Chapter 16: Don’t You Feel It’s Unlucky?

Page (1/3)

Shu Yan shook her head. “No, thank you. By the way, what would you like to drink? I only have black tea at home; is that okay?”

Lu Chengfeng replied, “If it’s convenient, a cup of black tea would be great. Thanks.”

Shu Yan nodded and pointed to the sofa. “You can sit here first. You can watch TV; the remote is on the coffee table.”

After saying this, Shu Yan hurried to the kitchen to boil water and brew the tea.

Lu Chengfeng took off his coat and hung it over the back of the sofa, then glanced around the room.

It seemed to be a two-bedroom, two-living room apartment.

The space looked to be about seventy or eighty square meters.

The overall decoration was simple, and the furniture was either white or black.

The door to the master bedroom was open, revealing a large 1.8-meter-wide bed in the center of the room.

The bedspread was white with lace trim.

The door to the other room was closed.

There was also the dining area and an open kitchen, where Lu Chengfeng could see Shu Yan busy with her back turned to him.

And then there was the small balcony where she had just changed the light bulb, on which hung two sets of police uniforms and two sets of women’s lingerie.

The lingerie was white lace.

The scene from that night in the hotel flashed through Lu Chengfeng’s mind, causing a flush of heat to rise within him.

Licheng was the southernmost coastal city.

While the north was still cold at this time of year, Licheng’s temperature was usually in the teens, quite pleasant.

The indoor temperature was warmer than outside.

Today, Lu Chengfeng was wearing a thin sweater, perfect for the current weather.

Yet now, he felt sweat forming on his back.

He dared not look again at those blush-inducing undergarments drying on the balcony.

Quickly, he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

The screen flickered to a scene of a man and woman embracing and kissing.

Shu Yan came in carrying the tea, and upon seeing the scene, paused in surprise.

Lu Chengfeng quickly turned off the TV.

Both were awkwardly embarrassed.

Just when neither knew what to say, Lu Chengfeng suddenly stood up. “I’m sorry to have kept you so long. I should be going now.”

Shu Yan hesitated, then instinctively blurted out, “The tea is ready. Please have a cup before you go.”

She had also prepared the handmade cookies she bought at the supermarket earlier.

But after speaking, she slightly regretted it, fearing Lu Chengfeng would refuse.

Page (2/3)

Unexpectedly, Lu Chengfeng walked over and took the tray from her hands. “Then I’ll trouble you a little longer. I’ll leave after I finish drinking.”

He returned to the sofa, set down the tray, and poured tea into two cups, filling each about seven-tenths full to avoid spilling and burning their hands.

Shu Yan’s hands were so precious; they mustn’t be scalded.

They each held a cup and drank quietly.

Finally, Shu Yan broke the silence, picking up a cookie. “Try this handmade cookie; it’s really delicious.”

“Okay.” Lu Chengfeng took a cookie, chewed, and said, “It really is delicious.”

He could tell Shu Yan was uneasy, so after finishing his tea, he left.

When he got home, he realized he’d left his coat at Shu Yan’s place.

As he was about to message her, he received a text from her.

Shu Yan sent a photo.

Shu Yan: “Team Leader Lu, your coat was left at my place. I’ll bring it to the bureau tomorrow. You can pick it up at my office when convenient.”

Lu Chengfeng: “Alright, thank you.”

Shu Yan: “Not a bother. Thanks for helping me change the light bulb today.”

Lu Chengfeng: “You’re welcome. If you ever need repairs, just say so. I can come by after work or on days off to help.”

Shu Yan: “Thank you.”

After replying, Shu Yan realized Lu Chengfeng’s slippers were also left at her place.

She had to send another message.

Shu Yan: “Your slippers are at my place too.”

Lu Chengfeng: “Just leave those slippers there. They can come in handy if a gentleman visits occasionally. I bought two pairs yesterday.”

In truth, he had deliberately left the slippers there but couldn’t let Shu Yan know.

Shu Yan thought that made sense; it was proper to have a pair of men’s slippers at home.

Shu Yan: “Okay, then thank you.”

Lu Chengfeng: “You’re welcome. What are you planning for dinner?”

Shu Yan: “Frozen dumplings, I suppose.”

Lu Chengfeng: “Frozen dumplings aren’t very nutritious. If you want, next time on your day off, I can buy some ingredients and make some for you at your place.”

Shu Yan: “You can make dumplings?”

Lu Chengfeng thought of Shu Yan being from the south, where rice was the staple, so it was natural she might not know how to make wheat-based foods.

Lu Chengfeng: “Making dumplings is simple. Just buy the wrappers from outside and prepare some filling you like.”

Shu Yan: “Better not; too much trouble. The farmers’ market sells them anyway.”

Page (3/3)

Lu Chengfeng: “Homemade filling is cleaner. You never know what kind of meat is in store-bought ones. As a forensic doctor, you should know better than me.”

When Shi Wei came home, he saw Lu Chengfeng texting on his phone, a slight smile on his lips.

“Whoa… is the sun rising from the west?” he teased, leaning over to see who Lu Chengfeng was chatting with.

Lu Chengfeng quickly locked the screen and put on a serious face. “I’m discussing work with a colleague. It’s confidential.”

Shi Wei grinned slyly and asked, “Is it Shu Yan?”

Lu Chengfeng frowned.

Shi Wei slapped his thigh. “I knew it! You haven’t actually fallen for Shu Yan, have you?”

Lu Chengfeng tugged at the corner of his mouth. “So what if I have?”

Shi Wei froze, then grabbed Lu Chengfeng’s shoulder anxiously. “Big brother, you really like Shu Yan?”

Lu Chengfeng shrugged off Shi Wei’s hand. “Why such a strong reaction? Can’t I like her?”

Shi Wei grew urgent. “No, Chengfeng, I think you should think twice. I’m sure your parents would never agree to you marrying a forensic doctor.”

“Besides, don’t you find it a bit unlucky? She touches dead bodies all day at work, then comes home and touches you?”

“Shi Wei!” Lu Chengfeng snapped angrily.

“You’ve been a cop too. You should know how sacred the forensic profession is. Without them, many cases couldn’t be solved.”

“So what if she touches dead bodies? To me, the living are scarier! And you, you just eat, drink, and play all day, while Shu Yan dedicates all her time to her work.”

“You, a spoiled playboy, have no right to look down on her!”

Having said that, Lu Chengfeng stood up and slammed his bedroom door shut.

Only then did Shi Wei realize he had gone too far and hurried to knock and apologize.

That was his good quality: when wrong, he admitted it and didn’t argue.

Shi Wei: “Chengfeng, sorry. I take back what I said earlier. You were right to scold me. I shouldn’t have discriminated against Shu Yan or the forensic profession. I was wrong.”

“Get lost!” came Lu Chengfeng’s irritated voice from inside.

Shi Wei knew he had truly angered him, so he quickly said, “I won’t meddle anymore. If you like Shu Yan, go after her. Setting aside her profession, she’s really a great person.”

“You know, lots of officers in your bureau admire Shu Yan. If you like her, you better act fast before someone else beats you to it.”

“I heard Liu Xun say he likes Shu Yan and wants to pursue her, but she ignores him…”

Suddenly, Lu Chengfeng opened the door and demanded, “Who told you that?”

Shi Wei hesitated. “Liu Xun said it himself. He often comes to my bar with friends. I’ve heard them mention Shu Yan’s name a few times; that’s why I remember her so well.”

“But it’s okay. You’re hundreds of times better than Liu Xun. Shu Yan has no reason to choose Liu Xun over you. Haha…”