Cross-dresser?

"Male?"

"I gave you my ID, do you have any questions?"

Lan Mu was taking notes, almost infuriated by the police officer in front of him.

"Uh… nothing!"

"Uncle Zhang, the cleaner, said you were the first person to discover the body. He said you told him to puncture the plastic bag containing the body," the police officer said, staring at him.

"That's right, I smelled blood and felt something was wrong," Lan Mu replied truthfully.

"Why didn't everyone else smell it, but you did?" The police officer's question was tinged with suspicion.

"Tsk, if I smelled it, I smelled it. My sense of smell is naturally very sensitive."

The police officer narrowed his eyes at him and suddenly said, "Why are you being so secretive? Take off your sunglasses! Why are you wearing a hat in this hot weather?"

Lan Mu's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't take off his hat, or his elf ears would be exposed.

However, he remained outwardly calm and said, "Does the police also manage what I wear?"

"Please explain! Why the disguise? I seriously suspect this ID doesn't belong to you!"

Lan Mu gave a wry smile inwardly but could only stubbornly say, "Is it not okay for me to wear makeup?"

"Why would a grown man wear makeup? Why are you changing your appearance?" The police officer grew more suspicious of Lan Mu and pressed him.

Lan Mu retorted angrily, "I'm just passing through, not a suspect. Do you get to control my disguise?"

The police officer also got angry, "Behave yourself! I seriously suspect you are involved in this case. Speak! Were you responsible for hiding the body?"

"Responsible for what the hell! I only found out about this case today." Lan Mu felt he couldn't escape and raised his voice, intending for Ma Xiang to hear him.

Ma Xiang was just outside the door. Hearing the commotion inside, he immediately pushed the door open and entered.

"What's going on? He's a witness, not a suspect. Why are you arguing?"

Seeing Ma Xiang enter, the police officer said, "Don't be fooled by him. This person is hiding his identity and might be the one who hid the body and then pretended to be the first to discover it!"

"Am I sick? If I hid it and then found it, I would have run away long ago, wouldn't I?"

The police officer pointed at Lan Mu and said, "Then why didn't you run?"

"I… I don't want to waste my breath with you… Can we switch interrogators?" Lan Mu was speechless and said to Ma Xiang, "Can someone else take my statement?"

Ma Xiang naturally believed Lan Mu had nothing to do with the case. He immediately pulled the police officer aside and said with a smile, "He couldn't be the suspect. Zhao Long, stop doubting him."

"Not doubting? Ma Xiang, is that what you're saying? We have no leads in this case so far. We have to suspect everyone! This person disguised himself, was the first to find the body, and his appearance doesn't match the ID photo. How can I not suspect someone like this? Who else should we suspect?" Police officer Zhao Long didn't give Ma Xiang any face, pointing at his nose.

Ma Xiang was taken aback. Lan Mu's appearance had indeed changed significantly. This issue had been discussed before, but Lan Mu had promised to give him an explanation later. As a friend, he believed Lan Mu was not involved in this case.

"Zhao Long, during the previous two discoveries of bodies, Lan Mu was on a business trip in Fuzhou. During the last incident, he was even hospitalized in Fuzhou. Go and check; you'll definitely find his hospitalization records. He has an alibi for both incidents. His disguise is his privacy; don't be suspicious without reason."

After Ma Xiang said this, Zhao Long was stunned. He thought for a long time and said, "Maybe they're a gang, and he's an accomplice?"

"Zhao Long! Don't spout nonsense without evidence! You can investigate him thoroughly! But we in the police force don't have the right to convict. It's not up to you to decide if he's a criminal."

With Ma Xiang's strong defense, Zhao Long couldn't continue the interrogation and could only say angrily, "Fine! You interrogate him!"

"I will report the situation truthfully to the station chief!"

With that, Zhao Long left in a huff, slamming the door.

Lan Mu touched his nose and said to Ma Xiang, "Thanks. Will this affect you? He's probably going to complain."

Ma Xiang said nonchalantly, "Let him complain! The station chief is my dad!"

"Uh…" Lan Mu was stunned and laughed, "Alright, I just found out you have a station chief for a dad. No wonder you became a police officer with your personality; it's a miracle. You said you relied on your own abilities when I asked you before. You've slipped up this time! Tell me! Did you get in through the back door?"

