187: Chapter 187 Life Under Lockdown

Chapter 187: Life Under Lockdown

Outside, a cold, freezing rain was falling.

The glass was covered with a layer of blurry water mist, making the street scene unclear.

In the small flowerpots placed on the windowsill, a few emerald-green plants and elegant little flowers were planted.

The indoor lights spilled over the wooden floor and the pale yellow wall paint, looking especially warm and pure.

Fang Cheng sat beside the dining table, eating breakfast and drinking lean meat porridge while sizing up the living room of the Zhou family.

The television screen was brightly lit, broadcasting the morning news.

On the cabinet, there were also some cute-looking handicrafts.

On the back wall hung a family portrait.

In the photo, a little girl of about eight or nine years old, sitting on her father's lap, was particularly eye-catching.

With two braided pigtails, a round face, and big eyes, her expression was a bit timid, yet she looked extremely cute.

Looking at the young Zhou Xiumei, a smile appeared at the corners of Fang Cheng's mouth, and his gaze shifted toward the kitchen, from which the sound of pots and pans was coming.

Through the frosted glass door, a graceful figure could still be seen busy working away.

Fang Cheng then put down the chopsticks in his hand and shouted inside:

"Xiumei, we don't need that much for breakfast. Stop bustling about and come over to eat together."

"Okay, it will be ready right away!"

The crisp response was accompanied by a burst of rich gravy aroma floating out from the kitchen.

After a brief moment, the glass door was pushed open with a clatter.

Zhou Xiumei carefully carried an insulated bucket with both hands and walked out of the kitchen.

Then she placed the insulated bucket on the table, opened the lid, and used a ladle held by slender fingers to dish out a bowl of soup.

After meticulously skimming off the foam on the surface, she personally handed it to Fang Cheng.

"This is beef stewed with corn and wolfberries that I just simmered. Have a taste and see if it suits your palate."

Smelling the appetizing aroma of meat and looking at the rich ingredients,

Fang Cheng couldn't help but feel his appetite stirred, and he smiled as he reached out to take it:

"Thank you. I was just getting quite hungry. As long as there is meat to eat, I am satisfied."

As he spoke, he promptly scooped up a large piece of thoroughly stewed beef, unceremoniously put it into his mouth, and gorged himself.

This fine soup could be seen to have been simmered for probably more than two hours; when bitten into, the beef was full of juice, tender, and thoroughly flavored.

The carrot chunks, corn chunks, and wolfberries and other side ingredients were also completely blended into the soup, dissolving a little bit of greasiness and adding a fresh and sweet texture.

It could be called excellent in color, aroma, and taste, not much worse than the master chefs of those restaurants outside.

Watching the man wolfing down his food without acting like an outsider at all, Zhou Xiumei pursed her lips slightly and revealed a heartfelt smile.

"Brother Cheng, eat slower. I cooked a big pot of it, and you can take some home later to have as lunch."

Fang Cheng nodded repeatedly, but his mouth never stopped.

His current eating manner was actually already very restrained and very refined.

If it weren't for fear of scaring the girl, this large bowl of meat soup could even be swallowed straight down into his stomach without chewing a few times.

The whole table was overflowing with aroma, along with several carefully cooked breakfast side dishes.

Soft-boiled eggs, shredded jellyfish in cold sauce, chicken meatballs, shredded potato and egg wrap rolls, and crystal shaomai.

To make this breakfast, which could be called sumptuous, Zhou Xiumei probably spent a lot of energy and time.

At this moment, she just narrowed her eyes slightly, looking with a face full of happiness at the man willing to eat the food she cooked.

From time to time, she picked up a pair of chopsticks, picked up some side dishes, and placed them on the plate in front of the other person.

"Brother Cheng, I remember these should all be what you loved to eat when you were a child, right?"

Fang Cheng swallowed the chewed minced meat and said with a smile:

"Do you still remember it so clearly?"

