茶杯狐 -CUPFOX

Xia Libing nodded, pulled over as instructed, and got out of the car to buy meat dumplings.

She didn’t find it strange that Xiang Kun knew she was hungry. Whether he heard her stomach rumble or perceived it in some other way, given his current sensory abilities, it wasn’t difficult for him to make such a judgement.

They returned to the neighbourhood where Old Xia lived. Xiang Kun, carrying his clothes, shoes and backpack, bare-chested and barefoot, followed Old Xia back to her home.

Using his extraordinarily heightened senses to track the movements of their surroundings, Xiang Kun and Old Xia successfully avoided the other residents, meeting nobody from the car park to the front door of Old Xia’s house.

However, just as Old Xia was unlocking the door, a middle-aged woman next door happened to be taking her son out, and paused slightly as she saw Xiang Kun standing behind Old Xia.

“Good morning, Dr. Xia,” the middle-aged woman greeted Xia Libing as she opened the door.

Xia Libing nodded at her, “Morning.”

The middle-aged woman then curiously looked towards Xiang Kun standing behind her, “And who is this …?”

Xia Libing simply said, “My friend fell in the lake.”

“Eh?” The middle-aged woman paused, wanting to ask how that happened.

However, Old Xia had no intention of further explaining. After opening the door, she went straight in.

Xiang Kun, the one “who fell in the lake”, could only nod and smile at the neighbour as a way of greeting, and then followed closely into the house.

As Xiang Kun was bathing and Xia Libing was having breakfast, the door was knocked again.

After Xia Libing opened the door, Third Aunt walked in while asking with concern, “Xiao Bing, when I got to the hospital earlier, I heard from Director Wang that you have taken leave. Are you feeling unwell?”

While speaking, she noticed a pair of hiking shoes by the door.

The style of the shoes was nothing unusual, it was normal for Xia Libing to wear such shoes, but the problem was that these shoes were noticeably bigger than Xia Libing’s own shoes beside it, indicating that these are men’s shoes.

She then noticed a jacket casually left on a chair in the living room, which also seemed to be for men.

She heard the sound of running water from the bathroom, the door was closed indicating that someone was bathing inside.

Third Aunt’s mouth slowly widened in shock as she looked at Xia Libing.

“I’m not sick, just have some private matters to handle,” Xia Libing explained, noticing where Third Aunt’s gaze fell and her changing expression, she had figured out the reason for Third Aunt’s surprise, but she did not offer any explanation.

Third Aunt blinked her eyes, paused for a few seconds, then asked, “Mr. Xiang is still in Shencheng, isn’t he?”

“He came back last night,” Xia Libing said.

“Could it be the one…having a shower…?” Third Aunt glanced at the bathroom and asked.

“Yes.” Xia Libing was able to discern from Third Aunt’s expressions and reactions that she must have made some kind of misunderstanding. However, if she was to explain, she would have to make up an excuse. If Third Aunt continued to ask, she would need to continue the lie, which would be too troublesome and might expose some of Xiang Kun’s secret information. Therefore, she simply did not say anything more.

Third Aunt nodded. Suddenly remembering something, she said: “Oh yes, there’s a document in that Camry. Give me your car keys, I’ll go get it. I’ll leave the SUV I drove here for you.”

“No need, I can just drive the Camry. There are some things in the car that I need to give to you, Third Aunt. I’ll head downstairs with you,” Xia Libing said.

So, the very curious Third Aunt went downstairs to the parking lot with Xia Libing.

Upon seeing a box of roses and two bunches of carnations on the back seat of the Camry, Third Aunt was first surprised, but then her expression seemed to show comprehension, as if everything now fell into place. Realizing what today was all about, she felt a little envious and sentimental.

To be young is truly wonderful.

When they went upstairs earlier, since Xiang Kun had to carry his shoes, clothes, and luggage, and Xia Libing had to carry the beef soup and meat dumplings, the flowers were left in the car.

Xia Libing took out a bunch of carnations and handed them to Third Aunt. “For you,” she said.

“Oh dear, you shouldn’t have. Valentine’s Day is a festival for you young people anyway, as long as you two are happy,” Although she said so, Third Aunt gladly accepted the carnations, then looked at another bunch of carnations in the back seat and asked, “Who is the other bunch for?”

She knew that Xia Libing’s parents were still abroad and in Citong City, the only female elder was her, prompting her to speculate.

“They are for Xiang Kun’s mom,” Xia Libing said.

