Wen Kexing's beautiful wife, Gao Xiao Lian, is murdered, and the police request coroner Zhou Zishu perform the autopsy. The police commissioner gives them fourteen days to arrest the murderer. But is this a simple stalking case or do they have a s...
Xing found himself awake several times in the night, disturbed by recurring nightmares and vague dark figures. Throughout his childhood and teen years, he suffered frequently interrupted sleep. The therapy helped him identify the causes of his anxiety and reduced the occurrence. He checked Shu Er each time he fought his way loose of the fears, hoping he hadn't bothered the sleeping man. But Shu muttered and snuggled closer, calming them both. At last, he slept with his lover tucked under his chin, the sweet smell reassuring him.
Shu woke hungry and thirsty. He slipped out of Xing's arms and retrieved a glass of water he kept by the bed. Stale: he poured it yesterday morning, but he drank it anyway. And lay back, drawing the other body into his embrace. He felt Xing wake. He kissed the top of his head, his eyes, his nose. The other man stretched to present his mouth.
"How are you today?" Xing inquired quietly, examining his face. Shu considered.
"I'm hungry but otherwise I feel rested. Thanks to the closeness of a certain loving someone."
"I promise to make you a huge breakfast after we shower. Do you feel like talking or do you want to wait a while yet?"
"After I eat, we can discuss that," Shu replied. "I need to fortify myself."
"You shower first, while I clean the kitchen. We went to bed leaving supper on the counter," Xing informed him. He ignored the stare and climbed out of bed. "I'll take care of that. You go freshen up and I'll come in once I'm done. Go." He removed his dirty clothes, and wrapping in a robe, he hurried into the kitchen and surveyed the room. Food filled bowls and platters; the table waited set for two. He dumped the cold meat and vegetables in the trash and rinsed the dishes to go in the dishwasher, to run after breakfast. He wiped down the counters, emptied the pitcher of water and refilled it with fresh from the refrigerator. When he returned to the bedroom, Shu already stood at the sink shaving, a towel around his hips. He had hung a clean one on the rack. Xing hugged him from the back and kissed his shoulder. His tongue lapped up stray drops of water as it inched its way up his neck to tease the downy ear lobe.
"You have the cutest ears. I love the shape of them. And want to nibble them, to start with."
"Get in the shower before you do start something," Shu laughed. He turned to hug his darling and kiss his mouth and forehead. "We have our work today. Where is my breakfast?" He untied the robe and slipped it off the slender shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. But he refused to surrender his covering. "Go," he slapped a bare buttock and escaped into the bedroom.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The hot water revived Xing's energy and he made short work of washing his hair and body. A few swipes of the razor took care of his light stubble. Within minutes he had donned his clean clothing and entered the kitchen. Shu removed eggs, milk and juice from the frig. Working together, with occasional pauses for kissing and stroking, they prepared a quick meal.
"What are you doing today?" Shu asked as he poured tea.
"I thought about going back to the house and cleaning my office. Yesterday, Zhi Yin, Li Jing An, Uncle Shenshen and his family arrived just as the lawyer and legal clerk from Du's office parked in my driveway and security checked them out. We went through the safe and Lian's papers; we packed up her gifts to everyone, and each chose other items of hers they wanted. Staff served a wonderful luncheon and the family departed for home. We avoided mentioning anything unpleasant, even though I am sure the events at the will reading crossed everyone's mind. Zhi Yin stated she informed Gao he hadn't been invited and he should just go to Lian's business office. We packed the books for him in boxes and she took them home. I've moved most of my clothing to the apartment, but I really need to reduce the items I retain from the office. Mostly I'll keep the books and artwork, rearrange my second bedroom as an office library. And you?" Shu shrugged.
"Same as usual. Lectures, meeting with students, a lab, a class with graduates. Mrs. Liu posts my schedule on my computer." He hesitated, downcast. Xing searched his face.
"Are you ready to talk about yesterday and what happened with Lian's murderer?" Shu raised his brows.
"I never mentioned him, did I?"
"No, but Ye Baiyi texted you; you agreed to see him, and you never indicated there was any other case you assisted with. Don't you remember what you said last night? What other case, ever, left you a shaking, crying wreck?" Shu paled.
"I don't remember what I said. I'm under contract not to discuss cases; especially with family." He shook his head. "I can't talk about it." Xing scowled.
"You said to be glad he just killed her. That he was a horrible, evil man. What did you mean by that? Was this premeditated? Why?" His voice rose as he considered the idea of Lian as a target. His friend backed away from the table equally agitated.
"Ah Xing, please don't ask me. I want to tell you, honestly, but I think we should wait."
"Why?" the other demanded. "She was my wife and he murdered her brutally. I have a right to know what happened. You understand how much I loved her, even if you didn't know her." Shu covered his eyes, his fingers plowing into his hair.
"Don't you see! After being with you, after hearing about her from others, hearing what she wrote to Zhao Xie, I feel like I did know her. I handled her poor beautiful body that he mangled. I touched parts of her you never even saw. This became more personal than it should have. And I really don't want to share, now, what I learned." Screwing his eyes shut, he breathed deeply, still tugging his hair. "I've got to go. I'll talk to you later."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Wait," shouted Xing. "This is cruel. If you loved me, you would tell me. Don't leave me hanging!" Holding the door open, Shu stopped, swallowed in a constricted throat.
"It's because I love you, I won't tell you now." He hesitated. "Look, go to school. Meet with your grads and your seniors. Take your notes for the article and write an outline. Don't make important personal decisions yet. The house, the staff, everything can wait. You can't grieve every waking moment. Please don't press me about this now."
"So, I just ignore he ripped my world apart and I proceed as normal? How can I do that?"
"No, you ignore nothing. You give yourself time, take a break. Maybe talk to your therapist. If you do go to the house, talk to Qiao Xing. As close as they were, she lost a daughter. Console her. Reassure her, and the staff. They all loved her too. Let them share stories about her. Don't focus on how she died; remember how she lived." He closed the door carefully, quietly, behind him, hiding his tears.
I dislike 'If you loved me'. It seems manipulative to me. People throw that out when they can't have their way. As if Shu hasn't already suffered enough.
Because this is a short chapter, I have published the next one too.
