found themselves disappointed again.

Liu Jianjun said that he hadn't told anyone about his plans for that night. This meant that there were only two times when someone else could have overheard what was going on. First, while Liu Jianjun was borrowing the key from the arena caretaker and asking him how to use the equipment. Or second, when he asked Deng Linyue to wait for him after the game. But according to Liu Jianjun, no one else had been around while he spoke to the caretaker. As for the caretaker himself, a police investigation confirmed that he had nothing to do with the crime. Therefore, this first possibility was eliminated.

As for the second possibility, police closely investigated the cheerleaders and fans that had been near Deng Linyue at the time, and confirmed that none of them had been involved.

The investigation into the locker number also similarly ground to a halt. According to the other cheerleaders and their teacher supervisor, when they received their locker room keys in the gymnasium corridor, they were surrounded on all sides by a throng of fans streaming into the arena, so it would be impossible to determine who might have heard what locker number Deng Linyue had received.

In other words, the unfortunate events from that night did not help the police make any substantial headway toward cracking the case.

What was most preoccupying Tai Wei, however, were a pair of the numbers: six or seven? Which one would be next?

The way Fang Mu saw it, the killer was an exceptionally cruel individual dead-set on carrying out his plan. He would not give up easily, so the next victim would likely still be number six. As for whether he would try again for Deng Linyue or choose someone else, at this point it was impossible to say. This was why Fang Mu and the police both felt that they should maintain tight security over the girl while continuing to monitor all areas on campus relating to the number six.

Fang Mu went to visit Liu Jianjun several more times, his motive having less to do with their friendship than his own guilt.

Liu Jianjun had suffered a depressed skull fracture, which had caused serious brain bleeding. Although he was no longer in critical danger, some of the effects would be permanent. On several occasions, when Fang Mu had watched him drink rice porridge from a bowl, Liu Jianjun's head and hands would begin to violently shake and this often spread to his entire face and body. Seeing this, Fang Mu felt the strong impulse to throw himself before Liu Jianjun and ask for his forgiveness. But he never did. Instead he would just quietly leave the ward, hide himself in the bathroom and smoke one cigarette after another.

Zou Tuanjie secretly told Fang Mu that Deng Linyue had only visited once, after which she never returned. But as soon as Liu Jianjun was first able to walk, he had struggled up to the fifth floor to go see her. At the time, Deng Linyue's relatives had blocked him from going inside, claiming she was asleep.

So Liu Jianjun had just stood there, tears streaming down his face as he yelled incoherently at the closed door. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

To Fang Mu, this insight felt like a knife to the heart.

The JiangbinCityUniversity school authorities also visited Liu Jianjun several times. After determining the extent of his injury, they recommended that he take a year off from school to get better. Liu Jianjun's parents were extremely grateful to them. However, their son's graduate advisor told them in private that in this matter the school bore a clear responsibility, and that they should sue for just compensation. But his parents, both of whom came from working class backgrounds, would not go along with this. The way they saw it, their son had nearly been disabled from the attack, so for the school to offer him a year off was already an enormous kindness. How could they repay that with a lawsuit? Hearing this, all Liu Jianjun's advisor could do was shake his head and sigh.

Amazingly, only two weeks later Deng Linyue was back on campus.

Even though she had been the killer's main target, her injuries were much lighter than Liu Jianjun's. Thanks to the cotton jacket she had been wearing the night of the crime, her shoulder blade had suffered only a minor break. Add to this the superb care and proper nutrition she had received in the hospital, she was able to quickly return to school.

When Du Yu passed this information on to Fang Mu, he didn't pay much attention to it; he just thought it was strange that Deng Linyue hadn't returned to her hometown. When Tai Wei heard the news, he put it another way: since it was highly likely that the killer would make Deng Linyue his next target, the safest thing for her would be to return home for the time being.

Then something far more surprising happened. That afternoon, Deng Linyue unexpectedly gave him a call.

"Hello, is this Fang Mu? It's Deng Linyue."

"Oh, how are you?" he asked her.

"I'm fine. So it's like this: I want to treat you to dinner. Are you free?"

"Treat me to dinner?" The phone call surprised him, and the invitation shocked him. "Why?"

"To thank you. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be here."

"You don't have to do that. It was just good timing, that's all."

"Oh no, I won't let you decline. I'm treating you and that's that! Wait for me outside the school gates at five o'clock tonight." Saying this, she hung up.

Fang Mu sighed and hung up the phone. When he turned around, he saw that Du Yu, nosy as ever, had been listening in. "What should I do?"

