Netherworld Investigator

"When people die and nothing remains of the past, only smells and tastes remain, and they are like souls, weaker but more alive, more illusory, more enduring, more faithful, their memories , waiting, expecting, upon the ruins of everything else, in their almost impalpable drops, bear indomitably the grand edifice of memory."

--"in memory of our passing age"

When accidents are unavoidable, in order to prevent important things from being destroyed, the best way is to transfer them in advance.

In Noah's hard drive, there is a complete record of all the backups of Fang Qihang's electronic information before committing suicide.

Wen Baifan's nose is very sensitive, like a beagle.He can't tell the top notes, middle notes and back notes, and he doesn't know whether Chuanxiang is Chuanxiang, Yuxiang or Yuxiang, Liuxiang or Chuliuxiang, but there is no doubt that he has an extraordinary ability to distinguish smells.

This kind of discrimination is like the comparison of gene sequences in the sense of smell. After being exposed to two similar samples, he can find out where they fit.

When he saw Zhou Wentao for the first time, he sensed the familiar smell of this person, it was a kind of cologne fragrance similar to orchids, as if it took him to the distant unknown past.

On the day of the incident, Fang Qihang was less than ten meters away from the two of them.He was sent to receive the drug samples, but came across this scene by accident.

The sounds of fighting were endless, Wen Baifan was thrown flying on the steps, Tang Xiaofeng exhaled foul breath, and was about to walk towards the rear compartment of the black car.

Fang Qihang hid in the dark, with his back against the wall. He didn't say a word, and he didn't dare to poke his head out. He pointed the corner of his phone camera at the place where the incident happened, and the red video light continued to flash.

There was a dull gunshot from the factory building, and the bullet shot through Tang Xiaofeng's eyebrows.

One shot kills.

At the same time, a tall masked man hurried out of the factory building.

He squatted down, resting his palm on Wen Baifan's forehead, and it took a few seconds for him to let go.

Wen Baifan closed his eyes, tilted his head, and passed out completely.

This strange man seemed to be aware of Fang Qihang's existence, but he didn't expose his existence, and only blinked his eyes lightly in the direction of the camera.

The video ends.

Zhou Wentao coughed lightly, and quickly glanced at Qiao Kejun: "That person... looks quite similar to you."

Qiao Kejun pursed his lips, but stopped talking.

It was almost eight o'clock in the evening.

After getting out of the elevator, Qiao Kejun walked past the door of his house without looking sideways, walked straight to Wen Baifan's door, raised his hand and rang the doorbell.

After a few minutes, I heard staggering footsteps coming from the door.Wen Baifan opened the door with messy hair like a chicken coop, scratched his face: "I accidentally fell asleep."

He turned around, looked up at the big wall clock in the living room, and muttered with dissatisfaction, "Did you come back so late?"

"What time is it now, and you're already drinking?" Qiao Kejun glanced at the jumbled cans on the tea table, and his expression turned a little ugly, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Wen Baifan, who hid in the kitchen, turned a deaf ear to it. While boiling water for instant noodles, he yawned, bent down and picked up the cat that was about to pounce on Qiao Kejun, hugged and stroked it.

Hearing the familiar sound of footsteps behind him, the cat jumped out of Wen Baifan's arms, twirled around Qiao Kejun's feet, and meowed.

"Traitor." Wen Baifan scolded it angrily.

"Didn't you eat at Aunt Qin's house tonight?" Qiao Kejun gestured to the kitten to go away, and turned to look at Wen Baifan.

"Well, your son is spending the night at my aunt's house tonight. Remember to call him before going to bed." Wen Baifan opened a bowl of instant noodles, thought for a while, and suddenly smiled: "I didn't expect that, this kid You actually play so well with Liangliang. You don’t understand. A genius boy like you, who has been cold and cold since he was a child, looks like the kind who disdains to play with people who are stupid than himself. Fortunately, brother Xiaoxin is not like that at all. You, otherwise, how much fun would be missing."

"There are exceptions." Qiao Kejun turned on the faucet and washed his hands slowly, "I knew a little boy when I was a child. He was quite stupid and his memory was not good. I often made him angry, and he always died when he was half angry. I forgot, after a little teasing, I started giggling again."

