Mediocre and troubled
After bringing the topic back to thirteen years ago, the narrator did not take advantage of the atmosphere to start reminiscing about the past, but slowly raised his eyes to look at Cheng Xiangwu.
"After hearing these things, has your opinion changed?" she asked.
"No," Cheng Xiangwu replied. Seeing Gu Wanqiu's furrowed brows, she guessed that the other party might want her to answer slowly.
But there's nothing you can do. If it's not there, it's not there. You can't fake it emotionally, and sincerity isn't something you show to others like an attitude.
“…I see.” Gu Wanqiu then looked at Diana, who seemed lost in thought, “Now that you understand what I’ve said, has your mind still not changed?”
“No.” Diana tilted her head. “Things like that can’t be changed just by saying a few words.”
"I understand." Gu Wanqiu nodded and looked at Xiao Fu. "You, forget it."
"What do you mean?" Little F asked, dissatisfied.
Gu Wanqiu didn't explain, but looked at Gao Ersen, "So, are you willing to come with me now?"
“…Thank you for still asking me.” Golson smiled as she spoke, then paused for a moment to hesitate before looking up and meeting the other person’s eyes directly. “Thank you for protecting me in the past, but there’s still something I can do. Please let me try again.”
After receiving three rejection letters in a row, Gu Wanqiu's reaction was—
“I understand.” She nodded without changing her expression. “In that case, I would like to ask you to do some things for me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Yan handed her a black briefcase from behind, the movement as silent as she herself.
“First, Ms. Dai.” Gu Wanqiu took out a document from her bag, an employment letter stamped with a red official seal. “I would like to entrust you with the investigation into the events that occurred at BaiBai Co., Ltd. six months ago.”
Diana stood up and formally accepted the thin piece of paper with both hands, her expression incredibly rich. "You actually entrusted Anna with this? I do know something about what happened half a year ago."
As she spoke, she sat back down on the sofa and took out her phone from the inside pocket of her trench coat. "Six months ago, I photographed a helicopter arriving at the top floor of their company. Someone died."
A phone screen with a cracked corner lit up, showing a not-so-clear picture of a rooftop housing a helicopter. Judging by the height, it was the Bai family's building. Beneath the stopped four-bladed propeller, a human-shaped figure covered with a white sheet lay on a stretcher and was carried into the cabin.
The camera's perspective is higher, clearly indicating it's a drone.
“At the time, I thought I was being chased because this photo violated the deceased’s portrait rights, but if what you said is true, then the old man actually wanted me to live with this photo.” Diana put away her phone thoughtfully. “But this matter was indeed not reported. Who exactly died? Was the mayor’s reason for entrusting me with this matter related to this dead person? Was the break between the Bai family and the union related to it?”
With each additional question, her smile grew even wider. By the time she reached the last question mark, she had enough fuel to burn down some things she had disliked for a long time.
“If you think it’s related, then find the connection,” Gu Wanqiu said. “I don’t have enough information, but in the past six months, Bai Langtao has started to travel back and forth to the mining area frequently and has reduced his communication with the outside world, especially with me.”
"Hmm..." Diana suppressed her curiosity and pursed her lips, "Can't we just go to their territory and take a look?"
“The road is blocked. Bai Langtao is in a helicopter,” Gu Wanqiu said.
The flat rooftop of the BaiBai Co., Ltd. building is the only legal commercial private aircraft take-off and landing area in Senhu City.
"Under what guise is she going in and out now?" Little Franz asked. "She's no longer the owner of that land."
“The mine where the accident occurred has not been used for mining for thirty years, but that area has always been an ecological protection zone. Bai Langtao is still the person in charge of the environmental protection project, and she has always had control over it,” Gu Wanqiu said.
“I will make good use of it.” Diana smiled and waved the black and white paper in her hand. “Thank you for your trust, Mayor, in entrusting me with this task. Just wait and see the earth-shattering news!”
