Han Huaixiao returned to the detention center, but the moment Li Jinpeng saw him, he became visibly agitated, asking, “Captain Han… have you cleared me? Have you proven I’m not involved?” “What’s your relationship with Yu Jing?” Han Huaixiao didn’t answer directly. The excitement drained from Li Jinpeng like air from a punctured balloon, then… Continue reading

Han Huaixiao spun the car around and sped toward the First Affiliated Hospital. Xia Hang tried calling He Zhengye again, but still couldn’t get through. Seeing that, Xia Ling dialed He Zhengye’s assistant, Jian Liang. Just as the call was about to disconnect automatically, it finally went through. On the other side, Jian Liang’s voice… Continue reading

The Major Crimes Unit set aside their work and gathered in the conference room. “What exactly happened, Chief Yan?” Han Huaixiao asked. Yan Zheng spoke gravely. “Recently, Mycoplasma infections1 have been spreading rapidly through Lang City’s primary schools and kindergartens. Many children are coughing and running fevers. In the worst-hit classes, over a dozen students are absent, and one… Continue reading

When Han Huaixiao saw that Xia Hang’s hospital bed was empty, he turned and went straight to the doctor’s office. “Doctor Liu,” he asked, “Xia Hang’s been discharged. Is he alright?” “Nothing serious,” Doctor Liu replied, “just take anti-inflammatory and circulation medicine for a few more days, and get proper rest.” “Alright.” After being up… Continue reading

On the way to the First Affiliated Hospital, Han Huaixiao received a message from Xiang Kaicheng: [Xia Hang is in Bed 32, Floor 5.] By the time he arrived, it was already past eleven at night. The inpatient building was quiet. As he passed the nurses’ station, he was stopped. “Are you here to visit… Continue reading

Xia Hang followed the markers. The further he went, the more something felt off about the route. He had assumed the markers were leading deeper into the mountains. But as he continued, he realized they were actually guiding him toward the outer edge of the forest. What was the other party trying to do? Cui… Continue reading

Bringing Liu Peng along, Jiang Tao made it smoothly to the rendezvous point. Once there, he kicked Liu Peng out of the car. Leaving him behind, Jiang Tao completed the handoff by himself, car and cargo included. To cover his tracks, he switched between two taxis, then picked Liu Peng up again.  But after leaving… Continue reading

After nightfall, Liu Zhibin turned on the television and sat at the table, watching the news while waiting for dinner. Ye Mei brought out a plate of stir-fried greens and a plate of bitter melon, then returned to the kitchen for two sets of bowls and chopsticks. She opened the rice cooker and served two… Continue reading

Sanxian County had done a decent job with environmental protection. Many mountainous areas, in order to develop agricultural and forestry economies, had cut down their original trees and replanted fast-growing eucalyptus. But most of Sanxian County’s mountains were still covered in pine trees. Walking through the hills, the air was thick with the scent of pine resin.… Continue reading

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… Continue reading