Han Huaixiao hung up the phone and said to Tang Gaoxiong, “Our technical investigation team has confirmed that the person captured by the surveillance camera near the crime scene is not Liu Peng.”
Tang Gaoxiong looked up sharply, questioning, “Not Liu Peng? So the person on camera just happens to look very similar to him?!”
Han Huaixiao nodded. “Yes.”
Tang Gaoxiong sighed, visibly deflated. “…If you’ve ruled out Liu Peng, and he has a solid alibi, then he’s no longer a suspect.”
That lead was dead.
Now the only hope lay with the gunman who had fled into the urban village after killing Chen Zhengde, and with whatever results He Zhengye’s lab could produce.
Deputy Captain Wei Jun frowned. “That’s strange. They’re not twins, how can two people look that alike?”
However, Han Huaixiao already had a vague suspicion forming in his mind. Clearing Liu Peng wasn’t necessarily bad. It meant they could finally abandon that line and stop wasting time and energy on it.
Tang Gaoxiong asked, “Captain Han, what’s our next move?”
“We wait,” Han Huaixiao said. “He Zhengye’s results should be in soon.”
As if on cue, his phone vibrated again, showing that it was He Zhengye.
“Results are out?” Han Huaixiao asked. “What do we have?”
He Zhengye shook the freshly printed report in his hand. His voice was hoarse, clearly from an all-nighter, as he answered, “Take a guess. Do you think the killer is Liu Peng?”
Han Huaixiao thought for a moment. “Not him. But someone related to him by blood?”
There was a click of the tongue on the other end. “I haven’t slept all night for this! Couldn’t you just let me reveal it myself and act a little shocked? At least give me some sense of accomplishment!”
“We just confirmed the man on camera isn’t Liu Peng,” Han Huaixiao replied calmly. “Which means there’s someone who looks almost identical to him. You’re asking that question with way too much confidence, so the answer’s obvious. The suspect is related to Liu Peng.”
“Talking to you is exhausting,” He Zhengye complained. “No sense of drama at all. No wonder you’ve been single for over thirty years.”
“Chief Forensic He,” Han Huaixiao said flatly, “stop wasting time. What’s the relationship?”
“Genetic similarity is close to fifty percent.”
“Brothers?”
This time, Han Huaixiao was genuinely surprised. He had assumed the killer was a distant relative who merely resembled Liu Peng, but a genetic similarity that high meant they were actual siblings. Yet Liu Peng was an only child. Tang Gaoxiong’s team had verified that repeatedly. There shouldn’t have been any mistake.
“Based on the case details,” He Zhengye continued, “there’s an even more precise possibility. The suspect and Liu Peng are fraternal twins.”
Fraternal twins were formed when two different eggs were fertilized by two different sperm cells at the same time. Genetically, they were no more similar than ordinary siblings, only about fifty percent.
“Identical twins look alike,” Han Huaixiao said. “Do fraternal twins resemble each other that much?”
“Usually, fraternal twins look like regular siblings,” He Zhengye replied. “But in rare cases, they can look extremely similar.”
Which meant the suspect was either Liu Peng’s full biological twin or a fraternal twin with the same mother but maybe… a different father1.
Han Huaixiao relayed the findings to Tang Gaoxiong, who was stunned and deeply confused. “Because Liu Peng strongly resembled the man on camera, but had an alibi,” he said, “we did suspect he might have a twin. However, we checked three generations of his family history, and everything points to him being an only child. The villagers in Lingshan Village are also adamant that he was the sole child from birth.”
Yuan Libo nodded, confirming, “We ran the household registration checks countless times. No siblings.”
But science clearly said otherwise.
Han Huaixiao asked, “What kind of person was Liu Peng’s mother?”
“We asked around the village,” Tang Gaoxiong said. “Everyone says she was very proper. Worked the fields with Liu Peng’s father every day. Barely spoke to other men. Not the type to fool around.”
“How did Liu Peng’s parents die?”
“When he was seven, his father and grandfather got into an argument while logging in the mountains. It turned physical. They both fell down a slope, hit rocks, and were bedridden for six months. His father eventually died, and the old man survived, but he’s heavily disabled. His mother passed away from breast cancer when Liu Peng was ten.”
“Why did his father and grandfather argue?”
“That’s unclear. Only Liu Peng’s parents and grandfather were there. Villagers say his father was honest and taciturn, much like Liu Peng. When the parents first married, the family got along fine. But after Liu Peng was born, his father began arguing frequently with his old man. The grandfather was domineering and sharp-tongued, so every time, Liu Peng’s father ended up furious and humiliated.”