Without a shred of embarrassment at having eavesdropped on his friend's conversation, Du Yu grinned and said, "You go of course. What else needs to be said?"

Fang Mu shook his head. "I don't want to go. It seems…too awkward."

"Ah, stop being such an old lady and go. You want me to lend you some cash?" Du Yu reached for his wallet.

Fang Mu was about to make fun of him, tempted to say, You're so excited it's like she invited you, when his spirits suddenly fell. "If you're still thinking the same thing as before, then I'm not going to go."

Du Yu abruptly stopped what he was doing. The smile disappeared from his face. "What are you trying to say? That since Liu Jianjun is still lying in the hospital I'm trying to get you to take advantage of the situation? Don't forget," he said, looking Fang Mu in the eye, "that when a girl invites you out you need to go. It's a matter of etiquette."

Fang Mu thought about it and realized his friend was right. It was just one meal; refusing would seem a little narrow-minded. "All right, I'll go."

At 5 p.m. Fang Mu approached the school gates as planned. From far away he could already see Deng Linyue's tall, slender frame.

"Sorry I'm late," he said when he reached her.

"You're not," she said. "I just got here early. I was worried you wouldn't come."

He just smiled in reply.

"I also realized I don't know what you like to eat. Where should we go?"

"Wherever. I like everything." He pointed at the line of small restaurants outside the school gate. "Why don't we grab something at one of these places. We don't need to do anything too expensive."

"No way, not after you saved my life." She smiled and tilted her head. "Let's go downtown and find something a little nicer."

After they hailed a cab, Deng Linyue told him she was taking him to the restaurant at the Shangri-La. Fang Mu nearly jumped out of his seat in surprise — that was a five-star hotel. At a place like that, dinner for two would cost at least a thousand renminbi, so he firmly declined.

Deng Linyue didn't argue. Laughing, she said, "Then we won't go. I once ate a meal there that cost over 3,000 renminbi and not one dish was any good."

In the end, the two of them decided on a Korean restaurant called Papa's.

The restaurant was mostly filled with young couples. The warm tones, dim lighting, and sultry-voiced singer expressing her emotions onstage all gave the place an air of romance.

The waiter enthusiastically recommended the "Sweetheart Meal" to Fang Mu and Deng Linyue, but Fang Mu immediately declined and ordered the barbecue meal instead.

Du Yu was continually mentioning this place to Fang Mu, but until then Fang Mu had never been. First of all, he had no girlfriend, so for him to go and spend that kind of money seemed a little stupid. And second of all, he had always thought that Korean food was only good for cold noodles and kimchi and not much else. When the waiter brought the food over, however, Fang Mu discovered that not only was it beautifully prepared, it smelled unexpectedly delicious as well.

He was not a talkative person, so he just buried his face in his food and ate. Deng Linyue didn't seem to care and stayed silent as well.

Eventually Fang Mu began to feel that just eating in silence as they were was a little awkward, as well as impolite, so for the first time he looked up at Deng Linyue. Just then she was spooning soup into her mouth. Her arm movements still looked a little stiff.

"Your injury…" he said, "how is it?"

She did not immediately answer him. After putting down her spoon, she laughed brightly and said, "I thought you were planning on ignoring me the whole meal."

He was a little embarrassed. "Of course not. It's just that I'm not much of a talker."

She laughed again. "Oh, I figured that out a long time ago." Realizing that she was talking about that time in the dining hall, he was even more embarrassed.

Seeing his discomfort, Deng Linyue quickly changed topics. "My injury is essentially fine," she said, rotating her arm slightly. "It just hurts a little sometimes. But I don't think it's a big deal."

"Why didn't you go back home to get better? I'm sure it's a lot nicer there. Safer, too."

"My family was saying the same thing, but I didn't want to go. Oh, that's right." She leaned forward slightly. "Last time that policeman said that the killer might try to attack me again. Is that true?"

After thinking about this for a moment, he decided not to tell her the real situation to avoid scaring her unnecessarily. "The guy's just a lunatic. And he's not necessarily going to come after you again. You don't need to worry."

"Gosh, I don't know what's been going on with our school this year; so much bad stuff has happened." She sucked on her straw. Suddenly, her expression grew mysterious. "So, master sleuth, are you helping the police investigate the case?"

Fang Mu was taken aback. "Not at all. I hardly have that kind of talent."

"Humph, you don't have to hide the truth from me. At the last assembly I heard the provost commend you." A girlish pout came to her lips. "Besides, if you're not helping the police solve the case, how come you were with a policeman the night you saved me?"

