Volume One: First Scroll
Facial
“This ‘facial’ you gave me means I won’t need any ‘maintenance’ for months.”
Song Yuhang was already back from the detention center after six in the evening. She spotted Mother Song pacing at the entrance of the Municipal Bureau, carrying a thermal flask. Song Yuhang quickly went up to her, pulled her into a sheltered spot away from the wind, and rubbed her frozen hands.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
Mother Song smiled when she saw her and handed her the thermal flask. “Isn’t it Laba1 today? I made some congee this afternoon and brought it over for you all.”
Not ‘you’ singular, but ‘you all’ plural.
Song Yuhang paused slightly. Mother Song then took out several food containers from her cloth bag and stacked them into her hands as well.
“About my insomnia last time, please thank Yanyan properly for me. I originally thought it wouldn’t be so quick to get in touch, but who knew she’d come for a house call today. I didn’t even have to go downstairs. She prescribed a few doses of Chinese medicine, all pre-packaged and ready. She also gave me her card and told me to go to their hospital for a proper check-up and some physiotherapy when I have time.”
Song Yuhang held the thermal flask in one hand and cradled the food containers in her arms, a faint smile playing on her lips.
It was thoughtful of her to remember this even though they had been arguing those few days. Someone who could make a house call was most likely her own private doctor.
Having delivered the items, Mother Song was ready to leave. She took out a small cloth pouch from her pocket and pulled out a few large bills from a pile of loose change.
“I was thinking, we can’t just take advantage of her for free. Take this and give it to Yanyan.”
Looking at her trembling hand, red from the cold wind, Song Yuhang felt a pang of heartache and pushed the money back.
“Mom, keep this money for yourself. She wouldn’t accept it even if I gave it to her.”
Not only would she not accept it, she might even give her a good beating.
The thought of that scene made Song Yuhang’s teeth ache a little.
Mother Song looked at the expression on her daughter’s face—half sweet, half henpecked—as if she knew Lin Yan’s personality like the back of her hand, and was suddenly bewildered.
“What… What does that mean? Why?”
It was too cold outside. Song Yuhang pushed her inwards. “It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just that our relationship is at a point where giving money would make things awkward.”
“Mom, come in and sit for a bit. I’ll pour you a glass of water to warm you up before you go.”
“Oh, never mind about sitting. It’s not good for family members to go into your workplace…”
Mother Song tried to decline, but Song Yuhang directly pulled her, pushed open the glass door of the lobby, and lifted the thick curtain. A wave of warmth washed over them.
“What’s not good about it? Come sit in my office.”
The two walked along the corridor. People greeted Song Yuhang from time to time, and she nodded in acknowledgment to each of them.
“This is?”
A colleague asked curiously.
Song Yuhang tightened her arm around her mother’s shoulder. “This is my mom.”
“Oh, it’s Auntie! It’s not often you visit. Captain Song, you should show her around properly.”
The speaker was the newly promoted deputy captain, formerly a key member2 of the team, and considered her confidant.
Song Yuhang smiled. “That’s true, it’s her first time here. Have you guys eaten? Want some?”
She shook the food containers in her hand, which clearly looked like they were packed by her mom.
Xue Rui3 quickly refused, “No thanks, we’ve eaten.”
He took two steps and was called back.
“Where’s Forensic Doctor Lin?”
Xue Rui shook his head. He was in his early thirties, with a round face, a bit of a mustache, and a sturdy, thickset build.
“Don’t know. Probably still in the pathology lab. Haven’t seen her come out.”
“Alright, got it. Go on with your work. Notify me immediately if there are any new clues.”
“Yes, sir.” Xue Rui saluted and left.
Mother Song waited until they left before speaking, “Yanyan is this busy?”
On the way to her office, they happened to pass by the laboratory, so Song Yuhang led her mother to watch from outside the door for a while.
“When she’s busy, it’s about the same as me. I do physical labor, while she does all the technical work. There aren’t many people in technical investigation right now, so the bulk4 of it falls on her.”
Looking through the bulletproof glass door, Lin Yan was wearing a white lab coat over her light blue uniform, with gloves on her hands, constantly fiddling with test tubes and instruments.
Everyone was rushing to meet deadlines. She probably holed herself up in the lab right after finishing the autopsy.
Mother Song sighed, “It’s really not easy for her.”
Song Yuhang knew she hadn’t slept well last night and had been busy all day. Her heart softened, and she knocked on the lab’s glass.
