Couple of Mirrors - Chapter 6: The Hunt

 

Detective Jiang Bin of the Shanghai police stumbles tipsily through the streets, talking about how good the wine at the Zhou mansion is. 'Have you had too much to drink, boss?' his subordinate asks anxiously.

Jiang Bin hears a 'BANG!', and a shout of, 'Ahhhhhh! Someone's been murdered!' He snaps quickly to attention. 'Chen Yong! Get some men and seal off the crime scene and the surrounding streets immediately! Bring everyone back to the police station for questioning!'

'Yes, sir!' says his subordinate, saluting.

Jiang Bin catches a glimpse of Yan Wei at her vantage point. A sniper? he wonders. He chases after her as she leaps down and runs away. 'Freeze!' he shouts. 'Police!' 

He catches hold of her by the hood. 'Put your hands in the air! Don't move!'


Yan Wei aims a blow at him. Professionally-trained martial artist? he wonders. He manages to catch hold of her wrist, but then she kicks him in the chest and leaves him sprawled on the ground.

Yan Wei escapes down an alley, but not before leaving something behind.


The next day, Jiang Bin interviews Xu Youyi and Zhou Heng at the police station. The braided bracelet left behind by Yan Wei is sitting on his desk. 'Mrs Zhou, why did you bring a knife with you to the back garden last night?' he asks Xu Youyi.

Zhou Heng takes umbrage at this. 'What do you mean by this, Detective Jiang?' he demands. 'Everyone knows that Zhang Wan died from a gunshot. What does this have to do with Youyi?'


'I'm just trying to understand the full picture,' Jiang Bin tells him. 'I hope you can tell me the complete truth. Mrs Zhou, can you please tell me why you went to the back garden with a knife last night?'

'Hmph,' says Zhou Heng. 'I hope you also understand that we're just co-operating by giving our statements as eyewitnesses. I hear you exchanged blows with the murderer last night, but let them get away. Rather than asking us all these questions, why don't you think of a way to...'

'Because of betrayal,' says Xu Youyi, interrupting him. 

'Youyi?!' Zhou Heng exclaims.

'But I never really wanted her to die...' Xu Youyi adds.

'Mrs Zhou...' begins Jiang Bin. Before he can say anything more, though, his subordinate enters. 'Boss!' Then he whispers to Jiang Bin, 'We just got a phone call, from the Zhou mansion...'

'Can we go now, Detective Jiang?!' asks Zhou Heng.

Jiang Bin gives them a look. 'As you wish.'

Outside, Zhou Heng tells Xu Youyi to wait for him to bring the car round. As she stands there, she sees a familiar figure in the middle of a group that's been rounded up by the police for questioning. 'Yan Wei?!'


She runs up to Yan Wei. 'What are you doing here?' she asks.

'I...' Yan Wei begins, but before she can say anything further, she's cut short by the police officer. 'Go inside and get your statement taken!' he tells her.


Xu Youyi stares after Yan Wei's departing back. Did she get caught up in this because she was out in the streets last night? she wonders.


Just then, Zhou Heng pulls up in the car. 'Let's go home, Youyi.'

'You should leave first,' says Xu Youyi, 'I'll go home by myself'. She starts walking away.


Zhou Heng follows her in the car. 'Everything's in the past now, Youyi,' he says, 'please don't be like this.'

Xu Youyi stops abruptly. 'In the past?' she says. 'I never said I had forgiven you.'

Just then, there's a commotion at the entrance to the police station, where people are rushing out. There are cries of 'Fire!' and 'Evacuate everyone! Put out the fire!'


Yan Wei is still inside! Xu Youyi realises, and rushes towards the police station.

'What are you doing, Youyi?' Zhou Heng shouts after her. 'It's too dangerous!'


Xu Youyi races through the smoke-filled corridors of the police station. Why can't I see Yan Wei? she wonders.


And then she glimpses a familiar back through a half-open door. Yan Wei?


She pushes the door opens, and gasps. 'Yan Wei, what are you doing?!'


Yan Wei stands by a window, intently setting a piece of paper on fire.


Please view the original manhua here.