After saying that, she stood up, put on her trench coat, waved to the group, and said, "Well then, I have to go now. Thank you for the tea, and I hope we'll meet again sometime."
She left with long strides, her steps even indoors, she moved with a brisk pace. She changed her shoes, pushed open the entryway door, and a sliver of light and something else leaked in through the crack.
“There’s a cat waiting at the door, your house is quite popular, fellow traveler…” Diana’s voice came from outside the door. “Ah, I’ll go in.”
As she said, a new guest entered the apartment without changing his shoes. When everyone looked up, they couldn't see the guest, but when they looked down, it was the fortune teller.
Da Xian was a guest with a clear sense of self. It swung its tail and walked into the living room without greeting any humans. Under everyone's watchful eyes, it jumped onto the vacuum area next to Cheng Xiang Wu, which still carried the warmth of the previous guest's body. It curled up its tail and limbs and now looked like an ordinary black cat.
"...What are you here for?" Cheng Xiangwu looked at the trail of footprints and began to worry about cleaning up.
The master didn't intend to say anything.
"And I would like to entrust the two of you to investigate the true story of the Senhu No. 2 Middle School case, as well as how to deal with and prevent the same phenomenon from happening again," Gu Wanqiu said, clearly not intending to concern herself with the cat's affairs or thoughts.
The briefcase then produced two more sheets of paper, also with white background, black lettering, and a red official seal.
Authorized by the Mayor's Office, the holder of this document is hereby appointed to act as an agent in investigating unexplained deaths within the Mori-ko City area. Temporary access permits for restricted locations within the city are hereby granted to facilitate the investigation and evidence collection.
The entrusted party must keep all information obtained during the investigation confidential, shall not disclose it without authorization, shall not exercise investigative powers on behalf of the public security organs, and shall not use illegal evidence collection methods. The entrusted party has an obligation to report.
Within the scope of legality and compliance, the Mayor's Office will apply to relevant authorities for necessary administrative assistance on behalf of the authorized representative.
This is a new job, the kind with a contract.
"How to deal with it?" Little Fran asked in a strange tone while looking at the contract. "I heard that the teaching building is going to be uprooted soon. So you're not satisfied with your proposal."
“Yes.” Gu Wanqiu nodded. “We can discuss the teaching building, but the mayor can’t demolish the residential buildings.”
“…Hmph.” Little Fu snorted and took out the nail he had obtained from his inner bag. “A megaphone needs a resonant medium, and this is it. Once it reaches a certain density, any person speaking within its range can create an echo. The echo, through long-term repetition of language, creates a mental suggestion. And the evidence that the law enforcement officers took away was a signal horn.”
The nail lay quietly inside the plastic bag, silently proclaiming its irreplaceable importance.
“Your real purpose in spreading chemicals all over the school building was to corrode the walls so you could find these things,” Little F shook the bag. “But nails are everywhere. Whether it’s a school building or a residential building, construction needs nails just like joints need cartilage. You have no choice but to demolish the building.”
"I see." Gu Wanqiu looked up at the plastic bag, the reflection from her glasses obscuring most of her vision, revealing little emotion. "You are indeed a professional."
“I don’t need you to award me a medal.” Little F put away the plastic bag. “This is where the foundation is, but these nails are nothing special except for the material. It’s the resonance language that’s special. Vibrational language is not something that a human mind with its clear understanding can learn. Do you know where this technology comes from?”
"What materials?" Gu Wanqiu asked.
"Nonsense, of course it's the shroud that's on your body," Little F said impatiently. "Answer the question."
“If you’re talking about the source, then I don’t know. But if you need to know about the transmission route,” Gu Wanqiu paused and said, “According to the clues, this method was first used by union members, and it can be traced back to a similar case about ten years ago.”
"Could it be that the Bai family developed this?" Xiao Fu asked thoughtfully.
“No, Bai Langtao also talked to me about the troubles of these things. Unlike control, it was invented and used entirely to create similar cases. As a means of controlling that existence, the Bai family’s research results have been in use for a long time.” Gu Wanqiu slowly shook her head.
