WWY Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Qin Man’s Malice – “Are you worried about me?”

Chapter 15: Qin Man’s Malice – “Are you worried about me?”

Tuxi Ling held his phone, stunned for several seconds.

Lan He actually took the initiative to call, which made him a little uneasy.

Being kicked out of a car was a first for him, and not only wasn’t he angry, but he actually felt a little guilty. He seriously suspected he was being gaslighted.

He sighed inwardly: Who told me to do something so awful back then? Isn’t it my fault that I feel inferior whenever I see him?

“Hello, Lan He.”

“Detective Ling, are you busy?”

The voice coming from the receiver was weak and listless, with a slight nasal tone, like a lazy cat.

“I’m at a crime scene.” Noticing his abnormality, Tuxi Ling quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Lan He gave a soft “mm,” as if turning over in bed. Tuxi Ling heard some rustling noises of fabric in the receiver.

“I suddenly remembered something, about the fingerprints. Do you have time to hear me out?”

“Go ahead, slowly.”

Lan He really did speak slowly.

“The day Weiyu He died, I only felt a little unwell when I first got home in the afternoon, but later it seemed to get worse and worse. Because I’m not usually conscious when I’m seriously ill, I’m sorry, but I can only say, I felt like I was very ill.”

“Understood.”

“At first, Qin Man didn’t think it would be so serious. He did a simple check and told me to take some medicine and sleep for a while, saying he would come back later to check on me. I listened to him and went back to my room. Later, when he came to check on me, he must have realized my condition had worsened, so he looked everywhere for my medicine. I remember him asking me where the medicine was, but I don’t remember how I answered him.” Lan He paused. “I just suddenly remembered these details, I’m not sure if I’m misremembering them.”

“I don’t think you’re wrong. The surveillance footage on the first floor of your house shows Qin Man entering and leaving your room several times. He was walking very fast on two of those occasions, he must have realized you were having an attack.”

“Yes, because that day… it was the wedding, I changed into a new shirt. He couldn’t find where my medicine was, so maybe that’s when, in desperation, he took out the medicine bottle prepared for Weiyu He and gave it to me.”

Tuxi Ling found it unbelievable that someone would use the “weapon” they’d prepared for murder to save someone, but combined with what Aunt Long said about Lan He and Qin Man’s relationship being even closer than brothers, it all made sense again.

Qin Man wanted to harm Weiyu He, that’s true, but that didn’t conflict with his saving Lan He’s life. What’s more, he was a doctor, with his own professional ethics and instincts. He had just gone astray.

“That’s why your fingerprints were on the yellow medicine bottle.”

“I think so.”

“You didn’t notice the color of the bottle at the time?”

“No, it wasn’t raining yet at that time, the sky was very overcast, the curtains were drawn, and almost nothing could be seen in the room. Plus, I was drowsy and my eyes weren’t even open properly… Because the smell was the same as the medicine I usually use, my heart was quickly relieved. I subconsciously thought that was my medicine. When I woke up in the early hours of the morning, my own white medicine bottle was on the bedside table. He must have found it later and specially put it there for me. He didn’t leave that bottle I used, so I’m sure that bottle was prepared for Weiyu He.”

“Indeed, he’s the family doctor, and that kind of medicine is exclusively for you. Normally, he should have left it directly with you after you used it, there’s no need to take it away again.”

“Yes, that’s right. That day I heard Officer Wu say that Weiyu He’s medicine bottle was almost full. You can look at the graduations on the bottle. To ensure accurate dosage, Qin Man prepared the medicine in units of one grid at a time. If Weiyu He had also used it before he died, then the bottle should be missing two grids.”

“It’s indeed missing two grids. There are no doubts about this piece of physical evidence. Thank you.” Hearing that his breathing wasn’t very stable, Tuxi Ling didn’t want him to say too much. “I understand, you want to say that Qin Man had no malice towards you. Actually, you’re right.”

This time, Lan He didn’t understand. He paused for a few seconds and asked, “What do you mean?”

“It’s not convenient to reveal. I can only say that he didn’t deliberately run you over.” Tuxi Ling sighed. “But he had accomplices. It was definitely a subjective and deliberate act against He Senior. He broke the law and has already paid the price for his actions. But the case still needs to be investigated. I will give you an explanation.”

“Okay, well, that’s all for now.”

Lan He’s calmness was no different from most of the time, but Tuxi Ling was feeling guilty and felt he should say something unrelated to the case.

Actually, he still didn’t quite understand what Lan He’s point of anger was today.

Was there anything wrong with telling him to live his life properly?

He felt like a student who knew he had failed his exam. The teacher was leaning against your desk, fanning himself slowly with your report card in hand, and occasionally looking at you with meaningful glances, but just wouldn’t announce the grade.

Hey! What are you going to do? See if you dare do it again next time!

Before Lan He could hang up, he blurted out: “Lan He, are you alright?”

Lan He was silent for a long time.

He asked again: “What’s wrong? There’s no doctor taking care of you at home now, do you want to go to the hospital for observation? Lan He, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you okay?”

After a long while, the receiver finally transmitted: “I’m fine.”

Tuxi Ling pressed: “What are you doing?”

Lan He’s gaze shifted to the wooden biscuit tin on the table that had been unpacked from its express delivery box. He hesitated for a moment: “Nothing, sleepy, want to sleep.”

