Chapter 83 The Name of Lover03

Fu Luoyin replied the next morning, "Why does my brother suddenly have a partner again? Was the information my dad gave me still incomplete? He even told me that he's different from me and doesn't engage in early romance."

Dong Shuoye responded, "It's too early to conclude, but checking into it is a possible route."

Fu Luoyin asked, "What's the reason?"

Dong Shuoye answered, "Intuition."

Fu Luoyin: "...."

Having been classmates with Dong Shuoye for so many years, Fu Luoyin was well aware of how terrifying his intuition could be.

After a moment of contemplation, Fu Luoyin said, "I don't think it's very likely, but if it's your intuition, I'll go along with it. I'll go home first to examine my brother's belongings. As for a large-scale investigation, let's not act hastily for now."

Social investigations were incredibly resource-intensive, especially when they involved major cases. The reason Fu Luoyin and his team requested the original files from Bureau Nine and the Police Department was precisely this. It was somewhat unconventional for Fu Luoyin to bypass Bureau Nine and the Police Department, using Bureau Seven's authority to forcefully reopen Chu Shihan's case. This had already drawn some criticism, and conducting another investigation from scratch might give people more ammunition, especially now when they were in the spotlight.

Taking a break, Fu Luoyin returned home and gathered Chu Shihan's belongings once more.

Chu Shihan's room remained untouched, most of its contents arranged as before. The tabletop was spotless, the bedding was neat and clean, and even the used draft papers were tidily stacked on the desk, as if he had never left.

Previously, they had read through all the written materials Chu Shihan left behind and found nothing out of the ordinary.

Fu Luoyin casually picked up the stack of draft papers and glanced through them.

Like most people, Chu Shihan's habit of drafting was chaotic, scribbling densely across the pages. There were occasional signs of erasure and revision after using pencils, followed by another layer of writing in ballpoint pen. The papers were filled with formulas and calculation methods.

After studying the draft papers for a while, Fu Luoyin suddenly thought of something and called Dong Shuoye. "Dong Hei, have you done any trace analysis on my brother's belongings?"

Dong Shuoye replied, "Not yet. What do you mean?"

"Drafts. When people write drafts, they might inadvertently leave traces of their daily life, especially during breaks or when they're distracted. My brother's draft handwriting didn't show any anomalies before, but we haven't done a trace analysis. There are some places where he erased or revised, and perhaps those erased marks can be examined." Fu Luoyin asked, "How long would it take to conduct a handwriting impression analysis on all five boxes of draft papers and notes?"

Dong Shuoye said, "It could take anywhere from half a month to a full month. I'll send someone over to collect them. This is definitely feasible."

Fu Luoyin agreed and, just before hanging up, he remembered something else and informed Dong Shuoye, "By the way, Lin Shuicheng plans to take the winter exam for your police department this year. Do you have any suitable positions available recently?"

Dong Shuoye's suspension was nearing its end, and no irregularities had been found. He would soon be returning to work.

Thinking for a moment, Dong Shuoye replied, "Not really at the moment. Recruitment is handled by the human resources department, and 99% of the time, the police department only hires graduates from police academies. It might be challenging for Sister-in-law to get in that way. My suggestion would actually be for her to try for the Second Bureau of Intelligence, which accepts more candidates from various backgrounds, and involves tasks like intelligence analysis and data screening. Her quantum analysis major would be more relevant there. Also, the police department has quite a strict hierarchy, and if she isn't from a police academy background, she might face some difficulties. When Su Yu and I applied here, Su Yu scored 680 in the initial exam, and I got 689. In the past three years, only the two of us entered directly, and even then, we were both from the police academy. Su Yu graduated from the forensic department himself."

Fu Luoyin said, "Forget it, if he enjoys it, let him give it a try."

The Alliance's Standardized Examination for Public Service has a maximum score of 750 points, with a general preliminary examination threshold of 520 points. However, there are several tiers above this threshold that determine a candidate's eligibility for the examination, assessing their capability to proceed further.