“The candles in your office,” said Little F.
“Yes.” Gu Wanqiu lowered her eyes. “That was given to me by Bai Langtao half a year ago. However, it was not a candle, but a kind of mixed wax oil that needed to be kept in a container when burning.”
"Liquid?" Little F frowned, took out his notebook and started writing.
“Yes, the composition is unknown,” Gu Wanqiu said. “At least thirty years ago, its range of operations and hunting logic were effectively controlled within a certain scope, but then something happened. I also hope to entrust you with the task of finding out what happened, and the key is to bring back the method of regaining control.”
"Can't we just ask Bai Langtao directly?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
“…I asked her, and she said no.” Gu Wanqiu adjusted her glasses. “At least six months ago, her attitude was just that she was unwilling, but after something happened six months ago, she went crazy.”
Little Ferguson paused, a smile of great interest spreading across his face.
“She stopped communicating with me, missed many important public meetings, flew illegally, and started to promote her birthday party, inviting nearly a hundred high-profile guests and expanding local investment.” Gu Wanqiu’s brows remained furrowed as she spoke, and her tone slowed down slightly with doubt. “I handled the Senhu No. 2 Middle School case myself, so those outside police officers may have been recruited by her.”
Based on the currently known intelligence, this action is equivalent to inviting a friend to see a bomb on a countdown, except that the bomb is wrapped in sponge cake and cream, and decorated with flowers.
“And as for you, Gorson,” Gu Wanqiu turned her head.
“Okay!” Golson shrugged.
"I hope you can live on forever," Gu Wanqiu said.
“…Okay?” Golson asked, puzzled.
“That hunting-by-hunting behavior is a result of domestication, so as long as you are alive, there will be no next victim.” Gu Wanqiu said, taking a camera out of her briefcase.
“My camera.” Golson recognized the familiar gift.
But Gu Wanqiu didn't give it to her; instead, she handed it to Xiao Fu, saying, "Those photos can't be developed or deleted. If you have a way to handle them yourselves, you don't need to return them to me."
"So you really are the first eyewitness?" Little F eagerly took the camera, but when he tried to turn it on, he found it was out of power. The inorganic matter faithfully followed thermal dynamics, hindering its indifferent curiosity.
"Yes, I received the message and when I arrived, I saw Gorson lying in a pool of blood, clutching this camera." Gu Wanqiu nodded. "Do you need me to relay the situation from the scene?"
Golson hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.
“I already know something about it.” Xiao Fu checked the camera’s charging port and placed it on the coffee table. “Now let’s talk about Qin Zixi. Do you have any clues about the whereabouts of that dangerous fugitive?”
“I didn’t handle the surveillance footage at the scene,” Gu Wanqiu said, lowering her eyes and shaking her head slightly.
"Then who else could it be?" Cheng Xiangwu was taken aback. "Someone from the Bai family? Is there a hacker in the guild?"
Faced with this question, Gu Wanqiu gave Cheng Xiangwu a meaningful look and said, "This is not something I should be talking about. You just wait and see."
The hidden meaning in those words stunned Cheng Xiangwu. She herself didn't know what enemies she had made here. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but turn her head to look at the immortal.
It remained unmoved.
"No, we shouldn't think like that," Gorson said, noticing the gaze and unable to contain his confusion.
“The city police don’t care, but those out-of-town police are investigating this. You can use the information I’ve given you as you see fit, but don’t tell them I came here looking for you, and the guy in sunglasses too.” Gu Wanqiu said, standing up and taking a business card out of her bag and placing it on the table, clearly indicating that she was leaving.
"So why exactly do you want me to cook?" Cheng Xiangwu asked.
"I don't know," Gu Wanqiu said bluntly. "Bai Langtao is looking for you, so I have to find you before her, that's all."
“…I see.” Cheng Xiang nodded, drank the two cups of cold tea on the table in one gulp, and stood up. “Let’s go, I’ll see you downstairs.”
