It was two am and Madame Yu was heading home after a fulfilling evening screwing Jin Guangshan into his own mattress. She liked the relationship. There were no illusions. No stupid romantic gestures. It was mutually beneficial fucking. She got the connections and information she wanted. They both got the fucking. It was an acceptable arrangement.

For the moment at least.

She turned her luxury car into a seedy part of town. Luxury car. She couldn't tell you what it was and didn't care.  As long as it was top of the line and this year's model, she was satisfied. Appearances mattered after all.

She stopped at a small park by the Yung-ting River. It was run down. More weeds than grass. Graffiti and trash everywhere. Didn't matter really. Only the lower class used it.

'And it was convenient for me. A perfect place to put that little urchin's belongings.' she thought with a sick smile as she picked her way through the scattered mess to reach the riverside.

Obsession isn't something that can just be laid down. It becomes part of your skin, your breath, your heartbeats. Standing beside a stunted tree, Madame Yu didn't seem to realize how obsession had taken her over. Her hatred for one person had permeated every aspect of her life. Everything revolved around hatred in one way or another.

Looking out at the spot she had watched the suitcase bubble and sink, she could only think one very satisfied thought.

'I won.'

~~~~~

Nie Huaisang was headed into his office. He had a solid five hours of sleep and was ready to take on the world. His eyes and smile were bright. His suit was crisp and his silk tie had an intricate Van Wijk knot. His left hand held his briefcase. His right held his beloved caramel latte. It was already shaping up to be a wonderful day.

The man leaning on his door was diametrically opposite. Dark circles were dug in under his eyes which looked dull. Exhausted. Hopeless. There was no smile on his unshaven face.

His uniform looked like he slept in it. Or he hadn't left the station last night. The tie was pulled down low as if tugged in frustration. The collar was open. In his right hand was a wad of folders. In the left, the latest of what was probably a succession of Cokes. His hands had a slight tremble. The man was running on caffeine and grit.

Nie Huaisang took in all the details of the inspector before him and his smile dimmed.

"Come in, my friend." He opened the door and gestured for the man to enter. "Please, be seated."

Jiang Cheng flopped into the chair.

Nie Huaisang discreetly closed the door then seated himself at his desk. He looked at the inspector. "What has happened?"

"I can't find him. It's like he dropped off the face of the planet. It all feels wrong. He wouldn't just disappear. Yes, he can be a complete asshole but he wouldn't do that. I need your help finding him." 

"Who is he?" The question was delicately asked.

Jiang Cheng passed a missing person file to Nie Huaisang. He opened it and glanced at the picture then looked at the paperwork. His eyes widened when he looked at "relation to filer".

"Jiang Cheng?" It wasn't often The Spider was surprised. If he hadn't been desperate, Jiang Cheng would have gloated.

"Yes. It's true. I was told he had decided to travel but his passport hasn't been used. I checked the records from a month before the date I was sure he was missing up until," he glanced at his watch, "forty-five minutes ago. His apartment is just as it always was. Even the hair in the bathtub drain. The only exceptions are his suitcase and some of his clothes. His passport is missing as well." Jiang Cheng rubbed his face with both hands. "I've chased every possible connection I could think of and nothing. He's just - just gone. I even put his picture on several precincts' missing persons board hoping one of my men, someone, anyone might know something. Seen him somewhere. Anything!"

He scrubbed his face again. "Nothing."

He looked Nie Huaisang in the eye. "I need your help."

"Of course. Do you have any suspects? Anyone that disliked him? Unsavory habits? Drugs or booze?  You know the drill." Nie Huaisang's fan was tapping his hand softly as he thought.

"He could drink like a fish but amazingly he wasn't an alcoholic. A happy drunk on the whole. No other unsavory habits. Everyone seemed to like him. He was an artist." Jiang Cheng scoffed. 'Painted himself red one time and laid down on a huge canvas. All the places the paint didn't touch, he filled in with a photo realistic painting of himself. Crazy looking but he wouldn't sell it despite being offered several small fortunes. Has it hanging in his apartment. He has some weird name for it but I can't remember what it is. I don't know why but I put a picture of it in the file."

Jiang Cheng knew exactly why he had put it in the file. Guilt. If he had realized sooner maybe he would have been able to find him. Before the trail went so cold. He needed everything in there so when they found him, he would know Jiang Cheng had done everything he could.

"No suspects?"

The uncomfortable hesitation poured off Jiang Cheng. The fan stilled.

"One." It was painfully obvious the man was hoping he was wrong. He handed another file to Nie Huaisang.

Opening the file, The Spider's  eyes widened. He hadn't been surprised twice in one day in years. Not like this.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. If I'm wrong, good. If I'm not, then so be it."
~~~~~

He slipped out into the cool morning. A tug to make sure his door was securely closed. Heading off down the street, he sipped his green tea.

His destination was already full of sunshine. The plants glowed green and healthy. A few small birds hopped around. Pausing to cock a curious eye at the lone human.

'Perhaps I could afford a little bird seed for them.' he thought.

Yiling sat on a swing and gently rocked back and forth. Sipped his tea. Enjoying the small things, he smiled at the morning.

~♡~♡~♡~

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