Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

By the Chinese street archway.

Daisy got off the motorcycle, looked at the street ahead, and said, "Wow, is this Chinatown? I often hear about it, but it's my first time here."

Luke parked the Harley, stretched out his right hand, "Miss Daisy, may I be your guide?"

Daisy laughed, "But I won't be paying a tip."

"It would be my honor."

Daisy hesitated for a moment before placing her left hand on Luke's right hand.

As night fell, red lanterns lit up in Chinatown, giving it a more authentic Chinese atmosphere than during the day.

The street was filled with many Chinese faces, and it was easy to distinguish locals from tourists by their mannerisms, clothing, and behavior.

The street was bustling with people coming and going; Daisy's eyes scanned the surroundings, finding everything new and curious, yet it seemed she was not intent on probing any deeper.

Not far away, a stage was set up, drawing a sizable audience, and cheers could be heard, along with several foreigners exclaiming, "good, good."

"Chinese Kung Fu."

Luke led Daisy closer to have a look. A performer with a blue painted face stood on the stage, right hand holding a red fan. With a quick wave of the fan to his face, "Snap!"

In the blink of an eye, his face had turned red.

A round of applause erupted from the crowd around them.

The performer with the red painted face turned around on stage and waved his fan again, changing into a yellow painted face.

"Wow…" Daisy showed a surprised look, "Is this Chinese magic? It's my first time seeing it."

Luke explained, "This is 'Bian Lian,' the traditional Sichuan Opera face-changing. It's said the performer can change through fourteen different faces in an instant."

Daisy was curious, "How do they do it?"

"Such a skill has been classified as a national second-level secret, with strict apprenticeships. It's very hard for outsiders to figure out," Luke's words made Daisy even more interested.

They applauded enthusiastically and didn't stop singing praises until the performance was over and they left.

People are curious about unknown things, but they also have a certain resistance to them.

The Sichuan Opera face-changing piqued Daisy's interest in Chinese culture, making her want to understand it more, not just on a superficial level.

Daisy walked to the entrance of a shop and pointed to the items inside, "Are these made of wood?"

"These are bamboo weaves, all made from bamboo."

"Made from bamboo? Are you sure?" Daisy pointed at an exquisitely woven bamboo vase, her face incredulous.

"Bamboo is quite flexible. Artisans split the bamboo into fine threads and thicker branches, using the branches as a frame and the threads for weaving, intertwining them to create various patterns and objects."

Daisy went into the shop to look around, and after a lap, she picked out a vase.

Luke wanted to pay, but Daisy refused.

After leaving the store, they didn't walk far before they saw a candied haw stall.

Luke instinctively swallowed, buying two skewers.

Daisy looked at the bright red candied haws, blinked her big eyes, and asked, "What are these?"

"Hawthorn, coated with a layer of sugar syrup. It's a special snack in China."

Daisy took a bite, nodded slightly, and said, "good, sour and sweet, I like this taste."

As they ate their candied haws, they felt somewhat like a young couple strolling through the streets.

Passing by a qipao shop, Luke stopped, "Daisy, do you want to go in and have a look?"

"I think I've seen this style of clothing somewhere before…"

Luke reminded her, "Qipao."

"Right, I saw it in a movie."

"Want to try it on?" Luke was quite interested in seeing Daisy in a qipao.

"Now? No, I'm not ready yet…" Daisy reached out to touch the fabric, "Maybe I'll be willing to try it another time…"

"OK, let's go eat something then," said Luke with a hint of disappointment, pointing to a restaurant ahead called 'Hua Yue Ju'."

Daisy nodded, "I like Chinese food."

"What dishes do you like?"

"Kung Pao Chicken, General Tso's Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Fried Noodles, and Spring Rolls are all pretty good."

Luke smiled, took Daisy's hand, and led her into the restaurant, "I'll take you to try some different Chinese dishes."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Inside the restaurant, they chose a seat by the window where they could view the street outside.

An Asian woman wearing a qipao came over and handed them a menu. Daisy looked at the waitress, possibly regretting not trying on a qipao herself.

