Chapter Five: Paradise Lost

The thought made Yan Xue momentarily distracted, but she quickly pushed it aside. Today was Kongo’s moving day, and with Xia Qing and Ji Yuan present, it wasn’t the time to dwell on other matters. She resolved to simply enjoy the occasion cheerfully.

Kongo was an excellent cook, and Ji Yuan was not far behind. Both were efficient and quick in their tasks. While Xia Qing and Yan Xue were engrossed in conversation, the sumptuous dishes were already laid out on the table. The round dining table wasn’t very large, but the four of them sitting around it fit perfectly—not cramped, yet lively and warm, imbued with a cozy atmosphere.

“This truly is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate! If Luo Wei and the others saw this, they’d be drooling red-eyed from envy,” Yan Xue remarked as she gazed at the array of dishes before her, inhaling deeply with satisfaction. “But why did you only invite so few people? Why not call more friends to make it livelier?”

“Temperature control is key. Too much heat and it burns!” Kongo joked as he served Yan Xue some food.

Xia Qing was more direct, tapping Yan Xue lightly on the head. “Are you made of wood or what?!”

Yan Xue dodged but not quickly enough; Xia Qing’s finger poked her forehead. Realizing how unromantic her earlier comment had sounded, she flushed red and gave an awkward chuckle.

The four ate and chatted, each gaining something from the exchange. Ji Yuan shared some anecdotes about Xia Qing at school, and for once, Yan Xue heard Ji Yuan reveal stories about Kongo.

“He had this trick: with any girl interested in him, he would feign ignorance with masterful acting—pretending not to notice their advances while simultaneously setting clear boundaries, distancing himself as much as possible,” Ji Yuan said, unusually open with gossip today. “People who didn’t know him thought he was clueless, stubborn, and thick-headed. But those close to him understood—he wasn’t clueless; he was just cunning.”

Xia Qing was surprised and gave Kongo a thumbs-up. “That’s some skill!”

Yan Xue wasn’t shocked at all. She had witnessed this firsthand during the investigation with Song Chen. When Song Chen discovered the car belonged to Kongo, he tried every tactic to get him to talk, acting overly familiar. Kongo, however, played dumb to perfection, deflecting everything effortlessly.

Facing Ji Yuan’s “exposure,” Kongo didn’t deny it but chuckled, raising his eyebrows in a teasing challenge. “Exactly. When you lack presence, you have to make up for it with strategy! But I’m the type to admit when I’m moved. Unlike someone else, who keeps the cold air on full blast, letting all the bees and butterflies fly away. If it weren’t for Xia Qing’s tolerance for cold, he might still be single for life!”

Kongo’s teasing made Ji Yuan blush slightly but remain composed. Yan Xue, inadvertently caught in the crossfire, felt a bit embarrassed and focused on eating quietly.

She knew her situation with Kongo was different from Xia Qing and Ji Yuan’s. The latter two had a deep history and significant influence on each other’s lives. They had even upgraded their relationship status from dating to engaged. No matter how much they teased about their deep affection, no one found it odd.

But she and Kongo were still in the exploratory phase, mutually feeling positive but not yet established. Having Kongo speak so frankly in public made Yan Xue realize her own shyness was greater than she thought.

The meal lasted until evening. As they chatted and digested the food, they grew more familiar. Without fuss, they reheated the now-cold dishes and continued eating dinner without clearing the table.

After dinner, Xia Qing and Ji Yuan wisely chose to leave. Yan Xue stayed a bit longer to help Kongo tidy up. When she left, Kongo insisted on escorting her to the door.

“Our places are less than a meter apart in a straight line. There’s really no need to see me off, right?” Yan Xue said, half laughing.

“That won’t do! I must be a good host!” Kongo teased, accompanying her to the door and watching her open it.

Yan Xue opened the door, turned back to wave at Kongo. They both leaned against the doorframes and laughed. The sudden closeness felt strange in a way she couldn’t quite describe, but one thing was certain—she didn’t reject it at all.

After washing up and lying in bed, Yan Xue recalled the layout of their two apartments. She suddenly realized that the wall behind her bed was the same one separating her room from Kongo’s. Judging by the furniture arrangement she’d seen earlier, the two of them were essentially head-to-head on opposite sides of that wall.

The thought made her blush and she instinctively patted her own head. She was a grown woman, and there was nothing romantic about it—why be so embarrassed?

Before drifting off, she vaguely heard voices next door—definitely Kongo’s. The soundproofing in the complex was good, but through the shared wall, she couldn’t catch the words clearly. He seemed to be on a phone call, replying only occasionally, with a distant tone.