Tuxi Ling looked at the starry sky and realized that it was already past midnight.

“Go to sleep, if you still feel unwell tomorrow, it’s best to go to the hospital.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“…”

Tuxi Ling didn’t make a sound for a long time. On the other end of the phone, Lan He’s eyes curved into a smile. He held the phone and turned over, comfortably clamping the thick quilt between his legs. His little calf, peeking out from his pajama pants, was bright white.

“Detective Ling, thank you for your hard work on the case, you should also pay attention to rest.”

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

The stuffiness in his chest inexplicably lessened a lot. He slowly got out of bed and pushed open the window, feeling that the air today was really fresh, and his chest was filled with beautiful air.

–

Lan He, with a stomach full of worries, didn’t fall asleep until nearly dawn, which caused him to not wake up until almost noon the next day.

Jiu Ya had been standing diligently outside the door since morning, like a eunuch waiting to serve the emperor’s wake-up call. Hearing movement in the room, he immediately knocked on the door and entered: “Young Master Lan, are you awake?”

Lan He had just finished relieving himself in the toilet, and was holding up his loose pajama bottoms, glaring back: “What? In Japan, bodyguards also moonlight as nannies?”

Jiu Ya smiled awkwardly: “Jiu Ya is very worried about Young Master Lan.”

It’s already been several days since they met, and Lan He still wasn’t used to his way of speaking, it was nauseating.

He hurriedly freed one hand and waved it: “I’m fine, just a little hungry, please go ask Aunt Long to prepare breakfast.”

Jiu Ya bowed: “But, it’s already lunchtime, Young Master Lan.”

Is he stupid?

Lan He was speechless: “Then eat lunch.”

As long as it’s food.

Every time after an attack, he was particularly hungry, as if he had to fill himself up to feel at ease. He had seen a doctor a few years ago, but the doctor said he had serious psychological problems. He scoffed at this, believing that it was normal for the body to need to replenish energy after fighting off the illness.

Yesterday Weiyu He was successfully buried, and Aunt Long’s sadness had subsided by half. Early this morning, she had the driver, Old Ni, who had just returned from his hometown, take her to buy groceries. They bought a lot of all kinds of things, all of which Lan He loved to eat.

“Young Master Lan, here, your favorite sauced beef, bought from that shop in Green Lake Shopping Mall. I specifically asked for the parts with more tendon, you like that texture the most. Oh, have some vegetables too, charcoal-grilled mushrooms, today’s mushrooms are big and fresh, and this too…”

Aunt Long babbled on, constantly putting food on Lan He’s plate. Lan He ate happily with his head buried in his food. His eating manners were still not very good, but that didn’t stop Aunt Long’s doting motherly eyes, and she constantly wore a kind smile on her face.

At this time, the doorbell rang. Lan He looked at the surveillance screen hanging above the living room and immediately lost his appetite.

But Aunt Long jumped up in surprise: “Oh, Mr. Gu is here!”

Gu Qing was welcomed into the door by Aunt Long, followed by a man with his hair neatly combed back.

Seeing that Lan He was eating, without even needing to be invited, he sat down generously at the dining table, calling it: coming to accompany the meal.

The man he brought stood behind him, a little restrained. When Lan He looked at him, he gave a humble smile: “Hello, Mr. He.”

“Oh, right!” Gu Qing then remembered that he had brought someone. He quickly introduced, “Lan He, this is the new family doctor my sister hired for you, a specialist in congenital heart disease, Dr. Zhou Heng.”

Seeing that Lan He didn’t have much of a reaction, he turned to Zhou Heng: “Dr. Zhou, don’t call him Mr. He, he doesn’t like it. You have to call him Young Master Lan!”

The young masters of wealthy families all have a few quirks, understandable.

Lan He “crunched” a bite of raw cucumber, and chewed without any regard for his image: “Gu Qing, thank your sister for me!”

“Thank you? Thank my sister for you?” Gu Qing laughed strangely. “You two, asking me to pass on a message?”

Lan He didn’t want to say this. He raised his eyebrows and sized up Zhou Heng slightly: “Dr. Zhou, sit down and eat together!”

From the beginning, Zhou Heng had been surprised by Lan He’s easygoingness, because his nanny and two servants were all eating at the same table as him, which was completely different from the wealthy families he had imagined.

This future employer in front of him wasn’t the same type as the Gu’s Trading’s heiress, so he should be easier to serve.

Thinking this, Zhou Heng sat down at the place that Aunt Long had just prepared, and said with slight restraint: “Young Master Lan, then I won’t be polite.”

Lan He smiled and glanced at Gu Qing’s dark circles under his eyes: “You don’t look good.”

“Yeah, I didn’t sleep well last night.” Gu Qing put down his chopsticks and winked at him. “By the way, I’m going to go abroad for a while, don’t miss me!”

“Why would I miss you?” Lan He scoffed. “Why did you think of going abroad?”

“Boring, going out to relax. My sister is a strong woman, this family doesn’t need me at all!”

Normally, one should offer a few words of comfort when facing a marginalized young master of a large family, but Lan He thought he was right.

He said seriously: “My family also has a pillar, it’s our blessing.”

Gu Qing was stunned, then laughed and trembled. He put his arm around his shoulder and leaned his head intimately towards him: “Okay, in the future, we’ll just enjoy the happy life of a pair of freeloaders!”