Miss Forensics – Chapter 28
by Little PandaPart One
A Heart-to-Heart
You are the only friend she has ever brought before us, and one she has tacitly acknowledged.
Song Yuhang threw the woman out the door and turned back, only to find both of them staring at her. Lin Ge’s expression was one of mild shock, while Lin Yan’s… she could not find the exact words to describe the look on her face. There seemed to be a sliver of joy mixed in with her surprise, but she controlled it exceptionally well; no one present besides Song Yuhang, an expert at reading micro-expressions, would have noticed it.
Just like that? Standing up for her made her happy?
She really was easy to please.
As Song Yuhang was thinking this, another knock sounded on the door. Lin Yan frowned, about to launch into a stream of abuse, when Lin Ge hurried over. “It’s my mom, my mom.”
The door opened. The moment Lin Ge’s mother saw Lin Yan lying pale on the hospital bed, she didn’t even care about being supported anymore. Taking three steps in two, she rushed to the bedside, her hands trembling as she held Lin Yan’s hand, where blood was backflowing into the IV line.
“Quick! Lin Ge, what are you just standing there for?! Go call the nurse! How did it turn into this? Did that wild chicken give you trouble again?”
Compared to when Lin Yan had left home at eighteen, Lin Ge’s mother had aged significantly. Her hair was completely silver, and her face was lined with deep wrinkles. Yet her clothing was low-key, without any ostentatious jewelry, making her look shrewd and capable. Listening to her call the woman a “wild chicken” over and over, one could tell that even Lin Youyuan had to show her some respect.
Lin Yan was the type of person who would treat anyone well if they treated her well. Facing her aunt’s concern, the corners of her lips curved up into a genuine smile.
“No, how could she? You know my temper, Auntie. It’s already a blessing I didn’t beat her to death.”
A nurse pushed a medicine cart in to change her IV bag. Only then did Lin Ge’s mother notice Song Yuhang standing nearby. Her eyes lit up instantly, like a matchmaker spotting a prime maiden, wishing she could leap forward, grab her hand, and fuss over her affectionately.
Lin Ge cleared his throat slightly. Only then did his mother stop herself, withdrawing her outstretched hand.
“Xiao Song, why are you here? You haven’t hung out with Lin Ge in a while, have you? How was it? Did your dinner go well last time? Did the boy host you properly? If there was anything he didn’t handle well, just tell me and I’ll break his legs.”
She edged closer to Song Yuhang as she spoke, looking at her entirely with the gaze of a mother-in-law sizing up a daughter-in-law. Seeing the injuries on her face, she could not help but worry.
“Oh dear, how did this happen? This is too wicked—who goes around targeting someone’s face like that? Don’t worry, Auntie has several ointments made from ancient recipes that work wonders on scars. I’ll have Lin Ge bring them over to you some other day.”
The “wicked” culprit sat on the bed, stirring the congee Song Yuhang had bought with a spoon, her lips twitching.
After saying that, Lin Ge’s mother even kicked Lin Ge. “Isn’t that right, Lin Ge?”
Lin Ge winced. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll bring them over to Miss Song some other day.”
With that, he mouthed to Lin Yan: My mom is being way too enthusiastic.
Lin Yan rolled her eyes at him: Of course she is. It’s her future daughter-in-law.
Yet for some reason, after saying this, she felt a slight pang of discomfort in her chest. Even the congee Song Yuhang had bought suddenly lost its flavor.
So she mouthed back: Tsk tsk. Did you see that? Song Yuhang is incredibly violent. Do you still want to marry her?
Lin Ge rolled his eyes, too lazy to indulge her. She didn’t even stop to consider who that violence was for.
Meanwhile, Lin Ge’s mother let her gaze drift between the three of them in the ward. “Why was it Xiao Song who brought Yanyan to the hospital? You and she are…”
Song Yuhang glanced toward the hospital bed from the corner of her eye. Lin Yan happened to look up at her at the exact same moment. When their gazes collided, Song Yuhang subtly looked away. “She and I are… we’re colleagues.”
