Good and Evil Chapter Five Police Department Consultant

Lu Ye looked at Xu Lang, recognizing the young man’s temperament—after all, Xu Lang had grown up under his watchful eye. With a sigh, Lu Ye asked, “You really don’t plan on being a police officer anymore?”

This time, Xu Lang was earnest, none of his usual indifference showing. He nodded seriously and said, “You don’t have to be a cop to investigate cases.”

Hearing this, Lu Ye pointed a finger at him, scolding with a smile, “You brat.”

Xu Lang merely looked back at Lu Ye, unconcerned, leaving Lu Ye quite helpless.

Lu Ye studied Xu Lang. He had never wanted to believe the rumors about Xu Lang beating a suspect. As much as he doubted it, facts remained stubborn things: Xu Lang had indeed struck the suspect, who had ended up in the hospital. What puzzled Lu Ye was that Xu Lang was a police academy graduate, outstanding both in investigative skills and psychological composure. Since recruiting him into the criminal investigation team, Xu Lang’s performance had been exemplary—he’d cracked several major cases. By all rights, he’d seen every kind of crime scene, dealt with all sorts of suspects. How could he have lost control and lashed out so suddenly?

Lu Ye had looked into the case afterward. The suspect was a truly depraved man. The victim was his wife; not only had he murdered her with unspeakable cruelty, he’d dismembered her body, sliced the flesh into thin pieces, and stir-fried it as though preparing meat for hotpot. That wasn’t all—he’d also killed and dismembered his three-year-old daughter. When Xu Lang and his team went to arrest the man, he was in the middle of a meal, eating dishes made from the flesh of his wife and daughter.

Lu Ye later learned that after Xu Lang realized what the food was, he confronted the suspect. The man leaned in, whispered something in Xu Lang’s ear, and Xu Lang’s control snapped—he attacked. If the second squad hadn’t intervened in time, Xu Lang might have beaten the suspect to death on the spot.

Everyone involved in the case, or even those who’d only heard about it, had wished they could tear the killer limb from limb. But as police officers, they could not act out of personal vengeance, nor mete out extrajudicial punishment.

During Xu Lang’s suspension and investigation, Lu Ye made a point of meeting with the suspect. In the interrogation room, he saw the man’s head wrapped in bandages as he answered the officers’ questions. When Lu Ye asked what he’d whispered to Xu Lang, the man simply turned to him, laughing with undisguised mockery and madness. His laughter echoed harshly in the small room.

But in the end, the suspect never revealed what he’d said, and Lu Ye’s own inquiries to Xu Lang were met with silence.

Lu Ye looked at Xu Lang again. “So, if you’re not going to be a police officer, what do you plan to do?”

Without hesitation, Xu Lang replied, “I’m going to open a detective agency.”

“A detective agency?” Lu Ye scrutinized Xu Lang’s face, trying to determine if he was joking.

Xu Lang met Lu Ye’s probing gaze head-on, not flinching, because he truly intended to open a detective agency—he’d even chosen an office in a building not far from the precinct.

After a long look, Lu Ye was convinced Xu Lang had no intention of returning to the police force. He asked, “Are you sure about this?”

Xu Lang simply nodded.

Seeing the certainty on Xu Lang’s face, Lu Ye fell silent for a moment, then sighed. He didn’t try to persuade Xu Lang further. Instead, he stood, walked to the desk, opened a drawer, and took out a document. Returning to the sofa, he handed the document to Xu Lang.

Xu Lang took it, puzzled. A glance was enough to shock him. “What is this supposed to mean?”

The document wasn’t a standard police credential. It was an official certificate designating Xu Lang as a Special Consultant to the Public Security Bureau. No wonder he was so astonished.

Lu Ye smiled. “It’s written quite clearly. See for yourself.”

Xu Lang glanced at Lu Ye, then at the certificate, and set it down on the coffee table. “What’s the point of this? I…”

Before he could finish, Lu Ye interrupted, “This wasn’t my idea. The higher-ups prepared it for you, in recognition of your past service.”

Hearing this, Xu Lang rolled his eyes. “Then why did you just try to get me to come back to work?”

Lu Ye’s lips curled into a fox-like grin. “I know your talent for solving cases. Naturally, I’d like you back on the team.”

“Old fox, you just want me to work for you for free. Not a chance,” Xu Lang retorted, rolling his eyes.

