Han Huaixiao handed Xia Hang a pack of cotton swabs and disinfectant, glancing at the scratches on both his arms. “She was clawing at you, couldn’t you dodge?”
Xia Hang opened the swabs and disinfectant, quietly saying, “If a little broken skin can ease her pain even a bit… It’s fine.”
But Han Huaixiao clearly didn’t agree. Seeing Xia Hang casually dab at the wounds as if it didn’t matter, he couldn’t hold back and took the swabs and disinfectant from his hands. He soaked three swabs thoroughly, then carefully disinfected each scratch, one by one.
Watching Han Huaixiao’s focused profile as he treated his wounds, Xia Hang’s thoughts drifted back. For a brief moment, even his chest stirred, and his throat tightened.
That time… Han Huaixiao had messaged him, saying they’d have dinner together after work. After class, Xia Hang hadn’t left; he stayed in the classroom, studying and waiting for him. But by nearly eight at night, Han Huaixiao still hadn’t shown up, and his calls didn’t go through either.
Han Huaixiao was never late. Whenever they made plans, he always arrived early, and even if something came up, he’d let Xia Hang know in advance. This had never happened before.
After another failed call, all kinds of bad possibilities flooded Xia Hang’s mind. He checked social media frantically, finding no news of traffic accidents or violent incidents. Only then did he feel a little relieved.
He waited a bit longer.
Still nothing.
Until he couldn’t sit still anymore.
Packing up, he rushed out of the school gate and took a taxi to Han Huaixiao’s workplace.
Finally, on the way, Han Huaixiao called.
“Xia Hang, I ran into a suspect on my way to your school. I’ve been tailing him,” his voice was low and urgent. “I’m waiting for backup now; I can’t have dinner with you tonight. Go eat by yourself, and eat properly. No instant noodles in your dorm. Send me a photo of your dinner. I’ll check it when I’m done. Gotta go.”
Before Xia Hang could say a word, the call ended.
But at least… the weight in his chest lifted.
From fragments he’d overheard, those half-hidden work calls, he guessed Han Huaixiao had been involved in a major cross-border case, something tied to drug traffickers in the Golden Triangle.
Those people were dangerous.
He worried about Han Huaixiao constantly, but because of confidentiality rules, he couldn’t ask.
Later, he would learn just how deeply that case was tied to himself.
After the call, Xia Hang got out near the back gate of his school, found a restaurant, and ate properly. Before eating, he took a photo and sent it. After finishing, he even took a picture of the empty plate.
Normally, Han Huaixiao would reply with a “pat on the head” sticker.
But tonight there was nothing.
Xia Hang knew he should go back to the dorm, but suddenly, he missed him.
He wanted to hug him.
So he called his roommate, saying he wouldn’t return that night, and asked them to cover for him during room checks.Then he took a taxi to Han Huaixiao’s place.
He’d been there once before. Back then, Han Huaixiao had offered to register his fingerprint for the lock, but Xia Hang had declined. After all, they had just started dating, and he felt boundaries still mattered.
But now…
He ended up locked outside.
That night, he sat by the door and waited until morning.
When Han Huaixiao returned after six a.m., he saw Xia Hang curled up at his door. Surprise and joy flashed across his face as he helped him up, but when he felt the burning heat of Xia Hang’s skin, his expression changed immediately into anger mixed with worry.
“Why didn’t you message me for the password? Sitting out here all night, freezing yourself into a fever, are you stupid?!”
Xia Hang remembered it clearly.
Instead of feeling upset at getting scolded, he wrapped his arms around Han Huaixiao’s neck and kissed him.
Han Huaixiao froze, then responded just as fiercely. If not for Xia Hang’s fever, they might’ve gone on much longer. Breaking the kiss, Han Huaixiao held him and opened the door. “I’ll get you a jacket, then we’re going to the hospital.”
“I don’t want to go to the hospital,” Xia Hang looked at him pleadingly. “I just want to stay with you.”
Han Huaixiao paused.
Then he turned, pinned him lightly against the wardrobe, and kissed him again, harder this time. When he finally let go, he cupped his face, helpless and exasperated.
“How do you have me wrapped around your finger like this…”
Xia Hang smiled, arms around his waist. “I don’t want the hospital.”
“Fine,” Han Huaixiao said. “No hospital. But I’m calling a doctor here; you need a shot. Your fever’s too high.”
As long as he didn’t have to go to the hospital, Xia Hang agreed.
The doctor later diagnosed it as a viral infection, nothing serious, once the fever broke.
After the doctor left, Han Huaixiao asked what he wanted for breakfast.
