REDPEAFOWL, Chapter 7: The Trip
Lu Yipeng has been working for five years and has never taken a day off until he has used up all of his available vacation days. This young police officer has never taken a break and almost always works more hours than anyone else, until everyone calls him the diligent officer of the department.
But how many people know that deep down, Lu Yipeng himself also wants to take a break, to relax and unwind like everyone else. The problem is…
…
“Pengpeng, do you want to go to the beach this summer?” Hong Kongque, sitting on the leather chair in the reception room, asked him with a smirk while flipping through a travel magazine in his hand. Lu Yipeng raised his eyebrows, then got up immediately.
“I’m leaving.” The young police officer jumped up, and Hong Kongque sent people to follow him from work, thinking that something else had gone wrong.
Who would want to go on a trip with this pervert?
“Why not, Pengpeng, don’t you like the beach? Then how about climbing a mountain with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Lu Yipeng spoke out. He couldn’t leave the room because as soon as he got up, the two tall muscular male servants walked in and blocked his way. The two bodyguards were loyal to their order, but the most terrifying was not these two, but the boss sitting arrogantly on a different chair
Lu Yipeng didn’t want to deal with more trouble, so he reluctantly turned back and sat down as before. He saw Hong Kongque look worried.
“What’s the matter, we’ve known each other for many years, can’t you trust me enough to go on a trip with me again?”
Lu Yipeng looked at him immediately, “Who would trust someone like you.”
Hong Kongque looked sad and spoke softly, “I just want you to take a break. Pengpeng, you have worked hard for many years and looks tired and worn out like a person in his seventies.”
Lu Yipeng wanted to say that it was because of this crazy peafowl that made me look so worn out, but speaking out might not be good and might get me in trouble. Since this doctor is mentally unstable, the young police officer decided to calm down and answer calmly, “I just want to relax at home more.”
As soon as Hong Kongque saw that Pengpeng was about to say something, he quickly spoke up, “Alone, alone. I want to be alone.”
Hong Kongque looked at him for a moment before letting out a sigh of disappointment, “So Pengpeng, you want to be alone again this year. Don’t you want to have someone to accompany you?”
Lu Yipeng narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. It was because Hong Kongque spoke like this every year that his days off were never used. Lu Yipeng was afraid that he would be more exhausted than usual. He would rather work at the office than live with this troublesome guy. Directing traffic and chasing after criminals were more enjoyable than dealing with him.
When Hong Kongque saw the young police officer giving him a hungry look, he pretended to flap his wings like a bird on a wire without anyone playing along. He then took out two pieces of paper.
“I just want you to have a break. Here, it’s a flight ticket and a resort in Phuket for four days and three nights. Booked under your name. Invite whoever you want to go with. I will give it to you.”
Lu Yipeng looked at the two tickets that were handed to him for a long time, until he heard another person speak up, “Take it. It’s not poisoned, is it?”
That’s when the young police officer reached out and took it, finding that both tickets were indeed in his name. This time, Lu Yipeng raised his head and looked at Hong Kongque with unexpected feelings.
“What are you planning this time?”
“Nothing. This time, I’m being serious.” Hong Kongque said, “I just want you to have a break. Being bothered by me for four years must be exhausting for you. Go on, go with a friend or a partner if you have one. If you do.”
Lu Yipeng made a face before handing back the tickets, “I am returning them to you. I appreciate your kindness.”
“Pengpeng.” Hong Kongque called out sternly, “When an elder gives you something, you should accept it. It’s common courtesy, no one taught you that?
Honor student my foot.”
Lu Yipeng looked at him before reluctantly grabbing the two tickets and putting them in his pocket. This time, Hong Kongque spoke up again,
“Pengpeng, take the gift and take care of it. Otherwise, I’ll cut off your finger, so you won’t do anything stupid again.”
Lu Yipeng grumbled before nodding, then calmly slipped the two tickets into his shirt pocket. Hong Kongque smiled.
“Do not throw them away. I want you to go on a trip, relax a bit. There is a luxurious resort there. They offer relaxing massage services. If you want to know more details, open the website that I wrote for you. Otherwise, I’ll think that I deceived you again.”
Lu Yipeng glanced at the person in front of him for a moment, then replied,
“It’s not like you booked adjacent rooms again, is it?”
Hong Kong chuckled, “Hey, the rooms are separate. One behind the other, they look far apart, only you and the person you invite will be there. If you don’t believe it, go check it out for yourself. Call and ask. Oh, and don’t think I will impersonate a server or anything like that again, or I’ll cut that pretty head of yours, wash your brain, and put it back in, so you won’t think of anything strange. Haha.”