Zhou Xiumei smiled with pursed lips, and then used her chopsticks to pick up a shaomai, affectionately delivering it to his mouth.

"Have a taste and see how I did this time. Is it an improvement over last time?"

Fang Cheng originally wanted to refuse.

But seeing Zhou Xiumei's big eyes staring unblinkingly at him, as if flashing with the light of anticipation,

he bit into the shaomai, chewed it slowly for a bit, and evaluated with a serious expression:

"I now formally admit that your Culinary Arts are indeed a level higher than mine."

Hearing this, Zhou Xiumei's eyebrows and eyes curved into crescent moons with a smile, her face seemingly brushed by a trace of spring breeze, showing a peach-red flush amidst her fairness.

The whole person seemed to have become much more cheerful, no longer so sentimental.

Outside the window, the drizzle was hazy and humid, and inside the room, it seemed as if a soft and moist breeze permeated as well.

The two spoke simply, just sitting at opposite ends of the dining table like this, quietly enjoying this breakfast in ordinary times.

"Xiumei, the soup you simmered really suits my palate."

After finishing the last bit of soup in the bowl, Fang Cheng couldn't help praising again: "If you have time in the future, we can exchange Culinary Arts."

"Is it really that delicious?"

Seeing this, Zhou Xiumei immediately stood up happily: "I'll help you ladle another bowl."

Just as she eagerly picked up the bowl and prepared to dish out the soup,

a sound of boots stepping on the ground suddenly rang out outside the door.

Immediately following that, with a creak, the rickety door was pushed open.

A tall middle-aged man draped in a black trench coat walked in, muttering in his mouth:

"How did this door break?"

Fang Cheng and Zhou Xiumei turned around to look and discovered that Zhou Yongnian had returned.

"Dad!"

Zhou Xiumei immediately put down the bowl and couldn't help shouting in surprise.

Zhou Yongnian also raised his eyes to look at the two of them, his expression a bit peculiar:

"Xiumei, A-Cheng, what is this between you two?"

"We... We..."

Zhou Xiumei opened her mouth, trying to explain something, but she stuttered and didn't know what to say.

Her face was flushed and burning, red all the way to the roots of her ears, just like a child who did something wrong being caught by their parents.

Seeing Zhou Xiumei's so embarrassed look, Fang Cheng was afraid of suffering a misunderstanding and immediately took over the conversation:

"Uncle Zhou, a murder case happened downstairs last night. Xiumei heard the commotion and mistook it for someone breaking into the house, so she called me. Worried about her safety, I ran over and kicked the door broken. Fortunately, there was no danger in the end..."

Fang Cheng explained the situation clearly in a few words.

Hearing this, Zhou Yongnian frowned tightly, but then he sighed in relief:

"It's good that nothing happened to you guys. I rushed home today precisely for this case."

As he spoke, he changed his shoes and took off his trench coat soaked by the rain.

Zhou Xiumei hurriedly stepped forward to take the clothes, hung them on the clothes rack nearby, and then said:

"Dad, haven't you eaten yet? I just made breakfast and simmered some soup. You and Brother Cheng can eat some together."

At this moment, her cheeks were still flushed red, but her expression had calmed down a lot.

Zhou Yongnian nodded, sat at the table, took the bowl of beef soup dished out by his daughter, and then buried his head to eat.

However, he was somewhat absent-minded as a whole, seeming to still be thinking about the case on his hands.

His face also looked exceptionally haggard, obviously having stayed up late working overtime again last night.

Seeing this, Fang Cheng asked with concern:

"Uncle Zhou, have you guys found any clues about this murder case that happened in our building?"

Zhou Yongnian took a sip of the warm soup, then let out a breath and slowly shook his head:

"This case does not belong to our Jiangbei Branch to manage. It has now been uniformly handed over to the Criminal Investigation Team directly under the Municipal Police Department to handle."

Fang Cheng heard the meaning in his words and curiously asked:

"Could it be that similar cases have already happened many times in Dongdu?"

