If you mention the most promising police officer in the Hong Kong Police Department right now, one of the names that everyone would undoubtedly bring up is the young inspector named Lù Yī Péng.
Lù Yī Péng graduated from the police academy as the top of his class. After joining the force, he quickly made a name for himself with his outstanding achievements, earning him a promotion to inspector just shy of 24 years old. On top of that, with his well-built physique, like that of a men's magazine model, and sharp, handsome features that rival any celebrity of this era, his name is frequently mentioned in conversations when people talk about young police officers.
For all these reasons, this young inspector has caught the attention of higher-ups for various reasons, including...
"Matchmaking!?" Lù Yī Péng blurted out, forgetting his manners. He was sitting in the private office of Chen Qin and was sure he must have misheard.
"Yeah, you heard it right. Matchmaking. You didn't hear wrong, Inspector," the older man replied, continuing in a cheerful tone. "Former Commissioner Tong Chea visited our department the other day and happened to see you. After learning about your background and work, he was really impressed and said he wanted to introduce you to his daughter."
"W-wait a second," Lù Yī Péng stammered, still in disbelief. Just last month, Hóng Kǒng Què had roped him into taking care of a bird, and now this month, they're trying to rope him into marriage? What kind of karma is this?
"I've never even seen the former commissioner's daughter before! You can't just spring this on me out of nowhere. We're in the digital age now, Deputy Chief!" he protested.
"It's not like they're forcing you into marriage right away," Chen Qin said with a chuckle. "They just want you two to meet and see if you hit it off."
The young inspector sighed heavily in response, making the older officer raise an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Inspector? You look relieved, like you were afraid you were about to get forced into a marriage. Are you that committed to staying single?"
"Not at all, sir," Lù Yī Péng replied. "It's just... anyone would be shocked if someone suddenly said they want to set you up with their daughter out of the blue."
Chen Qin's expression showed a hint of disagreement, but he didn't press the issue. After staring at the young inspector for a moment, he continued, "You don't have any shifts tonight, right? The case from last week is already submitted. Why don't you go to the dinner as planned? You can even bring Captain Duàn along as company."
With that, he handed Lù Yī Péng a piece of paper. The young inspector took it and immediately looked up at him. "This is a famous restaurant! Are you sure someone like me should be..."
"Come on, Inspector, don't be so tense," Chen Qin interrupted. "The former commissioner arranged this dinner himself because he genuinely wants you to meet his daughter. Plus, he wants to have a personal conversation with you as well."
After a brief pause, he added, "To be honest, his daughter Qing Qing is only 22, just graduated from England, and is modern and stylish. If you end up marrying her, you'd be hitting the jackpot. Your career would only go uphill from there. Opportunities like this don't come around for just anyone, you know."
Lù Yī Péng hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed.
"Wow, getting set up with the daughter of a former commissioner? You're seriously lucky, Inspector!" Duàn Fēng said, his eyes wide in surprise after hearing the whole story. Lù Yī Péng nodded wearily.
"Yeah, something like that. Could you come with me tonight?" he asked.
"Well... honestly, I'd love to go to such a fancy restaurant," Duàn Fēng replied, looking conflicted, "but I happen to have an important date tonight."
Lù Yī Péng eyed his subordinate and smiled slightly. "Who's the lucky lady this time?"
"Oh, Inspector, you always see right through me," the young inspector laughed. "It's the girl whose purse you helped retrieve from that thief the other day."
"Ah," Lù Yī Péng responded with a nod. "Seems like things are going well, then?"
"Yeah, I'd say so. We started off strong, so now it's time to really nurture it," Duàn Fēng said with a big grin. Lù Yī Péng nodded again.
"Well, good luck with that. I'll just go by myself, then."
"Give it your best, Inspector! I heard the former commissioner's daughter is absolutely stunning. You've got to bring her home as the future Mrs. Inspector!" Duàn Fēng teased.
"I've never even seen her before. Don't go saying things like that," Lù Yī Péng said, a bit flustered. His colleague seized the moment to tease him more.
"Come on, Inspector, have some confidence! With your looks and build, anyone who isn't into you must be crazy."
Lù Yī Péng didn't respond, only letting out a dry chuckle.
In the end, the young inspector had to go to the matchmaking dinner alone as planned. After work, he returned to his place and began searching through his wardrobe for the best outfit he could find, all while chuckling at himself. He never thought he'd feel so nervous about his first matchmaking date.
But when he took off his uniform to shower and change, a bright red scar on his inner thigh caught his attention. Lù Yī Péng momentarily forgot to breathe as he stared at the scar, then sighed heavily.
Sure, he might be a lucky inspector getting the chance to meet the daughter of a former commissioner, but no matter how fortunate he seemed, that scar was a glaring reminder that he might not be so lucky after all. Who would want a son-in-law with a scar like that on his thigh? And what woman would want a husband with someone else's name carved into his skin?
Lù Yī Péng reached down to touch the scar, feeling a surge of anger.
