Five Cases

watched the armed police and snipers move about outside the window, “If there were, you wouldn’t be asking me that.”

“The inside of the factory is too dark, and there’s no clear line of sight.” Director Gao said, “They’ve concealed themselves behind a wall and can’t be taken down through the window.”

“Anything else?” Lu Hui asked. 

“We suspect that the factory was surrounded by explosives.” Director Gao said, “You were right.
He means to bring you down with him.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui agreed. 

“You’re going in?” Rao Feifei came inside the surveillance vehicle with Yang Jie. 

Lu Hui’s dark eyes are like two deep wells: “Do I have any other choice?”

“We can negotiate.” Rao Feifei said. 

Lu Hui smiled sardonically: “Little girl, the kidnapper just admitted to the crimes we are investigating.”

“He has no way out.” Yang Jie said. 

“Ji Fanyang is a commander’s son.
He can’t die.” Lu Hui said. 

“Bullshit.” Director Gao exploded in a seldom-seen fury.
He smacked the desk, “The son of a commander can’t die, but you can?”

“…” Lu Hui blinked, “I’ll try not to die.”

“Does your sister agree?” Yang Jie asked. 

Lu Hui went silent. 

Rao Feifei grabbed Lu Hui by the arm and pulled him out of the surveillance vehicle.
The two of them stood out in the snow. 

“How was it?” Lu An and the recently arriving Wei Congjia walked over to Lu Hui. 

“The kidnapper demands that he exchanges himself with Ji Fanyang.” Rao Feifei said. 

“You can’t.” Wei Congjia opposed. 

Lu An stared at Lu Hui: “You want to go in?”

“I…” Facing the person he was closest to, Lu Hui could not be as sure of himself, “I have to go in.
I’m the chief.”

“You will die.” Lu An said. 

Lu Hui nodded. 

“I don’t want to lose you.” Lu An said, “But you should go.”

Lu Hui gazed at Lu An: “Thank you, sis.”

Lu An sucked in a breath through her nose, the tears flowing down her face ruining her makeup, “Do you still remember that you’re coming home for the New Year?”

“I…might not be able to make it.” Lu Hui lifted a hand and wiped away Lu An’s tears, “Don’t cry.”

Wei Congjia embraced Lu An, saying to Lu Hui: “Come back alive.
Don’t make your sister sad.”

Lu Hui said nothing; he never made promises he could not keep.
He turned toward Rao Feifei: “My resignation letter and will are in the second locked cabinet in my office.
When the time comes, you can unlock it.”

Rao Feifei stared at him in disbelief: “You’ve already written them?”

“I put them there on my first day of work.” Lu Hui chuckled, “Fight no battle unprepared.” 

Rao Feifei rubbed her eyes and said: “Alright, I understand.”

Xi Junhong walked over: “What happened?”

Rao Feifei, with no time to consider her previous dislike of him, related the situation to him intermittently. 

Lu Hui waved at them, then turned and walked into the surveillance vehicle. 

“You’ve decided?” Director Gao asked. 

“Mm.” Lu Hui answered, “I’m putting on a protective suit.”

“Every little bit counts.” Director Gao sighed and gestured to the thick protective suit lying on the sofa, “Wear the helmet, too.”

Lu Hui removed his down jacket and put on the foundation layer of the protective suit. 

“What’s your plan?” Director Gao asked. 

“Act according to the situation.” Lu Hui said, “Ji Fanyang isn’t wearing any protective equipment.
I’ll try to protect him.”

“You…ai.” Director Gao shook his head, “I wasn’t wrong about you.
You’re a good police officer.”

Lu Hui maintained his poker face, saying nothing.
The title of ‘Good Person’ was harder for him to accept than insults. 

After putting on the protective suit, Lu Hui walked out of the surveillance vehicle. 

Save Ji Fanyang, he thought.
Ji Fanyang was his friend.