NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64
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When there was a knock on the door, Ling Hua’an woke up first. He took out his mobile phone from under his pillow, clicked on VX, and sent a voice message, telling Lu Hao to go to the restaurant first.
Jiang Chengyan, who also woke up, turned over in a daze. But when he felt hurt behind, he couldn’t help groaning. The soreness in his waist made him wake up completely.
Thinking about last night’s madness, Ling Hua’an regretted it a little. He kissed Jiang Chengyan and said, “sleep a little longer. I won’t go out today.”
Jiang Chengyan buried his head in Ling Hua’an’s arms and said sullenly, “Didn’t you make an appointment with Mr. Lin last night?”
When Jiang Chengyan went to take a bath last night, Ling Hua’an called Lin Shao and told him that Liu Changyuan had died. Lin Shao proposed a meeting, and the two made an appointment today.
“The appointment is in the afternoon. You can continue to rest and sleep. You won’t do. I’ll go with Yan Yu.”
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“No!” Jiang Chengyan looked up at Ling Hua’an and refuted, “I’ll accompany you.”
Ling Hua’an chuckled, “then be obedient and take rest.”
Jiang Chengyan responded, noticed Ling Hua’an’s movements, he tightened his arms, and asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to wash up and get some breakfast.”
Thinking that Ling Hua’an had a stomach problem, Jiang Chengyan let go of his hand and said, “Okay, then I’ll sleep for a while.”
“Go sleep. I’ll call you when I come back.”
Ling Hua’an got up, fumbled into the bathroom to take a simple wash, and went out with a cane. Remembering the direction in his mind, he went to the restaurant smoothly.
Yan Yu was a little strange seeing Ling Hua’an come alone in the restaurant. He got up to greet him and helped him go to the table to sit down.
Lu Hao asked casually, “Hey Ge, why are you alone? Where’s Captain Jiang?”
Ling Hua’an replied calmly, “He is not feeling well and is resting in his room.”
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“It’s really no need to go to the hospital?” Lu Hao asked worriedly.
“No need. Have you ordered your meal yet? Why hasn’t it come yet?” Ling Hua’an was a little helpless from the question and had to change the subject.
“We did. But Yan Yu-ge said we should wait for you two, so they’re not served it yet.”
“Tell them to serve it. I’m hungry.”
Lu Hao waved toward the waiter, gave an explanation, and persistently asked, “Ge, is Captain Jiang really okay? If not, we’re not going out and staying with you.”
Yan Yu’s eyes flashed gloomy looking at the kiss mark under Ling Hua’an’s collar. He then interrupted Luhao’s question and said, “I want to go to Lingshan. Lu Hao, accompany me.”
Lu Hao was startled by Yan Yu’s strange behavior. Because it’s always been where Ling Hua’an is, Yan Yu will be there too. Today, Yanyu suddenly said that he wanted to climb a mountain, making Lu Hao suspicious. When he saw the mark on Ling Hua’an’s body, he suddenly realized it and said, “Well, in fact, I also want to go to Lingshan. It happened that Yan Yu-ge would accompany me. It’s so great. hehe… hehe.”
Growing up together since he was a child, Ling Hua’an clearly can read Lu Hao’s little thoughts. He was relieved and felt amused at the same time, “you can go, but please pay attention to the safety. Listen to Yan Yu, understand?”
“I know, I know. Ge, don’t worry, I will listen to Yan Yu-ge. You stay and take good care of Captain Jiang. If you need anything to bring back, send me WeChat.” The corner of Lu Hao’s mouth raised, but looking at Yan Yu, he pressed it back again.
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After the three of them ate breakfast, Ling Hua’an packed another one. Yan Yu took him to his room and opened the door to let him in. He glanced at Jiang Chengyan on the bed, said nothing, and pulled the curious-looking Lu Hao away.
Ling Hua’an fumbled to put breakfast on the table and came to the bed to wake Jiang Chengyan up. After Jiang Chengyan finished his breakfast, he took Ling Hua’an to sleep until the alarm woke him up at noon. Then the two of them got up together.
The two called a car at three o’clock in the afternoon and went to the Lin Family Antique Shop. On the way, Jiang Chengyan also called the Huacheng Police department to extend his leave for two days.
