[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Chapter 7: The Trip
Lu Yipeng has been working for five years and has never taken a day off until he has used up all of his available vacation days. This young police officer has never taken a break and almost always works more hours than anyone else, until everyone calls him the diligent officer of the department.
But how many people know that deep down, Lu Yipeng himself also wants to take a break, to relax and unwind like everyone else. The problem is...
...
“Pengpeng, do you want to go to the beach this summer?” Hong Kongque, sitting on the leather chair in the reception room, asked him with a smirk while flipping through a travel magazine in his hand. Lu Yipeng raised his eyebrows, then got up immediately.
“I’m leaving.” The young police officer jumped up, and Hong Kongque sent people to follow him from work, thinking that something else had gone wrong. Who would want to go on a trip with this pervert?
“Why not, Pengpeng, don’t you like the beach? Then how about climbing a mountain with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Lu Yipeng spoke out. He couldn’t leave the room because as soon as he got up, the two tall muscular male servants walked in and blocked his way. The two bodyguards were loyal to their order, but the most terrifying was not these two, but the boss sitting arrogantly on a different chair
Lu Yipeng didn’t want to deal with more trouble, so he reluctantly turned back and sat down as before. He saw Hong Kongque look worried.
“What’s the matter, we’ve known each other for many years, can’t you trust me enough to go on a trip with me again?”
Lu Yipeng looked at him immediately, “Who would trust someone like you.”
Hong Kongque looked sad and spoke softly, “I just want you to take a break. Pengpeng, you have worked hard for many years and looks tired and worn out like a person in his seventies.”
Lu Yipeng wanted to say that it was because of this crazy peafowl that made me look so worn out, but speaking out might not be good and might get me in trouble. Since this doctor is mentally unstable, the young police officer decided to calm down and answer calmly, “I just want to relax at home more.”
As soon as Hong Kongque saw that Pengpeng was about to say something, he quickly spoke up, “Alone, alone. I want to be alone.”
Hong Kongque looked at him for a moment before letting out a sigh of disappointment, “So Pengpeng, you want to be alone again this year. Don’t you want to have someone to accompany you?”
Lu Yipeng narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. It was because Hong Kongque spoke like this every year that his days off were never used. Lu Yipeng was afraid that he would be more exhausted than usual. He would rather work at the office than live with this troublesome guy. Directing traffic and chasing after criminals were more enjoyable than dealing with him.
When Hong Kongque saw the young police officer giving him a hungry look, he pretended to flap his wings like a bird on a wire without anyone playing along. He then took out two pieces of paper.
“I just want you to have a break. Here, it’s a flight ticket and a resort in Phuket for four days and three nights. Booked under your name. Invite whoever you want to go with. I will give it to you.”
Lu Yipeng looked at the two tickets that were handed to him for a long time, until he heard another person speak up, “Take it. It’s not poisoned, is it?”
That’s when the young police officer reached out and took it, finding that both tickets were indeed in his name. This time, Lu Yipeng raised his head and looked at Hong Kongque with unexpected feelings.
“What are you planning this time?”
“Nothing. This time, I’m being serious.” Hong Kongque said, “I just want you to have a break. Being bothered by me for four years must be exhausting for you. Go on, go with a friend or a partner if you have one. If you do.”
Lu Yipeng made a face before handing back the tickets, “I am returning them to you. I appreciate your kindness.”
“Pengpeng.” Hong Kongque called out sternly, “When an elder gives you something, you should accept it. It’s common courtesy, no one taught you that? Honor student my foot.”
Lu Yipeng looked at him before reluctantly grabbing the two tickets and putting them in his pocket. This time, Hong Kongque spoke up again, “Pengpeng, take the gift and take care of it. Otherwise, I’ll cut off your finger, so you won’t do anything stupid again.”
Lu Yipeng grumbled before nodding, then calmly slipped the two tickets into his shirt pocket. Hong Kongque smiled.
“Do not throw them away. I want you to go on a trip, relax a bit. There is a luxurious resort there. They offer relaxing massage services. If you want to know more details, open the website that I wrote for you. Otherwise, I’ll think that I deceived you again.”
Lu Yipeng glanced at the person in front of him for a moment, then replied, “It’s not like you booked adjacent rooms again, is it?”
Hong Kong chuckled, “Hey, the rooms are separate. One behind the other, they look far apart, only you and the person you invite will be there. If you don’t believe it, go check it out for yourself. Call and ask. Oh, and don’t think I will impersonate a server or anything like that again, or I’ll cut that pretty head of yours, wash your brain, and put it back in, so you won’t think of anything strange. Haha.”
Lu Yipeng glared at the person in front of him for a moment before finally speaking up, “I’m not crazy to think like that. Don’t do anything and now, can I go back?”
“Go ahead, have fun relaxing.” Hong Kong said and waved his hands on both sides, Lu Yipeng looked at him for a moment and then got up, walked out, pondering what that cunningly planning bird was up to. It’s not like he wants to bother him, but why does a guy like him have to bother him?
Thinking about it, he didn’t really understand…
…
Lu Yipeng returned home, telling himself that Hong Kongque probably had some plan hidden. Those two tickets must have something hidden for sure. Tomorrow, he would have to send them to the evidence team, but when he picked them up, he saw the name of the resort, the address, and the website, the young detective just couldn’t resist verifying Hong Kongque’s words by himself, so he opened his computer and typed the website address.
This time, that cunning peafowl is probably telling the truth...
Lu Yipeng clicked on the details one by one, both the flight tickets and the hotel room were under his name. However, the young detective still thought there might be something hidden in this story. Tomorrow, he would have the evidence team find all the details, just in case there was something unexpected.
How trustworthy is the red peafowl?
With four years of experience with that guy, he should know better than anyone.
Even so, let him check all the details he can find before making any judgment.
