I told Huang Xiaotao to drive us to our school first, then I went back to my dorm to grab some things. Once I got back in the car, Huang Xiaotao noticed the bag in my hand and asked curiously, "Aren't you bringing your treasured umbrella?"
"Don't even mention it. I ruined it last time, so I'm not bringing it this time."
During the arrest of Bai Ye, I panicked and swung the red umbrella at him. The umbrella's canopy probably hit his sharp teeth, and a small piece broke off. It hurt my heart just thinking about it.
As a forensic medical examiner, I have no fighting skills. In the Chronicles of the Corpse Whisperer, the only self-defense tool mentioned is some powder that can be thrown into a criminal's face to knock them out—kind of like hitting a beggar with a slipper. It's a last-ditch, low-level trick.
Of course, not all my ancestors were as defenseless as I am. Some of them served as constables in the Six Gates—masters of martial arts. The famous Song Buping, once hailed as the top detective of Guangxi and Guangdong, compiled his techniques into a book called Song Family's Thirteen Dragon-Grabbing Moves. I saw this book in my grandfather's collection, but honestly, I have no interest in martial arts.
To put it simply, I'm a total weakling!
On the way, Wang Dali was lying in the back seat, groaning and sprawling out in his sleep. He kept kicking his legs, pushing Wang Yuanchao into a corner. Wang Yuanchao held a small, flat silver flask and occasionally took a sip.
Huang Xiaotao caught sight of it in the rearview mirror and snapped, "Wang Yuanchao, haven't you drunk enough? Still drinking?"
Wang Yuanchao's reply almost made me spit out blood. He calmly said, "Just a few sips to sober up."
...
The trip to Wuqu City was over six hundred kilometers. I took a short nap in the front passenger seat. When I woke up, I saw Huang Xiaotao yawning and said, "Why don't you rest for a while? I'll drive."
"You have a license?" she asked.
"No, but I've learned before," I answered honestly.
"Haha, how good are your driving skills?" she doubted.
"Not worse than you," I replied lightly.
Huang Xiaotao found a spot to pull over and handed me the wheel. "I'll nap. If you see any police, wake me up. We've got two detectives and one consultant in this car; it'd be hilarious if we got pulled over and penalized."
"Got it," I nodded.
I learned to drive from my aunt when I was a kid. She often traveled for business and owned several cars. The town was big, so I used to drive around for fun.
It had been years since I last held a steering wheel. After a few tries, I gradually found my rhythm and drove steadily.
Around 4 a.m., buildings started to appear more frequently by the roadside. Signs with the word "Wuqu" showed up now and then. Wang Dali muttered, "I'm dying of thirst, pass me some water." Then he rolled off the back seat with a loud thud, waking both Wang Yuanchao and Huang Xiaotao.
Wang Dali jumped up, shouting, "What the hell? Where am I? Was I kidnapped? Help…"
"Shut up, coward!" Huang Xiaotao snapped.
Only then did Wang Dali notice the rest of us and I gave him a quick rundown of the situation. Wang Dali said, "Damn, Yangzi, your workload's crazy. Just finished one case and already on another. How about we start a detective agency after graduation? Business would be booming."
"Don't joke. This is just a special assignment," I said.
"Any perks?" Wang Dali's eyes lit up.
Huang Xiaotao cursed, "You wish. But don't worry, Boss Sun already said all expenses will be reimbursed. Just remember to get receipts."
Wang Dali happily nodded. "Yangzi, knowing you really brightens my life. Now I've got something to brag about when I'm hitting on girls, hahaha!"
Huang Xiaotao rolled her eyes. "Look at you, no ambition at all."
"Hey, no danger this time, right? Please don't make it as thrilling as last time," Wang Dali asked nervously.
I was annoyed and told him, "Go lie down again. I'll call you when we arrive."
Just as Wang Dali was recovering from a hangover, the nausea hit him. Huang Xiaotao panicked, "Hey, don't puke in my car! I just washed it last week!"
Wang Dali held it in. "I'm fine, just preparing. I'll throw up after we get out."
At around 5 a.m., I spotted a Yonghe Soy Milk shop nearby and pulled over. Wang Dali bolted out like a mad dog, leaning on a tree to vomit. Huang Xiaotao's face twitched. "I really wish I didn't know him."
"Same here!" I laughed.
We had a quick breakfast. During that time, Huang Xiaotao called the Wuqu City Detective Squad. After eating, we headed straight to their office. Inside the building, we asked around and learned that Captain Liao, the lead on this case, was waiting for us on the second floor.
As soon as we got upstairs, we heard a woman complaining loudly in the hallway, "This is a joke. They sent an undergrad to assist us and won't even let me do the autopsy. They want me to leave the body to that student? Captain Cheng really doesn't respect us!"
"Exactly!" a man's voice chimed in. "I heard that student's ancestors were undertakers who knew some shady tricks. He got lucky solving two cases in Nanjiang City, and now their director is praising him like crazy…"
"What? A forensic medical examiner?" the woman scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Captain Cheng must be brainwashed to believe in such nonsense. I have a PhD and am a professional forensic doctor. If we can't solve this case, how can a mere undertaker do it?"
Huang Xiaotao smiled slightly at me. "Looks like someone else is looking down on your profession."
I wasn't bothered. "I'm used to it."
Huang Xiaotao cleared her throat heavily. The voices quieted. We reached the meeting room, where a chubby middle-aged cop greeted us warmly, "You must be the special consultants from Nanjiang City. Welcome! I'm Liao, just call me Old Liao."
Huang Xiaotao gave a brief introduction of us. I looked around and saw several officers, some sitting, some standing. Among them was a tall woman in a white coat with a cold, arrogant expression—probably the forensic doctor. Also, a handsome young officer around twenty, with a sly glint in his eyes and a provocative look aimed at us. I guessed those two were the ones badmouthing us.
Captain Liao introduced the team briefly. When he got to them, he laughed and said, "This is our team's forensic doctor, Luo Weiwei, the flower of our squad."
Wang Dali, spotting the beautiful forensic doctor, got excited and shamelessly introduced himself, stepping forward to shake Luo Weiwei's hand. She folded her arms and snorted coldly, barely acknowledging him.
Captain Liao scolded, "Weiwei, how can you behave like that?"
I thought to myself, Luo Weiwei's not someone to mess with.