Lin Yan turned her head, glanced around, and then focused her gaze on her.
Song Yuhang mouthed words to her. They were a bit far apart, and the glass was soundproof, so Lin Yan frowned.
She thought for a moment, breathed onto the glass, and used her fingertip to write in the condensation: Come out, eat.
Lin Yan understood. Her eyes curved into a smile. When she saw Auntie Song standing next to her, she gave a small wave as a greeting.
Song Yuhang wrote again: Of-fice, wait-ing, for, you.
Lin Yan nodded, signaling them to go first, while she hurried to finish the work at hand.
In the office, Mother Song watched as Song Yuhang carefully took out a bowl from the thermal flask and poured the congee into it. She then covered the rest, afraid it would get cold.
She didn’t touch the other dishes either, just had the congee, waiting for Lin Yan.
Indeed, no one knows a daughter better than her mother. Song Yuhang had never caused her much worry growing up. She followed the conventional path: school, graduation, work. She didn’t have any particularly close friends. Peers her age were long married with children, but she was still single, let alone having a friendship close enough to bring someone home. Her feelings for Lin Yan were definitely somewhat special.
However, Mother Song couldn’t quite pinpoint what was special. After all, such things were outside her realm of understanding. She just vaguely felt that their relationship was a bit too good.
Song Yuhang made her a cup of tea and started looking through some documents while eating her congee.
Mother Song put down her teacup, studied her, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke, “Yuhang, you and Yanyan…”
Before she could finish, there was a knock on the door. Song Yuhang put down her bowl and hurried over to open it.
When she saw her, the end of her words unconsciously lifted with a light, cheerful tone.
“Why so late? You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
“Didn’t get a chance to eat.” With Mother Song present, Lin Yan put on the appearance of a docile little wife with her claws retracted. After greeting her, she sat down next to Song Yuhang, looking slightly reserved.
Mother Song, having been interrupted mid-sentence, had to swallow her words. “It’s good you’re here. Hurry and eat. I made some Laba congee today. I wonder if it suits your taste?”
Song Yuhang helped her pour the remaining congee from the thermal flask into a bowl and also spooned some from her own bowl into Lin Yan’s.
She knew Lin Yan preferred light food and liked soupy things like this.
The Lin family didn’t celebrate Laba. Even during holidays and festivals, the chef would cook, the table would be set with a tablecloth, and the food exquisitely plated—a cold, formal kind of liveliness. You could hear a pin drop at the dinner table; even the clinking of cutlery was a transgression.
Moreover, she wasn’t close to her family. After moving out to live independently, the number of times she returned home could be counted on one hand.
If she lived alone, the chef wouldn’t specifically make Laba congee unless she asked for it. But generally speaking, Lin Yan wasn’t much in the mood for celebrating festivals.
Therefore, Laba congee was a food that only existed for her in cooking shows on TV. Seeing it in person was a bit novel. Lin Yan picked up the bowl and scooped a spoonful.
Mother Song waited somewhat nervously for her feedback.
Lin Yan paused for three seconds, then suddenly broke into a smile, her eyes curving. She didn’t smile often, and even when she did, it was usually a cold, sarcastic, or disdainful smile. Moments like this, where a smile came from the bottom of her heart, were rare. It was as if ice and snow had melted. For a moment, even Song Yuhang was a little captivated.
“Mm, it’s delicious! Thank you, Auntie. I’ve never had Laba congee before. It’s really good. The congee made with glutinous rice is so fragrant and sweet, and you added peanuts, longans, lotus seeds, and shredded dates, right…?”
Mother Song grinned from ear to ear. Song Yuhang had been eating it since childhood and was long tired of it. Besides, she always wolfed down her food5 like a reincarnated hungry ghost6, so how could she possibly list the ingredients?
Old folks love to hear praise too. Hearing that it was Lin Yan’s first time eating it, she couldn’t help but feel a little sad for her.
What kind of life had this child been living in the Lin family?
“Good, good, as long as you like it. Eat up, eat up, it’ll get cold soon. Auntie doesn’t have many other skills, but my cooking is decent—”
After saying that, she shot Song Yuhang a sidelong glance.
“Of course, a certain someone can’t tell good from bad. If you like it, come over to our place on weekends when you’re free and try Auntie’s cooking.”
Could you not belittle me in front of Lin Yan every time? Don’t I need face?