Lin Ge’s mother immediately beamed from ear to ear. She pulled Song Yuhang to the bedside, took Lin Yan’s free hand, placed it over Song Yuhang’s, and patted them gently. “Colleagues are good! Colleagues are great! Relatives on top of relatives1!”
Lin Yan hadn’t even swallowed her mouthful of congee before she burst into a fit of earth-shattering coughing.
After inquiring about Lin Yan’s condition and learning that it was nothing serious, they finally set their minds at ease. As for the injuries on her face and the cause of her concussion, Lin Yan did not want to elaborate, so Lin Ge’s mother and Lin Ge tactfully refrained from pressing further. Meanwhile, Lin Yan’s nominal father never showed his face from beginning to end.
After sitting for a while longer, Lin Ge received a call from his clinic about an urgent matter and prepared to leave. His mother stayed until she saw Lin Yan finish every last drop of the chicken soup she had brought, then left with her son. Before leaving, she instructed Lin Yan to rest well, call if she needed anything, and promised to bring her meals again tomorrow.
Lin Yan was absolutely stuffed. She usually never ate this much. Her face was scrunched up like a bitter melon, wishing they would leave sooner as she secretly plotted how she would discharge herself tomorrow.
Since Lin Ge’s mother was an elder, it was only proper for Song Yuhang to see them out. But the moment they stepped out of the ward, the older woman patted her hand with a warm smile. “Alright, no need to see us out. You’ve been busy all day, haven’t you? Thank you so much for today. I’ll have Lin Ge treat you to dinner some other day—you must come.”
The more she looked at this potential daughter-in-law, the more pleased she was. The girl was tall and striking, possessed excellent combat skills, carried herself with an aura of righteous integrity, and was both humble and polite.
Song Yuhang nodded. “You are too polite. Lin Yan is my colleague. It was just a small effort, nothing more than my duty.”
Lin Ge’s mother did not say more. She patted Song Yuhang’s hand once more and departed, supported by the butler, deliberately leaving the two behind to give them some time alone.
Lin Ge rubbed his nose. The two of them stood together by the elevator, waiting. Originally, he and Song Yuhang were barely acquaintances, but because of Lin Yan, they had grown somewhat closer, making it easier to speak more candidly.
“Do you find our family rather strange?”
Song Yuhang thought about it for a moment before replying, “Yes.”
She had grown up in a harmonious household. Even though her father had passed away early, her mother had never remarried, raising the two siblings on her own. After her older brother died, her sister-in-law, Ji Jingxing, had not remarried either. A scene where family members cursed one another out and a stepmother came to disgust her stepchildren was something Song Yuhang truly could not fathom.
The elevator had not arrived yet. Lin Ge let out a bitter laugh. “Counting the ones with an official title, she’s the eighth wife Uncle Lin has married over the years. And that’s not even counting the ones without titles. Every single one of them, to some degree, has made life difficult for Lin Yan.”
At this, he could not help but recall the time Lin Yan first arrived at his house. “Can you believe it? When she was three years old and came to visit my family for the first time, she had never even seen candy before. I gave her a jar of milk candy. She didn’t even say thank you—she just cradled the jar, hid in the backyard all by herself, and secretly ate until she got diarrhea…”
Recalling the scene made Lin Ge both amused and sympathetic. Later, after Lin Cheng died, she became Lin Youyuan’s sole successor. She could eat as much candy as she wanted, but she never smiled that happily again.
Song Yuhang lowered her eyes, masking the fleeting wave of heartache that swept through her. So even someone who seemed so glamorous had such an unbearable past.
The elevator arrived. Lin Ge stepped inside and smiled at her, his face bright with a youthful warmth.
“Officer Song, even though Lin Yan won’t say it, I want to thank you on her behalf. Don’t look at how she acts so loud and obnoxious all day, so arrogant and overbearing that even I want to hit her sometimes. Over all these years, you are the only friend she has ever brought before us, and one she has tacitly acknowledged.”
By calling her Officer Song instead of Miss Song, he was showing her the utmost respect and sincerity.
You are the only friend she has ever brought before us, and one she has tacitly acknowledged.
That single sentence brought a soft curve to Song Yuhang’s lips. She rarely smiled, but now her handsome, sharp features softened considerably.