Lu Yipeng glared at the person in front of him for a moment before finally speaking up, “I’m not crazy to think like that. Don’t do anything and now, can I go back?”
“Go ahead, have fun relaxing.” Hong Kong said and waved his hands on both sides, Lu Yipeng looked at him for a moment and then got up, walked out, pondering what that cunningly planning bird was up to. It’s not like he wants to bother him, but why does a guy like him have to bother him?
Thinking about it, he didn’t really understand…
…
Lu Yipeng returned home, telling himself that Hong Kongque probably had some plan hidden. Those two tickets must have something hidden for sure. Tomorrow, he would have to send them to the evidence team, but when he picked them up, he saw the name of the resort, the address, and the website, the young detective just couldn’t resist verifying Hong Kongque’s words by himself, so he opened his computer and typed the website address.
This time, that cunning peafowl is probably telling the truth…
Lu Yipeng clicked on the details one by one, both the flight tickets and the hotel room were under his name. However, the young detective still thought there might be something hidden in this story. Tomorrow, he would have the evidence team find all the details, just in case there was something unexpected.
How trustworthy is the red peafowl?
With four years of experience with that guy, he should know better than anyone.
Even so, let him check all the details he can find before making any judgment.
Lu Yipeng clicked on the details of the resort for another while. It’s a luxurious five-star resort. It has a private swimming pool. It has a spa. It offers relaxing massage services. It has a private beach for swimming. There are sea activities like snorkeling or sailing to choose from. Just paying for one night’s stay could cost him almost a month’s salary. It is a vacation that looks so good it’s hard to believe for him, a real level mountain policeman. How many more years will it take him to save money to travel at this level?
Before he realized it was late, Lu Yipeng wanted to slap himself for real. He had been fooled by Hong Kongque again. Tomorrow at the evidence collection department, he might encounter something unpleasant about this trip. He should hurry to bed and prepare to handle it better.
But the private swimming pool in the room and the private beach are also interesting, as he won’t have to worry about leg scars. It’s been years since he traveled to the sea… If this time…
…
“Inspector Lu, the plane tickets and the accommodation you sent me to check. I’ve checked everything.” A forensic department officer walked into Lu
Yipeng’s office, before handing him two tickets inside a plastic envelope, and continued, “Where did you get this luxury tour from, your elder relative or what? Or did someone buy it for you so you can go together?”
“Um… it’s just mutual acquaintances. It has nothing to do with the case.” Lu Yipeng answered as the other person looked puzzled, “But you brought it for me to check,so you were thinking it’s another fraudulent case.”
“I thought it looked too good and was afraid of being scammed.” The young policeman replied, and the officer chuckled, “Don’t you trust your elder relative or are you scared? The work of the police makes you suspect everyone, just like me, but don’t worry, this ticket is genuine, and the hotel is in your name. Enjoy your trip, inspector. Your elder relative is really kind. He must like you very much.”
Lu Yipeng chuckled before speaking, “Do you want to go?”
The person being asked looked surprised, “Are you kidding or what? This ticket is in your name. Your relative probably wouldn’t be pleased if you give it to someone else, but if you want to invite me, my wife definitely won’t allow it to happen. Inspector, try inviting someone else, but as an inspector, you probably already have someone in mind anyway. Playing with me like this I might really want to go eventually and you’ll have a hard time.”
Lu Yipeng chuckled dryly, “Sorry, but thank you very much.”
“Well, then go ahead, inspector. Have a fun trip.”
Lu Yipeng waved his hand before grabbing the two tickets to look at. He felt embarrassed to have dreamt last night that he had gone on a vacation by the sea, surrounded by girls on all sides.
Such a day off in his dream.
The young police officer let out a big sigh. After inspecting things this big this time, he could sympathize with him a bit. Lu Yipeng began to think about the list of people he would invite to go with him, just then Duan Feng appeared.
“What are you doing here, Inspector?You have a big smile on your face.”
Lu Yipeng smiled and looked at the tickets in his hand, then raised his head to look at the younger man. “Captain Duan, I just got plane tickets and a free stay in Phuket from an elderly relative.” Just thinking about having to call Hong
Kongque as an “elder relative” made Lu Yipeng cringe, but if he didn’t give him a name, it would be even worse.
“Would you be interested in going with me?”
“What kind of resort in Phuket, Inspector?”