"Then please bring a USB charging cable when you come up." Little F said, getting up and heading towards the study. Goulson, following the atmosphere of the party ending, got up to tidy up the living room, looking at the Great Immortal somewhat helpless and at a loss for what to do.
The immortal got up and jumped off the sofa, then followed it out the door in the same inexplicable way it had come in.
"Take care," Golson said, offering a teacup as he saw them off.
Shoes in the entryway were being changed one by one, while slippers worn by guests remained on the shoe rack, as if waiting for the next group of guests. Cheng Xiangwu quickly shook her head, dismissing this strange thought.
They went out, closed the door, and went downstairs. The three people and the cat didn't exchange a single word. When they reached the parking lot, Xiao Yan continued walking, but Gu Wanqiu stopped and turned around to look at the person and the cat standing behind her.
"Do you need me to give you back the key?" she asked.
Cheng Xiangwu found this person's words extremely strange, so she laughed. Gu Wanqiu didn't react either, just watched and waited.
"When I no longer want to see you in the house, I'll change the locks," Cheng Xiangwu said, waving her hand. "I'm leaving."
After saying that, she walked towards the entrance of the residential area. Da Xian didn't follow; seeing that everyone had left, it jumped into the bushes and disappeared. The car stopped beside Gu Wanqiu, and she watched it go for a while before turning around and getting into the car.
Although Xiao Fu said something as simple as "carrying" something, Zhou Mi's convenience store didn't sell camera charging cables at all. Fortunately, she gave her directions. She took a bus to a vegetable market near the city center, where there was a shop in the corner that could repair all kinds of electronic products and sold all kinds of cables.
On the way, Cheng Xiangwu called Xiao Fu and told him about the Du family's breeding farm.
“…While receiving revelations in dreams is a common occurrence in stories, I must emphasize that it is not simple, even difficult, in practice. Humans lack the sensory organs to receive or send specific information from 'dreams,' and are even less able to understand such information. What we can obtain from dreams are often just physiological or psychological remnants. Beings that can directly connect with senses beyond conventional senses are extremely rare. As far as I know, the unidentified flying creature is one example, and another one you humans have given many names, one of which is God.” As Xiao Fu spoke, the sound of turning pages came from the other end of the phone. Cheng Xiangwu wondered where she found such a book in her room.
"Do you think the ones we investigated and the ones in the breeding farms are on the same side?" Cheng Xiangwu asked after thinking for a moment.
“It’s hard not to feel that, if God doesn’t mention it, Senhu only has this much history, and no matter how deeply hidden the series is, it all comes down to the same iceberg.” Xiao Fu stopped turning the pages and raised his voice. “Speaking of which, I haven’t had a chance to ask you about your private contact with Miss Xie Wuchang yet.”
"What does 'private alliance' mean?" Cheng Xiangwu asked, puzzled by the wording.
“Contact him privately,” Xiao Fu said.
“Who asked you that?” Cheng Xiangwu said. “We need to find someone to be a driver, and she’s also investigating this matter, so wouldn’t it be perfect to ask her?”
On the other end of the phone, Xiao Fu sighed slightly, "...Let's leave it at that this time, but if a similar situation arises in the future, I hope you'll communicate with me first, not someone else, okay?"
"Do you think she'll overthink it?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
"Can't she?" Little Fran asked back.
“You’re both equally bad at this,” Cheng Xiangwu said. “Besides, she can think whatever she wants, does she think she’s disturbing you?”
The radio waves were momentarily silent; all that could be heard on the other end of the line was someone breathing heavily.
“…I’ve changed my mind.” Little F sneered. “I almost forgot that you are an independent individual who can move even without the structure and order of your skull. Five Fragrance, just say whatever you want.”
The call was disconnected. Cheng Xiangwu put away her phone and went into the store. After buying a data cable, she went to the hardware store next door to have a new set of spare keys made.
