Chapter 220 - 153: Case Established: The Human Skin Blood Robe Case

Over there stood a green, fan-made character consisting of just a head and two legs.

’I think it’s called something like... Legsune?’

"Tsk. The Capital City really is on the cutting edge."

Xu Huo sighed. "Back in the smaller towns, most people don’t even know what ’cosplay’ is."

Zhang Liang went on sleeping. The cold winter always made one feel drowsy.

The same went for Chu Xi. She sleepily watched the stream of people flowing past, then rested her head on Xu Huo’s shoulder and slowly drifted off. A soft, warm fragrance emanated from her, teasing Xu Huo’s nose.

Everyone except for Li Jianye.

"What in the world are these people wearing? That kid can’t be an adult yet, so why is their hair dyed that color?"

Li Jianye grumbled as he scanned his surroundings.

For a man who was nearly fifty in the year 2003, this so-called "anime convention" was basically Hell.

Big heads on two legs running all over the place.

Wild, messy hair.

And another kid wearing huge glasses, a little blue suit, and a red bow tie at his collar, saying something about a "crafty frog"...

’It’s the New Year! Aren’t they cold!?’

Li Jianye decided he’d had about enough. He stood up and brushed off the seat of his pants.

"You guys hang out here. I’m going to the restroom."

"Alright."

Xu Huo nodded, not wanting to give the old man a hard time.

School discipline in Jiangsan City was strict; things like buzz cuts had long been standard. For Li Jianye, the current spectacle was nothing short of a massive culture shock.

After turning this way and that and asking a few passersby for directions, Li Jianye finally found the convention restroom.

There weren’t many people in the restroom, and it was very quiet.

The moment he stepped inside, the clamor from outside was cut off. Li Jianye instantly felt a wave of relief wash over him.

He walked up to a urinal, first lighting a cigarette and letting it dangle from his lips.

Then, he casually reached down, unbuckled his belt, and unzipped his fly.

Just as he finished and was about to pull his pants up...

...he vaguely registered someone suddenly standing next to him.

A...

...woman?

Li Jianye froze. Standing beside him, having appeared from who-knows-where, was a tall, slender woman around five-foot-seven.

She wore exquisite makeup, her long hair fell to her waist, and she was dressed in a skirt and black stockings.

She was very pretty.

But...

Li Jianye: ?

A chill ran down Li Jianye’s spine, and he instinctively glanced to the side.

[Take one small step forward, one giant leap for civility.]

’The slogan, the men’s restroom sign, the urinals... all correct.’

’This is the men’s room!’

Li Jianye turned his head to look at the person. "Miss, I think you’re in the wrong..."

Before he could finish his sentence...

...the pretty person lifted their hands, flipped up their skirt, and then slightly pulled down the pants they wore underneath.

Li Jianye glanced over instinctively, but that one glance...

"WHOOSH..."

Listening to the sound of running water next to him, Li Jianye’s expression slowly went vacant.

It was as if a nuke had gone off in his head, blasting his mind completely blank.

He stood frozen on the spot, like a man who had seen something so shocking it had left him catatonic.

Seeing Li Jianye’s state...

...the person looked at him, gave him a wink, and clicked their tongue.

Then he gave a little shake, pulled up his pants, smoothed down his skirt, washed his hands, and walked out.

Li Jianye: ?

Li Jianye was silent, his eyes glazed over. After a long moment, he finally raised a trembling hand to the cigarette dangling from his lips and took a long, hard drag.

Then, he staggered out.

"Huh?"

"Captain Li, what happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

When Li Jianye returned to the group, Xu Huo looked at the nearly fifty-year-old man in confusion.

"Noth..."

Hearing the question, Li Jianye snapped back to his senses a little. He forced a smile and said,

"Nothing."

"You sure nothing’s wrong?" Xu Huo asked, skeptical.

Li Jianye opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. It felt like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat; he just couldn’t find the right words to explain.

’That scene...’

’Do you have any idea what a shock that is for a man who’s almost fifty!?’

Now, as he looked around at the strange costumes and colorful hair, his expression had softened considerably.

He suddenly didn’t feel so old-fashioned anymore.

Li Jianye fell silent for a moment before taking another drag from his cigarette.

"I’m really fine..."

Xu Huo didn’t think he looked fine at all, but the man had said so himself. Besides, he was a criminal investigation captain, so Xu Huo didn’t bother pressing the issue.

"Sir, what character are you cosplaying?"

A few young girls gathered around, chattering excitedly as they gazed up at Xu Huo’s face.

"I’m not cosplaying. Just here to get out of the snow."

Xu Huo replied with practiced ease, much to the disappointment of those around him.

’Sometimes, being too good-looking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.’

This wasn’t the first group of people who had asked him that.

Until...

"The snow stopped! The snowplows are probably getting ready to leave. We should hurry!"

Zhang Liang woke up, opened his eyes, and started heading for the exit.

Xu Huo gently poked Chu Xi’s soft cheek, watching her dazed expression as she woke up.

"Time to go."

"Okay." Chu Xi rubbed her eyes, grabbing onto Xu Huo’s sleeve with her other hand as she walked along quietly.

"You, kid, keep up!"

Zhang Liang grabbed Wang Chao by the ear and tossed him into the line.

Wang Chao, still grinning foolishly, looked this way and that as he caught up, sidling up to Li Jianye.

"Captain Li, what’s up with you?"

Wang Chao asked with great suspicion, his question piercing right to the heart of the matter Li Jianye had just managed to suppress.

"Why do you look so worn out!?"

Li Jianye’s face darkened as he recalled the horrifying scene from moments before.

"Don’t ask questions you’re not supposed to ask!"

He gave Wang Chao a kick and stalked off, muttering under his breath.

Sometimes, being an accidental smartass is a talent in itself.

Wang Chao: ???

He rubbed his rear and followed after them, vowing to get to the bottom of the matter.