Chapter 42 Surge

Chapter 42

After parking his bicycle, Chen Wan walked into the flower shop and greeted the owner.

"Good morning." The owner looked up from a cluster of light pink baby's breath and spoke to her with a smile.

Chen Wan placed the newly arrived flowers in front of the window, walked to the sink and began to prepare the nutrient solution for the flowers and plants.

Working part-time in a flower shop is very leisurely. After doing the preparatory work, except for helping to make bouquets when there are customers, the rest of the time is very comfortable.

The owner glanced at the empty street outside the glass door, raised his eyebrows slightly, and simply pulled Chen Wan to sit behind the counter to chat and pass the time.

The shop owner remembered that she had mentioned going to a small town before, and casually asked, "Xiao Wan, is Qinghe Town fun?"

She was looking at travel guides on social media and said excitedly, "I want to travel around here soon."

"It's quite interesting." Chen Wan replied.

The shop owner hummed, scrolled through the short videos, and unexpectedly saw one about the rule of law. She clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction.

Chen Wan leaned over to take a look. In front of a run-down old street, several armed policemen stood in a state of complete readiness, looking out of place.

"Have you been following the news recently?" The shop owner searched for the words "Fengqing Street" and all that popped up on the homepage were news about crackdowns on pornography and illegal publications.

Chen Wan nodded. Because of Lin Yu’s work, she has now developed the habit of reading the news.

The shop owner sighed and said, "I've been following the vegetable market murder case these past two days. Do you know what the truth is?"

Seeing her deliberately pause, Chen Wan shook his head and said, "Not very clear."

"That girl turned out to be a trafficked minor!"

The owner was very angry and even smashed the glass counter after he finished speaking, looking very angry.

Chen Wan poured a cup of jasmine tea and handed it to the owner, then continued, "Well, fortunately, most of the children in that kidnapping case returned home safely."

"I also heard that one of the ringleaders was also a minor, and committed suicide out of fear of punishment. It seems she and the murdered woman were twin sisters." The shopkeeper took a sip of tea, still feeling unsatisfied. "You said these criminals are completely heartless, actually targeting minors!"

She swiped her finger again, and the video showed a female police officer issuing an official announcement, revealing a photo of a wanted criminal.

"Oh my god, he's involved in prostitution, gambling, and drugs, and he's still on the run." The shop owner enlarged the photo and handed it to Chen Wan. "Xiao Wan, you must be careful when you get off work. South City has been really turbulent lately. There were typhoons, murders, and now there's a fugitive on the loose."

Chen Wan looked at the wanted criminal in the photo and carefully confirmed the name again.

The rough and evil appearance gradually matched the drug dealer in his memory.

Zhang Jinzhi.

One of Chen Shan's friends.

The vague uneasiness in my heart was pulled out like a thousand threads.

"What's wrong with you?" The shop owner noticed her expression was different and asked with concern, "Are you a bit timid? Then let's not read these negative news."

Chen Wan suppressed his uneasy emotions, nodded, and discussed some travel strategies for the surrounding area with the owner.

Finally, it was lunchtime. She walked outside the store, leaned against the wall to take a breath, then took out her cell phone and flipped to her most recent call.

The word "Dad" is particularly eye-catching.

Recalling the unpleasant ending of their last call, she bit her lower lip in annoyance.

After hesitating for a moment, he dialed the number.

The noisy ringtones and the chirping cicadas hidden in the sycamore trees mixed together, and the feeling of emptiness seemed to have no end.

I called five or six times, but no one answered.

Chen Wan frowned, but felt that it was expected. He put the phone back into his pocket and looked at the street scene casually.

Because an orange rainstorm warning was issued, passers-by were in a hurry.

Everyone seemed to be avoiding this storm, but at this moment, Chen Wan had a crazy idea.

Chen Shan’s disappearance always made her feel uncertain, just like the bad weather that had been predicted for a long time.

Chen Wan even hoped that this storm hidden in the dark would come sooner rather than living in this repressed and uneasy mood all day long.

Because of the bad weather, business is also rather bleak.

The owner was a very open-minded person and simply closed the flower shop early.

"Xiao Wan, let me take you home. The weather is not very good, and I remember you have to pass Fengqing Street on your way home." She locked the door and saw Chen Wan pushing a bicycle.