The streets always seem to come alive just after 4 p.m., even in areas where only convenience stores are open after mealtimes. Communication between people on the street becomes extra lively.
The ground was bustling with activity, but the sky was empty. While waiting for the traffic light, Cheng Xiangwu looked up and saw a small black dot pass by in the sky. She had never seen it clearly before, nor had she ever guessed that it might actually be a helicopter.
How could something like this appear in Moriko City?
Her phone vibrated with a call. She looked down and saw it was Yao Shaoqi. The light turned green, and the crowd jostled onto the zebra crossing. She was pushed forward as she answered the phone.
"Ms. Cheng, I am Yao Shaoqi from Baibai Co., Ltd., whom I visited last time." Her self-introduction was muffled by the noise of the environment.
Cheng Xiangwu held the phone close to her right ear. "I remember."
"Here's the thing, when are you available recently? My boss would like to discuss the contract with you in person. Of course, you can bring the agent with you; we'll pick you up and drop you off," Yao Shaoqi asked.
"Who is your boss?" Cheng Xiang asked five times. It was a bit noisy around her, so she raised her voice.
"Oh, sorry, what a terrible memory I have." Yao Shaoqi answered the question impatiently, "My boss is Bai Yuntian, the chairman's confidant and the board secretary of Bai Bai Co., Ltd."
This question caused the noise around Cheng Xiangwu to subside for a brief moment. She thought for a moment and asked, "Where is the meeting place?"
"Naturally, it will be in the board secretary's office on the top floor of our company. Mr. Bai will speak with you two privately. There's no need to worry about privacy. No one else will be present except the three of you," Yao Shaoqi said.
"Wow," Cheng Xiangwu said. It sounded like an opportunity that had been delivered to their doorstep. Unfortunately, according to the previous events, the time and place of Bai Yuntian's death had already been predetermined, so she sighed with regret.
“I understand, such opportunities are rare,” Yao Shaoqi said with a smile. “But don’t worry about the conversation; President Bai is an upright and kind person.”
“Okay,” Cheng Xiangwu said. “I’ll discuss the time with my agent and give you an answer later.”
"Of course, I'm ready to call you anytime," Yao Shaoqi said, and then hung up.
Cheng Xiangwu stood under the pedestrian lights at the crossroads, looking at her phone contacts, wondering whether to call Xie Wuchang first to discuss going to the farm, or to ask Xiao Fu for her opinion first, since she clearly harbored a lot of hostility towards "news she couldn't hear" and the very act of "not being able to hear" itself.
Thinking that she could ask them what they wanted for dinner, Cheng Xiangwu dialed F's number.
After straightening her vision, she suddenly felt a tightness on the back of her neck. The movements of several blurry patches of color on the sidewalk in front of her suddenly became hurried and chaotic. Their movements were scattered but all pointing outwards. Her left ear was not blocked, so she heard the screams of the crowd that was engulfing her, and she felt a push from behind.
The sound of the phone ringing in my right ear was the same as the sound of a car horn and brakes in my left ear. The smell of wind and rust came from behind, carrying a dull hostility.
The crowd scattered like startled pigeons, and the sound of police sirens could be heard in the distance.
"boom--"
The massive blue truck cab, still enormous compared to the crowd, slung mud and water into the shops at the intersection, its undeniable presence destroying the carefully arranged storefronts. The tires chugged along the ground like predators tearing at their prey, causing the cobblestones to crack under the weight, the level to drop, and the rearmost row of tires to get stuck in the ditch.
Who's screaming? A lot of people.
Dismembered bodies and stones flew everywhere, explosions and blasts roared, and the sound of tires scraping the ground still pierced the eardrums and triggered the nerve emergency response. The axle did not stop turning until the front of the car was completely stuffed into the shop, and only slowed down reluctantly after the vehicle's emergency system screamed.
The odor molecules in the air have shifted direction and become more lively.
