CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 92: THE PHOTO IN THE FILE FOLDER, SUMIYOSHI ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN (SECOND UPDATE)

Aoyama Xiu Xin grabbed the hard drive just before clocking out and took it to the tech department, where they indeed retrieved footage of Jing Shangwei appearing in the study, and even saw him swipe a gun from Zhongshan Minggui’s cabinet.

Now that’s an upgrade in equipment!

He had just stepped into the era of firearms from cold weapons.

He was suddenly filled with anticipation, wondering how Jing Shangwei was going to kill Miyamoto Ryosuke and Jinwei Yu, given that both were definitely on their guard.

If Jing Shangwei didn’t play his cards right, not only would he fail to kill anyone, but he might even end up being outwitted by them.

Aoyama Xiu Xin packed up the hard drive and headed home.

When he got home, his sister-in-law hadn’t returned yet.

He sat down on the sofa and pulled out a file bag he got from Zhongshan Minggui’s place, only to find it full of indecent photos of the same old man with girls of varying ages. The old guy looked to be in his sixties, potbellied and leering.

Aoyama Xiu Xin did not recognize this old man.

But the fact that Zhongshan Minggui had hidden these photos so carefully meant he was surely no ordinary person.

After storing the photos in his bedroom—he might find a use for them one day—he went downstairs to the kitchen, found quite a few ingredients in the fridge, and started to cook, donning his sister-in-law’s apron.

By the time Aoyama Haruko got home, she was greeted by a delicious aroma as soon as she opened the door, and just as she began to wonder, she heard Aoyama Xiu Xin coming out of the kitchen.

"Hey, Sister Qingzi... huh, Youji?" Aoyama Xiu Xin was about to greet his sister-in-law but then noticed Neitian Youji was also there, and he felt a bit surprised.

Neitian Youji, holding her bag in both hands, bowed and said apologetically, "Sorry for intruding."

"It was me who invited Youji to taste my cooking," Aoyama Haruko obviously liked Neitian Youji very much, and glancing at Aoyama Xiu Xin, she asked with widened eyes, "Xiu Xin, are you cooking?"

"Yep! It’s almost ready. Today Sister Qingzi and Youji can taste my cooking. I think it’s not bad," said Aoyama Xiu Xin with a slight smile.

Aoyama Haruko was skeptical, having never known Aoyama Xiu Xin could cook, and asked tentatively, "Do you need any help, Xiu Xin?"

"No need, you just wait. I’ve made Chinese food. Oh yes, Youji, welcome to our home. Don’t be too shy," Aoyama Xiu Xin threw out the words and returned to the kitchen to busy himself.

Turning back, Aoyama Haruko gave Neitian Youji a sly smile, "Seems like I have to invite you over another time to try my cooking. Let’s sample Xiu Xin’s skills today. This is my first time trying it too."

"Ah, it’s my honor!" Neitian Youji smiled with her lips pursed, took off her shoes, and, after putting on the slippers Aoyama Haruko gave her, stepped into the living room.

Sitting on the couch, she could see Aoyama Xiu Xin cooking with intent in the kitchen, observing his skilled movements with a newfound curiosity.

"Sister Qingzi, is Xiu Xin a chef?"

After all, in Japan, besides professional chefs, there are very few men who cook – it’s mostly women in the kitchen.

"Nope, he’s a police officer. This is the first time I’ve seen him make a meal," Aoyama Haruko was just as surprised, and talking about her brother-in-law’s job, she couldn’t hide her pride and said spiritedly, "Xiu Xin is a pretty amazing detective, you know. That case before..."

She had all Aoyama Xiu Xin’s solved cases down pat, and couldn’t miss the opportunity to brag to someone else about her own family’s little brother, chattering on enthusiastically.

Neitian Youji listened intently, occasionally exclaiming in surprise, and began to view the already handsome Aoyama Xiu Xin in an even more impressive light, intrigued by the stark contrast between his rational toughness against criminals at work and his domestic culinary skills at home—it was just too cool.

Of course, this was all based on the fact that Aoyama Xiu Xin was already very handsome, not the refined type of handsome found among male models in the modeling world, but a robust, commanding presence that was incredibly reassuring.

"What are you two talking about? You’re not speaking ill of me, I hope," said Aoyama Xiu Xin as he set two plates of stir-fried dishes on the table, having overheard his name in their conversation.

He glanced at Neitian Youji, wearing a white blouse paired with a black pleated skirt—a simple yet refreshing style that didn’t detract from her girlish sweetness, her legs fair and immaculate without stockings, and white cotton socks on her feet.

"Not at all. I was just telling Youji about your cases," answered Aoyama Haruko as she got up and headed for the kitchen. "Let me help you with the dishes."

"I’ll help too," said Neitian Youji, standing up to lend a hand in the kitchen.

With their combined efforts, the food and tableware were promptly arranged on the dining table, after which they all took their seats.

"Mm, smells delicious. Since when did you get so good at cooking?" Aoyama Haruko leaned forward to sniff the dishes, her face lighting up with delight.

Aoyama Xiu Xin responded with a nonchalant smile, dishing out rice for both of them and said, "I just tried following some recipes from a culinary magazine. Maybe I’m just a genius?"

Back in his last job, he often traveled abroad and had been forced to refine his cooking skills to enjoy the taste of authentic home cooking.

If he were to open a Chinese restaurant in Japan,

he might easily fit the role of a ’Culinary Immortal’, right?