Something clicked in Han Huaixiao’s mind as he asked, “When did Liu Peng’s grandmother pass away?”
“That was long before, when Liu Peng’s father was still a teenager…” Tang Gaoxiong suddenly froze. “You’re suspecting… Liu Peng’s grandfather and… the wife of his son?!”
“Where was Liu Peng born?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“Back then, most rural women gave birth at home with midwives,” Tang Gaoxiong said. “But Liu Peng’s mother was in labor all night and couldn’t deliver. She was taken to the township clinic and gave birth there. The clinic later relocated, and some records were lost. It was too long ago, and the doctor doesn’t remember the details. The woman’s father and grandmother accompanied her. Her father has passed away, but her grandmother is still alive. However, she too insists her granddaughter only gave birth to Liu Peng.”
“Captain Tang,” Han Huaixiao said, “go back and question the grandmother again, but be precise. Make sure she understands the importance of what happened to the second child and where he went. As for the rest of the family conflict, we just visited the village yesterday. Other unfamiliar faces going back now will raise suspicion…”
Before he could finish, his phone rang again, and this time, it was Kong Qinmao.
“Captain Han, we’ve located the gunman’s hideout in the urban village!” he reported. “The one who killed Chen Zhengde. He’s already escaped, but we recovered biological samples from the bathroom.”
“Keep pursuing,” Han Huaixiao said immediately. “And run a DNA comparison with our current homicide suspect.”
Five minutes later, two messages came in.
He Zhengye: [Han Huaixiao, do you know how many days I haven’t slept? Three!!!]
He Zhengye: [You bastard! Do you think everyone’s built like you?!]
Han Huaixiao typed back.
[My uncle is eighty-six. He can deep-sea fish for four days without sleep. You’re not even forty, are you really worse than him?]
He Zhengye: [That’s old-man sleep patterns! If I don’t sleep, I’ll drop dead!]
[You like fishing too,] Han Huaixiao replied. [Once the case is over, I’ll have my uncle take you deep-sea fishing.]
He Zhengye: [If you don’t keep your word, I’ll dissect you alive!]
[You can castrate me while you’re at it,] Han Huaixiao sent back.
He Zhengye: [Never mind. Between fishing and castrating you, I’m more interested in the latter. I’ve only neutered my cat before. Haven’t tried a human.]
[You’re awfully interested in male anatomy,] Han Huaixiao replied. [Are you sure you’re straight?]
He Zhengye: [Fuck off!]
Despite the verbal abuse, He Zhengye had already run the tests. He was just bantering to keep himself awake while waiting for the results to come in. After all, once a major case hit, detectives, forensic doctors, trace analysts, and technical investigators all ran at full throttle, under time limits and immense pressure. Joking around was simply how they vented.
Those with stronger nerves went looking for Han Huaixiao on purpose. A few words from Captain Han guaranteed mental clarity, mostly coming from sheer rage. If you walked into his verbal firing range willingly, he showed no mercy.
And yet, his contacts seemed to be lining up for abuse.
No sooner had he replied to He Zhengye than another call came in, this time from Wen Yu.
“Captain Han, while tracing Chen Zhengde’s movements before his death, I found that he appeared multiple times in Sanshan County.”
Hearing that, Han Huaixiao straightened, asking, “Where exactly?”
“Once near the westbound intersection by the Sanshan County Bus Terminal. Once at the commercial center. Once east of Huimin Supermarket in Jiling town… Wait… am I seeing things?”
“What is it?”
“In the footage outside Huimin Supermarket, there are two men with him. One of them looks very similar to the man captured near the crime scene in Sanshan County! They seemed to be deliberately avoiding cameras. We only got three seconds, and the image quality’s poor. Needs enhancement.”
“Send me that supermarket footage immediately,” Han Huaixiao said. “Run a comparison with tech, see if the man with Chen Zhengde is the same one from the earlier surveillance.”
“Understood! Sent to your WeChat.”
Han Huaixiao opened the video.
Chen Zhengde was smoking outside the supermarket. Two men stood beside him, and one looked eerily similar to Liu Peng. Xia Hang and Tang Gaoxiong leaned in.
“Looks like the same person,” Xia Hang said.
“I agree,” Tang Gaoxiong said.
But Han Huaixiao pointed at the third man in the footage, asking, “Yuan Libo, have you seen him before?”
Yuan Libo studied the screen for a long moment before saying, “No.”
Han Huaixiao stared at the man, then asked suddenly, “Is Chief Zhao still here?”