Lu Yipeng clicked on the details of the resort for another while. It’s a luxurious five-star resort. It has a private swimming pool. It has a spa. It offers relaxing massage services. It has a private beach for swimming. There are sea activities like snorkeling or sailing to choose from. Just paying for one night’s stay could cost him almost a month’s salary. It is a vacation that looks so good it’s hard to believe for him, a real level mountain policeman. How many more years will it take him to save money to travel at this level?
Before he realized it was late, Lu Yipeng wanted to slap himself for real. He had been fooled by Hong Kongque again. Tomorrow at the evidence collection department, he might encounter something unpleasant about this trip. He should hurry to bed and prepare to handle it better.
But the private swimming pool in the room and the private beach are also interesting, as he won’t have to worry about leg scars. It’s been years since he traveled to the sea... If this time...
...
“Inspector Lu, the plane tickets and the accommodation you sent me to check. I’ve checked everything.” A forensic department officer walked into Lu Yipeng’s office, before handing him two tickets inside a plastic envelope, and continued, “Where did you get this luxury tour from, your elder relative or what? Or did someone buy it for you so you can go together?”
“Um... it’s just mutual acquaintances. It has nothing to do with the case.” Lu Yipeng answered as the other person looked puzzled, “But you brought it for me to check,so you were thinking it’s another fraudulent case.”
“I thought it looked too good and was afraid of being scammed.” The young policeman replied, and the officer chuckled, “Don’t you trust your elder relative or are you scared? The work of the police makes you suspect everyone, just like me, but don’t worry, this ticket is genuine, and the hotel is in your name. Enjoy your trip, inspector. Your elder relative is really kind. He must like you very much.”
Lu Yipeng chuckled before speaking, “Do you want to go?”
The person being asked looked surprised, “Are you kidding or what? This ticket is in your name. Your relative probably wouldn’t be pleased if you give it to someone else, but if you want to invite me, my wife definitely won’t allow it to happen. Inspector, try inviting someone else, but as an inspector, you probably already have someone in mind anyway. Playing with me like this I might really want to go eventually and you’ll have a hard time.”
Lu Yipeng chuckled dryly, “Sorry, but thank you very much.”
“Well, then go ahead, inspector. Have a fun trip.”
Lu Yipeng waved his hand before grabbing the two tickets to look at. He felt embarrassed to have dreamt last night that he had gone on a vacation by the sea, surrounded by girls on all sides.
Such a day off in his dream.
The young police officer let out a big sigh. After inspecting things this big this time, he could sympathize with him a bit. Lu Yipeng began to think about the list of people he would invite to go with him, just then Duan Feng appeared.
“What are you doing here, Inspector?You have a big smile on your face.”
Lu Yipeng smiled and looked at the tickets in his hand, then raised his head to look at the younger man. “Captain Duan, I just got plane tickets and a free stay in Phuket from an elderly relative.” Just thinking about having to call Hong Kongque as an “elder relative” made Lu Yipeng cringe, but if he didn't give him a name, it would be even worse.
“Would you be interested in going with me?”
“What kind of resort in Phuket, Inspector?”
Lu Yipeng explained the details briefly, and the person listening had widened eyes. “Wow... sounds great. I'm gonna check my schedule for a day off.”
Duan Feng went to his desk for a moment and then returned with a disappointed look. “Inspector, I've used up all my vacation days this year, because I got caught flirting with a girl.”
Lu Yipeng looked a bit annoyed before smiling, “You took so many days off, didn't you?”
“And I didn't even succeed in courting her. That's what really got me down.” Duan Feng said. “I'm sorry, Inspector. I'm really unlucky. You should invite someone else to the resort with you. Unfortunately, I have to work for another ten years to afford such a luxurious spa resort. It's a shame.”
Duan Feng walked off in annoyance towards his desk, making Lu Yipeng unable to hold back a chuckle. After that, he had to deal with the problem of who to invite as a friend for this luxurious vacation.
...
“Maowei.”
“Hey, Yipeng, is there something else this time? Did the peafowl cause you harm?” YuMaowei greeted Lu Yipeng with a lively voice, almost causing Lu Yipeng to choke on his saliva, “Oh, no. It turned out well.”
“This is not just because you got demoted from the inspector position, then you are asking for herbs to burn so you can get the position back.” Lu Yipeng quickly rejected, “No, it’s just that someone gave me two tickets to Phuket with free accommodation, see that you used to complain about not going, so I called to invite you.”
“Oh, I really love you Yipeng, inviting friends before inviting your girlfriend, very nice.” Yu Maowei said. Then they heard a muffled sound from behind, silent for a while, and then continued the conversation, “Oh no, I probably can’t go, my father is furious, probably male menopause or something… because he forced me to memorize three hundred types of medicine this week... Ouch! I know dad, I am talking to a friend.” Yu Maowei turned around and then turned back to the phone, “Just like this for now, my father seems to be in a bad mood, ask someone else, maybe Qing Li can go. You guys used to date, right? Oh my! I’ll hang up now.”
Yu Maowei hung up the phone with a sigh, leaving Lu Yipeng feeling confused and trying to find a friend to go on this trip together…
Who else is there?
…
“Hey, Yipeng, not taking a summer break this year?” Chen Qian greeted as he walked past Lu Yipeng’s work desk. After inspecting some case files in the next room, Lu Yipeng smiled dryly.
“I would like to take a break, but I can’t find anyone to go with.”
Chen Qian raised an eyebrow before chuckling, “Because you’re always busy working, until you don’t look at anyone in particular. Why don’t you try going alone, maybe you’ll meet someone special.”
“Um.. that’s true.” Lu Yipeng scratched his head, “Thank you so much, Vice Captain Chen.”
“No problem.” Chen Qian said, “Make a decision quickly, don’t miss the deadline for taking a leave.”
“I understand.”
But even after work, Lu Yipeng still couldn’t find anyone to go with. If he were to go alone as Chen Qian suggested, there would still be some concerns. Phuket was not a city he had visited much before, and Thai language could be an issue. He needed someone to go with.