Xia Hang joked, “You’ll cook?”
“I’ll try.”
“Please don’t. If you cook, I won’t dare eat it…”
“Then sleep,” Han Huaixiao tucked him under the blanket. “I’ll wake you when the porridge arrives.”
Xia Hang grabbed his sleeve. “I’m not hungry. Sleep with me first.”
Han Huaixiao sighed, unable to refuse. He got into bed and pulled him close, pressing a kiss to his burning cheek. “Alright. I’ll stay.”
Xia Hang fell asleep quickly, but in his haze, he knew Han Huaixiao hadn’t slept at all.
Every so often, he checked his temperature. When it didn’t drop, he called the doctor again, fetched warm water, and carefully wiped his forehead, palms, and back with a damp towel, gently, so as not to wake him.
Just like now…
The cotton swab was gliding softly across his scratches.
Han Huaixiao went through three swabs before finishing. Looking up, he saw Xia Hang’s reddened eyes and frowned.
“Does it hurt that much?”
Xia Hang shook his head, forcing down the swell of emotion. “No.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“…My emotions have been a bit unstable lately.”
Han Huaixiao paused. “Do you know Sister Yan from forensics has another role?”
“What?”
“She’s a psychological counselor. Go talk to her sometime, she’s good.”
“…Okay.”
After the delay, they set off again to retrieve Cai Yingxia and Wu Qiaoran’s photo albums.
On the way, Xia Hang glanced at the work group chat, where Ling Yue had sent a message:
[I seriously suspect Dong Zijin is abusive.]
Dong Zijin was in his early forties, average-looking, around 1.7 meters tall, and slightly overweight. But wealth and power gave him an imposing presence.
When Zhang Tianhua and Ling Yue showed up unannounced, he didn’t seem surprised at all. Yu Jing, on the other hand, looked uneasy, instinctively glancing at him.
Dong Zijin cast her a brief look, ordering, “Go make tea for our guests.”
Ling Yue scanned the villa. Strangely, it seemed like only the couple lived there.
“Don’t you have live-in staff?” he asked, unable to help himself.
“I prefer quiet,” Dong Zijin replied calmly. “Our son stays at school most of the time. It’s just the two of us here. For small things, we manage ourselves. Cleaning staff come regularly.”
Zhang Tianhua studied him. “You don’t seem surprised by our visit.”
Dong Zijin glanced toward the kitchen, where Yu Jing had gone. “I’ve heard about the children’s hospital case. I can roughly guess why you’re here.”
“Oh?” Zhang Tianhua smiled faintly. “Then what do you think we’re here for?”
Dong Zijin said calmly, “Family scandals aren’t meant to be made public, but since you officers have come knocking, it means you’ve already investigated everything. You’re here because of my wife and Li Jinping, aren’t you?”
Zhang Tianhua: “So you knew about them?”
Dong Zijin: “Of course. I knew within half a month of them getting involved.”
Zhang Tianhua: “Then why didn’t you stop it?”
At that, Dong Zijin smiled faintly before answering, “Since you’ve looked into their affair, you’ve probably looked into mine as well. I have more lovers outside than she ever did. Personally, I think people shouldn’t be selfish; since I haven’t been faithful to this marriage, I have no right to demand that my wife be faithful either. As long as we don’t divorce and the child doesn’t find out, if she wants to have a little fun outside, it’s nothing.”
Ling Yue clicked his tongue, unsure whether to admire his “open-mindedness” or call it complete nonsense.
As for Yu Jing, she came out carrying two cups of tea. As she bent to place them down, her sleeve slipped back slightly. Zhang Tianhua noticed red marks around her wrist, looking very much like restraint marks.
Yu Jing noticed it too. She hurriedly set the cups down, a bit too forcefully, spilling some tea. As she reached for tissues, more of her wrist was exposed, this time revealing not only the marks but also small, round scars that looked like cigarette burns.
She straightened in a panic, tugged her sleeve down, and glanced fearfully at Dong Zijin.
Dong Zijin gave her a cold look.
Yu Jing nodded to the officers and quickly retreated to her room.
Zhang Tianhua took in the silent exchange between husband and wife and said casually, “Ms. Yu is injured and still made tea for us, really makes us feel bad. How did she hurt her wrist?”
Dong Zijin: “Officer Zhang, are you married?”
Zhang Tianhua: “Why do you ask?”
Dong Zijin: “This is between my wife and me, but since you’ve seen it, I don’t mind being direct. Those injuries, I caused them. After many years of marriage, things get dull, so sometimes we… spice things up.”
Zhang Tianhua gave him a meaningful look. “Seems Mr. Dong isn’t just skilled in business, but also in managing a marriage.”
