Red Light

Preparation

By the time Yu Bin had crawled out of bed at nine am, Lan Wangji was already working on his report for last night's excursion. He had taken full responsibility for the failure of the previous night and then outlined possible alternatives to improve. The man was nothing if not thorough.

He heard Yu Bin enter the kitchen. He got up to see what his reaction would be. Yu Bin was smiling like he won the lottery. On the counter was a top of the line coffee maker.

"I didn't know which one to get so I got one that does everything. There's coffee beans in the blue jar next to it. The sales person said something about heat and light damaging the oils in the beans?"

Lan Wangji watched the young officer pet the machine as if he expected it to wag at him.

"Are you sure, sir? These are quite expensive and - "

"We work well together, Yu Bin. I am hoping we can work together in the future. You drink coffee. This was a logical choice." Lan Wangji gave him a small smile and was delighted when the man beamed back.

Yu Bin started loading coffee beans, pulling levers and pushing buttons. In no time, the whole house smelled wonderful. The detective watched in fascination. "Have one at home?"

Yu Bin laughed. "I wish, sir. I was a barista for awhile after high school. The machines aren't all that different."

Lan Wangji was still impressed.

Nie Huaisang walked in on the conversation startling both men in the kitchen. He was bearing coffee and tea again.

"How?" Lan Wangji sputtered.

"I watched you enter your code. Obviously." Nie Huaisang rolled his eyes a bit. "Spider." he pointed to himself with his fan. "Flies." he pointed to them. Yu Bin looked shocked.

Nie Huaisang laughed. "I would never harm either of you, silly man." He hit Yu Bin with his fan in an oddly coquettish move. Even odder, he managed to pull it off. "But the look on your face was totally worth it!"

Yu Bin flushed. He wasn't sure if it was because the Inspector had pulled his leg** or because he had called him a 'silly man'. This might be a long day.

"Looks like you don't need my delivery services any longer." Nie Huaisang glared at the new coffee maker and sniffed as if quite put out.

"Tea, please." was Lan Wangji's comment and Nie Huaisang perked up a bit. He took the jasmine tea out and gave it to him with a half smile.

"Someone appreciates me at least." He huffed himself out of the kitchen leaving Lan Wangji and Yu Bin to look at each other slightly bewildered. Out of general curiousity, they followed him.

Nie Huaisang was seated on the deck with a blanket draped comfortably over his legs. "We have entirely new disguises to discuss. I have come up with one that should work perfectly." He took a long swallow of his caramel latte and sighed in satisfaction.

It occurred to Yu Bin that he could make those for Nie Huaisang if he picked up caramel syrup. His thought was cut off by the inspector's announcement.

"You are toy manufacturers from Shenyang. There's a major convention in town for the next three days." He pulled identification cards for the convention complete with lanyards from his pocket. "Don't take them off. I've hidden the smallest cameras I've got in the lanyards behind one of the pins. No earbuds since we can't hide them with either your hair or clothing. I'll be able to hear you even if I can't talk to you. I can also track you so if you need help use your codes. We'll be on the way."

Both lanyards had a variety of pins from different manufacturers of plastics etc. They weren't uncommon at conventions.

"Convention? Then why red light district?" Lan Wangji said before he thought then blushed. He looked at Nie Huaisang. "No."

"Of course I would never try to force you into hiring a hooker, Lan Wangji! What kind of man do you think I am?" Nie Huaisang's fan was going double time. "That is not the story at all. The point is you are not from the area and you are looking for your friend, Yiling. He gave you the address but you think you wrote it down wrong. I'll provide you with an inaccurate address close enough to one of the streets that it will be plausible. When you show it to people, you will of course ask if they know him. See? Simple."

"Hiring hookers. Gods, man." He was in a huff again as he muttered. Inside, he was giggling. The idea of Lan Wangji trying to hire a hooker was too ridiculous to fathom. 'Yu Bin might be able to pull it off but he would blush horribly the whole time.'

"Now that we have that straightened out," he paused to give the detective the stink eye**.  "Here are your badges. This convention didn't have pictures on their badges so that was a win for us. Memorize your name, where you're from and your position in the company. Appreciate these, please. I now owe the head of security at the convention center a favor."

He left out that the man was his cousin and just wanted to borrow the Lexus to take his wife out for a fancy dinner. Ahhh... he did love his job!

"I would suggest business attire. Dress pants, shirt and jacket. Tie either loosened or goes in the jacket pocket since you aren't at the convention at the moment and don't have to look so stuffy. Yu Bin, I brought you a suit. It should fit well I would think. I have a good eye for that sort of thing. It's laid across the back of the sofa."

Yu Bin's mouth gaped before he shut it with a click.

He handed them a variety of cards. Each of them had received a driver's license, and a credit card under their alias names. "Yes, the cards work. Don't spend a fortune but you can buy lunch and that sort of thing on it. Yu Bin? You are Zhang Zihao. You are single but looking. Lan Wangji? You are Lin Cheung. Married to Nie An** and have a small daughter you call Mei-Mei**. Here's their picture. Thus there will be no concerns about hiring anyone for anything." He gave Lan Wangji the stink eye again.

"Empty your wallets of pictures, personal id, business cards and anything else that associates you with Beijing.  Oh, here's your business cards. You each have a dozen. The phone number connects with dummy numbers at my offices. They'll be answered appropriately. Phone! I almost forgot!"

He passed them each a phone. "Each phone is loaded with Shenyang numbers for work and friends. I'm listed as Mom. There are a variety of pictures as well. Lin Cheung, yours are mostly of your wife and daughter. Zhang Zihao, yours has pictures of friends, hiking and that sort of thing. I suggest you play with them in the car on the way to the convention so they are comfortable to use

By the time The Spider was done briefing them on their operation, both men were stunned.

"You did this since last night?" Lan Wangji asked. His voice was slightly higher than usual.

"I have very good staff." Nie Huaisang smiled. He looked like the cat that ate the canary.

"I'll be dropping you at the convention. You will attend for an hour and gather a few business cards that are appropriate for your wallets. I would suggest something small and cute to tuck in your pocket for Mei-Mei, Lin Cheung. You will grab a DiDi** to drop you in the red light district where you will spend your time looking lost, looking at street signs and asking people if they know the address or your friend. As it starts to get dark, if you haven't found Yiling, you will take another DiDi back to the hotel across the street from the convention. You have a business card for them and a room card. Go to the bar, order something to drink and I'll call you when I arrive to pick you up."

Both men were looking at him dumbfounded. There was definitely a reason they called Nie Huaisang  The Spider.

~♡~♡~♡~

'Pulling someone's leg' means to deceive someone playfully. To tease someone.

Giving someone the 'stink eye' means a look showing annoyance. A dirty look.

Hello AnnaFlotildaDesales and edith343redwood! ❤😁❤

'Looking like the cat who ate the canary' means someone looks very proud or satisfied with something he or she has done. (Nie Huaisang wears this look often. 😁)

DiDi is the Chinese equivalent of Uber.

Remember, eating chocolate brings good luck!

❤🍫🫖❤