Chapter 47

Chapter 47 4. The Game-02

The girl was still at the age one could call “adolescent,” slender and tall, bright-eyed with white teeth, her apple cheeks full and rosy. Her facial features resembled Qi Shanyu’s about sixty to seventy percent, making it obvious at first glance that they were related by blood.

Liu Yi recognized her; he had seen her face before in photos on Officer Qi’s phone. She was Qi Shanyu’s younger sister.

Her hair was shorter than in the photos, fluffy at the top with a few strands sticking up, bangs trimmed above the eyebrows, making her large eyes appear even bigger and brighter. She looked like a tender willow sprout in early spring, radiating a youthful charm that immediately drew favor.

“Hello, I’m looking for Qi Shanyu.”

Liu Yi smiled at the girl, speaking softly.

Qi Shanyu’s younger sister opened the security door, raising her eyebrows, eyes wide, scanning Liu Yi from head to toe. Suddenly, she broke into a brilliant smile showing sixteen teeth, welcoming him in: “Welcome, welcome, please come in!”

The girl enthusiastically took Liu Yi’s sleeve and led him inside.

“My name is Qi Zhenzhen, the ‘Zhen Zhen’ from the line ‘Peach trees flourish, their leaves Zhen Zhen.’”

Her voice was lower than most girls just past the voice-change period, and her tone seemed more mature than girls her age. Her attitude toward strangers was open and confident. “My brother just got back, he’s taking a shower now.”

She guided Liu Yi to sit on the sofa, quickly made him a cup of tea, then sat on the chair opposite him, her gaze fixed on his face, her smile betraying her excitement.

Although Liu Yi found her attention toward him slightly strange, he asked nothing, smiling as he lifted the tea cup to his lips, drinking calmly and allowing her to observe.

During a sip, Liu Yi’s eyes quickly scanned Qi Shanyu’s home.

The house was old, not very spacious, with a cross-shaped layout that let in little light. Even in the afternoon, the living room was dim, carrying the damp smell typical of southern old houses.

Furniture was outdated, made of ordinary materials, showing wear over years of use. Still, the home was tidy: stacks of old newspapers were neatly tied with string under the TV cabinet.

Qi Shanyu’s home, like many Chinese families, didn’t display many photos, leaving Liu Yi somewhat disappointed that he couldn’t see more of the family.

“Big Brother Liu… can I call you that?”

Qi Zhenzhen’s gaze fell on the cup in Liu Yi’s hand. The angle revealed his cufflink, a rose-gold base set with a meticulously cut eight-arrow blue diamond, perfectly matching his slender, fair wrist.

Liu Yi smiled and nodded at the girl.

Seeing him nod, Qi Zhenzhen beamed, leaning forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with restrained excitement:

“Big Brother Liu, I heard you’re a forensic doctor? How long have you known my brother?”

“About half a year,” Liu Yi replied.

“Only half a year?” Qi Zhenzhen widened her eyes in surprise. “Then you and he…”

Before she could finish, the sound of slippers shuffled from behind.

Liu Yi turned to see Qi Shanyu walking toward them, towel drying his hair, smiling at them both. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, just chatting,” Qi Zhenzhen said, jumping down from the chair. “I’m going to a classmate’s to study tonight, I’ll head out, you stay.”

She grabbed her backpack, changed shoes, and prepared to leave.

“Hey, wait a moment!” Qi Shanyu hurriedly grabbed his sister’s arm. “Since when did you say you were going to your classmate’s tonight?”

“I already made plans with Xiao Ju. I teach her chemistry, she tutors me in English.”

Qi Zhenzhen pushed aside Qi Shanyu’s hand. “We’ll probably study late, so I’ll sleep over. Don’t worry, I’ll remember to call you.”

She looked at Liu Yi, then tugged Qi Shanyu closer, whispering in his ear: “This one’s much better than the last, handsome and classy…”

Qi Zhenzhen pinched her brother’s forearm hard with all five fingers, lowering her voice: “You better make your move and win him over!”

“…Hey, you!”