Lu Yipeng drove back home, took a shower, changed his clothes, and then sat down to write a leave request for a summer break. After finishing it, he still couldn’t decide who to invite. Those he thought could go together couldn’t go, and that ticket was just teasing him too much. He just wanted to go for a massage, relax in the water and unwind. After working diligently for years...
Should I return the tickets?...
But when he thought of the expression of a person always ready to kill, Hong Kongque, when he presented himself, Lu Yipeng had to overturn his thoughts. Damn it. Why is someone like him so unlucky? He had two tickets ready to stay at a resort for free, and could invite anyone. Still, he couldn’t invite anyone. What sin did his life commit?
Lu Yipeng sat and thought until late. Still, I couldn't think of how to deal with his own life and these two tickets. The ticket was already written. I want to go on a trip, but I have no one to go with as a friend.
Or did Hong Kongque plan this from the beginning and give the tickets so closely?!
The young police officer quickly made up his mind. Well, better to plan ahead this time.
Not sure this time. He could have solid evidence to drag that peafowl to the lockup.
...
Hong Kongque was having fun throwing mango seeds for Paechikchik to catch. Just as Lu Yipeng opened the door. When he saw the face of the young police officer, that bird panicked and called out immediately, “Pengpeng.”
Lu Yipeng had to smile at the bird before speaking when the bird’s owner looked back, “Hey, Pengpeng, want to take me out for a vacation or what?”
“Not really...” Lu Yipeng said, before looking at the person in front of him with a serious face, “Are you free this time?”
“Why? If you need help, then I can be free.” Hong Kongque said, throwing a mango seed for Paechikchik, who was perched on a pole two meters away. The white-feathered cuckoo bird caught it with precision, impressing Lu Yipeng who looked amazed at the bird’s abilities.
“Pengpeng, can you try it?” Hong Kongque turned and said, but Lu Yipeng immediately brushed off the mango seed, “I’m not a bird!”
The person being teased chuckled, pleased, before turning his chair back to face him clearly, “Is there anything else you need, Inspector-Lu?”
Lu Yipeng admitted that he really struggled when facing Kongque. His authentic and serious demeanor made it clear that he was being pushed to his limits. However, with a plan already in place, he had to stick to it as closely as possible.
“Kongque, I invite you to go on a vacation with me.”
The room fell silent as soon as the sentence ended. Hong Kongque, sitting there, looked at him with a piercing gaze as if they had never met before. Lu Yipeng mentally prepared himself, knowing that this was just another attempt to unsettle him, just like every time before. The young man nervously continued.
“I rarely get a chance to relax when I see you around. Let’s take this opportunity to unwind together.”
“Squall! Squall!” The bird that had been perched on the corner suddenly cried out, before flying around Lu Yipeng’s head and chanting, “Storm is coming, storm is coming.”
“Storm is coming!” Hong Kongque, who had been sitting quietly, spoke out and banged the table, “Who will go and see if today’s weather is hot or dusty?!”
Lu Yipeng was fed up and just wanted to grab both the bird and its owner and strangle them to end their annoying antics once and for all. He let out a sigh, trying to keep his composure, “It’s hot, how can there be a storm?!”
“Nowadays, the world is unpredictable. Anything can happen.” Hong Kongque replied in a serious tone, almost like a science teacher, “If you can invite me to go on a vacation, then the storm may indeed be approaching the hot zone.”
Lu Yipeng’s face went through various shades of green and red, alternating between looking calm and flustered. The main reason for this emotional turmoil was likely the pent-up frustration from not being able to vent his anger towards the person right in front of him.
Clenching his teeth, he remembered being rebutted in a similar way once before. Lu Yipeng released some of the built-up tension and tried to coax Hong Kongque.
“The ticket you provided me with is precisely timed. Anyone would struggle to adjust in such a short notice. Going alone wouldn’t be worth it, and searching elsewhere would likely only lead me back to you.”
The truth was that Lu Yipeng was quite confident that Hong Kongque had planned to invite him on a trip with him and engineered this whole thing knowing this would be the outcome. Even though he had graciously bought him two free tickets, which would make Lu Yipeng usually quite confident, he had learned his lesson twice before that Hong Kongque could easily be swayed by anything. Not even he himself could predict that the guy’s plan would be so easily understood. It had to be unraveled layer by layer, but surely the guy would one day become entangled in his own plans. It was not certain whether it would be today or not, but it had come to this point. He would do his best for his skills.
Hong Kongque raised his eyebrows slightly before letting out a sigh. Paechikchik, who was flying around, flew back to the same island as before. He tilted his head and looked at himself.
“Pengpeng, you are to be pitied, truly.” Hong Kongque said, with a troubled look on his face, “To want to go on a trip so badly that you had to muster up the courage to invite me...” He said before sighing again. Lu Yipeng wanted to respond truthfully that he had been inviting him for three or four years, and now that he had finally accepted, he was acting aloof again. What did he intend to do?
“I’m not so desperate.” Lu Yipeng tried to maintain a calm facade, “You usually like holding my hand, so I don’t really want to go with you.”
“Oh...” Hong Kongque sighed long, then glared at him, “So you couldn’t find anyone else and just thought of me at the last minute?”
“It’s more like that.” Lu Yipeng reluctantly admitted. He knew he had to manipulate this hummingbird of a man with various emotions, “I thought about it, and it seems like you’re the only one who could go with me.”
Hong Kongque chuckled at this, so loud that even Paechikchik was startled. Lu Yipeng himself braced himself as well.
“Pengepeng, do you really want me to go with you, or do you have another plan in mind?”
Lu Yipeng looked at him and tried to compose himself before responding fully, “I do want you to go with me, really. I figure that with you, I won’t have to worry about the Red Peafowl’s behavior.”