"Shush! Don't shout! I passed the police exam fair and square. Don't talk nonsense. No one at the station knows my dad is the station chief!"

"As for you, it's a good thing you're not a suspect. Our station is handling the statement. Otherwise, if the bureau got involved, I wouldn't be able to help you at all!"

"Hurry up and explain! What's going on with your appearance? Can you tell me now? Do you really have a cross-dressing fetish?"

Hearing Ma Xiang's question, Lan Mu found it difficult to speak, and finally could only give a wry smile.

"I don't know how to explain it, really. Brother, I have my difficulties. I'll tell you in a while."

Ma Xiang nodded. Seeing Lan Mu's bitter expression, he didn't press further.

"Okay, the statement is almost done. I'll handle this. You should go back first!"

"If you stay here, more trouble might arise later. You should leave first!"

Lan Mu was fortunate to have Ma Xiang's help today; otherwise, it would have been really troublesome. He was currently in a mandatory transformation phase. If he stayed any longer and alerted the bureau, his identity might be exposed.

This was not a place to linger. Lan Mu nodded, gathered his equipment, and walked straight out of the police station.

By the time he returned home, it was already eight in the evening. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Su Yue sitting alone on a chair.

The room was spotlessly clean. The windows, floor, tables, and chairs were all wiped clean. His bed was also made and neatly laid out.

Dinner was prepared on the table, but not a single bite had been touched. It was clear that Su Yue had spent the day cleaning the house and preparing a meal for him, but had not eaten herself.

"I got delayed by something. Why didn't you eat first?"

Lan Mu felt a little embarrassed. He quickly put down his equipment and sat at the table. Suppressing his elf-like obsession with cleanliness, he took a bite of the food.

The food had clearly gone cold, but it still tasted quite good, possessing Su Yue's unique cooking style.

"Brother Mu, the food's cold. Should I heat it up again?"

With that, Su Yue got busy.

The food was indeed cold. Lan Mu didn't mind; he truly had no appetite for human food anymore. But Su Yue hadn't eaten either, so to prevent her from eating cold food, he didn't stop her.

Once the food was heated, the two ate in silence. Su Yue didn't eat much. After she was full, she put down her chopsticks and waited quietly.

Lan Mu barely ate anything. He forced himself to eat two bites, felt a wave of nausea, and ended up throwing it all back up.

"Sorry, I already ate outside. Let's just throw out these leftovers. We don't have a refrigerator at home, and with this hot weather, it'll spoil."

Su Yue nodded and quietly started clearing the table. Lan Mu helped her finish cleaning up, then sent her back to her room to watch TV.

Lan Mu stripped naked and took a hot shower. He wasn't actually dirty, but showering was just a habit.

Dressed in a new set of clothes, he sat on the bed fiddling with his newly purchased camera.

At ten o'clock that night, he suddenly received a call from Ma Xiang.

"What's up? Did something happen?" Lan Mu asked.

"No?" Ma Xiang was taken aback, then said, "I'm just calling to secretly tell you that Zhao Long's situation has been handled. The statements were all normal, and no one is going to pursue you for cross-dressing anymore. Also... people at the station already know my dad is the director..."

Lan Mu was quite happy that Ma Xiang had smoothed things over for him, but when he heard the last sentence, he was stunned. "Huh? It didn't affect you, did it?"

"How could it not affect me! Even if they don't say it out loud, they definitely all think I got in through connections! Wuwuwu! I passed the exam fair and square with my own skills!"

"Ahem..." Lan Mu chuckled. "Come on, don't cry injustice!"

Seeing that Lan Mu wasn't buying his act, Ma Xiang said sheepishly, "Right, even though it's settled, I'm worried that Zhao Long might find his way to the bureau. The city is taking this case very seriously, and even the provincial department is directly involved. I might not be able to help you next time."

Lan Mu nodded. He knew this case had to be solved quickly. The longer it dragged on, the more anxious the police would become, and they might eventually find him when re-examining the case, preferring to err on the side of caution.

"Oh, right, Brother Mu, I'm going with the team to investigate the victim's disappearance location tomorrow. Do you want to come?" Ma Xiang suddenly asked.

"Me? Isn't it confidential? Can I go film?" Lan Mu asked in surprise.

"Hehe, I have a clever plan!"