Chapter 178: Household Investigation
This was a marvelous experience that Yu Sheng had never encountered before – traveling through the disjointed reflections of the city alongside the Wolf Pack.
The blurred outlines of buildings rapidly retreated in his view, as Boundary City seemed to transform into countless shattered and ever-shifting ‘fragments’ within this shadow world. The buildings and streets jumbled together, with distant districts suddenly connecting at the next corner, while houses that once stood side by side were now torn apart into different ‘fragments.’ The agile Wolves darted through these topsy-turvy urban structures, following invisible ‘paths’ and leaping across street intersections.
A red shadow appeared at the edge of his vision, and Little Red Riding Hood, her face beaming with joy, turned to Yu Sheng, exclaiming, ‘Isn’t this amazing?’
‘Incredible,’ Yu Sheng sincerely marveled. ‘Is this what you see when you usually ‘go through the Door’?’
‘Only when I have to travel long distances,’ Little Red Riding Hood happily explained. ‘Sometimes, I also take the Wolf Pack with other members of the organization on missions through the Door – you’re the first ‘outsider’ I’ve ever invited.’
‘Well, I’m honored—by the way, do you usually have to pick up other people too?’ Yu Sheng asked.
Little Red Riding Hood waved her hand dismissively. ‘No choice, the Orphanage doesn’t have anyone who can drive, and taxis are expensive.’
Yu Sheng glanced at the young woman riding her Wolf beside him, pressed his lips together, then suddenly exclaimed, ‘Next month, you’ll be able to get your driver’s license.’
Little Red Riding Hood froze for a moment.
Then she burst into laughter, joyfully shouting, ‘Yes, I can take the test for my driver’s license next month!!’
…
As the shadows faded, figures materialized, and as dusk gradually fell, Yu Sheng and Little Red Riding Hood emerged from the shadow of a tall building.
‘It’s not as fast as your ‘Door’ or the Special Affairs Bureau’s ‘shortcut,’ but it’s at least faster than taking a taxi, right?’ Little Red Riding Hood turned back and smiled at Yu Sheng.
Yu Sheng pulled out his phone and checked the time. He realized it had only taken a little over ten minutes from Wutong Road to here – indeed, quite fast.
‘Where do we go from here?’ he looked up, observing the tall buildings ahead of them. They had reached the bustling part of the city, where skyscrapers were everywhere, starkly different from the Old City District that he was familiar with.
‘We’re headed this way,’ Little Red Riding Hood pointed ahead at a large building. ‘Old Zheng used to live on the top floors here. It’s close to the Association of Strange Objects office. This building has strict management, so we’ll need to register with the security guard when we enter. I’ve already contacted Old Zheng’s nephew to notify them. When we go in, just say you’re a friend of Old Zheng and came together.’
Old Zheng was the ‘contact’ that Little Red Riding Hood was familiar with.
Yu Sheng took note of her instructions and followed her through a narrow path in the apartment area, entering a high-rise building that appeared rather upscale. Just before entering the elevator lobby’s restricted door, Yu Sheng noticed the security guard she mentioned—a young man with a neutral expression, sitting in a small room and handing out two visitor registration forms through a small window.
Yu Sheng filled out the simple information on the form, but then he accidentally glanced at the form Little Red Riding Hood was filling out and froze.
After finishing the forms and being cleared by the security guard, Yu Sheng waited until they were alone, then leaned in close to the young woman and whispered, ‘Who is Wang Jia Jia?’
Little Red Riding Hood froze in her steps, looked up at Yu Sheng with a confused yet innocent expression, and after a pause, managed to say, ‘I am Wang Jia Jia.’
Yu Sheng: ‘…?’
Little Red Riding Hood: ‘…?’
The two of them stared at each other, both bewildered, for several seconds before Little Red Riding Hood finally reacted. ‘You didn’t think my surname was ‘Xiao,’ did you?!’
Yu Sheng struggled to maintain his composure, his face twitching between holding it in and cracking into a smile. ‘…For a moment, I thought Wang Jia Jia was a code name you used for your missions.’
‘Little Red Riding Hood is the code name!’ The young woman’s eyes nearly popped out. ‘Who would actually be named Little Red Riding Hood? I have a real name!!’
Yu Sheng opened his mouth, but after a long pause, it turned into an awkward laugh. He forced a chuckle and pretended nothing happened as he walked forward.
He truly hadn’t thought of this. The first day he met this young lady, he only knew her as ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’ After several missions together, including exploring the Museum and fighting in the Black Forest, there hadn’t been any need for real names. Instead, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ became a name he grew accustomed to and naturally associated with her, and it never once crossed his mind that she couldn’t possibly have the surname ‘Xiao’…
This awkwardness lingered for some time until they arrived at the door of the place where the Client had lived.