Hong Kongque chuckled with delight, “I also want to go on a vacation with you, just us two.” He looked at the person sitting in the chair before tilting his head and smiling at the person standing. Lu Yipeng’s heart raced. Finally, that stubborn bird of a man would agree with him. After a moment, Hong Kongque let out a relieved sigh.
“Unfortunately, I have to fly to attend a stock meeting in America tomorrow. I probably won’t be able to go. How about this, let Little Zhi go instead. He probably won’t mind, right, Little Zhi?”
Little Zhi, or Luo Songzhi as he stood guard with his arms crossed, calmly replied, “No problem, sir.”
Lu Yipeng blinked his eyes thoughtfully, not expecting this turn of events. It seemed that Hong Kongque was not actually going on a trip with him after all.
The young detective turned to look at Lup Songzhi, who was indeed sincere. They had worked together once before, and Luo Songzhi was not a bad person despite his large stature. He had a scar on his face and a voice like a hoarse horse, but asking Lu Songzhi about Hong Kongque’s secrets... that was another matter. Where had that traitorous Kongque revealed secrets to others? And each of his servants was loyal and devoted, as if programmed to be so.
Truly crazy!
“Okay, it’s settled then, no problem, Inspector.” Hong Kongque said before continuing, “Wait for me at the airport tomorrow, and I’ll have Luo Songzhi drive you. Oh, and you won’t have to go through customs to check my bags because I’ll be flying before you.”
Lu Yipeng raised his head to look at Hong Kongque before blinking his eyes thoughtfully, as if about to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
Well, at least Luo Songzhi was more trustworthy than his boss. No telling if this time he might just wheedle some important information out.
…
Lu Yipeng looked down at his watch. He was standing at the airport, waiting for Luo Songzhi to arrive eagerly. In all honesty, he wanted to have a chat with his trip companion before embarking, to get to know each other better. Although he had other plans for the trip, going on a vacation together with someone he wasn’t close with was indeed strange.
While contemplating calming himself down. Finally, he might actually get some real relaxation. Yes, because that guy had a quiet nature. He didn’t usually involve himself with anyone. Then the voice of someone became louder.
“Inspector Lu.”
Lu Yipeng turned to look and almost smiled, but quickly changed his expression to a puzzled one, “Oh, where are you flying out before me?”
“There is a storm in America.” Hong Kongque said. He was dressed in a dark red suit over a light gray shirt, wearing black glasses, with a number of followers behind him, “Because you of course.”
Lu Yipeng frowned before continuing, “I’m sorry, but I wonder if heaven wants you to go with me instead.”
Hong Kongque just cleared his throat, “I suppose heaven would pity poor Little Zhi if I let you two go together again. Coming back this time you might not have all of your body parts complete.”
Lu Yipeng gritted his teeth, wondering when Hong Kongque would stop teasing him, “I drive a car more easily than riding a motorbike like you.”
“Oh... well then.” Hong Kongque dragged his voice, “But I never took you to crash then and now.”
The young police officer nodded, “Alright, Kongque, so are you going to go with me?”
“Yes.” Hong Kongque nodded, “I pity poor Little Zhi, the innocent guy who couldn’t handle the mischievous person like you Pengpeng, but I’m afraid if I let you go alone, you’ll get lost and cry over there again, then it will be troublesome for me.”
Lu Yipeng tried to smile as broadly as he could, “Well, hope you won’t do anything strange or sneaky over there. I’m too lazy to explain to others that I’m taking you on a trip.”
“Very well said.” Hong Kongque said, smiling at the corner of his mouth, “Call me Grandpa Kong.”
“What?!” Lu Yipeng exclaimed, raising his eyebrows, looking at his hands crossed with a serious face, “I said call me Grandpa Kong… Can’t you hear? You are like a kid who doesn’t know how to respect adults.”
Lu Yipeng pouted for a moment. He managed to pull himself together, “Are you crazy? How can you be my grandpa?”
Hong Kongque chuckled, then grabbed Lu Yipeng’s chin, “Let’s check-in, Little Pengpeng, if you slow down you will miss the flight, I won’t carry you on my back and run after the plane.”
Lu Yipeng glared at him before turning his face away, walking briskly towards the check-in counter, followed by Hong Kongque, who chuckled good-naturedly before following along, with his underlings helping to carry the luggage.
...
Before this, when writing about Mister Paitoon, I thought that Khun Paitoon was already a skilled and elegant leader. But when Hong Kongque entered, Khun Paitoon immediately got pushed out with him, saying that our grandfather Que is more important than the elegant leader. He pulled his tail and wobbled his wings, waiting for Pengpeng to come and beg (?). In summary, this pair seems to be a bit slippery together, right?!
Chapter 8: Grandpa Kong
The resort booked in the name of Lu Yipeng had a car waiting to pick him up at the airport. But before that, Lu Yipeng had to serve as Hong Kongque’s bag boy, which he couldn’t avoid.
“Little Pengpeng, lift the bag a little for me.” Hong Kongque said, leaning against the bag and casually placing it in front of Lu Yipeng, who had just taken his own bag from the conveyor belt.
“You have hands, lift it yourself.”
Hong Kongque turned to him with a disapproving look, even though his hands were still on the bag, “Little Pengpeng, your heart is too kind to let the bag be lifted by someone else. What if Grandpa Kong breaks a bone carrying such a heavy bag? People will think you are not taking good care of me.”
Lu Yipeng glanced at Hong Kongque, “Why do I suddenly feel that you have aged overnight? Normally, I see you as a twenty-year-old.”
“That one, Pengpeng.” Hong Kongque said without adding more, but pointed at the big brown-red travel bag passing in front of Lu Yipeng. Lu Yipeng hesitated for a moment before reluctantly reaching out to lift it up.
“There you go.” Lu Yipeng grunted before hoisting the bag in person who was leaning against the bag. The bag was heavy and cumbersome, which made Hong Kongque grunt, “Please deliver it neatly.” He said. He then took a small step forward, lifted the bag and placed it beside him.
