Chapter Eighteen: Lu Anmei

Each member of the family seemed to hold differing views on Lu Min’s decision to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Aside from Lu Jun, who openly opposed and rejected the idea, the other three either tacitly accepted it or made grand statements whose sincerity and credibility were yet to be determined. Lu Jun’s aversion to his brother’s actions likely stemmed partly from a male instinct or fraternal repulsion, but more so it was because Lu Min had secretly sold the family elders’ burial plot in order to raise funds for the surgery.

The conversation, having escalated into an argument between Lu Anju and her uncle Lu Jun, ground to a halt. Silence fell; everyone withdrew into themselves, unwilling to exchange another word. An Changpu and Qin Ruonan could only abandon their attempts to question further at such a tense juncture, pinning their hopes instead on Lu Anmei’s prompt arrival.

After another spell of waiting, Lu Anju grew restless. She nudged her mother, Ding Mulan, with an elbow. “Mom, is Anmei coming or not? Can’t that girl ever let us stop worrying about her? If she’s not coming, let’s not bother waiting. The whole family’s stuck here just because of her!”

“She said she’d be here soon…” Ding Mulan, always timid before her eldest daughter, sounded short of breath under Lu Anju’s barrage of complaints. “You know your sister’s been through a lot…”

“Oh, she’s had it tough? Like I haven’t? What hardships has she ever faced, exactly? What has she ever done for this family? She’s always off on her own, never lifting a finger. And you still defend her!” The moment Ding Mulan spoke up for her younger daughter, Lu Anju’s anger flared, her voice sharp and indignant.

“Lu Anju, mind your tone!” Qin Ruonan, observing Ding Mulan cower before her daughter’s aggression, could not help but interject. “This is the police station, a public place! Show some respect for your mother, and some basic manners!”

Already resentful toward Qin Ruonan, Lu Anju was about to retort when Lu Ji seized her shoulder, holding her back. He forced a conciliatory smile at Qin Ruonan. “Yes, yes, Officer, you’re right! I’ll talk to Anju at home—she shouldn’t speak to her elders like that!”

Lu Anju glared at him with obvious displeasure, but at his warning look, she grudgingly held her tongue.

Only then did An Changpu realize Qin Ruonan’s sharpness was not uniquely directed at Lu Anju. In fact, she seemed to be consistently sympathetic toward Ding Mulan. Was it simple compassion for the weak, a sense of heroism, or was there something else at play? He was curious, but now was hardly the time to investigate.

A little while later, a slender young woman knocked gently and entered. On seeing the two unfamiliar faces, Qin Ruonan and An Changpu, she paused at the threshold, realizing they must be the police officers. She scanned the room, spotted Ding Mulan, and, her voice timid, addressed her, “Mom, I’m here.”

“You’re something else! Do you realize all of us have been waiting just for you?” Having been scolded by Qin Ruonan and restrained by her husband, Lu Anju refrained from venting her frustration at Ding Mulan. Now, with her sister’s arrival, she found an outlet for her pent-up anger.

Lu Anmei, the frail young woman, responded to her sister’s accusations with utter indifference, ignoring her entirely. After greeting Ding Mulan, her gaze shifted to An Changpu and Qin Ruonan, as if Lu Anju was nothing more than a raving lunatic whose words had nothing to do with her.

Infuriated by being ignored, Lu Anju could only glare daggers at her sister.

“You’re Lu Anmei, correct?” Qin Ruonan confirmed. Once the girl nodded, she turned to the others. “Now that everyone’s here, please follow us to provide DNA samples.”

Just then, Mo Dou returned from his errands. An Changpu decided to have Lu Ji and Ding Mulan remain in the office. Before leaving, he hesitated, then asked Ding Mulan, “Sister Ding, do you want to identify the body? As Lu Min’s wife, perhaps you’d notice something we haven’t.”

Ding Mulan hesitated briefly before shaking her head, biting her lip so hard her whole body seemed taut with tension. Seeing this, An Changpu sighed, patted her shoulder in consolation, and left Ding Mulan and Lu Ji—who shared no blood relation with Lu Min—in the care of Mo Dou, while he and Qin Ruonan led the others to Dr. Zhao.

The process of collecting DNA samples went smoothly, with the only disturbance being Lu Anju’s persistent sarcastic remarks toward Lu Anmei. Lu Jun seemed long accustomed to the tension between his two nieces. Though his relationship with Lu Anju appeared strained, he did not intervene on Lu Anmei’s behalf, allowing the jibes to continue unchecked.

Throughout, Lu Anmei remained silent and expressionless, following Qin Ruonan and An Changpu’s instructions with numb obedience. No matter what Lu Anju said, she paid no heed, her thin face devoid of any emotion, mechanically complying with every request.

When they returned to the major crimes office after seeing Dr. Zhao, Lu Ji immediately showered Lu Anju with exaggerated concern, as if she had just undergone a series of perilous medical experiments.

Ding Mulan showed no special reaction. According to Mo Dou, after the others left, she had sat in a daze, neither speaking nor acknowledging anyone.

Back in the office, Lu Jun was the first to ask when results would be available. At his question, everyone except Lu Anmei immediately turned their attention to An Changpu and Qin Ruonan.

An Changpu explained the approximate timeframe, then asked everyone for their contact information and addresses, instructing them to go home and wait for news until the results came in.

As the others began preparing to leave, Ding Mulan suddenly hurried over to Lu Anmei, seizing her youngest daughter’s wrist. Lu Anmei turned to look at her mother.

“Come home, child,” Ding Mulan pleaded, her eyes intense, her hands gripping Lu Anmei’s wrists as though terrified she might slip away.

Lu Anju was nearly out the door. Hearing Ding Mulan’s words, she turned, glanced at the tense pair, and said sourly, “How remarkable—needs to be coaxed home! I’ve never been treated like that.” With that, she took Lu Ji and left without looking back.

Lu Anmei shook her head dully. “I’m not going home, Mom. Let go—I have to get back to work, or my boss will dock my pay.”

“Please, child, come home. I’m scared when I’m alone, and who knows if something has happened to your father…” Ding Mulan’s voice trembled with tears as she begged.

At this, Lu Anmei’s expression changed, her voice gaining a sharp edge. “I only have a mother, not a father!”

Ding Mulan froze at her words and loosened her grip, allowing Lu Anmei to pull away and leave without a backward glance.

“Has Lu Anmei not been home for a long time?” Qin Ruonan asked, watching her departing figure.

Ding Mulan nodded slowly. “She’s stubborn. After arguing with her father, she ran away and would rather work herself to exhaustion than come home. It’s all my fault.”