"Alright then, I guess some people are just different," sighed Aoyama Haruko before eagerly announcing, "Well then, let’s dig in."

After dinner, Aoyama Haruko, citing a concern for safety since it was dark, asked Aoyama Xiu Xin to take Neitian Youji home.

Neitian Youji sat in the front passenger seat, with the seatbelt crossing diagonally over her blouse, emphasizing her firm but not overly large figure even more clearly. Perhaps because she felt warm from dinner, her face was flushed, the night breeze teasing the loose strands of hair on her forehead, adding a chaotic beauty to her youthful visage, which was just an opportunity away from stardom.

"Your sister mentioned you’ve taken a break from school?" Aoyama Xiu Xin broke the silence in the car, feigning curiosity as he spoke.

"Hey!" Youji Neitian, who was somewhat distracted, responded and then added, "I wish I had more time to pursue the things I like."

She was a very resilient person, having loved fencing, she practiced every day after school, and last year she had won third place in the Tokyo Fencing Competition. Therefore, she was indeed an athletic person with an excellent physical condition.

"But it seems things aren’t going too smoothly now, are you confident in yourself?" Aoyama Xiu Xin said.

Youji Neitian let out a breath, "This is just temporary, I believe there will certainly be a day of success."

Aoyama Xiu Xin did have an opportunity that could launch her to success, and that was the automatic loan machine.

However, he wouldn’t do that since many people did not understand the automatic loan machine when it first appeared. To quickly break into the market, you had to find a nationally recognized famous actress for endorsement, and Youji Neitian clearly wasn’t suitable.

There were many ways to hit on her, but he wouldn’t delay his business for the sake of a woman. It wasn’t worth it.

Although Aoyama Xiu Xin could sometimes be quite base.

But he would never actually think with his lower head.

"Thank you, Brother Xiu Xin, for tonight’s treat. Be careful driving home," Youji Neitian said as she got off the car and bowed to Aoyama Xiu Xin after arriving at her place.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded, watched her silhouette enter the apartment building, then started the car and left.

.........

Perhaps due to Miyamoto Ryosuke and Jinwei Yu beefing up their defenses, Jing Shangwei did not strike again in the next two days, as if he had disappeared.

The deaths of Jinwei Teng and Zhongshan Minggui created a stir when reported, but there was no panic among the public, who treated it as a spectacle.

After all, the common people generally harbored negative impressions of the official second generation and the bureaucrats, so expecting them to empathize with the officials who were victims was clearly not going to happen.

After all, who are you to even think of empathizing with the elite offspring and bureaucrats? Aren’t you pathetic!

There was also a bounty out in the Violent Gang industry for Jing Shangwei, with many Yakuza who did nothing else all day but carry around a photo of Jing Shangwei, trying their luck everywhere—after all, 70 million yen was no small sum.

Aoyama Xiu Xin naturally heard about this but didn’t take it to heart, since he didn’t really care about the life or death of Jing Shangwei. If he were really killed by the Black Society, that would just be his tough luck.

Moreover, he didn’t think the Black Society would find Jing Shangwei easily, as Jing Shangwei wasn’t from the underworld—he had just been an ordinary person, and unless state machinery was employed, finding him would be quite difficult.

On Saturday, as Aoyama Xiu Xin was leaving the house after breakfast, Yamakawa Ichiro was already waiting at the door, bending over quickly to open the back door of the Mercedes as he saw him coming out.

Aoyama Xiu Xin sat down calmly.

Today was the day to meet Kubota Shigeru.

Soon after, a convoy made up of one Mercedes and three Toyota vans set off towards Kanagawa Prefecture.

Finally, the convoy stopped in front of a mountain lodge.

The welcoming party had already been waiting at the entrance.

"Police Chief Aoyama, please follow me, the president is waiting for you inside," a middle-aged man in a gray kimono quickly stepped forward bowing to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

He completely ignored Yamakawa Ichiro who was standing behind.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded and followed the man inside.

As he entered further into the lodge, Yamakawa Ichiro was stopped at a door, while Aoyama Xiu Xin continued alone, turning corners here and there, until they reached a shower room.

"Please bathe and change, Police Chief Aoyama."

The man in the gray kimono clapped his hands.

"Clap clap!"

Two women in pink kimonos, each carrying bathing supplies and a set of black kimono, came in, bowed their heads, walked in with small steps, and then knelt on the ground.

"I’ll be waiting outside for you," the gray kimono-clad man bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

Aoyama Xiu Xin did not play coy and stripped his clothes off in front of the two women, took a quick shower, and with their assistance, put on the kimono and walked out of the room.

The man in the gray kimono seeing him come out bowed again and then lead the way with a raised hand, "This way, please."

After a long corridor and passing through a round arched gateway, a huge hot spring surrounded by blooming flowers and greenery, wafting steam, came into Aoyama Xiu Xin’s view.

Inside was a lean old man who looked to be around seventy or eighty, with two young women topless at his side massaging him, their heavy bosoms seemingly floating on the water’s surface, gently swaying with their movements, rippling in circles.

Around the hot spring stood a dozen beautiful women with their hair tied up, wearing only brassieres and panties, exposing large areas of skin and holding all sorts of drinks, cakes, fruits, and other refreshments.

Damn, isn’t there supposed to be retribution for good and evil?

This old dog, Kubota Shigeru, directly or indirectly had his hands stained with who knows how much blood. Now that he was old, he still had a crowd of beauties attending to him. Was this his retribution?

If that’s retribution, Aoyama Xiu Xin wanted it too!