The past of Li Jiu, the Long-Tongued Ghost, was never spoken of to me. My memory of Li Jiu was confined to the recollections of the older generation about Wende Courtyard.
So, to me, what kind of person was Li Jiu?
Cunning and deceitful? That doesn't seem right. Li Jiu's schemes were formidable, but not necessarily deceitful.
Brilliantly intelligent? That's not it either. Li Jiu was smart, but not to an exceptional degree. His abilities mostly stemmed from hard work; he achieved his level by studying the theories of his predecessors.
A bad person? Close enough. Li Jiu orchestrated many scams that led to countless ruined lives. He also trained assassins who could kill without a trace. However, from what I understand of Li Jiu now, he was largely driven by necessity, with few good options against Gao Ji's wealth. For most of his life, he was bound by the dilemma of "49 to die, 51 to save," a twisted sense of justice.
...
Precisely because I didn't know Li Jiu well, I approached Ke Yingying's claim that Li Jiu and Kuai Zui Ya had a past romance with a mixture of belief and doubt. I believed her because I saw no reason for Ke Yingying to lie to me. The doubt arose because Li Jiu loved Gao Xiaojuan; how could he have been in a romantic relationship with Kuai Zui Ya?
Guided by Old Wang from next door, we found Kuai Zui Ya.
Kuai Zui Ya had a typical Southern physique, short and petite. Her eyes were large, with a chilling aura.
"Hello, my name is Ye Qingcheng."
Kuai Zui Ya extended her hand generously. I shook it and said, "Tang Nan."
Da Huang also extended his hand, but Ye Qingcheng ignored him. "This is not a place you should be. Leave quickly, lest you meet a deadly fate."
"Who do you think you are looking down on?"
Da Huang was displeased. I held him back. "Brother Da Huang, wait for me outside for a bit. I have something to say to Teacher Ye."
"Alright, I'll wait outside."
Seeing Da Huang leave, Ye Qingcheng led me to a sunroom. The room was humid and warm, teeming with greenery. Ye Qingcheng watered the plants with a watering can, a rare smile gracing her lips. "Tang Nan, we have an unusual connection."
"If I recall correctly, this is our first meeting."
"Is Luo Bo doing well?"
Ye Qingcheng and Luo Bo met in college. Back then, Ye Qingcheng was not only refined and beautiful but also extremely intelligent. She was the editor-in-chief of the literary society.
Through her observations, Ye Qingcheng discovered a peculiar talent within the literary society. Luo Bo, a novice writer for the society, had a massive following in the detective club. Every time she saw Luo Bo secretly submit manuscripts to the detective club, the reactions of those people would leave her astounded, as if Luo Bo were a god.
Ye Qingcheng was drawn to talented individuals and decided to pursue Luo Bo.
...
Perhaps to conceal his identity, Luo Bo quickly accepted Ye Qingcheng's advances, and they became the literary society's inseparable couple. This baffled many; how could a gem be wasted on a clod?
Ye Qingcheng loved gardening. Luo Bo rented a house outside, bought flower seeds, and planted many flowers. The house was romantic; they would lie on the bed, reading, watching the surrounding flowers grow, enveloping them in a sea of blossoms.
Renting a house?
Many young men did this, not for the house itself, but to bring their girlfriends home. Ye Qingcheng knew what that implied. She admired Luo Bo's talent and was willing to give herself to him.
But Luo Bo was different from other boys. He was intensely focused on his studies, created a romantic space, had a beautiful woman by his side, yet his mind was occupied with murder and arson, constantly constructing his perfect criminal psyche.
...
Ye Qingcheng never anticipated this. She had dressed up several times, but the stunning effect she had on others was less captivating than a detective novel.
Gradually, Ye Qingcheng began to feel an emptiness and lack of confidence. She felt that many people liked her, and even more desired her body. Yet, she never imagined her first love would become a shield for a criminal genius.
Later, Ye Qingcheng realized that Luo Bo had no intention of dating her, or perhaps, Luo Bo had no intention of dating anyone at all. Disappointed and hurt, her heart felt hollow. Her eyes became more perceptive, and Ye Qingcheng noticed a man who paid her considerable attention. This man was in his thirties but held the title of professor. Occasionally, when they met on campus, Ye Qingcheng always saw a warm concern in his gaze, which often made her heart flutter.