“He is,” Yuan Libo said. “Want me to bring him in?”
Zhao Dacheng entered the room. Before Han Huaixiao could speak, he blurted out: “Huh? Isn’t that Liu Kun? The owner of the pig farm in Lingshan Village?”
“You’re sure?” Han Huaixiao asked.
Zhao Dacheng nodded firmly. “Absolutely! When I went to do epidemic inspections, he was the one who received me.”
So… Chen Zhengde not only knew the suspect from the Sanshan County case, but he also personally knew the owner of the pig farm.
What kind of relationship tied the three of them together?
Wei Jun couldn’t help muttering, “This case just keeps getting more complicated.”
“Complicated isn’t the problem,” Han Huaixiao shook his head. “What’s scary is when a case is too simple, when there are no leads at all. The more complex it is, the more suspicious threads there are to pull.”
And half an hour later, Wen Yu called back.
“Captain Han, after professional enhancement and comparative analysis, facial structure, movement patterns, and body language, we can confirm they’re the same person.”
“You’re certain?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“I’ve double-checked with the tech team,” Wen Yu said. “It’s the same individual.”
Almost simultaneously, Tang Gaoxiong’s phone rang. It was Lin Yi, the female officer, who was sent to question Liu Peng’s maternal grandmother.
“Captain Tang,” Lin Yi said, “she admitted it. Back then, Liu Peng’s mother gave birth to twins, but the second baby was born in critical condition. The doctor suggested transferring him to the provincial hospital. However, the grandmother said the baby was breathing out more air than he was inhaling, and she was sure he wouldn’t survive. She felt going to the provincial hospital would just waste money, and they didn’t have much to begin with. After discussing it with Liu Peng’s father, they wrapped the baby in some rags and left him in the grass halfway up a mountain on their way back.”
“She told no one afterward,” Lin Yi continued. “And she made Liu Peng’s parents promise not to say anything either.”
Tang Gaoxiong asked tightly, “Which mountain?”
“She said she doesn’t remember anymore.”
Yuan Libo exhaled slowly. “So the abandoned child didn’t die. Someone must have found him and raised him.”
“Director Yuan,” Han Huaixiao said immediately, “arrange officers to search the villages along the routes leading into Lingshan Village. See if anyone took in an abandoned infant back then.”
“Understood! I’ll get on it.”
“We can’t wait any longer.” Han Huaixiao made the call decisively. “We need to find Liu Peng’s brother as soon as possible. He’s very likely up at the pig farm. And whatever ‘goods’ they’re moving there, we need to find out what that is too.”
“Go straight into the mountains and make the arrest?” Tang Gaoxiong asked.
At that, Han Huaixiao picked up a map of Jiling town. “They’re locals,” he answered. “They know the terrain. If we storm in directly, we’ll alert them. If they hide or flee to another province, search operations will become extremely difficult.” He tapped the map before continuing, “We go in batches. Vans will drop people off at the fork before Lingshan Village. From there, we proceed on foot through the mountain paths. One group heads to Lingshan Village, another to the pig farm. Right now, we’re short on manpower.”
“I’ll request reinforcements from Sanshan County immediately,” Tang Gaoxiong said.
Thinking of the ‘goods’ at the pig farm, if they were drugs, weapons were likely involved, so Han Huaixiao added, “Request a SWAT unit too. Have them wear camouflage suitable for mountain terrain.”
“Got it!”
“How long?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“Mobilizing, assembling, travel time, the earliest would be three hours.”
Han Huaixiao calculated quickly. “Once they arrive, split into teams. One goes to Lingshan Village, the rest, with the SWAT team, go to the pig farm. Terrain here blocks visibility easily, so request a helicopter on standby. Also, notify the traffic police to set up checkpoints on major routes. If they spot us from the mountains, they’ll run.”
“Understood! I’ll coordinate everything.”
Han Huaixiao glanced at the time. It was already past three in the afternoon. By the time everyone arrived, it would be after six. Transporting teams in batches, hiking into the mountains, it would be close to eight by the earliest.
And then there were Liu Guangjie’s words: “The new shipment is about to move.”
After a moment’s thought, Han Huaixiao said, “Director Yuan, find someone familiar with the mountain terrain over there. Have them take me in first. I need to scout the situation.”
“No,” Tang Gaoxiong said at once. “Two people… is too risky. I’m coming with you.”
“You can’t,” Han Huaixiao replied. “You need to stay here and coordinate once reinforcements arrive.”
Xia Hang, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “I’ll go with Captain Han.”
