Replacing the Evil Way

Chapter 89: Two-way development

“I’m He Wei, Wei for ‘crisis.’ I’m 32 years old this year, working as a customs clearance officer at Dingxin Import and Export Trading Company.”

“Where do you live?”

He Wei gave an address in an old residential area and looked at Cheng Zesheng cautiously. “Officer Cheng, may I ask what case I’m supposed to cooperate in the investigation for?”

Cheng Zesheng had just used any excuse he could find to keep He Wei around, pulling him into a cafe. Now that He Wei brought it up, he cleared his throat and answered with a dignified tone, “I can’t reveal that information at the moment. Rest assured, these are all standard procedures; we just want to understand some basic information about you.”

Fortunately, He Wei was honest and straightforward, nodding without asking further questions. After all, he hadn’t done anything illegal, so he had nothing to fear from Cheng Zesheng, who was the Vice-Captain of the Criminal Investigation Division at the city bureau.

The man sitting across from him had a gentle and calm demeanor, fair skin, and well-defined features. The more Cheng Zesheng looked at him, the more pleasing he found He Wei’s appearance. He thought to himself that his guess had been correct; this man indeed had an attractive appearance.

The serendipitous connection that had begun in a dream was exceptionally strange. Cheng Zesheng had initially thought that the man was a product of his stress-induced imagination. He hadn’t expected him to actually exist and appear before him as a living, breathing person.

He Wei glanced at the time and smiled apologetically, “Officer Cheng, is there anything else? I should go back and prepare dinner.”

“Is there someone waiting for you at home?”

“No.”

“In that case, let’s eat here. My treat.”

He Wei was about to decline, but Cheng Zesheng had already called the waiter to place an order. He wasn’t good at refusing, and besides, the other person was a police officer. There might still be a need for his cooperation in the case, so He Wei nodded gently and said, “Thank you.”

While waiting for their food, Cheng Zesheng gradually shifted the conversation from a “routine questioning” to a normal chat, subtly asking more about He Wei’s personal life. He wasn’t one to strike up conversations randomly, but this time he seemed to be “abusing his authority” just to get closer to He Wei and have a few more conversations with him.

The two of them talked about their close family members and friends. He Wei answered truthfully, mentioning that he had a twin brother, but their relationship wasn’t great. He had one close friend who owned a bar, and they often hung out at his place.

“Lian Jingyuan?”

He Wei was surprised. “Officer Cheng, how did you know?”

Because I saw you with him in a dream. But in the dream, Lian Jingyuan wasn’t a bar owner; he was a university teacher. I guess it was just a random role my brain assigned to him.

Cheng Zesheng would never reveal such a bizarre and greasy reason to He Wei. Instead, he smoothly explained, “I happened to know Lian through a previous case. When you mentioned the bar owner, I subconsciously thought of him.”

“Well, Jingyuan is my junior from college, and we’ve always had a good relationship.”

“Can I get a discount the next time I go to the bar?”

“Well… I’m not sure,” He Wei smiled shyly, “Maybe mentioning my name won’t help much. I can take you there myself.”

During the meal, their conversation was pleasant and uneventful. Cheng Zesheng looked at He Wei with a faint smile, but he couldn’t shake off the strange feeling that was gradually creeping in. He kept expecting He Wei to say something sharp or sarcastic, something that would bring a different kind of surprise to their conversation. It seemed like he should be more outspoken and witty.

But He Wei’s personality was too gentle, and he approached every topic with a calm and modest attitude. His most common expressions were either a shy smile or silent contemplation, which also carried a sense of timidity and hesitance.

“Thank you for the hospitality today,” He Wei took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Cheng Zesheng. “Here’s my business card. If you need anything, feel free to give me a call, Officer Cheng.”

Cheng Zesheng nodded, holding the card, and watched as He Wei got into a taxi. He even waved goodbye to him, his eyes soft and gentle.

But it seemed… something wasn’t quite right.

Back at his apartment, Cheng Zesheng took out his phone and saw a series of messages from Xie Wenxi.

[Hey hey hey, have you lost your mind? If you’re avoiding me, at least come up with an excuse! How am I supposed to handle this?]

[I don’t care. If Auntie asks, I’ll say it was your fault. It has nothing to do with me.]

[I explained to Lin Wan about your unique job situation. She’s quite understanding. Her number is 138xxxxxxxx. Add her quickly to make amends.]

Cheng Zesheng replied: [No need. I’ve found someone to raise the cat together.]

