Red Peacock [English] (Original Novel by Ju~On, translation by LuckyCasualty)

18. The bird's beloved inspector

It was common knowledge throughout the Mansion of Mazes that Hóng Kǒng Què, the master of the estate, was deeply passionate about raising birds. He was so invested in this that he had purchased an entire deserted island specifically for his birds. However, among all his feathered companions, his absolute favorite was a white cockatoo named Bea ChikChik, who he refused to let out of his sight for even a single day. But today...

"Péng Péng!"

Lù Yī Péng frowned the moment he heard the call as he entered the room. He looked toward the table ahead and spotted a white cockatoo perched on a stand. The servants were lined up neatly in front, yet the red, leather-clad chair at the center-the one that resembled dried blood-was conspicuously empty, without its usual occupant.

"What's going on here?" the young inspector asked, scanning the room once more until he was certain the person who had dragged him here wasn't present. The elderly butler, Lǐ Kǒng, walked over slowly and handed him a phone.

"Is Péng Péng here?" A familiar, cheerful voice came through the receiver, causing Lù Yī Péng's frown to deepen further as he responded.

"What are you up to this time? I'm already here; why are you calling me now?"

After all, it was Hóng Kǒng Què who had called him earlier that evening with a brief and cryptic message: "Finish work and come to the mansion immediately, or you'll be in for an unpleasant surprise."

Not wanting to get tangled in some unnecessary mess, Lù Yī Péng hurried over as soon as he was done with work, only to encounter something even more unexpected.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you-I'm about to board a flight to America," Hóng Kǒng Què said. "I'm taking Xiǎo Zhī along this time, but I'm worried that without a companion, Xiao ChikChik might start plucking out its feathers again. So, I was hoping Péng Péng could keep it company."

Lù Yī Péng glanced up at the white cockatoo, which tilted its head and looked at him. He nearly crushed the phone in his hand. Did he seriously rush over here, almost breaking his neck, just to be a playmate for a cockatoo?

"How about you chat with Xiao ChikChik for me?" Hóng Kǒng Què continued. Lù Yī Péng's hand shook as he clutched the phone, his jaw clenched tightly as he tried to come up with a response.

"This is your bird, isn't it? You've got plenty of servants-why not let them handle it? I'm out of here!" Lù Yī Péng snapped into the phone, his head throbbing. Even when he wasn't physically present, Hóng Kǒng Què still found a way to torment him. He cursed himself for ever trusting that arrogant bloody Peacock.

Before he could hang up or even turn around, two or three brawny men flanked him, their imposing figures closing in as if ready to squash him flat. Hóng Kǒng Què's voice echoed through the receiver.

"Don't be so harsh, Péng Péng. I'm only asking you to look after Xiao ChikChik for a bit. You're not going to tell me that a top honors student like you could be so heartless as to leave a cockatoo to pluck itself bald?"

Lù Yī Péng desperately wanted to shout that none of this was his problem, that he shouldn't have to babysit a bird. But before he could even open his mouth, the cockatoo flapped its wings and chirped,

"Péng Péng, let's play!"

His mouth fell open as the bird cocked its head at him and bobbed up and down, clearly inviting him to join in.

When its owner was around, the bird flew to him on command, but as soon as he left, it started acting like it owned the place. As Lù Yī Péng struggled to think of a way to escape this ridiculous situation, Hóng Kǒng Què's voice cut in again.