Nancheng District, Dongye Foreign Language Institute.
It's summer vacation, half of the cafeterias on campus are closed, and most of the students who are about to enter their second year leave school and return home, while most of the students who have just finished their sophomore and third year studies choose to stay on campus, either working part-time, preparing for postgraduate entrance exams, or more. Much of it is worrying about upcoming campus recruiting.
In the past two years, it has not been easy to find a job. When it comes to employment, many people are inevitably impetuous.
The girls' dormitory is located in East Building 9, where all the juniors majoring in English live. Once this summer vacation is over, they will join the flood of job hunting. At this time, it was the evening, and the cool breeze passed through the corridor, and many dormitories opened their doors to dispel the sweltering heat in the room for a day.
The door of 509's bedroom was closed, and no light came out through the crack of the door.
"Is there no one in their dormitory?" Wang Jiao lives in the opposite door 510, and is in the same class as the four girls who live in 509. "Why is the door closed at this time? Didn't you say we should go swimming together tonight?"
Shu Yu pressed her index finger on her lips, "Shh, Wen Jingjing just came back this afternoon, has a fever, and is sleeping."
Wang Jiao lowered her voice immediately, "Why do you have a fever? Is it serious?"
"It should be serious, otherwise Wen Jingjing wouldn't ask for leave to come back to rest." Shu Yu said, holding Wang Jiao's arm as she walked up the stairs, "Her family found her an internship at the foreign affairs unit. Gang, it's been really hard work."
"Where are the others in 509?" Wang Jiao looked back, "Why isn't anyone here today except Wen Jingjing?"
"It's not in the library, it's just a part-time job." Shu Yu said with a smile: "Don't worry, their dormitory is the dormitory of the Xueba, except for Wen Jingjing and Li Hongmei, they all have to take the postgraduate entrance examination, which is different from our dormitory. Let's go, Go for a barbecue first, then go for a swim."
"Don't you go swimming first, then go to the barbecue?"
"It's okay, it's okay!"
The two scoffed down the stairs and passed a girl wearing a shopping mall t-shirt and straight jeans.
Going down to the first floor, Shu Yu looked up, with a dissatisfied face, frowned and said, "Why is this woman here again? It's disgusting to look at her. 509 Now there is only Wen Jingjing, and Wen Jingjing is the most annoying. She is here, does she want to scold her when she goes up?"
"She doesn't know that Wen Jingjing is the only one here, so she must be looking for Li Hongmei." Wang Jiao sighed, "The sisters of 509 are also unlucky enough. , I was a missionary last year, and now I'm a lousy part-time worker. Hey, why don't we tell Aunt Zhang and say that some foreigners have entered the dormitory?"
"Forget it, they don't care about their dormitory, why do we worry about so much?" Shu Yu said, "Also, Li Hongmei is too nervous and can't be provoked. The news has reported several murders in the dormitory, so let's stay away from Li Hongmei. "
Just when the two walked out of the gate of East 9th Building, the girl in the cultural shirt was already standing outside Gate 509.
She first stretched out her right hand, knocked on the door, and pressed her face to the door. After about half a minute, there was neither sound nor light inside. She knocked again, and asked in broken Mandarin with an obvious accent: "Is there anyone? Hongmei, are you inside? I'm Xiaomin."
Still no response.
However, someone from 513 came out and took a look, showing contempt.
At this time, it seemed that there was no one in 509. The girl took out the key from her bag and opened the door like a master.
"I'm going!" The spectator at 513 exclaimed, "Is this still possible?"
Suddenly, the lights of 509 were bright, and Wen Jingjing's voice came from inside, "Who the fuck is opening the door of the old lady's bedroom?"
The girl obviously didn't expect someone inside. In a panic, the key fell to the ground with a "pop", and she saw her blushing and retreating, "I, I knocked on the door, I don't know..."
Wen Jingjing has a fiery personality and dares to speak and act. Although he is a little dejected because of the fever, his aura is still there.
She quickly rolled over from the bed, approached the girl, and said sternly, "You don't know there are people in this dormitory, so you dare to take the key to open the door? You are so bold, are you a thief? Today you must make it clear who the key is. For you? Is it Li Hongmei?"
The girl shook her head and panicked, "Hongmei just put the key with me..."
"Thief!" Wen Jingjing took a few steps forward, grabbed her wrist, and shouted loudly, "Catch the thief! Who will notify Aunt Zhang for me?"
Those who live on this floor more or less know that Li Hongmei is not on good terms with other people in 509. It is especially uncomfortable for outsiders to enter the dormitory. Wen Jingjing's shout immediately attracted many people to respond. The girls were surrounded, and some went downstairs to call the dormitory and security.
Soon, the girl was transferred to the dormitory room.
She was trembling with fear, and took out all her documents. Her name and age were written on the document - Chi Xiaomin, 21 years old.