In the quiet of the night, Cheng Zesheng once again entered that long and distant dream. This time, as he approached, the man turned around, and the black mist that had covered his face disappeared, revealing the same face as He Wei from the evening. However, there was an innate sharpness and dominance in his demeanor, making him seem completely different from the real He Wei. With just one glance, he was no longer the same person Cheng Zesheng had met earlier.

He and Lian Jingyuan seemed to be in an argument. For the first time, Lian Jingyuan showed a level of excitement that was completely unlike his usual temperament. He crouched down, leaning close to He Wei’s forehead, saying, “I don’t want to see you suffer like this anymore. No matter where you came from, you’re unique in my eyes, and no one can replace you.”

Cheng Zesheng stood by, clenching his fists, feeling the urge to rush forward and push Lian Jingyuan away. But he knew he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t touch anyone in the dream, and it seemed like he was just an audience watching a movie, unable to change the plot.

Push him away quickly, He Wei. Cheng Zesheng silently urged in his heart.

Whether He Wei had actually heard his call or not, he pushed Lian Jingyuan away and told him that they had only ever been friends. If there was any misunderstanding, it was something Lian Jingyuan had misconstrued on his own.

“I won’t sacrifice others for my sake especially when that person is someone I love. I want to save him, and I will save him, no matter what the cost.”

At that moment, Cheng Zesheng felt more joy than surprise. It was as if he had already expected the special bond between the two of them. Why was He Wei so devastated by his death? Because there was an extraordinary and love-based connection between them.

Later, He Wei still left Lian Jingyuan’s place and returned to that dimly lit underground room. He slept alone on a recliner, staring at the dim little lamp above. Without Stephen by his side, the night became long and lonely.

After He Wei fell asleep, Cheng Zesheng squatted beside him, gently running his fingers through the soft black hair. The glossy black strands didn’t pass through his fingers, but Cheng Zesheng understood that He Wei couldn’t feel his touch, and this kind of comfort was merely self-deception.

“I seem to prefer you in my dreams over reality.”

Cheng Zesheng possessed the body and planted a kiss on He Wei’s lips.

———

After moving into apartment 405, He Wei’s condition did not improve. Although he continued to go to work every day, and his work performance remained consistent, he had become extremely silent and visibly thinner.

His phone rang, and He Wei glanced at it; it was a call from Cheng Zesheng. He felt no joy; even though it was Cheng Zesheng, it wasn’t the Cheng Zesheng he wanted.

“Do you have time tonight? Last time, you had to settle for a boxed meal at the concert. Today, I’ve cooked lunch at home… No, no, it’s dinner! I cooked dinner myself…”

Every time he communicated with He Wei, the pianist would get so nervous that he stumbled over his words. He Wei wasn’t particularly interested in dinner, but he just happened to think about visiting his place, and Cheng Zesheng offered to come over, saving him the trouble of finding an excuse to invite him.

Although he knew it was no longer necessary, He Wei couldn’t help but want to check if the armory existed. He didn’t want to miss any traces that might remain from the previous loop.

After work, He Wei drove to Cheng Zesheng’s house. A servant opened the door, and as He Wei entered, he saw Cheng Zesheng standing in the kitchen, holding a lid as a makeshift shield to protect his precious face, while wielding a spatula like a spear in a fierce battle with a carp.

“You… you’re here. Just wait a moment; this carp will be done soon.”

Seeing Cheng Zesheng using the lid as a shield for his face, and the spatula as a weapon against the terrorizing carp, He Wei couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. An artist not practicing art but cooking instead; wasn’t this a slap in the face right in front of him?

Despite being a different Cheng Zesheng from a different world, their poor cooking skills seemed to be a common trait.

He walked over, took the spatula from Cheng Zesheng’s hand, and turned down the heat. He flipped the carp, which had already lost its scales, and gently pushed his arm. “Put down the lid. How are you planning to cook this fish?”

“Stew it.”

He Wei nodded, told Cheng Zesheng to wait in the living room, and assured him it would be quick. Cheng Zesheng felt embarrassed; he was dining alone most of the time and would either order takeout or have his housekeeper prepare the meals. Rarely did he want to showcase his cooking skills, especially in such a clumsy manner.

“It’s my treat tonight, but I didn’t expect you to have to cook for yourself.” Cheng Zesheng reproached himself, but He Wei didn’t seem to care: “Your hands are good at playing piano, doing this is too wasteful.”

Cheng Zesheng’s cheeks turned red. His gaze couldn’t help but wander over him, and he felt his heart race.

Half an hour later, He Wei brought out a creamy-white fish soup from the kitchen. Cheng Zesheng served the rice, and the housekeeper had already left, leaving just the two of them to have dinner together in the spacious villa.

