Chapter Text
“You’re so crazy.” Bai Youning proclaimed shaking her head.
Once again, Qiao Chusheng had walked in on one of their battles. Thankfully, pillows weren’t flying. Yet.
“Ah? We’ve got another case?” Youning asked.
“They found a body in the garden on Bubbling Well road last night.” Chusheng answered solemnly, folding himself into the chair across from Lu Yao.
“Marry me.” Lu Yao said, surprising all three of them.
“What? Are you crazy?” Chusheng asked. He could feel his ears heat up even as he raised his eyebrows incredulously. Surely he heard that wrong?
“He’s been like this all morning.” Youning said dismissively though it looked like she was trying not to laugh. “He asked me the same just before.”
“I’m begging you! Mr Bai would pay almost as handsomely for you as he would Youning. I’ll take just 100 silver coins and you can have the rest!”
“You need it that urgently?” Chusheng asked. He could imagine that his eyebrows were disappearing into his hairline by now. Every time Lu Yao opened his mouth he managed to surpass his last display of dumbassery by miles. Chusheng wasn’t sure there would ever be a day he wasn’t baffled by the other man’s antics.
“I’ve got an incurable disease.” Lu Yao said, raising one long finger and widening his eyes dramatically.
“What disease?” Chusheng couldn’t help humouring him, even though no one under the sun would believe Lu Yao when he lied.
“Mental disorder.” Youning supplied to Lu Yao’s spluttering disbelief. “He wants to invest in stocks. Ignore him. What’s the case?”
“The witness found blood trickling out of the belfry, he followed it and found the body.” Chusheng rattled off the information that Salim had gabbled at him not twenty minutes earlier.
“A bloody belfry? Interesting.” Bai Youning said, already composing her next article, full of fanatical fictions, Chusheng was sure.
“Human blood?” Lu Yao asked. It seemed his curiosity had won over the desperate need to pester his friends for money.
“They are doing tests.” Chusheng answered, flicking his eyes over the stock charts littering the kitchen table.
“No. You look worried.” Lu Yao said, frowning in the way that made his bottom lip stick out a little. Chusheng couldn’t help musing about how child-like the other man was sometimes. “Something’s off.” Lu Yao concluded.
Sighing Chusheng told the others his concerns.“The victim owed his overseas education to Old Master’s funds. Old Master saw him off at the docks personally. He though very highly of the young man.” Somehow every case these days was tied in some way to the boss.
“I see.” Lu Yao said, rapping the tips of his fingers together as he leant back in his chair.
“Yeah? Let’s go then.” Chusheng was really losing his patience with this, yet another case on a short deadline and Lu Yao was still being difficult.
“Agree to marry me first.” Lu Yao said, as determined and pouty as a spoiled toddler.
“This again?” Youning said. Her exasperation was clear, especially as the thrill of the chase had already begun. Nothing satisfied the curiosity of that girl.
“I’d rather just pay you the 100.” Chusheng said, words dripping with sarcasm. Lu Yao hung on to them hopefully none the less.
“Really? You would?” He asked, suddenly bright and excited.
“Of course not. Piss off.” Chusheng got up from his seat at the table and began to make his way out. Youning was quick to follow him, her ringlets bouncing as she went.
Lu Yao sulkily trailed after them to the threshold before he stopped, crossing his arms petulantly. “I’d like to pay a visit to Mr Bai first.”
“What for?” Chusheng growled. What he really meant was ‘be quiet. Hurry up’ but Lu Yao was stubborn more than anything and Chusheng wouldn’t put it past him to stand there in the doorway, arms crossed, until he got what he wanted or until Chusheng bodily dragged him to the crime scene.
“For the case of course!” Faux innocence painted over his face.
“Don’t listen to him. He just wants to swindle money out of my father.” Youning said, adjusting her camera strap and turning to leave. Chusheng was inclined to go with her and just leave Lu Yao to his tantrum.
“I won’t go to the scene until I visit Mr Bai.” Lu Yao said digging his heels in.
Chusheng let out a long sigh. “Alright, I’ll make the call first, huh?”
At Old Master’s house, Lu Yao seemed to find a quick attachment in one of the exotic parrots, though he teased it mercilessly by waving sunflower seeds in its face before eating them himself. It was the quietly happy and contented Lu Yao that Chusheng loved, the younger man’s soul focus on the two things he coveted the most—food and wealth and that bird was certainly wealthy too, on a gold perch as it was.
Chusheng caught himself smiling and forced his eyes away to the newspaper he’d been holding but ignoring for the past couple of minutes.
A maid announced the arrival of Old Master before Chusheng had even made it through a sentence. He came carrying two more golden cages with equally splendid birds as Lu Yao’s new friend inside.
Chusheng quickly jumped up to put his newspaper away. “Old Master, this is Mr Lu Yao, the consultant at our police station.” He said as he relieved his boss of the two cages.
“I’ve heard so much about you, sir. What a pleasure to meet you today.” Lu Yao said, all smiles.
“Ah! You are among friends, let’s do away with formalities. Have a seat.” Old Master herded Lu Yao into one of the leather armchairs. “What has brought you here today Mr Lu?” He asked.
Chusheng listened from the side as hung the bird cages on their frame and scooped little heapings of grain into their food dishes.
“I’ll cut right to the chase.” Lu Yao said. Chusheng could tell he was nervous even with his back to him. Lu Yao’s words always became a little rushed and jumbled when he was frightened. Normally, Chusheng would rush to protect the younger man—yes, Chusheng was self aware enough to realise this weakness—but watching him at the teasing behest of Old Master was a truly hilarious sight.
Lu Yao gulped and continued earnestly. “I want to ask for you blessing to marry Qiao Chusheng.”
Chusheng choked.