Several half-human figures lay broken on the ground, limbs scattered, blood and filth splattered everywhere, mixed with spilled ingredients from a shattered milk tea cup and a cell phone. The sudden car accident death continued to amplify its presence, clinging stubbornly to common sense and order, attempting to tear a piece of the unusable veil from this mundane urban landscape to paint over itself with its own pungent paint, in order to showcase its own aesthetic.
The crowd was still fleeing the scene of the death, while others were getting closer and closer.
The tire tracks were smeared with blood, making them exceptionally clear. An unknown person who had been leaning against the door fanning themselves in the shop at the finish line was pulled into the shop by the rearview mirror; their fate was unknown but not hard to guess. The front door of the car was open, the driver's foot was still on the accelerator, and his upper body was already encased in the airbag and deformed seat, the seatbelt constricting his shoulders. The mahjong mat had fallen out and landed in the pool of blood, and his arm dangled out like a pendulum.
The trailer bed behind the cab was empty, like a skeleton being forcibly dragged along by its head, only able to stop after its head was broken and bleeding.
Cheng Xiangwu fell from the crooked shop sign, landed on the empty back of the truck, and then jumped back onto the unstained part of the ground.
“A car hit me. I’m fine, but someone died.” She looked at the red cars crowding towards her in the distance and said, “What do you want to eat tonight? I’m in the city, but I might be going back a little late.”
A police car screeched to a halt three steps in front of her, its rearview mirror just an arm's length away from the hem of her billowing coat. The car door was kicked open, and the arm's length disappeared from view.
The person getting out of the car stared intently at the front of the truck before turning to the person making the call, regardless of the situation. This time, she wasn't wearing a jacket; the cuffs of her police uniform were casually rolled up, and there were conspicuous gun scars on her exposed forearms, as if hinting at something. There was still a lingering smell of gunpowder in her eyes and on her hands.
"...You'd better not come." Cheng Xiangwu sighed. "That's not what I meant. Anyway, I'll go back as soon as possible and tell you what Sen Sen wants to eat?"
The doors opened one by one, and soon, yellow lines, like a spider web, encircled the entire block within the truck's reach. In the distance, people wearing reflective vests blew long whistles to drive people away. Cheng Xiangwu didn't move, hung up the phone and put it away, then looked at the person in front of her.
"Ms. Cheng." The voice approached from afar. Han Lingfeng, dressed in a police uniform, slammed the car door shut and strode towards the disaster center, which was Cheng Xiangwu's direction. After stopping, he looked up and gave a polite smile befitting a civil servant. "First of all, congratulations on surviving. Now, please tell me why you are here?"
At this distance, the smell of gunpowder on her body was like perfume, forcing those who smelled it to accept her taste.
A group of people dressed similarly gathered around. They crossed the yellow line and stopped a few steps away from the blood-red area, gagging and retching sounds rising and falling. The person closest to the accident scene was still Cheng Xiangwu.
"On my way to buy pizza," Cheng Xiangwu said expressionlessly.
"So you didn't come all this way from your address, which is a twenty-minute drive from here, to the vicinity of the operation site I warned you to stay away from, to do anything," Han Lingfeng said in one breath, staring at Cheng Xiangwu as if showing off his lung capacity. "You came to buy pizza."
When we made eye contact, the lines at the corners of her eyes and the under-eye bags made her seem somewhat approachable. Of course, most people wouldn't feel that way when stared at by those overly sharp eyes, even if she was smiling.
“Yes,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
"...Let's leave it at that for now. Please do not leave. We will need your cooperation to take a statement in a moment." Han Lingfeng said as he put on gloves and gaiters, then turned his smile and walked quickly toward the driver's seat of the vehicle, which was still in a passive, driverless state.
She dodged the potholes and debris on the ground, jumped into the narrow space between the car seats—now the center of the disaster site—and bent down to put her arm where the steering wheel should have been.
On the other side, the passenger door of the intact vehicle opened, and Jiang Ling struggled to climb out of the seat. She had just stood up when she was pushed back by the smell of mixed-race blood in the air. After holding onto the car door, she took out her radio and began to report the scene, her voice hoarse and tight.