Zhou Yongnian nodded in a deep voice:

"As far as I know, this should be the fourth one happening citywide recently. The cases are all very similar: originally normal ordinary people suddenly go crazy, seeming to turn into man-eating demons overnight..."

After muttering a few words, he glanced at his daughter sitting beside him and did not continue speaking.

Fang Cheng thought for a moment, weighing his words:

"Uncle Zhou, in my view, these bizarre cases happening collectively should have some common source, or a mastermind behind the scenes."

"Oh."

Hearing this, Zhou Yongnian looked at Fang Cheng with some doubt and asked:

"Did you see the battle situation between that monster and the Masked Man last night?"

Fang Cheng's expression remained unchanged, and he replied calmly:

"The commotion was quite big last night; quite a few people in our building should have seen it."

"That's true."

Zhou Yongnian nodded slightly, sizing up Fang Cheng's physique, which was noticeably sturdier than before.

Then he looked at his daughter, who was only burying her head in drinking porridge without a word, and instructed:

"Xiumei, A-Cheng, you two should ask for leave for these two days and temporarily not go to work."

Hearing this, Zhou Xiumei raised her head and looked at her father with some surprise.

"The exit downstairs has been blockaded by the police, and residents in the building can now only enter, not exit."

Zhou Yongnian continued to explain:

"Later, people from the municipal police department will come to take statements and investigate, and commissioners from the Special Investigation Team might also come to investigate the situation."

Fearing that the two might not understand the meaning of the Special Investigation Team, he explained a bit, emphasizing that these people were very strong and possessed immense authority, and could not be easily offended.

Especially accentuating his tone, he admonished Fang Cheng once again:

"A-Cheng, you need to pay more attention yourself. It's best if you just stay at my house and keep Xiumei company..."

Fang Cheng's gaze flickered slightly, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

After finishing breakfast, he temporarily bid farewell to Zhou Yongnian and Zhou Xiumei and returned home to handle some matters.

Clang.

Shutting the door, Fang Cheng quickly walked to the balcony, pulled open a corner of the curtain, and observed the scene outside through the gap.

The rain was still falling patter-patter, presenting a gray hazy scene.

Without a single error, first post, internal content, check one by one!

From time to time in the street, pedestrians passed by holding umbrellas or stood opposite, pointing and discussing the Tubular Building.

Downstairs, several police cars with flashing lights were parked, and a few uniformed police officers guarded the front door of the building corridor, seemingly on duty.

"It seems Uncle Zhou was right..."

Fang Cheng observed for a moment, withdrew his gaze, and murmured in a low voice:

"Forget it, I'll honestly stay at home these few days and practice skills."

Since the Tubular Building was blockaded, there was just an excuse not to go to the club.

Thinking that he had just gained the chairman's appreciation and was about to become the club's image spokesperson, slacking off like this was truly inappropriate.

Fang Cheng could only silently apologize in his heart.

Besides this, there was another matter worth his deep thought and scruples.

That was the police officers downstairs.

If they were just ordinary criminal police coming to handle a case, there was nothing worth worrying about.

However, the Special Investigation Team was not the same.

Fang Cheng knew that those people had keen perceptions and often handled transcendental events, with rich related experience.

I'm afraid it would be very easy for them to see slight clues different from ordinary people on him, thereby causing unnecessary trouble.

Just imagine, an ordinary commoner who did not belong to a aristocratic family yet possessed the strength to defeat monsters.

Even if no signs of madness appeared temporarily, he would definitely receive extra attention from the Special Investigation Team, thereby losing the right to move freely.

Fang Cheng believed that the various secret anecdotes mentioned by the Smiling Demon were definitely not alarmist talk.

Thinking of this, he immediately cast his gaze toward the sundry training equipment inside the room.

The barbell was still considered normal; paired with his muscular hunk physique, it could be explained away.

The specially made binding straps and weighted iron blocks were best not exposed outside.

And...

