Chapter 5

It took Chen Liuchi a moment to realize Cen Zhao was referring to WeChat. He pulled out his phone and showed the friend request he'd sent along the way. He apologized apologetically, "To distinguish between social and professional accounts, I used my work WeChat ID on my business card. But I recently resigned from Galaxy, and my work account is temporarily being used by my assistant to finish some projects. I forgot about it. I'm sorry."

When Cen Zhao heard that it was okay, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that Chen Liuchi was not deliberately ignoring him.

This time it was Chen Liuchi's turn to stare. He changed his phone towards Cen Zhao again. The screen was still showing the friend request page, which was very suggestive: "This is my private number."

Agree quickly.

Cen Zhao sincerely felt that the two of them had apologized to each other enough today, so at this moment, another "I'm sorry" was stuck on his lips, but before he could say it, he made himself laugh.

"It's really unfortunate."

He pulled his battle-damaged phone from his pocket—a knuckle-sized dent in the middle of the screen.

"When I carried the injured person to the ambulance, my phone slipped out and hit the stretcher. The screen went black and I haven't been able to turn it on since."

The only thing to be thankful for was that he sent a message to the work version of Chenliuchi five minutes before his phone died, so he didn't become a scumbag who disappeared for no reason.

Chen Liuchi was stunned for a moment when he saw the hole on his phone. After a few seconds, he couldn't help laughing and tilted his head.

"Still laughing?"

Cen Zhao held up his cell phone and pretended to tap Shen Liuchi on the head. His movements were very gentle and he didn't mean to express dissatisfaction or blame. Now it looked more like flirting.

Chen Liuchi wasn't upset by the knocks; Cen Zhao's emotions were clear, his eyes gleaming with a smile. His eyelids were narrow, and when he smiled, they squinted slightly. His already warm and gentle demeanor made him even more approachable.

Looking at Chenliuchi, I inexplicably feel that Cen Zhao is very suitable for spring, summer is also OK. In short, Cen Zhao is very suitable for warm times.

"If you don't want to laugh, leave."

Chen Liuchi grabbed Cen Zhao's wrist and took the phone off his head. Without letting go, he held Cen Zhao's wrist and looked at the phone screen carefully. After confirming that there was no need to remedy the situation, he gently pulled him up from the chair and said, "Go buy a new phone."

"Then, approve my friend request."

Cen Zhao's phone was a new fruit machine, still within its expiration date. After leaving the hospital, the two of them had brunch at a nearby steamed bun shop before driving to the directly-operated store in the central business district.

The car drove into the underground parking lot, and before it stopped, Chenliuchi's cell phone rang first. It was an unfamiliar number, an eight-digit landline.

Chenliuchi was a little puzzled for a moment. Could it be a call from Yinhe?

Cen Zhao, who was sitting in the passenger seat, saw his strange expression and peeked over. He was slightly startled and motioned for Chen Liuchi to answer the phone: "It's the number for the Municipal Bureau."

"ah?"

Chen Liuchi was stunned for a moment, then he quickly cleared his throat and answered, "Hello?"

I don't know what was said on the other end of the phone, but Chen Liuchi's expression became more and more serious, and he quickly responded: "Okay, I'll be there right away."

"What's wrong?"

Seeing that his expression was not very good, Cen Zhao couldn't help but feel a little worried: "What happened?"

Chen Liuchi sighed, "They said the DNA of the body from the bar has been compared. It was a worker who delivered drinks to our bar before. They asked me to go over and ask about the situation."

Cen Zhao was also quite surprised when he heard this, but his surprise was not about the identity of the body, but the time it took to come out for the identification.

Generally speaking, in routine cases, the standard time limit for DNA identification is usually 15 working days, including processes such as sample extraction, amplification, and comparison.

But it's less than ten days now, which can only mean that this is an emergency case, or something worse has happened, which is why the Forensic Identification Center can come up with the results so quickly.

"I'll go with you."

Cen Zhao unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car. "Give me three minutes. I'll leave my phone at the shop to be repaired, and then I'll go with you."

On Saturday, there were still quite a few police officers in the city police station. Apart from those on duty, most of them were officers from the criminal investigation team who stayed behind because of the dismemberment case.

Cen Zhao was familiar with these people and greeted them along the way. When he heard that Zeng Baoguo was also in the office, he immediately turned around and went straight to the second floor with Chen Liuchi.

