REDPEAFOWL, Chapter 18.1: Blind Date

If we were to talk about the hotshot police officer currently in the Hong Kong Police Department, one of the names that must be mentioned is undoubtedly the young inspector called Lu Yipeng.

Lu Yipeng is a police officer who graduated from the Police Academy with honors as number one. After joining the service, he has achieved a lot, until being appointed as an inspector at the age of twenty-three or twenty-four. With a well-proportioned, masculine physique and a sharp, handsome face that rivals the celebrities of this era, the name of Lu Yipeng is often picked up in conversations whenever one has to speak of any young police officer.

For all these reasons, the young inspector often draws attention from higherups in various matters, including…

“Look at yourself!” Lu Yipeng burst out, forgetting to maintain etiquette. He was sitting in the private office of Chen Qian, wondering what he must have gotten wrong.

“Um, yes, it does seem like you heard correctly, inspector.” The older man spoke, then continued with a good mood, “Former Director General Tang Cheng came to visit us at the department the other day. Her daughter happened to see you and came to talk to me. Once he learned about your work history, he liked you a lot and even mentioned wanting you to marry her.”

“Um… hold on a second.” Lu Yipeng spoke, with a lingering sense of unease. Just a month ago, he was just entrusted by Hong Kong with feeding birds, and now he was going to be entrusted with marrying someone else again. What kind of karma was this guy playing at?

“I’ve never seen Former Director Tong’s daughter look so happy before.

Suddenly, you come here saying he wants you to marry his daughter. It’s not like that, this is the digital age now, sir.”

“I’m not forcing you to marry her right away, I just wanted you to have a chat with her first.” Chen Qian said, looking at the young police officer’s face, then sighed heavily. Playing around, he teased the young inspector, making him speak up, “What’s wrong, inspector? You seem relieved as if you were afraid of being caught and forced into marriage. Do you want to remain single or what?”

“No, sir.” Lu Yipeng replied, “Um… just coming to say you want to propose is a bit surprising, to say the least.”

Chen Qian did not appear to agree visibly but did not say anything on the matter. After staring at the young police officer’s face for another moment, he continued, “Since you don’t have a night shift tonight and last week’s case has been closed, how about going to have dinner at the place we arranged? Bring

Captain Duan along as well as a companion.”

Finishing his words, he handed a paper to the young police officer, Lu

Yipeng, who accepted it and looked up at him immediately, “This is a famous restaurant around here, I’m going to…”

“Come on, inspector, don’t be too tense. This matter was arranged by the former director. He said he wanted you to meet her once. Also, she wants to talk to you privately.” Stopping for a moment, Chen Qian continued, “I’ll tell you straight. His daughter, Lili, is only twenty-two this year. She just finished her studies in England, beautiful and modern, don’t tell anyone. If you marry her, you’ll get a treasure trove. She’s good at her job, so chances like this don’t come by often, inspector.”

Lu Yipeng remained silent and thoughtful for a while. Eventually, he reluctantly agreed.

…

“Wow, meeting a daughter of a former director is quite lucky, isn’t it,

Inspector? This guy is really lucky.” Duan Feng spoke with surprise after hearing the whole story. Lu Yipeng nodded tiredly.

“Like that, tonight you keep me company a little bit.”

“Um… really, that fancy restaurant. I want to go, no matter what.” Duan Feng said with a troubled expression, “But coincidentally, I already have an appointment tonight, an important one.”

Lu Yipeng looked at his nephew’s face, then smiled slightly, “Another date with a girl, huh?”

“Well… inspector, you already know.” The young police officer chuckled, “It’s the singer whom your inspector helped to catch the thief who stole her purse the other day.”

“Oh.” Lu Yipeng nodded immediately, “That should be an interesting date then.”

“Well… think of it like that, it’s a good start, I have to nourish it fully.” Duan Feng said, smiling slightly and Lu Yipeng nodded again.

“Well, good luck then. I’ll just go alone.”

“Susuna, inspector. I heard the director’s daughter is a good catch. She’s beautiful, you have to accept her as your wife.”

“Um… I’ve never seen her face before. Don’t speak like that yet.” Lu Yipeng said, a little nervous at the thought of the other person.

“Well… have some confidence in yourself, inspector. With this physique and appearance, anyone would be captivated and crazy.”

Lu Yipeng didn’t say anything, just chuckled dryly. Inside…

…

Eventually, the young police officer had to go see the person alone as scheduled. After work, Lu Yipeng returned to his lodge, searching for the most elegant clothes to wear. He chuckled to himself, not realizing how excited he would be to see the person for the first time.

