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“Inspector Qiao, this is a bit inappropriate, no?”
Qiao Chusheng glanced towards Bai Youning, before turning back to the suspect. “What’s inappropriate?”
“Letting a tabloid journalist participate in an interrogation, how is that complying with regulations?”
“What?”
“Tabloid?” said journalist huffed.
Lu Yao rolled his eyes at the affronted gaze. “Xinyue Daily is relatively small, but still enough to sway public opinion. Biased reports disturb judicial justice, this is common sense.”
The newly appointed chief inspector leaned back and crossed his arms. A touch of intrigue arose within him. “How do you know she’s a journalist from Xinyue Daily?”
Opposite him, the young man still dressed in loungewear wiggled his fingers. “Because I’m psychic~”
From the side, Bai Youning barked out a laugh. “Oh? Can you read palms then?” she asked sarcastically.
Instead of brushing her off, Lu Yao held his hand out expectantly. Bai Youning daintily placed her hand on Lu Yao’s, palm up. Lu Yao hummed, then ahh’ed, then hummed again, angling the hand this way and that.
“...Are you reading it or not?!”
“This is a delicate process, it can’t be rushed!” Lu Yao tsked as he traced the creases with a light touch.
“You know, I’d usually charge for my services, but I’ll do it for free today as a show of good faith. This one here is the heart line. I can see that many factors make it difficult for others to get close to you. It may take some time, but rest assured you will find someone who will love and cherish you for life.”
Bai Youning blinked, but couldn’t help the smile brightening up her face.
“What else can you see?” she prodded with anticipation.
Qiao Chusheng sighed and shook his head. As he expected, it was such a generic statement it could apply to anyone. “Can we just get back to the interrogation? I thought you didn’t believe in this kind of thing?”
“I don’t! But well, you never know, right? Keep going!”
Lu Yao huffed in amusement, before focusing on the palm again. This time, he covered it with his other hand and furrowed his brows.
“...There’s some turbulence in your life, related to family. Even though you were raised in wealth, something happened yesterday that made you run away. Am I right?”
“Heavens, you’re spot on! Chusheng-ge, he’s the real deal!” Bai Youning exclaimed, eyes positively sparkling. “Can you tell what’s happening back home?”
“Mmm, that might be a little out of my capabilities,” Lu Yao replied with an innocent look. “But I—” He paused in the middle of speaking with a slight grimace. “...I’m sorry, that’s all I can perceive.”
Lu Yao let her hand go and turned to the inspector. “Let’s get back to this delightful interview. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can leave. I’ll even let the reporter stay.”
Qiao Chusheng frowned at the abrupt change in demeanor.
“You can’t just stop there! I want to know how Dad is feeling right now!” Bai Youning grabbed Lu Yao’s wrist in a tight grip. “Come on, I’ll even pay you!”
Lu Yao tried to pull back but stilled as his eyelids fluttered shut, before opening again with unfocused pupils.
“Youning.”
Bai Youning froze, and Qiao Chusheng straightened his back reflexively.
After a beat of tense silence, Lu Yao shook his head and lifted his wrist out of Bai Youning’s grasp. “Go back home. I’m sure whatever the problems are between you two can be solved by talking it out.”
Wordlessly, Bai Youning stood up. After glancing uncertainly between the two men a few times, she finally left in a rush.
Qiao Chusheng wasn’t sure if the cold feeling down his spine was due to awe or fear. For just a moment, it was as if Bai Laoye was sitting right in front of him. When their eyes met again, Lu Yao put his elbows on the desk and rested his chin on his laced fingers.
“Now do you believe me?” Lu Yao smirked, but it was a hollow question. It seemed as though Lu Yao only wanted to mess around a bit, but inadvertently slipped and revealed too much.
Chusheng wanted to ask about what had just happened. But he noticed the other was breathing shallowly, and his complexion was a little gray.
“You alright?”
“Yup, totally fine. Let’s just get on with it. Unless you feel left out? I can read your palm too,” Lu Yao teased.
