Bad Blood - Chapter 2

cradled a book.

She filled the feeding station’s bowl with cat food and turned to continue towards the school gate. She had only taken a few steps when someone stopped her-it was Yu Tai from the School of Competitive Sports.

Standing at 1.9 meters, Yu Tai was exactly twenty centimeters taller than Ding Ke, perfectly blocking her light.

Ding Ke hugged her book, waiting quietly for him to speak.

After clearing his throat for half a minute, Yu Tai finally handed her a ticket to an indoor music festival: “You’re free on Saturday, want to go? I can join you.”

“Thanks, but I already have a ticket,” Ding Ke declined and walked past him.

Yu Tai stood still, taking a long moment before turning to watch Ding Ke as she stepped out of the school gates, exhaling deeply. After pursuing her for six months without any success, who said that sweet-looking girls are always gentle and soft-hearted? She had never spoken a soft word.

His friends described her as a pure white jasmine with a diamond heart-a precise analogy.

But what can be done? She’s simply a man’s downfall. If she were to commit a murder, men would hand her the knife and even serve the sentence for her.

Yu Tai bit his lip, unable to give up on her, deciding to temporarily retreat and fight another day. Just as he was about to leave, Shu Rui called him, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

“Hello, Rui-Ge¹. Long time no see.”

Shu Rui got straight to the point: “Do me a favor, check if there’s a girl named Ding Ke at the Zhan City Normal University’s School of Political Science and Law.”

Yu Tai raised his eyebrows even higher. “What’s it about?”

“Something important, just find out.”

Yu Tai sensed the seriousness in Shu Rui’s tone, a sense of crisis bubbling within him, and involuntarily asked, “Don’t tell me you’re interested in her too?”

After a pause, Shu Rui replied, “Thanks.”

“Hey, wait, I mean, I don’t know her…” Yu Tai realized Shu Rui had already hung up, taking a deep breath, sensing trouble.

He and Shu Rui had been neighbors as kids, and kept in touch even after Shu Rui’s family moved to Jiuzhou City. He had never seen Shu Rui interested in anyone.

If not Shu Rui, then it must be Li Mujin.

Damn.

Ding Ke pushed open the glass door of the bakery, greeted by the baker: “Good afternoon, Ke.”

“Good afternoon.” Changing into her uniform in the storage room, she spent her spare time working at this artisan bakery. The owner, a German, rarely visited, and the customer flow was moderate, giving her a peaceful work environment. After finishing her tasks, she would sit by the window and read.

As the baker left for the day and the afternoon rain began to fall again, the old street quickly filled with mist.

Ding Ke sliced the leftover baguettes from yesterday, packaged them, and placed them in the display case near the entrance with a discount sign. Back in the workshop, she put the chopped bread into a ceramic dish, wrote a tasting note, and clipped it to the edge of the dish with a wooden clip at the cashier.

After finishing these tasks, she retrieved her oatmeal from the storage room and stood at the counter, eating the oats one by one while flipping through Rawls’ “A Theory of Justice.”

With the rain, the bakery was even less likely to attract customers, allowing her to immerse herself in her book.

Across the street in a car, Li Mujin watched intently. Despite the layers of glass, the fine rain, and the dense fog, he could still make out the outline of the girl in the bakery. Exactly as he remembered.

Why exactly the same?

Suddenly, his mind flashed with past scenes, overwhelming him like a wave, leaving him no resistance as they filled his vision.

In those images, she looked stunning, especially when her white dress was stained with blood, when tears mingled with the wounds on her cheeks under the light, looking like diamonds, when she bit his arm and cursed him to hell…

Beautiful, indeed.

His Ke.

He unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and took out an umbrella, but forgot to open it, holding it sideways as he walked towards the bakery. He didn’t look at the path, each step splashing water, soaking his trouser legs and picking up bits of mud.

But just before he reached the door, he stopped.

The rain continued, droplets pulling down his hair, tapping against the back of his hand. Inside, the girl was still absorbed in her book. Her uniform had a dark blue bow, which she wore on her head. But it was too big for her small head, making her look somewhat cute.

