After completing the formalities, we left the station with Pockmark who was filled with gratitude. The man was named Li, although he claimed people in the Jianghu knew him as Pockmark Li.

In truth, those who mentioned the Jianghu in every exchange annoyed me for I suspected such people were all talk and no action.

"Where’s your friend? Are you out alone on business?" I asked.

"He’s here as well,” answered Pockmark Li. “What an uproar! The police charged in as soon as I removed my clothes. Even Dou E can’t compare to the injustice I’ve suffered. My cell phone is still at the massage parlor so I can't contact my partner. Can I borrow yours?"

"Bullshit!” I chided. “Isn’t it all because you don’t pay attention to your actions?!"

I passed him my cell phone. After a brief call, the man skillfully removed all traces by deleting the call record.

"Tell me then, what misfortune and death do you foresee?"

Pockmark Li eyed Xiaotao up and down several times, his lips murmuring incoherently. I had to admit his act looked almost professional. A while later, he said, "Excuse me, miss, are you currently single?"

Xiaotao grabbed my arm, answering with an arch of her eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"There are certain questions that must be asked to read your fortune,” Pockmark Li coughed dryly. “Don't overthink it."

Xiaotao curled her lips impatiently as Pockmark Li continued with a series of seemingly random questions. "What are your bust, waist and hip measurements?" he asked.

Seething with anger, Xiaotao’s eyes smoldered under a stony expression as she clenched her fist, ready to give the man a well deserved beating.

"Any more excuses and I'll invite you back to the station," I warned through gritted teeth.

"Okay, I'll get straight to it,” Pockmark Li urgently cut to the chase. “Your destined calamity corresponds to the Taiyin Star and will happen within the month. You can't hide from it because of your fate. From what I see, the calamity could be related to matters of the boudoir. There might be a way for you to avoid it, though I can’t say for sure. You should visit a temple to obtain a white amulet. Make sure to keep it on you at all times. It may protect you."

Stunned by his remarks, I stood there brain stuttering for a moment but before I could respond, Pockmark Li clenched both his hands into fists and lamented, "I've revealed too much. I’m afraid I’ll be punished with another pockmark on my face! We'll meet again."

And with that, he quickly hailed a cab from the side of the road and ran off, all within seconds. "Another cheat!” Xiaotao burst into rage. “How dare he play a trick on us! What does a stupid calamity have to do with the boudoir?! He’s talking about..."

Xiaotao trailed off, her face the color of an overripe tomato. In hindsight, the implication of his words dawned upon me and I gritted my teeth, inwardly cursing all eighteen generations of his ancestors, thinking to myself that the next time we met, I would give him a good beating.

The teasing we received from this charlatan evoked both anger and laughter so I didn't think much of it at the time. Xiaotao and I left for our destination where we had a simple lunch. After our last intimate contact, we seemed more attuned with each other. Even when the conversation lapsed, her eyes shone with a warm tenderness as she fixed her gaze on me.

After lunch, Xiaotao went back to the station while I returned to my dormitory for several games of League of Legends with my roommates. At the time, I doubted the veracity of Pockmark Li’s prophecy, never imagining that the bloody calamity he foresaw was real, and the death of Officer Niu was only the beginning!

The next evening, I received a call from Xiaotao who asked, "Are you busy tonight?"

"I’m busy thinking about you!" I teased.

I could hear the muffled sound of chewing coming from the other end of the line. Xiaotao chuckled, "You’re becoming more of a sweet talker, aren’t you? Guess what I'm doing now?"

"Are you eating?" I ventured.

"I just came out of the shower and I’m lying in bed eating strawberries," she replied.

“What a coincidence," I said. “I happen to have a sudden craving for strawberries.”

I was suddenly interrupted by a knock on my bed as Dali grumbled, "Fight against the show of affection! It starts with me!" My other two roommates started to join in the “resistance.”

"Do you need me for something?" I asked, cheeks coloring with embarrassment.

Xiaotao explained that she had a little matter to discuss with me. Officer Ouyang's sixtietth birthday was tomorrow and she wanted to prepare a gift but she didn’t know what to get a man.

I thought she was barking up the wrong tree. A man of Officer Ouyang’s age wouldn’t have the same interests as a young man like me, would he? In fact, Officer Ouyang was usually discreet about such matters, playing down the fact that he was about to turn sixty so the bureau decided to throw him a grand birthday party as a surprise. Officer Ouyang had a grandson around my age–the apple of his eye–for whom Xiaotao planned to buy a gift.

