Chapter Text
When the owner of one of the wealthiest banks turned up dead, with several stab wounds puncturing vital organs, it caught the attention of the entire city.
Head inspector, Shen Qiao, crouched down in front of the bloody body and scanned for any other injuries but it seemed the poor man had bled out from his wounds. They were clean stabs, aimed specifically for vital points, and carried out with a definite sign of professionalism. Whoever had done this wanted this man to suffer.
“Nothing on the cameras. They were shot before any real footage could be captured.” Yu Ai, the right-hand man of Shen Qiao, raked his hand through his short hair whether in frustration or from exhaustion, Shen Qiao couldn’t tell.
“And the witnesses?” Shen Qiao’s voice matched how he felt, tired and thickened with grief. Many people had died here whether they were killed intentionally or simply caught in the crossfire. It weighed on Shen Qiao’s mind.
“Well,” Yu Ai sighed heavily. “One of them is still in critical condition but the other is suffering from shock.”
Shen Qiao stands and walks past Yu Ai who follows automatically. They go through the door that barely stands on its hinges, bullet holes embedded into the thick wood. The room is filled with people carrying out various tasks; some taking pictures of the blood-stained walls and floor, some looking through the debris of turned over furniture, others talking among themselves with grim frowns on their faces.
Outside of the bank, the paramedics work around the witness who sits on the back of the car, a shock blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her eyes fixed on the concrete floor.
Shen Qiao glances to the far left where the officers have set up a barrier of caution tape that keeps the media from interfering with their investigation. He’s glad for it. The last thing he needs is more of the media breathing down his neck for more of the “juicy” details as he’s heard some sick reporters refer to it.
The woman doesn’t show any signs of acknowledging Shen Qiao’s presence when he crouches in front of her. He makes sure to keep his hands firmly on his thighs, not wanting to scare her more than she already is.
“Are you alright?” Shen Qiao asks, voice low in a way that was meant to be comforting. As much as he wanted to leave her be, they needed to know if she had seen any of the killer's faces.
The woman doesn’t answer but her eyes dart up to make eye contact. They stay for a moment before she looks away.
Shen Qiao glances back at Yu Ai and asks for him to grab him a water bottle. Yu Ai rushes off with a nod and Shen Qiao turns back to the frightened woman.
“You don’t have to speak now,” Shen Qiao reassures with a soft smile. “Can I sit here with you?”
The woman nods slowly, unconsciously bringing the blanket closer to her. She doesn’t move when Shen Qiao settles next to her. The silence between them is only momentarily broken when Yu Ai comes to hand the water bottle but he leaves after a signal from Shen Qiao.
Shen Qiao silently offers her the water bottle. She takes it after a moment with a quiet ‘thank you’ that is rough and shaken. She holds it in her hands, an anchor keeping her from drifting into her memories.
It’s going to be a wait, so Shen Qiao settles in his spot and watches a bird in a nearby tree go from one branch to another. At the very least, the weather was wonderful, sunny with a slight breeze.
“There were four men,” the woman speaks up finally. She’s staring at the water bottle but Shen Qiao shifts his weight to show he’s listening to her, his hands folding in his lap. “I only noticed them because I dropped my pen and one of them leaned down to pick it up for me. The man who helped me— he had white hair and… I thought he was kind of handsome. I didn’t think anything of them until they separated. Two of them went toward the back and the others stayed in the lobby. I-I heard gunshots and ducked under the table.” She chokes off in a sob and leans into Shen Qiao’s side. Shen Qiao wraps his arms around her and waits for her to speak. “I don’t think they cared who they killed! I saw people die— in front of me! I didn’t help! I was so scared!”
She sobs in his arms, the water bottle still held in her hands, denting from the pressure.
Shen Qiao runs a soothing hand through her hair, waiting for her sobs to fade before he speaks. “I’m sorry you had to go through this,” and Shen Qiao means it, because he’s seen many horrors in his time as an inspector, and it never gets easier. This woman looked so young, he wished he could take away whatever trauma she had picked up from this experience.
She tries to describe the other men but can only manage details like height, hair color, and clothes. It’s more than what she told Yu Ai but nothing that helps to identify their motives.
Shen Qiao thanks her and asks if she wants him to stay with her longer. Surprisingly, she kindly refuses, telling Shen Qiao that she knows he has more important issues to handle than a crying woman. Shen Qiao asks for permission to hug, which is granted and embraces her gently.
“Please take care of yourself,” he says and leaves to find Yu Ai.
Yu Ai is, predictably, pacing back and forth in front of his car. He approaches when he sees Shen Qiao walking up to him.