Wen Baifan picked up the boiling kettle and poured it into the instant noodles full of depression.

Qiao Kejun dried his hands slowly, and continued talking on his own.

"He is very greedy and squeamish. He woke me up in the middle of the night, crying and asked me to boil milk for him, even though I burned the pot in one go."

"I always make jokes about his dog's nose, just like a search dog, if there is a hidden snack in the house, no matter how secret it is, he can dig it out at once."

"Sometimes he would talk in his sleep and report the name of the dish. If he wakes up and can eat the dish he dreamed of eating, he will be very happy. Of course, he usually can't eat it. After all, I don't know how to cook."

"That guy is still very afraid of the cold. He has to cover his body with multiple layers of quilts when he sleeps in winter, pretending to be the pea in the Princess and the Pea story."

He closed his eyes, and the pictures and scenes Qiao Kejun narrated unfolded slowly in his mind like a long scroll, as if he himself had experienced it himself.

But how is this possible.

"That little fool also said... he also said that he would marry me when he grew up if I promised not to hide his snacks anymore."

Wen Baifan felt a "chug" in his temples, and when he opened his eyes and saw Qiao Kejun's faint smile, his unknown anger rose up.

Qiao Kejun glanced at him, "Are you jealous?"

Wen Baifan said angrily, "Idiots are jealous!"

Qiao Kejun chuckled, and whispered into his ear: "You admit that you are jealous, and I will kiss you."

"Who, who wants to be kissed by you! Wen Baifan turned pale with shock, "I don't want to! "

"Then you can kiss me, I want to be kissed by you." When Qiao Kejun said such nonsensical words, there was no trace of unnaturalness in Qiao Kejun's calm tone, as if he was talking about the weather calmly. "I am jealous."

Wen Baifan glanced at him inexplicably, "Why?"

He just woke up, without glasses, and his moist reddish eyes revealed an indescribable expression.

There is an indescribably seductive taste.

Qiao Kejun slightly lowered his head and quickly pecked at the corner of his eyes.

"Because of your relationship with Tang Xiaofeng..." He could not help but recall the scene he saw in the video. Wen Baifan, who was beaten to the ground by Tang Xiaofeng, never really fought back.

"I care," he said frankly.

Wen Baifan was very astonished, he never expected to hear this name from Qiao Kejun's mouth that should have nothing to do with him.

At that moment, his mind flashed back to the excessive dream that was real just now.If Tang Xiaofeng already knew what he and Zhao Ming were doing secretly, then...

Is it...

Wen Baifan slightly raised his head, staring at Qiao Kejun's smooth and well-defined chin, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

This man is extremely calm and intelligent, and becoming close to him will undoubtedly increase the risk of another layer of identity being exposed.

only……

Qiao Kejun stretched out his long arms and huddled around the person vainly, "I want to coax, I want to hug."

Wen Baifan who was hugged was extremely embarrassed, but he didn't move, he just quietly held his breath.At this moment, the atmosphere is like a porcelain vase displayed on top of a crystal box and velvet, beautiful and full of tension, he is reluctant to break it.

Wen Baifan sighed in his heart.

Maybe I have been tired for a long time, what kind of messenger of justice is, after all, just a tool to be driven.

He was torn apart by contradictions, but Qiao Kejun was surprisingly calm.In his eyes that seemed to know everything, Wen Baifan seemed to see a trace of pity.

An inexplicable impulse churned in Wen Baifan's heart, he wanted to completely spread out his past life in front of this person.

"I mean if," Wen Baifan buried his face on Qiao Kejun's shoulder, breathed in the faint woody fragrance of his body, and said sullenly, "If the real me is not what you see now ,and you……"

"Did you remember something?" Qiao Kejun asked calmly.

Countless words were pushed to the tip of the tongue, but turned back the moment they blurted out.

"I, I remembered that I was making noodles just now..." Wen Baifan said vaguely, "I was too busy talking, it should be soaked now."

No.

Qiao Kejun cannot be dragged into the endless abyss.

This is so selfish.Wen Baifan thought painfully.

