It was already two in the morning and I had an early day tomorrow. I suggested we spend the night at a nearby hotel to facilitate the investigation. 

Having missed most of the events tonight, Dali and Bingxin were almost too excited to go to sleep. At the hotel, they made me stay up with them for a chat. After all that had happened today, I wasn’t in much of a mood for idle talk and replied perfunctorily when spoken to.

“Dude, would you like to take a ‘couple’s’ bath together?” Dali teased when the tub in the bathroom was filled with warm water. “Or should I say a gay couple’s bath..."

"You’re disgusting,” I rebuked. “You should quickly come out of the closet so you can get together with Lao Yao!"

I was lying on the bed when I noticed Dali's cell phone casually placed on the sheets. I unlocked it and found the novel he was currently reading– "Otherworldly Merchant"...