Chapter 109: The Real Murder Part 1

Xiao Fen’s throat bobbed as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

What was going on?

He scratched the back of his neck.

He was fine if he didn’t scratch, but once he did, his collar pulled back a bit, revealing a faint pinkish hickey on skin so white and flawless it stood out glaringly.

Ou Yu’s eyes shook as his gaze quickly swept toward the other three who had reached out their hands.

Lu Jin and Matthew had seen it too, and they looked at the others suspiciously.

The three scanned the area, exchanged glances, and then all tacitly turned their eyes to the only person present who remained completely calm.

Fang Si Ting.

Everything happened too fast—the sparks of collision and hostility flashed only for an instant. In the space of a breath, Xiao Fen’s hand had naturally rested on Ou Yu’s, and he walked to his side.

“The bottom of the pool is a bit slippery.” He smiled and explained.

He chose Ou Yu for no particular reason; he was a good teammate who had fought side by side with him on the show.

To outsiders, he and Fang Si Ting were sworn rivals. If he acted too intimate with him, it would undermine the credibility of their battle of wits on the program.

He wasn’t familiar with Matthew.

As for Lu Jin, he wasn’t even in consideration.

The other three casually lowered their hands as if nothing had happened.

Fang Si Ting withdrew his hand and instead picked up a wine glass from the poolside, downing the clear liquor in one gulp. His throat bobbed as he swallowed it.

Xiao Fen had his back to him, but the hairs on his back stood on end for no reason, leaving him a bit tense.

The smile on his face grew even brighter, but the hand in the water guiltily let go.

Ou Yu quickly grabbed his hand back and said warmly, “Be careful. Don’t slip and fall again later.”

With that, his other hand wrapped around Xiao Fen’s waist, holding him securely before releasing his hand. His thumb pad gently scraped across Xiao Fen’s porcelain-white cheek.

“Look at you, your face is all wet.”

He pulled the man into his arms and cast his gaze toward the other three, slowly revealing a faint smile.

“Is it? I didn’t notice.” Xiao Fen raised his hand to wipe his face—nothing was there.

Ou Yu was still so gentle.

“I just came over for a drink. It’s a bit hot.” Xiao Fen hooked his arm around Ou Yu’s neck. The two were almost the same height, making the motion effortless and natural.

He craned his head behind Ou Yu and reached to pick up a plate of sashimi from the poolside.

“Why didn’t you take off the bathrobe?” Ou Yu considerately lifted the dripping sleeve of the bathrobe on Xiao Fen’s outstretched arm to make it easier for him to grab food.

Lu Jin’s mouth twisted into a wicked grin. “Weakling build. Too embarrassed to show it off, huh?”

Matthew chimed in nonsensically, “You foreigners should be more open. You could strip naked.”

“Matthew, you’re the foreigner right now.” Li Fei laughed.

As they spoke, Fang Si Ting stood up and took off his bathrobe. “It is a bit hot.”

Xiao Fen: ???

He was the one who insisted on wearing it, and now he was the one taking it off.

Since he had taken his off, what was there for Xiao Fen to hide? Who soaked in a hot spring wearing a bathrobe anyway?

He set down the snack in his hand, untied his sash, and took off his bathrobe too.

Just as he tossed it to the poolside, he sensed something off in the atmosphere around him.

He turned his head and saw Lu Jin, Ou Yu, and Matthew all staring at Fang Si Ting.

Fang Si Ting sat back down as if oblivious, though the corner of his mouth curved slightly as he put a bite of side dish into his mouth.

He wore only a pair of black boxer briefs that clung tightly below his waist, bulging prominently as if about to burst.

His legs were straight and long, his waist and abs taut with muscle, his arms sleek and powerful. His light wheat-colored skin bore scars of varying depths, adding a touch of wildness to his physique.

This was the him hidden beneath the stern, suit-clad exterior no one saw on ordinary days.

An invisible pressure, a blatant provocation backed by real strength.

Zhong Jinghuan and the others’ chatter and laughter died out.

Xiao Fen shook his head side to side, narrowing his eyes. Damn, what were they all staring at my man for!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He shot a murderous glare over, letting Mr. Black Cat feel it for himself.

Couldn’t they show a little bro code?

Fang Si Ting showed no reaction, but Ou Yu’s expression remained neutral as he stepped out of the bath pool first.

“I’m a bit tired. I’m heading back to my room.”

Song Hui glanced at his own perfectly sculpted eight-pack abs and tactfully left as well.

Lu Jin patted his own eight-pack. “I’ve got something to do. I’m heading out.”