Third Aunt again mumbled to herself, “As expected,” then took the documents, smilingly instructed, “Tonight… hmm, forget about tonight. Come over for a meal with Xiang Kun tomorrow.”

Xia Libing shook her head, “I’ve got things to do recently.”

“That’s fine. Just come over when you both have time,” Third Aunt said.

Although her thirst for gossip was burning, Third Aunt, aware her niece’s personality, held back a string of questions and decided to find another opportunity to subtly probe further.

After sending Third Aunt away, Xia Libing returned home. Xiang Kun had finished bathing and changed clothes. As for the trousers he had taken off, they were already too dirty and torn to be worth washing, so he had disposed of them in a plastic bag.

After Xia Libing finished her meat dumplings and beef soup, the two left together with plans to go to a farm they had contacted earlier to buy meat rabbits.

Originally, Xiang Kun was worried he would be busy with matters up on Zi Huan Mountain until evening and won’t have time to prepare, so he asked Old Xia to help him. But since he returned earlier than expected, there was no reason for Old Xia to go alone.

However, before they went to the farm, they first returned to Xiang Kun’s house.

Asking Old Xia to wait in the car, Xiang Kun took the bouquet of carnations home and gave it to his mother, then made an excuse that he came back for work and wouldn’t return home for the next few days as he was about to leave.

In fact, he originally intended to return home after his blood feast to avoid too many questions from his mother and having to make up lies.

However, thinking of the carnations that cost him hundreds, delivering them after his blood feast wouldn’t have the same significance, which seemed a waste.

Seeing their son come back unexpectedly and bring flowers, both Mr. and Mrs. Xiang were surprised and shocked.

“Darn it, are you back to work or on a business trip? Why would you buy roses? Can they be stir-fried or steamed? It’s not only inedible but also useless. What’s the point in buying them? If you have extra money, you should have just given it to me in a red envelope! Or bought some pork for you. Still buying flowers… You know to buy flowers for your mother, why don’t you know to buy flowers… Oh, right, what is today’s date? The flowers must be expensive, right? You, this kid…” Mrs. Xiang murmured for a bit, then suddenly stopped, eyeing Xiang Kun suspiciously.”

“Did you say you just came back? Just off the bullet train?” Mrs. Xiang asked again.

Xiang Kun, who was sharp enough to notice that his mother had just sniffed and smelled the fragrance of the bath gel on him, knew immediately where the fault lay.

“I showered at the hotel arranged by the company before I came here. Ah, Mom, I’ll have to go now, my colleague is waiting for me downstairs. I’ll come back once I finish my work.” Saying this, Xiang Kun headed out the door.

However, Mrs. Xiang’s attitude had changed suddenly, she smiled and said, “Alright, just mind your own business. These flowers are nice, I am very satisfied. You just concentrate on your work, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Xiang Kun couldn’t help but give a wry smile. He knew what his mother was suspecting, but he had no time to explain at this moment.

After Xiang Kun left, Mrs. Xiang quickly ran to the balcony, looking out into the community. However, from the angle of their balcony, she couldn’t see where Xia Libing’s car was parked, so after a while of looking, she returned to the living room in disappointment.

In the living room, Mr. Xiang was holding the bouquet of carnations, grumbling, “This kid, really don’t know what he’s thinking. Buying Valentine’s Day flowers for his mother, isn’t this a waste of money? With the price of flowers these days, a large bouquet of flowers like this must’ve cost several hundred! With this money, he could’ve bought a lot of food instead.”

“Eat, eat, eat. That’s all you know. I think you’re jealous because your son only gave me flowers,” Mrs. Xiang gave him a scornful look and said.

Mr. Xiang was taken aback, “Huh? Didn’t you just scold him for the same thing? Didn’t you also ask him to just give you a red envelope or buy you some pork?” He was puzzled, he was merely echoing what she had said.

Mrs. Xiang gave him a pointed look, “Tell me, under what circumstances would our son buy his mother flowers on Valentine’s Day?”

Mr. Xiang furrowed his brow, scratched his head, after some pondering, he said thoughtfully: “When he has more money than he knows what to do with? Did he get a raise? Or won a lottery?”

Mrs. Xiang rolled her eyes helplessly and said exasperatedly, “You knew I wouldn’t be happy with flowers, and would feel it was a waste of money, wouldn’t our son know that? Today is neither Mother’s Day nor my birthday. Why would he choose the most expensive day to buy flowers for me? Think about it, old Xiang! It’s Valentine’s Day!”