Song Yuhang drew out her words in protest, “Mom—when have I ever not been able to tell? I praise your cooking every time, okay?”
“You praise? Last time, the leftovers in the fridge had gone bad. You came back from your night shift, didn’t even look, and ate it all. Forgot you had diarrhea the next day? In your eyes, there’s no difference between shark fin7 and radish.”
“That was because I was starving…” Song Yuhang’s voice grew softer and softer.
Lin Yan couldn’t help but burst out laughing with a ‘pfft’.
Song Yuhang peeled a clove of pickled sweet garlic and put it in Lin Yan’s bowl. “Try this. My mom pickled it. It’s especially delicious!”
She deliberately emphasized those last words. The two of them were giggling, their gazes mostly glued to each other.
Sitting there, Mother Song surprisingly felt like an outsider, and also a strange sense of familiarity.
Whether it was Song Yuhang’s careful attentiveness towards Lin Yan, or the slight shyness Lin Yan occasionally revealed when their eyes met, it all strongly resembled a newlywed couple.
This feeling was all too familiar to her.
Back then, she and her husband were also like this.
Mother Song’s heart skipped a beat. Just then, someone came in to deliver documents. She put down her teacup and stood up.
“Well, you two get busy. I’ll head back first.”
Song Yuhang quickly stood up. “Mom, let me walk you out.”
Lin Yan also put down her bowl and stood up. “Auntie, it’s cold outside. We’ll take you home in a bit.”
Listen to that, they even spoke in the same rhythm.
Mother Song’s smile was a bit forced. “No need, no need. You two are busy. Hurry and eat. Eating cold food in winter is bad for the stomach. It’s not far, I’ll take the bus back myself.”
With that, she picked up her cloth bag from the sofa and hurriedly walked out.
Lin Yan, holding a spoon in one hand, nudged Song Yuhang, feeling a bit sorry.
“You’re just letting her go back alone like that?”
Song Yuhang smiled and picked up a piece of braised meat for her with chopsticks. “My mom’s still quite healthy. It really is just one bus stop away. Besides—”
Lin Yan’s words had a hidden meaning, and Song Yuhang’s also hinted at something.
“Some things are better shown through actions than words.”
Lin Yan bit her lip. “Aren’t you afraid Auntie won’t be able to handle it?”
Song Yuhang reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair from Lin Yan’s cheek behind her ear. “Compared to my dad’s and my brother’s deaths, what does this count for? I think what she’s more worried about now is what I’ll do without children in the future.”
Last time they had a heart-to-heart at the hospital, Mother Song had mentioned her worry that Song Yuhang would have a desolate old age, with no one by her side to care for her and see her off.
Seeing Lin Yan still looking a bit downcast, Song Yuhang simply pulled her onto her lap.
“Hey? What are you doing? Someone might come in—” Lin Yan struggled.
Song Yuhang tightened her grip around her waist, touched her nose to Lin Yan’s, and whispered, “I locked the door.”
“Even so—” Lin Yan leaned back, avoiding her lips. Song Yuhang chuckled.
“You’re just a rabbit in fox’s clothing. If you really want my mom to feel better, then visit my home more often. It’s clear she really likes you. This Laba congee, in previous years, it would be cold by the time I got home to eat it. When has she ever personally delivered it to me? Isn’t it all because of—”
Song Yuhang tapped her nose. “Your face.”
Only then did Lin Yan purse her lips into a smile. But not wanting Song Yuhang to get too complacent, she quickly straightened her face and tried to get off her lap.
Her squirming, however, made Song Yuhang’s breathing a little unsteady.
Especially with those red lips dangling right before her eyes, and that waist so slender it seemed like one hand could encircle it, as if with a little more force, she could break in her grasp.
Because they were holding each other tight, that softness pressed against her.
How could someone who had just ‘started eating meat’ withstand such teasing? Song Yuhang smacked her lips and spoke close to her ear.
Her hand moved down along her waistline.
“Lin Yan, I think it’s more convenient when you wear a skirt.”
“Song. Yu. Hang.” Lin Yan gritted her teeth, pushing away the head nuzzling her chest. A button had already been bitten open, revealing a large area of marks left from last night.
“You better know when to stop.”
Song Yuhang’s eyes held a hint of innocence as she lowered her voice and pleaded, “Can’t I?”
Lin Yan ground her teeth. Before she could reply, that person not only buried her head but also started using her hands.