Taking the police department as an example, it has a distinction between Star City Section One and Division Sub-Section. Section One is the very heart of the core, while Division Sub-Sections cater to various divisions, districts, and even smaller municipalities.

The Police Force wasn't particularly fond of recruiting candidates who entered directly through examinations. The prevalent culture within the organization valued seniority over all else. In Star City's hierarchy, apart from exceptional individuals like Dong Shuoye, whose capabilities spoke for themselves, the majority had climbed the ranks from the grassroots level. Hence, there was an implicit barrier to entry in the core of the Police Force. To those in charge of personnel, direct entrants lacked the specialized training and sharpness developed over four years at police academy, thereby increasing the cost of nurturing their potential.

Fu Luoyin entrusted Dong Shuoye to inquire on Lin Shuicheng's behalf, and they even uncovered an unfavorable piece of information – the police department had abolished the estimated admission score line for this year's recruitment exam.

At the dinner table, Lin Shuicheng asked, "What does 'cancelling the admission score threshold' mean? Are they not recruiting temporarily?"

These days, it was still Fu Luoyin who cooked. Occasionally, when he felt lazy, the two would order takeout.

Fu Luoyin added a spoonful of spicy shrimp balls to Lin Shuicheng's bowl. "Although it doesn't mean they're not hiring, the implication is almost the same. In previous years, each department would announce an estimated initial test score line. This way, candidates would have a general idea of how many people would be admitted before the exam, and it also served as a reference after the exam. There's a simpler meaning behind this: if the score line goes up by 20 points, that's roughly the minimum score. As long as your final score is about 20 points higher than the estimated range, that department can't reject you for the initial test."

Lin Shuicheng pondered, "This year, the police department has cancelled the estimated score threshold. Does that mean, even with a very high score, there's a chance they might reject my application for the initial test?"

Fu Luoyin nodded. "Something like that. It seems the police department might not have any direct recruitment plans this year. But don't lose heart, just give it your best shot. If the police department doesn't work out, you can apply for Department Two."

Lin Shuicheng obediently nodded.

Fu Luoyin gazed at him and sighed with a smile. "Actually, I really wanted you to take the exam for Unit 7, but unfortunately, it's not very stable here. My position isn't secure yet. If only you could take the exam in two years."

Lin Shuicheng lowered his eyes, remaining silent.

He used his chopsticks to stir the bright red shrimp ball amidst the translucent rice grains. After a moment, he asked, "Can I resign and try again later?"

Fu Luoyin was taken aback.

Looking at him, Lin Shuicheng's gaze was clear and pure.

"It's possible, and you don't even need to resign. You can apply for a department transfer. Just get a letter of introduction and an approval, and you can come over," Fu Luoyin suddenly felt a surge of excitement within him, but he wasn't entirely sure about Lin Shuicheng's intentions. "Are you saying... if I stabilize in two years, would you be willing to come to Unit 7 with me?"

He put down his chopsticks, then felt it wasn't appropriate. Such behavior made him seem like an eager child. To conceal his feelings, Fu Luoyin started ladling soup for Lin Shuicheng.

Softly, Lin Shuicheng replied, "Sure."

Fu Luoyin was stunned for a long while before he finally handed him the soup.

His expression remained unchanged, but after a while, he began to chatter nonstop, telling Lin Shuicheng about the affairs of Unit 7.

Never before had he been so content with his decision to join Unit 7.

Back when he left the Eighth District and took over the company, overwhelmed by its management, he wished he could stay in the Jiangnan Branch forever if given a choice. Unfortunately, Fu Kai had requested him to join Unit 7, both knowing it was an opportunity to further stabilize the Fu family's position.

In truth, Fu Luoyin didn't like Unit 7, nor did he have any affection for Star City. The city had always been associated with sweltering summers, a silent home, and faded photographs of dilapidated campuses in his mind. He would have preferred those solitary and liberating nights in the Jiangnan Branch.