“I know it’s Valentine’s Day, and flowers are expensive…” Mr. Xiang began blankly at first then suddenly seemed to realise something, he slapped his thigh: “Oh! I get it! He was going to buy flowers for a girl, but he also thought to buy a bouquet for his mother along the way! It might have been a discount event of sorts, with his personality, he would definitely take advantage of such an event to buy flowers for his mother along the way! That means… he came back today, not necessarily because of any company arrangement, he might have intentionally come back for Valentine’s Day? Wait, who is his girlfriend then? Xiao Xia?”

Mrs. Xiang was looking at the flower shop’s logo on the packaging for the flowers, “This flower shop’s name sounds familiar…”

She then scanned the QR code on the flower shop’s logo with her phone and smiled as she read the results, “This shop is owned by my old friend’s daughter-in-law. I’ve even shared their posts in my social circle.”

Mr. Xiang frowned, “You’re not thinking of returning it, are you? That wouldn’t be right…”

“What are you talking about!!!” Mrs. Xiang couldn’t help but throw a playful punch at her husband.

Mrs. Xiang began to contact her old friend, who happened to be in the flower shop at the moment. She asked if a tall, bald man had come to buy carnations in the morning.

Mrs. Xiang originally just wanted to confirm if their son, besides buying carnations, purchased other flowers like roses to verify her hypothesis.

Surprisingly, her friend’s daughter-in-law said that she didn’t see a bald man buying flowers in the morning. But her business partner stated that last night, a tall, glasses-wearing, bald young man, came to the flower shop with his girlfriend. They bought two bunches of carnations and a box of roses, and the bald man’s girlfriend was a tall, long-legged beauty with a ponytail.

Ponytail, tall, long-legged, beauty – who else could it be?

After hanging up the phone, Mrs. Xiang turned giddy with silent laughter, making Mr. Xiang curious and continuously asking questions.

In the police station’s dining hall, Xu Zhao looked at his young partner, Zhao Feng, eating while engrossed in his phone. Zhao Feng was so focused that he didn’t even notice the piece of meat on his chopsticks. Xu Zhao frowned, “What are you looking at that you’re so engrossed?”

Zhao Feng came back to reality and showed Xu Zhao his phone, “Some people claim online that they saw a Phoenix last night, right here in our Citong, near Zi Huan Mountain.”

“Phoenix?” Before Xu Zhao could even glance at the phone, he scoffed, “People these days, they’ll do anything for a little attention. They’ll dare to say or make up anything.”

“Somebody recorded a video, and it doesn’t seem like CGI. I was watching the news today, last night there were unusual weather conditions on Zi Huan Mountain. There was a short storm followed by heavy rain. If this video was really filmed near Zi Huan Mountain last night, I suspect it might have been some small drone or similar device which can be a safety concern,” Zhao Feng didn’t buy the “Phoenix” claim, either.

Xu Zhao played the video where one can vaguely see an object that seemed to be on fire flying further and further away until the flames gradually died out.

After stopping the video, Zhao Feng showed him the original post:

“I saw a Phoenix today! Absolutely real! No lies! I am from Zi Shan Village, right next to Zi Huan Mountain. You guys know about the storm on Zi Huan Mountain last night, right? That storm was no ordinary storm! The Phoenix survived it! I couldn’t sleep, so I went to the roof to play games and saw it with my own eyes! The video is definitely not fake!”

Below the post were enlargements and analyses of the video screenshots. Some people claimed that the fireball seemed like a bird flapping its wings, while others called it ridiculously fake and a cheap special effect. Some blamed the original poster for making up stories because they’ve read too many fantasy novels. Some mentioned how terrifying the storm on Zi Huan Mountain was last night. Some gave scientific explanations of broken vacuums, while others spread meteorological knowledge. Many wished upon the “Phoenix”…

After reading, Xu Zhao shook his head, “It does seem like a drone. It’s good the fire went out later, otherwise if it had fallen into the mountains and caused a wildfire, that would be trouble. I will mention this to the aviation police later, we need to investigate.”

After taking back his phone, Zhao Feng nodded in agreement and said, “That’s what I meant.”

“By the way, are you and your classmate still investigating that thing with many arms?” Xu Zhao suddenly remembered and asked.

“Not recently, there aren’t any new leads.” Zhao Feng did have a bit of a discovery that he wanted to discuss with Old Xu, but knowing Old Xu’s opinion on their investigation, he hesitated. Eventually, he decided to wait until they had more clear information or evidence to mention it.