Chen Wan thanked her politely, put his backpack into the basket, smiled, and said, "It's okay, my home is not far from here anyway."

"Remember what I said, be careful and take another route." The owner gave a few more reminders before driving away.

Fengqing Street, Chen Wan recalled this place in his mind. He would indeed pass this road on his way home.

She was thinking aimlessly and forgot to avoid this section of the road. She caught a glimpse of colorful lights in her peripheral vision.

In this gloomy and rainy weather, Fengqing Street seemed to have fallen into night early.

The old neon signs that are lined up one after another have already lit up a beautiful scene, and from a distance they have a sense of decadent arrogance.

Chen Wan saw several solemn policemen standing under the signboard. Their solemn uniforms were illuminated by the neon lights, making them look like a frame from an old movie with sharp contrasts.

Unexpectedly, she looked into a pair of dark, bright, drooping eyes. She slowed down the car and tilted her head slightly.

The other party was also distracted for a moment, handed over to his colleagues around him, and hurried over.

"Why are you here?" Lin Yu looked at Chen Wan, then glanced in the direction she came from, frowning subconsciously, "I forgot to tell you, it's best to avoid this road during this period."

Chen Wan stopped the car and listened obediently. He looked at the other policemen behind Lin Yu and received gazes of either speculation or scrutiny.

"You are on official business, right? I just happened to pass by and I won't disturb you for now." Chen Wan saw several passers-by staring at her and Lin Yu intently.

This scene really does feel like being interrogated.

Lin Yu also reacted, raised his hand to press down the brim of his hat, and gently reminded her, "The weather is bad, go home early."

Chen Wan nodded repeatedly and said goodbye to him.

The wheels rolled over the colorful light and shadows and slowly passed Lin Yu.

Out of some subtle expectation, Chen Wan subconsciously turned her head and looked back, and sure enough, Lin Yu was still looking at her.

She then felt much more at ease, and a light sweetness filled her eyes.

Chen Wan went to the vegetable market to buy some vegetables before going home.

Considering that Lin Yu works very hard, I made him some chicken soup to nourish him.

After a while, she returned home carrying vegetables and half a chicken.

The whole process of washing vegetables and making soup took about three hours.

The chicken soup in the casserole gradually turns into light yellow and exudes a rich aroma.

After taking care of all this, Chen Wan looked at his watch. It was nine fifteen.

Just when I was wondering if Lin Yu should be back, I heard footsteps in the corridor.

She ran to the door and confirmed through the peephole that it was Lin Yu who had returned.

Lin Yu happened to turn his head and saw her. He concealed the fatigue in his brows and smiled kindly, "Haven't you rested yet?"

Chen Wan leaned against the door, looked at him with some confusion, and began to think of words in his mind.

The rich aroma of chicken soup lingered in the narrow corridor and successfully attracted Lin Yu's attention.

He sniffed, his pupils cleared, and he regained some of his energy. "Wanzi, are you making soup?"

Chen Wan nodded and said yes, then pointed inside the house and said, "I saved it for you."

Lin Yu closed the door and walked in the direction Chen Wan pointed without hesitation. After changing his shoes, he went straight to the dining table.

When he saw the three dishes and one soup on the table, he praised them and gave Chen Wan a thumbs up.

Chen Wan smiled and said, "You've worked hard."

Lin Yu was stunned for a moment when he heard this, but his originally depressed mood became relaxed and comfortable after hearing this.

He looked at Chen Wan, his eyes drooping, and unconsciously rubbed his fangs. "It's not hard. Thanks for the extra meal, Wanzi."

The soup was rich and paired with Lin Yu's favorite stir-fried beef. He ate two large bowls of rice.

Chen Wan would pick up some food for him from time to time, and at one moment Lin Yu even saw a kind look in her eyes.

He felt a lump in his throat and picked up food less frequently. He felt that he had to be more polite, otherwise it would be too embarrassing.

Chen Wan noticed that he wasn't eating as happily as before and asked curiously, "Is this dish not to your liking?"

Lin Yu shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and then answered her honestly, "I think I should show some maturity, otherwise you will think I'm a good-for-nothing."

Chen Wan blinked when he heard that, and paused holding the chopsticks. He felt a little bit surprised by the word "mature style".

In this brief silence, Lin Yu coughed twice, poked the rice, and felt embarrassed.

"I think you're so good to me." He scratched the hair at the back of his neck, "You've always taken care of me."

