CH 27

Bliss and Death

Sensing that the treatment process was getting out of hand, Ou Tingyun changed tactics and guided his patient from a hypnotic state into a true deep sleep.

Yi Zhize's breathing gradually levelled out as the doctor faded into the night and disappeared at the end of the treatment room.

The next morning, Yi Zhize woke up early.

He had no recollection of last night's events, he just felt that he had slept particularly well.

After showering, he changed his clothes. He made breakfast in the kitchen and sat down at the table to enjoy it.

It was as if he had already made this his home.

Within a moment, Ou Tingyun followed the scent downstairs and greeted him, "Good morning, Zhize."

"Morning."

He sat down next to Yi Zhize and grabbed his plate and milk without a second thought, "I'm hungry."

Yi Zhize helplessly said, "Director Ou, there's more in the kitchen."

"No, I want this one, I can't wait."

"Doctor Ou, have you ever tested your mental age?"

"No," Ou Tingyun lifted the glass and took a sip of the hot milk, "what's the point of testing that?"

"Nothing." Yi Zhize fetched another breakfast from the kitchen, "Did you get the invitation?"

"You mean, Meng Xing's birthday party?"

Yi Zhize nodded.

In truth, without Meng Xing, they probably wouldn't have known each other.

"I got it," Ou Tingyun asked, "are you going?"

"I don't think so."

"I'll go if you do."

"Director Ou, it's his birthday, not mine."

"It doesn't matter, I don't care about that." Ou Tingyun said, "I only care about you."

Yi Zhize choked violently on a mouthful of milk and feigned composure as he wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin, "Thanks."

———

After breakfast, Yi Zhize drove to work at the law firm.

Victor asked for his help in the British doctor's murder case.

The two of them went to the police station and met with their client James.

The case was very clear: James, a British doctor, worked in a private hospital and had a special fetish for the use of pharmaceuticals as an aid to pleasure. A hallucinogen of unknown composition was misused, resulting in the death of his same-sex lover.

This case was disputed because James maintained that he had committed manslaughter, while the court could not exclude that he had committed intentional homicide. James claimed that he had not prepared the hallucinogens himself but had purchased them from someone else, but as the seller could not be found, his testimony was not substantiated due to lack of evidence.

"There's no way to find the supplier for this kind of underground deal," Victor complained, "Unless the police can solve the case based on the pitiful clues he provided, it's a pipe dream."

"The difference in sentencing between the two charges is enormous," Yi Zhize said as he went over the material again, "It's better to be more cautious."

Once he saw Victor, James acted as if he had seen a family member: "Oh my dear dear Victor, so glad to see you here again!!! How is the case going?"

Victor replied gently, "Let me introduce you to my colleague, Mr.Yi, an expert of international law affairs."

James immediately took Yi Zhize's hand with tears in his eyes, "Ah! Mr. Yi!!!! Please, please help me!"

Yi Zhize: "I have only one question."

James: "You have all my attention."

Yi Zhize stared into his eyes, "I need to know the truth, that is, did you do it by accident or on purpose?"

James: "I definitely deny any accusation of my intention!!!! I love him and have never dreamed of hurting him. Oh God! Jesus!! Damn it!"

Victor took over the conversation and began to question James about the details of the case.

Officer Zhou knocked on the door and waved at Yi Zhize.

Yi Zhize left the room and stood alongside him in the corridor.

Officer Zhou said, "The results of the investigation into that case of Mu Xin's last time have come out, and I think it is necessary to inform you. But it doesn't seem to make any difference if I tell you or not."

"En."

"Mu Xin grew up in the Xin Yuan Orphanage in A City. He started his musical training at the age of six, and as a teenager was sent to study at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he had a little success on the piano..." Officer Zhou scratched his head, "The records after that seem to have been deliberately covered up."

"Is there any connection between him and my father?"

"Sorry, it is not yet known."

"All you've said is known information."

Officer Zhou rubbed his nose in embarrassment, "So I said, it doesn't seem to make any difference!"

"Okay, thanks for your hard work." Yi Zhize asked, "Has there been any progress on this British doctor's case, the part about hallucinogens?"

"The bureau is looking into it."

It had been a busy morning, but nothing had been found.

On the way back, Victor kept talking to him, "Yi, did you hear the story from the crime scene?"

"No."

"Then I must share it with you, it was an unusually fragrant scene. It was extreme pleasure and death. Sometimes, extreme pleasure makes you want to die, doesn't it?"

"Perhaps."

"It is said that that hallucinogenic drug makes people extremely aroused and their desires run high. They used an overdose of hallucinogens when they were engaged in some kind of intimate exchange. The extreme euphoria lost its sanity in pursuit of the threshold of sensual stimulation. Guess what he did?"

"What?"

"He did it while holding his lover by the throat." Victor's voice lowered a little: "It was probably not the first time they had tried it. But the drugs overwhelmed him, made him forget about the intensity. His lover then met his death in utter bliss. What a tragedy!"

"Not a bad way to go.... A unique way to die." Yi Zhize looked out the window and whispered.

"Wow, Yi! Do you want to try it?"

"Don't want to."

"You always talk out of turn, I understand."

"You don't understand."

"If the police do manage to crack this illegal hallucinogen case, maybe I can sneak some out, do you want to try it with me?"

"Victor," said Yi Zhize, "please."

"No offence," Victor immediately apologised, "sorry, my apologies."

Back at the law firm, Yi Zhize took out the invitation he had received.

The time written on it was at seven o'clock tonight.

After work, he drove straight to the venue of the birthday dinner.

He did not inform Ou Tingyun.

He did not know why he did not inform him.

He felt that if he could meet him, he would meet him.

Meng Xing was Yi Zhize's classmate in London, in fact not really a classmate, just an alumni.

He was a second generation in the entertainment industry. He studied art since he was a child and went abroad to pursue his degree after his undergraduate studies.

Meng Xing's villa was decorated in a magnificent way, and at the moment it was even more lively.

After Yi Zhize showed his invitation and entered the hall, he simply thought he had mistakenly entered the dance hall of some club.

He didn't like the hustle and bustle, so he ordered a glass of wine and planned to go outside to enjoy the night breeze.

He didn't expect to see a sexy girl blocking his path just a few steps away: "First time here?"

Yi Zhize looked at her in silence.

"You're not often seen in this circle," the girl leaned in close to him and gently caressed the side of his face: "Want to play together?"

Before Yi Zhize could refuse, he saw her wipe something on the corner of his lips.

The intense pleasure immediately shot straight to his nerves and Yi Zhize almost lost his breath.

The girl took the glass from his hand and placed it on the plate of the waiter at the side, whispering in Yi Zhize's ear, "There are too many people here, let's go somewhere else, hmm?"