Chapter 41 Add me on WeChat

Xu Zhixian crossed his hands under his chin, pondered for a moment, and made arrangements: "The situation is more urgent than expected. Haoran, Liming, you two concentrate your efforts and prioritize following up on Xiao Su's lead. Focus on investigating the redirection paths of those three virtual numbers. Although it will be difficult, see if you can find any clues. At the same time, analyze the possible directions and ranges of these distress signals. I will coordinate resources with the technical team."

He looked at Su Xiaonuan, his tone gentle but solemn: "Xiaosu, this matter could very well involve a serious criminal case, and may even endanger the life of the person who reported it. You need to fully cooperate with the police, and at the same time, you absolutely must pay attention to your own safety! If anything happens, contact any one of the three of us immediately!"

Su Xiaonuan nodded seriously: "I understand, Officer Xu."

After arranging things for Su Xiaonuan, Xu Zhixian remembered the case they had just discussed: "As for the online dating fraud case at C University, I will lead another team to continue following up. We cannot relax our efforts in monitoring and investigating the flow of funds and withdrawals."

Upon hearing about the online dating scam, Su Xiaonuan's heart stirred again.

Although she really wanted to get involved in this case, which was obviously a way to gain merit points, she also knew that it was the police's job and that she, as an outsider, could not interfere without a legitimate reason.

She blinked, and a thought flashed through her mind.

Since I can't openly participate in the investigation, then... I can at least help "keep an eye out for suspicious people" as a "helpful citizen" or a "street vendor near C University," right?

So she looked at Xu Zhixian, her face showing a well-behaved and enthusiastic expression: "Officer Xu, that fraud case... the victim was a student from C University, right? I might be setting up my stall in the university town area quite often afterward. How about... I keep an eye out for you guys too? What if there are any suspicious people who seem to fit the characteristics of a scammer? Like someone who keeps loitering around the school gate but doesn't look like a student's parent, or someone who keeps asking about students' information?"

Xu Zhixian stared at her bright eyes, which were full of "I want to help," for a moment, then burst into laughter.

He understood that the young girl was about to "stand up for what's right" again.

Although I don't expect her to actually find any crucial clues, the intention is good, and it's not a bad thing to have an extra pair of eyes watching.

He smiled, his tone tinged with tolerance and encouragement: "Alright, then I'll have to trouble our little Detective Su. But remember, safety first! If you discover anything, don't act on your own; notify us immediately, understand?"

"Got it! I promise to complete the task!" Su Xiaonuan immediately straightened her back and replied in a serious manner, her mind racing with calculations.

After Xu Zhixian left hastily with his thoughts on the online dating fraud case, only Su Xiaonuan, Zhao Liming, and Qin Haoran remained in the small conference room.

The atmosphere did not ease after Xu Zhixian left; on the contrary, it became even more tense because of that strange distress call.

Zhao Liming replayed the recording of the second call, the one with only regular knocking sounds.

He turned the volume up to the maximum, closed his eyes, frowned, and listened intently, his fingers unconsciously tapping a rhythm on the table.

Su Xiaonuan and Qin Haoran both held their breath, not daring to disturb him.

After listening to it several times, Zhao Liming suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and certain: "Ambient sound. Besides the knocking sound, there's a very faint but continuous wind sound in the background, not the kind of wind that comes through a window, but... the kind from a relatively open area, with a slight whistling quality. Moreover, the knocking sound has a very slight echo feedback, although it's greatly weakened by the distance and the microphone, you can still distinguish it if you listen carefully. The other party is likely making the call in an open, windy, and relatively enclosed environment. For example, an abandoned factory, a garage, a rooftop terrace, or near a large ventilation duct."

This judgment is highly professional and specific, providing extremely valuable direction for the search scope!

Su Xiaonuan couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for this seemingly serious and rigid police officer.

Qin Haoran rubbed his chin, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful light: "Open space, wind, and echo... This area isn't too big, but it's not too small either. It seems we need to have a good discussion with the technical team and filter through it using the map and the distribution of abandoned buildings and large facilities in the city."

As he spoke, he suddenly changed the subject, his gaze falling on Su Xiaonuan. He casually pulled his phone from his pocket, grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and said, "Oh, right, little cook, I almost forgot the important thing. Come on, let's add each other on WeChat, so we can keep in touch! If that bastard calls you again, or if you remember any details, just tap me anytime!"

His movements were so fluid, as if he had rehearsed countless times, and he even nudged Zhao Liming next to him with his elbow: "Old Zhao, you should join in too, more people means more strength!"

Su Xiaonuan was a little confused by this sudden and highly abrupt change in her behavior.

We were just seriously analyzing the case a moment ago, and the next second we're talking about adding each other on WeChat?

But she still obediently took out her phone, opened the QR code, and had Qin Haoran and Zhao Liming, who seemed somewhat helpless, scan it to add her as a friend.

Looking at the two new contacts in her WeChat list—[Haoran Zhengqi], whose profile picture was a flamboyant cartoon policeman, and [Liming Poxiao], whose profile picture was a dark snow-capped mountain—Su Xiaonuan felt a strange sense of unreality.

After adding each other as friends, Qin Haoran seemed to have accomplished some important task. He instantly reverted to his usual carefree and playful demeanor, leaned closer, and asked with a grin, "Hey, little cook, can we talk about something? Where are you planning to set up your stall next? Give me a heads-up so I can come and support you! I didn't get enough of these skewers today!"

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaonuan couldn't help but let three black lines slide down her forehead.

Looking at Qin Haoran's nonchalant demeanor, as if the serious, imposing police officer he had just been analyzing the case was someone else in disguise, a deep sense of doubt welled up in her heart again: How... how did this person become a policeman? Although he can be very reliable and reassuring when he's serious, this unreliable appearance... makes him seem more untrustworthy than anything else!

She glanced subconsciously at the system screen, visible only to her; today's daily tasks were completed and grayed out. New daily tasks had already been refreshed:

[Daily Quest Refresh: Tomorrow, please successfully set up a stall at the south gate of Xiuhu Garden residential area and sell 30 servings of 'Creamy Mushroom Soup'. Reward: 450 Merit Points.]

Xiuhu Garden? That's an old, upscale residential community with a quiet environment, mostly inhabited by elderly people and well-off families.

She casually replied, "Tomorrow, at the south gate of Xiuhu Garden."

"Xiuhu Garden? What a great place!" Qin Haoran nodded matter-of-factly, slapping his thigh. "Alright! Tomorrow, after Lao Zhao and I finish get off work... oh no, after we're done, we'll go over and support you!"

He spoke with such natural ease, as if he were certain he would be off work on time tomorrow.