“You shouldn’t stress so much,” Shen Qiao gently chides.
“This has to be linked to the string of murders,” Yu Ai begins, apparently not hearing Shen Qiao. “It’s the mafia’s doing, isn’t it?”
Over the course of the last week, there had been a series of murders that targeted the wealthy, sure signs of the mafia beginning to start trouble again. Their motives were unclear but Shen Qiao had already quelled the mafia’s motives once, he was sure he could do it again if only given more evidence and time. At the rate that people were dying, however, Shen Qiao knew time was of the essence.
“Perhaps,” Shen Qiao says. “What about the bank owner?”
“According to his wife he was at a club a few days ago that he often stops by. I have the address written down,” Yu Ai reaches in his car for a small notepad that has a series of addresses scribbled on it, one of the addresses circled and hands it to Shen Qiao. “The wife didn’t sound too heartbroken over hearing about her husband’s death. I assume an unhappy marriage.”
“Their marriage isn’t our issue.” Shen Qiao pockets the notebook in his jacket. “I’ll look into it tonight.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Ai crosses his arms over his chest, lifting an eyebrow in surprise. “You mean you’re going to the club?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
Shen Qiao nods. “It will be easier to blend in that way. We don’t have time to wait anymore. People are dying and I’m more effective at gathering intel than you are.” The moment he says this Yu Ai frowns and Shen Qiao reminds himself not to be too blunt. He clears his throat, looking to amend his words. “What I mean is, I’ll need you as backup.”
Yu Ai nods but he still frowns even as they head back to the crime scene.
The club he goes to is owned by Yan Wushi, well-known businessman and suspected mafia leader. Suspected because he has never been caught red-handed in any illegal business. Shen Qiao has never met this man nor has he seen him, but he’s heard the stories of a fiercely powerful man who carries himself like he was a God walking among mere mortals.
With any luck, Shen Qiao would finally meet this man.
The club was loud, crowded, and blindly bright. More than once, Shen Qiao shielded his eyes from the laser lights that rained down on the crowd. More than once, Shen Qiao avoided being dragged by his loose, black tie into a circle of men and women dancing close to each other. More than once, he had to force himself past a crowd that tried to tug at his white collared shirt until he came to the bar where he ordered a drink if only to blend in.
There are a few men and women looking his way, some lustful stares, others just curious. Shen Qiao ignores them in favor of drinking his alcohol.
People approached the bar, ordering drinks, occasionally flirting with Shen Qiao who responded with a gentle rejection. He asked a few people if they knew this club well since it was his first time here. Most of them had only been here a few times but there was one lovely girl who was kind enough to explain that this was a hot spot for businessmen. She pointed to a spot on the second floor where a few men and women danced near the edge and then to a single booth on the balcony right above the DJ’s set.
There were a few men in suits up there who were drinking and laughing together but one of the men— sitting directly in the middle of the booth— was staring straight at Shen Qiao.
“That’s usually where all the rich businessmen are,” the woman explains. “I’ve been there a few times but it’s a whole different atmosphere up there.”
Shen Qiao looks away from the man’s gaze and smiles at the girl. “It looks like it.”
When he looks back, the man is gone.
“Are you here alone?” The woman asks curiously, looking around as if someone would come to claim Shen Qiao.
Shen Qiao nods his head. “Since it’s my first time, I wanted to come alone before I bring anyone with me. What about you?”
The woman shakes her head and looks in the directions of the restrooms. “My girlfriend and I came here but she’s in the bathroom. I told her I would order us some drinks but I guess I got a little distracted.”
Shen Qiao steps away from the bar to give her room to step up. “I’m sorry about that, that was my fault.”
“No, it’s fine! I don’t mind helping out.”
The woman orders her drinks, gives Shen Qiao a cheerful ‘good luck’ and walks away, meeting her girlfriend halfway and disappearing into the crowd. Shen Qiao smiles and finishes his drink.
The only other man at the bar begins to slide closer to Shen Qiao, trying to be very subtle about the movement but Shen Qiao’s senses were keen even in such an intense environment. He notices right away when the man enters his personal space and gets ready to find another place to sit, knowing this man will be of no help and only wants to try his luck.
Before Shen Qiao can get away, the man grasps Shen Qiao’s arm, firm but not to the point where it would hurt. Shen Qiao stares, unamused with this man.
“What’s a pretty thing like you doing alone?” His voice reeks of alcohol, making Shen Qiao’s frown that more evident. He tries to get the man to release his arm but it doesn’t budge. He doesn’t want to hurt this man but if he keeps testing the waters…
“Please release me,” Shen Qiao says, a final warning. He tugs his arm again, still no budge.