With a bang, Lu Ye slapped the coffee table, making Xu Lang jump. The genial Lu Ye was gone, replaced by a stern, iron-faced officer whose tiger-like eyes bore into Xu Lang. “Xu Lang, enough with the jokes. Give me a straight answer. Are you accepting this certificate or not?”

Under that glare, Xu Lang’s confidence wavered. He had always respected Lu Ye—not only his former superior, but also his late father’s friend and partner. Now, seeing Lu Ye angry, Xu Lang quickly sat up straight, snatched up the certificate, and stuffed it into his pocket with a fawning smile. “Since you insist, how could I refuse?”

“Doesn’t sound like you’re very willing. As if someone’s forcing you,” Lu Ye said, still stern.

Xu Lang shot him a look, thinking, How could I refuse when you’re this intimidating? Besides, this certificate does nothing for me. You just want me to work for you for free. But aloud, he said, “No, not at all! I’m thrilled.”

“Really?” Lu Ye asked, eyes narrowed in mock suspicion.

Xu Lang raised his hand. “I swear on the light above, every word is true—truer than pearls.”

Lu Ye couldn’t hold his stern expression any longer and burst out laughing. “You really are a piece of work.”

Xu Lang rolled his eyes but said nothing. Instead, he asked, “You didn’t call me here just to hand over this certificate, did you? Out with it—what do you want me to do?”

Lu Ye didn’t stand on ceremony. “Captain Ning just took over the second squad. She’s not familiar with everything yet, and now there’s this human meat hotpot case. Join in the investigation.”

Xu Lang grumbled, “Knew you wouldn’t have called me for anything good.”

Lu Ye’s hearing was as sharp as ever. He shot Xu Lang a look. “What’s that? Got a problem?”

Xu Lang forced a smile. “No, none at all. I’ll follow orders. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Without waiting for a response, Xu Lang stood and left Lu Ye’s office.

Lu Ye watched him go but didn’t call him back. Instead, he returned to his desk and gazed at a photograph on the tabletop. The photo showed three men, arms slung around each other’s shoulders, beaming at the camera: Lu Ye on the left, a man who looked very much like Xu Lang in the center, and a handsome man on the right.

Looking at the photo, Lu Ye murmured, “Old friend, I swear I’ll get to the bottom of what happened all those years ago. And your daughter’s case—we’ll catch her killer too.”

After leaving Lu Ye’s office, Xu Lang wandered around the station. He knew the place inside out—he’d worked here for years. Everyone in the precinct was familiar with this former star officer, and each person he passed greeted him warmly.

“Lang-ge.”
“Lang-ge.”
“Hello, Lang-ge.”

Xu Lang acknowledged them all with a smile and a nod. Watching this scene from his office, Wu Yong’s face was dark. When he’d first joined the force, he too had basked in the respect and admiration of his peers. But when Xu Lang arrived, everything changed. Now, with Xu Lang gone, Wu Yong had hoped to reclaim his former standing. Instead, headquarters had transferred in Ning Yanran, and everyone’s attention shifted to her. Wu Yong, captain of the first squad, seemed forgotten, and it rankled.

After greeting everyone, Xu Lang glanced over at Wu Yong’s office. Wu Yong looked back, and for a moment they stared at each other through the glass. Xu Lang’s face wore its usual irreverent smirk, while Wu Yong glowered, his expression stormy.

At that moment, a woman’s voice came from the side—it was Ning Yanran.

“Xu Lang, there you are. Come give your statement.”

Hearing her call, Xu Lang made a face at Wu Yong in the office, ignoring the fiery glare directed at him. He turned to Ning Yanran. “You really want me to give a statement?”

She shot him a look. “What do you think?”

Left with no choice, Xu Lang followed her.

Once the statement was taken, Xu Lang lit a cigarette. “Has the boss lady started the interrogation?”

Ning Yanran was sorting through paperwork. She caught the scent of smoke and frowned, her pretty face displeased. “No smoking in here.”

Xu Lang grinned. “If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who’ll know?”

She shook her head, exasperated. No one in the squad could handle Xu Lang; not even Lu Ye, who had specially recruited him, had ever managed to rein him in.

Since she said nothing, Xu Lang asked again.

This time, Ning Yanran replied, “She’s started, but it’s not getting us anywhere.”

“Why not?” Xu Lang asked, curious.

Ning Yanran glanced at him, as if recalling something. “Come with me.”

She picked up the paperwork and left the room. Xu Lang stubbed out his cigarette and followed after her.