“Did you put a rock in there?” Lu Yipeng joked, because the size and weight were not like a bag for a single person traveling for just two or three days.
Hong Kongque did not respond, but instead floated some words out, “Little Pengpeng, you are just a young age, yet you are already complaining about carrying heavy bags like this. Why are you whiny, unlike a top student in the police cadet honor class?”
Lu Yipeng scoffed in response, “I may be a top student. It’s not my responsibility to carry your bag for you.”
“Hmm... speaking dryly, but with a truly sincere heart.” Hong Kongque said, with a disappointed expression. Then, he exerted force to kick the bag towards Lu Yipeng immediately.
“Kongque!” Lu Yipeng exclaimed and quickly used his hand to stop the bag before stepping back, leaving Hong Kongque looking disappointed, “What now, Little Pengpeng, you near fall with just this? What did your self-defense class teach you?”
Lu Yipeng really wanted to throw the bag at Hong Kongque’s head for real, “I’m sorry I’m not as skilled a kungfu master like you.”
Hong Kongque chuckled lightly, “Pengpeng, if you are willing to beg and plead nicely, this old man might just teach you.”
Lu Yipeng glanced at the person chuckling before grabbing both bags and walking away quickly.
---
The luxury resort booked was even more luxurious than in the photos. It had an ambiance of privacy, resembling a home in itself. Lu Yipeng had forgotten all his previous frustrations as he entered the room and saw the clear glass wall with a view of the emerald green sea. In front was a sea-view pavilion, followed by a small private swimming pool. As he walked further, he found a bedroom with a glass wall providing a view of the sea as well, and a bathroom with a transparent glass shower.
“Wow...” Lu Yipeng exclaimed excitedly. He opened the glass door, feeling the sea breeze and the salty mist coming in. As he turned to go back in, he saw Hong Kongque sitting tiredly on the long sofa in the living room, looking weary and worn out even though he hadn’t done anything at all.
“Kongque. Have you been here before?” Lu Yipeng asked when he saw the person lying down with a tired expression, as if they had visited often but didn’t seem familiar. Hong Kongque shook his head, “No, this is my first time.”
This time, the young police officer frowned immediately, “Then why do you look so indifferent?”
“Should I run around and dance in circles for you, then.” Hong Kongque retorted, l Lu Yipeng looked at him for a moment before deciding to immerse himself in the good atmosphere and forget about the annoying bird for a while. The young man then walked outside and gazed down at the sea, where the waves shimmered under the sun’s reflection.
Standing for a while, Hong Kongque walked in with two glasses of wine in hand. I don’t know when he ordered them. When Lu Yipeng turned around, he saw him holding them. Hong Kongque quietly handed the wine glasses to the young police officer before leaning against the railing of the pavilion and sipping the wine in the glass.
Lu Yipeng just noticed that Hong Kongque had taken off his suit jacket. Not only did he let the shirt hang out of his pants, but he also unbuttoned the shirt until he revealed the white chest inside. He stared for a while, not knowing how long. He realized when Hong Kongque raised his head and asked, “What’s up?”
“Nothing.” Lu Yipeng quickly denied and looked away immediately. He told himself that this was not the first time he had been with this guy, but he never easily fell for his charm.
Was Hong Kongque hitting on him?!
Apart from flirting shamelessly, Lu Yipeng never thought that Hong Kongque could hit on him in another way. Indeed, every time something happened between them, Hong Kongque was the one who initiated it. He was always the one who matched their emotions and it seemed like this was the first time that side showed such a gesture in front of him. Hong Kongque never unbuttoned his own shirt or showed such a vulnerable posture...
When Lu Yipeng turned his face away, Hong Kongque had already walked out of the room. He was in a bathrobe. Then he slowly took it off, revealing a red peacock tattoo on his back, showing up clearly and vividly, Lu Yipeng sighed for a moment. When the peacock disappeared into the water, he sighed in relief.
This was the first time Lu Yipeng had the chance to see Hong Kongque bathing so clearly. Hong Kongque was not too thin nor too bulky. He had a proportionate and beautiful muscular body. When he moved in the water, it seemed to bring that red peacock tattoo to life.
Water droplets clinging to his body, reflecting the sunlight as it slowly descended, created a strangely enchanting image. Hong Kongque leaned against the edge of the pool, letting the water drip from the tips of his hair before raising his head to look at the person standing on the pavilion, and giving a slight smile at the corner of his lips.
Lu Yipeng blushed and escaped immediately. He could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
Oh my, just a peacock swimming in the water!
The young police officer was hesitant to describe his feelings before hearing the sound of water again. As he turned back, he saw the red peacock emerge from the water.
…
The red wine in Lu Yipeng’s glass was not as diminished as much. He hesitated to touch it again, probably afraid of being drugged as before. However, Hong Kongque had already finished his third glass. He half-sat, half-lay comfortably on the long chair. Wearing a bathrobe, he lazily unbuttoned his shirt until his chest and upper abdomen muscles were visible. Slightly pale soft skin seemed ready to emerge from the folds shirt.
Hong Kongque swirled the wine in the glass, lifted it slightly to his nose, then sipped it down. His face darkened slightly, as the sunlight gradually weakened. He heard the seabirds singing the farewell evening song, welcoming the dark night that was about to come.
Hong Kongque’s dark, sparkling eyes were like eternity, like onyx. Whenever he looked up, Lu Yipeng felt his heart skip a beat. Normally, when they were together, just the two of them... No, even with other people around, in their own world, Hong Kongque would use his eyes to caress him. Otherwise, he would be unnerving and talkative, focusing on them, touching his body and mind repeatedly. But now, Hong Kongque said nothing, not even looking directly into his eyes. Just glancing occasionally. That alone made Lu Yipeng feel more restless than ever before. Finally, the young man placed the wine glass down and walked back to the room.