Chen Wan raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at him carefully, and sure enough, he saw the red earlobes.

She piled the food into Lin Yu's bowl, and said with a smile, "Don't you like me being nice to you?"

As he spoke, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at Lin Yu.

"I like it." Lin Yu nodded, and even said seriously, "I'm just worried that it will become a habit. If you go to college, I'll starve to death."

His words were both ridiculous and sad. Chen Wan could only think of the four words "unromantic" and chuckled.

Lin Yu looked at her soft smile and was dazed.

Just as I was about to speak, the cell phone rang.

It was Qiao Yue's call, so Lin Yu didn't shy away from asking Chen Wan and went straight to the point, "Senior Sister, how is Fengqing Street going?"

Qiao Yue and two colleagues sat in a teahouse opposite the Maxim's Hair Salon, looking alert.

She took a sip of coffee and frowned at the bitter taste. "The staff at the hair salon are very aware of anti-detection measures. We didn't have a direct confrontation, but our colleagues from the Economic Investigation Team found out that several gambling houses and clubs on this street are owned by Zhang Jinzhi."

Lin Yu rubbed his forehead upon hearing this. "This time, we've almost carried out a blanket raid, but we still haven't caught Zhang Jinzhi. It seems his nickname 'Loach' is well-deserved."

Hearing the sarcasm in his tone, Qiao Yue sighed, "Anyway, we're still focusing on the staff at the hair salon. I heard they've contacted an informant, and I think they'll send you to contact him."

"I'm also waiting for notification." He frowned slightly and sighed, "Hoping to get some reliable clues."

The two chatted about the progress of the case for a while, and Qiao Yue suddenly asked him, "Have you eaten? We ordered a midnight snack, do you want to join us?"

Lin Yu looked at the food on the table and chuckled twice, "I drank two big bowls of chicken soup today, and ate stir-fried beef, spicy chicken, and stir-fried choy sum."

Hearing the undisguised boasting in his tone, Qiao Yue raised an eyebrow and chuckled twice, "You're so beautiful! It's different when someone takes care of you."

Lin Yu rubbed his nose and said proudly, "It's indeed different."

Chen Wan listened to their bickering and ate in silence.

After a while, Qiao Yue spoke to her again and also told her to be careful.

"Are you arresting Zhang Jinzhi?" Chen Wan asked him.

Lin Yu cleared the dishes and hummed, "Yes, this person is suspected of drug trafficking and operating an illegal trading venue."

Because Chen Wan didn't know the inside story, he didn't explain it in detail and just mentioned it briefly in a few words.

"Don't worry too much. The investigation team is hunting him down."

When Chen Wan heard this, he thought of the relationship between Chen Shan and Zhang Jinzhi and felt a little conflicted for a moment.

"Is Zhang Jinzhi the mastermind behind this case?" she continued to ask.

Lin Yu turned his head slightly and looked down at her, "You really want to know about this case?"

Chen Wan heard the embarrassment in his tone and realized that as a criminal policeman, it was impossible for him to tell everything.

She shook her head and said truthfully, "I've met Zhang Jinzhi before."

Lin Yu paused and looked at her with a serious expression. "When?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Wan replied, "Three years ago, I went to the police station to report a case of drug use. He was among those who gathered to take drugs."

Hearing this, Lin Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, realizing a problem: "He has been to your house?"

Chen Wan belatedly remembered Zhang Jinzhi's vicious look, and her eyes dimmed a little.

Lin Yu noticed her low mood, thought for a moment, and asked her, "Why don't you stay at my house for the next few days? It should be safer."

"Ah?" Chen Wan was stunned. "Living in your house?"

"Don't get me wrong, I just..." Lin Yu scratched his hair awkwardly, looking at her with innocent and harmless eyes, "I'm worried about your safety."

Chen Wan nodded, "I understand."

Lin Yu also nodded, "That's what I mean, don't misunderstand."

Chen Wan said again, "I understand."

The conversation went into a loop, and both of them looked away with their own thoughts, trying to suppress their wandering thoughts.

After a while, the ringing of the cell phone broke the ambiguous situation.

Song Xianzhe said happily on the other end of the phone, "Brother Yu, you haven't rested yet, have you?"

"No, what's wrong?"

Song Xianzhe hissed and said mysteriously, "I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Lin Yu ignored him and said simply, "Please speak frankly."