Seeing Lin Ge like this inevitably reminded her of her own older brother, filling her with a touch of emotion.
“There is no need to thank me. It is only my duty. Lin Yan is lucky to have a brother like you.”
A crowd of people squeezed into the elevator. The two of them waved goodbye.
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Lin Yan had assumed Song Yuhang would leave with them. She did not expect that less than ten minutes later, Song Yuhang would return, pull up a stool next to her bed, and open her phone to check for any new leads sent by her colleagues.
“Aren’t you leaving?” Lin Yan leaned back against the headboard, tilting her head to look at her.
“What will you do if I leave?” Song Yuhang did not even look up.
Lin Yan let out a soft sneer. “I’m not so weak that I need to be taken care of hand and foot.”
Seeing that Song Yuhang remained unmoved, she muttered under her breath, “Even if I did, there’s always the butler.”
Song Yuhang slipped her phone back into her pocket and stood up. “Fine, then I’ll head out. Get some proper rest.”
She turned to leave. A flash of irritation crossed Lin Yan’s eyes. She was about to speak when she dissolved into a fit of unstoppable coughing.
She tried desperately to catch her breath, but the coughing only grew worse. She pressed a hand to her chest to soothe herself, but her movements rattled the IV stand, causing it to wobble precariously.
Song Yuhang rushed over in three steps, steadying the stand while gently pressing her back down. At the same time, she poured a cup of warm water from the kettle on the nightstand and handed it to her.
“See? If you didn’t try to be so strong, none of this would happen.”
Why did those words sound so familiar? Lin Yan remembered the conflict they had when she first arrived at the municipal bureau. Instantly, she raised her hand to strike.
Song Yuhang caught her hand and pressed it down again, her tone bordering on stern. “Don’t move. Do you want to get poked with another needle?”
With that, she crouched by the bedside, carefully smoothing down the medical tape on the back of Lin Yan’s hand.
From Lin Yan’s vantage point, she could see Song Yuhang’s clean, handsome features partially obscured by the stray hairs falling over her forehead. Song Yuhang rarely did anything to groom herself, and her eyebrows were somewhat wild, but this only served to highlight her defined, bold, and striking facial features.
Song Yuhang’s irises were light, taking on a soft hazel tint under the lights, and her skin tone was a healthy medium. Because she did not wear makeup, her lips were much paler than Lin Yan’s. Stripped of her sharp, imposing aura, her entire being seemed much softer. Coupled with her meticulous, gentle movements, she was exceptionally considerate. Lin Yan finally understood a little of why her aunt was so intent on making this woman her daughter-in-law.
“What do you think of my brother?”
Song Yuhang did not pause her movements. “What do you mean, ‘how’? Didn’t I tell you the other day?”
Lin Yan pursed her lips. “What you said that day doesn’t count. Tell me again. I want to hear your honest thoughts.”
Having finished, Song Yuhang tucked Lin Yan’s hand back under the blanket. She looked up, a faint, barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.
“What, are you trying to vet me on your brother’s behalf?”
“He’s the only brother I have. Is there a problem with that?!” Lin Yan snapped, but Song Yuhang’s gaze only grew calmer.
“You want to hear the honest truth?”
“Yes,” Lin Yan nodded.
Song Yuhang sat back down. Ever since they met, they had done nothing but argue, bicker, or flat-out brawl. It was incredibly rare for them to sit down and talk face-to-face like this.
The sensation was somewhat novel to her as well.
Perhaps because the lighting tonight was so warm, or because Lin Yan was sick and didn’t seem as overbearing as usual, Song Yuhang actually found her quite cute at certain moments.
For instance, right now, as she listened intently to her speak.
So, Song Yuhang turned serious as well. Meeting her eyes, she said, “He is very nice. He treats you well, and he is very respectful toward me. I don’t mind getting to know him further, but…”
At this point, she seemed a little lost, pausing as if unsure of how to proceed.
Lin Yan finished her sentence for her. “Do you want to see him?”
Song Yuhang thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m too busy. I don’t have time to think about it.”
“What about now? You have time right now. Do you think of him?”