Han Huaixiao frowned and looked at him, and Xia Hang knew exactly what he was worried about. “I’m fine physically,” he answered. “I won’t slow you down.”
After a brief pause, Han Huaixiao agreed, “Alright. Xia Hang and I go in first. Captain Tang, you follow later. Keep movements low-profile. Don’t draw attention.”
“Understood.”
The guide Yuan Libo arranged was a local police officer from the township station, Qin Liang.
Qin Liang pulled up in a green pickup truck. Just before getting in, Han Huaixiao suddenly tossed a small medicine box to Xia Hang. Xia Hang caught it and saw it was motion sickness medication again, but this time, patches instead of pills.
Some things were like that, missed the best moment to explain, and any explanation afterward just felt wrong… So Xia Hang could only read the instructions, peel one off, and stick it behind his ear.
Seeing that, Qin Liang asked, “Officer Xia gets motion sickness?”
“A little,” Xia Hang replied.
Qin Liang dug into his pocket and pulled out two oranges. “My daughter gave these to me before I left. Take them. If you start feeling sick, peel one and hold the peel under your nose; the smell helps. If that doesn’t work, tell me, and I’ll pull over. Throwing up helps sometimes.” With that, he handed over a thermos as well, continuing, “My wife just bought this for me, brand new. She made me hot tea this morning. Warm drinks help too.”
Xia Hang wasn’t used to such earnest care. He accepted the oranges and the thermos awkwardly, mumbling a ‘Thank you’. Han Huaixiao glanced at Xia Hang holding two oranges and a thermos like three burning grenades, and suddenly laughed.
The first time he’d met Xia Hang was at a graduation ceremony, where Xia Hang was representing outstanding graduates. Back then, Han Huaixiao was interning in B City, overworked and busy. He hadn’t planned on attending, but his mentor personally called him, and he couldn’t refuse.
He arrived late. By the time he reached the sign-in desk, only one person remained. That person was Xia Hang. He was wearing his usual white T-shirt and jeans, head lowered as he organized the materials.
“Excuse me,” Han Huaixiao said, tapping the desk lightly. “Could you take the pen out again?”
Xia Hang didn’t look up, just handed the pen back. He’d been given another task by a senior and was rushing to finish. After signing in, just as Han Huaixiao was about to enter the auditorium, a sudden impulse made him turn around.
He saw Xia Hang finish tidying up, grab two bags, and lightly leap down the steps in front of the hall, running toward the back. It was the best age of youth. That light, effortless jump made him seem even more vibrant, and his face, hidden moments ago, was fully visible now.
Han Group was massive, with countless subsidiaries. His third uncle oversaw the entertainment sector, signing beautiful men and women by the dozen. Growing up in that environment, Han Huaixiao had seen no shortage of good looks, so he didn’t consider himself someone swayed by appearances.
But the instant he saw Xia Hang’s face, his heart skipped not one, but two beats.
Xia Hang was handsome, but not in a flashy, star-like way. His looks were like the first ray of morning sunlight: understated yet bright, warm without being blinding. Comfortable to look at.
Even as Han Huaixiao stepped onstage to give his speech, that image lingered in his mind.
He had always been clear about his orientation, and he was a man of action. The first time someone made his heart beat differently, he decided on the spot: after the speech, he would find Xia Hang and ask for his contact information.
It was as if fate itself had heard him, as after the speech, Xia Hang approached from the side of the stage, holding a bouquet. Smiling, he handed it over.
“Congratulations, Senior.”
Han Huaixiao was delighted. He accepted the flowers with one hand and extended the other, saying, “Thank you.”
Xia Hang hadn’t expected a handshake. He froze briefly, then reached out. His palm wasn’t as soft as his face suggested, and there was a thin layer of calluses.
Han Huaixiao held the handshake a second longer before releasing it. As he let go, he used the bouquet to block their mouths and said quietly, “Junior, when everything’s over, could you wait for me by the back door of the auditorium? I’d like to ask you for a favor.”
The voice sounded familiar, and Xia Hang quickly remembered. It was the last person who had signed in earlier.
So it was Senior Han.
Han Huaixiao was a legendary name at the academy. Xia Hang had heard countless stories, even seen photos. However, he hadn’t paid attention to the sign-in desk, and that was why he hadn’t recognized him.
Still, they weren’t close. What could he possibly need his help with?
Xia Hang looked at him, saw the smile in his eyes, and nodded without thinking. After the ceremony, once Xia Hang finished helping clean up, he went to the back door. Most people were already gone. He thought Han Huaixiao had left, too.