“No thanks,” the inspector refused immediately. He had enough on his plate without adding unnerving psychic weirdness to the mix.
—
Lu Yao narrowed his gaze, slowly scanning the decadent washroom from ceiling to floor. The faceted silver walls created an otherworldly illusion, like a crystalline barrier between worlds, a one-way mirror with unseen spectators behind it.
A deep-seated dread sunk into his bones, and he couldn’t tell if it was due to his unique abilities or natural human instinct. He started to regret agreeing to this. Nevertheless, he made his way inside under the watchful eyes of the Chief Inspector.
“Do you… sense anything?” Qiao Chusheng asked quietly, shifting his weight. Lu Yao’s eyes softened a bit. It was admittedly a little endearing to see such a tough-looking former gang member acting reserved around him.
“Hmm,” Lu Yao responded noncommittally as he stepped past him, and stopped at one of the sinks. He turned on the tap and was about to wash his hands, but halted when he suddenly remembered he hadn’t actually used the bathroom. He was just here to investigate… investigate something. Right?
What’s happening? Lu Yao bit his lip, trying to lift the heavy fog that clouded his mind. It felt like he was dreaming. He was losing control of his self, his purpose here mostly forgotten. On the verge of drowning in a disorienting sea of despair.
His breath hitched. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t this. He’d never been so overwhelmed. It was suffocating. He wanted to turn around and leave, but his limbs refused to move. As if the ghost haunting this place caught Lu Yao in a vice-like grip. He was trapped, forced to endure the torment through to its bitter end.
…
Something catches my attention. I stare, eyes wide as I lean forward. I raise my hand and carefully pinch something off the mirror’s surface. I bring it close, and with a light puff, it is gone.
Without warning, a burning hot pain pierces between my ribs. Any remaining air in my lungs rush out in a strangled cry as my body locks up in shock. The sensation of cold metal sliding through my flesh drags an agonized gasp out with it as I stagger back, fingers clawing at the bloody wound.
It isn’t meant to be this way. Is this how I die? No. Not like this. I won’t accept it. I refuse to fall.
…
He fell.
He fell into a firm embrace.
Lu Yao heaved as awareness crashed back into his mind, the lingering throes of misery dissipated from twitching muscles. The ringing in his ears eased, and he could hear a voice desperately shouting.
“Can you hear me? Lu Yao! Say something, Lu Yao!”
Instead of speaking, Lu Yao clutched at Qiao Chusheng like his life depended on it. It sure felt like it did, as the closer the touch, the more the horrific hallucination buried itself down into his subconsciousness. And filling that hole was the comforting warmth Qiao Chusheng emanated, a wave of peace that quickly settled his rapid heartbeats.
Something within him changed. A bond was formed between them, triggered by the intense ordeal.
It felt like a survivor’s high after a near-death experience. Lu Yao wasn’t sure if he could let him go now, having never felt so alive and complete in his lifetime.
“Come on, Lu Yao. Talk to me,” Qiao Chusheng hoarsely urged, his pupils almost pinpricks from adrenaline.
“Hi,” Lu Yao breathed.
“...Hey,” Qiao Chusheng sighed in relief. “You alright?”
“Yup, never better.”
“Don’t lie,” QIao Chusheng hissed as he helped Lu Yao sit up.
“It’s the truth. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been here… You saved me.”
Qiao Chusheng startled, and shook his head. “How can that be? I’m the one who brought you here, I caused you to suffer in the first place.”
Lu Yao cradled Qiao Chusheng’s hand, reminiscent of his palm reading with Bai Youning, yet the feelings he had now were wildly different to before.
“It was meant to be this way. This is our direction, unique from any other.”
Qiao Chusheng observed the hands holding his own. If it was any other person, he would have pulled away. But he didn’t.
“I’m not sure I understand,” he mumbled abashedly.
Lu Yao gave an indulgent smile.
“I don’t fully understand it either. I just know that for the rest of my life, I’ll rely upon you.”
Qiao Chusheng’s eyes widened, before closing halfway.
“...Then, I’ll rely upon you too.”
End