Lu Yipeng explained the details briefly, and the person listening had widened eyes. “Wow… sounds great. I’m gonna check my schedule for a day off.”
Duan Feng went to his desk for a moment and then returned with a disappointed look. “Inspector, I’ve used up all my vacation days this year, because I got caught flirting with a girl.”
Lu Yipeng looked a bit annoyed before smiling, “You took so many days off, didn’t you?”
“And I didn’t even succeed in courting her. That’s what really got me down.”
Duan Feng said. “I’m sorry, Inspector. I’m really unlucky. You should invite someone else to the resort with you. Unfortunately, I have to work for another ten years to afford such a luxurious spa resort. It’s a shame.”
Duan Feng walked off in annoyance towards his desk, making Lu Yipeng unable to hold back a chuckle. After that, he had to deal with the problem of who to invite as a friend for this luxurious vacation.
…
“Maowei.”
“Hey, Yipeng, is there something else this time? Did the peafowl cause you harm?” YuMaowei greeted Lu Yipeng with a lively voice, almost causing Lu
Yipeng to choke on his saliva, “Oh, no. It turned out well.”
“This is not just because you got demoted from the inspector position, then you are asking for herbs to burn so you can get the position back.” Lu Yipeng quickly rejected, “No, it’s just that someone gave me two tickets to Phuket with free accommodation, see that you used to complain about not going, so I called to invite you.”
“Oh, I really love you Yipeng, inviting friends before inviting your girlfriend, very nice.” Yu Maowei said. Then they heard a muffled sound from behind, silent for a while, and then continued the conversation, “Oh no, I probably can’t go, my father is furious, probably male menopause or something… because he forced me to memorize three hundred types of medicine this week… Ouch! I know dad, I am talking to a friend.” Yu Maowei turned around and then turned back to the phone, “Just like this for now, my father seems to be in a bad mood, ask someone else, maybe Qing Li can go. You guys used to date, right? Oh my!
I’ll hang up now.”
Yu Maowei hung up the phone with a sigh, leaving Lu Yipeng feeling confused and trying to find a friend to go on this trip together… Who else is there?
…
“Hey, Yipeng, not taking a summer break this year?” Chen Qian greeted as he walked past Lu Yipeng’s work desk. After inspecting some case files in the next room, Lu Yipeng smiled dryly.
“I would like to take a break, but I can’t find anyone to go with.”
Chen Qian raised an eyebrow before chuckling, “Because you’re always busy working, until you don’t look at anyone in particular. Why don’t you try going alone, maybe you’ll meet someone special.”
“Um.. that’s true.” Lu Yipeng scratched his head, “Thank you so much, Vice Captain Chen.”
“No problem.” Chen Qian said, “Make a decision quickly, don’t miss the deadline for taking a leave.”
“I understand.”
But even after work, Lu Yipeng still couldn’t find anyone to go with. If he were to go alone as Chen Qian suggested, there would still be some concerns.
Phuket was not a city he had visited much before, and Thai language could be an issue. He needed someone to go with.
Lu Yipeng drove back home, took a shower, changed his clothes, and then sat down to write a leave request for a summer break. After finishing it, he still couldn’t decide who to invite. Those he thought could go together couldn’t go, and that ticket was just teasing him too much. He just wanted to go for a massage, relax in the water and unwind. After working diligently for years…
Should I return the tickets?…
But when he thought of the expression of a person always ready to kill, Hong Kongque, when he presented himself, Lu Yipeng had to overturn his thoughts. Damn it. Why is someone like him so unlucky? He had two tickets ready to stay at a resort for free, and could invite anyone. Still, he couldn’t invite anyone. What sin did his life commit?
Lu Yipeng sat and thought until late. Still, I couldn’t think of how to deal with his own life and these two tickets. The ticket was already written. I want to go on a trip, but I have no one to go with as a friend.
Or did Hong Kongque plan this from the beginning and give the tickets so closely?!
The young police officer quickly made up his mind. Well, better to plan ahead this time.
Not sure this time. He could have solid evidence to drag that peafowl to the lockup.
…
Hong Kongque was having fun throwing mango seeds for Paechikchik to catch. Just as Lu Yipeng opened the door. When he saw the face of the young police officer, that bird panicked and called out immediately, “Pengpeng.”
Lu Yipeng had to smile at the bird before speaking when the bird’s owner looked back, “Hey, Pengpeng, want to take me out for a vacation or what?”
“Not really…” Lu Yipeng said, before looking at the person in front of him with a serious face, “Are you free this time?”
