Chapter Twenty-Five: Former Classmates

With the manager’s approval, Lu Anmei could no longer refuse, and with a troubled expression, she handed the dustpan to the manager. The woman took it with two fingers, her brows furrowed, as if terrified something dirty inside might touch her, and loudly called another employee over to clean up.

Qin Ruonan and An Changpu followed Lu Anmei into a small, rather cramped room. Inside stood a table, a chair, and a single iron-framed bed that looked rather grimy. A few pieces of clothing hung on the wall by the door, among them a security guard’s uniform. It was evidently the break room for the night shift security guard.

“What’s your job here at the supermarket?” Qin Ruonan closed the door and sat beside Lu Anmei on the bed, while An Changpu took a seat at the table.

Throughout, Lu Anmei’s attitude remained icy, as though deeply displeased by their visit, yet unable to offend them because of their identities. Her face taut, she replied dully, “Cashier.”

“Your mother mentioned you’ve refused to go home for quite some time, preferring to work outside. Is it here you’ve been working?”

Lu Anmei nodded.

“That woman earlier—is she your manager? There were plenty of people idling about, so why did she ask you to do those extra chores?”

“What’s there to ask? No one else wants to do it, so I have to. What do you want from me, anyway? Ask what you need, so I can get back to work. If you stay any longer, the manager will find fault with me!” Lu Anmei’s patience was clearly wearing thin.

“We’re here for the reason we told you outside—to talk about your father.” Qin Ruonan repeated their purpose.

Lu Anmei glared at the two, her face full of rejection, with not a trace of grief or sorrow.

“What’s there to ask? He’s dead, already dead. If you want answers, go find whoever killed him. Ask whatever you like, but you won’t get anything from me.” Her tone was bitter and defiant.

“There’s not a question of getting answers or not. No matter what, you’re Lu Min’s daughter. Even if you weren’t close, as family you have your own understanding of your father. We’ll speak with your sister and mother as well, but you can’t shirk this—it’s your duty as a daughter.”

“I have no duty to him. You simply can’t understand.” Lu Anmei stubbornly turned her face away.

An Changpu was about to speak, but Qin Ruonan suddenly raised her hand to stop him. She sighed and addressed Lu Anmei, “We’ve heard about your situation from your mother. I understand your feelings—truly I do. If he were only your father, with no connection to anyone else, and you chose to avoid him, not wanting to mention him, I could understand and even support that. But have you thought of your mother? She still cared for your father. Her husband died under mysterious circumstances; she needs answers. And the murderer is still at large. If he escapes justice this time, who knows if he’ll harm others—or even your closest family.”

Qin Ruonan showed remarkable patience, her demeanor gentle and warm—something An Changpu had never seen from her. Since joining the Major Crimes Unit, she had presented only two faces: courteous but distant to outsiders, or cold and curt to him, always charging forward with relentless force.

Many joked that strong women were a new breed beyond gender, and to An Changpu, Qin Ruonan seemed to embody that. Now, seeing her display a softer side, he felt a little out of place.

But the awkwardness didn’t last, as Qin Ruonan soon reverted to her usual state.

Lu Anmei, moved by Qin Ruonan’s words, found herself at a loss. She was unwilling to agree, yet had no grounds to refuse. After hesitating, she glanced at An Changpu.

An Changpu wasn’t sure why she suddenly turned her attention to him, but before he could speak, Qin Ruonan, understanding immediately, intervened.

“An Changpu, go investigate those hoodlums. Leave this to me.”

Her tone left no room for discussion, carrying a subtle command.

An Changpu frowned at her but said nothing.

“I don’t know how you two usually work things out, but honestly, with a man present, there are things I can’t say—too awkward.” Lu Anmei added from the side. Though she didn’t name him directly, her meaning was clear: she didn’t want An Changpu, a man, there, making Qin Ruonan the obvious choice.

With no way out, An Changpu sighed and took the car keys from Qin Ruonan, noting the faintly triumphant look on her face, then quietly left.

On the drive to the Jiangkou District sub-bureau, An Changpu called a university friend working in B City to ask about Qin Ruonan. His curiosity about her had grown, to the point where he could no longer resist probing. He wanted to know what had made this unfamiliar policewoman so hostile and resistant toward him.

When the call connected, his friend in B City, hearing he was inquiring about Qin Ruonan, immediately asked with pride, “So? Impressed? Our B City policewomen are just as capable in C City, right?”

“She’s definitely capable, but why is her temper so peculiar?” An Changpu, close with this friend, couldn’t help but recount Qin Ruonan’s behavior.

The friend was surprised. “That’s odd. Qin Ruonan’s not the easiest to get along with, but I never saw her target anyone like that. Did you offend her back in school?”

“Back in school? Was she our classmate? I have no recollection of her at all. Same year?”

His friend teased him, “What’s wrong with your memory? She wasn’t just in the same year—she was in the class next door, under the same squad leader. We saw her every week at meetings. You never noticed?”

“I hardly spent meetings staring at female classmates, you know!” An Changpu was dumbfounded, racking his brain but unable to recall anyone like Qin Ruonan.

“True enough. Back then, it wasn’t you watching the girls—it was all the girls watching you! The rest of us, who couldn’t get a girlfriend, were green with envy!” his friend joked, then grew earnest. “Qin Ruonan’s had a tough time. Her family situation is unusual, so try to be understanding. Apart from being competitive, she doesn’t have any real flaws. Us men should cut her some slack.”

“What’s her family situation?” An Changpu grew curious.

After hearing his friend’s account, his mood grew complex. They chatted a bit longer, and by then he’d reached his destination, so he ended the call.

Before getting out, An Changpu scratched his head. To think that Qin Ruonan had been a classmate in the next classroom, managed by the same squad leader, and he had no memory of her at all. That made one thing more likely: he must have offended her without even realizing it.