This is not the first time Chi Xiaomin has come to East Jiu Building. Before and after the summer vacation, Li Hongmei brought her here many times.
Wen Jingjing was furious and called Qin Manyue and Lian Qiaoquan who were studying in the library back, with a very tough attitude, insisting that Chi Xiaomin should be sent to the police station.
Li Hongmei, who was working off-campus, rushed back after hearing the news. She was wearing straight jeans similar to Chi Xiaomin's, and her upper body was an activity T-shirt that was issued during her freshman year of English major. Her body exuded obvious sweat and body odor, and her flat face was full of anxiety. , Dumbly apologized: "I'm sorry, Xiaomin is my friend, and I gave her the key. She recently worked in the fruit shop in front of the school. I think, I think she can come to our dormitory to have a rest."
The stench made many girls cover their mouths and noses.
Wen Jingjing's teeth were sharp, "The dormitory is yours alone? Who gave you the power? Li Hongmei, you are too much! You think we don't know what you are doing outside? Missionary, make friends with random people. This is the university, you keep bringing people to the dormitory, what are you doing?"
"Xiaomi is not a non-negotiable person, she is my friend." Li Hongmei was sweating coldly, her eyes helpless and paranoid, "I am wrong today, I apologize to you."
After speaking, Li Hongmei bent down deeply and bowed to her roommates.
Lian Qiao sneered, "Apologizing is over? The ghost knows what this Chi Xiaomin is doing, I have to send her to the police station today!"
Chi Xiaomin wept softly, "Sister Hongmei, please help me..."
Li Hongmei clenched her teeth, her eyes swept across the faces of the three people in the same bed.
Wen Jingjing couldn't see her eyes the most, and scolded: "What are you staring at? Don't think you'll be fine, you faggots entered the police station, and you can't get rid of it! Do you believe I can make you fail to graduate?"
"I'm sorry." Li Hongmei bowed again, "It's all my fault, please forgive me and Xiaomin. I swear, I will never bring anyone to the dormitory again. Please believe me."
"Bah!" Lian Qiao rolled his eyes, "I have to go to the police station today!"
"Please." Li Hongmei bowed deeper, her thin back trembling.
In a calm attitude, Aunt Zhang, the dormitory, whispered to Wen Jingjing, "Li Hongmei also apologized, I think it's fine, it's no fun if it gets too big."
"No!" Wen Jingjing's attitude was firm, "I can't get used to her for a long time. Today, she can bring a thief back. Do you know what she will bring tomorrow? Do you have to wait for her to bring a man back?"
The girls onlookers laughed, "Jing Jing, what are you talking about? Can Li Hongmei bring a man back? Which man likes her?"
Li Hongmei was still bowing, her expression completely blocked.
"I'm not a thief!" Chi Xiaomin whispered.
"You don't have the right to speak!" Lian Qiao slapped the past, "Shut up!"
Li Hongmei shoved Lian Qiao away suddenly, with a look of extreme anger and depression on her face.
Wen Jingjing felt a little bit of fear inexplicably, and pulled Lianqiao almost instinctively.
"Forget it." Qin Manyue, who had been silent for a while, suddenly said: "Everyone is not good-looking when it comes to the police station, Jingjing, Li Hongmei has already apologized, and Aunt Zhang also advised us not to make the matter too big. I think we will be here today."
Li Hongmei kept breathing heavily, her expression getting weirder.
Wen Jingjing was originally unwilling to compromise, but Qin Manyue suddenly hugged her and whispered in her ear: "Li Hongmei is not normal, let's not irritate her. Everyone still needs to live together. If she goes crazy and kills people, she will die. we."
Wen Jingjing's heart was beating violently, and she was stunned almost instantly.
Qin Manyue laughed in a low voice, "It doesn't matter, there's still one year left, your job has been decided, and Lian Qiao and I will definitely be able to go abroad or undertake research, but Li Hongmei is nowhere. Playing shit."
Wen Jingjing smiled, "You still have a way."
The farce ended abruptly, Li Hongmei went back to 509 to pack her luggage, and Chi Xiaomin was waiting for her in the corridor.
The atmosphere in the dormitory was strange. Wen Jingjing, Lianqiao, and Qin Manyue gathered in one place and said "whispering" in a low voice—
"There are really all kinds of species in the university. I have learned a lot in the past three years."
"It's also called 'Red Plum', it looks like peat."
"You know, some incompetent people like to group together and make friends everywhere. In fact, what kind of friends are they? It's just a bunch of garbage to be disposed of."
Of course Li Hongmei heard these words. 509 still had her bed, but she was unwilling to live there.
"It's so late, where are you going?" Seeing Li Hongmei dragging her suitcase to leave, Wen Jingjing suddenly asked hypocritically.
