Breakfast [2]

The breakfast was more than enough to suffice Xiajun for the whole day, since he was usually accustomed to even skipping meals if it meant he could get done with his cases.

"That was amazing, madam," he said to Miss Bai Ying after gulping down his very last spoonful of congee. "Really, I loved the food. Thank you so very much for adjusting me in."

Qi Lei's wife blushed, embarrassed by the compliments. "Thank you for joinig us. It really isn't that big of a deal."

Qi Lei got out of his seat and gave his wife a peck on the cheek before turning to his guest.

"We'll be in my office, dear. I'll help wash up afterwards." Qi Lei gestured to Xiajun to follow him through his house, and the two men walked briskly away from the table.

Xiajun's welcoming smile faded to a business like grimace as he followed Qi Lei into his office, which was a small room secluded from the rest of the house with a desk, a high winged chair, and bookshelves in it. Lots and lots of bookshelves,

Xiajun looked around at all the tacky decoration, and wondered if Miss Bai Ying had a hand in it. Surely, that large framed painting of a chinese festival scene wasn't Qi Lei's idea.

"Take a seat." Qi Lei pulled a chair from the corner of the room next to his desk before sliding into his desk and turning on his monitor screen.

"I'd rather stand," said Xiajun, studying the painting as he did so.

Qi Lei nodded. "Can you show me the picture?"

Xiajun turned his attention away from the artwork and searched through his phone for the image and thrusted his phone forward for Qi Lei to see, who narrowed his eyes to identify the grainy faces, but failed.

"Why is it so blurry?" he muttered bitterly.

Xiajun sighed and put his phone back in his pocket. "I sent it for sharpening but my confrère hasn't sent me back the results, unsurprisingly. He is usually slow."

Qi Lei's lips thinned into a line.

"Well, that's disappointing," he sighed, leaning back in his chair. "When was last you tried contacting him?"

Xiajun looked off into the distance. "Just before coming here. I think it's about time he hears my voice again."

With that, Xiajun removed his phone once again form his pocket and dialed Zhaohui's number, which came naturally to his fingertips since he had dialed it so often. It didn't take long for Zhaohui to pickup.

"Hello...?"

"Did you get the images I sent you clarified?" Xiajun asked. No greeting, straight to business.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Zhaohui spoke up again.

"Check your phone. I sent them to you right now."

Just then, Xiajun's phone buzzed with a notification. Xiajun pulled the white tab down and indeed, there were the familiar images, clarified and ready to run through the database.

"Great work," Xiajun muttered to Zhaohui before ending the call and turning to Qi Lei with the pictures. "Take a look at them now."

Qi Lei took Xiajun's phone and put on his glasses before peering curiously at the screen.

"Now doesn't this look much better..." he murmured. "You sure these guys are Phantoms? Look like your average men to me."

Xiajun frowned. "They were in the taxi with Wu Yanlin that day."

Qi Lei paused. "Well then, may God show his wrath to these two fools. I'll send these images to Shan right away," said he, turning to his computer. "Are you enjoying your stay in Hong Kong?"

Xiajun smirked. "This is barely a trip to enjoy. I'm here for work, and I'll treat it like work. I have to return in two weeks' time so I don't have a moment to spare."

Qi Lei clicked his tongue. "Tsk! You're all about work, young man. Work, work, work. You're in your prime! Try to enjoy life a little. Take break from all this detective stuff for a while. Get a girlfriend or something."

Xiajun grimaced at the idea. "I can barely take care of myself, Qi Lei. A partner would just set me back."

Qi Lei turned around in his seat and stared Xiajun dead in the eye. "Now that isn't very cash money of you."

Xiajun laughed out loud despite himself. "'Cash money'? Did your kids teach you that?"

Qi Lei smiled with a father-like grin on his face. "Just my daughter with her modern day slang or whatever. Here, I've forwarded the files to Shan. Expect the results in a day, two if he's working on a case prior."

Xiajun nodded. "Thanks, Qi Lei."

"Don't mention it."

Xiajun looked around the small office once more, wondering what to do now. Just then, he caught sight of the clock on the wall and was surprised to see it struck 9:30 a.m.

"I better get going," he said, turning back to Qi Lei.

"What?" The old man turned to him, his face the epitome of surprise. "But you've only just gotten here!"

Xiajun smiled sadly. "And I have to go. But before I do, I have one request."

Qi Lei arched a curious eyebrow. "Speak your mind, young man."

"I'd love to take this painting back with me to Guangzhou."

Qi Lei turned to the direction Xiajun was pointing and almost burst out laughing when he discovered this was about the painting his wife did that portrayed a chinese festival.

"Sure. Keep that as a souvenir from HK. I'm sure my wife would be more than happy to let you have it."