In the blink of an eye, several people had left. Li Fei didn’t feel right staying either. With only a few people left, the chat wouldn’t be lively anyway, so the gathering broke up.

While getting dressed, Xiao Fen glanced around and saw no one nearby. He remembered the purpose of tonight’s appointment with Fang Si Ting, his eyes hesitant as if he wanted to say something.

“What’s wrong?” Fang Si Ting easily saw through his hesitation.

“Tomorrow…”

At the crucial moment, he didn’t know how to say it.

He deflated. “Forget it. You’ll find out tomorrow. Just let it happen naturally.”

“What will happen tomorrow?” Fang Si Ting’s heart grew heavy.

This was the first time he had seen such a serious expression on Xiao Fen’s face.

“It’s just… um…” Xiao Fen didn’t know how to explain. Finally, he looked at him anxiously. “If you find out that I’m not the me standing in front of you right now, what would you think?”

“I…”

He had just opened his mouth when Xiao Fen stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips, stopping his words.

What meaning was there in any promise spoken at a time like this?

Besides, what even were they to each other that he had worried about this all night?

A flash of annoyance crossed Xiao Fen’s eyes, but more than that, he returned to his usual carefree self.

“Let’s head back.” He patted Fang Si Ting’s arm, his expression like a farewell.

It seemed he had thought things through, but Fang Si Ting only felt more confused by his baffling words.

————

After parting from Xiao Fen, he returned to his room past 1 a.m.

Fang Si Ting didn’t sleep well that night. It had been days since he had been with Xiao Fen, and the evening’s hugs and kisses had only been superficial, stirring up the desires he had suppressed for days with nowhere to release them.

Especially before they parted, the watery glint in Xiao Fen’s eyes and the words trembling on his lips that he couldn’t voice turned into a dream of bubbles—bursting at a touch, dissolving into light and shadow.

He woke up frowning and couldn’t fall back asleep.

After two cold showers, he tossed and turned until past 5 a.m., then simply sat up, leaned against the headboard, smoked two cigarettes in the dim night, and finally put on workout clothes and changed into black sneakers to head downstairs.

The mansion’s servants had already begun cleaning and preparing breakfast, bustling about in an orderly fashion.

Butler Zhuo saw him and said, “Good morning, Inspector Fang. Are you going for a workout?”

“Yeah.”

“The weather’s nice this morning, but we’re planning to clear the snow from the mansion roof, so there might be some inconvenience. Would you prefer the gym or somewhere a bit farther at the residential area?”

Fang Si Ting glanced out the window. Winter mornings dawned late, and flashlight beams swayed outside as several servants moved ladders, apparently aiming to clear the snow before the guests woke.

He turned and went to the gym, took off his jacket to reveal a black tank top, and put on boxing gloves.

By 8:30, after showering and coming downstairs again, several guests were already up, chatting and laughing in the dining room.

When they saw him descend, many swallowed the words in their mouths.

Zhong Jinghuan and those boisterous guests hadn’t come down yet. The wellness internet famous doctor, Kong Qin, and the stand-up comedian were all a bit afraid of him and didn’t dare speak.

Hu Juan sat in the corner and couldn’t help shrinking back when his gaze swept over.

Several of the mansion’s smaller roofs had already been cleared. Outside the closed floor-to-ceiling windows, fresh snow piled as high as a person, with servants shoveling it cart by cart.

“I wonder if Madam Lu is feeling better?” the internet famous doctor said. “I’ll go give her a check-up after breakfast.”

“She’s fine.” After Hu Juan spoke, he realized he had been too quick. “Uh… I just visited her last night, you know, to check on her.”

“You went last night?” The stand-up comedian joked, cupping his hands. “I bow to your dedication.”

No wonder he had gotten into the show through Madam Lu by being one step ahead in flattery.

“It was just a visit to Madam Lu. Why are you acting guilty?” The internet famous doctor couldn’t stand his petty timidity.

“I just told her about the things that happened these past couple days to keep her entertained.” Hu Juan said, “But she’s worried about that reporter Ma. Based on the killer’s previous patterns, the next one to be attacked is definitely Ma Xingwen.”

“Yeah.”

“Why aren’t the vice squad officers protecting him?” Hu Juan asked innocently. “Are they just going to let the other guests stab him?”

“Mr. Hu, the person involved refused our close protection. Why is an outsider like you so concerned?” Fang Si Ting said coolly. Ma Xingwen was obviously guilty and afraid that staying with them too long would make him spill everything.

Hu Juan was already afraid of him and now didn’t even dare breathe, staying silent.