He Wei examined the dishes; they were reasonably well-presented, and at least they didn’t include any of his known allergens. There were five dishes in total, and although the appearance was good, after tasting them, He Wei fell silent, suspecting that Cheng Zesheng might have mixed up sugar with salt, and soy sauce with vinegar.

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?” Cheng Zesheng’s eyes were full of expectation for praise.

“It’s quite good,” He Wei curved his lips into a smile. “You’re still better suited for playing the piano.”

The feeling of frustration momentarily enveloped the pianist, making him feel like mushrooms were about to sprout.

He Wei was completely unaware of what he had just said. After finishing their meal, he took the opportunity while Cheng Zesheng was doing the dishes to sneak into the garage. The garage was unchanged, even the parking spot for the small car was exactly as he remembered. The self-absorbed poster was still hanging on the wall, but he couldn’t find the hidden door’s gap or the fingerprint lock in the corner.

The armory did not exist.

Perhaps due to too many disappointments, He Wei didn’t have much emotional fluctuation. He returned to the living room with his hands in his pockets, where Cheng Zesheng was clumsily cutting apples with a knife.

“Shall I do it?” He Wei leaned against the door frame and asked.

Cheng Zesheng quickly shook his head. He didn’t want to trouble He Wei; what kind of man would he be if he couldn’t even handle cutting apples?

He Wei didn’t insist either. Alright, it’s not his business if he cuts his hand. He roamed around the living room, wandering to the milky-white piano. He opened the piano lid, and his slender fingers landed on the black and white keys.

The music score floated in his mind. Despite not having heard it in a long time, it was still fresh in his memory. In an unfamiliar territory, he fumbled with the piano keys, trying several times before finding the right notes and pressing them one by one.

As his fingers moved, the familiar melody gradually emerged. Though fragmented, the long and distant feeling of entanglement came effortlessly.

“What’s this piece?” Cheng Zesheng suddenly appeared with a plate of sliced apples in his hand.

“It’s a very special piece.”

Cheng Zesheng placed the fruit plate on the piano. Based on the notes he had just heard, his fingers danced on the keys, instantly playing the complete and melodious tune. He Wei was surprised. The pianist’s perfect pitch was truly remarkable. With just one listen, he could reproduce it so perfectly, almost indistinguishable from the midnight piano chime every night.

“Very impressive,” He Wei praised sincerely.

Today, Cheng Zesheng finally received a compliment, and his entire demeanor changed drastically. It was as if you could see little white flowers of happiness floating around him.

After He Wei left, Cheng Zesheng sat in front of the piano and played that same segment again. He couldn’t help but wonder, what was this piece? It sounded strange and not particularly pleasant. Why did He Wei describe it as “special”?

In the blink of an eye, it was almost ten o’clock. He Wei slowly returned to the Future Domain. After exiting the elevator and turning a corner, he stopped in his tracks.

In the hallway, there was a Siamese Ragdoll cat with its little head swaying around, its azure almond-shaped eyes filled with curiosity. In the moment it turned its head, He Wei held his breath, almost unable to believe his eyes.

“Stephen.”

He Wei called softly, and the Ragdoll cat’s ears twitched in response. It actually reacted to the name.

However, it didn’t come closer but remained crouched in place, gazing curiously at He Wei.

He Wei approached cautiously step by step, but suddenly, a noise came from the garbage bin in the stairwell. He instinctively turned to look, but there was nothing there. When he turned back, the cat was gone too.

He Wei hurriedly walked to the spot where the Ragdoll cat had been just moments ago. Both sides of the hallway doors were closed, and the ventilation window was shut. Where did that Ragdoll cat disappear to?

He Wei turned back to the stairwell, where he saw a janitor changing the trash bag. Perhaps the noise made by the janitor had frightened the Ragdoll cat away. He Wei considered this possibility.

However, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that it was one of his “hallucinations.” After so many disappointments, he was beginning to doubt the veracity of his memories. Perhaps he really needed to make an appointment with a psychiatrist.

Cheng Zesheng returned from throwing out the trash, picked up Stephen, and scolded it, “Why did you run out again? What if you meet a bad person?”

Stephen innocently meowed, continuously staring down the hallway, as if wanting to tell his dad that there really was a stranger there just now. However, the moment he was picked up, that person disappeared.

Cheng Zesheng looked around the hallway, making sure he was the only one there, and then scolded Stephen, “You dare to argue back after I scolded you for a couple of words?”

Stephen was still indignant, lightly rubbing against his dad’s index finger, but after being put down, he curled up on the sofa, ignoring everyone.

Cheng Zesheng found it amusing, patted its little head, and then remembered He Wei, saying, “In a couple of days, I’ll take you to meet someone, and you’ll definitely like him.”