Song Yuhang followed her prompt and tried to recall him, yet the only things that came to mind were the stories Lin Ge had told her about Lin Yan’s childhood, and that phrase:
“Over all these years, you are the only friend she has ever brought before us, and one she has tacitly acknowledged.”
As for Lin Ge himself, though he was handsome, humorous, and considerate—and though she could offer plenty of flat, objective praise if asked—he fell far short of the vivid, multi-dimensional presence of the other person in her heart.
To think of another person’s name while speaking of Lin Ge… Song Yuhang came to her senses, her breathing faltering slightly. She quickly composed herself, feeling she could not let Lin Yan seize the initiative, and asked instead:
“He just left, what is there to think about? What about you? Do you have anyone you miss particularly?”
Lin Yan shook her head, thinking she was even more obtuse than a straight man. But upon hearing the second half of the question, her fingers instinctively tightened around the fabric over her chest. Lowering her eyes, her voice was barely a whisper.
“I do. I miss them very, very much.”
“Someone you like?” Observing her expression, Song Yuhang had not actually expected an answer. Yet the other woman froze for a moment before letting out a low, quiet hum.
“I suppose so.”
Song Yuhang suddenly felt a touch envious. “That’s nice. Having someone you like.”
“You don’t?” Lin Yan released her grip on her shirt, tilting her head to look at her.
Song Yuhang shook her head. “No. I don’t know what it feels like to like someone. In all my years, your brother is the first man I’ve ever gone on a blind date with.”
Lin Yan looked at her with pure disbelief. “Then how on earth did you survive the first two decades of your life?”
Song Yuhang thought about it seriously. “Before I started working, studying and practicing martial arts. After I started working, solving cases and practicing martial arts. That’s it.”
“…” Lin Yan’s lips twitched. Your extracurricular life is truly rich and varied.
“Well, I wouldn’t say there was absolutely nothing.” Song Yuhang relaxed completely, leaning back against the chair with a hint of amusement in her eyes.
“Back in university, a shixiong tried to pursue me. I told him if he could beat me in a fight, I would date him…”
“And then?” Lin Yan asked, her curiosity piqued.
“And then, in our school gymnasium, in front of hundreds of people, I knocked out two of his front teeth. He never brought it up again.”
Lin Yan doubled over, laughing so hard tears practically welled in her eyes. “Hahaha… Captain Song, you really are… something else… Then we’d also count as becoming friends after a fight2. I technically won by a hair. By that logic, shouldn’t Captain Song also be…”
Fall. In. Love.
Before the words could leave her mouth, Song Yuhang looked over, her gaze turning somewhat intense.
Lin Yan fell straight into those brown eyes. It would have been fine if she had finished the sentence; it could have passed as a joke. But it ended up stuck in her throat, leaving behind a lingering, ambiguous silence.
Song Yuhang stared at Lin Yan, and Lin Yan stared back. Neither of them spoke. The smile faded from Lin Yan’s face.
She sat there quietly in her blue-and-white striped hospital gown, her soft curls draped over her shoulders. For a fleeting second, she even gave Song Yuhang the illusion that she was waiting for a specific answer.
But an illusion was, after all, just an illusion.
By mutual consensus, they both averted their eyes.
Song Yuhang said softly, “Forensic Examiner Lin, that joke isn’t funny at all.”
Lin Yan slumped back. “Oh, are you a little girl? Getting upset over a joke.”
The trace of ambiguity vanished without a trace, and the two could finally talk normally.
“I’m not angry. At most, our fight was a tie. You’re not being objective.”
Lin Yan arched an eyebrow. “Sure. Let’s test it next time.”
Just as she spoke, Song Yuhang’s phone rang. She pulled it out and saw a call from Ji Jingxing, labeled as “Xiaowei.”
Lin Yan cast an idle glance over. “Oh, didn’t you just say you didn’t have anyone you liked?”
Song Yuhang couldn’t be bothered to respond. She stood up and walked out into the corridor to take the call.
Lin Yan grimaced behind her back. “Damn it, if you’re going to take it, just take it. Why do you have to hide it from me? You’re making it look like we’re actually having an affair.”
