Morning broke, and Lin Dang awoke from her slumber, stretching languidly with a sense of deep satisfaction. It had been the most comfortable sleep she’d had since graduating from university. The spacious bed, the soft mattress, the fragrant quilt, the cotton-like pillow—Lin Dang opened her eyes to a warm, clean, and inviting room. Sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the bed in a glow that radiated pure warmth. Coupled with the soft pajamas she wore, which hugged her body snugly, it felt incredibly comfortable. She sighed, "Ah! Who changed my clothes!"
A piercing scream shattered the quiet of the weekend morning. In the bathroom, Ping An, who was just bringing his toothbrush to his mouth, was startled by the sudden outburst, and toothpaste with a strong mint flavor generously smeared his lips.
"Young people, indeed. After just one night, tsk tsk. Listen to that powerful voice, her illness must be almost cured!" Ping An thought to himself as he wiped his mouth with a warm towel.
At the dining table, Ping An sat at the head, with Liu Ke Dou and Wang Kai Xuan to his left. Lin Dang, looking embarrassed, sat opposite Ping An. Quiet, busy in the kitchen, gradually brought the oil cakes and soup rice to the table.
In this region, there’s a custom of serving patients soup rice for breakfast. Don't underestimate this seemingly simple dish. The dough sheets are prepared by Quiet early in the morning, hand-pulled and cooked fresh. The preparation is meticulous: the oil pan is heated without onions, ginger, or garlic; a handful of pepper is added to the hot oil, followed by a handful of mushrooms. After a few quick stirs, water is poured in. Once it boils, a handful of dough sheets are dropped in, followed by a swirl of egg, and finally a few sprigs of greens. Simmered on low heat, it becomes a delicacy. Whether you have a stuffy nose or a fever, a bowl of this will likely cure eighty percent of your ailments.
"Eat, eat. I made an extra fried egg for your bowl. Today is your day off. Eat your fill, take your medicine, then go upstairs and get some more sleep. I guarantee you'll be bouncing with energy tomorrow," Quiet said kindly, placing a specially prepared bowl of soup rice in front of Lin Dang. She then added enthusiastically, "I have some errands to run later, and I'll pick up some daily necessities for you too."
"Teacher Ping An, I'm so sorry for causing you trouble!" Lin Dang said, blushing with shame. "Thank you, Sister-in-law, thank you very much."
"It's alright, it's alright. You scared me yesterday. You should have said you weren't feeling well earlier," Ping An said, pointing to Quiet. "This is my sister, Quiet. She's three years older than you, so you can call her sister. I'm not married yet. Eat up, eat your fill, and then get some more sleep. Cover yourself well and sweat it out, you'll be completely recovered. Oh, Quiet took care of you last night. You don't need to go back to your unit this weekend; just stay at my place."
Being cared for by a stranger like this was a first for Lin Dang.
"I thought that pretty lady was Director Ping An's partner, but it turns out she's his sister," Lin Dang mused.
"These two are police officers. As you know, I've become involved in a case, and they are responsible for my protection," Ping An said, indicating Liu Ke Dou and Wang Kai Xuan. "I have other matters to attend to this weekend, so I won't be able to accompany you. Just stay here at my place and rest until you're well. Quiet will be back to cook lunch. Eat what you want, sleep when you want, don't feel constrained."
Just then, Ping An's phone rang. He picked it up to see it was Gao Xiao Fei.
"Are you awake? If you are, come to your residential complex's property management office. Wu An came to your complex last night," Gao Xiao Fei said on the phone.
"What? Are you sure?" Ping An asked, a bit surprised.
"The security guards at your complex saw him last night. They felt something was off and checked a photo of a suspect issued by the police station. They discovered it was Wu An, whom we've been looking for," Gao Xiao Fei explained.
"I'll be right there!" Hanging up, Ping An said to Wang Kai Xuan, "You stay and protect my sister. I'm going to the property management office. Wu An was here last night."
In the residential complex's security room, Gao Xiao Fei and Mei Qian were reviewing the surveillance footage from the previous night. When Ping An and Liu Ke Dou entered, they casually greeted them.
"Look for yourself. He entered the complex sometime last night. The complex is too large, and the surveillance doesn't cover everything. The first time he appears on camera, he's running past Building 21 alongside a man in black wearing a mask. It was in this area that he encountered a security guard. Wu An spun a story on the spot, claiming he was your uncle and would be staying at your place for a few days," Mei Qian pointed to the screen. "Your place is quite lively. But I don't understand. Wu An could have found you at your workplace, or intercepted you on the street. Why wait until night and stubbornly enter your complex? Was it really to see you?"
