Li Xingchen's phone buzzed twice.
He pulled over to the side of the road and checked his phone. It was a text message with a real estate ad: "Build your cozy nest at Green Haven! Luxury apartments from 750 to 1,290 sq ft, and stunning villas from 1,615 to 2,370 sq ft. Call now: 7****** or text us at 138*********."
Li Xingchen shoved his phone back into his pocket, parked his car, and walked a block to a payphone. He dialed a number.
The guy on the other end picked up quickly. "Bro, heads up! Zhou Zhaotao might be onto you. I overheard him telling Qing that he wants answers from you today. Maybe talk to Captain Ding and consider bailing on this mission."
Li Xingchen played it cool, "He didn't necessarily find out who I am."
"Dude, there's like a 90% chance! After that mess with Big Bear's shipment, Qing suspected a mole. They might've been digging around. We faked an alibi, but it's shaky at best. If they get suspicious, they'll see through it in no time."
Li Xingchen frowned, "Got it. Don't text me about this stuff, it's risky."
"Nah, the phone and SIM card are brand new, no way they can trace it. Plus, the real estate ad is legit, I just added an extra phone number."
Li Xingchen shot back, "That number has twelve digits. It's a bigger and more obvious screw-up than the alibi."
"Man, what are you gonna do?"
"When you sign up to be an undercover, you gotta be ready to get caught. I got this." Li Xingchen hung up, oozing confidence, and stepped out of the phone booth. It was 5:30 PM, rush hour.
He fought against the tide of people to get back to his car.
Streetlights flickered on, casting a warm glow on the gloomy streets, giving the city a bit of life.
He leaned back in his seat, gazing at the sky through the car window. Being undercover for so long, his favorite thing was to look at the sky. The world of an undercover cop was different, but at least the sky was the same.
Buzz. Another text.
Li Xingchen checked his phone.
New shipment, 7 PM, Dock 3.
From Zhou Zhaotao.
The wind blew in from the water, the tide was rising.
The city was bathed in neon lights as night fell.
"Dead men tell no tales. But the best-kept secrets are with the bodies that are never found. I've got something important tonight, don't disturb me."
Zhou Zhaotao switched off his phone, tossed it into the car, and leaned against the door, staring at the night sky.
Soon, a pair of familiar headlights appeared in the distance, growing brighter as they approached. The driver was hidden in the glare, his face obscured.
The car slowed to a stop, and the lights dimmed.
The car door opened, and Li Xingchen, clad in a trench coat, stepped out, his expression icy. "Boss Zhou."
Zhou Zhaotao stood up straight, casually asking, "No one knows you're here, right?"
Li Xingchen replied, "I know the drill."
"Of course. You've been with me for three years; you know how I roll." Zhou Zhaotao pulled out a cigarette and tossed one to him.
Li Xingchen caught it, lit it for him first.
Zhou took a drag, then fell silent.
Li Xingchen had a nagging feeling that something was off. Zhou was usually a health nut – no smoking, no drinking, no gambling, and he even worked out every day. But now he was smoking, which meant something was up.
Finally, Zhou broke the silence. "When are you gonna settle down with a lady?"
Li Xingchen replied, "Haven't thought about it."
"What kind of woman you looking for?"
Li Xingchen hesitated, "Someone who can cook, maybe?"
Zhou gave him a knowing look, "You don't marry a woman to be your personal chef."
"Right."
Zhou continued, "Women talk. It's hard to find one who's got your back. In our line of work, loose lips sink ships."
Li Xingchen wasn't sure where Zhou was going with this, so he just nodded, "Yeah."
"You know Zhang? His wife sang like a canary at the police station and sold him out in three hours."
Li Xingchen replied, "He died before I joined you."
Zhou said, "Then you probably don't know how he died. He jumped off a building. Clean and simple. The guys still respected him after that."
Li Xingchen felt his heart skip a beat but said nothing.
Zhou asked, "What about you? What would you do if your woman betrayed you?"
Li Xingchen replied, "I wouldn't give her the chance."
"Life's full of surprises." Zhou took a deep drag and exhaled a smoke ring.
Li Xingchen remembered the phone call earlier and cautiously asked, "Didn't you call me here to pick up the shipment?"
Zhou glanced at him, "In a hurry?"