"I'm going out to live." Li Hongmei said with her head lowered.
"Don't, it's still your dormitory, what are you going to do now? The counselor thought we were bullying you when he found out." Lian Qiao wanted to hold her, but she broke free.
"Yo, are you being temperamental?" Lian Qiao hummed, "I gave you a face, right?"
Li Hongmei didn't say anything anymore, she pulled Chi Xiaomin and left quickly, with Qin Manyue's voice behind her: "Hey, are you really leaving? Leave the key—"
"The key is mine." Li Hongmei turned back, "I will come back."
Her voice was calm, yet uncomfortably weird, like a fingernail about to be wiped across a blackboard.
Qin Manyue got goosebumps all over.
Mingshu and Xiao Yuan each have their own residences and do not live in one place. Mingshu's house was bought after the job was settled. It is closer to the city bureau. In a medium-sized residential area, it has two bedrooms and one living room. Both the apartment type and the decoration are very ordinary.
Xiao's house is farther away. It was purchased three years ago. It is a high-end residence and is not listed under Xiao Yu'an's name. The decoration is very simple, the interior is gray and white, all cold and hard straight lines.
Mingshu didn't understand at first, "Why are you buying a house? You don't live here."
Xiao Yuan asked back at that time, "How do you know that I don't live here?"
No matter how simple and cold the house is, once the kitchen is on fire, it will have life. Mingshu has been busy with the case recently, and was really tired. As soon as he got home, he lay on the sofa in the living room and slept with a huge pillow. He didn't wake up until he smelled the smell of chicken soup.
It gets dark late in the summer, but at nine o'clock it's still dark outside.
He sat up, not knowing where he was for a moment.
He is actually no stranger to this house. Xiao Yuan gave him the key. When he encountered a bottleneck in solving the case, when he missed Xiao Yuan, and when he had nothing to do, he would come to live for two days and sleep on this sofa.
He bought the pillow he held just now. Although the color and shape are far from the style of the whole suite, there is no dissonance at all when he holds it.
But now the feeling is completely different from before.
He rubbed his temples and looked towards the kitchen.
There were bright lights, the range hood was working, and the half-closed door blocked Xiao Yuan's figure.
He got up and walked eagerly to the kitchen.
"Wake up? Take the bowl out." Xiao Yu'an was frying lettuce, "Don't move the chicken soup, it's hot, I'll get it later."
"Brother." He didn't do as he did, he hugged Xiao Yu'an's waist from behind, and buried his face in the familiar shoulder pocket almost shamelessly.
Xiao Yuan smiled, "Have you not woken up yet?"
He shook his head slightly, "Wake up, hungry."
"Then don't hurry up and serve the bowl." Xiao Yu'an condoned, put the fried lettuce into the porcelain plate, let Mingshu hold it for a while, and then held the hands that were restlessly rubbing on his abdomen, "It's dinner."
Two dishes and one soup for dinner, Ming Shu relieved the feeling of getting out of bed, and soon became excited, the chopsticks moved quickly, and the chicken soup reached the bottom in a short time.
Xiao Yuan didn't eat much, and finally broke the top bone of the chicken's head and fed the delicate brain flower into Mingshu's mouth.
Mingshu liked to eat this when he was a child. But a chicken has only one head, and when one head is knocked open, it will be so little brain flower, and it will be gone with a sip of the tongue, which is not enough to eat at all.
The brothers and sisters of the Xiao family sat around a table, grabbing wings and legs, Xiao Yuan helped Mingshu grab his head, and then took out the brain and put it in Mingshu's bowl.
As long as Xiao Yu'an was there, Mingshu never knocked on the chicken's head.
Over the years, the pollution has become heavier. Xiao Yu'an disapproved of Mingshu eating chicken brain flowers when he was eating out. He only kept chicken brain flowers when he made soup with chicken.
Mingshu is satisfied.
After dinner, the bowl was washed by Mingshu, and the fruit was also cut by Mingshu, and it was eleven o'clock after everything was cleaned up.
Time to do "homework".
"No, I still have to go back." Mingshu sat on the sofa for a while, then stood up again, "The case has not been solved, and I am not at ease."
Xiao Yu'an seemed to have expected it long ago, picked up the car key, "I'll take it off for you."
Mingshu raised his eyebrows, "You didn't keep me? I only drank a bowl of chicken soup when I came to your place."
"It's not a bowl, it's a pot." Xiao Yuan took his neck and kissed him on the forehead.
"I thought you couldn't bear me." Fasten your seat belt, Mingshu is still muttering in a fake manner.
Before starting the car, Xiao Yuan threw a blindfold with a smile, "Squint for a while, I'll call you when I get there."
Half an hour later, Mingshu strode into the serious crime team with the milk tea he just bought.
And on this sultry and busy summer night, the desperate murderer raised his butcher's knife.