Her shirt was pulled into disarray, and several buttons had popped off.
Lin Yan couldn’t bear it anymore. She wanted to slap her, but the sudden movement tugged at her most sensitive nerves.
Her whole body felt a little weak. She propped her hands on Song Yuhang’s shoulders, gasping, “Do you even know where we are right now?”
“Office…” Song Yuhang mumbled indistinctly.
Lin Yan leaned back slightly, but was pulled back again, her waist supported.
“It’s working hours right now… Mmph…”
Perhaps to retaliate, Song Yuhang used a little force. The hands resting on her shoulders instantly lost their strength. Lin Yan’s wrists went limp, and she slumped down.
Song Yuhang took the opportunity to pick her up and place her on the desk.
Lin Yan propped her hands on the desk. This feeling of having nothing to rely on made her a little flustered. She placed her foot on Song Yuhang’s shoulder, wanting to kick her away.
Song Yuhang knelt on one knee. This distance and angle were just right. She caressed Lin Yan’s ankle and took off her shoe.
“It’s okay. Cooperate with me, it’ll be quick…”
The curses Lin Yan was about to blurt out were all stuck in her throat.
She truly lived up to her reputation as a decisive woman of action. In a flash8, she got straight to the point, giving Lin Yan no chance to object.
By the time Lin Yan came back to her senses, the only sound in the room was a soft, gurgling murmur.
She tilted her head back, swallowing, her hand resting on Song Yuhang’s head, fingers sinking deep into her soft hair.
Separated by a door, people were hurrying along the corridor outside, some chatting and laughing.
This feeling was no different from what Song Yuhang had experienced during the meeting that day.
She felt as if she were standing inside a transparent glass dome. People outside couldn’t see in, but she could clearly perceive every subtle change in the outside world.
The more she resisted, the more ashamed she felt, and paradoxically, the easier it became to…
When the phone rang, Lin Yan was startled, her heart feeling as if it had been tightly seized.
This sudden sensation tossed her high into the sky, as if she had bitten into a facing-heaven pepper9, and fireworks exploded in her mind.
Lin Yan’s arms trembled like a sieve. Her other hand, propped on the table, had dug its nails into a nearby newspaper, tearing it.
Her suddenly arched neck created a perfect arc in the air.
Droplets of water trickled down the corner of the desk, drip, drip, drip.
Even the black leather office chair had scattered, splash-like water stains.
Song Yuhang licked the corner of her lips, feeling that it wasn’t quite enough.
Everything returned to silence. Even the phone stopped ringing. Only their breathing could be heard.
Lin Yan’s long lashes fluttered. A blush still lingered on her face, and her arms were so weak she could barely support her own weight.
Song Yuhang picked her up, cleaned her up, straightened her clothes, and wiped the desk clean. Just as she had settled her back onto the sofa to lie down, the phone rang again.
It wasn’t hers, but Lin Yan’s.
Song Yuhang was a little annoyed. “Who is it, calling you repeatedly?”
Almost interrupted important business.
Two consecutive days of high-intensity, vigorous activity had really taken a toll on her, not to mention she had also worked a full day.
Lin Yan didn’t even want to lift her eyelids. She just wanted to sleep and gestured for Song Yuhang to answer it.
Song Yuhang fumbled for it on the coffee table.
“Hello?”
Hearing the voice from the receiver, Lin Ge paused for a moment, seemingly surprised. “Miss Song, why is it you? Where’s Yanyan?”
Song Yuhang glanced at Lin Yan and mouthed: Your brother.
Only then did Lin Yan reluctantly muster some energy. Looking listless, she took the phone from her hand.
“Hello, Lin Ge, it’s me.”
As soon as she spoke, her voice was hoarse. She quickly coughed twice to prevent him from noticing.
Song Yuhang cleared the leftovers from the table and poured her a cup of hot water to soothe her throat.
Lin Yan snuggled in her embrace, sipping the water intermittently. Still holding the paper cup, she rested her head on Song Yuhang’s shoulder, listening to Lin Ge speak.
Song Yuhang gently massaged her head, occasionally kissing her and whispering into her other ear, the one not on the phone.
“Forensic Doctor Lin’s performance just now was truly amazing.”
“This ‘facial’ you gave me means I won’t need any ‘maintenance’ for months.”
She did it on purpose.
