Chapter Thirty-Three: The Leak

Early the next morning, Yan Xue dressed neatly and arrived at the entrance of the residential complex at the agreed time. Kang Ge’s car was already waiting there. Yan Xue waved, stepped forward, opened the door, and got in. Immediately, a rich aroma greeted her.

“Here, for you!” Kang Ge handed her a paper cup. “Just brewed it before heading out. Have some to wake up. I bet you haven’t had breakfast, right?”

“Thanks!” Yan Xue took a sip. The fragrant warmth spread through her, instantly invigorating her. “I haven’t eaten, it’s true. But wasn’t it you who told me not to have breakfast?”

“I’ve always heard the cafeteria at K University is famous, and they take cash as well as meal cards. Since we’ll be wandering around K University today, we might as well take advantage and try the legendary breakfast!” Kang Ge rubbed his hands together, looking full of anticipation.

Yan Xue couldn’t help but laugh. To think that someone as easygoing and cheerful as him—seemingly incapable of ever wearing a stern face—could be such close friends with Ji Yuan, the notoriously dour detective from the Criminal Police Unit… Their personalities couldn’t be more different. How did they ever become so close? It was truly a mystery for the ages.

Because they set out early, the roads were clear, and the two soon arrived at K University. The campus was especially quiet in the morning, with only a few students up and about for early classes. The entire campus seemed to be still asleep.

By all rights, they were here for an investigation. Yet, perhaps because of the tranquil surroundings or Kang Ge’s own relaxed demeanor, Yan Xue found herself unexpectedly at ease, as if she had slipped back into her own student days.

“There! K University’s Second Cafeteria. Of all the cafeterias, their breakfast is the best. Come on!” Kang Ge, after circling half the campus, pointed to a nearby two-story building and beckoned Yan Xue to follow, quickening his pace.

“You even know the second cafeteria serves the best breakfast?” Yan Xue sped up, surprised. “Don’t tell me your sister happens to be studying at K University and fed you all these tips?”

“Think again! My sister may be clever, but she’s not quite cut out for K University. I dug up all this from online dining guides!” Kang Ge mercilessly teased his own sister, then gave Yan Xue a triumphant wink.

Yan Xue looked at him in astonishment before quickly catching on. “Ah, I see! Since it’s the most popular breakfast spot, it’s bound to be crowded. You want to find someone to talk to, don’t you?”

“Just taking a chance! How many young people are really eager to get up early? Even if they have class, it doesn’t mean they’ll come to the cafeteria. If we pick the wrong one, we might not run into anyone at all!” Kang Ge grinned. “Did you really think I’d go to all this trouble just for a good breakfast?”

“I do remember you being a bit of a foodie, but surely not this obsessed,” Yan Xue admitted, finding her own initial thought rather amusing. “After all, it’s just a school cafeteria breakfast. No matter how good, there’s a limit.”

Sure enough, at the Second Cafeteria, Kang Ge’s prediction was spot on. There were quite a few students eating breakfast; more than two-thirds of the tables on the first floor were occupied. As the two entered, Yan Xue was about to head for the food counter when Kang Ge stopped her.

“Hold on! I may have graduated a few years before you, but I haven’t forgotten our alma mater’s traditions.” He smiled and pointed in another direction. “If a guy lets a girl buy breakfast when they eat together, he’d never live it down at class reunions! So, let’s do it the old way: you find us a seat, I’ll get the food. Let’s go!”

Yan Xue smiled helplessly but went along, picking an empty table nearby and sitting down.

At the police academy, there were always more men than women, and because of the regimented schedule, meal times were concentrated. Even for the rare campus couples, or just classmates eating together, it was understood that the men would handle the line and the food, while the women just found seats.

She’d never imagined that, after all these years, Kang Ge would still abide by such an unspoken rule.

At the table Yan Xue picked, three girls sat together, chatting animatedly over their neglected breakfasts, so engrossed in conversation that their food had grown cold.

When Kang Ge returned with the tray, he saw Yan Xue propping her chin on one hand, looking bored. But as he drew closer, he realized something else was going on. Surely someone awaiting breakfast wouldn’t be so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice him with the food.