More than half an hour later, the two arrived in the ancient city area and walked to the Lin Family Antique Shop. When they entered the door and listened to the movement inside, Jiang Chengyan whispered in Ling Hua’an’s ear, “there are guests in the store.”
When the female ghost saw Ling Hua’an coming, she greeted them politely with curiosity, “Hello, Mr. Ling.”
Ling Hua’an smiled and nodded as a greeting.
Lin Shao’s voice came to his ear, “Mr. Ling wait a moment, I have a guest here.”
“Mr. Lin go ahead, I’m not in a hurry.”
Ling Hua’an was guided by Jiang Chengyan to the rest area and sat down. The clerk made tea for them before getting back to work again.
The female ghost hesitated, walked up to Ling Hua’an, and asked curiously, “Does Mr. Ling have a girlfriend?”
Ling Hua’an was stunned by the question, then looked at Jiang Chengyan and said softly, “I have a boyfriend.”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned by his thoughtless words. He immediately responded and asked in a low voice, “Hua’an, who are you talking to?”
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Ling Hua’an looked at the female ghost and said with a smile, “a beautiful girl.”
The female ghost is indeed very beautiful, at least one of the best-looking ghosts Ling Hua’an has ever seen. If only her face was not too white and her lips were purple, she would be no different from a living person. There are no wounds on her body. Ling Hua’an guessed that her cause of death should be poison.
“Beautiful girl?” Jiang Chenyan looked around. He knows there was a ghost in the store, and it’s a beautiful ghost. He can’t see her, but his beloved can see the beautiful ghost. This fact makes Jiang Chengyan’s heart bubble with sourness.
The female ghost suddenly returned to her senses. She looked at Jiang Chengyan, then at Ling Hua’an, admiringly said, “I envy your courage. If I could be braver during my lifetime, maybe I could be with him too.”
When the female ghost spoke, she glanced toward the left. Although Ling Hua’an could not see it, he had a sharp hearing. That direction was exactly where Lin Shao was. His eyes flashed, and he said, “Girl, stop it. You are already dead in this life. No matter how obsessed you have, you should let go and reincarnate.”
“Letting go is easy to say but hard to do.” The female ghost paused and said, “but I have also thought about it. I just can’t let go of him yet. He looks gentle, but he never makes a deep friendship with others. He has no relatives or friends around him. It’s too lonely.”
“In our business, we deal with ghosts every day. We see too many life and death parting. Human nature is ugly, and our temper is a little colder than others. I’m mainly afraid of getting close to people and hurting them.”
“Mr. Ling is so lucky to have found his other half. He must love you a lot. Just now, when you complimented me on my beauty, his expression was jealous.”
“En, it’s true that he loves to be jealous.” Ling Hua’an was both amused and helpless. How jealous is this person? It can be seen from his expression.
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When Jiang Chengyan saw Ling Hua’an looking over, he blushed in guilt and asked, “who are you talking about?”
A smile appeared in Ling Hua’an’s eyes, and he said jokingly, “don’t Captain Jiang feel wronged when others talk about you?”
“I’m not jealous. Why do I feel wronged?” The more Jiang Chengyan said, the less confident he became.
Seeing the two bickering, the female ghost was even more envious and said, “Mr. Ling, although Shao-ge and you have only met once, I can see that he has a good impression of you. If you can… can you be friends with him?”
“I’m honored.” To be honest, Ling Hua’an’s first impression of Lin Shao was also very good.
“Thank you. “The female ghost smiled happily, looked in Lin Shao’s direction, and said reluctantly, “in this way, I can go at ease.”
“Girl, when are you leaving?”
“My name is Lin Wan’er, and Mr. Ling can call me Wan’er. Shao-ge and I are siblings but not related by blood. We are from a remarried family. My mother and his father got married then we became siblings. I’m leaving tonight. To be honest, I feel a little reluctant. ”
“So, this is why you’re not dare to confess your love?”
Lin Wan’er froze, then smiled bitterly and said, “Yes, although we are not biological, our parents are married. In the eyes of others, we are brothers and sisters. If we’re together, it will be chaos. Not to mention others, and our parents wouldn’t allow it.”
