Chapter 279 - Do You Have Someone You Like?

The General Crime Division members were indeed having the time of their lives. For example, Luo Ning who took the chance to move into a new place. He had lived in a rented room for half a year ever since he arrived in the Capital and now that he had gathered enough savings, he used almost 80% of it to buy a house.

Interior wise, he was very satisfied. Although it was quite small, it had everything he wanted within. Two bedrooms, a kitchen, a study, wide lawn and moreover, there's also a space in the attic where he could store many things. The attic was also equipped with a window where he could climb on the roof to admire the sun.

Not only was the house beautiful, the price was also affordable and the location suited his taste. Luo Ning really liked how the house was located away from the boisterous city but still, the distance was tolerable enough not to be isolated. He only needed to walk half an hour to the nearest subway station. 

He had also been confused. The house was clean and nice, the location was good, and even his neighbors were very kind and polite so why did the house remain unsold for years? When he delivered the question to the agent, the latter sported a strange expression, like a mixture of fear, awkwardness and guilt.

Luo Ning's instinct as a police officer kicked in when he faced this person who clearly hid something. Only after threatening that he would back out from the transaction that the agent finally revealed that the house, albeit cozy, was actually…haunted.

The house was furnished nicely by the original owner but unknown for what reason, it was suddenly put up for rent. At the beginning, there were many tenants who moved in but they all quit before a year's time was up. The agent had received numerous complaints, all of them were in a similar context.

At night, they could hear the sound of something scratching or dragging on the floor. At first, they thought that it was a thief breaking in or stray animals, they even put on CCTVs to catch the culprit. However, nothing came up at all. The noises persisted, some nights were even more unbearable than the others, frightening them so badly that they directly moved out without even caring about the penalty. Slowly, no more tenants came to ask about the house and it gained the reputation as a haunted house.

Upon knowing the truth, Luo Ning didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So that's why he received such a sympathetic glance when he greeted his neighbors.

The agent asked, his eyes pleading. "So, are you still buying?"

Luo Ning laughed lightly, showing a pair of tiger teeth. "Buy ah. Why shouldn't I? Isn't that just some ghosts? If I don't disturb them then they will not disturb me either. We can just live together in harmony."

He still recalled how the agent stared at him as if he was an exotic creature. Luo Ning shook his head and proceeded to clean the dust and cobwebs in the house, especially the attic which had become the nest for insects. He personally decorated the house and also repainted the walls because he didn't like the damp and weird odor inside. Breathing in for a long time could cause someone to become dizzy.

It was fulfilling and tiring at the same time. During the day, he would go to work as usual, sometimes even pulling all-nighters and directly sleeping in the police station. Only at night did he spare the time to visit his new house. However, during those days, Luo Ning had never heard any strange noises whatsoever so he quickly put it to the back of his mind.

When the General Crime Division was granted a few days of vacation, Luo Ning seized the chance to empty his rented room and moved into his new house. Today, he invited all of his colleagues for a housewarming party.

Luo Ning was elated to receive praises and looks of appreciation from them.

"Woah, Little Ning, not bad!"

"I know right? The feng shui is also good. You really have a good eye!"

"I have asked around and found that there's no empty house left. Sigh, it's such a pity or else I will be able to become neighbors with you."

Luo Ning scratched his head sheepishly, cheeks flushed. "Thank you, thank you. It's just my good fortune to find this house." Then, he looked around and showed a perplexed expression. "Ah, where's Detective Qin? He doesn't come with you?"

The others looked at each other and shrugged. "We don't know. That Old Qin, he's too reclusive. Aside from work, we haven't really interacted with each other."

Luo Ning was taken aback. "Why?"

In his mind, Qin Weizhe was extroverted, sunny and handsome with thousands of buddies and followers. He was such a charismatic man. Luo Ning couldn't imagine him staying put in the house, reading books while sipping tea.

Shrugging, the other person answered. "Who knows? Don't you realize that although Old Qin looks easy going and laid back, he doesn't have the habit of telling others about himself?"

"Ah, right." Another responded. "Now that you say it, I don't even know where he lives."

