BTTC Chapter 162

Chapter 162 (Extra 7)

“Yan Xie’s 24 Hours After Marriage”

---

6:00 AM

Waking up on the dot, he turned over and sat up. From the side of the pillow came the sound of Professor Jiang’s steady, deep breathing.

A certain branch captain surnamed Yan carefully got out of bed, his muscular upper body bare, and tiptoed to the bathroom. He opened WeChat on his phone and clicked on an article shared yesterday by a contact named “Bu Someone of the Nancheng Branch, Jinhai City” — “How to Be a Delicate Wife: Start a New Day Full of Energy!”.

6:05 AM

After diligently studying every word, he put down his phone, brimming with confidence. He proceeded to brush his teeth, wash his face, shower, and do his skincare routine. In front of the mirror, he meticulously trimmed a few unruly strands of hair on his head, his short black hair standing up defiantly. 

He applied styling spray, followed by aftershave. The sophisticated and calm scent of the ocean enveloped his body. His breath was fresh, his teeth white, and the corners of his eyebrows were neatly groomed. Every strand of his hair was exquisitely styled and full of vitality.

6:58 AM

After scrutinizing himself in the mirror with the most critical eye, he confirmed that his recent hard work at the gym had paid off. Every inch of his abdominal muscles was perfectly defined. A photo of him could be directly used as a male model poster for a nightclub.

6:59 AM

Overjoyed and satisfied, he turned around and tiptoed back to the bed, pulling the covers over himself and propping his head up as if to rest.

A moment later, as the second hand on the wall clock ticked to zero, Professor Jiang’s alarm went off on time.

“Ah—”

Yan Xie, sleepy-eyed, stretched languidly, then rolled over to cover the silhouette on the pillow next to him. His powerful arms were warm and searing, and his deep, raspy morning voice was incredibly magnetic. “Good morning, my dear. Today, the two of us…”

“Yan Xie,” Jiang Ting said, his eyes closed, his voice weary but calm:

“If you ever get up at the crack of dawn to wash your hair and preen in front of the mirror with a creepy smile again, you can just go sleep in the car.”

“…”

Click!

It was as if a clap of thunder had struck. Yan Xie froze on the spot, the peacock feathers he had been displaying shattering into a million pieces in mid-air.

Weak but resolute, Jiang Ting struggled out of his husband’s embrace. His eyes were unfocused, his steps unsteady, and he slammed the bathroom door shut.

_

8:00 AM

“It’s all your fault! What was that nonsense you shared with me about being a ‘delicate wife’ and being ‘full of energy’? I had no idea what you were talking about, but Jiang Ting saw it and insisted on getting up at six in the morning to wash his hair and look at himself in the mirror!” Yan Xie, bare-chested, stood in the kitchen, furiously scolding his phone while flipping the fried egg in the pan. “Jiang Ting didn’t get enough sleep! He’s still yawning! You’re forbidden from spreading your cultish ideas ever again!”

With a snap, Yan Xie slammed his phone onto the counter. He expertly flipped the pan, sliding the fried egg onto a slice of bread. He added slices of salmon and a lettuce salad, then drizzled a perfect heart shape with sauce on the white plate.

“Honey! Breakfast is ready!”

At the dining table in the living room, Jiang Ting was leaning back deeply in an armchair, his head resting against the back, his eyes slightly closed, already in a half-asleep state. The phone screen in front of him was open to the Jining City Criminal Investigation Detachment’s metaphysics exchange group. The forensic examiner, Director Gou, was busy promoting his latest publication— “Listen to the Silent Testimony: A Comprehensive Discussion and Key Points on On-site Bloodstain Identification and Evidence Collection” (Limited time author signing!! Comes with a full set of merchandise!! Limited edition debossed cover!!!). The screen was filled with enthusiastic praise from his colleagues.

Buzz. A new message popped up at the top of WeChat. The sender was Wu Yu.

[It’s fine; I pretended I didn’t know.]

[At least Bu Chonghua doesn’t giggle weirdly at the mirror when he secretly gets up early to do his makeup.]

[I’m kind of numb to it already.]

Yan Xie: “…”

__

Noon, 11:30 AM

“What the hell? The mobile audit team is questioning our bureau’s expenditure report from last quarter, thinking we spent too much money?”