Lu Yipeng reappeared in his swimwear, ready to jump into the pool, thinking that the water might calm him down. Meanwhile, Hong Kongque stood on the balcony of the pavilion. His dark eyes were staring at him, accompanied by a sly smile at the corner of his mouth. Both looked at each other like that for a while. After a moment, Hong Kongque moved, walked into the pavilion. Lu Yipeng followed suit. Then he smelled the delicious food.
…
The food at the resort was not bad, but Lu Yipeng thought he might be suffering from a nervous breakdown because instead of looking at the food, his eyes wandered to the slender legs and the hint of chest under Hong Kongque’s bathrobe. Or maybe there was something in this food?
At the same time, Hong Kongque, who normally had to look at him with a critical eye, sat quietly and neatly ate, as if he had become a different person. Although Lu Yipeng was also wearing a bathrobe and eating like him, maybe in this food...
At last, the young policeman couldn’t resist and had to speak out, “What did you put in the food, Kongque?”
Hong Kongque raised his eyebrows and looked at him with curiosity before responding, “Oh, Pengpeng, you feel your heart beating faster than usual, don't you?”
Lu Yipeng squinted at the man in front of him before quickly speaking up, “No. I was just wondering, usually a pervert like you who stare at me like you do end up trying to harm me. Why did you sit so calmly today? I suspect there might be some kind of medication in the food.”
Hong Kongque chuckled, “Maybe it’s a good medicine after all. Normally, you like to avoid me at all costs, but today you keep staring. I thought I’d let you stare a bit. If I look back at you, you might be less startled and run away again.”
Lu Yipeng’s face turned red immediately, but he still resisted speaking further, “I was just wondering. How much did you pay for the complete plastic surgery?”
Hong Kongque smirked, “Don’t be like that, Pengpeng. You’re making excuses. Don’t try to accuse others like this. You should know better than anyone that I’m sincere. Do you believe me or not?”
He finished speaking and smiled mischievously, causing Lu Yipeng to clench his teeth, not knowing how to respond. Finally, he bowed his head and looked at the empty plate, hearing Hong Kongque chuckling in the background.
They ate in silence until Hong Kongque finished his meal, then he handed Lu Yipeng the plate to stack together as usual. He then went out to enjoy the breeze at the small gazebo in front, leaving Lu Yipeng waiting alone, thinking about what to do next.
Hong Kongque returned with a puzzled look on his face before smiling. As the young policeman walked over to stand beside him, the wind blew his shirt, revealing a smooth white shoulder. Lu Yipeng recalled the color of his skin this year. How many times had he actually touched Hong Kongque’s body? Very few times, really.
“Not drinking wine after dinner, huh?” Lu Yipeng asked, breaking the silence, as he felt that the quiet atmosphere was becoming too tense.
“Just a little sip.” The other person answered. Lu Yipeng stood staring for a while before walking back into the room, and returned with two glasses of wine.
“I didn’t put anything in it.” Lu Yipeng continued, seeing Hong Kongque staring at him without blinking. The latter smiled, and then replied, “So you didn’t prepare some nerve-calming potion to make me confess, did you?”
Lu Yipeng locked eyes with him immediately, “I don’t use dirty tricks like you do.”
The listener chuckled, pleased, “You think planning to deceive me is not harmful?”
Lu Yipeng wanted to jump and bite Hong Kongque for real. How can someone who plans to harm others not realize he is not any different himself!
“Kongque.” Standing up to receive some air, Lu Yipeng spoke again, “Why do you call yourself Hong Kongque?”
“Why not? Sounds good, doesn’t it?” Hong Kongque asked back, closing his eyes in a patient and restrained manner, “I’m asking you nicely. Can you answer nicely too?”
A throaty chuckle was heard, “I like it.”
Lu Yipeng raised his hand to stroke his face, hoping for a good answer. Dealing with this nerve-wracking bird was really difficult.
“Kongque, has the red peafowl on your back been there for a long time?”
“Long before you were born.” Hong Kongque replied, then asked back, “Why, want to have one?”
The person standing next shook his head, “How old were you when you got tattooed?”
“I won’t tell. Otherwise, you’ll have to call me ‘Grandpa Kong’.” Hong Kongque said, as Lu Yipeng turned to him immediately, “I don’t want to be called ‘elder’ like you.”
“What’s wrong with being called ‘elder’ like me?” Hong Kongque asked back immediately, and leaned in close to Lu Yipeng, staring at his face for a moment before speaking out, “The problem lies with you being the one called ‘the elder’.”
Hong Kongque chuckled in satisfaction before shifting his face to dodge the hand of Lu Yipeng that was reaching out. After they both sipped their wine for a while, Hong Kongque spoke again.
“Little Pengpeng, this elder is ready to bathe. Come and scrub my back.”
Lu Yipeng looked as if he was staring straight at someone as if he was about to strangle them, but before he could say anything, Hong Kongque chuckled and walked away into the room.
…
The jacuzzi bathtub was positioned outside the room, partially covered and somewhat open to the elements. It could be considered semi-exposed, as the front was facing the sea, and the sides were shielded by walls and trees. Even though it was semi-exposed, there was no need to worry about anyone peeking.
Hong Kongque was lying in the bathtub, wearing his swim trunks. He rested his arms on the edge of the tub and supported his chin. He had his back turned out, intending to show off the tattoo on his back with a colorful peacock. When he saw Lu Yipeng walking in, he called out, “Little Pengpeng, finally you are here. Rub my back please.”
Lu Yipeng raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the figure lying in the tub for a moment before speaking, “You said you didn’t like anyone looking at the tattoo on your back.”
“Um.” Hong Kongque cleared his throat and smiled at the corner of his mouth, “There’s nobody here who can look.”
Lu Yipeng stood staring at Hong Kongque, while the other person seemed unfazed. The young police officer thought about seizing this opportunity to investigate the belongings of the Peafowl man, hoping to find something illegal. However, the room and the bathtub were visible from each other, and Hong Kongque left all his belongings in plain sight. No matter how much he wanted to investigate, the opportunity was not right. So Lu Yipeng thought it would be best to ask Hong Kongque first.
