72: night snack

When the dinner gathering was almost over, Lu Jianchuan proactively went and paid the bill. Afterward, the group strolled around the Night Market.

Lu Jianchuan watched her eyes, which were filled with longing for the snacks yet struggling to restrain herself, and quietly bought a serving of golden, crispy Takoyaki balls, drizzled with sauce, and handed them to her. Lin Wan's eyes lit up. After thanking him, she carefully speared one with a bamboo skewer, blew on it, and put the whole thing in her mouth. She was so scalded that she kept puffing out Qi, yet she couldn't bear to spit it out, chewing rapidly with bulging cheeks, her face full of contentment.

After walking a few steps, they saw a vendor selling Sugar-Roasted Chestnuts, and Lu Jianchuan bought another paper bag full of warm ones. Lin Wan took them, skillfully pried open the shell with her fingernail, and extracted the whole, sweet, soft, and glutinous chestnut meat. She ate them one after another, quickly and intently, as if performing a sacred ceremony.

Next came the Starch Sausages, fried crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with chili powder and cumin; then the Lǘ Dagun, rolled in thick peanut crumbs and white sugar; and the crystal-clear Candied Strawberries skewered on wooden sticks... Lu Jianchuan bought things almost continuously as they walked, and Lin Wan followed beside him like a happy little squirrel being fed, her hands full of various snacks, taking small but constant bites, her mouth occasionally smeared with sauce or sugar crumbs.

"Officer Lu, that's enough, really, it's too much!" Lin Wan's arms were full of paper bags containing various snacks, and she was still chewing a chestnut, her words slightly muffled, her face showing both delight and embarrassment.

"It's fine. Take what you can't finish home." Lu Jianchuan looked at her bulging cheeks, like a squirrel storing food for winter, and his lips, which had been tightly pursed for days, relaxed almost imperceptibly.

Lin Wan's "combat power" was indeed astonishing, or perhaps, she was simply unwilling to waste any deliciousness. As she walked, she diligently took small bites, tasting a little of everything, her face radiating a simple and pure sense of satisfaction, as if this were the happiest thing in the world. Lu Jianchuan watched silently beside her, not speaking, only occasionally reaching out to help her hold some items when she couldn't manage them herself.

"Alright, alright, it's getting late." Old Zhang saw the situation, understood tacitly, and spoke loudly. He patted Lu Jianchuan's shoulder, "Little Lu, the rest of us old guys are going for another round of drinks. Little Lin is a girl, and it's unsafe this late. You are responsible for sending her home safely! Hear me?" His tone carried an undeniable 'order' mixed with good-natured teasing.

The other colleagues immediately chimed in, "That's right! The task of the Flower Protector is entrusted to you, Brother Lu!" "Make sure you see her right to her doorstep!"

Lu Jianchuan was slightly helpless due to their teasing and turned to look at Lin Wan. Lin Wan's cheeks were flushed, and she looked at him, clutching a pile of snacks, feeling a bit flustered.

"Let's go," Lu Jianchuan's voice sounded calm against the noisy background of the Night Market, "I'll take you back."

Lin Wan froze for a moment, then lowered her head and replied in a nearly inaudible voice: "...Mm, thank you, Officer Lu."

The two bid farewell to their colleagues, who were still winking and nudging each other, and left the bustling Night Market side by side. On the road toward the Old Residential Area where Lin Wan rented, the noise was gradually left behind, and the street grew quiet, with only the streetlights lengthening and shortening their shadows.

Just as they were about to turn a corner and arrive, Lin Wan suddenly stopped, her face pale, and covered her mouth. She quickly ran to the roadside Green Belt, bent over, and immediately began an uncontrollable, violent fit of vomiting, bringing up a mixture of all the food she had just eaten.