He broke away from Qiao Kejun's embrace, but the other's arm retracted and hugged him even tighter.

"Don't eat it if it's soaked. Let's go out for supper." He reached out and stroked Wen Baifan's hair, "I'll take you to meet my father tomorrow, okay?"

Although it was a question, Qiao Kejun's tone contained a firmness that could not be rejected.

Not far away, the towering Bright Tower shines brightly in the night sky, and it is the most dazzling existence in the whole city.

With the breeze blowing, the couple walked arm in arm on Binjiang Road, and the air was filled with sweet fragrance.The roadside vendors are bustling with each other, trying to sell precious roses one after another.

"Forget about roses, there are still people selling chicks." Wen Baifan pulled his head out of the crowd, walked a few steps away, and asked in confusion, "Are these squeaky things romantic? Are they cute? If you ask me, the cutest moment for a chicken is when it's cooked and served... Wow, there's a lot of people in front! Go check it out!"

Qiao Kejun cast a sideways glance at the chattering Wen Baifan, and let him drag him forward.

Chirping chirping is not romantic, but it is very cute.

"Brother, buy a rose for your lover on Valentine's Day." A little girl who was only as tall as Wen Baifan's chest held a flower basket and timidly approached him, her pitiful tone seemed to be that of a little girl on Christmas Eve begging passersby to buy matches.

"How much?" Wen Baifan stopped in his tracks.

"Ten dollars."

This price was considered fair, Wen Baifan readily paid for it.

It was rare to see a talkative customer, so the little girl summoned up her courage and said to the tall man beside Wen Baifan, "Please, do you want to buy one too?"

Although the roses of the little girl's house are not expensive, they are not packaged in cardboard, and the thorns on the stems are simply cut off. The flower buds are covered with a white flower net, which does not look too delicate.In addition, she was timid, stammered every sentence, and was not as eloquent as others, so most of the night passed, and only a few flower branches were sold.

Qiao Kejun took a look at her basket, and calmly took out a few big bills, "I'll buy the rest."

The little girl was so excited that the flowers and branches trembled, she thanked her repeatedly.

Wen Baifan leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I can't help but want to call you Dad..."

Qiao Kejun narrowed his eyes.

"...President Dao." Wen Baifan was inexplicably proud that he had mastered a new type of online vocabulary, "Now the Internet calls you a domineering president."

The little flower seller was busy tying up dozens of roses with colored paper and tape, and she did not forget to praise her sweetly: "Your girlfriend is so happy."

Qiao Kejun pointed at Wen Baifan, and boasted, "I'll give it to him."

Perhaps Qiao Kejun's tone was too natural, and the little girl was relatively innocent. She smiled and glanced at Wen Baifan: "You two friends have such a good relationship."

"It's not a friend." Qiao Kejun corrected him unhurriedly, "It's a family member."

The moment Wen Baifan heard this title, his heart was moved for a moment.

He has relatives, teachers, peers, and juniors, but no family.

After losing his parents, there is no natural place for him in the vast world.Even if there is, it is a vacancy created by moving left and right. After all, it makes people feel uncomfortable, and it is better to be alone.

And the word "family" from Qiao Kejun's mouth gave Wen Baifan a subtle and strange illusion, as if they were born to be together.

The little girl quickly changed her words tactfully: "You brothers have such a good relationship."

"It's not a brother." Qiao Kejun raised his mouth slightly, took the bouquet from her hand and put it in Wen Baifan's hand, and smiled slightly: "He is my wife."

Little girl: "Oh huh—?"

1 minute later.

The two had already walked a hundred meters away side by side, and Wen Baifan suddenly realized.

"You are the daughter-in-law, hurry up and call me husband!" He lightly tapped Qiao Kejun's shoulder with his head.

"What does the daughter-in-law call her husband?"

Wen Baifan snorted angrily: "Is it interesting to take advantage of this mouth?"

"It's not interesting." Qiao Kejun played with a bare rose in his hand, "After all, I take advantage of more than just talking about it."

Wen Baifan: "Oh huh—?"

Qiao Kejun still remembers a long time ago, when he came home from school that day, he found a little boy growing from a tree in his garden.

