Chapter 109: Portraits, a Bizarre Cycle

Unlike Liu Xie, the Third Squad Captain, whose mere presence inspired awe and dread, Wang Yu kept an exceptionally low profile and remained humble within the Investigation Bureau; he spoke little and had a gentle disposition.

He not only possessed outstanding work capability, excelling in both civil and martial affairs, but was also taciturn, uninterested in fame or profit, emotionally stable, and had powerful backing behind him.

One could say Wang Yu embodied virtually every trait that makes a person well-liked.

Within the Investigation Bureau, Wang Yu maintained harmonious and seamless relations with almost everyone.

Even someone like Gou Xin, who harbored resentment toward Liu Xie, could chat amiably with Wang Yu on the rare occasions they crossed paths.

Wang Yu always responded to everyone with an attitude that was neither servile nor arrogant; though it could not be called enthusiastic, it was extremely hard to dislike, and he exuded an inexplicable air of trustworthiness.

"Wang Yu, could you draw a portrait for me?" Liu Yang stepped into the Portrait Room, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

During work, Wang Yu would meticulously render portraits of criminal suspects based on witness descriptions, and in his leisure time he would also sketch portraits for the Bureau's squad members.

Because he drew exceptionally well and with uncanny likeness, essentially the majority of the Bureau's squad members had sought his help, hoping to own a portrait of themselves.

Another person might have found it troublesome — after all, drawing a portrait consumes not only a great deal of time but also a great deal of energy.

But Wang Yu never declined; he accepted every request without refusal, and each time he picked up his brush he threw himself into it wholeheartedly, depicting with care, never perfunctory.

This made every squad member who came to him for a portrait deeply grateful and satisfied; consequently, even more squad members came to ask Wang Yu for portraits, and some even came more than once.

For instance, First Squad member Liu Yang was coming to ask Wang Yu for a portrait for the third time.

"Sure." Wang Yu nodded at Liu Yang.

Although Wang Yu's face showed no smile and his words were brief to the extreme — merely a single character in reply.

Though his features did not break into a smile and his speech was stingy to the point of a single concise word, when his fingers lightly gripped the brush, that focused movement revealed a sincere passion surpassing any smile.

And as his brush fell, every line on the paper conveyed emotions warmer than any words — a profound closeness that needed no expression.

At least, Liu Yang saw it that way; in his heart, Wang Yu was not merely the Bureau's portrait artist, but the existence of a "close friend + colleague."

He was not alone in this view; many in the Bureau who had asked Wang Yu to paint their portraits more than once also quietly placed him in the softest spot in their hearts.

"It's simply too lifelike. I can't say why, but I always feel your drawing is closer to the real me than any photograph. Sometimes when I face a mirror, I feel the reflection doesn't look like me, while the figure in your painting is my true self — this skill is truly miraculous!"

Liu Yang took the portrait, gently rolled it up, and kept exclaiming in admiration.

He continued excitedly: "This painting, I must have it properly mounted and hang it at my bedside, so I can see it every day."

Although it seemed merely a portrait, for some reason, every time he received a portrait drawn by Wang Yu, Liu Yang felt a moving urge to cry.

As if the painting were priceless, containing a profound significance that money could not measure; for Wang Yu, it carried extraordinary emotion and value.

Liu Yang did not know that many in the Bureau shared similar feelings; they all held genuine gratitude toward Wang Yu.

Wang Yu set down his brush; regarding Liu Yang's praise, he showed little emotional fluctuation.

His gaze appeared somewhat hollow as he quietly stared at Liu Yang's beaming, excitement-filled cheeks, yet in his mind's eye there involuntarily surfaced another face — gaunt, withered, already devoid of the luster of life, a "dead man's face."

Wang Yu gently withdrew his gaze; he knew in his heart that his painting skill had not reached a miraculous realm.

The reason they found the portraits vivid and true to life was simply that he had blended a trace of reality into the paintings.

This is like some girls who retouch their photos — they edit the image to make their features more delicate, their skin more refined and smooth.

Wang Yu's "retouching" took a different path: he made the faces in the portraits slightly rough, the features slightly sunken, the eyes revealing a hint of dead stillness.