However, Fu Luoyin was now discovering the charm of Unit 7. He told Lin Shuicheng about the newly cultivated species of luminous seaweed that could replace lighting and release oxygen, creating a starry deep sea at night; the desert within the Unit 7 base where one could drive blindfolded for half an hour without encountering obstacles, with a lighthouse perpetually guiding researchers in the center; and the annual molecular nanocar race held there, where last year's champion completed a 2 nanometer distance in just two hours – a potential inspiration for the next generation of nanoblock clearance technology...

Lin Shuicheng listened attentively, gazing at him quietly as if he were attending an academic lecture.

Fu Luoyin even imagined Lin Shuicheng's future role: "Unit 7 has always lacked talent in data analysis. I'll establish a new department specifically for that purpose, hiring quantum analysts. What do you think?"

Lin Shuicheng smiled. "Just me?"

Fu Luoyin coughed. "If you find working alone uninteresting, we can hire more."

After dinner, Lin Shuicheng continued his studies, while Fu Luoyin washed the dishes.

Fu Luoyin, as usual, sneaked into the study after his bath to observe Lin Shuicheng tackling his exercises.

From his observation, Lin Shuicheng had completed more than ten sets of past papers in just a few days. Tonight, he was focused on correcting mistakes and filling in gaps in his knowledge.

Approaching to bother Lin Shuicheng, Fu Luoyin flipped through his notebook of errors as if he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure. "You have an error notebook too?"

Lin Shuicheng glanced at him but didn't respond.

Undeterred, Fu Luoyin continued his astonishment. "How can you have an error notebook?"

Still, Lin Shuicheng ignored him.

Unyielding, Fu Luoyin fixed his gaze on Lin Shuicheng until he finally acknowledged him. Sensing the heat of Fu Luoyin's stare, after a couple of seconds, Lin Shuicheng, without diverting his eyes from the test paper, couldn't help but curve the corners of his lips into a subtle smile, a hint of both exasperation and pride barely concealed.

Lin Shuicheng murmured, "Immature."

"Really," Fu Luoyin persisted, "I thought you never made mistakes. How did you score so many perfect marks? Especially, how did you always outscore the second place by such a significant margin?"

Despite being a straight-A student ranking among the top three in his grade since childhood, Lin Shuicheng's bug-like learning ability surpassed even his expectations.

Fu Luoyin still remembered the astonishment he felt when he saw Lin Shuicheng's report card - all perfect scores, a string of full marks in every category. For a moment, he even suspected that there might have been a system error until he spotted a 93 out of 100 on Lin Shuicheng's scorecard from a maze competition in kindergarten, which made him feel like the world had returned to normal.

"Collect your mistakes, practice more questions, and try creating your own exams to understand the examiner's mindset," Lin Shuicheng explained. "There's no such thing as a perfect exam paper. When students sit for tests, they're often engaged in a game with the examiner. Only by adopting the examiner's perspective can you spot the pitfalls."

Thoughtfully, Fu Luoyin asked, "So, could you lend me your notebook of mistakes?"

Lin Shuicheng looked at him quizzically. "Why?"

"To worship it occasionally," Fu Luoyin replied earnestly, recalling the comments he had seen on the Star University forum. He solemnly said, "May God Lin bless us."

Lin Shuicheng stared at him for a moment before turning back to correct his mistakes.

As the clock struck twelve, Lin Shuicheng closed his mistake collection and tidied up the papers on the desk, placing them aside.

Fu Luoyin, still engrossed in documents, raised an eyebrow. "Finished?"

"Mm-hmm. I'll take a day off tomorrow and start preparing for the interviews," Lin Shuicheng replied, standing up and stretching. Fu Luoyin glanced openly at the hint of waistline visible beneath Lin Shuicheng's clothes.

Noticing Fu Luoyin's gaze, Lin Shuicheng tilted his head to look at him. "Want to shower together?"

"..."

"..."