But as the young police officer took off his old clothes to bathe and change into new clothes, the fresh red scar at the base of his thigh revealed itself. Lu Yipeng was so shocked that he forgot to breathe. He looked at the scar on his leg, before finally letting out a sigh.

It was true that he might be lucky to have the opportunity to see the former director’s daughter, his former good friend, but no matter how lucky he was, that scar on his leg would probably erase all that luck. No one would want a son-in-law with a scar like that at the base of his thigh, and no woman would want a husband with someone else’s name carved on his thigh like that.

Lu Yipeng moved his hand to caress the scar on his leg, and then he started to think deeply.

That crazy peacock really is the one who forced him to have this scar on his leg. Why doesn’t he learn to take responsibility for real, sometimes.

The young police officer almost wanted to change his plans. Instead of going to see his daughter, he wanted to go to Hong Kongque’s mansion, but it was just a fleeting thought. His story with Hong Kongque and this scar…

Four years have passed… Four years with the scar that marked his body.

Him and that peacock…

Lu Yipeng didn’t know what Hong Kongque thought, if he was more than just seeing him as a plaything, a source of joy, a source of irritation… a source of company for the bird when he’s not around… Besides that, Hong Kongque saw him as something else…

The young police officer let out a sigh again. He couldn’t figure out that old peacock, he couldn’t guess what emotions were hiding behind that innocent face. He had no idea what the relationship between him and that house sparrow really was.

But then, one night he woke up and saw the sleeping face of the man who seemed like a fairytale character. He couldn’t resist reaching out to touch that face lightly, and then kissing his hair. Sometimes, Hong Kongque felt like a dream…

Yes. It’s not clear on his leg like this!!

Lu Yipeng decided to walk into the bathroom, take a shower and dress up nicely, then he got into the car to go to the restaurant where the appointment was originally set.

That crazy peacock, he wanted him to see something beautiful, to calm his mind a bit.

…

As soon as the ticket was handed over to the hostess at the front of the restaurant, Lu Yipeng was taken to the VIP dining room immediately. The young police officer felt a little nervous. The dining room was quite spacious, elegantly decorated and upscale. There were already two people sitting inside. One was the former director Tang Cheng, who must be about sixty-two this year. Sitting next to him was a young woman in a bright red cheongsam. Her hair was elegantly black and her face was beautifully made up. When she saw his face, she raised the hand covering her mouth, but from her eyes, it was clear that she was smiling at him.

The heart of Lu Yipeng immediately raced.

“Come in first, Inspector. No need to stand so stiffly.” Tang Cheng said. He was in his sixties and quite thin. Lu Yipeng had begun to turn pale, but the former inspector Tang Cheng smiled at the young police officer with an indifferent look, then greeted him, “Sawasdee krab, former Deputy Minister.”

“Here. No need to be so formal. Please sit down.” The older person, Lu

Yipeng, walked into the dining room immediately. The hostess standing there pulled out a chair for him. Once he sat down, Tang Cheng turned to look at the young police officer with a serious expression.

“Inspector, it seems we are in the same situation.” The older man said sternly until Lu Yipeng stiffened, “Why is that, sir?”

“Just look.” Tang Cheng said nonchalantly, “Inspector, you just walked in and not even a minute later, my daughter turns red with embarrassment. This is not just called mischievous, what should I call it then?”

The daughter immediately perked up, “My dad…what nonsense are you talking about? Who’s turning red?”

Although she spoke like that, she still covered her face with a napkin as a grand gesture. Tang Cheng saw and chuckled approvingly.

“You didn’t want to come at first. Can you say thanks now? Well, I am going to go for a walk outside for a bit. You can chat with the inspector first.” The father said, and the daughter perked up.

“Dad!” The daughter called, but the father stood up and turned to speak to the young police officer, “Take care of my little daughter, Inspector.”

Lu Yipeng nodded hesitantly. Before the elderly former police officer walked out of the dining room, leaving the two young men and women together in embarrassment.

“Um… I have to apologize on behalf of my dad. Once he gets older, he likes to do things like this all the time.” The young woman spoke up until Lu Yipeng finally had the chance to get a good look at her. She had an oval face with slightly drooping eyes. When she looked up and smiled a little, she looked even more charming to the young police officer, who almost let out a moan.

“It’s okay. When people reach a certain age, they just do what they want like this. It’s normal.” Lu Yipeng said, feeling a lump in his throat. This beautiful woman… Could she become his bride one day?

“I… I’m Lu Yipeng.” The young police officer decided to introduce himself before following the conversation. The woman looked at him and smiled shyly,

“I’m… Dong Qingqing. You can call me Qingqing.”