After a long while.

He turned around and walked back into the rain.

At that moment, the bell on the door handle rang with the wind.

Ding Ke looked towards the door, seeing only the drizzling rain and the empty street.

The wind had picked up.

Thinking this, she walked to the window and slightly closed the gap.

In the evening, as other employees arrived for their shifts, Ding Ke left the bakery. She had a class on Thoughts and Legal Foundations later that evening and had arranged to meet classmates at the café to work on homework before heading to class together.

As she approached the café, a voice called out from behind her, “Ding Ke!”

Ding Ke turned around.

Zhang Miaomiao caught up with her, looping her arm through hers, handing her a bun, and said, “Yu Tai was looking for you again, wasn’t he? I saw his moment just now, saying he’s going to keep trying. He’s really persistent.”

“What did you say you wanted to see me about this afternoon?” Ding Ke changed the subject.

“Oh that, the analysis assignment on the case of Li Mujin’s murder of ‘Ding Ke.’ Can you help me look it over?”

“Sure.”

As they talked about the assignment, Zhang Miaomiao couldn’t help but bring up old news: “It’s still so shocking. I can’t believe I’m discussing the case of Li Mujin murdering ‘Ding Ke’ with Ding Ke herself! If it weren’t for the fact that you were volunteering at the city award ceremony when that ‘Ding Ke’ died two years ago, it would really be too bizarre!”

“You said the exact same thing this morning,” Ding Ke responded flatly.

Zhang Miaomiao had forgotten. “Did I? Maybe I was just subconsciously reflecting on it after seeing the news this morning. Li Mujin even dared to hang out on the bar street.”

As they entered the café and settled in a secluded corner, Zhang Miaomiao ordered two cold brew coffees. Returning, she continued, “I saw the comments this morning; everyone wants him dead. I also want to know, when will he die?”

Ding Ke first air-dropped the assignment to her, then said, “If he deserves to die, the court will sentence him.”

“With all this evidence and still being acquitted, it must be because of money,” Zhang Miaomiao asserted forcefully. “Having a powerful father really makes a difference.”

“This is a high-profile case. Li Mujin’s deep background and attractive appearance give the media too much to exaggerate. The media’s over-sensationalism leads to public interference in the judicial process, resulting in numerous doubts at the conclusion of the case and damaging the credibility of the judicial system.”

Zhang Miaomiao frowned. “You sound like you’re defending a murderer.”

Ding Ke spoke calmly, as if her hormonal and nervous systems were non-functional, inherently lacking in emotion: “Speaking with facts is the basic quality of a legal professional. I’m saying keep calm and don’t let public opinion lead you.”

“But the news today said that due to ‘insufficient evidence’ and ‘schizophrenia,’ Li Mujin escaped legal punishment. If he is innocent, why use the word ‘escape’?”

Ding Ke looked up at her.

Zhang Miaomiao was stared at for a moment and then realized, wide-eyed.

Indeed, the media uses such seemingly innocuous words to subtly influence public judgment and incite emotions.

“So do you think Li Mujin is innocent?” Zhang Miaomiao asked again.

Ding Ke shook her head. “There was no public trial, I’m not sure.”

“But isn’t that contradictory? You just said you believe in our justice system.”

“I believe in the absolute fairness of the judiciary, but the executors are people with emotions and independent thoughts. They are not always correct. They might make mistakes, be deceived, or as you said, be bribed. All these possibilities need to be considered.”

Zhang Miaomiao listened and felt she wasn’t cut out for law, but she understood Ding Ke: “So you’re reserving judgment on this case. You don’t think like the public that he’s guilty and deserves to die, nor do you think he’s innocent.”

Ding Ke took a sip of her coffee and said, “Knowing the truth means no reservations.”

Zhang Miaomiao smiled. “You share the same name as the victim; maybe you really will get close to the truth.”

Mentioning this, Zhang Miaomiao leaned on her hand curiously: “What do you think she looked like?”

