My Dear Miss Medical Examiner

Passing the Torch (2)

Lin Yan smiled through tears, the flow increasing, but not wanting to lose composure before her daughter, she wiped her eyes and let go.

“Thank you for your hard work today. You must be hungry, let’s eat. I bought you and Song Yan clothes and shoes while shopping, try them on later in your room.”

“Okay.” Lin Xi nodded, speaking little, and went to set the table.

Song Yuhang pulled her wife’s shoulder to comfort her: “I know today is a somewhat special day for you, but if Chu Nan were alive, she would surely want you to live well.”

Lin Yan placed her hand on top of hers and smiled gently: “I understand, let’s eat.”

There were eight people in total, but Lin Xi took out nine sets of bowls and chopsticks. This was a family rule in the Lin household: during festivals and special occasions, they would always set an extra place, even if nothing was put in it.

A black-and-white photo of a young girl hung in the living room. The incense table was spotless, and Lin Yan changed the candles and offerings every day.

When she was young, she didn’t understand and felt it was improper to ask Lin Yan, so she went to ask her other mother instead.

“Mommy, is the girl in the photo in our living room a relative of ours?”

Song Yuhang shook her head: “No.”

Lin Xi, being precocious, was somewhat puzzled: “Then is she Mom’s ex-girlfriend? Like you.”

Song Yuhang’s lips curved into a soft smile as she lovingly patted her head: “No, your mom and I, both in the past and now, have only had each other.”

The child was even more confused: “Then who is she? Why is her photo hanging in our living room?”

Song Yuhang squatted down to be at eye level with her, holding the child’s shoulder firmly yet gently: “She was a very good friend of your mother, a very, very good friend.”

“How good?”

Song Yuhang thought for a moment: “Although they weren’t related by blood, they grew up together, played together, and were as close as sisters. It’s a bond that can never be severed, just like you and Song Yan.”

With that explanation, young Lin Xi nodded somewhat understandingly.

Song Yuhang patted her head again: “Lin Xi, her name is Chen Chu Nan. Remember this name. Even if one day your mom and I are no longer here, her portrait must never be removed from our living room. You and Song Yan must always remember her and place more offerings during festivals. Got it?”

The little girl nodded crisply: “Got it, Mommy!”

Only then did Song Yuhang smile and took her hand, leading her outside: “Let’s go, your mom is working overtime today, let’s get Song Yan and go have pizza!”

From that moment on, Lin Xi remembered Song Yuhang’s words.

Lin Yan watched her place a set of bowls and chopsticks on the empty seat, feeling a warmth in her eyes and a gentle smile on her lips.

“Let me do it, Lin Xi, you sit down, I’ll serve the rest of the food.”

Song Yuhang stood up and took the serving spoon from her hand: “I’ll do it, you sit down too.”

“Mom, you have bad teeth, let me get you some soup to mix with the food.”

Mother Song, sitting in a wheelchair, though her legs were not very convenient, was still in good spirits. Her teeth were almost all gone, making her smile even more kind and amiable.

“Okay, okay, give Yanyan some soup too. Today, this soup, I came over this afternoon and watched Xiaoxi stew it.”

Although she said she watched, she probably helped a lot.

Lin Yan complained: “Mom, it’s such a long trip for you, why bother.”

“It’s different, it’s different, it’s your birthday.”

Song Yuhang agreed: “Exactly, exactly, now in this house, my status is the lowest. If it weren’t for Lin Yan, I wouldn’t have had Mom’s soup for years.”

Ji Jingxing stood up and handed the rice she had served to Liang Shi: “Not just you, I haven’t had it for years either.”

Under the warm yellow light, the whole room burst into laughter.

Song Yuhang finally served herself and sat down, just about to pick up her chopsticks, Lin Yan looked around and frowned, suddenly feeling something was wrong.

“Where’s Song Yan?”

Song Yuhang and Lin Xi exchanged a glance and were about to explain for him: “Well, Song Yan, he…”

Before they could finish, the boy burst in, carrying a backpack, panting: “Sis, the book signing event ended late. The organizers invited me to dinner, but I didn’t go, I came back…”

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Everyone in the room stared at him. Song Yuhang covered her face, Lin Xi held her forehead. Lin Yan looked him up and down and saw his newly dyed green hair, her expression changed.

The word “late” stuck in Song Yan’s throat like a chicken being choked.

Just then, the TV started playing the evening news.

“Today, emerging suspense and mystery novelist Jie Lanzhou appeared at a book signing event with his new book 《Chief Female Forensic Doctor》. We can see a long line outside the bookstore, and many readers are holding banners to cheer him on, hoping he will write even better works.”