With a whoosh, the office door was pushed open. Yan Xie strode in like a spring breeze and thwack! slammed a thick stack of files on the desk: “Last month’s field subsidies for our team weren’t even fully reimbursed. The travel expenses were recalculated eighteen times, sticking to the upper limit. When the consultant sent from the police academy came, we were so stingy with food and drinks that we didn’t even dare to add a lobster stir-fry. And they still say we spend money extravagantly? Where did we spend extravagantly?! My pocket money in elementary school was more than this!”

In the office, the audit team had been waiting for a long time. Upon hearing this, their faces turned various shades of red and blue.

The “consultant from the police academy” sat upright, took a serene sip of Laobai Tongxing tea, gently placed his thermos aside, and picked up the case file in front of him with a composed expression.

“That’s not how it is, Captain Yan.” The audit team leader finally couldn’t hold it in any longer, pointing to a shocking travel expense entry from a certain date on the expenditure report: “For example, this 4,000 yuan fuel reimbursement is incomprehensible. What did your unit do to suddenly need an extra 4,000 yuan for gasoline? This is definitely a case of using a private car for public business! If you have the guts, write out the itinerary for me…”

“What itinerary? Where would I get an itinerary? This is for the 813 major serial murder case where the city police academy sent a consultant group to assist in the investigation. A group of experts worked around the clock at the Public Security Bureau for half a month. Don’t you burn fuel going back and forth to the scene?!” Yan Xie unleashed a torrent of words, poking the audit leader’s shoulder with his index finger, every spittle of saliva dripping with arrogance: “I didn’t even ask you to compensate Consultant Jiang for having to eat instant noodles at the scene, personally performing autopsies, being on call 24/7, and assisting in arrests with a gun at 3 AM. After half a month, he lost four kilograms from mental exhaustion. What else do you have to say? On the day the case was closed, I even paid for the 50,000 yuan celebration banquet out of my own pocket!”

“…”

The leader clutched the 4,000 yuan gasoline reimbursement form, staring blankly at Yan Xie, and after a long pause, asked: 

“What kind of celebration standards do you have that can cost 50,000 yuan?”

Knock, knock! The office door was knocked twice. Han Xiaomei pushed the door open and entered, her face solemn: 

“Captain Yan, the takeout you ordered for Professor Jiang has arrived.”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Han Xiaomei held up a huge fresh-keeping bag with both hands. The moment it was opened, a golden light shot out—the chilled toro was incredibly fresh, the matsutake mushroom soup was fragrant, and the sea urchin looked like it had been opened less than half an hour ago; top-grade Wagyu beef was fanned out on top of golden sprout rice, its fatty texture as delicate and alluring as marble. The sinful aroma of capitalism filled the noses of everyone within a hundred-meter radius.

“This is the standard,” Yan Xie answered proudly.

Jiang Ting kept his head down, looking at the case file. Without looking up, he picked up a piece of sea urchin with his chopsticks and gave it to the well-behaved Han Xiaomei.

“I eat by my own ability,” he said calmly, flipping over a page of the autopsy report, under the astonished gazes of everyone opposite.

__

Afternoon, 2:30 PM

“—Goodbye! Take care!” Yan Xie wished he could lean half his body out of the car window, waving vigorously at the increasingly distant audit team behind him, his voice full of enthusiastic energy: “Come again next time! Bye-bye!!”

In the police car, everyone turned their heads back in unison. At the entrance of the Jianning City Public Security Bureau, the audit team stood there, their expressions priceless. Bureau Chief Lu was holding a large teacup, chuckling foolishly as he saw the group off, looking as kind and benevolent as Maitreya Buddha, pretending not to hear all the nonsense coming from Captain Yan in the distance.

With a whoosh, Yan Xie retracted from the car window, his face changing in an instant. He said angrily:

“Why couldn’t you find any evidence in two rounds of investigation for a simple home robbery case? What are you good for? You had to make Professor Jiang postpone his afternoon class to accompany you to the scene!!”

In the police coaster, a group of interns covered their faces and sobbed, their cries rising and falling. Jiang Ting leaned back in his seat with his eyes half-closed, unperturbed: “Ignore him. Even the old fingerprint examiner couldn’t find any prints. What does it have to do with you?”