"Yeah, if he wanted to see me, why didn't he come earlier? Was the man in black with him threatening him?" Ping An was also puzzled.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. We did some more digging yesterday. Through networked surveillance footage, we discovered that Wu An was following you when you were at the Gai Zhuang Police Station and at the roadside food stall outside the Municipal Bureau. There was no one else with him at the time," Gao Xiao Fei said. "Even if Wu An isn't the murderer, he's clearly evading the police. So, we now suspect he's connected to Niu Jian's death, or at the very least, he should know how Niu Jian actually died."
"Security guard, I'd like to ask you, when you encountered these two men in the video, was there anything unusual about them? What else did they say to you?" Ping An asked.
"They looked a bit shifty, but otherwise, everything seemed fine. I asked him which building he was staying in. He said he was your guest, yes, he said he was your uncle!" the security guard recalled.
"Uncle? Why an uncle again! Why specifically an uncle?" Ping An pondered, then said to Gao Xiao Fei and Mei Qian, "Any updates on the in-depth investigation of the crime scene?"
"We were just about to tell you!" Mei Qian took out a stack of documents from his briefcase. "According to the re-examination, the forensic pathologist successfully decomposed components of pig blood from the victim's wounds. Don't frown, it's really pig blood. Additionally, a large amount of spiral-shaped fatty tissue fragments were found in the victim's wounds. It's confirmed that the victim's wounds were caused by a sharp object similar to a chainsaw with a bursting effect, which resulted in that appearance."
"Then, have you..." Ping An began.
"Don't worry, we have pig blood, a chainsaw, and ice. Even if we were idiots, we could deduce that the primary crime scene was likely a cold storage facility or a slaughterhouse," Mei Qian interrupted Ping An. "Action has already been taken. City and provincial authorities are jointly searching all slaughterhouses in the city. We should have results by tonight. As for the cement concrete, since there was no brand, the source couldn't be determined. After testing, it was found to be ordinary cement concrete, nothing special."
"Excellent. We are getting closer to the truth. It would be even better if we could find Wu An now," Ping An said excitedly to Gao Xiao Fei and Mei Qian. "What are we doing today?"
"Today? I'm planning to take a day off. I've been in Hechuan for almost a week, and I still need to see some friends, and I also need to look for a decent place to rent," Mei Qian said, stretching his arms.
"I have a blind date today. You know, if I don't get married soon, my mother will disown me," Gao Xiao Fei added, indicating he also needed a day of rest.
"Aren't you guys in a hurry? The case finally has new leads; shouldn't we strike while the iron is hot?" Ping An grew anxious. If these two decided to slack off at such a crucial moment, the case would be difficult to solve.
"Alright, Wu An is being monitored. We're human beings too, and we need to rest," Gao Xiao Fei said.
"Didn't Director Yan say there was a case analysis meeting this morning?" Ping An said, annoyed. The case had a breakthrough, and they should be pursuing it with all haste.
Seeing Ping An's persistence, Gao Xiao Fei exchanged a glance with Mei Qian, who nodded helplessly.
"Provincial supervision is here. Su Xia has been called in for questioning," Gao Xiao Fei said mysteriously. "Because it's classified, I haven't told you."
"Are you kidding me? Why suspect Su Xia is the police officer Niu Jian was going to report?" Ping An retorted indignantly.
"In this matter, you, Ping An, are an outsider. Moreover, you need to be prepared; the inspection team is contacting the Hechuan Disciplinary Inspection Department, and they will likely want to talk to you," Mei Qian interjected from the side. "Therefore, Director Yan wants us all to stay out of trouble. The case needs to be solved, but it needs to be done steadily. For instance, what do you think about bringing a reporter like you, who isn't a police officer, along? The inspection team won't care who you are; even if you're a consultant, you are currently involved in the case, so you need to recuse yourself."
"Alright, alright, I get it. You guys are just too strict!" Hearing Mei Qian's words, Ping An calmed down. He knew well that the Public Security Bureau, as a disciplinary department, had numerous strict rules.
"So, is it really a day off today?" Ping An looked at the two of them with a hint of regret.
"Rest when you need to. Except for the plainclothes officers protecting you, everyone in the special investigation team will take two days off. You should also rest and don't run around. Don't go looking for Wu An or the slaughterhouses. It's for your own good," Gao Xiao Fei consoled.
"Forget it, I can guess. It's all about why Niu Jian was killed, who betrayed Niu Jian, and whether I, knowing this information, happened to be friends with the reported police officer, like Su Xia, leading them to act decisively, betray Niu Jian, and then interfere with your investigation. I know your method of suspecting your own people first. You two wouldn't do that, but you're afraid the inspectors will think that way, right? Sending people to protect me? It's because you're afraid I'll run off."
"See, see!" Gao Xiao Fei grabbed Ping An's arm and whispered, "You understand everything, and you still want to get involved in this mess?"
"You two go ahead! I'll go to the supermarket to buy some flour, okay!" Ping An said petulantly.