Yan Xue wasn’t one to eavesdrop, so she buried herself in her blanket and scrolled through the news on her phone. After a while, the apartment next door quieted down. Then a message popped up on her screen:

“Tomorrow morning, our store offers unlimited breakfast for neighbors. Please knock and say the code phrase: ‘Kong Treasure.’”

Yan Xue couldn’t help but smile and replied with a cute animated sticker.

That night she slept soundly. The next morning, she woke unusually early—before eight o’clock. She got up at around seven, watching the lingering rosy glow of dawn outside and secretly praised herself. With a new neighbor, she’d already broken her twenty-plus-year habit of sleeping in late.

Soon after, Kongo messaged her. She got ready and went out, turning left to knock on his door. When he opened, they looked at each other and smiled.

They had always been work partners, and though they had spent some private time together outside work, this sudden closeness felt refreshingly new.

Kongo had prepared a thoughtful breakfast with both Chinese and Western dishes, not too much but just enough for two. After eating, they planned to go shopping for household essentials and groceries. Since Kongo had just moved in, the big items were ready, but small things were still missing.

The morning started clear, but within a couple of hours, the sky had clouded over and it began snowing heavily. Considering slippery roads and poor visibility, they decided to leave promptly.

However, plans rarely go as expected. While driving near the supermarket, they received a call about a case requiring them to go to the scene immediately. They abandoned their original plan and headed toward the crime location.

The car was driving out of the city as large snowflakes began falling thickly. The ground quickly turned white. Traffic slowed on the crowded weekend roads, and soon they were caught in a jam.

“The snow’s coming down hard... this isn’t good for us,” Yan Xue said, watching the flakes anxiously. They knew from the call that the crime scene was outdoors.

“Don’t worry too much. Judging by the address, it’s a remote place—no village in front or behind. At this time of year, few people are around, and the scene probably isn’t ‘fresh’ either. The snow might not even make much difference,” Kongo responded, more optimistic. “But I have a feeling this case might be a bit dramatic.”

“Dramatic? Why do you say that? We haven’t even seen the scene yet,” Yan Xue asked, puzzled. Not being from this city, she was unfamiliar with the location, which was technically on the outskirts.

“You don’t know that place?” Kongo thought she might have heard of it. Seeing her ignorance, he explained, “That spot was on the news recently. Years ago, it was planned as a park, but for some reason, the project was abandoned. There was a mysterious fire in the amusement area during construction that killed a worker. The authorities thought the place was unlucky, so the plan was scrapped and the area left deserted.”

“I see. I had no idea about that,” Yan Xue said, understanding better. “So your feeling about drama is because the burnt, abandoned amusement rides are still there?”

“Exactly. They’re rusted and decrepit, no one clears them out because it’s just wasteland, overgrown with wild grass. The fire left them charred and rusted, with no salvage value. A couple of years ago, someone made a video there and posted it online. I saw it—it looked desolate, perfect for a horror film. Such a place lends itself to dramatic crime scenes, don’t you think?”

Yan Xue imagined the scene and found Kongo’s speculation quite reasonable, even though she had never been there nor seen the video. Just knowing the history painted a vivid picture.

Despite the snow causing traffic jams, they arrived among the first at the scene. Through the car window, Yan Xue spotted some dilapidated amusement rides some distance from the road. Several police cars were parked along the roadside, indicating that the terrain near the scene was unsuitable for vehicles; they would have to park and walk.

When parking, Yan Xue noticed a private car she didn’t recognize, dusted lightly with snow covering the windshield and roof.

If the car had driven from the city, residual heat would have melted the snow, leaving frost after cooling. But if the car had been parked before the snow started, it would have accumulated a thin layer of snow, as seen here.

“That must be the reporter’s car,” Yan Xue said after getting out. “The owner’s not inside; probably nearby. Let’s check it out.”

They walked down the gentle slope beside the road, stepping carefully over the uneven, frozen ground, avoiding sharp roots and stems sticking up.

The area was already cordoned off with police tape. Qi Tianhua had arrived earlier; he was on duty and had been dispatched promptly. Seeing Kongo and Yan Xue arrive so soon, he was surprised.

“You two are quick! When I called Kongo, I thought it’d take some time to pick up Yan Xue and get here, given your proximity. Were you two just hanging out together when I called?” Qi Tianhua joked.

Kongo just smiled without replying. Qi Tianhua understood and laughed, patting Kongo’s arm as if congratulating him, then turned serious.

“The body is cordoned off. The forensic team will arrive soon to take photos. I’ll take you to speak with the reporter. They’re quite shaken and unstable emotionally—I haven’t had a chance to question them yet. Let’s go and get the details together.”