Dong Zijin: “Life is what you make of it.”
Zhang Tianhua: “From what I hear, you don’t seem to mind Li Jinping at all?”
Dong Zijin let out a contemptuous laugh. “Just an ordinary doctor, what is there for me to mind? After I caught him leaving a hotel with my wife, he must have been terrified. A man like that, no backbone, hiding behind a woman, doesn’t even need me to act. Just imagining what I might do is probably enough to scare him to death. Are you suspecting that I killed those three children as revenge? I wouldn’t stoop to that. And even if I wanted revenge, I wouldn’t do it in such an obvious way. What do you think, Officer Zhang?”
Zhang Tianhua smiled lightly. “Mr. Dong, would it be convenient for me to speak with Ms. Yu alone?”
Dong Zijin: “Of course. Please wait, I’ll call her.”
A moment later, Yu Jing came out alone and sat stiffly across from them.
Zhang Tianhua: “Li Jinping has been detained. You know that?”
Yu Jing: “I saw it in the news.”
Zhang Tianhua: “Is there anything you’d like to tell the police?”
Yu Jing: “I only went to a hotel with him a few times. I don’t know anything else.”
Zhang Tianhua glanced at her wrist. “Anything else? Anything you need help from the police with?”
Yu Jing shook her head quickly. “No.”
Zhang Tianhua stood. “Alright, sorry for the disturbance. We’ll be going.”
Yu Jing escorted them to the door, saying, “Take care, officers.” But after seeing them off, she returned to the living room. Dong Zijin was already there, sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other.
The moment she saw him, her legs began to tremble.
In the past, when he played around outside, she would at least argue with him. But recently, he’d been going out less and staying home more, and now she wished he’d go back to how things were before.
Because whenever he was home…
Whenever he even looked at her…
She was afraid he’d tell her to go to the gym again.
She had always thought the basement gym was just for show. Until recently, when Dong Zijin took her to the basement of another property.
………………….
As soon as they got into the car, Ling Yue couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“I swear, what a damn hypocrite! ‘Marital fun’?! My ass. That guy is most definitely abusing her. And Yu Jing, too, you practically offered to help her, and she refused without hesitation! That couple is unbelievable!”
Zhang Tianhua said quietly, “She probably has her reasons.”
“Then do you think Dong Zijin is behind the deaths of the three girls?” Ling Yue asked.
“Probably not,” Zhang Tianhua shook his head. “He’s arrogant, and as he said, if he wanted revenge, he wouldn’t do it in such an obvious way.”
Ling Yue sighed. “So this trip was pointless… wonder if Captain Han and Xia Hang found anything.”
…………………..
Back at the station, three photo albums were laid out neatly on the table.
Wen Yu had already scanned every photo into the computer, displaying them on the big screen in a continuous loop, but no one spotted anything unusual.
Han Huaixiao: “Wen Yu, anything suspicious about the shop owner of ‘Tongyan Tongyu’?”
Wen Yu: “The online shop is registered to a 30-year-old man from Zhejiang named Lin Fei. His main business is printing photo albums. He also runs a physical shop, printing, copying, and taking ID photos. It’s been open for nearly twenty years, originally run by his parents, now managed by him. He worked in Shanghai for a few years after high school before returning to take over the shop. On paper, nothing stands out.”
“What about the orders?” Han Huaixiao asked. “Anything unusual?”
“Customers upload photos through a link he provides and choose templates themselves,” Wen Yu answered. “After printing, Lin Fei deletes the files, so there’s no storage left. Anything deleted too long ago can’t be recovered. These are recent albums, take a look.”
On the screen, images of children flickered by, photos filled with innocence.
Boys. Girls. Infants. Young kids. Teenagers.
Nothing obviously in common.
“Stop.” Han Huaixiao suddenly spoke.
The screen froze on a photo of a particularly pretty girl, around ten years old. Wen Yu understood immediately. Without needing instructions, she tapped rapidly on the keyboard, where a report quickly appeared on screen.
“She’s currently at school, nothing suspicious,” Wen Yu said.
Han Huaixiao nodded in approval. “Next. Check a few more.”
Wen Yu pulled up several other girls of similar age and appearance, but all of them were currently accounted for and alive.
“Check the print dates for the three victims’ albums,” Han Huaixiao continued.
Wen Yu quickly pulled up the records.
“Cai Yingxia’s family printed three albums on May 18 two years ago, October 20 two years ago, and March 21 this year. Wu Qiaoran’s family printed one on February 30 this year. Tang Yueqian’s family also only printed one, on January 23 this year.”