Being suspected by others, regardless of the reason, naturally made one feel uneasy. Although Ping An's rational mind acknowledged he might be under suspicion, he still felt unhappy when it actually happened.
With Liu Ke Dou trailing him like a large shadow, Ping An left the complex, wandering aimlessly. Eventually, he did enter a supermarket. With a strong man like Liu Ke Dou present, it would be a waste not to utilize him. They really were out of flour at home, so it was a good time to buy a bag and have him carry it.
Inside the supermarket, Liu Ke Dou pushed a shopping cart, dozing off as he walked. The cart contained flour and cooking oil. Ping An walked ahead, comparing two toothbrushes to see which one was better.
Since it was the weekend, the supermarket was crowded. The throng of people was so dense that you couldn't see the third person's face over two heads. Wu An, who had somehow slipped into the crowd, quietly followed Ping An. Seeing Liu Ke Dou, he dared not approach rashly.
Just then, Liu Ke Dou's phone suddenly rang.
"Mom! Why are you calling me..." Liu Ke Dou glanced at Ping An, who was comparing toothbrushes ahead, and seeing nothing unusual, he steadied the cart and began chatting with his mother.
Wu An, naturally, would not let this opportunity pass. He had narrowly avoided being hit by a beige car when he escaped the complex early this morning. His vigilance heightened, he was determined to see Ping An and tell him the truth.
"Reporter Ping An, I am Wu An. Don't be surprised. If you want to know the truth, leave that big lummox behind and follow me." Seizing the moment while Liu Ke Dou was on the phone, Wu An quickly scurried past Ping An, pretending to look at the merchandise. After leaving these words, he quickly disappeared back into the crowd.
Hearing Wu An's words, Ping An was startled. He looked at Wu An, who had already walked away, and then at Liu Ke Dou, who was still on the phone. Gritting his teeth, he chased after him. Liu Ke Dou saw nothing.
Following Wu An out of the supermarket, Ping An looked around and discovered Wu An waiting for him on a small path leading to a park. After Ping An spotted him, Wu An quickly moved away, heading down the path towards the park.
Ping An followed closely, turned the corner, and entered the small path. However, just as he was about to go further, he suddenly stopped.
What could be more important than meeting Wu An?
Indeed, there was. At the entrance of this small path, outside a coffee shop, Ping An saw Quiet through the glass, embracing and kissing a man. And that man was—
"Mei Qian! You scoundrel! How dare you date my sister!" Ping An, with an indescribable rage, kicked open the coffee shop door. Like a maddened bull, he completely forgot about Wu An, who had led him there, and focused all his passion into his fists, unleashing them on the bewildered Mei Qian.
"Bang!" A clean, decisive punch landed on Mei Qian's face.
In that instant, Ping An's anger was fully released. He was not fighting alone; he represented his father, his grandfather, his grandmother, his uncle, and all the elders in his family who doted on Quiet.
"Jack? Are you alright!" Quiet, shocked by her brother's punch, screamed, "Brother! Are you crazy!"
"Good! I knew I didn't like you the first time I saw you. So you're that damn Jack!" Hearing his sister call Mei Qian Jack, Ping An immediately understood. This young man was the one he had "fought" with for five years, the scoundrel who had hooked up with Quiet online.
"Wait! Just wait a moment!" Mei Qian, who had been immersed in a loving and sweet kiss, was hit by a powerful punch that sent stars dancing in his head. The punch was so forceful that he even experienced tinnitus. Once he could hear again, he suddenly heard that his beloved Rose was actually Ping An's sister!
A stream of blood flowed from Mei Qian's nose. He gasped for breath, first looking at the panicked Quiet, then back at the furious Ping An. In that moment, his heart was filled with a mix of emotions. "How can you be Rose's brother? A distant relative, perhaps? Her surname is An, not Ping," Mei Qian maintained his last shred of composure and cautiously said.
"He is indeed my brother, I take after my mother's surname!" Quiet replied from the side.
"Are you really siblings?" Mei Qian confirmed again.
"Do you want another punch?" Ping An shouted, waving his arm.
"Wait, weren't you going to the supermarket? Why are you here?" Mei Qian suddenly asked.
"..." Ping An looked into Mei Qian's eyes and remained silent for two seconds. "Damn it, Wu An! I saw Wu An!"
"What? Where?" Mei Qian asked.
"In the small park up ahead. He lured me here!" Ping An said, already starting to run.
"Wait for me!" Mei Qian turned back, gave Quiet an apologetic look, and followed Ping An.