“What about Mr. Lin? What kind of feelings does he have for you?”
Lin Wan’er shook her head and said, “I don’t know. But Shao-ge was very nice to me, maybe because I was his sister. I’m already dead, and it’s too late to talk about it now. I don’t want to go further and embarrass him.”
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“Yes, sometimes it’s hard to obtain1.”
“Mr. Ling, I’m really sorry for making you wait so long. The shop is a little busy today.” Lin Shao’s voice was as gentle as always.
“It doesn’t matter, we’re fine anyway. Mr. Lin, no need to worry.”
“Then the two of you please follow me to the backyard to talk.”
The three of them came to the backyard together. Lin Shao closed the door and locked it. He took out a small porcelain vase from his pocket, with a white bottom and red runes painted on it, then recited the incantation silently and released Li Nanhang.
Li Nanhang looked at Ling Hua’an and said, “Mr. Ling, we have met again.”
Ling Hua’an nodded and handed the cow’s tears to Jiang Chengyan and said, “Hello, Officer Li.”
Lin Shao smiled at this and said, “Mr. Ling, I have rhinoceros horn incense2here, just light it.”
“‘Rhino horns should not be burned, there will be a strange fragrance, it sticks to your clothes, belts, and people can communicate with ghosts.’3Mr. Lin is worthy to open the antique shop. It’s really a precious item.”
“I got it by chance.”
Lin Shao lit the rhino horn incense, and the faint fragrance lingered on the tip of his nose. Jiang Chengyan blinked. When he looked into the room, he found two more people out of thin air, a man and a woman. The man was in his thirties and looked very ordinary. The woman is about twenty years old. As Ling Hua’an said, she is indeed a beautiful girl.
Jiang Chengyan smiled politely, and Ling Hua’an formally introduced, “Mr. Lin, Miss Lin, Officer Li, he is my partner. His name is Jiang Chengyan, and he is also a police officer.”
Lin Shao and Li Nanhang were stunned for a moment, then reacted and greeted Jiang Chengyan again.
Ling Hua’an looked at Lin Shao and asked bluntly, “Mr. Lin, what is the reason for asking me to come here this time?”
Lin Shao looked at Li Nan Hang and said, “Yesterday, Mr. Ling told me the news of Liu Chang Yan’s death. I asked someone to go to Licheng People’s Hospital to check on Wang Ming’s condition. Wang Bin was shot in the chest. He is still in a coma, although it doesn’t hurt his vital organs, the doctor can’t guarantee when he will wake up. I was afraid Wang Ming would also be killed, so I secretly found someone to protect him.”
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“So Mr. Lin is convinced that Liu Changyuan was killed, not committed suicide. ”
“Even if Liu Changyuan committed suicide, I am sure it didn’t come from his own will. ”
~~~
The author has something to say:
A rhino can’t be burned, it has a strange fragrance, sticks to clothes, people can communicate with ghosts – excerpted from “Yiyuan”
- hard to obtain is the literal meaning, but there’s another explanation that I found; 难得糊涂 was a “way of life” proposed by 郑板桥, meaning that it is better sometimes to not be so clever in life, let things pass, let bygones be bygones, overlook a few transgressions, allow others to have the upper-hand when you can. We don’t have to win every battle, don’t have to be the smartest person in the room all the time. ↺
- The quick explanation that I can find about rhinoceros horn: During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Wen Qiao came to niuzhuji and saw that the water was unfathomable. It is said that there were many water monsters in the water. He lit the rhinoceros horn to look after it. He saw that the underwater lights were very bright and the water monsters looked strange. Some took carriages and some wore red clothes. That night, he dreamed of a man maliciously blaming him for using rhinoceros horn isence. The next day, he suffered a stroke due to toothache and tooth extraction, and died within ten days after returning to town. Then they used the metaphor of “rhinoceros illuminating the soul” to gain insight into evil. By burning rhinoceros horns and using the light emitted by rhinoceros horns, the ancient Chinese could see gods and monsters that could not be seen by the naked eye. MorePlease do correct me if someone understand for this one >.<↺
- these sentences come from Soul Ferry Movie ↺