Yan Xie: “And you call yourselves Professor Jiang’s students. Isn’t this embarrassing? Do you all want me to send you back to school?!”

Jiang Ting: “He didn’t get enough sleep last night. He’s manic.”

“If you can’t solve the case today, you can all go back and write self-criticisms, you hear me? I’m talking to you! What are you looking at?!” Yan Xie randomly picked a lucky person, his fiery words almost spraying on their face: “I asked if you heard me!!”

Intern Police Officer: “Oh—”

“We can solve it.” Jiang Ting didn’t even open his eyes, his usually plain face too lazy to show any expression. Amidst the tearful gazes of many around him, he said softly, “The suspect has already been identified. Yan Xie personally led the team to arrest him last week. We just didn’t tell you all. You deserve to be scolded for not even touching your professional books. Remember to suck up to your Brother Yan at the scene later.”

The interns, as if seeing the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva, all wished they could cling to him like little birds: “Sob——”

__

Afternoon, 04:20 PM

Click, click! Click, click!

At the home robbery scene, criminal investigators were moving back and forth. A group of intern police officers wearing gloves were squatting in the corner. Yan Xie, wearing shoe covers, was squatting on the investigation board, pointing to a small, very blurry spatter of blood in the corner: “Do you see it?”

Everyone nodded like garlic being pounded, afraid that the smallness of their movements would not be enough to express the fervent flattery in their hearts.

However, when Yan Xie was explaining the case, he was only stern, not impatient: “Spatter-like bloodstains are harder to sort out with the naked eye by forensic doctors on site due to factors like blood pressure and angle. But if you observe carefully one by one, you will find that a few drop-like bloodstains are actually hidden here. The edges are neat, perfectly round with no spines, which means the splashing speed was slower; combined with the injury analysis report, we can know that the DNA of the bloodstain here matches the victim, but it does not conform to the natural trajectory of blood spatter from the wound. What does this mean?”

A female intern police officer tremblingly raised her hand: “…Does it mean… does it mean that the blood spatter here was not… not affected by blood pressure, and… and was not internal bleeding, but dripped from the… the… the murder weapon?”

Yan Xie said: “Yes, it means that it is very likely that the robber got the victim’s blood on them during the crime, and it dripped off naturally when they passed by here. This is a very precious clue, because by combining the size of the bloodstain, we can roughly calculate the height from which it fell. Combining the height, we can roughly calculate the suspect’s height. Then, combining the height, we can narrow down the suspect’s range from the 19 different footprints extracted from the scene. The footprints can directly tell us the suspect’s weight, gait, and physical characteristics. Combined with the shoe sole pattern, we can investigate shoe brands and sales ranges. If we’re very lucky, we might even be able to directly lock down the store that sold the suspect’s shoes… Next, all the investigation procedures will follow logically, and the suspect would never have thought that what would ultimately bring the truth to light was this small drop of blood that they accidentally dropped for a moment when they passed by here on the day of the crime.”

Everyone fell into silence.

“Therefore, traceless crimes do not exist. Anyone and anything that has appeared at a crime scene will inevitably leave a mark. This is the meaning of trace evidence examination.” Yan Xie stood up, patted his cuffs, and said lightly: “There is no seamless crime scene in this world, only investigators who are not careful enough. And your path to becoming a qualified criminal police officer is still very long.”

For a moment, no one around could make a sound. Just then, a figure turned the corner of the corridor. It was Jiang Ting, wearing gloves and carrying an evidence bag. His calm and beautiful face showed no expression: “What are you doing here? Go back.”

“Professor Jiang.”
“Hello, Professor Jiang!”

Jiang Ting didn’t say much, “Go back and remember to write a scene report each, and hand it in tomorrow.”

The intern detectives hung their heads and turned to leave in single file. A few of them couldn’t help but look around, trying blankly to see more details from the scene, obviously still digesting what they had just heard.

Until the last intern had left, Yan Xie suddenly turned around:
“Did you record it? Did you record it?”