He quietly set down the tray and sat opposite her. Yan Xue snapped out of her reverie and naturally handed him the utensils she’d prepared. They both calmly readied for the meal, neither saying a word.

Of course, silence was necessary—if they spoke, they’d miss what the three girls at the next table were discussing.

Those girls were deeply engrossed in recounting some of the school’s classic legends—so classic, in fact, that you could swap out the name of “K University” and its “Building XX” for any other campus and its “Lab XX,” and the story would instantly become a campus ghost tale passed down by generations of students.

Kang Ge listened attentively for a while but couldn’t make much of it. Only after the girls finished eating and left did he finally turn to Yan Xue to discuss.

“Are young girls these days so morbid?” he teased. “Telling ghost stories over breakfast, first thing in the morning?”

Yan Xue shook her head and whispered, “That wasn’t their original topic. These stories were an offshoot—their real discussion was about an undisclosed death on campus.”

Kang Ge raised an eyebrow. “Our case? Are those girls seniors? Classmates? Their information is that up-to-date?”

“Even more than you’d think. None of those three are from the same department as Xu Wenrui. They’re only sophomores, and their only tenuous connection is that they know of a popular senior—who doesn’t even know them.” Yan Xue glanced around; now that the nearby tables had emptied, it was easier to talk. “What they were really discussing wasn’t just a death, but tales of vengeful spirits seeking justice.”

“The counselor just said yesterday to keep things low-key, yet today the rumors have already spread, and with so much supernatural embellishment!” Kang Ge said, perplexed.

“Exactly. I’m curious too. How could something not public knowledge have leaked out so vividly? Of everyone we talked to yesterday, only one wasn’t from this university, and only the counselor knew the truth. The others didn’t even know it was a homicide—if they wanted to leak, they’d have to know there was something to leak in the first place!” Yan Xue felt her mind was full of questions.

Kang Ge frowned thoughtfully but recovered quickly. He made a conductor’s finishing gesture in front of Yan Xue. “Enough! If we can’t work it out now, let’s put it aside and eat first. We’ve got more than one puzzle to solve—let’s not get bogged down.”

“Then shall we find the counselor after the workday starts?” Yan Xue asked.

Kang Ge shrugged. “Sure, but there’s no rush. We’re here for Zhuang Fukai today. Let’s keep an eye out for him, catch him when he’s free for a chat. The counselor isn’t going anywhere; he can wait.”

“Alright!” Yan Xue nodded in agreement. The news of Xu Wenrui’s death had spread overnight—maybe not yet a campus-wide sensation, but at least among a small circle. It was necessary to talk to the counselor, but it was just as important to see Zhuang Fukai’s reaction in this situation.

When they’d met the day before, Xu Hao had been the more forthcoming one, yet Zhuang Fukai’s evasiveness at the mention of Xu Wenrui had left Yan Xue uneasy.

Yan Xue was nothing if not decisive. As Kang Ge had said, there was no use wasting energy on wild guesses without evidence. She set aside her momentary confusion and focused on enjoying this campus breakfast.

As it turned out, Kang Ge’s “intelligence gathering” had been spot on—the breakfast here was varied, blending north and south, and tasted far better than the police bureau’s cafeteria or the nearby diners.

After finishing their meal, the two left the cafeteria and strolled leisurely through the campus.

Or rather, it was Kang Ge who strolled leisurely—he seemed utterly relaxed, as if out for a spring picnic on a day off. Yan Xue, on the other hand, was a little lost, unsure what their meandering was meant to achieve.

“Shouldn’t we go find Zhuang Fukai?” she asked, checking the time—it was already half past eight. By now, the campus was even quieter; those with early classes were already in, and the rest likely hadn’t gotten up yet.

“Oh, class started a while ago. Let’s go check out where Zhuang Fukai’s lecture is.” Kang Ge checked the time as well. “He’s got class first thing this morning—this is a crucial time for his grad school recommendation. So we need to keep a low profile and not disturb him.”