Chương 16: Officer, I Understand~ Time to Relax After get off work

The car turned several corners and drove onto the street that Lin Zhou had visited yesterday.

A pink sign emerged from the middle of the buildings.

The words "Half Moon Foot Massage and Wellness Center" seemed less ambiguous in the afternoon sunlight.

The neon lights were off, leaving only the pink base paint on the sign itself.

Old Zhou parked his car at the entrance.

The car was turned off, and the engine noise stopped.

"arrive."

He said.

Lin Zhou opened the car door and slung his tool bag over his shoulder.

Old Zhou also got out of the car, closed the door, and stood next to the car.

He held his enamel mug, glanced up at the pink sign, and remained expressionless.

The two walked towards the door, one after the other.

The eight large characters on the glass door, "Legitimate Business Operation, Please Do Not Disturb Residents," are still there.

The printed sheet next to it that read "Lock broken, temporarily closed" is gone.

Lin Zhou pushed open the door.

The wind chimes on the door frame tinkled a few times.

Two girls were sitting on the sofa in the lobby.

One is the same white tank top she wore yesterday; the small mole on her collarbone is still in the same spot under the fluorescent light.

The other one was someone I hadn't seen yesterday; she was wearing a dark brown turtleneck sweater, her hair was dyed chestnut brown, and she had big, wavy curls.

The two of them were looking down at their phones.

Hearing the door open, they all looked up in unison.

The woman in the white tank top saw Lin Zhou first.

Her expression brightened, and the corners of her mouth curved up as she was about to speak.

Then she saw Old Zhou behind Lin Zhou.

Her lips froze.

The girl in the dark brown sweater also saw Lao Zhou.

The screen of her phone was still lit, but her fingers were not moving.

She slowly placed her phone face down on the sofa cushion and sat up a little straighter.

It felt as if some of the air had been sucked out of the hall.

The woman in the white tank top stood up, her movements much slower than yesterday.

She subconsciously tugged at the neckline of her tank top.

The neckline wasn't low to begin with, but she still pulled it up a bit.

"We are closed today."

Her voice was half a tone higher than yesterday.

Old Zhou stood next to Lin Zhou, holding an enamel mug.

He looked at the girl in the white tank top, then at the girl in the dark brown sweater.

He noticed the expressions on their faces.

His eyes seemed to say, "I was just arrested yesterday, why am I back again today?"

"We've already been released, what more do you want?"

"Is this policeman targeting our store?"

Old Zhou switched the enamel mug from his left hand to his right.

"What do you mean by 'closed today'?"

"Isn't the door open?"

His tone was flat; he was simply asking a question about a fact.

But after hearing those words, the woman in the white tank top visibly stiffened.

She glanced back at the girl in the dark brown sweater, who gave her a look that said, "I don't know what to do either."

"That's right—" The voice in the white tank top rose another half tone.

"Take a break today. Yes, take a break."

Old Zhou took a step forward, holding his enamel mug.

His move was not intended to intimidate.

It's just that it's not convenient to talk while standing at the door.

But the woman in the white tank top took a half step back.

Her slippers made a slight scraping sound on the floor.

Old Zhou stopped.

He looked at the girl in the white tank top, then at the girl in the dark brown sweater, and then said something.

"Don't be nervous. Not today—" He didn't finish his sentence.

The woman in the white tank top suddenly let out a loud "Aww!"

"Awooooo—" She let out two more howls, the last syllable rising in pitch, transforming into a knowing tone.

She took a step forward, and the tension on her face vanished.

Instead, an "I understand, I get it" expression appeared.

Are you here to make a purchase?

Old Zhou stopped holding the enamel cup.

The woman in the white tank top tilted her head and winked at him.

The blinking motion was exactly the same as when Chong Linzhou blinked yesterday.

The eyeshadow was still a shimmery brownish-red, and two coats of mascara were applied, making it look like a small fan opening and closing when I blinked.

"I understand, I understand," she said in a low voice, which only made the unspoken understanding more palpable.

"After get off work hours, personal outings, not wearing uniforms—" She glanced at Lao Zhou. Lao Zhou was dressed casually today—a gray sweater under a dark jacket; he wasn't wearing his uniform.

"I understand."

After saying that, she winked at Old Zhou. Then she turned and called out towards the stairwell, "Sis! We have guests!"

Old Zhou stood rooted to the spot. The enamel mug hung in mid-air, wisps of steam rising from its rim, blurring his face. His mouth was slightly open, his eyebrows furrowed into an extremely complex arc—not anger, not embarrassment, but a blankness that said, "I've seen all sorts of things in my twenty years in this industry, but this is something I've never seen before."

The comments section went crazy.

Hahahahahaha

"Those who come to spend money"

"Brother Zhou was treated like a guest."

"White tank top: I get it, I get it, it's plainclothes, it's after get off work, it's just a personal hobby."

"I took a screenshot of Brother Zhou's expression."

The enamel mug isn't moving anymore.

"Old Zhou: I just came to deliver a lock for repair."

White tank top: I get it~

"I give that ambiguous look a perfect score."

"Brother Zhou: It wasn't me, I didn't do it, don't talk nonsense."

"But his mouth was open, and he couldn't speak."

"Because any explanation would just become, 'The police come to the club to explain that they weren't there to spend money.'"

"The more you explain, the worse it gets."

"Brother Zhou chose to remain silent."

"Silence is the crescent moon tonight."

Lin Zhou stood to the side, watching everything unfold. He saw Old Zhou frozen in place, saw the knowing look in the white tank top, and saw the girl in the dark brown sweater stand up from the sofa and greet him with a professional smile.

Then he spoke.

He brought me here.

The woman in the white tank top shifted her gaze from Lao Zhou to Lin Zhou. She tilted her head and blinked, clearly still not out of character as an undercover agent.

"I've come to change the lock cylinder," Lin Zhou said, lifting his toolbox slightly.

"Where's your boss's wife from yesterday's safe?"

The woman in the white tank top paused for a moment. She looked at Lin Zhou, then at Lao Zhou, then back at Lin Zhou.

The information in my mind is being rearranged and recombined.

"Change the lock cylinder?"

"right."

"Did he bring you here?"

"right."

"He's not here to spend money?"

He is not.

The woman in the white tank top remained silent for about two seconds.

Then she slowly turned her head and looked at Lao Zhou.

Old Zhou was still standing there, holding his enamel mug.

At this moment, Lao Zhou felt a little regretful, regretting why he had agreed to Lin Zhou's request to see him off.

The woman in the white tank top blushed.

It wasn't the kind of performative blushing.

It was a genuine blush that ran from her neck all the way down to her ears.

She subconsciously tugged at the neckline of her tank top.

This time I was really pulling, not because I was nervous, but because I was embarrassed.

"Um..." Her voice returned to its normal tone, no longer ambiguous, "I'll go call the landlady."

She turned and walked towards the stairs, her steps much faster than usual.

When she reached the top of the stairs, her slippers tripped her. She grabbed the handrail, didn't turn around, and trudged up the stairs.

The girl in the dark brown sweater stood still, looked at Lao Zhou, and then at Lin Zhou.

She slowly sat back on the sofa, picked up her phone, and pretended to look at the screen.

Comments flooded in.

"The White Tank Top Company is dead."

"That 'I understand, I understand' look she just gave will be the peak and the end of her career."