c1 (2/2)

‘Chief, what’s Du Jing’s background?’ a cop asked.

‘He’s a smarta.s.s,’ Chief said. ‘His IQ is over 180. At fifteen, he became a member of Mensa International. He’s an internationally renowned criminal psychologist. I asked him to solve the homicide case. I can’t believe he just arrived, and cracked the homicide case already.’

At Bi Hai Hotel, one of the Du Household’s employees greeted Du Jing.

‘Where are they?’ Du Jing asked.

‘Master and Mistress Du are upstairs waiting for Young Master Du to dine with them,’ the employee said.

Du Jing took the lift to the twentieth floor, waiting for him behind his apartment door were his parents. His parents’ combined age was over one hundred, but they wanted to scare him like children.

‘Mother, father,’ Du Jing said in an exasperated tone. ‘Can’t any of you think of a new tactic to surprise me?’

‘I gave birth to a spoilsport,’ Mrs. Du said, linking arms with Du Jing toward the dining room. ‘Why can’t you be more fun like your father?’

Mr. Du patted Du Jing’s shoulder. ‘Son, are you planning to stay for good?’

‘I’m going with the flow,’ Du Jing said, sitting at the dining table.

‘I reserved the twentieth floor for you,’ Mrs. Du said. ‘Is it peaceful enough for you? Your father, and I are staying on the nineteenth floor. Why are you such a miserable killjoy?’

‘Mother, what games do you want me to play?’ Du Jing asked sarcastically.

‘Son, try the fresh crab dish,’ Mr. Du diverted. ‘What’s your schedule?’

‘Tomorrow, I’m interviewing suspects for an investigation,’ Du Jing said.

‘Xiao Jing, you’re a twenty-six-year-old bachelor,’ Mr. Du said. ‘Your mother, and I don’t mind if you date a foreigner as long as you like her.’

Du Jing was used to Mr. Du’s random train of thoughts.

‘Father, take a good look at me,’ Du Jing said. ‘Apart from mother, what woman can put up with me?’

‘Du Jing, don’t try to escape this time,’ Mrs. Du interrupted. ‘Your Aunt Hua went out of her way to set you up on a blind date with a traditional young woman who knows how to take care of a man.’

‘Mother, it’s my choice to choose who I want to date,’ Du Jing said.

‘If you don’t meet the young woman,’ Mrs. Du said firmly, ‘I’ll cut ties with you.’

‘If I go,’ Du Jing said, standing up, ‘it’s you, and father who’ll regret it.’

Later at a restaurant, Du Jing showed up to meet his blind date.

‘h.e.l.lo, I’m Huang Zhen Zhen,’ Huang Zhen Zhen greeted shyly. ‘I’m a student at College Q.’

‘Um, I see,’ Du Jing said, scanning his surroundings. ‘Now can I leave?’

‘But… we haven’t had dinner yet,’ Huang Zhen Zhen said.

‘I’m sorry,’ Du Jing said. ‘This restaurant is giving me stomach cramps.’

‘Oh,’ Huang Zhen Zhen said. ‘Do you need to go to the hospital-’

Huang Zhen Zhen watched Du Jing casually leave the restaurant, and she understood what he meant by ‘stomach cramps’.

Mrs. Hua called Mrs. Du to recount how Du Jing treated Huang Zhen Zhen rudely, and Mrs. Du chastised Du Jing. Du Jing listened dutifully, and hung up.

After a shower, Du Jing’s jetlag set in, and he realized catching a criminal, and going on a blind date was a tiring combination.

Du Jing looked out the window at the city view. He wasn’t appreciating the city view. Instead he wondered how many gruesome crimes were taking place in the city that night. He wasn’t misled by the peaceful city lights that concealed the chaos inside cruel human hearts.

End of Chapter One

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