Those things under the bedroom bed must also be found a place to be properly stored away.

Although it wasn't certain whether the police would search homes.

Just in case, he still had to make preparations in advance.

After slight consideration, Fang Cheng had an idea.

Half an hour later.

Zhou Yongnian finished breakfast at home, rested briefly, and went out again, braving the rain to return to the police department for work.

Hearing the sound coming from the corridor, Fang Cheng held a metal box and a travel bag in both hands, then also walked out the door and came to the Zhou family.

At this time, the municipal police department's criminal investigation team had long since arrived.

They were visiting door-to-door to investigate, questioning the events that happened last night, and making records.

It was just that according to the order, they hadn't checked the ninth floor yet.

"Brother Cheng, what are these things?"

Watching Fang Cheng enter the door carrying large and small bags, Zhou Xiumei couldn't help asking with some surprise.

"They are all relatively special things. Hide them here for the time being, so they won't be an eyesore when the police come later."

Fang Cheng didn't explain much.

Zhou Xiumei suddenly remembered that handgun and immediately nodded in tacit understanding.

Promptly bringing Fang Cheng into her own bedroom, she hid everything in the innermost wardrobe.

Then she covered them with some old clothes; as long as they didn't search carefully, no one would discover them at all.

Moreover, facing the family members of a police officer, those criminal police officers would inevitably lower their vigilance.

No matter how much they suspected, they wouldn't suspect Zhou Xiumei, nor Fang Cheng who stayed with her.

Perhaps... this was the intention behind Zhou Yongnian's special admonition to him.

Fang Cheng's heart was touched, and his gaze fell once again on that rickety room door.

A deeply indented footprint could be described as very glaring.

As if recounting some extremely violent event that had happened last night.

Thinking about it, Fang Cheng simply chose to dismantle the entire door and hide it under Zhou Yongnian's bed.

Finally, only an iron gate remained.

Even if someone noticed that the inner door had disappeared, it could be explained that it broke and they were waiting to install a new door.

Having made all these preparations, more than half an hour passed again.

Several patrollers executing the interrogation and search mission finally came over.

Perhaps because Zhou Yongnian had greeted them in advance, they behaved quite approachably.

One of the young police officers even praised Fang Cheng for having a very robust physique, asking if he usually exercised.

Fang Cheng responded with an honest smile.

Of course, their main questions concentrated on the murder case that happened last night and the bizarre things witnessed by everyone afterwards.

Comparing Fang Cheng and Zhou Xiumei's answers with other people's testimonies to find clues that might have been overlooked.

Yet Fang Cheng and Zhou Xiumei had long since matched their testimonies with each other.

After asking for about five or six minutes and making records, the few police officers just casually glanced at the living room environment and then bid farewell and left.

Knowing that Fang Cheng lived right next door, they also didn't request to check his home.

Matters were unexpectedly smooth.

Fang Cheng breathed a slight sigh of relief.

However, the legendary Special Investigation Team commissioners had not yet been seen so far.

By around noon,

Zhou Xiumei, who was watching TV, stood up and began to make lunch.

She actually behaved carefree, bustling about happily.

Seeing this, Fang Cheng also entered the kitchen to help, displaying his wok-tossing stunt and practicing Culinary Arts skills.

Just as he was stir-frying a dish of cucumbers and diced meat, a sound of footsteps came from the corridor.

Two strangers, a man and a woman, walked over led by a criminal police officer.

Their gazes passed through the iron gate, looking toward the open-view living room.

Seeing figures busy in the kitchen, resembling a married couple.

They immediately withdrew their gazes, didn't pay excessive attention, and continued walking forward.

In the smoky kitchen,

Fang Cheng seemed calm in expression, but quietly pricked up his ears.

Utilizing his five senses far surpassing ordinary people, he eavesdropped on the whispered conversations of those people outside.

When a sentence drifted into his ears:

"The man wearing a white mask..."

Fang Cheng's heart suddenly tightened.

"As expected..."