“Why? If you need help, then I can be free.” Hong Kongque said, throwing a mango seed for Paechikchik, who was perched on a pole two meters away. The white-feathered cuckoo bird caught it with precision, impressing Lu Yipeng who looked amazed at the bird’s abilities.
“Pengpeng, can you try it?” Hong Kongque turned and said, but Lu Yipeng immediately brushed off the mango seed, “I’m not a bird!”
The person being teased chuckled, pleased, before turning his chair back to face him clearly, “Is there anything else you need, Inspector-Lu?”
Lu Yipeng admitted that he really struggled when facing Kongque. His authentic and serious demeanor made it clear that he was being pushed to his limits. However, with a plan already in place, he had to stick to it as closely as possible.
“Kongque, I invite you to go on a vacation with me.”
The room fell silent as soon as the sentence ended. Hong Kongque, sitting there, looked at him with a piercing gaze as if they had never met before. Lu Yipeng mentally prepared himself, knowing that this was just another attempt to unsettle him, just like every time before. The young man nervously continued.
“I rarely get a chance to relax when I see you around. Let’s take this opportunity to unwind together.”
“Squall! Squall!” The bird that had been perched on the corner suddenly cried out, before flying around Lu Yipeng’s head and chanting, “Storm is coming, storm is coming.”
“Storm is coming!” Hong Kongque, who had been sitting quietly, spoke out and banged the table, “Who will go and see if today’s weather is hot or dusty?!”
Lu Yipeng was fed up and just wanted to grab both the bird and its owner and strangle them to end their annoying antics once and for all. He let out a sigh, trying to keep his composure, “It’s hot, how can there be a storm?!”
“Nowadays, the world is unpredictable. Anything can happen.” Hong
Kongque replied in a serious tone, almost like a science teacher, “If you can invite me to go on a vacation, then the storm may indeed be approaching the hot zone.”
Lu Yipeng’s face went through various shades of green and red, alternating between looking calm and flustered. The main reason for this emotional turmoil was likely the pent-up frustration from not being able to vent his anger towards the person right in front of him.
Clenching his teeth, he remembered being rebutted in a similar way once before. Lu Yipeng released some of the built-up tension and tried to coax Hong Kongque.
“The ticket you provided me with is precisely timed. Anyone would struggle to adjust in such a short notice. Going alone wouldn’t be worth it, and searching elsewhere would likely only lead me back to you.”
The truth was that Lu Yipeng was quite confident that Hong Kongque had planned to invite him on a trip with him and engineered this whole thing knowing this would be the outcome. Even though he had graciously bought him two free tickets, which would make Lu Yipeng usually quite confident, he had learned his lesson twice before that Hong Kongque could easily be swayed by anything. Not even he himself could predict that the guy’s plan would be so easily understood. It had to be unraveled layer by layer, but surely the guy would one day become entangled in his own plans. It was not certain whether it would be today or not, but it had come to this point. He would do his best for his skills.
Hong Kongque raised his eyebrows slightly before letting out a sigh. Paechikchik, who was flying around, flew back to the same island as before. He tilted his head and looked at himself.
“Pengpeng, you are to be pitied, truly.” Hong Kongque said, with a troubled look on his face, “To want to go on a trip so badly that you had to muster up the courage to invite me…” He said before sighing again. Lu Yipeng wanted to respond truthfully that he had been inviting him for three or four years, and now that he had finally accepted, he was acting aloof again. What did he intend to do?
“I’m not so desperate.” Lu Yipeng tried to maintain a calm facade, “You usually like holding my hand, so I don’t really want to go with you.”
“Oh…” Hong Kongque sighed long, then glared at him, “So you couldn’t find anyone else and just thought of me at the last minute?”
“It’s more like that.” Lu Yipeng reluctantly admitted. He knew he had to manipulate this hummingbird of a man with various emotions, “I thought about it, and it seems like you’re the only one who could go with me.”
Hong Kongque chuckled at this, so loud that even Paechikchik was startled.
Lu Yipeng himself braced himself as well.
“Pengepeng, do you really want me to go with you, or do you have another plan in mind?”
Lu Yipeng looked at him and tried to compose himself before responding fully, “I do want you to go with me, really. I figure that with you, I won’t have to worry about the Red Peafowl’s behavior.”
Hong Kongque chuckled with delight, “I also want to go on a vacation with you, just us two.” He looked at the person sitting in the chair before tilting his head and smiling at the person standing. Lu Yipeng’s heart raced. Finally, that stubborn bird of a man would agree with him. After a moment, Hong Kongque let out a relieved sigh.
