Chapter 28: Seeking Inspiration

"Did Xu Wenrui have any other romantic relationships besides this girl?" Yan Xue asked.

"I really don't know," Gao Yang replied, shaking his head helplessly. "As for what happened at school, if his parents didn't know, my mom wouldn't know either, and if she didn't know, then I wouldn't. Xu Wenrui would never take the initiative to share those things with me.

But according to my mom, apart from that girl called Bei Bei, she never heard Xu Wenrui's mother mention him being with any other girl. My mom once whispered about it to my dad at home, saying that both Xu Wenrui and I are the type to worry parents over relationships. I can't find a girlfriend, while Xu Wenrui supposedly has poor taste and is too honest—he got caught by a little trickster, and now he's stuck. If he never wants to date again, his parents will be driven mad with anxiety!"

"What about you? Is it that your standards are too high, or is it just that circumstances don't allow it?" Kang Ge asked, full of curiosity.

A faint blush crept onto Gao Yang's face as he replied, "It's more that circumstances don't allow it. You've met my mom. If I started dating at this stage, my expenses would go up, and I'd inevitably have to ask her for money. She'd just complain about how much I spend and scold me.

And look at Xu Wenrui's example—if you bring a girlfriend home before you're financially independent and your parents don't approve, it gets really tricky, because you have no confidence to stand your ground.

Xu Wenrui has been spoiled by his mother all his life—more than most daughters, honestly. She hates to let her precious son lift a finger, afraid he'll tire himself out. Yet even so, they had a huge falling-out over his girlfriend. As for me, the one stain on my mom's otherwise perfect record, I'd rather not bring any more trouble on myself."

"You've got a pretty level-headed personality," Kang Ge commented, nodding in approval.

Gao Yang forced a bitter smile. "Thank you for this positive assessment. I honestly don’t hear things like that very often."

The three of them chatted for a while. Dishes began to arrive—Kang Ge had indeed ordered simple home-style fare that came quickly, but the food was delicious, and all three, hungry as they were, ate with great relish.

After the meal, Kang Ge offered to drive Gao Yang back to campus. Somewhat embarrassed, since he hadn't had to split the bill for dinner, Gao Yang declined several times. Seeing this, Kang Ge didn't insist—Gao Yang's awkwardness and discomfort were plain to see, and if he didn't want to accept a lift, it would be wrong to press him.

"Are you sure I shouldn't bring Xu Wenrui's things back to his parents right now?" Gao Yang hesitated as they parted ways.

"Yes," Kang Ge replied. "You were wise not to want to take on this hot potato. Your thinking is more thorough than your mother's. It makes sense for us to hold on to his belongings for now. Once the case is closed, we can return them all together to his family."

Gao Yang seemed conflicted for a moment, then spoke up. "Could I ask a favor? Would you call my mom and tell her it was your decision not to let me bring the things back, not mine? Just say it's for the sake of the investigation or something. Otherwise, she'll think I can't handle even this simple task.

My mom likes everything planned out, or rather, she writes a script for every situation. Once she's settled on it, everyone—herself included—has to follow it. If not, she gets upset and thinks everyone else is incompetent, lacking brains..."

"I understand! Really, I do," Kang Ge promised heartily, thumping his chest. "I'll definitely call your mother. If you want, I'll do it right now."

"No, no, that's not necessary. I trust you—you’re not the kind to go back on your word." Embarrassed by Kang Ge’s enthusiasm, Gao Yang didn’t press further.

So Kang Ge and Yan Xue escorted Gao Yang to the bus stop, watched him board his bus, and then turned back. True to his word, once back in the car, Kang Ge phoned Gao Yang’s mother, Ms. Yang, explaining that the police would temporarily keep Xu Wenrui’s belongings for investigative reasons. Given Kang Ge’s position, Ms. Yang raised no objections; after a brief, overly polite exchange, the call ended.

After hanging up, Kang Ge drove out of the restaurant parking lot. At first, Yan Xue thought they were heading back to the station, but after passing two intersections, she realized something was off.

"Where are we going?" she asked, gazing out the window. "It feels like we’re heading toward K University."

"We are," Kang Ge said, giving her a flamboyant thumbs-up as he drove. "Your sense of direction is impressive! Let's go to K University, get a feel for the place, and clear our heads."

"Clear our heads at K University?" Yan Xue was puzzled. Normally, when there’s a lead, people return to the office to discuss it. Going to a university campus to sort through ideas was a first for her.

"Exactly," Kang Ge replied. "Xu Wenrui was a student at K University, lived on campus, and spent more time here in recent years than at home. Most of the time before the incident was spent here too. Putting ourselves in his environment makes it easier to imagine his situation. If we stay in the office, our thinking gets boxed in."

Yan Xue had never heard of this approach before, but she didn’t care how they got results as long as they got them, so she made no objection.

And so, the two of them returned to K University. This time, they made no attempt to pose as anyone’s relatives. Instead, they wandered the campus aimlessly, getting a sense of the place.

The evening air was cooler than during the day, but not enough to send people indoors. The gentle night breeze was refreshing, and the campus was lively. Here, a group was practicing roller skating, laughter echoing; there, the basketball courts rang with the sounds of running and layups. Groups of friends chatted, couples strolled arm in arm—the whole campus was vibrant.

Yan Xue had been away from campus life for over four years. Walking through K University with Kang Ge, she couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. On one hand, she missed her student days; on the other, these relaxed, free evenings weren’t something she’d experienced—her police academy had been under military-style management, with discipline above all else.

"Come on, that's the sports field over there. Let’s go sit in the stands," Kang Ge said as they passed a junction, pointing to a nearby sign. "The higher up we sit, the farther we can see. We’ll take in the view and sort through our thoughts."