“Qingqing.” Lu Yipeng called out, feeling even more shy than before. For years, he had been so broken by Hong Kongque that he didn’t dare to look at women, as it always left him feeling empty inside. But today, Lu Yipeng almost wanted to make Hong Kongque just a dream. This beautiful and lovely woman… He never thought he would have a chance to meet her, and even have someone to support him as a father figure.

He wanted to forget that peacock completely… really.

The waiter brought the first dish. While the two young people were hesitating, Lu Yipeng arranged the food according to the standards of a good gentleman, serving the woman first. Dong Qingqing thanked him shyly, and then they started talking.

“What kind of food do you normally like, Inspector?”

Lu Yipeng paused for a moment, “Snow fish.” He replied, looking at the beautiful woman’s hands as she took the food. He frowned when thinking more about someone else’s hands.

“Pengpeng, have some of this.” Hong Kongque spoke, offering a piece of snow fish on his plate to Lu Yipeng. Lu Yipeng made a confused expression, “I already have a full plate. Can’t you see?”

“I see.” Hong Kongque replied, then continued with a smile, “So, Pengpeng, open your mouth. It’s empty here.”

Lu Yipeng glanced at the other person before closing his mouth tightly. Hong

Kongque chuckled, “Hey, it’s not hot anymore. I can blow it for you, or should I feed you first?” He said, making a gesture to spoon-feed him, but Lu Yipeng refused to be fed, “Are you crazy? I’m not a little kid.”

“Then open your mouth, otherwise I’ll have to keep spoon-feeding you or should I have to pull out the fork to feed you.”

Finally, Lu Yipeng had to open his mouth. To swallow that piece of fish.

Hong Kongque looked at his face, then spoke again, “Your mouth is long.”

Before the young police officer could say anything, the other person leaned in and lightly kissed him on the lips.

“Got it.” Hong Kongque said with a small smile at the corner of his mouth. Lu Yipeng quickly raised his hand to push that side away, but it was too slow as usual.

“Inspector?” The call of the young woman startled the young inspector, before he looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“What are you thinking about?” Tang Qingqing asked, tilting her head cutely as Lu Yipeng shook his head, “Nothing, just thinking about snow fish.”

“Oh… do you want to add something else? It feels like you didn’t choose from the menu in the first place.”

“It’s okay.” The young inspector quickly replied, then tried to engage the other party in conversation, “What did you study, Qingqing?”

“Law and political science.” The woman replied, “I am about to take the exam to become a prosecutor.”

“Oh…” Lu Yipeng sighed, then blinked and pondered the similarities between a prosecutor and a police officer… it might be better than the mafia and the police…

“Then I wish you success in the exam. I’ll be rooting for you.” The young inspector said, scratching his head.

Tang Qingqing nodded and said, “Thank you. By the way, Inspector, how have you been working since you were a child? I saw my father working hard day and night, and sometimes he didn’t come home for many days.”

“Well… being a police officer is like that.” Lu Yipeng replied, “There is hardly any free time.”

“That’s true.” Tang Qingqing said, then made a sad face, so Lu Yipeng quickly changed the subject, “And you, Qingqing. Do you have any hobbies?”

“Well… I like reading and driving around. I enjoy driving out in the countryside and seeing the peaceful atmosphere, it feels relaxing.”

“Um… maybe I should try it too.” Lu Yipeng said as Tang Qingqing looked at him and smiled, “I heard that you drive very fast, Inspector. I saw it in the news.”

“Oh, uh…” The young inspector immediately felt embarrassed, “I chase criminals, how can I drive slowly?”

“Well, be careful and watch out. If something happens, the person who loves the inspector will be very upset.” Tang Qingqing said as she looked at Lu Yipeng, then thought back to when Hong Kongque was driving the car. Not seeing the crazy peacock getting upset with his driving a bit, and she would have a completely different attitude.

“No one loves me that much.” Lu Yipeng replied, causing the other person to look surprised, “What are you talking about, inspector? At least you still have your father. Your mother must be worried about you, inspector.”

“Oh… my parents passed away a long time ago.”

Tang Qingqing was taken aback for a moment, but didn’t give up easily,

“Even so, at least you have relatives, inspector. They care about you.”

“I don’t have siblings, and my relatives aren’t very close.” Lu Yipeng replied, as Tang Qingqing looked at him with an appropriate amount of astonishment,

“Inspector… um… have you never been in love before?”

“If you mean a girlfriend, then yes, I have had one, but we broke up. I guess my temperament is too difficult to handle.” Lu Yipeng said, before letting out a sigh, “I must be too difficult to deal with.”

Tang Qingqing looked at him and nodded, “Inspector, you are very dedicated to the police profession, isn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And… have you ever loved anyone more than being a police officer?”