“Pengpeng.” called Hong Kongque again when he saw the other person standing still, “Standing there like that, aren’t you feeling cold? If you don't use it often it will rust.”
“That’s you, take care of yourself, you have a long lifespan, be careful if you do not hold back and overuse it.” Lu Yipeng responded immediately, the person being chided chuckled softly, “Pengpeng, are you worried about me? Then come down and rub on my back a little.”
Lu Yipeng continued to stand there stubbornly until Hong Kongque bathed comfortably. He then spoke up, “Take care of rubbing my back. Sometimes you might hear something interesting. It’s possible.”
“What is it?” Lu Yipeng asked immediately. Hong Kongque smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth and continued, “I don’t know, my back is sore, so I can’t think of anything. Maybe after the backrub I might think of something.”
Just a moment ago he motioned for a rub on his back, now he is egging me on!
Lu Yipeng stood squatting in one corner. He took a step into the tub. It’s not certain whether he was captivated by the red peacock, he might be able to ask something or not. He no longer played tough with the guy because trying to softly massage could have an effect.
The young policeman removed his bathrobe and stepped into the tub. The soft colored light drove the red peacock even redder. As he stepped into the tub, Lu Yipeng leaned against Hong Kongque, as the tub was not very wide. As the two men, not small in size, soaked together, their skin touched automatically. Hong Kongque turned his face to look at him, then moaned in his throat, “Um... Pengpeng.”
Lu Yipeng moved closer, hearing the loud water sound, and then reached out to massage the red peacock on the back. Hong Kongque nodded, and closed his eyes with satisfaction.
After massaging for a while, Lu Yipeng leaned close to the person sleeping with closed eyes and whispered, “Kongque. Do you have any siblings?”
The young police officer thought to wait for the guy to speak first. He was not certain if Hong Kongque would fall asleep during the massage, or spill something that annoys him. So to keep questioning would be better.
The person being asked raised their eyes before speaking, “I used to, but actually, they are not true siblings.”
“Huh?” Lu Yipeng raised an eyebrow in surprise. Hong Kongque continued, “Many kids have no parents, but trying to ask for my history, is a low even for you inspector, I don’t know my own early life history. How would you know?”
Lu Yipeng was stunned for a moment. Hong Kongque was an orphan? Then the siblings were probably foster siblings. Just as he was about to ask further, he saw the glance that he understood before and quickly changed the subject, “No. I just noticed that you’re alone all this time.”
Hong Kongque smiled at the corner of his mouth, “Then Inspector Lu, you are my friend.”
Lu Yipeng looked puzzled and tried to chuckle, “No, I’m a police officer.”
The black eyes glared at him seductively, “Not sure, move in with me, maybe you can find evidence to catch me faster. Are you interested or not?”
“Do you want me to arrest you or what?” Lu Yipeng replied while backing off. Hong Kongque smiled again, then replied, “I like you Inspector Lu. I might want to be caught by you.” And finished speaking while lifting his chin challengingly. The young policeman gritted his teeth and responded.
“Then let me arrest you tonight.” Lu Yipeng said, moving closer and making a gesture as if he was really going to grab Hong Kongque. The person being threatened raised their face up, smiling slyly as they looked into his eyes, “What charge are you going to arrest me for?”
Lu Yipeng did not answer. He just realized that he had moved in too close. As Hong Kongque turned his face, their noses almost touched. Without knowing why, they both felt a strange sensation. Hong Kongque’s arm wrapped around his neck, pulling his head closer. The strong and deep passionate kiss continued, almost leaving no space for air to pass between them. Both sides pressed their lips together as if they were trying to swallow each other’s sighs.
The friction of their skin against each other sent a hot, tingling sensation through their bodies. Lu Yipeng pushed Hong Kongque against the edge of the sink, sliding his hand down to caress the bare skin. Before pulling him in closer for another intense kiss, Lu Yipeng moved his lips to the chin, earlobes, neck, and then traced his fingers up to the soft pink lips of the other person. Hearing Hong Kongque chuckle, Lu Yipeng paused and moved his lips to seal Hong Kongque’s lips once again, as if not wanting that part to speak.
“Little Pengpeng, you should stop yourself.”
Confused, Lu Yipeng raised his face to look, his sharp features now turned bright red. His lips swollen from the forceful kiss, his dark eyes twinkling in the soft light. Hong Kongque raised a hand to lightly cover his lips and smiled gently, “Today, I want to relax. Little Pengpeng, be patient for a while.”
After speaking, he got up from the sink like a fish, and Lu Yipeng hurried to grab him but it was too late. The young man got up quickly and was about to follow him. Seeing Hong Kongque turn back, smiling and teasingly saying, “Pengpeng, you should not overuse it, save some for later, .”
Lu Yipeng was still standing in shock, looking at Hong Kongque’s hips in swim trunks for a moment. He finally bent down to look at himself, and that was the moment the young police officer regained his senses.
Alarmed, he quickly grabbed his bathrobe and put it on before rushing inside.
...
As soon as Lu Yipeng saw Hong Kongque walking towards him, who was wiping his hair in front of the mirror, he spoke up again, “You can't make your hard-on go away?”
Lu Yipeng glanced at the person speaking before responding, “It’s none of your business.”
The young police officer, both embarrassed and confused, Hong Kongque would usually not miss an opportunity like this, even if there was no chance he would actually manage to tease him into submission, so why did he stop in the middle of it today? Did this guy intend to tease him to death or something?
Hmm...
“Kongque.” Lu Yipeng spoke up. After calming down and changing clothes, Hong Kongque, who was sitting up straight on the chair, looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ve decided to stop playing these crazy games with you. We both need some rest separately now.”
The person listened and chuckled, “Are you sulking, Little Pengpeng?”