“Unfortunately, I have to fly to attend a stock meeting in America tomorrow. I probably won’t be able to go. How about this, let Little Zhi go instead. He probably won’t mind, right, Little Zhi?”
Little Zhi, or Luo Songzhi as he stood guard with his arms crossed, calmly replied, “No problem, sir.”
Lu Yipeng blinked his eyes thoughtfully, not expecting this turn of events. It seemed that Hong Kongque was not actually going on a trip with him after all.
The young detective turned to look at Lup Songzhi, who was indeed sincere. They had worked together once before, and Luo Songzhi was not a bad person despite his large stature. He had a scar on his face and a voice like a hoarse horse, but asking Lu Songzhi about Hong Kongque’s secrets… that was another matter. Where had that traitorous Kongque revealed secrets to others? And each of his servants was loyal and devoted, as if programmed to be so.
Truly crazy!
“Okay, it’s settled then, no problem, Inspector.” Hong Kongque said before continuing, “Wait for me at the airport tomorrow, and I’ll have Luo Songzhi drive you. Oh, and you won’t have to go through customs to check my bags because I’ll be flying before you.”
Lu Yipeng raised his head to look at Hong Kongque before blinking his eyes thoughtfully, as if about to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
Well, at least Luo Songzhi was more trustworthy than his boss. No telling if this time he might just wheedle some important information out.
…
Lu Yipeng looked down at his watch. He was standing at the airport, waiting for Luo Songzhi to arrive eagerly. In all honesty, he wanted to have a chat with his trip companion before embarking, to get to know each other better. Although he had other plans for the trip, going on a vacation together with someone he wasn’t close with was indeed strange.
While contemplating calming himself down. Finally, he might actually get some real relaxation. Yes, because that guy had a quiet nature. He didn’t usually involve himself with anyone. Then the voice of someone became louder.
“Inspector Lu.”
Lu Yipeng turned to look and almost smiled, but quickly changed his expression to a puzzled one, “Oh, where are you flying out before me?”
“There is a storm in America.” Hong Kongque said. He was dressed in a dark red suit over a light gray shirt, wearing black glasses, with a number of
followers behind him, “Because you of course.”
Lu Yipeng frowned before continuing, “I’m sorry, but I wonder if heaven wants you to go with me instead.”
Hong Kongque just cleared his throat, “I suppose heaven would pity poor Little Zhi if I let you two go together again. Coming back this time you might not have all of your body parts complete.”
Lu Yipeng gritted his teeth, wondering when Hong Kongque would stop teasing him, “I drive a car more easily than riding a motorbike like you.”
“Oh… well then.” Hong Kongque dragged his voice, “But I never took you to crash then and now.”
The young police officer nodded, “Alright, Kongque, so are you going to go with me?”
“Yes.” Hong Kongque nodded, “I pity poor Little Zhi, the innocent guy who couldn’t handle the mischievous person like you Pengpeng, but I’m afraid if I let you go alone, you’ll get lost and cry over there again, then it will be troublesome for me.”
Lu Yipeng tried to smile as broadly as he could, “Well, hope you won’t do anything strange or sneaky over there. I’m too lazy to explain to others that I’m taking you on a trip.”
“Very well said.” Hong Kongque said, smiling at the corner of his mouth,
“Call me Grandpa Kong.”
“What?!” Lu Yipeng exclaimed, raising his eyebrows, looking at his hands crossed with a serious face, “I said call me Grandpa Kong… Can’t you hear?
You are like a kid who doesn’t know how to respect adults.”
Lu Yipeng pouted for a moment. He managed to pull himself together, “Are you crazy? How can you be my grandpa?”
Hong Kongque chuckled, then grabbed Lu Yipeng’s chin, “Let’s check-in, Little Pengpeng, if you slow down you will miss the flight, I won’t carry you on my back and run after the plane.”
Lu Yipeng glared at him before turning his face away, walking briskly towards the check-in counter, followed by Hong Kongque, who chuckled goodnaturedly before following along, with his underlings helping to carry the luggage.
…
Before this, when writing about Mister Paitoon, I thought that Khun Paitoon was already a skilled and elegant leader. But when Hong Kongque entered, Khun Paitoon immediately got pushed out with him, saying that our grandfather Que is more important than the elegant leader. He pulled his tail and wobbled his wings, waiting for Pengpeng to come and beg (?). In summary, this pair seems to be a bit slippery together, right?!
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