The child was hiding in the whirling branches and leaves chatting with him, just like a talkative parrot, and looking at his appearance, his skin was as white as milk, his eyes were round, and he looked like a puppy who was ignorant when he was born.

When entering the door, Qiao Kejun saw two pairs of unfamiliar sneakers next to the shoe cabinet in the entrance.

One big and one small, exactly the same style.

Today's guests are a father and son with a very good relationship.

Although Qiao Hengjing is a public official and his salary is not high, but the Qiao family has a rich family background, he will naturally not treat himself badly in terms of clothing. He has always only worn the kind of handmade leather shoes that have to be ordered several months in advance, and often have to be done by others. Take good care of it.

Like this ordinary sneaker with scratches and mud stains, his father would not even look at it.

Qiao Kejun was only 11 years old at the time, and he wore school uniforms and sneakers every day. The father and son had never worn parent-child clothes.

The guests that day were Wen Yue and the little Wen Baifan who was only seven years old.

Qiao Kejun stood at the entrance and heard his father say, "Have you really decided?"

"Yes." This was the first time Qiao Kejun heard Wen Yue's voice. Although it was unfamiliar, the soft and slow voice had an inexplicable force that made people uncontrollably let go of their guards.

"Can that person be trusted?" Qiao Hengjing asked again.

"He is my most reliable informant." Wen Yue smiled helplessly, "I am more willing to trust him than my good partner."

Seeing Qiao Kejun walking in, Qiao Hengjing asked knowingly, "Are you back?"

"Ah."

Qiao Hengjing introduced Wen Yue's name to him, only saying that he was a friend, and Qiao Kejun said hello.

"You saw a little brother in the yard just now, right? He is your Uncle Wen's only son, Bai Fan." Qiao Hengjing said.

"The one on the tree?" Qiao Kejun raised his eyebrows, repeating the name of the little boy on the other side in his mind.

Bai Fan.Wen Baifan.

"On the tree?" Qiao Hengjing was a little confused, "How did you run up the tree?"

"I put him on the head." Wen Yue smiled nonchalantly and scratched his head, "I was worried that he would run around and hurt the flowers and plants. You don't know, this little thing looks good, but it's actually pretty Well, it used to make his mother half dead..."

Speaking of his wife who died young, Wen Yue's smile gradually faded, and a trace of sadness flashed across his face.

Qiao Hengjing changed the subject at the right time, "Let Fanfan live here during this time, it just so happens that Ah Jun is on summer vacation, and he doesn't like to go out, so let him take his brother with him." He chuckled and lowered his voice, " The old monster is in charge of the world, and he can't control my family."

Wen Yue sighed: "During this time, I will trouble you a lot. When I find a way to completely escape their control, I will come back immediately and take Bai Fan away..."

At that time, Wen Yue might not have imagined that the reunion of father and son would be a moment of farewell.

The slight night wind blew the dark fragrance of roses into the room.

The sleeping Wen Baifan took long breaths, curled up, and buried half of his face in the pillow.Qiao Kejun's unique woody aroma exudes from the bedding. I don't know if it's for this reason, he often sleeps more deeply when rubbing the bed here than at his own home, and the condition of frequently waking up from dreams can also be better. Quite a few.

In a daze, he vaguely felt the bed beside him lighten.

But without waiting for Wen Baifan to think about it, the boundless and chaotic dream grew hands, gently wrapped his arms around his neck, and dragged him into the darkness again.

Qiao Kejun put on his pajamas, walked through the living room, and walked to the entrance.

"Coming?" He gently raised his eyelids and looked at the visitor calmly.

"Hmm." The other party came out from the shadow outside the door.A slightly probing smile appeared on the face that looked exactly like Qiao Kejun, "Did I bother you?"

"He fell asleep." Qiao Kejun walked in and lowered his voice, "I hypnotized him once half a month ago, and he has already started to think of many things."

"It's too late, the other party has already started to make big moves. If you really want to protect him, keeping Bai Fan in the dark won't be a good choice."

Qiao Kejun stopped in front of the bedroom door, "Then do as you said."