"No rush," Li Xingchen said, though his heart was pounding. It was clear that Zhou didn't call him here for a shipment. Something was off.
"Would you betray me?" Zhou suddenly asked.
Li Xingchen froze. He had infiltrated Zhou's gang through a recommendation from an old-timer who owed Zhou a favor. He had been loyal and efficient, and no one had suspected him. Until now.
Still, he firmly answered, "No."
Zhou took a final drag, flicked the cigarette to the ground, and crushed it under his shoe. He avoided Li Xingchen's gaze and said, "The stuff's in the trunk. Go check it out."
Li Xingchen's heart raced. He knew Zhou well – when he put out his cigarette, he had made a decision.
"What's so special about this stuff that I need to check it again?" Li Xingchen's eyes darted over Zhou.
Zhou was usually dapper in his tailored suits. But today, there was a bulge in his left pocket.
Li Xingchen remembered Zhou's favorite Walther PPK.
Zhou seemed oblivious to Li Xingchen's scrutiny and said, "It's an interesting new product. Time for you to move on to the next stage in life."
…Was he planning to kill him?
Li Xingchen turned and slowly walked towards Zhou's car, his heart in his throat. He kept Zhou in his peripheral vision.
Zhou shifted, avoiding his gaze.
Li Xingchen's eyes darted to the car's side mirror. Thanks to the lights from a nearby building, he could see Zhou reaching into his left pocket.
"Freeze!" Li Xingchen whipped out his gun and aimed it at Zhou. His heart was racing. His palms were sweaty, gripping the gun handle. He had to stay calm!
Zhou froze.
Li Xingchen knew there was no turning back. He cocked the gun and shouted, "I'm Detective Li Xingchen, and I suspect you're involved in drug trafficking. Hands up, turn around!"
Slowly, Zhou took his hand out of his pocket. His face was eerily calm, as if the gun pointed at him was a toy. "You're undercover?"
Li Xingchen barked, "Hands up!"
Zhou raised his hands. "Did you rat out Big Bear?"
Li Xingchen retorted, "Fighting crime is every cop's duty!"
Zhou stared coldly at him. "What are you gonna charge me with? Taking a midnight stroll? Littering cigarette butts?"
Li Xingchen shot back, "Drug trafficking."
"Where's your proof?"
"The text you sent me."
Zhou scoffed, "Are all cops as naive as you? Charging someone with drug trafficking over a text? Why not just make something up? It's been done before."
Out of the corner of his eye, Li Xingchen noticed the car trunk slightly ajar. A thought flashed through his mind. "What's in the trunk?"
Zhou's face changed.
Li Xingchen, gun in one hand, used the other to open the trunk.
"You have no right to touch my car!" Zhou glared at him.
The trunk popped open.
"Xingchen," Zhou's gentle voice suddenly emanated from the trunk.
Li Xingchen was taken aback.
Zhou lunged at him, grabbing the hand with the gun.
Li Xingchen gripped Zhou's hand with his free one, and they struggled.
"This is probably the most bizarre thing I've ever done in my life. I'm used to fighting for what I want, but this is the first time I'm fighting for someone I like…"
Zhou threw his weight against the car.
Li Xingchen pushed back, aiming the gun at Zhou's heart. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
Bang.
Point-blank shot.
Zhou's body jerked, pulling Li Xingchen down with him.
"You've been with me for three years. I've watched you grow from a green college kid to a steady man. I was there for your growth, and you were there for my good times. At some point, I realized I wanted to keep you in my life. You're the first person who made me want to settle down. I don't trust anyone else by my side, but if it's you, I think… I mean, I want to spend my life with you. This is the first time I've confessed to anyone. There are roses in the car. If you like them, keep them. If not… I'll take them back. That's all."
The recording in the trunk stopped.
It was a clever device, set to play once the trunk was fully open. It lay amidst a sea of red roses, as if waiting for its owner to retrieve it.
Silence.
Li Xingchen was in shock. He dropped the gun and frantically checked Zhou's pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. He opened it, and two platinum rings rolled out onto the ground next to Zhou's lifeless body.
Li Xingchen fell to his knees.
The world around him seemed to fade as he realized the depth of what had just happened. The night was filled with the scent of roses and the echo of a confession that would never be answered.