The footage was accompanied by fans screaming: “Ah, ah, ah, Lanzhou, you’re so handsome! I love you!!!”

“Jie Lanzhou, marry me! Marry me!”

……

The reporter adjusted her earpiece and walked a few steps aside: “Indeed, a highly popular new-generation author. It’s said that Lanzhou just turned eighteen this year. Let’s interview him.”

The camera moved to Jie Lanzhou himself.

“Hello, Lanzhou, I’m also a fan of your books. I’d like to ask, is the 《Forensic》 series really over? Will there be a sequel?”freewēbnoveℓ.com

Song Yan calmly adjusted the microphone, crossed his hands under his chin, and smiled slightly.

“The 《Forensic》 series has ended, but it doesn’t mean their stories are over. If there’s a chance, I might consider a sequel.”

The reporter, sensing a big scoop, looked excited: “Them? So does that mean Officer Song and Forensic Doctor Lin are based on real people?”

Before Song Yan could respond, Lin Yan started grinding her teeth.

Unmoor the orchid boat, unmoor the orchid boat, drunk, unmoor the orchid boat.

It detains no one. Drunk, unmoor the orchid boat and leave, one oar navigating the spring waters. Passing where dawn warblers sing.

The Song dynasty poet Yan Jidao’s poems—this little brat really knows how to play with words!1

And what’s with that head full of green hair? It looks so suspicious!

Song Yan saw her grab the chopsticks from the table and started to back away: “Mom, Mom, stop, listen to me, listen to me! I really didn’t mean to come back so late, Jie Lanzhou, he, he, he…”

Lin Yan slammed the table and stood up: “Get over here! Every day you’re slacking off, not studying properly, writing these suspense and mystery novels. I think you’re just too full and have nothing better to do. And using your mother as a character prototype, who do you think you are? With your level, do you think what you write is readable?!”

Song Yan was about to cry, clinging to Song Yuhang’s sleeve: “Mom, save me.”

Lin Yan picked up a pack of tissues and threw it over: “Song Yuhang, did you also know about him writing novels behind my back?!”

Song Yuhang had to endure the pain of letting go, slowly peeling her son’s hand off: “Yanyan, listen to me, I really didn’t know…”

Song Yan was heartbroken: “Mom, you’re not being fair.”

Seeing his green hair swaying in front of her eyes, Lin Yan was furious, grabbing the chopsticks and chasing after him: “Come over here! What’s with your hair? Every day, you’re learning the bad things—smoking, drinking, and perming your hair?!”

Song Yan screamed, running around the room, hiding behind his grandmother: “Grandma, save me! Mom, listen to me, this was a style done by the makeup artist for today’s book signing…”

“Besides, I’m grown up now, can’t I perm my hair? You also dyed your hair, and it’s brown! You shouldn’t impose on others what you don’t want yourself. Mom, don’t stay silent, do something about her! I just wrote a novel, why are you so angry? Is it menopause?”

The little brat ran fast, dodging while Lin Yan kept throwing things, panting with rage. Hearing his words, she nearly choked on her anger: “How old am I, how old are you? Can you compare yourself to me?! Writing novels for six years, six years without studying properly, and what were your college entrance exam scores?! And calling it menopause, let me tell you, I’m far from that stage!”

Seeing her slap about to land, Song Yan closed his eyes and pulled out an acceptance letter from his pocket, holding it above his head, almost kneeling.

“Mom, I got in, to the Literature Department of the Beijing Film Academy. I want to be a screenwriter.”

Lin Yan was momentarily stunned, her raised hand unable to fall, her eyes showing a hint of relief. She wanted to pat her son’s head but refrained, snatching the acceptance letter from his hand and opening it.

It was true. Seeing the seal of the Beijing Film Academy, most of Lin Yan’s anger dissipated, and she patted his head.

“You little brat, sit down and eat first. After dinner, dye your green hair back!”

Song Yan, with his head hanging, sat down, muttering: “Uncle Jingzhe dyed his hair red, why can’t I dye mine green? To get by in life, you need a bit of green…”

Song Yuhang poked his arm and put food in his bowl: “Eat.”

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Lin Xi, seeing so many people in front of her, hesitated for a while before putting down her chopsticks. She made up her mind and took out her acceptance letter too.

“Mom, I got in too.”

Lin Yan was pleasantly surprised: “You got in too? Where? The Beijing Film Academy?”

She had already started dreaming of having a famous actress daughter in the future.

Lin Xi handed her the acceptance letter and quickly backed away as if afraid of being hit: “Criminal Investigation Department, People’s Public Security University of China.”