After a brief discussion, I suggested, "Why don't I buy a gift as well? We can go together!"

"Perfect! I'll see you tomorrow night at the dinner then!"

I had several motives for attending the dinner party. First of all, it was a great opportunity for me to express respect and admiration for a commendable retired police officer. Secondly, I had to find alternative ways of spending time with Xiaotao outside of work, and a movie after Officer Ouyang’s birthday party was a marvellous idea. Besides, I was curious about the progress of the case. After all, I could never resist the lure of a bizarre case!

I browsed online and found a suitable gift that was available for delivery early the next morning. When asked if he would like to join us for a dinner party, Dali’s first reaction was to consider it. But at the mention of Bingxin’s presence, he immediately yelled, "Yes! Of course I’ll go! Do I have to buy a gift?"

At 5 pm sharp, Dali and I arrived at Swallow Palace where a polite waiter greeted us and brought us to a large private room. Many of the officers we knew were attendees of the party, hinting at Officer Ouyang’s popularity in the bureau. Dali and I casually found empty seats and sat down to join in the conversation when a calm voice drifted from nearby, "The greatest honor of being an officer is to have everyone celebrate your birthday after retirement."

The voice belonged to Director-General Cheng. I stood up to greet the man but he grinned and waved me away, "You don’t have to be so polite. In such a private function like this, it’s alright to forego the formalities."

When questioned about the progress of the case, Director-General Cheng's face sank quicker than a lead balloon. "We suspect that Officer Niu might have been terminally ill!"

"What makes you say that?" I asked, baffled at the turn of events.

Director-General Cheng summarized the findings of their investigation. Apparently, before he committed suicide, Officer Niu had divulged to his colleagues that he often heard a strange persistent voice in his head. Several officers had even caught him weeping alone during his break time, though he was quick to dismiss their worries when asked about it.

After consulting a neurologist, Director-General Cheng was informed that a tumor pressing on the auditory nerve might produce auditory hallucinations. According to this inference, Officer Niu was most likely terminally ill.

"Do you have his medical records?" I asked.

"No,” he shook his head. “But a physical examination done six months ago showed that everything was normal. Of course, routine examination isn’t detailed enough to diagnose a brain tumor."

"Was it really a brain tumor?" I wondered out loud.

Judging from the circumstances, this seemed to be the only logical explanation.

Right then, Xiaotao and Bingxin finally graced us with their presence. We sat together and chatted as we snacked on melon seeds, patiently awaiting the star of the show. At half past six, an oblivious Officer Ouyang was invited into the room, kept in the dark and tricked into coming here. As soon as the doors opened, the excited crowd jumped out and shouted, "Happy Birthday!" Officer Ouyang stood rooted the spot for some time before he made sense of it all. "I can’t believe you guys!” he laughed. “Just this once but don’t you dare do this again!"

Bingxin placed a birthday hat on his head and pulled him by the sleeve. "Uncle Ouyang, don't be shy!” she giggled. “Quick, have a seat! Our tummies are all growling with hunger!"

Thus, the birthday party began in a festive atmosphere. We sat together at the same table, Bingxin on my left and Xiaotao on my right. When the dishes were served, Bingxin immediately placed a piece of roast duck into my bowl and smiled, "Try this."

Sitting next to her, Dali interrupted her actions by stretching out his own bowl. "Why thank you!"

But another piece of roast duck soon entered my bowl. Then, a slice of beef was piled onto the roast duck, courtesy of Xiaotao who wasn’t to be outdone. "Taste this!"

Bingxin scooped up some fish and pouted, "First come, first serve. Try mine first."

“I order you to eat mine first,” Xiaotao insisted as she served me a piece of sea cucumber.

I knew sparks would fly whenever these two girls got together, even over trivial matters. The food on my bowl soon piled up into a little hill.

"Should I eat out of a bucket instead?" I smiled helplessly.

"Some people have all the food and fortune while the poor die cold and hungry," lamented Dali, envious of the attention I was receiving.

Director-General Cheng’s appreciative gaze flickered towards Dali. "What eloquence, kiddo!” he said, lifting up his glass. “Ignore these lovebirds. Let's have a drink instead."

At this moment, an officer came running, his urgent voice reverberating around the room, "Has anyone seen Officer Ouyang?"