That damn peacock was the one who forced this scar onto him—why can't he take some real responsibility for once?
The young inspector almost wanted to ditch the matchmaking dinner and head straight to Hóng Kǒng Què's mansion to cause a scene, but he knew it was just a fleeting thought. His issues with Hóng Kǒng Què and that scar...
It's been four years... Four years since this mark was branded onto him.
Him and that damn peacock...
Lù Yī Péng had no idea what Hóng Kǒng Què was really thinking. Did he see Lù Yī Péng as anything more than a toy for his amusement, someone to entertain, to satisfy his whims, or to take care of his bird when he's away? What else did Hóng Kǒng Què see him as?
The young inspector sighed again. He couldn't read that ageless face at all, couldn't guess what emotions, if any, lay beneath it. He didn't even know what their relationship really was.
Even so, on some nights when he woke up and saw that man's sleeping face—someone who seemed more like a legend from a mythical tale—he couldn't help but gently touch that face and kiss his hair. Sometimes, Hóng Kǒng Què felt like a dream...
Yeah, if only that mark on his thigh wasn't so real!
Lù Yī Péng decided to head into the bathroom, shower, and dress up before driving to the restaurant for the scheduled dinner.
To hell with that peacock. He needed something beautiful to take his mind off everything.
𓅈𓅈𓅈
As soon as Lù Yī Péng handed the invitation to the waiter at the entrance of the restaurant, he was immediately escorted to the VIP dining room. The young inspector felt a bit tense. The dining room was quite spacious, elegantly decorated, and of a high standard. Inside, two people were already seated. One of them was the former commissioner, Dòng Xiè, who must have been around sixty-two years old this year. Sitting beside him was a young woman dressed in a bright red qipao. Her hair was shiny and black, her makeup just right. When she saw him, she lifted her shawl to cover her mouth, but from her eyes, he could tell she was smiling at him.
Lù Yī Péng's heart began to race.
"Come on in, Inspector, no need to stand there all tense," Dòng Xiè said. He was in his sixties, a bit thin, and most of his hair had turned gray. The former police commissioner smiled kindly at the young inspector, who nodded and greeted him.
"Good evening, Former Commissioner, Sir."
"There's no need to be so formal. Have a seat," the older man said. Lù Yī Péng quickly walked into the dining room. The waiter pulled out a chair for him. After he sat down, Dòng Xiè turned to study the young inspector with a serious expression.
"You're quite the charmer, aren't you, Inspector?" The senior man said with a stern face, making Lù Yī Péng tense up.
"Why do you say that, sir?" Lù Yī Péng asked.
"Look at this," Dòng Xiè said, frowning playfully. "You've been here less than a minute, and my daughter's already blushing. If that's not charming, I don't know what is."
His daughter immediately protested, "Oh, Father, what are you talking about? Who's blushing?" Even as she said that, she lifted her shawl again to cover her face. Seeing this, Dòng Xiè laughed heartily.
"You didn't want to come at first, but now you're grateful to me, aren't you? Well, I'm going to take a walk outside for a bit. You stay here and chat with the Inspector," he said.
"Father!" his daughter called after him, but he simply stood up and turned to Lù Yī Péng. "Take care of my youngest daughter for me, Inspector," Dòng Xiè said.
Lù Yī Péng nodded quickly before the former commissioner left the dining room, leaving the two of them alone.
"Um... I apologize for my father. As he's gotten older, he tends to do whatever he pleases," the young woman said. Now, Lù Yī Péng had a chance to see her face clearly. She had a smooth, oval face with slightly large eyes. When she lowered her head and smiled shyly, she looked so charming that the young inspector almost let out a sigh.
"It's no problem at all. Older folks can be a bit demanding like that—it's perfectly normal," Lù Yī Péng replied, feeling a bit of sweat on his back. A woman this beautiful... Could she really be his future wife?
"I'm... Lù Yī Péng," the young inspector introduced himself out of politeness. The young woman looked at him and smiled shyly.
"I'm Dòng Qīng Qīng. You can call me Qīng Qīng."
"Qīng Qīng," Lù Yī Péng repeated her name, feeling inexplicably bashful. Over the past few years, Hóng Kǒng Què had toyed with him so much that he had lost interest in women. Whenever he looked at one, it only made him feel more discouraged. But today, Lù Yī Péng wished he could believe that Hóng Kǒng Què was just a bad dream. This woman was so beautiful and adorable... He never imagined he'd have the chance to meet someone like her in his entire life, let alone with her father's support.
He really wanted to forget that peacock once and for all.
As the two were blushing and feeling awkward, the waiter brought out the first course. Lù Yī Péng, ever the gentleman, served the food onto Qīng Qīng's plate first. She thanked him shyly and then struck up a conversation.
"What do you usually like to eat, Inspector?" she asked.
Lù Yī Péng paused for a moment, thinking. "Maybe snowfish," he finally replied, watching as the woman served herself. His brow furrowed when the sight of her hands reminded him of someone else's.