“Recorded, recorded, Brother Yan, it’s crystal clear.” Behind him, Ma Xiang gleefully pressed the pause button on the recorder, skillfully numbered and saved it to a folder. “Oh, you were so cool. I told you, you didn’t get first place in our unit’s bloodstain identification exam in the first half of the year for nothing. Look at this professionalism! This presence! What do you call this?! You are the recognized number one hunk in our entire Southwest criminal investigation circle!”

Yan Xie was full of confidence: “Quick, quick, send it to that guy surnamed Bu from the Nancheng Detachment of Jinhai City. Tell him there’s some case information we want to exchange and learn from our brother unit. Oh, right, don’t forget to send a copy to the Wuqiao Detachment as well. It’s been a long time since your buddy Xiao Wu has seen my studious spirit and profound knowledge. Remember to take a screenshot of Xiao Wu’s high praise for me and forward it to that guy surnamed Bu as well.”

Ma Xiang: “Hey! You got it!”

Jiang Ting: “…”

Jiang Ting took out his phone, opened WeChat, and selected Director Gou’s latest publication— “Listen to the Silent Testimony: A Comprehensive Discussion and Key Points on On-site Bloodstain Identification and Evidence Collection” (Limited time author signing!! Comes with a full set of merchandise!! Limited edition debossed cover!!!).

Then he selected a WeChat contact, Wu Yu of the Wuqiao Unit, Jinhai City, and forwarded it.

[Yan Xie just sent a recording to Bu Chonghua, saying he wants to exchange case information with a brother unit.]

[You don’t need to listen; just read this book.]

[The two of them are discussing their illnesses.]

__

Afternoon, 06:30 PM

“No way—getting off work this early?” Han Xiaomei sat up from behind her desk, stretching languidly. “There’s no serial killer and no major drug bust. I’m so not used to it. Did our unit really meet its performance targets this month?”

Everyone started packing up their things. Ma Xiang stuffed his handcuffs, gear, and unread photocopied documents into his beloved Rei Ayanami tote bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Of course not. The KPI for arresting local drug users hasn’t been met for three consecutive months. We still haven’t gotten back the headcount we forcibly borrowed from the station below last month. When is a major criminal syndicate going to parachute into the city and give us some results? We’ve swept the rat hole under the eighteenth utility pole at the southeast corner of the food street two hundred times—are we going to the Another Dimension Anniversary game exhibition tonight?”

Han Xiaomei perked up. “Let’s go, let’s go! Wait for me!” As she spoke, she rummaged through her drawer, pulling out a yellow chicken-themed KFC paper bag hat with a big grin.

“Go play your games. There’s no future for young people,” Yan Xie said, passing by on the phone with the provincial judicial medical examiner’s office, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he held the large G-Wagon key. “Your Brother Yan is going on a date tonight. I’ll make you sweet and sour pork ribs and braised beef. I need to get home and learn. Wait until you’re older, and you’ll understand. A man with a family is not so free, you know—”

Ma Xiang: “……”

Han Xiaomei: “……”

Yan Xie hummed a tune, swaggering out the door with his head held high.

Click. Han Xiaomei slammed the paper bag shut, muttering unhappily, “Not a single person asked him?!”

__

Jiang Ting’s proficiency with the pots and pans at home was certainly no match for his proficiency with the phone at home. One phone call, and within two hours, the manager of a five-star hotel had the dinner delivered and plated. Before leaving, he asked if he should try the dishes for Mrs. Yan in a dream-like wedding scene from a movie, but Mrs. Yan refused.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

Yan Xie made nine consecutive calls from the dining table, then switched to WeChat, selected a contact: Bu Someone of the Nancheng Branch, Jinhai City.

[Are you going to cook for your cousin yourself, what do you think?]

Ten seconds later, a new message was received. The reply from “Bu Someone of the Nancheng Branch, Jinhai City” was a picture. Bright red steamed Dongxing grouper lay on a bed of fragrant scallions.

[I cooked it myself under the supervision of Wu Yu, how about it?]

“XI!” Yan Xie cursed, gritting his teeth. After a pause, he replied: “This round, lost!”

At the edge of the dining table, Jiang Ting smiled faintly. “What did you lose?”

Yan Xie immediately put away his phone as if nothing had happened. “Nothing, I was just kidding. The beef is really tender. Ah, Jiang Ting, you should try some.”