Qi Shanyu’s expression was a mix of embarrassment and amusement. He glanced at Liu Yi, then straightened, scolding his sister: “What are you talking about!”

“Oh please, I know you too well!” Qi Zhenzhen wasn’t intimidated, shoved her brother’s shoulder, then waved at Liu Yi. “Big Brother Liu, I’m off now!”

She swung her backpack over her shoulder and slipped out like a fish.

Qi Shanyu could only close the door behind her and return to the living room, bewildered.

“Zhenzhen isn’t usually this unpredictable…”

He gave Liu Yi an apologetic smile, feeling his ears warm. “If she said anything nonsense, please… don’t mind it.”

“What nonsense did she say?”

Liu Yi arched his eyes, deliberately asking back.

Qi Shanyu’s ears burned, gaze drifting, lips pressed together, he didn’t answer.

Liu Yi laughed, patting the empty seat beside him, signaling Qi Shanyu to sit and talk.

Qi Shanyu chose the chair his sister had just vacated, leaving a tea table between them.

“By the way, I wanted to ask,” Liu Yi said casually, handing over the small bag with the scarf. “From your sister’s attitude, does she know about your orientation?”

Qi Shanyu took the bulging paper bag. “Yes, she knows.”

“Oh?”

Liu Yi raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I didn’t expect you to tell her.”

“Family shouldn’t hide things from each other, right?” Qi Shanyu lowered his eyelashes, thinking. “Knowing helps avoid many troubles…”

“Your sister wouldn’t force you to go on blind dates.”

Liu Yi teased, “Or maybe one of her classmates has an older sister who fell for you at a parent-teacher meeting and asked your sister to set you up?”

Qi Shanyu looked up at Liu Yi, surprised.

Liu Yi met his expression and stifled a laugh. “Did I guess right?”

Qi Shanyu, unwilling to dwell on the topic, turned his face away, ears red, muttering: “Well, it’s not really a secret anyway.”

Liu Yi stopped teasing the bashful officer, smiling. “I just think your sister is very cute.”

In a society not tolerant of homosexuality, family understanding and support mattered more than anything.

With both parents gone, Qi Zhenzhen was his only close relative. Liu Yi could see the deep bond between the siblings, and her casual attitude toward her brother’s orientation was especially precious.

“By the way, the scarf.”

Liu Yi gestured to the small paper bag still in Qi Shanyu’s hands. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

Qi Shanyu quickly unpacked it, taking out the gray scarf with black stripes.

The scarf, handmade by Liu Yi’s sister-in-law, was soft cashmere with fine, even stitches. Even someone like Qi Shanyu, with little fashion sense, could tell it was crafted with care.

“Thank you.”

Qi Shanyu held the scarf respectfully, thanking Liu Yi.

Liu Yi smiled, stood, circled the sofa, took the scarf from him, folded it neatly, and draped it around Qi Shanyu’s neck.

“Fits well.”

He adjusted it, giving an honest assessment: “Length is perfect, pattern looks good. But this color makes you look a bit mature. The brown one would suit you better.”

Qi Shanyu had just showered, wearing thick loungewear, the dark gray matching Liu Yi’s comment about “mature.”

But his handsome face and good physique made even loose, drab clothes look relaxed yet stylish.

“I’m not exactly young anymore…”

Qi Shanyu tugged lightly at the scarf, softly protesting.

Liu Yi raised an eyebrow, scanning him from head to toe.

Then he reached out, hooked the scarf, and, with him standing and Qi Shanyu seated, pulled him closer, leaning in so his face nearly touched Qi Shanyu’s cheek.

The distance was minimal, skin almost touching, barely a sheet of paper could fit between them.

Qi Shanyu felt Liu Yi’s warmth through the intimate proximity, freezing in place, afraid to move.

Liu Yi winked at the petrified young man, lips curling mischievously, moving his nose to Qi Shanyu’s neck, inhaling deeply.

“Milk-scented shower gel.”

He traced his knuckle lightly across Qi Shanyu’s cheek. “Only kids use this scent.”