"I already told you, it was just a coincidence."

"Liar. I've heard what the kids at the law school say. Out of everyone in the criminology department, your grades are the best. Oh, I get it." Her eyes went wide and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Do you need to keep it a secret? I also heard from some classmates that you're an undercover agent sent by the PSB to infiltrate our school. Is that true? Like Stephen Chow in Fight Back to School?"

Fang Mu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was hard enough for the average guy to deal with an immature girl like this, let alone someone like him, who had barely any experience with the female sex.

"I'm not some undercover agent. I'm an average student. I just happen to be…quite interested in a few aspects of criminology."

"Oh, in that case you admit that you've helped the police solve cases?" Her tone grew excited. "Can you tell me about it? I've loved reading detective novels since I was little."

He felt a little uncomfortable. He didn't really want to discuss this stuff with her.

"Forget it; it's all really scary. It's not appropriate for a girl to hear."

"Don't patronize me. I've got strong nerves," she told him with a steady look.

He had no other choice. "Fine."

Over the next hour, Fang Mu told her about Ma Kai, the "vampire case." At first he deliberately underplayed his role in the investigation, but as he watched Deng Linyue rest her chin on her palms and stare fixedly at him, every now and then exclaiming "Oh no!" or "My God!" He felt an unexpected faint sense of pride and a desire to show off. By the end, especially when he was describing his one-on-one conversation with Ma Kai, during which he had nearly been killed, Deng Linyue had her hand over her mouth in concern for him. Her brows were knit over her worried expression, and he couldn't help but feel a little conceited.

When the story was over, she placed a hand over her heart and stared at him with disbelief. "You're so brave. My God, I never would have thought I'd have a friend like this."

He just laughed. Turning his head, he caught a glimpse of his self-satisfied face in the window beside him, which immediately embarrassed him.

What am I doing?

To hide his discomfort, Fang Mu called for the check. It was obvious that Deng Linyue was reluctant to leave, but she didn't argue.

As they left the warm and cozy restaurant, the air outside felt especially cold. He was about to hail a cab when she stopped him. "Will you take a walk with me? I'm a little full after that meal."

After thinking about it, he agreed.

Side by side, the two of them strolled slowly down the sidewalk. Feeling a little ashamed of his arrogant behavior at the restaurant, the normally laconic Fang Mu was even quieter than usual. Deng Linyue also seemed to be thinking about something and didn't say a word either. The silence continued for a while, both of them quiet, just walking along.

The streetlights lengthened and shortened their shadows, and now and then they would blend together, as if they were embracing.

As local Bus 25 rumbled past, Fang Mu turned and watched it until it disappeared around the corner.

After they had walked for some time, Deng Linyue suddenly asked, "How is Liu Jianjun?"

"I went to see him a few days ago. The situation's not that good; some of the damage is going to be permanent." He turned to looked at her. "You…why didn't…?" As he was still considering the best way to put it, Deng Linyue had already grasped what he was going to say.

"I know that all of you probably think I'm heartless," she said slowly. "Honestly, I've really wanted to go see him, but my mom won't let me. She feels that if he hadn't asked me to wait for him in the gymnasium, I never would have gotten hurt. The one time I did sneak over there, his parents were both very cold, as if they thought I was the reason this happened to him. I didn't think this was fair at all, but I didn't get angry at them. After all, they've suffered enough already."

"Do you love him?"

She laughed softly and shrugged. "I don't know. As you're probably aware, he's been pursuing me for a long time, since before you and I were even introduced. To be honest, I do really like him. Whether it's his education, his looks, or how he treats me, I have nothing to complain about. We come from very different backgrounds, but that's not something I care about. And all my friends are always saying we should be together. But I never had that special feeling for him, the one that would let me count on him completely, would let me completely relax. That night I was almost there, but…" She shook her head and smiled bitterly.

Fang Mu was silent. He didn't know whether to console her or feel sympathy for Liu Jianjun.

"Let's talk about you," she said, regaining her previous cheer. She tilted her head toward him. "So, do you have a girlfriend? I don't think I've ever seen you with a girl."

"Me? No, I don't have one."

She laughed. "So then what is it? Are you too involved fighting criminals to have time for one?" She skipped ahead to face him and began walking backwards so she could see his face. "Or are your tastes too unique?" Blushing, she gave him a mischievous wink.

Fang Mu's face turned bright red. "That was for an investigation… You wouldn't understand if I told you…in any case…"

Seeing that he was at a loss for words seemed to delight Deng Linyue, and she laughed happily.