The man leans forward and places his other hand on Shen Qiao’s thigh, fingers squeezing. Shen Qiao grabs the hand and gives enough pressure to feel the man’s bones grind against each other. The man yelps in pain and releases him all at once, nearly tripping over the chair.
Another presence catches Shen Qiao’s eye, the man who was seated at the booth on the second floor now looms behind the man, an easy smile on his lips but a fire in his eyes.
The man, now sensing the presence, turns around, and with a frightened shriek, he rushes off, cradling his hand against his chest.
Shen Qiao watches him go before his attention is suddenly zoned in on the new presence who has now made himself comfortable in the seat next to him. Up close, Shen Qiao gauges his new company; short styled hair with a streak of white, a black cape decorated with gold embroidery over his shoulders, plum dress shirt that exposed a good portion of his bejeweled chest to the entire club, and white pants held up with a black and gold belt. He watches Shen Qiao with that same easy smile but the fire he had seen earlier is now smothered, the embers dance within those crimson eyes.
A good portion of the club has stopped moving, watching the scene in front of them curiously. Shen Qiao would leave if he didn’t realize who this man was to gain so much attention; this man was Yan Wushi and it was now painfully obvious to Shen Qiao.
“Thank you,” Shen Qiao settles back in his seat and lifts his drink to his lips only to find it empty.
Yan Wushi, he’s sure, gestures to the bartender for another drink. He hasn’t taken his eyes off of Shen Qiao but at least the crowd watching them has gone back to their own doings.
“You come across men like that often I’m sure.” There’s a lightness to Yan Wushi’s voice that would normally be used on someone you would try to flirt with.
Shen Qiao eyes him.
The drinks are handed to Yan Wushi. He hands one to Shen Qiao, expectant. Shen Qiao takes it, which grants him a delighted smile from the other.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Shen Qiao says. He knew exactly what Yan Wushi meant which was true but coming from someone like Yan Wushi, he wasn’t sure if he was flirting intentionally or if his personality was just naturally flirtatious.
Yan Wushi leans closer to where Shen Qiao can smell the expensive cologne he wears. His eyes light up in the club lighting and there is an edge to his smile that tells Shen Qiao to back away but he holds his ground, maintaining eye contact.
“I think you do,” he drawls. Yan Wushi is so close his nose nearly brushes against Shen Qiao’s but he stays put and searches Shen Qiao’s eyes, curious.
Shen Qiao clears his throat. “Then I’m sure you’re familiar with the experience as well.”
Yan Wushi releases a gale of laughter that takes Shen Qiao off guard. It was, apparently, the right and wrong thing to say. Shen Qiao had merely been stating an observation based on Yan Wushi’s appearance; the man was attractive and carried himself well, very likely to attract attention anywhere he went. Yan Wushi enjoyed the response but it was also the wrong thing to say because Shen Qiao realized what impression he had given the man.
The damage done, Shen Qiao sits back in the seat and lifts the drink to his lips, using it as a distraction to keep from making eye contact with the man who is now leaning on the bar with his head cheek resting on his hand. His gaze is nothing but a fond curiosity that makes Shen Qiao feel like getting up and leaving, but he came here for a reason.
“It’s my first time here,” he begins. “I don’t go to clubs often, mainly because of people like that.”
Yan Wushi carefully swirls his drink in his hand, maintaining his unwavering eye contact. “How do you like it?”
“It’s lively, very crowded, and at times too much. But it’s part of the atmosphere.”
“Part of the atmosphere,” Yan Wushi repeats slowly. He downs his drink and sets it on the bar then stands. He offers his hand. “Join me?”
Shen Qiao plans to follow him but makes a show of hesitancy before taking the offered hand. He’s led through the crowd, who part for them as soon as they see Yan Wushi leading the way. A few glances Shen Qiao’s way are quickly shot down by a simple look from Yan Wushi. He leads them up the stairs, stepping in sync beside Shen Qiao with his hand still in his grasp.
They’re in the same area Shen Qiao first saw Yan Wushi in but the people who were once there are now gone. Shen Qiao doesn’t question it but is instead glad for the lack of audience.
“I think you’ll find this atmosphere more suiting.” Yan Wushi leads Shen Qiao to the booth, finally releasing his hand so Shen Qian can make himself comfortable.
“You’re very kind.”
Shen Qiao actually prefers this area. The music is not as deafening as it was by the bar and it’s spacious with decor that is pleasing to the eyes. The entire booth smells just like the cologne Yan Wushi wears; like a crisp fall breeze, white oak, golden amber, and an underlying scent of sandalwood. It’s an odd mixture of overwhelming and intoxicating.
