A Bad-Hearted Doctor is Unbearably Beautiful - Chapter 75

The midday sun hung high, its warmth baking the windshield into a cozy shield. The asphalt of the highway shimmered under the blinding light, and the interior of the car was silent, save for the soft breathing of the two men and the low hum of the engine.

Lu Xiao kept one hand on the steering wheel while using the other to adjust his sun visor.

“Is it too bright for you…?”

Lu Xiao had just finished flipping down his own visor and turned to ask Shen Zhao, only to catch a glimpse of the man beside him.

This guy fell asleep from the sun.

Shen Zhao’s head had unconsciously tilted toward the window. Sunlight danced across his eyelashes, softening the lines of his profile and turning the fine, downy hair on his skin into a golden halo. His lips were slightly pursed in sleep, and he looked incredibly peaceful.

Looking at him, Lu Xiao’s lips curled into an involuntary smile.

If I remember correctly, didn’t the head nurse at the military hospital say Shen Zhao had a sleep disorder? Tsk. Look at how soundly he’s sleeping now.

With this well-behaved look, what’s the difference between him and a little kitten or puppy napping in the sun?

“Shen Zhao…?”

Lu Xiao called out softly twice. Seeing no reaction, he confirmed the doctor was truly out. Only then did he slowly free his right hand and fish his phone out of his pocket.

He was about to send a message when he thought of something and bit his lip. Scanning the road to ensure no other cars were nearby, he stealthily aimed the camera at Shen Zhao and tapped the shutter button more than a dozen times.

Extremely satisfied with the results, he opened a chat window, found Zhang Zhen, and quickly typed a few lines with one hand:

[Check someone for me. Don’t know if it’s a stage name or his real name, but he goes by Damian. He’s a celebrity who just returned to the country. Focus specifically on his whereabouts from February 26th to 27th.]

Five minutes later, Zhang Zhen replied:

[When did you start caring about the entertainment industry? (Lin Xue is pressing her head against mine and making me ask this.)]

Lu Xiao: “…”

He was tempted to call them directly and tell Lin Xue to put her gossiping heart to rest, but he glanced at the passenger seat and restrained himself, typing quietly.

Lu Xiao: [Just check it. Why so many questions!]

Zhang Zhen: [Lin Xue says she’s a fan and has first-hand info. She won’t tell you anything unless you give her a reason.]

Lu Xiao frowned, feeling a twinge of guilt. His fingers hovered over the screen. He typed out the word “Love Rival,” then quickly deleted it and re-typed.

Lu Xiao: [I suspect this person is linked to Xiao Cheng’s kidnapping. Check first, keep it quiet.]

Back at the Police Station

Lin Xue stared at Zhang Zhen’s chat window, feeling like her favorite idol’s “house” had just collapsed…

After sending the message, Lu Xiao rubbed his phone, his gaze darkening. The timing and location of this “friend” of Shen Zhao’s appearing were far too unusual. Lu Xiao didn’t believe in coincidences; he just couldn’t say it to Shen Zhao directly yet.

Furthermore, Nine’s irritating way of speaking reminded Lu Xiao of the kidnapper who had taken Xiao Cheng.

He glanced again at Shen Zhao’s sleeping face and mused: Shen Zhao is good-looking, innocent, and exceptionally kind. He’s definitely blinded by the joy of his childhood friend returning from the dead. It’s only natural he can’t see through this.

As a qualified boyfriend, I need to vet people for him.

He nodded to himself, tucked the phone under his thigh, and focused on the road.

They arrived at Liuyuan Village close to 3:00 PM. The winter sun felt warm against their backs. They parked the Raptor in a clearing by the village road and walked for a few minutes.

The air was thick with the scent of woodsmoke from the surrounding houses. Most of the homes along the main road were renovated brick buildings, but as they walked into the narrow alleys, the walls took on a weathered, decaying look. A few local children stared at them with curiosity.

Lu Xiao found the Village Committee office. As they walked in, they saw two men sitting cross-legged, holding thermoses and smoking.

Shen Zhao stood at the door and coughed from the smoke. Lu Xiao signaled for Shen Zhao to stay outside while he tapped on the door.

“Excuse me… do you know a woman named Wu Fang?” Lu Xiao poked his head inside.

The two men squinted at Lu Xiao, finding him unfamiliar. They exchanged a look before a middle-aged man took a drag of his cigarette and asked gruffly, “Which family do you belong to?”

Lu Xiao held up his badge. The man’s face instantly changed. He hissed through his teeth and signaled to his companion.

“Is the leader here… to inspect our work? Or is there a case we need to assist with?” The man stood up immediately, bowing slightly as he tried to offer Lu Xiao a high-end Chunghwa cigarette.

Lu Xiao waved it off. “No need. I’m just here to ask some questions.”

The man, adhering to the rural logic that a leader saying “no” might just mean they don’t like the brand, pulled a pack of Huanghelou 1916 from his other pocket and carefully peeled back the wrapper. “Leader, try this one!”

The other man noticed Shen Zhao still standing outside and invited him in. “Why is the other leader staying out there…?”

Lu Xiao shot a glance back. He figured Shen Zhao had been smoked out by Cheng Meirong all morning; he wasn’t going to let him get smoked out again in the afternoon. Can’t let my beauty’s face get blackened by soot.

“It’s too stuffy in here…”

The man holding the cigarettes froze, looking embarrassed. He quickly scrambled to push the window open. “Hehe, ventilation, ventilation. Leader, who did you say you were looking for?”

“Wu Fang. And don’t call me leader. I’m just looking for someone,” Lu Xiao said helplessly.

“Wu Fang…” The man who had just put away his cigarettes frowned. “Hey, Old Jiang, you remember anyone in the village by that name?”

“Let me think… wait, there is! Old Wu, the cobbler at the village entrance, just had a second daughter. I think that’s her name! I even went to their house for the one-month celebration!”

The men were about to call Old Wu when Lu Xiao cut them off. “No! The Wu Fang I’m talking about is in her thirties! She’s been working in Shanghai for the past few years.”

Old Jiang chewed on the end of a pen, tapping his head. The other man paced the room, mumbling around a toothpick. “Working out of town… surname Wu… Hey, wasn’t Old Cheng’s daughter friends with a girl named Xiao Fang?”

At the mention of “Old Cheng,” Lu Xiao and Shen Zhao instantly perked up.

“The ‘Old Cheng’ you mentioned—what’s his daughter’s name?” Lu Xiao asked.

“I don’t actually remember her name, but she supposedly did quite well for herself. Though I heard she had a falling out with her family. A few years back when they tore down the old house to rebuild, she didn’t even come back to look at it! Now it’s a three-story villa—very grand!”

Shen Zhao frowned. “She has a bad relationship with her family?”

The man spat on the ground. “Don’t even get me started. Her father is a chronic alcoholic and gambler. He starts trouble the moment he drinks. The whole village knows. There’s a younger brother, too. You know how it is in these villages—people still favor boys over girls quite a bit. Anyway, that Cheng girl probably had a rough time growing up.”

“And her friend? Do you remember which family she belonged to?”

“No idea. I think they went to the city together to find work years ago, and we haven’t seen them since.” The man sighed. “A decade has gone by just like that.”

Lu Xiao spoke up immediately. “We want to head to the Cheng house to ask around. Lead the way.”