A tragic childhood under the shadow of a stepfather, a desolate love that could never be, a clown-masked man in a late-night alley, the crisp moonlight, and the cold blade.
Oh, and the waiter...
Liang Zichen's words made a lot of sense. Wang Shen had indeed not considered this thoroughly. After listening to Liang Zichen, Wang Shen stroked his chin, nodded, and said, "There are indeed logical problems, and I can't explain it clearly right now. Let's have the people in the bureau investigate Xu Xiaolin's call records first to see if Xu Xiaolin is related to this incident."
Between sentences, Wang Shen jotted down these questions one by one in his notebook. Just as he finished writing, his phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, he saw it was Wu Yi.
"Dr. Wu, are there any results yet?" Wang Shen answered the phone, skipping the pleasantries and asking directly.
"Yes." Fortunately, Wu Yi was a straightforward person and answered Wang Shen's question directly. "Officer Wang, you guessed correctly, that child was born in our hospital."
"Is there complete birth information? For example, a record about the child's mother?" Wang Shen interrupted Wu Yi anxiously.
"Don't worry, let me explain slowly." Wu Yi noticed Wang Shen's anxiety and comforted him. "The birth of this child was big news in our hospital at the time. The doctor who delivered the baby was disciplined and eventually transferred out of our hospital."
Upon hearing this, Wang Shen's eyes widened in surprise. However, Wang Shen did not interrupt Wu Yi and continued to wait quietly for Wu Yi to finish his statement.
“When this child was born, his mother died in childbirth.” Wu Yi paused here. Wang Shen seemed to hear a soft sigh from Wu Yi on the phone.
"Died in childbirth?" This outcome was completely unexpected for Wang Shen. "Then who came to take the child away afterward?"
“I checked the documents from that time, and it was a man named Han Lin. This person seems to be the one who died today.” When Wu Yi saw Han Lin’s name, he was honestly a little surprised, and immediately understood why Wang Shen wanted him to check the child’s birth record.
“Yes, the deceased was the child’s father,” Wang Shen answered Wu Yi’s question. “Besides Han Lin, did the woman’s side have any relatives come to help at the time?” Wang Shen continued to ask.
"I don't know about that. But all the birth certificates and surgical documents are signed with Han Lin's name," Wu replied helplessly.
"Dr. Wu, could you send the child's mother's name to my phone?"
“No problem,” Wu Yi readily agreed. “Officer Wang, is there anything else? If not…”
"Have you got the autopsy report for the deceased, Han Lin?" Wang Shen interrupted Wu Yi before he could finish speaking, pressing for details about the accurate autopsy report for Han Lin.
Wu Yi chuckled and replied casually over the phone, "Officer Wang, I'm not Superman, I can't be that fast. Give me a little more time, and I'll definitely get this report to you as soon as possible."
"Sorry, I was too impatient," Wang Shen said with an awkward laugh. Then, with perfect timing, they both hung up the phone simultaneously. A short while later, Wang Shen received the child's mother's name on his phone.
"Zhao Zimo?" Wang Shen looked at his phone screen and read the name to himself.
"Captain Wang, any leads?" Because Wang Shen hadn't turned on speakerphone, Liang Zichen only heard the gist of his conversation with Wu Yi.
“That child’s birth mother died in childbirth.” While answering Liang Zichen’s question, Wang Shen sent Zhao Zimo’s name back to the police station and asked his colleagues in the archives department to help retrieve Zhao Zimo’s file.
"Died in childbirth? So the child was raised by Han Lin afterward?" Liang Zichen's face showed surprise when he heard this news.
"It's hard to say right now, but one thing is certain. According to Han Lin's information, Han Lin has been an orphan since childhood, so this child is Han Lin's only relative. I have a bold idea in my mind..." At this point, Wang Shen hesitated, as if he was organizing his thoughts.
"What are your thoughts on?" Liang Zichen's expression turned serious. "Is it about the first question we just discussed?" Liang Zichen continued tentatively.
Wang Shen nodded upon hearing Liang Zichen's words. "We've always been puzzled as to what exactly that man has incriminating evidence against Han Lin. And what kind of evidence could drive him to suicide? From this perspective, the evidence that man has against Han Lin must be more important than his own life. So what could that evidence possibly be?"
"The child's mother died during childbirth due to complications. Han Lin is likely the child's only relative. Conversely, this is even more true for Han Lin, an orphan. The child has become Han Lin's greatest and only bond. So, the man who killed Han Mo kept threatening Han Lin with the safety of his child?" Liang Zichen went through the entire logical relationship, and it seemed reasonable.
“That’s what I was guessing too.” Wang Shen nodded in agreement after hearing Liang Zichen’s words.
"But you also said before that no trace of the child was found in Han Lin's house. Since this child is so important to Han Lin, why doesn't he keep the child with him?" Liang Zichen recalled what Wang Shen had said before and asked this question.
“That’s something I’m thinking about too. There are many possibilities. Han Lin is usually very busy with work, and he might feel that he, as a single man, can’t take good care of the child. Or perhaps, Han Lin feels that it’s not safe for him to have the child with him?” As he spoke, Wang Shen’s voice gradually softened.
"Judging from the current outcome, no matter where the child is, Han Lin was still coerced and lost his life. Besides, you also said that Han Lin was an orphan. If he doesn't take care of the child himself, who can he entrust the child to? A full-day care center? That's unlikely, and I believe Han Lin himself wouldn't feel comfortable doing that either."
“I also think that if Han Lin knew his child was in danger, he would never entrust the child to a daycare center. So, Han Lin would definitely find someone he trusts completely and then entrust the child to them.” As Wang Shen spoke, he opened the notebook beside him and wrote down various possibilities.
"So, is there anyone Han Lin particularly trusts?" Liang Zichen continued to press.
Wang Shen was also at a loss for what to do and could only shake his head helplessly.
"We currently have no leads, so did this child simply vanish into thin air?" Liang Zichen shook his head, trying to organize his thoughts.
“Who said we have no clues?” At this moment, Wang Shen suddenly smiled.