Lu Yipeng was silent for a while. He looked at the young woman, his mind wandering back to his time in the police academy, back to the times with his father, back to the moments when he was determined to become a police officer…

“I… I can’t give up being a police officer.” The young inspector finally spoke.

before raising his head to look at the young woman, “This profession is my dream, my dedication, my identity…”

Tang Qingqing looked at him, before letting out a sigh, “That’s what I didn’t want to hear. It’s because you’re a police officer that I can’t be with you.”

“Huh…”

“Father doesn’t really have much time for me anymore. I don’t want a husband who doesn’t have time for me either.”

“Huh…”

“Inspector…” Tang Ching Ching looked at him, pursing her lips, “I have a question for you, inspector… If we try dating and one day, when ready, would you be willing to resign and raise a family?”

Lu Yipeng’s expression was visibly troubled. He pursed his lips several times until finally, the young woman spoke up.

“I may be quick to make decisions sometimes, but if you are sure. It would be better if we got to know each other as friends.”

“Yes. I understand.” Lu Yipeng finally spoke. The two youths looked at each other for a moment, before the young police officer spoke up again.

“Let’s have a meal together, slowly it will help clear things up.”

Tang Qingqing looked at him before smiling, “Yes.”

…

Tang Cheng seemed somewhat indifferent when he realized that this date meeting this time was not very productive. He turned to Lu Yipeng with a look of seriousness, but was stopped by his daughter.

“Inspector Lu hasn’t done anything wrong, but I don’t like the job of a police officer. Father, you already know this.”

Tang Cheng looked at her daughter, “But… I want you to have a good future. A good husband.”

“A good man. Not just Inspector Lu.” Tang Qingqing spoke with a smile, “Please, father. I will have a life partner regardless. I want a person whom I believe is right for me. If I marry Inspector Lu, neither of us may be happy.”

Tang Cheng turned to look at the young police officer, “Lu Yipeng, do you love being a police officer more than my daughter?”

Lu Yipeng looked at her before nodding, “Yes.”

The former police chief looked at him for another moment, then let out a big sigh, “Well, then, go ahead. You will surely be a great police officer.”

“I’m sorry, sir.” Lu Yipeng said. After that, he separated himself and walked back to the car, started the engine, and drove off.

A good police officer, huh…?

Lu Yipeng drove along the road that ran alongside the bay, thinking about

Tang Qingqing’s words about driving for leisure, as he often did. He had been driving for a long time, but he never thought to look at the surroundings to relax. He focused on memorizing every corner and alley of the road, in case he needed to escape or chase criminals. His whole life was dedicated to being a true police officer.

Lu Yipeng had hoped to be a police officer since he was a child, and he was confident that he would be an outstanding one. He believed wholeheartedly that he would hold onto the police profession for the rest of his life. He never regretted his choice of career.

Until…

The car, a mix of old and new car parts, stopped in front of the steel gate of the mansion standing by the Hong Kong bay. Lu Yipeng sat quietly in the car for a moment. Eventually, he took out his mobile phone and made a call. After waiting for a moment, he finally spoke to the person he needed to talk to.

“Kongque, are you asleep yet?”

“I was about to get to my pillow when Li Kong said you called me just now.” The voice at the end of the line answered, then continued, “What is it this time?

The case from last week is closed, isn’t it? Or is there a new case coming in?”

“No, it’s not about a case. Lu Yipeng answered, then raised his head to look at the sleek black figure of the figure behind the steel gate under the dark shadows of dusk.

“I’m in front of your gate.”

“?”

“Can I come in?”

“Pengpeng, are you not feeling well?”

“…”

“What is it?”

Lu Yipeng pursed his lips before answering, “I miss you.”

“…” Silence hung in the air for a while before the reply came, “It’s not a full moon tonight.”

“Am I supposed to only come to see you during the full moon? Someone else is in your bed now?”

“Mind your own manners. I don’t casually bring anyone to sleep with me.”

“Is the other side of your bed empty?”

“Yes.”

“Can I sleep with you?”

Silence hung in the air again. Before the tall, imposing gate slowly creaked open, the car parked waiting gradually turned in towards the interior of the estate. —

   **Many may be confused about the chapter numbers…

   seek your permission to backtrack a bit, as upon reflection I realize that the content of       THE RED PEAFOWL CHAPTERS HOME

 

REDPEAFOWL, Chapter 19 may have jumped ahead too quickly. So I

   decided to write a couple of parts prior to that, but don’t want to move the chapter, as it might become more confusing (or it already is). Therefore, the inserted chapter became 18.1 (but in the overall volume, the numbering will follow the cover).

So… let’s stretch the noodles for a bit longer (running away from the readers)

1. I really want two volumes!!! << It’s taking forever!!!

      THE RED PEAFOWL CHAPTERS HOME