Seeing that he was not cooperating, Song Xianzhe curled his lips, flipped through the information in his hand, and said, "The bad news is that you have to work overtime. The good news is that we have contacted the informant."

"Have you contacted them?" Lin Yu lowered his voice and said to Chen Wan, "There's something new in the case. I need to go out."

Chen Wan nodded, "Be careful."

Lin Yu nodded, walked past her, took the police hat from the coat rack, and continued to discuss the informant with Song Xianzhe.

"Does the informant mean to meet now?" He straightened his clothes and walked to the entrance to change his shoes.

"Yes, he said he..." Song Xianzhe looked at the address on the file and sighed, "He's a little anxious and wants to give us the clue as soon as possible."

He sent the address to Lin Yu, "Here it is."

Lin Yu glanced at him and raised his eyebrows slightly.

Nancheng Songtang Hospital is a hospice hospital.

"Okay, I'll be there right away." He drove out of the alley.

......

It was half past ten when we arrived at Songtang Hospital.

The contrast between the lights and the white walls in the long corridor makes the atmosphere even more bleak.

Perhaps it was because the patients admitted were those who had already accepted their fate, so it was particularly quiet.

Lin Yu quickened his pace and walked to the ward where the informant was.

There was a piece of paper on the doorplate with the patient's information on it.

The hurried footsteps paused, and Lin Yu's hand, which was about to push the door, hung in mid-air.

After repeated confirmation, the two words "Chen Shan" really felt like a mountain pressing on his heart.

After a long silence, Lin Yu pushed the door and entered the ward.

Chen Shan heard the noise, slowly put down the book, looked at him, and nodded, "Hello."

At an angle where he couldn't see, Lin Yu closed his eyes and sorted out his thoughts.

Just now he had thought that it might be a case of having the same name and surname, but the moment he saw Chen Shan, he could be sure that this was Chen Wan's father.

Chen Wan has double irises, with narrow and long eyes and clear lines.

When looking at people, the corners of his eyes turn upwards, giving a slight sense of distance.

Chen Shan was the same. When he looked at him, his eyes were filled with the same indifference.

"You must be Lin Yu, Officer Lin." Chen Shan tried to sit up straight. "I'm Chen Shan."

"Hello." Lin Yu said, extending his hand towards him, "Chen Shan, thank you for your cooperation."

When shaking hands, he felt Chen Shan's bony finger joints, soft and weak.

Lin Yu withdrew his hand, took out his notebook, sat opposite Chen Shan, and looked at him silently.

His first impression of him was that he was thin and lifeless.

I don’t know if it’s because of his illness or because Chen Shan is naturally a taciturn person.

He didn't speak for a long time.

Lin Yu coughed and got to the point. "Chen Shan, how much do you know about Zhang Jinzhi's whereabouts and what he usually does?"

Chen Shan turned to look at him, a look of melancholy in his eyes. He asked, "Officer Lin, is Xiao Wan doing well?"

Lin Yu's fingers holding the pen froze, and his sharp gaze softened a lot.

"I know you and she are neighbors. Xiaowan has caused you trouble during this period." There was genuine apology in Chen Shan's tone.

Lin Yu was silent for a moment and shook his head. "She didn't cause me any trouble. Chen Wan is very sensible and kind."

Chen Shan finally smiled, and his pale face looked a little more lively.

Her deep eye sockets were slightly red, and she murmured, "Yes, Xiaowan is a good child."

In fact, in Lin Yu's original idea, Chen Shan was an irresponsible father who abandoned Chen Wan.

So he had a preconceived notion that Chen Shan was a person with a bad character.

But when he saw Chen Shan dying like this, he felt helpless.

He subconsciously stroked the cap of his pen and slowed down his speech. "Are you avoiding Chen Wan because of your illness?"

Chen Shan nodded hesitantly after hearing this. After a while, he said, "But that's not entirely true. I avoided Xiao Wan because I didn't want to cause her any more trouble."

Lin Yu keenly realized that the trouble he was talking about might be related to illegal and criminal activities.

"Because of Zhang Jinzhi?"

Thoughts: I have to say that when I wrote Lin Yu, I was thinking of Xu Guanghan. I hope his fans won’t beat me up, but I really like his youthfulness. Wan Zai was based on my favorite model Xie Yuhong, who has retired. The temperament of these two is really amazing!!!