At first glance, the printing dates didn’t show any clear pattern.
Among the three families, only Ye Jia had found Tongyan Tongyu through a colleague’s recommendation. Cai Yingxia’s and Wu Qiaoran’s mothers had both come across the shop randomly online and chosen it.
They had already checked the colleague who recommended it to Ye Jia, but that also led to nothing suspicious.
So… was it really just a coincidence that all three families printed albums at the same shop?
At that moment, He Zhengye walked in holding a report.
“Sister Yan’s team extracted a biological sample from the suspect on the vehicle we used to transport Tang Yueqian’s body. But I ran it against the national criminal database, and there’s no match. This person likely doesn’t have a prior record.”
Han Huaixiao’s expression shifted slightly. “Run it through the international criminal database.”
He Zhengye paused. “You think this person isn’t Chinese?”
Xia Hang glanced at Han Huaixiao.
If that were true… the case just got much more complicated.
Han Huaixiao simply said, “Just check first.”
After He Zhengye left, Han Huaixiao turned to Xia Hang, ordering, “Let’s go to Zhou City.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
“I don’t have any luggage; it’s still at the office.”
“Buy what you need when we get there.” He then added, “Wen Yu, send me Lin Fei’s full profile.”
“Got it.”
………………
They quickly booked plane tickets.
Not long after sitting down at the gate, airport staff approached and invited them to wait in the VIP lounge.
Han Huaixiao didn’t care where he waited, but after glancing at Xia Hang, he nodded. “Thanks.”
The lounge was quiet.
“If you’re hungry, go grab something,” Han Huaixiao said.
Xia Hang was, in fact, a little hungry. He got up, then returned with two trays, one with pastries and coffee, the other with sugar-free bread and coffee.
As he sat down, he placed the bread and coffee in front of Han Huaixiao.
“You should eat something too.”
Han Huaixiao glanced at both trays, then at him.
“Well, that’s rare. You still remember I don’t eat sweets.”
Xia Hang paused before replying softly, “You know… I’ve got a good memory.”
Han Huaixiao let out a quiet scoff, pulled the tray closer, and started eating.
The staff didn’t just bring them to the lounge, but also upgraded them to first class. After settling in, Xia Hang asked curiously, “Your family is involved in aviation too?”
“Yeah.”
Xia Hang didn’t ask further. He closed his eyes and used the time to rest. Now he understood what Ling Yue had meant by sleep whenever you can.
Because once things got busy, there’d be no time for it.
After landing in Zhou City, Xu Haolin, a local detective, was already waiting to pick them up.
“Captain Han, should I take you to the hotel first, or…?”
“To your bureau.”
“Got it.”
Xia Hang had slept on the plane and felt fairly refreshed. Looking out at the familiar streets, he couldn’t help thinking of his hometown, not far from here.
Back when he left for Myanmar, everything had been rushed. He hadn’t had the chance to return home and tell the truth about his father’s sacrifice.
After this case… would he finally have time to go back…?
They soon arrived at the Zhou City Public Security Bureau, where Captain Guo Anping of the Criminal Investigation Division greeted Han Huaixiao with a smile.
“It’s been over two years. I’ve even got gray hair now, but you haven’t changed at all!”
“Captain Guo has been working tirelessly for the safety of Zhou City’s people,” Han Huaixiao replied seriously. “Thank you for your hard work.”
Guo Anping burst out laughing. “Still sharp-tongued as ever.”
After a brief exchange, Guo Anping handed them Lin Fei’s file, saying, “This Lin Fei is a gambler, seriously addicted. According to our investigation, he’s lost at least a million over the years. But his shop’s revenue doesn’t come close to that amount.”
“He’s lost that much money, yet his family and friends have no idea. None of them says he ever borrowed money. So we don’t know where his funds are coming from.”
“Is he at the shop or at home?” Han Huaixiao asked. “Let’s go take a look.”
“He should be at the shop,” Guo Anping nodded. “I’ll have Xiao Xu take you.”
Lin Fei’s print shop was located in an old district of Zhou City. The surrounding shops were old, and foot traffic looked average. They parked by the roadside and were about to cross when…
A scream rang out, and a young man stumbled out of Lin Fei’s shop in panic.
The three exchanged a look and rushed inside.
The shop was divided into two sections: the printing front and behind it, a small resting area with a reclining chair, a table, and a bathroom.
Lin Fei lay collapsed inside the bathroom. One arm stretched forward, as if he had tried to crawl out.
But failed.
The floor was covered in blood.
And judging by the blood patterns, he had been dead for over an hour.
Table of Contents
Leave a Reply