Little Red Riding Hood pressed the doorbell, and after a brief moment, the door opened to reveal a young man, his face showing signs of exhaustion, with messy black hair and dressed in a t-shirt and long pants, looking rather ordinary.
The young man spoke briefly with Little Red Riding Hood, then stepped back, allowing Yu Sheng and her to enter.
Yu Sheng’s eyes immediately fell on the black-and-white memorial photo resting on the coffee table in the living room.
A man who appeared to be in his forties or fifties, his hair neatly combed, his face slightly fuller, and his eyes and brow carrying a resemblance to the Young Man who had just opened the door. A faint smile lingered on his lips.
A member of the Association of Strange Objects, and a contact who was familiar with the two generations of Little Red Riding Hood, he looked like an ordinary middle-aged man in the photograph displayed.
After withdrawing his gaze, Yu Sheng began scanning the surroundings.
The furnishings in the room were unremarkable, and the layout was simple. Upon passing the entrance, the living room came into view. On one side of the living room was a semi-open kitchen, while the other side led to the bedroom and bathroom, with a small balcony attached. The plants on the balcony were still thriving, as though they had been carefully tended to by their owner during his life.
Aside from the photograph, there was almost nothing in the house that connected it to death or funerals.
Yu Sheng understandably expressed his confusion.
“My uncle used to say he didn’t want anything elaborate,” the Young Man, who seemed weary, walked over and poured a glass of water for both Yu Sheng and Little Red Riding Hood. “He specifically instructed there be no funeral, and that he should be buried as soon as possible.”
Little Red Riding Hood instinctively furrowed her brow, sensing something odd. But before she could speak, Yu Sheng asked, “Specifically instructed? He…”
Yu Sheng trailed off, glancing at the photograph of the deceased on the table.
It made sense for an elderly person to arrange their funeral. But according to what Little Red Riding Hood had hinted on the way here, the contact was not yet fifty, and he had always been in good health. How could someone so young make preparations for their death?
“I know what you’re here to investigate,” the Young Man interrupted Yu Sheng’s thoughts, sighing as he sat on the opposite couch. “I won’t hide it from you—I think my uncle had a premonition before his death. At least half a month before, he called me and left many instructions. But he refused to reveal the details. All he said was that no one harmed him, and everything was meant to be…”
Yu Sheng instinctively exchanged a glance with Little Red Riding Hood.
This “Client” definitely had something to hide!
But was this “Client” really the one who orchestrated that near-disastrous “false commission” that almost pushed Little Red Riding Hood to the brink?
The suspicion that should have been clear and obvious now wavered, because the fragments of speech the Client left behind seemed to have too many uncertainties.
“…Where is Old Zheng now?” Little Red Riding Hood bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before breaking the silence. “Can we… ‘see’ him?”
The Young Man raised a hand and pointed to a low cabinet nearby, where a porcelain jar rested.
Yu Sheng and Little Red Riding Hood were both stunned.
“Ah?! He’s already been cremated?!” Little Red Riding Hood’s eyes widened. “So soon…”
“This was also what my uncle instructed—cremation should happen immediately,” the Young Man spoke slowly, lifting his gaze to look at Yu Sheng and Little Red Riding Hood. “I’m not from ‘your world,’ so I don’t understand all the customs or taboos, but I know what my uncle did—he dealt with all sorts of strange things, and those things are dangerous. So when he left his instructions, I couldn’t delay.”
Little Red Riding Hood opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. She could only glance at Yu Sheng.
“That ‘Conversation With The Dead’ of yours…” the girl lowered her voice and leaned closer to Yu Sheng’s ear. “Can it still work in this situation?”
Yu Sheng, now bewildered, replied, “That only works if we can come into contact with blood… I didn’t expect this situation either!”
“What now?” Little Red Riding Hood’s tone was oddly nuanced. “He’s already been cremated… do you still want to try?”
Yu Sheng twitched at the corner of his eye, looking at the family of the deceased sitting across from him. After a long pause, he managed to say, “Do you want me to take the ashes of your loved one out and… rub them in front of you?”
Little Red Riding Hood fell silent. “…”
But the Young Man, seemingly oblivious to the murmuring of the two “visitors,” was lost in thought. After a long while, he stood up. “I’m going to buy something. Feel free to make yourselves at home.”
Yu Sheng froze for a moment and then watched as the Young Man walked toward the entrance. Just before he opened the door to leave, he suddenly stopped and glanced back.
“I went through my uncle’s things earlier. The books he read, the notes, and memos he wrote are on his desk in the bedroom. If you’re interested, you can have a look. Just don’t make a mess—some of it I’ll be taking with me later.”
“Uh… okay,” Yu Sheng instinctively replied, then nodded seriously. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I hope you find something useful… By the way, I’ll be leaving in a few days, so please hurry.”