Luo Ning felt unsettled yet helpless to do anything. The group ended up ordering takeaway, buying a dozen beers and chatted merrily in the living room. Luo Ning told them about the bad reputation of his house and as he expected, they only took it as a joke and teased Luo Ning to call them whenever he was scared. They were a bunch of experienced police officers slash detectives who had handled many vicious cases before. Crudely speaking, in their opinions, humans were more terrifying than ghosts. The latter could only shake you but the former could stab you for real.

When the clock hit 9 pm, they started to get bored and left one by one. Luo Ning thanked them sincerely and after the last person left, the house became eerily silent all of a sudden, he couldn't quite get used to it.

Luo Ning looked at the mess in the living room, sighed and grabbed a broom. He was still cleaning when the doorbell suddenly rang. "Who is it so late at night?" He grumbled but still went to receive it. Originally, he thought that someone might have left something behind but when he saw from the intercom who was behind the door, his eyes widened in surprise.

His body moved faster than his brain did. He directly opened the door, revealing a surprised Qin Weizhe who still had one hand in the posture of knocking like a beckoning cat. Seeing Luo Ning, he gave a wide grin. "Sorry, am I too late?"

Luo Ning cried out happily. "Detective Qin!"

Qin Weizhe took in his flushed cheeks and watery eyes glittering with excitement. Amused, he guessed. "Did you just drink?"

"Uh-huh." Luo Ning opened the door wider and pulled him in. "Why are you so late? I even thought that you won't be coming!" The alcohol got to his system and caused him to become a chatterbox. Well, most importantly, he was just so happy to see Qin Weizhe that he subconsciously chattered a little bit more.

Qin Weizhe chuckled and patted his head. "Aren't I here now? Come on, stop acting spoiled." He changed to the slippers and strode inside leisurely.

Luo Ning pouted, eyes staring at his back. "Where am I acting spoiled?" He muttered under his breath and chased after Qin Weizhe, almost skipping on his steps. With much enthusiasm, he dragged the man around, proudly introducing every crook and corner of his house. After that, he even puffed out his chest, lifted his chin and stared at the man with his round, lustrous eyes like a child seeking praise and reward.

Qin Weizhe gave him a glance, mirth filled his eyes. "Good, it's a very nice place."

Luo Ning's eyes brightened up and he was so happy that he could fly up to the sky. He dashed to the kitchen to fetch him a glass of juice and returned to see Qin Weizhe sniffing around. Luo Ning blushed, for some reason he was embarrassed to let Qin Weizhe know that he painted the walls himself. "Does the smell sting? Sorry, it's newly painted."

"No." Qin Weizhe rubbed his nose and turned to him with a smile. "My nose is just too sensitive. What do you have there?" His eyes landed on the empty cans of beer in the trash bag. "Any beers?"

"Ah, you want to drink? Wait a minute." Luo Ning returned to the kitchen and brought out the leftover beers from the refrigerator. There were still six cans left in total. Stumbling, he placed them all on the table, surprising Qin Weizhe.

"So many?" The man asked.

Luo Ning hummed and pulled open a can for him. "I want to drink too…"

Qin Weizhe received it, took a sip and stayed silent. For a while, the house was quiet except for the faint slurping and gulping sound.

"It's a very beautiful house." Qin Weizhe opened the conversation. "How much do you pay for it?"

Luo Ning told a price, surprising him again. Cracking up from Qin Weizhe's shocked expression, he proceeded to tell the man about the problems plaguing the previous tenants. 

Unexpectedly, Qin Weizhe didn't laugh it off like the others. 

His eyelids half closed, he sat with his long legs parted, it almost looked regal. After taking off the coat, he only wore a turtleneck sweater and long pants. The dark color complimented him perfectly, making his skin look paler than usual. In one glance, he appeared very slender but Luo Ning, who had once bumped into him while he was changing, knew how much strength was conserved in that body.

When he was quiet and unsmiling like this, he exuded a mysterious aura that made people itch to explore everything there was to him, longing to dig out every wonder he could offer. Even the beer in his hand looked like a glass of limited edition wine.

Luo Ning burped softly, his eyes glazed as he stared at the man. 

All of a sudden, he asked, "Detective Qin, do you have someone you like?"

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A/N: oooh, drunk Luo Ning is very straightforward (/ε＼*) do you think he and Qin Weizhe will *******? hehehe