Before Ding Ke could answer, Zhang Miaomiao continued: “It wasn’t made public due to privacy concerns, so probably only her close friends and family know. If the media are right that Li Mujin was only after her, she must have been very beautiful. Just like you, a standout wherever you go.”

After saying this, she looked around and indeed found others sneaking glances at Ding Ke.

Ding Ke tapped on her keyboard, casually saying: “That sounds like saying beautiful women deserve to die.”

Zhang Miaomiao was taken aback for a moment, then slapped her forehead: “I’ve really been influenced! The media’s ‘most handsome criminal’ title is so toxic. While condemning him, they also praise his background and looks… everyone criticizes him while unconsciously complimenting him…”

“So the ability to think independently is invaluable,” Ding Ke typed quickly, nonchalantly.

Zhang Miaomiao lay on the table: “I think I’ll just wait for you to think it through and then copy from you. Is that okay, Ding Ke? Can I… for the homework…”

“Isn’t it always like this?”

Zhang Miaomiao grinned: “Can’t help it; I can’t think as deeply as you. I’ve long felt I chose the wrong major in law, but my mom thinks it has great prospects, saying if I do well, buying a house in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen will be easy. Of course, I think her view assumes either good luck or helping the marginalized find loopholes.”

Ding Ke didn’t respond.

Zhang Miaomiao also quieted down, focusing on her studies.

After a while, Zhang Miaomiao remembered something: “Ke, you mentioned wanting to apply for a private tutor job. Have you found an employer yet?”

“Not yet, I’ll look during the summer break.”

Zhang Miaomiao knew Ding Ke needed money because of family issues and always worked part-time. Last time Ding Ke mentioned tutoring, Zhang Miaomiao had kept an eye out. Just then, a family in her residential complex needed a tutor for their child moving from junior to senior high, so she mentioned it: “They’re quite wealthy, so you could ask for a higher fee per lesson.”

“Thanks, I’ll check it out after my part-time job tomorrow.”

“No need to thank me.”

Inside the luxurious cabin of a yacht, a bodyguard pushed a woman in front of Song Yazhi, scattering the contents of her bag on the floor.

In addition to a bunch of cash, there was a Patek Philippe watch and three Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry pieces.

Song Yazhi smiled: “You’ve picked up quite a bit.”

The woman’s heart raced, but she retorted defiantly: “He wouldn’t know what he owns anyway; I might as well take them, or they’d just get lost. Don’t you know your own son?”

Song Yazhi nodded: “Fair point,” and tossed a black bag filled with cash to her: “You can take all these.”

The woman squinted: “What’s the catch?”

“Forget what happened this morning.”

“I already forgot.”

Song Yazhi was satisfied: “I hope there won’t be a day when you use this as leverage to ask me for money again, or you might spend the latter half of your life in jail for extortion.”

The woman stuffed the money and watch back into her bag, chatting as she did: “Don’t worry, Ms. Song, I keep secrets very well. You don’t know how many secrets I’ve kept for Mu-Ge.”

“That’s good.”

The bodyguard escorted the woman away, and Song Yazhi leaned back on the sofa, the sea breeze blowing directly at her, whisking away a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.

She had been prone to cold sweats for over twenty years, likely to follow her to the grave. The higher she climbed, the worse the condition, but there was no way but up.

There’s no way down the mountain unless you fall and shatter to pieces.

Li Mujin had known about a Ding Ke in Zhan City for three days, hadn’t inquired or investigated, nor had he directly approached her, acting like a living dead.

Shu Rui hadn’t attended classes for days, staying by his side instead.

As Li Mujin played pool, Shu Rui stood by with a glass of wine, watching him. Li Mujin didn’t avoid his gaze; it had no effect on him.

Finally impatient, Shu Rui approached the pool table. Under the dim yellow light, Li Mujin seemed almost decent. He couldn’t help but ask, “What are you thinking? Aren’t you worried? If she’s alive, just your actions toward her are enough to kill you a hundred times. And how could she be alive? Didn’t they find charred bones matching her DNA after that fire?”