"Péng Péng, try some of this," Hóng Kǒng Què said, placing a piece of snowfish on Lù Yī Péng's plate. Lù Yī Péng frowned. "I already have a full plate. Can't you see?"
"I see," Hóng Kǒng Què replied, smiling. "That's why, Péng Péng, open your mouth. It's empty."
Lù Yī Péng glared at him, keeping his mouth shut tight. Hóng Kǒng Què chuckled.
"It's not hot anymore. I can blow on it for you, or would you prefer I taste it first?" He pretended to put it in his mouth, which made Lù Yī Péng snap.
"Are you crazy? I'm not a child!"
"Then open up already. How long do you plan to make me hold it, or should I get some pliers to pry your mouth open?"
Finally, Lù Yī Péng gave in, opening his mouth to swallow the fish. Hóng Kǒng Què smiled and leaned in closer. "You got something on your lips," he said before gently kissing Lù Yī Péng's mouth. "There, it's gone," Hóng Kǒng Què added with a small smirk.
Lù Yī Péng quickly pushed him away, but as usual, it was too late.
"SǎrJiēn, are you okay?"
The woman's voice snapped Lù Yī Péng out of his thoughts, and he looked at her, confused. "What were you thinking about?" Tóng Qīng Qīng asked, tilting her head cutely. Lù Yī Péng shook his head. "Nothing, just thinking about the snowfish."
"Oh... should we order more? I don't think it was included in the original selection."
"No, it's fine," Lù Yī Péng quickly replied, trying to change the subject. "Qīng Qīng, what did you study in school?"
"Political science and law," she answered. "I'm preparing to take the prosecutor's exam."
"Oh..." Lù Yī Péng murmured, blinking. A prosecutor and a cop... that sounds like a better match than a thief and a cop.
"Well, I hope you pass. I'm rooting for you," he said. She nodded. "Thank you. How about you, SǎrJiēn? How's your work? When I was a kid, I remember my father working all the time, rarely coming home."
"Yeah... being a cop is like that," Lù Yī Péng answered. "There's not much free time."
"I see," Tóng Qīng Qīng said with a hint of sadness. Lù Yī Péng quickly changed the topic.
"So, Qīng Qīng, what are your hobbies?"
"Reading and taking long drives," she replied. "I love driving through the countryside. The peaceful scenery is very relaxing."
"Hmm... I should try that sometime," Lù Yī Péng said. Tóng Qīng Qīng looked at him and smiled.
"I heard you drive pretty fast, SǎrJiēn. I saw it in the news."
"Oh, uh..." Lù Yī Péng suddenly felt shy. "I was chasing down criminals. You can't go slow doing that."
"Even so, be careful," Tóng Qīng Qīng advised. "If something happened to you, those who care about you would be devastated."
Lù Yī Péng looked at her and couldn't help but think about how Hóng Kǒng Què never seemed to mind his driving speed. In fact, that peacock seemed to enjoy it.
"No one loves me that much," Lù Yī Péng replied. Tóng Qīng Qīng looked shocked.
"SǎrJiēn, how can you say that? At least your parents care about you."
"Oh... my parents passed away a long time ago."
Tóng Qīng Qīng was taken aback but didn't give up. "Even so, I'm sure your relatives care about you."
"I don't have siblings, and I'm not close to my relatives," Lù Yī Péng answered. Tóng Qīng Qīng looked at him with concern.
"SǎrJiēn... have you ever been in love?"
"If you mean romantic love, yes. But we broke up. I guess she couldn't stand my personality," Lù Yī Péng said, sighing. "I must be too extreme."
Tóng Qīng Qīng nodded. "You're very dedicated to your job."
"Yes."
"And... have you ever loved anyone more than being a cop?"
Lù Yī Péng looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I want to know if you've ever loved someone more than your job. If your loved one asked you to quit being a cop, would you do it?"
Lù Yī Péng was silent for a long time, thinking back to his time at the police academy and his childhood dreams of becoming an officer.
"I... don't think I could ever stop being a cop," he finally admitted, looking up at her. "This job is my dream, my passion, my identity."
Tóng Qīng Qīng sighed. "The reason I didn't want to meet you is because you're a cop."
"I understand," he replied.
"My father never had much time for me, and I don't want a husband who doesn't have time for me either."
"Yes..."
"SǎrJiēn..." Tóng Qīng Qīng bit her lip. "Let me ask you something... If we started a relationship someday, when the time comes, would you be willing to quit your job to be with your family?"
Lù Yī Péng's discomfort was obvious. He hesitated for a long time before Tóng Qīng Qīng spoke again.
"I might be jumping to conclusions, but if you're that dedicated to your career, it's better for us to just be friends."
"I understand," Lù Yī Péng finally said. The two sat in silence for a while before Lù Yī Péng spoke again.
"Let's eat before the food gets cold."
Tóng Qīng Qīng looked at him, then smiled. "Okay."