But there he was, leaning against a column in the corridor, flowers in one hand, phone in the other.
Xia Hang hurried over. “Sorry, Senior, I made you wait.”
Han Huaixiao pocketed his phone and smiled. “It’s fine. I was chatting with my mentor. Didn’t wait long.”
Xia Hang had been busy all morning and barely drank any water. His voice was hoarse, asking, “What did you need help with?”
Han Huaixiao set the flowers down, picked up a bottle of water he’d left earlier, twisted the cap open, and handed it over. “It’s nothing urgent. Drink some water first. I haven’t touched it.”
It was the first time someone had thoughtfully opened a bottle for him. Xia Hang hesitated before taking it, then tilted his head back and took a small sip. Han Huaixiao handed him a handkerchief next, saying, “You’re sweating. It’s windy here, wipe it off, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Xia Hang’s expression back then was exactly like it was now. Uneasy and uncertain. “I haven’t introduced myself,” Han Huaixiao continued. “My name is Han Huaixiao. Han as in ‘Han Feizi’. Huai as in the ‘Huai River’. Xiao as in ‘valiant’. ‘Xiao’ is my generation name. The ‘Huai’ comes from my parents meeting while traveling along the Huai River in Jiangsu.”
Well… that was an oddly detailed introduction.
Xia Hang’s first feeling was that it was strange, as one didn’t usually explain one’s name’s origin to a stranger. The second feeling, however, was warmth.
Not because of Han Huaixiao, but because he mentioned the Huai River.
Xia Hang was born in Jiangsu, and his home wasn’t far from the river. When his father was busy, and they couldn’t travel far, that river was where their family spent most of their outings.
Hearing about home in a foreign city made his heart relax, and his expression softened. “I know you, Senior Han,” he answered. “My name is Xia Hang, Xia as in ‘summer’, Hang as in ‘Hangzhou’.”
Of course, Han Huaixiao already knew his name. He’d asked one of the student volunteers earlier, learning that Xia Hang was a freshman, from Jiangsu, living near the Huai River.
That was why he’d deliberately mentioned his parents meeting there.
It wasn’t a lie; his middle name really did come from that story, and his mother had even been born into a prestigious family that had roots in Jiangsu… But Han Huaixiao had always been sharp.
With one name origin, he closed the psychological distance. From the way Xia Hang accepted his water and handkerchief, he saw clearly: Xia Hang had no defense against kindness.
So he pursued him with warmth.
And as expected, Xia Hang couldn’t resist. Before long, he accepted.
A soft laugh made its way on his cold face, snapping him out of his thoughts. However, Han Huaixiao noticed it and quickly returned from his memories, mildly annoyed that he still remembered every expression and small movement so clearly. His face, however, turned calm once more, asking, “Something wrong?”
Xia Hang had been about to ask what he was laughing at, but the smile was already gone.
“Nothing.”
Han Huaixiao tapped the seat in front, asking, “Officer Qin, is there only one road into Lingshan Village?”
“Yes. Just one.”
“And from Lingshan Village to the pig farm?”
“Also, only one. Dirt road, no pavement.”
“Many people know about the pig farm up there?”
“Other than villagers, probably not. It’s deep in the mountains, too remote.”
“As we near Lingshan Village,” Han Huaixiao said, “find a concealed place to stop. We’ll go up to the pig farm through the mountain paths.”
“The mountain route is steep,” Qin Liang warned. “You’ll have to detour, and it’ll take hours. Going through the village is easier.”
“We can’t go through the village,” Han Huaixiao said flatly. “The village head is tied to the pig farm. A strange vehicle entering could tip them off, and they’ll run.”
If the pig farm really was involved in illegal activity, the location was perfect. Only one mountain road in or out. High ground, wide visibility. Anyone approaching could be spotted immediately. With so few people and vehicles in the area, outsiders stood out instantly.
Following Han Huaixiao’s instructions, Qin Liang turned onto a side village road at the fork, found a hidden spot, and parked.
After getting out, they chose a gentler slope and began climbing the mountain.
- Interesting, apparently, it’s possible for fraternal twins to have different biological fathers. This phenomenon is known as heteropaternal superfecundation, and can occur when a woman releases multiple eggs during her menstrual cycle and engages in sexual intercourse with different partners in close succession. For this to happen, the woman needs to release an egg that is fertilized by one man, then release a second egg that is fertilized by another man. Both fertilization events usually occur within 12-24 hours (the ovulation period. It’s quite rare, but not impossible. ↩︎
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