Lu Jianchuan frowned, immediately followed her, and gently patted her back. Once her vomiting subsided and she straightened up, catching her breath, he sighed, handed her a tissue, and spoke with a tone of helplessness and subtle concern: "I saw you eating so much earlier and wondered if you could really handle it. How is it? Feeling uncomfortable now?"

Lin Wan's eyes were teary from vomiting, and her cheeks were flushed red with shame and discomfort. She barely dared to look at Lu Jianchuan: "I—I'm sorry, Officer Lu... I... I just haven't eaten this much delicious food in a long time... In the past, to save money, I often went hungry or only ate a tiny bit... Today, I accidentally got carried away..." Her voice grew softer and softer, feeling utterly mortified. She frantically pulled out her phone, "I spent too much of your money tonight. I... I'll transfer the meal money to you!"

Seeing her distressed and flustered state, the sadness that had arisen in Lu Jianchuan's heart because of Uncle Li was somewhat diluted. He reached out and gently pressed down on her phone screen, stopping her action, and softened his voice: "I said it's unnecessary. It's just a few meals; I can afford it."

Looking at her still somewhat pale face, he added, "In the future... eat on time, and don't ruin your health again. If your body breaks down, how will you draw or deliver food?"

Lin Wan raised her head and looked at his profile, which appeared especially gentle under the streetlight. Her eyes felt slightly warm, and she nodded hard, her voice catching: "Mm... I know. Thank you... Thank you, Officer Lu."

Looking at Lin Wan's still somewhat pale face, Lu Jianchuan hesitated for a moment before speaking: "If you run into any trouble in the future, or... need help, you can contact me." He took out his phone and opened the WeChat QR Code interface. "Let's exchange WeChat details; it's more convenient than calling."

Lin Wan was stunned for a moment, then surprise and gratitude appeared on her face. She hurriedly pulled out her own phone, whose screen had slight cracks, clumsily scanned the code, and sent a friend request. "O-okay! Thank you, Officer Lu!" Her voice carried a hint of relief, as if she had finally grasped a reliable straw in this unfamiliar city.

"Mm, go back and get some rest early, and drink some warm water." Lu Jianchuan accepted the friend request, saved the note as "Lin Wan," and gave one last instruction.

"I know. Officer Lu, you be careful on your way too!" Lin Wan nodded vigorously, hugged the remaining uneaten snacks, and turned to walk into the dim stairwell.

Lu Jianchuan watched her figure disappear before turning to leave. On the way back, he glanced through Lin Wan's Moments. Most of it consisted of practice sketches and color drafts, with occasional photos of the sky or small roadside flowers, accompanied by simple captions that revealed a tenacious effort to live. He turned off his phone. The night wind blew on his face, and the heaviness in his heart caused by Uncle Li seemed to be slightly diluted by this brief, lively interlude... The next afternoon, the Police Station received a report.

The reporters were a middle-aged couple with anxious expressions. Their son, a twenty-two-year-old Fitness Coach, had not returned home since going to the Gym the night before last. His phone went from unanswered calls to being completely turned off the next morning, and all contact was lost.

"My son is very healthy and has a regular routine. He would absolutely not disappear without reason! Officer, please, you must find him!" The mother's voice was tearful as she tightly gripped Old Zhang's arm, who was taking the report.

Old Zhang comforted the reporters, but his brow was tightly furrowed. A young man who was strong and healthy disappearing without explanation in the city for over twenty-four hours was highly unusual in itself. He immediately called Lu Jianchuan over.

"Little Lu, come with me to visit the area near the Gym where the missing person was last seen and look for any clues." Old Zhang's tone was serious, clearly aware of the gravity of the situation.

"Understood." Lu Jianchuan immediately responded. He picked up the report book, his gaze sweeping over the lines in the record: "Zhang Wei, 22 years old, Fitness Coach, 185cm tall, robust build." A strange chill flashed through his heart.

How could such a conspicuous and strong target vanish without a trace?

He and Old Zhang quickly drove toward the Gym located in the Urban-Rural Fringe Area.