This change was minuscule, not enough to cause shock or discomfort, but sufficient to let them glimpse a true side of themselves in the painting — a trace of their real self inadvertently leaked.

It was precisely this subtle stroke that made them feel Wang Yu's works possessed an unusual allure, as if through the canvas they saw a more true-to-life version of themselves.

"To show my gratitude, I must treat you to a meal today." Liu Yang invited enthusiastically, "A new restaurant opened nearby that's not bad; let's go, let's try it together."

Wang Yu shook his head and refused; he never went out to eat with colleagues — he could stomach these real yet lifeless faces, but he could not stomach the exquisite yet rotten food outside.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Liu Yang's face; he sincerely wanted to express his gratitude, but it seemed he could never find a suitable opportunity.

Wang Yu's voice broke the silence; he asked calmly: "Can you help me find someone?"

In the Investigation Bureau, every squad member cultivates informants outside — this is both a work necessity and capital for meritorious service and promotion.

Although informants' identities are not guarded as strictly as secret undercover agents, they are not lightly disclosed to outsiders either — unless the relationship with the other party is extraordinary.

Liu Yang did not even ask who Wang Yu wanted to find; he nodded agreement without hesitation.

After all, this was the first time Wang Yu had sought his help in the capacity of a close friend; how could he possibly refuse?

"Tell me, who do you need me to help you find?" Liu Yang asked directly.

Wang Yu took out a 【Black Face】 Wanted Poster from the drawer beside him and handed it to Liu Yang.

This was one sheet from a thick stack of Wanted Posters he had photocopied; he had already distributed more than half, and Liu Yang was merely one of many recipients.

Frankly speaking, although Liu Xie could command the Third Brigade, he could not command the other two brigades.

However, relying on the connections and favors he had accumulated, Wang Yu had the ability to mobilize the manpower of most of the Investigation Bureau within a single day.

Liu Yang glanced at the Wanted Poster and immediately understood its implication.

This was a task taken on by the Third Brigade; he instantly realized Wang Yu was helping Captain Liu Xie search for the target.

Third Brigade Captain Liu Xie and Wang Yu were senior sister and junior brother from the same Martial Arts Hall — this was no secret in the Bureau.

Although the Third Brigade was the last to be established, in terms of combat strength it was undoubtedly the outstanding leader; no one in the Bureau dared to question it.

But when it comes to informant distribution and tracking ability, one must mention the First Brigade and Second Brigade, which were established earlier and have deeper foundations.

"Deal. I'll notify you the moment I have news." Liu Yang agreed readily, resolving in his heart to activate his own informants to search the city for 【Black Face】's traces later.

A rare faint smile appeared on Wang Yu's face as he said: "Confidentiality!"

Liu Yang grinned back with an even more sincere smile: "Rest assured, when I find the person I'll secretly tell you privately, guaranteed not to leak a shred of wind."

Liu Yang did not overthink it; he assumed Wang Yu's caution was for Captain Liu Xie's sake, fearing that if the news leaked, the credit might be snatched by others.

As a veteran of the Bureau, he had seen all kinds of dirty, underhanded scheming and infighting over the years; he knew exactly how to help and how to act, and guaranteed there would be no leaks.

Liu Yang left smiling; before long, another Second Squad member walked into the Portrait Room.

"Wang Yu, could you draw a portrait for me?"

"Sure!"

"This painting is simply vivid and lifelike, so full of spirit; I plan to have it exquisitely mounted and hang it at my bedside to keep me company every night."

"No problem, who do you need me to help you find?"

"It must be kept confidential."

"Rest assured, I will ensure the information does not leak."

An identical scene, like a meticulously edited videotape, played on a loop again and again.

One "Liu Yang" after another stepped into the Portrait Room, each arriving filled with anticipation, and after admiring Wang Yu's masterful paintings, they left carefully carrying the portraits, filled with deep satisfaction and cherishing.

Inside the Portrait Room, Wang Yu's brush danced busily, recording the likeness of every visitor; the portraits of 【Black Face】 in the drawer gradually ran out as time flowed on...

(End of Chapter)