Yan Wushi perches himself beside Shen Qiao with a long but content sigh. “I can't stand being around too many people for so long. I have a preference for company.”
Shen Qiao sets his drink down on the table. “That includes single men?”
Yan Wushi’s eyes light up. “So you’re single?”
“Why else would I be here alone?”
Yan Wushi settles back into the cushioned, luxurious seat, he crosses his legs. “Wealthy men in relationships are here at all hours: bank owners, doctors, lawyers, judges. I come across men who come here seeking intimate company despite their happy relationships. It wouldn’t surprise me if you were in a committed relationship, especially someone of your beauty. It would be hard not to believe someone didn’t already claim you.”
Shen Qiao feels his ears heat up, he wants to hide it with his hair but it’s currently tied in a loose ponytail. He knows Yan Wushi sees it if his chuckle is anything to go by.
“I’m single,” Shen Qiao assures quietly, brushing his bangs from his face.
“And ready to meet someone?” He scoots closer, one hand snaking its way toward Shen Qiao’s leg, not touching but close enough for Shen Qiao to feel the heat.
Shen Qiao blinks, feels a surge of panic hit him, and automatically crawls a short distance from Yan Wushi. It doesn’t discourage Yan Wushi who crawls after him with a feral grin but he’s stopped short by a hand to the chest.
“I’m not ready,” Shen Qiao says simply. His face is flushed from embarrassment and Yan Wushi thinks he looks very cute like this, blushing beneath him.
He backs off, fixes his cape, and offers his hand to help Shen Qiao up.
Yan Wushi eyes Shen Qiao curiously and shifts his leg closer to Shen Qiao’s. He notes the way Shen Qiao doesn’t shy away from it and yet he’d rejected his advances? Curious. “What are you here for then?” he asks.
“I…” Shen Qiao trails off, listening to the faint sound of the music. Out of all outcomes, he didn’t expect to be the one who held Yan Wushi’s full attention to the point where he was interested in intimacy. He can practically hear Yu Ai scolding him. “I don’t know.”
Yan Wushi’s silence is disquieting but when Shen Qiao chances a look, he sees Yan Wushi still watching him. He wonders if Yan Wushi will ever tire of looking at him like that, like he was a fascinating puzzle to be solved.
Finally, Yan Wushi slips back into an easy smile and settles back in his seat. “Tell me about yourself then.”
Shen Qiao eases into conversation about harmless details about him, He makes a deal with Yan Wushi, detail for a detail, and Yan Wushi is surprisingly eager for this. They start small like if they prefer sweet or spicy (of course Yan Wushi would be a spicy type of person but Yan Wushi is surprised to hear Shen Qiao prefers sweets), what their choice of drink was, if they prefer day or night. Small harmless things and neither try to venture into deeper territory, perfectly content to stay in this space they have created.
Where Shen Qiao had expected an overwhelming presence, he’s greatly surprised. Yan Wushi is surprisingly easy to get along with. Of course, he’s cocky, he knows what he’s worth, and at times he’ll make a remark that has Shen Qiao shifting uncomfortably in his seat (did he have to flirt so shamelessly?) but Shen Qiao sees something more in the little fine lines. He almost forgets he's sitting with a feared mafia boss. Almost.
“Have you heard of the murders going on?” Yan Wushi brings up after they’ve fallen into a comfortable silence that Shen Qiao spent drinking the last of his alcohol.
Shen Qiao treads this area carefully. “I have,” he says, his mind flashes back to the woman he had comforted, to the dead bodies littering the shot-up bank. “Those poor people… caught in between the fire. What kind of people would kill innocents like that?”
Something flashes in Yan Wushi’s eyes. Something akin to how a hunter would look cornering its prey, but Shen Qiao is familiar with dealing with wolves. “The kind you wouldn’t want to encounter. There is much evil in the world,” he leans forward, licking his lips, eyes flickering from Shen Qiao’s lips to his eyes. “some right under your nose.”
Shen Qiao chooses not to comment on that but he makes a show of him checking the time. “I think I’ve stayed longer than I planned.”
It was a little past midnight and he did need to get some sort of sleep for tomorrow. He wondered if Yu Ai was still awake, waiting for him to check-in.
Yan Wushi stands with him and walks him to the stairs.
“Come back tomorrow?” Yan Wushi purrs, his hand coming to rest on Shen Qiao’s back. The touch is searing and Shen Qiao will later blame it on the drinks, but he thinks it feels nice.
Shen Qiao smiles and descends the stairs, making his way through the crowd, and stepping out into the cold night air. He walks the distance to his car and texts Yu Ai.
It seemed his luck was a little too good.