Lu Yipeng glanced at him for a moment, then lay down on the bed, “I’m going to sleep now. Turn off the lights, please.” After saying this, he tucked himself under the blanket, closed his eyes, and shortly after, heard the sound of the light switch turning off, and the bed on the other side sank down.
“Pengpeng.”
Well, dream on, don’t expect me to respond to anything tonight.
Freaking peacock.
Hong Kongque moved closer, Lu Yipeng felt the warm sigh of wind on his cheek, and even a hand which ran along his cheek. While the young police officer tried to stay still, keeping in mind that no matter how Hong Kongque pushed, he would not give in so as to make this guy realize something. After rubbing against him for a while, Hong Kongque got up, and spoke in a relaxed tone, “Goodnight, Little Pengpeng.”
This time, Lu Yipeng was truly stunned, trying to sleep with his eyes closed tightly. Now, he had to sneak a peek to see if Hong Kongque was really asleep or not. It turned out that Hong Kongque was actually sleeping, lying comfortably with his eyes closed. He was the one without any sort of care, looking as if he was sleeping peacefully. Lu Yipeng turned his face back, and told himself that this was good. He was finally going to be able to sleep peacefully.
Lying in bed, Lu Yipeng still couldn’t fall asleep. Instead, he found himself lying next to Hong Kongque, staring into space. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally, from his long day. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he began to brainstorm, his young detective mind working in overdrive. Despite telling himself to stay rational, a sense of anger and frustration crept over him, making it hard to relax. Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, he got up from his bed.
“...” Hong Kongque lay motionless on the bed, seemingly still asleep. Whether he was truly asleep or pretending, Lu Yipeng couldn’t tell. Sitting up, he gritted his teeth and pondered for a moment. He decided to give in and follow through with his original plan. Today, he had learned one thing – questioning Hong Kongque was like chasing a slippery criminal.
Looking through the glass window into the room, Lu Yipeng saw Hong Kongque lying on the bed. Not sure if he was actually asleep or just pretending, Lu Yipeng sat silently, trying to gauge the situation. He then devised a plan in his mind. Unable to question him directly, he decided to take advantage of the opportunity presented by Hong Kongque’s supposed sleeplessness. He quietly decided to investigate the belongings of this man, starting with the passport.
At the airport, Lu Yipeng noticed Hong Kongque tucking his passport in his suit pocket. After passing through security, he knew that fake passports were a common item among lawbreakers at this level. The airport officials rarely checked for them unless there was a specific alert. However, if they did come across a passport with a name matching that on the wanted list, they would check further. Lu Yipeng was certain Hong Kongque’s passport was fake. However, if it turned out to be real, he would finally discover the truth about the mysterious guy.
With a sense of determination, Lu Yipeng quietly entered the room. He started by searching through Hong Kongque’s suit, looking for any hidden passport. He rummaged through the jacket pocket, where he found a secret compartment. To his surprise, he discovered that the guy’s suit had more hidden compartments than a normal suit, piquing his curiosity about what the doctor might be carrying. Guns? Drugs? Ammunition? Secret weapons?
Lu Yipeng searched diligently, but to his dismay, he found nothing. Not even a shred of paper or a toothpick.
Lu Yipeng aimed towards the red travel bag. What is that red suitcase? It seems heavy with those stones, but when going through the scanner, there was no mention of anything. Must be just clothes. Why bring so much for just three or four days, or is there something hidden in the clothes?
Lu Yipeng gradually approached the bag, before trying to turn the lock code. Darn it, what numbers does that bird’s nest use to lock the bag?
While trying to guess the code to unlock the bag, Lu Yipeng felt a shock when he sensed someone standing behind him. When he turned around, he saw Hong Kongque standing there with arms crossed.
“Pengpeng, what are you doing?”
Lu Yipeng swallowed nervously before speaking seriously, “Um... I heard something moving in the bag, so I wondered if there was something inside.”
“Oh, did you find anything?” Hong Kongque said with a slight smile. Lu Yipeng looked confused, “I don’t know. I tried to open the bag but couldn’t, and I didn’t want to bother you. You seemed comfortable sleeping there.”
“Um... yeah. I was just getting some rest.” Hong Kongque said and continued with a serious face, “And I dreamt that someone was trying to steal my bag, so I woke up.”
“Oh... that’s a bad dream, haha.” The young man chuckled. Hong Kongque looked at him and smiled, “But it’s okay. There are police here, I’ll report it later in the daily log.”
“Okay, I’ll go get the diary then.” Lu Yipeng decided to go with the flow. It had come to this point, no matter how he tried to explain, he wouldn’t be able to escape.
“Here, use this.” Hong Kongque said, handing him the notebook and pen. Lu Yipeng took it and looked serious, “What do you need to report?”
“Um... there’s a thief trying to steal my bag.” Hong Kongque said. Lu Yipeng then asked for more details, “Give me the details.”
“He looks similar to you. I think we should arrest him.” Before he could even finish his words, Lu Yipeng heard a click from his left wrist.
Once again...
Hong Kongque smiled mischievously and casually moved his right hand with the handcuff attached, “Alright, let’s go to bed, officer. I think the thief won’t dare to come back now.” With that, he put the handcuff key back in his pocket. Lu Yipeng only blinked his eyes, then smiled wryly before reluctantly walking to the bed.
Hong Kongque let him climb onto the bed first, and then sat down beside him. He then spoke with a smile, “Good evening, Pengpeng. If you want to get up and take a walk later, wake me up.”
Lu Yipeng quickly slipped under the blanket and closed his eyes immediately, even though his hands were handcuffed
Not this again! Damn it!!!
...
Hong Kongque actually brought a real cup this time (is “actually brought” a good fit??) The vacation continued as planned, and we felt like those four days and three nights were really long between Pengpeng and the person writing this. Who will die first, I wonder.
They get along so well!!!!! If Lu Yipeng were to encounter such a scenario for real, he should definitely resign from the police force (these two are together, stirring up all the evilness together as one big lump)