A small fireworks stand sat under one of the streetlights ahead of them. The owner was walking back and forth, lighting one sparkler after another and periodically waving them at the passersby. Very few people were buying, however, and in the dark street the burning sparklers looked unusually lonely.

"Wow, this long until Spring Festival and they're already selling fireworks?" said Deng Linyue. "Come on, let's go take a look." Full of enthusiasm, she ran ahead.

Fang Mu sighed, lit a cigarette, and inhaled deeply.

When she waved for him to join her, he held up his cigarette, indicating that it wasn't safe, and he'd be there when he was done.

After saying something to the stand owner, Deng Linyue handed him several bills. Beaming with joy, the man placed the cash in his pocket, handed her a big box of fireworks, and then started up his pedi-cab attached to the front of the stand and drove off.

The box in her hands, Deng Linyue walked back toward Fang Mu, a big smile on her face.

"How come you bought so many?"

She laughed. "I've loved this stuff since I was a little kid. The owner said that if we didn't buy him out he couldn't return home, so I figured I might as well get them all."

"The problem is, where are you going to set them off?" He looked at the box she'd set down. There had to be at least 50 fireworks inside.

"We'll do it right here." She held out her hand. "Can I borrow your lighter?"

"Are you crazy? If the cops see you shooting fireworks in the middle of the street they'll give you a huge fine."

She giggled. "When they see I'm with the master sleuth, they'll let us off, won't they?"

Having no other choice, Fang Mu took a look around. He recalled that there was an elementary school ahead.

"Let's head that way," he said, pointing in the direction of the school. He tossed away his cigarette, bent over and picked up the box of fireworks. As they walked along the street, Deng Linyue trotted behind him, a look of endless excitement on her face.

He smiled at her.

Just like a little kid.

When they reached the empty school playground, Deng Linyue impatiently lit one of the sparklers with Fang Mu's lighter. Holding it as it crackled to life, she jumped and danced, swinging her arm in a small circle while the sparkler glittered in the darkness.

Standing to the side, Fang Mu smoked and looked worriedly into the fireworks box. How long would it take for the whole box?

"Let's do one together." Seeing that he was just standing there, she warmly invited him to join in.

He wasn't interested, but to spare her feelings, he lit a sparkler and swung it around.

In the flickering light, his mind began to wander. The girl silhouetted before him looked just like someone from the deepest part of his memory.

Sadness suddenly welled up inside him.

Noticing that he was staring at her, Deng Linyue blushed slightly and walked over to him.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"I'm fine." He ducked his head and lit another cigarette.

Looking at the sparkler in her hand steadily burning away, Deng Linyue said thoughtfully, "The first time I saw you I felt you were someone with a story. But I also knew you were the kind of person who doesn't like to open up about himself to other people. That's why getting to talk with you this much tonight has made me so happy; because I…I really want to understand you."

Her gaze dropped as her voice grew slowly softer. "Do you remember how I said that Liu Jianjun never made me feel like I could relax completely, like I could completely rely on him?" She paused for several seconds, and then, with what seemed a great deal of determination, looked up. "That night, lying against your chest, I really felt that way."

Fang Mu said nothing. His hands began to tremble.

Thinking back on what happened, Deng Linyue spoke as if she were talking only to herself. "At the time I was so afraid. Of course, I'd been scared before, like when I saw a cockroach or had a bad dream, but that night was different. That was the kind of fear that makes you feel sick from the inside. My mind kept saying the same thing over and over: 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die.' It felt like I was the only person left on Earth; that there was no one who could save me. But then you appeared, at that very moment you appeared. Leaning against your chest, I could feel your breath, your heartbeat. I knew that I had been rescued, that I was safe. No one could hurt me, because you were by my side."

Fang Mu looked down. Although Deng Linyue didn't see it, a huge teardrop rolled down his face.

Chen Xi, I loved you more than anything. And yet I was too late.

Deng Linyue slowly leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"You said that man might try to get me again. If he does," she said, looking up at him, "will you protect me?"

Will you protect me?

She was standing with her back to him in the market; their shadows entwined under the streetlight; her head on his shoulder at the bus stop; soft sounds in the night… Are you still awake? Chen Xi was dressed in white; her long hair fluttering; her face serene in the crime scene photograph…

I will protect you…

At last Fang Mu began to sob. Turning, he saw Deng Linyue, her eyes full of tenderness.

These past few years, I've been so tired.

Unable to help himself, he reached his arms around her and her warm, soft body leaned against his chest. Seconds later a pair of warm, supple lips pressed against his own.