Fu Luoyin felt as if his scalp was about to burst and his blood was boiling. Living with Lin Shuicheng for so long, it was impossible to say he didn't feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, a single phrase or glance from Lin Shuicheng, or even the silhouette of him bending down to feed the cat, would make Fu Luoyin suffer in silence, even causing him pain.

He knew that Lin Shuicheng was aware, but he had no intention of acting on it.

He said, "No, let's not. You can... do it yourself."

Lin Shuicheng replied, "My back hurts a bit."

Fu Luoyin: "..."

All of Fu Luoyin's sensations throughout the entire evening became distorted, starting from dinner, from the bright and profound gaze Lin Shuicheng directed at him, to the way Lin Shuicheng looked back at him standing by the bathroom door. The rising steam in the bathroom misted Lin Shuicheng's eyelashes, and every moment of this night eroded away at Fu Luoyin's composure.

His defenses crumbled once more.

He tumbled with Lin Shuicheng from the bathroom onto the bed. This time, he didn't bother about Lin Shuicheng's wet hair; such temptation surpassed everything for him, shattering his entire world and plunging him into this gentle and fiery illusion.

He had been holding back, controlling his strength and the urge to conquer with all his might. Lin Shuicheng caressed his tense muscles and whispered, "Be a bit rougher."

"Hmm?"

"Rougher."

...

The little gray cat and the commander peered curiously from the bedside. Their innocent gazes made the situation feel all the more embarrassing.

Lin Shuicheng turned his head aside and croaked, "Cat."

Fu Luoyin pulled the blanket over them, enclosing their world in warmth, illuminated by a soft yellow light that cast an ambiguous glow between them.

With his hands on Lin Shuicheng's waist, Fu Luoyin kissed his brows and lips, whispering, "I know you're just comforting me, but sometimes I can't help wondering if what you say is true. But I'm still happy."

Lin Shuicheng hugged his back, his fingertips gently stroking his hair.

Fu Luoyin had fallen asleep.

Lin Shuicheng was still nestled in his embrace. He stretched his hand carefully without waking him up, pulling the blanket over them both.

He gazed at the handsome and composed features of the person beside him.

In the past, he used to search for traces of his past in this face. Now, it had been a long time since he looked through Fu Luoyin to reminisce about the past.

Fu Luoyin was Fu Luoyin – the fierce and domineering intruder who had forever entered his world. He was unlike anyone Lin Shuicheng had encountered before.

— If it were two years later, if he could wrap up everything at the police department, would there be… just a sliver of a chance to preserve this warmth?

He nestled quietly in Fu Luoyin's arms, listening to his steady breathing. Time passed silently.

A month flew by in a blink of an eye.

Lin Shuicheng still had another week before his results were out, and December was drawing to a close.

During the waiting period for his results, Lin Shuicheng returned to his workbench. Fu Luoyin noticed him repeatedly calculating and modeling, simulating events, which indicated that he was still studying the butterfly effect. Fu Luoyin didn't disturb him.

The Public Security Bureau had yet to announce this year's estimated passing score right up until the day before the results were released. At this point, it was more or less clear that they had no intention of recruiting candidates who had taken the direct exam, and there weren't many opportunities open to those who had applied through the civil service examination.

Before checking the results, Fu Luoyin asked Lin Shuicheng, "Are you nervous?"

Lin Shuicheng replied, "Not at all."

Fu Luoyin chuckled. "I'll still check for you even if you're not nervous."

He logged into the results page, and as he scrolled down, the information unfolded.

"Name: Lin Shuicheng

Exam Number: xxxxxxxx

Score: 750/750

Rank: 1/12,774"

Fu Luoyin: "..."

Lin Shuicheng leaned in and asked, "If I score full marks on this too, there shouldn't be an estimated admission score, right? If I list the Police Department as my first choice, they shouldn't have any reason to reject me, would they?"

Fu Luoyin: ".................."

Author's Note:

Little Lin: You have no idea about the power of a academic god.