The call connected, and a child’s lively, crisp voice immediately chirped, “Auntie, we’re at the amusement park right now! Mommy wants to know if you want to have dinner with us tonight?”
Only then did she realize that today was International Children’s Day.
“I’m sorry, Xiaowei. Auntie has been too busy lately and didn’t get to prepare a gift for you. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?”
“Come, give the phone to Mommy.” Ji Jingxing held the phone in one hand while carrying several shopping bags in the other, switching her daughter to her other hand.
“Forget about the gifts. You’ve given Xiaowei more than enough over the years. Have you got off work? We just left the amusement park. Shall we grab dinner together?”
The background noise on her end was a clamor of voices, making her voice sound a bit muffled.
Song Yuhang glanced back at Lin Yan in the ward, feeling conflicted. Just as she was wavering between how to decline and why she felt the need to decline, another call beeped in.
She let out a breath of relief. “Jie, a case came in today and we just got a new lead. I have to head over. Go ahead and eat with Xiaowei. If I’m done by the time you finish, I’ll pick you both up and take you home.”
When she put it that way, it usually meant she wouldn’t be finished.
Ji Jingxing quickly declined, “No, no, go attend to your work.”
She hesitated for a second before adding, “Stay safe.”
Song Yuhang smiled slightly. “Alright. I’ll make it up to you both another day and treat Xiaowei to a big feast.”
After hanging up, a clear look of disappointment washed over Ji Jingxing’s face. Xiaowei sat on the bench beside her, biting into a popsicle with an innocent look. “Mommy, is Auntie not coming?”
Ji Jingxing turned and rubbed the crown of her soft hair. “Auntie has work and can’t make it. But she said she’ll treat Xiaowei to a big feast some other day.”
The little girl’s eyes lit up. The words “big feast” instantly washed away any sadness of missing her aunt.
She knew her aunt never lied. If she promised a big feast, she would definitely deliver. The only difference was whether they saw each other today or in a few days.
Ji Jingxing smiled. She gathered up the various shopping bags from the bench, which were noticeably heavy. Holding them in both hands, she swayed slightly before finding her footing.
“Come, Xiaowei, hold onto Mommy. Let’s go get pizza.”
By the time Song Yuhang walked back in, her face carried a look of urgency. She did not sit down, instead standing by the bedside. “I have to go.”
Lin Yan drawled, “Off to meet a lover?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. They’ve identified the body. I need to head over.”
At the mention of the case, Lin Yan immediately grew alert, pulling back the blanket to get out of bed. “I’ll go too…”
“Go where? Listen to me, you’re not allowed to go. Lie down and rest.” Song Yuhang pressed her right back down, pulling the blanket up for her. She swept her palm over Lin Yan’s forehead and let out a sigh of relief.
Her fever had finally broken.
“Your fever just broke with great difficulty. Listen to the doctor and stay in bed for another two days.”
“Two days? How can I just lie—cough, cough…” Because she had spoken too quickly, she couldn’t help but cough, bending over in discomfort.
Song Yuhang gently patted her back to soothe her breathing. From behind, it almost looked as if she were holding her in an embrace.
Lin Yan clutched her sleeve. “If… if there is progress… tell me…”
“Don’t worry. Rest here peacefully for two days. Who knows, maybe I’ll have the case solved in two days.”
Even though it was only a comforting remark, Lin Yan’s heart eased. Her grip on Song Yuhang’s hand loosened, and she allowed herself to be gently guided back down onto the bed.
“Goodnight.”
Song Yuhang adjusted the bedside lamp to a comfortable brightness, then left with quiet footsteps, pulling the door shut behind her.
The author has something to say:
Thank you for reading.
Sorry for the late update.
I don’t like stories where the main characters start being all lovey-dovey right from the get-go. Since they start as strangers, there needs to be a process of getting to know each other inside and out. The doubts, testing, and cautious deliberation over every single word, look, and expression that occur during this process are, in my personal opinion, truly beautiful things.
Thank you all once again. I love you.
See you tomorrow.
Cuteeee
GET MARRIED ALREADYYY
i like where this is going (｡-_-｡)
Same hope it will be faster tho
i like where this is going (。-_-。)
Same hope it will be faster tho