Mad Detective
[Author: Kuang Hai Wang Hu]
[TL: Spades]
[PR: Blitz]
[QC: Lumi]
Chapter 30 — Who's Got a More Dramatic Life?
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Bang, bang, bang…
Bang, bang, bang…
Early morning, Zhao Yu's door was pounded so hard the floor trembled.
Still dreaming of chasing and hacking at arms, Zhao Yu was startled by the noise, merely licking his lips, rolling over, and mumbling, "Who's that? Annoying!" without fully waking.
"Zhao Yu! You jerk! I know you're in there, open the door!" A young girl's furious shout accompanied the banging.
Her voice snapped Zhao Yu upright in bed.
Jiang Xiaoqing!?
Why her!?
He checked the time, barely 5:30 a.m. So early? What's she up to?
Oh no!
It hit him, yesterday's parent-teacher meeting. He'd stumbled onto a case lead by chance but made a mess for Jiang Xiaoqing! He'd turned the school's carefully planned event into chaos, nearly sending Shanshan's mom to the hospital!
He'd meant to explain to Jiang Xiaoqing, but got so caught up in the case he forgot. She'd called him multiple times, which he dodged, and she'd sent WeChat messages cursing him out, saying she was exposed and he'd better take full responsibility!
Zhao Yu planned to fix it today, but here was Jiang Xiaoqing, banging on his door at dawn! Judging by her ferocious knocks, she was ready to tear him apart!
He started toward the door, then paused. No way! Her parents are downstairs. A grown man like me, in just Pikachu boxers, letting a young girl in? If someone saw, no amount of explaining would clear me!
No!
The door stays shut!
"Zhao Yu, I've got your location data! Stop pretending, I know you're there! Open up!" Jiang Xiaoqing yelled outside.
Zhao Yu clutched a pillow, barely breathing. He'd faced down ruthless foes without fear, but today, this teenage girl genuinely spooked him!
The thought of playing her dad made his nerves fray!
"Fine, think I can't deal with you?" Jiang Xiaoqing shouted, followed by the jangle of metal, "I'm the landlord, I've got keys! I'm opening it, for real!"
She wasn't bluffing. Without waiting, she jammed the key into the lock, twisting it.
Holy crap!
Seeing the door about to swing open, Zhao Yu panicked, tumbling off the bed with a thud. He scanned the cramped room, no hiding spots in sight.
Desperate, he yanked open the balcony's security door and darted out. Just as he reached the balcony, Jiang Xiaoqing burst into his apartment.
"Zhao Yu! I'm in!" She poked her head around, "Stop hiding, okay? I've got important stuff to discuss! Zhao Yu?"
Seeing no one, she searched room by room. As she neared the bedroom, she spotted the open balcony door.
"Hmph! Where you gonna run?"
She charged to the balcony, but it was empty, no one in sight.
"Weird?" Jiang Xiaoqing glanced around, muttering, "Not here? No way! I heard his dying coughs last night, where'd he go? That jerk, does he really have some big case? Zhao Yu…"
She headed back inside to check further.
Hearing the balcony door shut, Zhao Yu peeked up from the neighboring balcony. In his panic, he'd pulled a desperate move, climbing over the security bars to the next-door balcony.
Unsure if she'd left, he stayed put, crouching low on the "Four Beauties" balcony, head down.
Minutes later, the sound of a shutter door came from below. Peeking down, he saw Jiang Xiaoqing lock her family's fruit shop and head to school, backpack on. Before leaving, she glanced up at the balcony, making Zhao Yu duck again.
Phew!
Damn it!
Scared me to death!
Zhao Yu patted his chest, thinking, This early morning drama nearly gave me a heart attack! Is this my adventure for today?
If so, it's not fun at all.
Seeing Jiang Xiaoqing lock the shop, he realized her parents, Jiang Dafeng and his wife, weren't home, likely out getting stock. No wonder she dared come for him!
If he'd known, he'd have opened the door and talked, avoiding this mess!
He tried brushing off the dust, then noticed he was shirtless, in just Pikachu boxers, barefoot, no slippers.
Guess I'll shower again!
Mulling this, he climbed back to his balcony. But the real drama was just starting. His adventure wasn't over, Jiang Xiaoqing had locked the balcony's security door from inside!
Oh, come on!
Zhao Yu yanked the door, it wouldn't budge. He checked the windows, all barred, no way in!
Oh… damn it!
Scratching his head, he cursed Jiang Xiaoqing. That sly girl must've guessed he'd climb over and pulled this trick!
Disaster!
Peering through the balcony bars, he saw he was on the third floor, the balcony jutting out. Climbing to the top of the bars and jumping would be suicide.
Argh…
Zhao Yu paced the tiny balcony, frantic. Today was critical for the Hand-Chopping Case, with so much to do! And now… he couldn't even get into his own home!
If he had his phone, he could call for help, but it was locked inside. Who could he turn to?
Circling the balcony, his gaze landed on the neighbor's. Steeling himself, he decided to go for broke!
Screw it!
He'd get out through the neighboring apartment. The buildings were adjacent, if he exited their front door, he could reach his own.
Sure, the "Four Beauties" lived there, but Zhao Yu knew these socialites partied all night, rarely home. At this hour, it'd be empty.
Praying their balcony door opened from inside, Zhao Yu took a deep breath and climbed back to their balcony. Unlike his, their balcony door wasn't secure, sliding open easily.
Same layout as his place, the balcony led to a bedroom. The room reeked of seductive, intoxicating perfume.
For some reason, the scent felt familiar, maybe from that flashy "Flower" girl? This was probably her room.
Curtains drawn, Zhao Yu, wary of occupants, glanced at the bed in dim light. It was a mess, sheets half on the floor, clearly empty.
Phew…
Relieved, he hurried out of the bedroom toward the living room, where a glass bathroom door stood by the TV wall.
But as he stepped into the living room, the bathroom erupted with the sound of running water. Before he could react, the glass door swung open, flooding the room with light.
A curvaceous woman stepped out, colliding face-to-face with Zhao Yu!
A scream tore through the living room!!