Crimson Instinct

*Xin Lei*

I thought about it and nodded. Fu Jun's reactions and expressions said that he was scared of something.

But Bai Li couldn't see them.

"How do you know?" I typed.

"Fu Jun's hands. Whenever I asked something that he was nervous about, he would mildly clench his hands in mine. If he was comfortable, then I felt him relax, but if I tried to pry further, his hands trembled. He was fine when he said where they visited, but about when they got separated, or the last time he saw Fu Meili, he wasn't as relaxed as before."

Ah, so Bai Li gauged his reactions with his sense of touch.

He further said, "He is still on guard. We have to break down his walls so that he tells us everything. If Fu Ting is innocent, then this whole thing is very fishy." He glanced at my direction.

It took a few moments before it struck me what Bai Li meant. I widened my eyes.

I typed a long message. "So, maybe the culprit knew that it was easy to frame Fu Ting because he was her father. He must know that in such cases, the police generally suspect the father. Just one evidence against him, and the case is as good as closed."

Bai Li smiled. "And this proves…?"

What my brother said.

My heart was racing as I typed again. "That people in law enforcement know about this notion. He is using it to pin the blame on Fu Ting and brother Zhen said not to contact the police."

He nodded. "Good to know that the sister is just as smart."

I couldn't decide if I should be offended or not. Was he thinking this whole time that I was stupid?

Bai Li continued. "Crimes against women are sensitive, and our justice system isn't exactly that patient either with thousands of pending cases piling up. So, they want to resolve it and quickly move onto the next case. Sad truth. The evidence plus notion is enough to throw Fu Ting behind bars no matter how much he pleads not guilty."

I was now getting worried about Fu Meili's safety.

"What should we do now?"

Then I suddenly remembered something. I quickly typed. "My father knows one investigator. Maybe he would know something. His name is Rong Zhengsheng. He is a retired cop."

Bai Li nodded. "Lawyers have connections with retired cops or investigators to find evidence in the case. We have to meet him and Fu Ting."

"But won't we alert the cop who is in all this?"

Bai Li slowly raised his hand, I guess, trying to find my head. I stepped closer. He rested his hand on my hair and felt my forehead.

*Ba-dump*

I felt something strange in my chest. I suddenly got nervous as he touched me, and I darted my gaze away in embarrassment.

I didn't know why I did that. A slight warmth came over my cheeks.

But it felt… nice.

Then he flicked my forehead.

"..."

I didn't feel so nice anymore.

"You leave that to me."

He withdrew his hand, but I felt my forehead still incredibly hot. It was as if I got a fever.

I cleared my throat and typed. "What are you going to do?"

"Well, I will have to trouble an idiot friend of mine."

---

Central Military Commission, Beijing.

Major Lin Zihao was mercilessly dumped with stacks of paperwork. He wanted to cry but lacked tears to shed. As if that wasn't enough, Captain Su Weiyuan brought some more.

Lin Zihao whined. "If you brought any more, I will take discharge from the Army and join Bai Li to become a NEET!"

Su Weiyuan shrugged.

Since Bai Li was discharged from the Army after the court-martial, Lin Zihao felt the Army suddenly looked very empty. They were brothers in arms, who had dealt with many missions together. They were comrades who always had each other's back. And the court-martial left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Bai Li had a dry sense of humor; he got on people's nerves, was blunt to the point that Lin Zihao sometimes wished to puke blood; nevertheless, they shared a great camaraderie.

Bai Li, Lin Zihao, Su Weiyuan, and Zou Huan - these four were more like brothers to each other than friends. They were a unit. They were family.

He was reminiscing their good times when his phone rang with an incoming call.

Lin Zihao sighed and picked up.

"Hey, goofball, what's up?"

Lin Zihao widened his eyes. "Bai Li, you bastard! Where are you? And don't call me a goofball!"

"Since I'm away from the goofball, my sanity is up and running just fine. But my absence must have made you the epitome of a goofball, isn't it?"

Lin Zihao gnashed his teeth. "Bai. Li!"

Su Weiyuan was also surprised. He plugged in the chords in Lin Zihao's phone and inserted one of the earpieces in his left ear.

Bai Li said, "Goofy, I need one help."

Lin Zihao dryly said, "And is this how you ask for it?"

Su Weiyuan said, "What is it, Bai Li?"

They heard him chuckle. "Su Weiyuan, always to the point. I want you to arrange a meeting for me with Fu Ting. He is in jail arrested for kidnapping his daughter."

Lin Zihao raised his brow. "I have heard of that case. Why the sudden interest?"

Bai Li said, "I will tell you everything. Meet me with all the things ready."

Su Weiyuan said, "It will be done."

"No police."

"Got it."

Lin Zihao said after a pause. "Bai Li, the police have found Liao Chuntao's body in Langfang."