Chapter 2558: Dear Detective Mr. 10

The carriage stopped in front of the Cylindrical Room, and at this time the sky had already grown completely dark.

The nights in Buke Port always come especially early, especially in April, when the damp chill can seep into the cracks of one's bones.

The coachman nimbly jumped down from the driver's seat and opened the door for them.

Alerike bent at the waist and stepped down first, planted his feet on the ground, habitually adjusted his coat collar, feeling no evening chill—or rather, he had long been accustomed to this cold.

From inside the carriage came Sheriff Bulus's somewhat irritable voice, which abruptly called out to him.

"Alerike!"

Alerike turned slightly sideways, his jawline appearing cold and hard in the dim light.

"What is it, Bulus?"

Bulus had clearly been holding it in all the way, half his body leaning out of the carriage, brows furrowed, staring straight at Alerike's back, determined to wring an answer from him.

"All day long! Don't tell me you haven't the slightest idea! Tell me, who do you suspect the most right now?"

Alerike turned to look at him, his tone almost languid as he countered, "And you, Bulus?"

Bulus's speculation finally found an outlet: "John! Of course it's his brother John Aoge! There's no one more fitting, more obvious than him!"

"Yes, he may be showing grief, but what does it matter? He is the ultimate beneficiary! The title, the estate—now they all rest on his head! Of course," he added hastily, with a firm certainty, "there is no other candidate!"

Alerike listened, nodding his head ever so slightly.

It was as if praising a certain dim-witted student who had finally arrived at a conclusion matching his intellectual level.

"Not bad, Bulus," his tone scoffing, "your mind is still as simple as ever."

A cunning and irritating gentleman.

Jin Chen, following behind, couldn't help but let out a low laugh, giving the flushed, angry Bulus an apologetic glance: "Please don't take offense, Sheriff. You know his temperament has always been like this."

Bulus felt his chest tighten, his beard bristling again, "Alerike! You damned—"

The coachman, unfazed, didn't wait for the sheriff to finish his tirade, gave the reins a shake, and carried the still-annoyed Bulus away.

Inside the Cylindrical Room it was far warmer than outside appeared; Duo xi the little girl lit the fireplace, then curled up with a book and went into the room.

Jin Chen leaned back against the edge of the oak table, his posture relaxed.

Alerike took off his coat, casually hung it on the bronze coat rack by the door, then poured a cup of deep amber liquor and took a sip.

"Who do you suspect?" he asked, looking at Jin Chen, "Qiaoshuya?"

Jin Chen heard this, raised his eyebrows slightly, "Why do you ask that? Alerike, have I shown it?"

However, after today's investigation, especially after discovering that John was actually left‑handed, the answer in his mind was no longer so certain.

Alerike held his wine cup and walked over to the fireplace, "Xili'er, haven't you noticed?"

"You've looked at Qiaoshuya far too many times today; if you don't suspect him as the killer, then..."

"... could there be any other explanation?"

Jin Chen looked at his rare expression of teasing and inquiry, then burst out laughing, his blue eyes crinkling.

"Would that make you unhappy? Alerike."

He lounged, teasing, his body leaning slightly forward from the table's edge, his hands casually resting on the surface, a pose that was mildly aggressive yet relaxed.

"You're overthinking it, Xili'er." Alerike interrupted him, tapping Jin Chen's collar lightly as a warning, "Don't interfere with my investigation."

"It won't."

Jin Chen rose from the table, grabbed Alerike's fingers, stroked them lightly and ambiguously, leaned close to his ear, and whispered softly, "No one could attract me more than you, Inspector."

Alerike: "..."

That's enough.

Alerike grabbed the front of Jin Chen's shirt.

"I've warned you before,"

he lowered his voice, "Don't do that again."

Jin Chen did not resist, yielding to his pull and leaning forward slightly, his shirt pulled open just enough to reveal an attractive collarbone.

His brows and eyes also took on a sorrowful cast, gazing directly into Alerike's eyes.

"I know this sounds utterly unreasonable," Jin Chen's voice soft, "even God could not change my feelings for you."

Jin Chen knew that Wensente being a Catholic had, for some reason, dealt Alerike a considerable blow, leaving his mood sullen to this day, like a repressed volcano.

Sure enough, a flicker of ferocity flashed in Alerike's eyes as he slammed Jin Chen against the wall with a bang.

"Feelings? We've barely known each other—do you understand me at all, Xili'er!"

"I know it makes no sense, but I can't control my feelings for you; I would do anything, Alerike—I've loved you for a long time."

Alerike froze, seeming somewhat at a loss.

Such a confession… such a loving gaze, the emotion too intense—so intense that the harsher rebuke rising to Alerike's throat was choked back.

It seemed any harsh questioning would be a desecration of this confession.

His fingers, gripping Jin Chen's collar, knuckles whitening with a creak, his chest rising and falling slightly.

"Is that so? Oh! Then how are you supposed to prove it?"

"Of course I can……"

Jin Chen softly repeated Alerike's name several times, brushing the tip of his nose lightly against the skin on Alerike's neck.

Immediately after, a gentle kiss landed on Alerike's lips.

Light touch, lick and nibble—even the dullest, most resistant person could, from such a tender motion, sense the scorching sincerity.

Their breaths inevitably entwined, chaotic and warm, brushing over each other's cheeks.

A few stray strands of hair from Jin Chen's forehead fell, sweeping across the corner of his eye, slightly veiling his blue eyes, utterly gorgeous and deep.

Alerike's fingers, clutching the collar, loosened a little.

Jin Chen's kiss stirred his heart, which held too many feelings he had long forgotten or deliberately ignored.

Then Alric was not satisfied with such a pure kiss; he didn't even know what he was doing, he grabbed Jin Chen's waist tightly, clasped the back of his head, and kissed him back heavily.

Their teeth clacked, and he sucked and bit his lower lip almost violently.

The force was so great that soon a faint taste of iron rust filled both their mouths.

His green eyes were open, but they held little lust, yet they were so dark as to arouse a desire to conquer.

Jin Chen's brow twitched slightly, and the smile in his eyes was evident.

He then seemed to completely immerse himself, meekly handing over all control to Alric.

He seemed unable to bear the intense kiss, a lovely blush quickly rose at the corners of his eyes, his breathing became warm and moist, scattering messily across Alric's cheek.

His fingertips, weak yet tight, gripped Alric's shoulder, crumpling the crisp shirt fabric into messy wrinkles.

His whole person exuded an air of being ravished, decadent and sexy.

This undoubtedly aroused a rare pity in Alric's heart.

He loosened his grip on Jin Chen's waist slightly, and somewhat stiffly stroked his slightly trembling back.

This was probably a treatment obtainable only in daylight, extremely rare.