__

Since Jiang Ting started working as a consultant at the police station, his life became much more regulated, but Yan Xie was rarely able to be so early. As long as Yan Xie was at home and idle, he would flutter around like a little furry creature, running upstairs and downstairs, rummaging through things. Jiang Ting couldn’t even attempt to guide him in his work in the study. Yan Xie would sneak up, wrap his arms around his waist, and bring Xiao Wu; if that didn’t work, he would bring Bureau Chief Zeng to repeatedly disrupt his work. As a last resort, he had to resort to pinning him down on the desk, calling it a surprise inspection to see if he had been slacking off recently and eating well, and if not, he would have to feed him some healthy food.

Jiang Ting’s body was not a top-tier model. After being pinned down in the corner of the wall and gasping for breath, he could only push at Yan Xie’s solid and lean shoulder. “Don’t you stay on this, you… Yan Xie!”

This almost broke through the last of his restraints. He was lifted up, and with a few steps, he was taken into the study and thrown onto the large bed by the person who had grabbed him.

The moment he was thrown, Jiang Ting felt a wave of dizziness. At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind: Wait, the… window… the curtains, close the curtains…

But he couldn’t even reach the intelligent control panel on the headboard. His line of sight spun 360 degrees, and his strong struggles were overturned and pressed onto the soft headboard. His wrist was grabbed, and he couldn’t struggle anymore, being reversed again.

“You even brought the handcuffs home from the bureau? I see you’re simply—”

Jiang Ting didn’t finish his sentence, and then his tone couldn’t help but become less accusatory, because Yan Xie was pressing against his back, and a burst of hot breath immediately covered his cheek. The sharp stubble lightly brushed against his cold earlobe.

“No,” Yan Xie’s low, smiling voice sounded by his ear, “I bought them.”

“……”

“Look at you, all skin and bones. And you’re still so active. What if your skin gets broken by the handcuffs?”

Kisses followed the line of his jaw downwards, leaving moist traces in the dim light. A lingering current of electricity warmed his body; the desire that had been building up for a week of early mornings and late nights could not be resolved, burning his nerves. Large patches of his skin rose up with goosebumps.

Just at that moment.

Buzz—

The phone that had fallen on the bed suddenly vibrated, the screen showing an incoming call.

Yan Xie simply ignored it. The back of his hand suddenly showed prominent veins.

But in the next moment, the work phone in the living room outside also began to vibrate crazily, the sharp ringtone cutting through the air, forming a perfect duet with the private phone on the bedroom floor. Ten seconds later, even the landline in the house let out an untimely ring.

“—I’ll be damned!”

Yan Xie finally stopped his forceful struggle against Jiang Ting. His rough breathing was almost tinged with blood. He almost kicked his phone against the wall, then went to the living room outside, snatched the receiver, and picked up the work call.

From his gritted teeth, he squeezed out one word: “What?!”

“Brother Yan! Brother Yan! Our unit’s reinforcements have arrived!”

On the other end, Ma Xiang was roaring in what could have been a convention hall, because the whistling wind could be heard through the receiver. Not far off was Han Xiaomei’s urgent and rapid voice: “……The scene has been sealed off, plainclothes police have been notified, the command from the service center instructs the plainclothes police to arrive at the scene within ten minutes, and the entire city bureau has been dispatched! ……”

“Suspect Gao Yuliang in the 618 arson case is at large, suspected to have fled to Jianning City, and is now at a KTV in the city. He was discovered and reported. After comparison, it has been confirmed to be him.” Ma Xiang slammed the car door, his voice breathless. “The target has a self-made gun and is extremely dangerous. He has not yet been alarmed, but it is uncertain whether accomplices will come to meet him later. A large number of plainclothes police have been sent to reinforce the scene……”

Yan Xie interrupted him: “Where is the location?”

“You’re aware of it.” Ma Xiang paused, his tone a mixture of indescribable emotion and a hint of celebration: “Evernight Palace KTV, the one run by your wife’s sister.”

“……”

“At least the internal layout of our operation is relatively familiar,” Ma Xiang said optimistically.

Yan Xie hung up the phone, finally unable to hold back his anger, and cursed inwardly: “Dammit!”

Support me on Ko-fi