"Daisy, what would you like to eat?"

Daisy smiled, "Aren't you going to introduce me to some different Chinese dishes?"

Luke briefly scanned the menu, "Roasted Pigeon, Mu Shu Pork, Ants Climbing a Tree, Chopped Chili Fish Head, Braised Mushrooms with Bok Choy, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and a pot of Longjing tea."

The service at this restaurant was quite good, and the dishes were served quickly.

The first dish was roasted squab.

"I like roasted duck, but this one... is it a bit small?" said Daisy.

"It's a pigeon."

"What? A pigeon! Oh my god, you actually eat pigeons."

"It's really tasty."

"nonono..." Daisy looked resistant.

"Delicious." Luke picked up a pigeon leg and started gnawing on it.

"Oh..." Daisy frowned, seemingly struggling to accept it.

Putting down another pigeon leg, Luke said, "Try it, trust me."

After hesitating for a moment, seeing Luke enjoying it, Daisy bit into it tentatively, savored the flavor, and slowly began to eat.

"How is it?" Luke asked with a smile.

"It's... okay, I guess."

Luke passed her a piece of pigeon wing, and Daisy didn't refuse, eating it as well.

The other dishes were served one after another.

There were some that Daisy liked and some she couldn't accept.

For example, the steamed fish head with diced hot red peppers; Luke pleaded several times, even invoking God, but Daisy was unwilling to try.

To Luke's surprise, Daisy's favorite turned out to be "Ants Climbing a Tree," and she even likened it to eating spaghetti.

Next had to be the roasted squab, although she didn't say so outright. But when Luke ordered another squab, she ate most of it.

Overall, the dinner was quite satisfactory.

After finishing their meal, the two prepared to head back.

By the roadside, Luke saw a paper-cutting shop.

The owner was a Chinese man in his forties, who was very skilled and worked quickly.

Luke asked him to make a paper-cut portrait for the two of them.

The owner held a piece of red paper in his left hand and scissors in his right, looked at Luke and Daisy, and with the opening and closing of the scissors, scraps of paper fell onto the table.

In no time, the silhouettes of the two were formed; after some fine-trimming, the paper-cut was finished.

Afterwards, the owner framed the paper-cut in a glass frame.

Daisy, taking the paper-cut, looked at the lifelike figures and expressed her amazement, "It's amazing, almost as good as a pencil portrait."

"Daisy, this is my gift to you. You won't refuse this time, will you?"

"Thank you for the gift, I really like it." Daisy picked it up again for a closer look, then put the paper-cut into her bag.

The paper-cut depicted the two walking hand in hand, resembling a couple, putting a perfect end to this date...

Luke escorted Daisy to her front door.

As Daisy got out of the car, she returned the helmet to Luke, "Thank you for the dinner, I had a great time tonight."

"You're not going to invite me in for a coffee?"

"I'll treat you to a big meal another day, bye." Daisy smiled and waved goodbye.

Luke nodded slightly and watched her walk to her doorstep.

He started up the Harley, ready to leave.

Suddenly, Daisy turned and ran back, her voice tinged with panic, "Luke, don't go yet."

"You've changed your mind?"

There might be a chance.

"Stop joking, I've noticed something's not right." Daisy looked nervous, hiding beside Luke.

"What's wrong?"

Daisy took a deep breath, "I just got to the doorstep and noticed something off about the door.

Before I left, I used the method you taught me by placing a thin thread in the door; now that thread is gone."

"Are you sure you placed the thread before you left?"

"Yes, I tugged on it before leaving. It wouldn't come off unless someone opened the door."

Luke scanned the surroundings, seeing no one suspicious, parked the Harley, and walked into the yard.

He went towards the steps and shone the light from his phone towards the doorway, discovering a white thin thread to the right of the door, about the length of a palm, hard to notice without careful attention.

"Is this the thread?"

"Yes, that's the one."

Luke's hand rested on his gun holster; he motioned Daisy to step back. The thin thread that had been fixed to the door had fallen, indicating someone might have broken in...