Chapter 90: Holding Hands and Strolling

This was the real purpose... Yu Dazhang knew it full well.

Allowing someone with potential psychological issues to carry a firearm is inherently risky.

But the bureau leadership had also spared his dignity—instead of confiscating the gun, they had it temporarily held by the detachment.

The next day.

Mental Health Service Center.

It was an internal unit under the municipal bureau.

Under the bureau’s arrangement, Yu Dazhang came here for a psychological evaluation.

The evaluation had three steps: conversation, observation, and testing.

During the process, he played a small trick—deliberately appearing somewhat anxious, but not severely so.

There was no other way.

If he acted perfectly normal, they’d assume he was abnormal.

You’d just gotten your service weapon, then killed Seven Killers—even if it was official duty, wouldn’t you feel fear afterward?

They were human beings, even if they were vile criminals who deserved death—they were still living people; you couldn’t be completely unmoved.

Back at the detachment, Yu Dazhang saw two inspectors waiting for him inside.

Captain Li Jun saw him return and immediately went over.

“Don’t overthink it—standard procedure, just cooperate.”

“I understand.” Yu Dazhang nodded, then asked:

“They came a bit fast, didn’t they?”

According to standard procedure, the detachment and branch bureau should first investigate thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

That usually takes about a week.

But only two days had passed since the incident, and the inspectors were already here.

This surprised Yu Dazhang—and also worried him.

Had the case taken a new turn?

“You’ve heard about the bones being dug up, right?” Li Jun replied with a question.

Yu Dazhang didn’t hide it—he told the truth:

“I found out yesterday. They say seventeen sets of bones were unearthed.”

The excavation had been done overnight; he guessed the municipal bureau had uncovered more since then.

From the mysterious expression on his detachment commander’s face, Yu Dazhang guessed it was almost certainly true.

“The excavation was finished last night, and the site was fully counted. The final bone count must not be leaked—I estimate it’ll multiply several times over.”

Li Jun lowered his voice:

“The case has already reached the provincial bureau. This morning, the provincial criminal investigation team arrived to investigate. I heard they even brought lie detectors.”

The situation was growing larger... Yu Dazhang felt uneasy inside.

The case had spiraled beyond his control; he could only passively accept the higher-ups’ arrangements.

This case was no longer something he could intervene in.

Still, he hoped the investigation would be thorough—clear out this poison completely.

As for lie detectors, though their results couldn’t serve as evidence, they were terrifying.

Small adhesive strips connected to wires were stuck to the body, and before any questions were even asked, the person was already paralyzed with fear.

The subsequent interrogation went smoothly.

The two inspectors didn’t ask any tricky questions.

They merely reviewed Yu Dazhang’s entire investigation process.

Yu Dazhang realized—they must have read his report.

They came to verify the authenticity of his report.

He also learned some information he hadn’t known before.

The house at the village entrance belonged to the village chief; the first man Yu Dazhang killed was the village’s leader.

The young men the woman had brought to fight him were essentially the village’s security team.

They handled all matters involving violence.

For example, after people were abducted, they guarded and transported them.

If anyone tried to escape, they pursued and buried them.

In short, they were involved in every hidden, illicit act in the village.

No wonder the two inspectors treated him so well.

Yu Dazhang finally understood.

The men who attacked him were the village’s core strength.

He alone had wiped out the village’s main fighting force.

He didn’t know whether this was luck or misfortune... Yu Dazhang was genuinely dazed.

Being alive is good.

That afternoon at five, Qu Tuotuo called. “What are you doing?”

“Just got off work.”

“I’m coming to see you. Let’s eat together.”

“Sure.”

Since eating at Qu Tuotuo’s house, Yu Dazhang had kept in touch with her.

But they had never chatted via WeChat or any other messaging app.

Neither of them was the type to indulge in sentimental affection.

Yu Dazhang’s actual psychological age was over thirty.

Though his current personality was somewhat erratic, his essence hadn’t changed.

Plus, as a detective, he was truly uncomfortable with such romantic nonsense—he found it overly dramatic.

Qu Tuotuo was even more straightforward in matters of emotion.

Please... collect... 6...9...books...!

The tricks rich playboys used to chase girls seemed to her like children playing house.

Not only childish, but utterly ridiculous.

Logically, these two would never be together—not even friends.

Personality needs complementarity.

But unfortunately, Qu Tuotuo was drawn to this type.

Inside a hot pot restaurant, the two sat facing each other.

“Eat,” Qu Tuotuo urged, glancing at the ingredients already boiled in the pot.

“If you wait any longer, they’ll be overcooked.”

“Oh, okay.” Yu Dazhang replied, picking up a few slices of meat from the pot and putting them in his mouth.

Seeing his distracted expression, Qu Tuotuo couldn’t help asking:

“What’s wrong? Something on your mind?”

“No,” Yu Dazhang denied.

“Still saying no,” Qu Tuotuo pointed at his dipping bowl.

“Don’t you even use condiments with hot pot?”

“Forgot, forgot,” Yu Dazhang replied awkwardly.

People are like that—after going through something huge, their minds automatically replay it when they’re idle.

Yu Dazhang especially so.

He now even felt a sense of relief at having survived.

These past two days, whenever he had free time, he mentally replayed the gunfight.

Qu Tuotuo didn’t enjoy this meal at all.

Throughout the entire meal, Yu Dazhang spoke barely a few words—she had to keep finding topics to talk to him.

But Qu Tuotuo could tell—he was troubled, and it was definitely work-related.

Since he didn’t want to talk, she didn’t press further.

Notably, Yu Dazhang paid for the meal—firmly, leaving no room for Qu Tuotuo to object.

After dinner, Qu Tuotuo suggested taking a walk in the nearby park.

This kind of couple’s stroll, meant to deepen affection, is now called “holding hands and strolling,” and used to be called “walking the pavement.”

The name changed, but the form remained the same.

They couldn’t find the park, but there was a square nearby.

The two sat on a bench at the square’s edge; Yu Dazhang remained distracted.

It was early July, and Songhai’s temperature was rising.

More and more people came to the square at night to cool off and wander.

Among them, many young couples embraced, kissed, and even did more intimate things...

You think that’s exaggerated? That just means you don’t know how to have fun.

The two of them chatted intermittently, Yu Dazhang’s eyes unfocused, his mind still on the case.

Qu Tuotuo saw how gloomy he was and decided to tease him.

Not far from them, a young man and woman were kissing; Qu Tuotuo slapped his thigh.

“Look over there.”

Yu Dazhang followed her gaze and quickly spotted the couple.

“What’s wrong?”

Qu Tuotuo smiled subtly.

“Do you want to do that?”

Yu Dazhang paused, then frowned and asked:

“Can that girl let me kiss her?”

(End of Chapter)