Zeng Baoguo had just returned from the appraisal center upstairs. Before he could even get comfortable in his stool, he heard someone knocking on the office door. Before he could even get out of the door, the door was already pushed open. There were not many people who could be so brazen in front of the deputy detachment. Zeng Baoguo could guess who it was just by thinking.

Before he could even wonder why Medical Examiner Cen was willing to work overtime on weekends, his eyes subconsciously fell on the back of Cen Zhao.

"Boss Shen?"

Zeng Baoguo was stunned for a moment: "Why are you two together?"

Chenliuchi couldn't think of how to answer.

Did you talk about a date? No, it didn't happen.

It didn't look like an accidental encounter, but he had planned it out carefully.

Cen Zhao pulled out a chair and sat down, then stood beside Shen Liuchi, about half a body length away from him. Like Shen Liuchi's spokesperson, he clicked his tongue at Zeng Baoguo, "Deputy Captain Zeng, stop asking about things that have nothing to do with work."

Zeng Baoguo vaguely understood what was going on, and immediately raised his voice meaningfully, found out the victim's information, and began to ask serious questions.

Chen Liuchi was not familiar with this young worker. The bar had a dedicated manager and bartender to supply and sell drinks.

However, the manager had been in the hospital recently due to a fall and could not provide much clues about what was happening in the bar. On the other hand, the bartender had only been there for two days and had not been contacted since the bar opened. Chen Du thought that the other party had secretly run away because he was dissatisfied with his treatment and complained about him to Chen Liuchi in private.

This new clue was an unexpected surprise. Zeng Baoguo and Cen Zhao looked at each other. Both of them were police officers with many years of experience in handling cases, and they immediately came up with an idea.

"Thank you, Boss Shen, for making this trip. The clues you provided are of great help to us."

Zeng Baoguo stood up and shook hands with Shen Liuchi. "The timing was unfortunate last time and this time. After the case is concluded, we must have a meal together and have a good chat."

Zeng Baoguo's words were quite sincere. At least Chen Liuchi could sense that they were not just polite words, so he smiled slightly and nodded: "Sure."

Cen Zhao stood beside them and laughed, "Are you two going to do it right now? Can you take me with you?"

Zeng Baoguo waved his hand at him, meaning, why are you involved in all the trouble?

Chen Liuchi laughed and said, "Do we have to wait until the case is over before we can have dinner?"

What you mean is, can't it be done at any time?

Cen Zhao couldn't help but smile, and was a little proud and arrogant, which made Zeng Baoguo glare at him several times.

It was already lunchtime, but Cen Zhao and the other man had just finished their brunch. Zeng Baoguo was in a hurry to attend a meeting, so they had lunch in the conference room. He didn't bother to exchange pleasantries with them. He greeted them, grabbed a bun left over from the morning, and headed to the conference room. Chen Liuchi felt quite sad to see how hurried he was.

"Are you this busy on weekdays?" he turned around and asked.

Cen Zhao had just picked up his phone and was about to call a nearby restaurant to order some takeout for the criminal investigation team. Hearing this, the words "Not really" were on the tip of his tongue, but on second thought, he said, "Not necessarily. It depends on whether there are any cases. Sometimes we don't have food to eat."

Chen Liuchi didn't know what he was thinking, so he immediately said, "If you have a case in the future, just let me know. I've hired a small restaurant nearby before, and I can have them deliver food to you."

"Or I can send it to you." Chen Liuchi said as he thought of something and sighed softly, "I'm going to be unemployed for a while anyway."

Since Cen Zhao works in the forensic field, he doesn't have many personal taboos in some aspects. However, most businessmen pay attention to the feng shui of life and death, so he can understand why the bar has been affected during this period.

"It's okay. If you have any concerns, after the case is over, have Zeng Baoguo and the others visit your bar." Cen Zhao offered advice. "They say police officers are full of righteousness, don't they? Give them a ring and let them howl for three hours. I guarantee they'll be immune to all kinds of evil."

This was a serious idea of ​​his, but the nature of Chen Liuchi's bar was a bit special. Zeng Baoguo was tall and strong, and he would definitely be a hottie in the circle if he went there. Chen Liuchi was really afraid that Deputy Captain Zeng would go in and close down the bar directly.

Besides, it's not that he has no work to do. If the Maritime Festival goes smoothly, subsequent cooperation orders can be connected. Even if he doesn't do bar business, just taking the drink menu is also a business. It's just that it's not as steady as the regular life of going to and from work in the Galaxy.