She wanted to get revenge for what happened in the conference room, and at the same time, express her extreme dissatisfaction with Lin Ge suddenly calling and disturbing them.
Lin Yan gritted her teeth in annoyance, but inevitably got distracted, so her replies were somewhat absentminded.
On the other end, Lin Ge was silent for three seconds, then said with a heavier tone, “Are you even listening to me?”
Lin Yan pushed Song Yuhang’s head away. “You talk, you talk. I was busy just now…”
Lin Ge took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice suddenly carried a heavy weight. He called her by her nickname, “Yanyan, come home. This might be Mom’s last seventieth birthday. She… was just diagnosed with cervical cancer.”
Lin Yan’s heart skipped a beat. “How could that be—”
Lin Ge’s voice was heavy with unconcealable pain. “Terminal stage. The doctor said they can only try their best to prolong her life.”
Lin Yan closed her eyes. She no longer had any mood to fool around with Song Yuhang and lay still on her shoulder.
“Okay, I understand. I’ll come home this Friday.”
“Alright. You get back to your work then.”
After Lin Ge finished speaking, it seemed a doctor called him, and he hurriedly hung up the phone.
Song Yuhang helped her sit up, noticing her pale face. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Yan told her the truth. “If it weren’t for Aunt, I probably wouldn’t have set foot in the Lin family home again for the rest of my life.”
Song Yuhang squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, I’ll go with you.”
Lin Yan gave a slight tug at the corner of her lips, then buried her head in Song Yuhang’s embrace again, her eyes slightly red-rimmed. “Aunt has always been in good health. How could this…”
Song Yuhang stroked her hair intermittently. “Natural disasters and man-made calamities, birth, aging, sickness, and death—these are all common human experiences.”
It was fine when Lin Ge wasn’t mentioned, but his name vaguely reminded her of something else.
Gao Qiang had once appeared at Lin Ge’s birthday party. Did that also indicate some kind of connection between them? At least, on the surface, their relationship should be pretty good.
Song Yuhang shared this thought with her. Lin Yan shook her head. “I’m not being defensive. You just don’t understand people in the business world. During festivals and holidays, especially birthday banquets, few of the attendees are actual acquaintances. Most are friends of friends, or the illicit lovers, mistresses, or ‘other women/men10‘ brought by friends. Women look for financial backers11 at these occasions, while men hunt for beauties and scout for potential business partners.”
“Whether they’re acquainted or not isn’t important. The host usually won’t kick out these friends of friends. What’s important are connections and relationships. Secondly, it makes the event look good; the more people who come, the more face the host has.”
She and Lin Ge also chatted or called each other every now and then, but she had never heard him mention someone like Gao Qiang.
Song Yuhang didn’t want to suspect Lin Ge either; after all, he was someone close to Lin Yan. But procedures still had to be followed.
“I know…”
Lin Yan cut her off, “I know too. I won’t make things difficult for you. Investigate as you see fit. Just don’t call him to the bureau, and not on my aunt’s birthday. After all…”
Song Yuhang nodded readily. “Alright. Then before that, let’s ask him out for a meal together.”
The two of them had been in the room for a long time. If they didn’t go out and show their faces soon, rumors would probably start spreading outside again.
Lin Yan got off her lap, massaging her lower back. A hint of spring still lingered in the corners of her eyes and brows, clearly showing she was overcome with pleasure.
“I’m going back to the lab.”
Song Yuhang helped her up. “I’ll walk you.”
“Don’t. You stay here. If you walk me back, Fang Xin and the others will see and start gossiping about me again.”
Song Yuhang smiled. “Why are you so timid now? Weren’t you fearless before?”
Lin Yan tilted her head up to button her uniform, only to find that a few buttons were missing, gone who knows where. The marks on her neck couldn’t be covered at all. She suddenly became annoyed. “Give me your jacket. I am fearless, but I don’t want people pointing at my backbone12 saying I’m sucking up to the leader, Captain Song.”
Song Yuhang took her spring and autumn uniform jacket from the hanger and draped it over Lin Yan, buttoning it up for her. “If you ever truly suck up to me, that would be something I could only wish for.”
As they were talking, the landline phone on her desk rang. Song Yuhang went to answer it. Lin Yan had reached the door and was about to leave when she was called back.
Song Yuhang hung up the phone. “No need to go back to the lab. Come with me to the interrogation room.”
LP: Re-translated on June 07, 2025
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