Lin Yan’s facial expression management collapsed for the third time that night.

The chair next to her moved, and Song Yuhang quickly picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, away from the battleground.

Lin Yan was still holding the chopsticks, roaring: “Song Yuhang, put me down! She’s studying criminal investigation, becoming a police officer, risking her life every day, never at home!”

“Oh, come on, the kids are grown up and have their own choices. You and I are both police officers. Yes, it’s dangerous, but as long as she practices martial arts well and protects herself, she’ll be fine.”

“Are you her mom? Can two fists beat four hands? You know how cunning, ruthless, and cruel drug dealers can be!”

“I know, I know…”

The door closed, and the two voices gradually faded.

Song Yuhang’s head popped out again: “Mom, sister-in-law, Liang Shi, Xiaowei, you all start eating first. We’ll join you in a bit.”

“Song Yuhang!” Lin Yan just shouted when someone covered her mouth and pushed her onto the bed.

“Mmm…”

The younger ones watched the tightly closed door, exchanged glances, and twitched their mouths.

It’s been decades, aren’t you tired of this?

Lin Xi shivered all over, goosebumps falling all over the floor.

Ji Jingxing lightly coughed, picked food from the plate: “Let’s eat, let’s eat, try Xiao Xi’s cooking.”

Everyone seemed to snap back to reality, chatting and laughing as they ate. Song Yan’s sweet mouth kept flattering everyone, calling “Grandma” and “Aunt” so sweetly that they were all smiling and happy.

“Grandma, take good care of your health. In a couple of years, I’ll take you to Beijing to have fun.”

“Aunt, you’re still so young and beautiful. In a few years, when my sister gets married and has a chubby boy, you’ll be the youngest grandmother ever.”

Lin Xi always had to tease him: “You? It’d be good if you can even settle in Beijing. Aunt, don’t listen to him. He praises every seventy or eighty-year-old lady as young and beautiful.”

“Hey, you, Lin Xi, aren’t you done yet?”

“Respect your elders, call me sister!”

The two bickered, back and forth, lively and entertaining, making the whole family laugh.

Song Yan and Lin Xi had lived at Ji Jingxing’s house for a long time when they were young and were close to Xiao Wei, so there were no reservations. Song Yan curiously asked.

“Sis, I asked you last time, didn’t you have a boyfriend? Why didn’t you bring him back?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Xiao Wei.

Ji Weiwei smiled, cutting the steak on her plate: “We broke up.”

“Why? I remember he was pretty good, wasn’t he?” Lin Xi put down her chopsticks.

“He said I’m bi and couldn’t accept me sleeping with girls.”

Ji Jingxing had not yet swallowed her mouthful of soup when she burst into a thunderous coughing fit.

“Ji Weiwei, you learn all the bad things, following Lin Yan around. What kind of nonsense have you picked up?!”

Ji Weiwei sighed, “Mom, I’m an adult. In free love, as long as it doesn’t go against someone else’s will or harm others, I have the right to choose how to live and who to be with.”

“I…” Ji Jingxing was almost choked with anger, and Liang Shi hurriedly helped by giving her food to calm her down.

“Eat, eat. The kids are grown up, let them be. I believe Xiao Weiwei has her own judgment.”

Halfway through the meal, Song Yuhang pulled Lin Yan out to eat birthday cake and blow out candles.

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“Mom, make a wish.”

The two kids held the cake up to her.

Song Yuhang turned off the lights, and Lin Yan looked at the smiling faces in front of her, her eyes slightly moist.

How fortunate she was. She had always thought she was a person without roots until she met Song Yuhang and realized that she wasn’t rootless, she just lacked soil.

Song Yuhang’s daily and yearly faithful love had nurtured her soil, causing even the barren land to grow towering trees. After having Song Yan and Lin Xi, the tree grew even more lush and vibrant.

They were all her roots; they were her family.

In the birthday song, Lin Yan gently closed her eyes and silently wished: Lin Xi and Song Yan, safe and successful in their careers year after year.

Mom, good health and long life.

Ji Jingxing and Liang Shi, growing old together, everything going smoothly.

Xiao Wei, finding a soulmate soon.

As for her and Song Yuhang…

It seems I’ve made a lot of wishes.

Lin Yan opened her eyes, looking at them with a smile, her pupils shining even in the darkness.

Song Yuhang leaned over and pressed a kiss on her forehead, “Happy birthday, I love you.”

1. A verse from a ci (a form of Chinese lyric poetry) by Yan Jidao, a poet from the Song Dynasty.