The middle-aged woman was named Liu Lijuan. After Big Guy asked her to fill out a form for a commissioned investigation, Di Zhen said, "Let's go to your place now and take a look!"
"Okay!"
Geng Hao was going to go with them. They had been partners for fieldwork these days, but this time, Big Guy unexpectedly said, "Wait, newbie. I'll go with you this time!"
"How rare."
"Humph. I want to see what tricks you've got. Come on, ma'am. I'll drive!"
Auntie Liu obviously felt a bit afraid of the flashy Big Guy. She thought the steady Di Zhen seemed more reliable.
When they arrived at Auntie Liu's place, Big Guy said, "Wow, this house is huge!" He casually picked up some grapes from the table and popped them into his mouth.
"My husband bought it with his housing provident fund when he was in college. The housing prices weren't as high as they are now."
"What does he do for a living?" Di Zhen asked.
"He's a veterinarian for an ornamental fish store."
"Ah? Do those things even need a veterinarian?" Big Guy curiously butted in.
Auntie Liu said, "His job is quite rare. Besides taking care of the ornamental fish, he also does some plastic surgery on them to make them look better in terms of appearance."
"My knowledge of fish is all about how to eat them, haha!" Big Guy leaned on the table and said. He put a cigarette in his mouth and was about to light it, but Di Zhen snatched it away. Big Guy glared at him angrily.
"What did he do before?" Di Zhen asked.
"Before, he was really something. He was engaged in academic research, studied veterinary medicine, worked in a biological laboratory, retired at forty, and then took up his current job." Mentioning her husband's glorious past, Auntie Liu showed a proud look on her face.
"I want to have a look at his study!"
"I don't have the key. He hardly ever lets anyone into that study. He even cleans it himself."
"Is it this one?"
Di Zhen pointed to a door. Auntie Liu nodded. Di Zhen peeked inside through the crack. The curtains were drawn in the study, and it was dimly lit. Vaguely, he could see two rows of big bookshelves filled with thick professional books. There was some space left on the bookshelves where several animal specimens, including dogs and cats, were placed. They looked very lifelike.
Auntie Liu explained that these were pets they had kept before. They were reluctant to throw them away after they died, so her husband made them into specimens himself.
The desk was tidily arranged. Di Zhen sniffed and smelled a faint scent of disinfectant and cleaning agent. It seemed that the male owner had cleaned this place repeatedly.
While snooping, Di Zhen took a few photos with his camera.
Di Zhen said to Auntie Liu, "Please tell us where he works and what time he usually gets off work. We'll go and follow him directly!"
Auntie Liu agreed and told them both where her husband worked.
After Di Zhen and Big Guy drove out of the neighborhood, Big Guy casually said while chewing on a toothpick, "The newbies are always eager to show off. They're really going all out for that small commission. Don't they even screen the jobs? Do you think she looks like a rich woman?"
"I only know she needs help," Di Zhen replied calmly.
"Oh, are you Lei Feng (a well - known selfless hero in China)? We're all just in it for the money, huh?"
"I agree with the second half!"
"I've been in this business for four years, dammit! What's this newbie's deal? Who does he think he is?!"
Di Zhen looked at him with a smile. "Is the senior thirsty again?"
Big Guy recalled the humiliating incident when they first met, and his face changed drastically. He came out on this field assignment with Di Zhen just to put him in his place. So he said, "Based on my years of experience, her husband is having an affair."
"Not necessarily."
"Fine!" Big Guy said loudly. "Then let's make a bet. Are you in?"
"What are we betting on?"
"If her husband is having an affair, I'll punch you. If not, you punch me."
Di Zhen sneered. "That's boring. Let's make it more exciting. If you're right, I'll drink urine. If he's not having an affair, you drink it!"
Big Guy fell silent. According to his experience as a private detective, a married man who came home late every day and locked himself up after work was almost certainly having an affair.
After working as a private detective for a few years, he knew how dull this job was. It was always either a wife checking on her husband or a husband checking on his wife. It was always the same old dirty business. It was so boring.
But what if this time it was different?
Seeing Big Guy hesitating, Di Zhen continued to fan the flames. "The senior still lacks confidence. Forget it. It'd be really embarrassing for you if you lost!"
"Bet!" Big Guy's pride was aroused. "Let's bet on this. My years of experience aren't for nothing!"
Di Zhen looked unimpressed. In fact, based on Auntie Liu's description, he thought there was more to what was happening to her husband than just a love affair.
Moreover, Big Guy was really arrogant and rude. Considering that he planned to work in this job for a long time, it was necessary to "prune" the relationship with his colleague.
Finley Aquarium was where Auntie Liu's husband, Xu Lun, worked.
Big Guy parked the car in an inconspicuous corner nearby. Stakeouts were boring. Di Zhen was twisting a Rubik's cube in his hand to pass the time, while Big Guy leaned back in his seat and continued playing games. Every time he wanted to smoke, Di Zhen would scold him, "Go outside to smoke!"
Big Guy was afraid of Di Zhen but still tried to put on a show. He grumbled, "More of a pain in the ass than a woman," and went outside to smoke.
At six in the evening, Xu Lun came out of the store. He was in his fifties, wore a pair of framed glasses, and had gray hair at his temples. He had a gentle yet stubborn air about him, like a down - and - out scholar who never achieved his ambitions.
Xu Lun carried a cloth bag and walked quickly. Then he got on a bus.
The two silently tailed the bus by car. After passing thirteen stops, the final stop was not where Auntie Liu lived.
"Going to see his mistress!" Big Guy said with a grin, feeling more confident about winning this bet.
"A married old man who gets off work on time daily wouldn't be so stupid as to come home late without a care, for those having an affair know how to cover it up."
"You seem to know a lot!" Big Guy patted Di Zhen on the shoulder. "But you're just pretending. You don't understand that many long - married couples are like strangers living under the same roof. They don't even need to pretend."
"They're very much in love. Did you notice the look on Auntie Liu's face when she talked about her husband?"
"Come on, that's all an act, man! Didn't you see that big house? The purpose of investigating her husband is to get more property in case of a divorce! Don't you believe it. I've been in this line of work for so many years. I know exactly how couples scheme against each other. Human nature is so ugly."
"You're always bragging about your experience and ignoring the obvious evidence!"
"The obvious evidence!" Big Guy pointed out the window. "Look, that man has entered the neighborhood. You still say he's not going to see his mistress?"
The two got out of the car and followed Xu Lun into an old - fashioned neighborhood without even a security guard. He entered a building, but the motion - sensor light in the corridor didn't turn on. Big Guy went in to take a peek and came back saying, "He's gone to the basement."
The two waited in the bushes for a while. Then a woman came out. She had long hair, was wearing a garish dress, had wrinkled hands, and was wearing a pair of glasses.
Big Guy clapped his hands and laughed. "See, she came out of the basement. Such an ugly woman must be that old man's mistress. Ha ha, do you want to add some ice to your urine when you drink it!"
Di Zhen sneered. "Are you blind? That 'woman' is Xu Lun in drag!"