Thinking of this, Chen Liuchi paused and quickly retracted the idea. His brother had originally been quite dissatisfied with his decision to resign and run away. If he knew that he still missed Yinhe a little, he would definitely tie him up and take him back.

But maybe people really can't stand the nagging. He had just said a few words in his mind when his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller and it was Shen Maoyuan.

Chen Liuchi took a deep breath and answered the phone: "Brother..."

"Why are you at the police station?"

On the other end of the phone, Shen Maoyuan asked immediately, his voice anxious: "What happened?"

Chenliuchi was puzzled for a second, then became unhappy: "How did you know? You sent someone to follow me again?"

Shen Maoyuan was a little annoyed: "What are you talking about? I came to the Municipal Bureau to apply for a pass and saw your car. Where are you?"

He was actually wrongly accused. Chen Liuchi felt guilty for a second and quickly made amends: "I'm fine. It's still a case at the bar. I came here to provide some clues. I'll be out soon."

Shen Maoyuan hummed unhappily: "Come out quickly, I'll wait for you at the door."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Liuchi sighed, and Cen Zhao asked him if he had anything to do.

"No, it's just that my brother is here too and wants to meet me."

Chen Liuchi's expression was a bit indescribable. He looked at Cen Zhao, hesitant about whether to let him meet his brother. Shen Maoyuan was too nervous about his love life, and there was no telling what he would say to Cen Zhao. They were not familiar with each other yet, so there should be no need for any awkwardness.

Cen Zhao naturally noticed his dilemma. Having just overheard the fragments of conversation between Chen Liuchi and his brother, he assumed they weren't on good terms. Naturally, he didn't want to cause any trouble or embarrassment, so he said, "Then I won't bother you two."

Since it was you who took the initiative to make the date today, you have to see it through to the end. There is no reason to let the date leave on his own.

Chen Liuchi shook his head and grabbed Cen Zhao's wrist: "Wait here for a while, I'll come up to pick you up after I finish talking to him."

Cen Zhao wanted to say that he wasn't a child, but Chen Liuchi's tone was quite subtle, and he really sounded a bit like a parent. So Cen Zhao didn't refuse and sat down obediently on the chair, following his force. "Okay."

It was noon, the sun was scorching, and there was no shade at the entrance of the police station. Shen Maoyuan, standing alone in the sun, was particularly conspicuous.

Chenliuchi trotted over and called out to the man honestly, "Brother."

Shen Maoyuan was wearing a neat three-piece suit, and his hair was obviously styled with hair wax. Standing next to Chen Liuchi, who was wearing a jacket and jeans, they looked more like uncle and nephew than brothers.

"Are you done yet? Mom and Dad called me home for dinner."

Shen Maoyuan put away his phone and looked up and down at Chenliuchi for a while. After making sure that he was not fat or thin, he looked away. There was still some dissatisfaction in his tone: "You have to go out and find something to do, but you are not only causing trouble for yourself."

Chen Liuchi ignored him and said in confusion: "I just called my mother last night, and she didn't mention going back today."

Shen Maoyuan tutted his words: "I made a last-minute decision and ordered seafood."

Shen Maoyuan looks tougher than Chen Liuchi. Besides, he is a few years older and has been in a high position for many years. So his tone is deep and he seems a bit unapproachable.

Chen Liuchi naturally didn't think there was anything to be afraid of his brother. At most, he felt that the tone was similar to the prelude to getting spanked when he was a child. He couldn't help but wonder when he had offended Shen Maoyuan again.

But he was not afraid, because others did not think Shen Maoyuan was easy to get along with.

Standing on the second-floor balcony of the office building, Cen Zhao easily caught a glimpse of the two brothers outside the police station. From his angle, Shen Maoyuan's expression didn't look good, though the glare of the sun was probably part of the reason.

Cen Zhao saw Shen Maoyuan frowning and turning around slightly, saying something to Shen Liuchi, and at the same time reaching out to take the briefcase to block the light for him so that he could use his phone to send messages.

But it was just such a tiny movement. As the visual angle changed, Shen Maoyuan almost immediately noticed the gazes from inside the police station. He raised his eyes and stared at him with a sharp gaze.

Cen Zhao didn't expect the other party to be so alert, but he had no ill intentions, so he nodded calmly under Shen Maoyuan's vigilant gaze as a greeting.

"What's wrong?"

After Chen Liuchi sent a message to his mother, he looked up and saw Shen Maoyuan staring into the distance, watching silently and looking like he was in deep thought.

Shen Maoyuan's gaze remained fixed on Cen Zhao, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who is that?"