Li Mujin was good at almost everything besides academics-shooting, swimming, ice skating, diving, skydiving, driving armored trucks, even piloting helicopters, and he was a pool shark. He had already cleared the table by the time Shu Rui questioned him.

Shu Rui wasn’t interested in his achievements; they were expected. “You’re scarier like this than when you’re angry.”

Initially, when the international school’s music room caught fire, the response wasn’t quick enough, and the flames engulfed the entire building.

Several units from the fire department were deployed to extinguish the fire. After the fire was out and the debris was cleared, charred remains were found, determined to have been bound by the limbs before death.

Once reported, the incident quickly became a national focus.

Investigations revealed that the deceased was a sixteen-year-old female student from the international school named Ding Ke, who had been rumored to have a juvenile romance with fellow student Li Mujin.

However, an informant immediately denied this, stating that Li Mujin had always coerced Ding Ke. Previously, the school had leaked nude photos of Ding Ke, with Li Mujin identified as the photographer.

Subsequently, Li Mujin was repeatedly expelled from the school for violating regulations, and his penchant for playing with fire was well-known, with multiple eyewitnesses having seen him ignite vehicles, including committing armed assault abroad.

Various versions of the “truth”-from unrequited love to love turned to hatred to rape followed by murder-spread online.

Through media tracking, the public further learned of Li Mujin’s family background, which, being politically prominent, made these stories even more vivid.

Eventually, because it was impossible to collect and test for Li Mujin’s DNA inside the victim’s body, the rape allegation could not be further investigated or verified. The murder charge was also overturned due to an alibi provided for Li Mujin.

However, netizens were not convinced, calling for answers from the judicial authorities regarding the “sudden change of a key witness” and “disappearance of the nude photos.”

The responses from the judicial authorities were somewhat contrived, gradually leading to accusations of “corruption and malfeasance by the Public Security Department commissioner to exonerate his son.”

In the end, Li Mujin was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and his parents, Li Chong and Song Yazhi, humbly faced the public, promising to treat and strictly supervise him, which finally quieted the matter.

Whether Li Mujin had raped and killed Ding Ke remained unknown without new witnesses or evidence, known only to Li Mujin himself and the deceased Ding Ke.

Two years had passed, and the case had been forgotten, but for some reason, it had suddenly resurfaced.

With the old case revived, the Li family was once again under scrutiny, especially as a girl looking exactly like Ding Ke and sharing her name had appeared.

Shu Rui’s concern for Li Mujin was not unfounded. “My dad suspects that your being photographed and spread around the bar street was orchestrated by one of Li Chong’s rivals for the deputy ministerial level position.”

Li Mujin put down his pool cue, walked towards the sofa, passed the coffee table, picked up a bottle of beer, used a lighter to pop the cap, sat on the backrest of the sofa with his feet up, and started drinking.

Shu Rui, growing more anxious as he watched Li Mujin’s relaxed demeanor, exclaimed, “Maybe this Ding Ke was arranged by them. Li Chong is so cautious, and you are his only vulnerability. If I were Li Chong’s competitor, I would definitely exploit you.”

Li Mujin continued drinking.

Shu Rui pressed, “Did you hear what I said?”

Li Mujin didn’t answer, only asking, “How long will it take for Li Chong to calm down?”

Shu Rui, knowing Li Mujin’s father somewhat, guessed, “Three days.”

Li Mujin knew as well, so after finishing his beer, he called Li Chong, unsurprised by the calmer tone on the other end.

Li Mujin spoke directly: “I’m moving to Zhan City tomorrow.”

Shu Rui’s shock gradually subsided.

Indeed, whether this Ding Ke was the same Ding Ke from two years ago, only Li Mujin could tell.

Because they had truly been together once.

To be precise, he had indeed coerced Ding Ke into being with him once.

Footnote:

1. 1. -Ge(-哥):Ge, in Chinese, using “xx哥” to address someone is quite common, especially in Mainland China and other Chinese-speaking communities. This way of addressing typically carries a sense of affection and friendliness, indicating respect and amiability towards the person.