In truth, Ye Qingcheng didn't know why she felt this way. She was both intelligent and beautiful. If not for her relationship with Luo Bo, the men pursuing her could have formed a circle around the school.
However, Ye Qingcheng couldn't break free from the shadows of these two men, always wondering if Luo Bo looked at her in the same way.
Thus, Ye Qingcheng began to converse with Li Jiu. No matter the topic, their conversations brought her immense joy. As they grew closer, Ye Qingcheng would sometimes accompany Teacher Li Jiu for tea. Teacher Li Jiu was knowledgeable about tea and would occasionally praise Ye Qingcheng for her elegance, comparing her to tea. For some reason, when she was with Teacher Li Jiu, Ye Qingcheng felt uninhibited, even discussing Luo Bo at length.
Teacher Li Jiu was a skilled conversationalist. He never spoke ill of Luo Bo, often even defending him and praising him. Gradually, Ye Qingcheng developed a strange feeling; she felt bound by her relationship with Luo Bo, having lost her freedom in matters of love. Yet, her spirit felt boundless, allowing her to truly express herself.
...
At times, Ye Qingcheng would ponder further. If she had married Luo Bo, would she, like those women of ill repute, have chosen to have an affair?
Until one day, Ye Qingcheng, unable to control her emotions, embraced Teacher Li Jiu. She wanted to break ties with Luo Bo and be with Teacher Li Jiu. Teacher Li Jiu gently detached Ye Qingcheng from himself, held her by the shoulders, and said, "The distance between a confidante and a lover is but a garment. Whether the garment is removed or not makes a difference, as does the desire to remove it. Now, I will give you a choice. Consider it carefully, then come find me at this location."
With that, Teacher Li Jiu handed Ye Qingcheng a slip of paper and strode away.
...
The paper contained an address. Ye Qingcheng looked it up; it was a hotel. Teacher Li Jiu had booked a room there and arranged to meet her.
In light of this, Ye Qingcheng seriously considered her situation. She had been in a relationship with Luo Bo for a time, but they had no physical intimacy. Yet, physical intimacy was a form of connection. Going to a hotel with her teacher at this point was clearly an affair.
As Li Jiu had said, this was a choice.
Perhaps all relationships in the world eventually fall into cliché, but what about the ties of the heart? Did that not constitute a relationship?
If the connection of the heart was paramount, then what was her relationship with Teacher Li Jiu?
...
Ultimately, Ye Qingcheng decided to go to the address. She had made her choice. She wasn't a saint; perhaps she preferred elegant hypocrites like Teacher Li Jiu, mature men who deceived young women.
However, upon arriving at the hotel, Ye Qingcheng unexpectedly encountered Luo Bo. She looked at him in astonishment and asked, "Why are you here?"
"Why did you ask me to come here?" Luo Bo retorted.
In that moment, Ye Qingcheng was stunned. So this was Teacher Li Jiu's choice for him: confidante or lover?
"Someone told me that the distance between a confidante and a lover is just a garment. Luo Bo, you and I have both come to a hotel. We both know what men and women do when they come here. Are you going in with me, or will you be a fool, only lying beside me to read detective novels and write scripts for locked-room murders?"
Luo Bo froze, then thought for a moment and asked seriously, "You didn't ask me to come here?"
"Does it matter?" Ye Qingcheng was about to reveal Teacher Li Jiu's involvement. This was ultimately a choice. Luo Bo loved detective novels, he wasn't an idiot.
"The person who told you to come here, and then also called me here, and now the hotel staff have seen us. Ye Zi, do you think someone might be trying to fabricate an alibi?"
Hearing this, Ye Qingcheng was dumbfounded, unable to control her emotions. "Your girlfriend is coming here to get a room with someone, and your mind is still on alibis? Are you sick?"
With that, Ye Qingcheng turned and left. She couldn't understand why she had ever liked such a fool. Yet, the very next day, the police found her, seeking confirmation of Luo Bo's alibi.