"How could this happen?" The coffee shop was in disarray due to the sudden brawl. Quiet, who had fantasized about this moment for countless nights, had finally shaken off Wang Kai Xuan, who was assigned to protect her. Her eyes met her lover's, and their passionate embrace was everything Quiet had ever wanted, until her brother appeared…
"How do they know each other? Jack only moved to Hechuan a week ago for me! I haven't even formally introduced them yet!" Quiet was on the verge of tears. She casually threw down a hundred-yuan bill and ran out, heading towards the park in pursuit of Jack and her brother.
Inside the small park, outside a circular flower bed, Wu An paced back and forth, constantly looking towards the park entrance. Ping An had clearly followed him, so why hadn't he appeared yet? he thought anxiously.
On the path leading to the park, Ping An was in front, with Mei Qian behind. Both were running at full speed. Due to some awkwardness, neither of them spoke a word during this stretch.
At the park entrance, Ping An, who arrived first, spotted Wu An at a glance.
"Wu An!" Instinctively, Ping An shouted.
Wu An, who was still pacing, saw Ping An appear and was about to walk over when he noticed another person behind Ping An—someone he had seen outside the Gai Zhuang Police Station, a police officer.
Upon seeing the police officer, Wu An hesitated for a moment. Seemingly unwilling to be captured by the police, he immediately turned and ran in another direction.
"Wu An! Stop!" Seeing Wu An attempt to flee, Ping An shouted, and raised his foot to pursue.
But at that moment, a bizarre scene unfolded. Wu An, who had just turned and was about to run, hadn't even managed to go a few meters—"Boom!" A sudden explosion rang out. Wu An, his back to Ping An and Mei Qian, was blown about in a frenzy, like a doll stuffed with firecrackers.
On this side, the moment the explosion occurred, the well-trained Mei Qian tackled Ping An from behind. After the blast subsided, they looked up, covered in dust and dirt, to see only
Wu An lying on the ground, with his entrails scattered.
"Wu An!"
"Take cover!"
Seeing this scene, Ping An and Mei Qian shouted simultaneously. One shouted Wu An's name, while the other, with nerves taut, worried about a secondary attack and held Ping An tightly, preventing him from moving.
"Back away, get out of here! Don't come closer, I'm a police officer!" Mei Qian pressed Ping An down with his hand, scanning his surroundings. Seeing ordinary citizens, unaware of the situation, slowly gathering, Mei Qian shouted loudly.
"I am Mei Qian. There has been an explosion. This is Sports Street. Hmm? The specific location! The specific location!" Mei Qian pulled out his phone, maintaining vigilance while calling the police. "Ping An! Ping An! What park is this! Speak! What is the location!"
"Jianzi Park! Oh, right, the back gate of Jianzi Park, to the left of the basketball court!" Although he had participated in several investigations, this was the first time he had seen a living person blown into pieces. Such a shocking scene was not something a reporter usually encountered.
It was Mei Qian, however, who remained calm and astute at this critical moment. If he hadn't held Ping An down so tightly, who knows what further chaos might have ensued.
"Stop pressing me, let me go see. Wu An is still breathing!" Ping An said frantically.
"It's too dangerous. Listen to me, retreat with me, slowly retreat! I don't know the situation, I don't know the situation! What if there are more bombs!" Mei Qian shouted.
"Why are you following me? If you weren't following me, Wu An wouldn't have run away?" Ping An retorted.
"If I wasn't following you, more than just Wu An would be dead!" Mei Qian replied.
"Let me go. There are no more bombs, and the bad guys have all fled!" Ping An twisted and struggled beneath Mei Qian.
"Boom!" At that moment, a bomb exploded in the grass less than five meters away from Ping An and Mei Qian.
"Everyone nearby, don't come closer, take cover! Take cover!" The dirt kicked up by the explosion showered Ping An and Mei Qian.
Ping An stood frozen, speechless.
Mei Qian shouted with all his might, urging the surrounding citizens not to approach.
"Brother!" Quiet's voice suddenly came from behind Ping An.
"Don't come over! Go back!" Mei Qian's voice was hoarse, but he still managed to yell.
"Are you two alright!" Quiet, frightened, began to cry.
"I'm fine! Go back, don't come over, it's dangerous here!" Ping An, regaining his senses, obediently stayed under Mei Qian. Hearing his sister's voice, he also shouted back in a hoarse voice.
A seemingly peaceful weekend, a sun-drenched park, a body lying in a pool of blood, two people afraid to move.
Not far away, at the park entrance, Quiet watched the two people she loved most in her life in danger. Her legs trembled, and she wanted to rush forward, but she was restrained by her brother and lover. She could only stand there.
The chaos caused by the explosions stirred up quite a commotion.
Inside a beige car outside the park, a man wearing sunglasses was listening to a phone call. "Causing such a scene, are you sick!"
After hearing the curses directed at him, he angrily said, "Nosy police!" and then, weaving through the approaching police car convoy with sirens blaring, he made a sharp left turn and disappeared without a trace.
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