"Have the Municipal Public Security Bureau send more people to conduct a wide-ranging investigation. There are forensic doctors and ambulances at the scene, and as for hospital ambulances," she glanced at the scene through the vehicles, "call two more. Wait, what do you mean there might only be one?"
Several vans arrived late in the distance, and after the rear doors opened, multiple medical personnel poured out, carrying stretchers toward the accident center. Well, at least they were trying to get closer to the accident center.
"The car stalled in an emergency, call a tow truck as soon as possible." Han Lingfeng leaned out from beside the car and shouted to Jiang Ling, "Is there anyone here who can help pry the seat open? The driver might still be alive."
There must have been quite a few people who heard it, but the order was not properly given. Jiang Ling, sweating profusely, looked around and finally her gaze met that of Cheng Xiangwu, who was standing still after being given the order.
"...A concerned citizen?" Jiang Ling forced a smile that was hard to define, her face pale with dark circles under her eyes.
“…Fine.” Cheng Xiangwu had nothing to say, took off his coat and threw it to Jiang Ling, “Give me some gloves and boots too.”
After removing as much of the deformed front of the truck as possible, the two men worked together to pull the driver, whose chest and abdomen were concave but still heaving, out of the cab. He was a dark-skinned, oily-skinned young man, wearing a white vest over a tattered, blood-stained stand-up collar shirt. His flip-flops and a few toes remained inside the truck. His arms were bent backwards with large, prominent joints; like most truck drivers, his upper limbs were twice as strong as his lower limbs.
He kept his eyes open, unwilling to spare a bit of energy even when blood foamed from his mouth and nose as he breathed. His eyes, the only part of his body that could still move on its own, were staring intently at Cheng Xiangwu. His pupils, so black and white that they looked like holes, were staring directly at Cheng Xiangwu.
"Multiple comminuted fractures, possibly lung damage, and a high probability of concussion." Ignoring the rubble and the corpse, Han Lingfeng knelt down on one knee, clicking his tongue in amazement. "It's torture to have you awake. Is there anything you want to say now?"
The man seemed to be reminded by those words, his eyes widened and he fainted.
He was immediately placed on a stretcher as soon as he landed. Two paramedics, overjoyed, carried the still-breathing, intact man back to their vehicle. The door closed, the roof light came on, and the car sped away. Han Lingfeng gave instructions to a few people, then, wearing shoe covers that were probably still in good working order, ran to check under the truck chassis twice. Cheng Xiangwu followed behind, helping to lift some heavy objects, regardless of the temperature.
Before the streetlights came on, the workers on site got to work.
"Is he the person Xu Lidong was talking about?" Cheng Xiangwu took off her gloves and threw them into the trash can next to her. Although she had tried her best to avoid it, the clothes she had changed into at noon were still stained with blood. The smell of oil mixed with the fishy smell rose up to her face, which was even more unpleasant than freshly killed.
"We'll take her to see the photos later, but judging from this person's reaction, it's probably true." Han Lingfeng also threw away his gloves, leaned against the police car watching his colleagues bustling around, then took out a mint from his pants pocket, opened the cap with one hand, and held it out, "Want some?"
Her police uniform was not spared either; when she wasn't smiling, the reflective vest would hesitate a few steps before speaking to her.
"Thank you." Cheng Xiangwu reached out her hand, and three compressed candies rolled into her palm. She imitated Han Lingfeng and stuffed them all into her mouth in one go, then chewed them with her teeth. The mint and jasmine scent diluted the sullen smell on the tip of her nose.
In contrast, the sounds and smells of vomiting rose and fell all around.
"The residents here have a diet high in oil and salt, which puts a lot of strain on their stomachs," Han Lingfeng said, stroking his chin.
"...Captain, are there any extra masks in the car?" Jiang Ling asked.
“This isn’t our car either.” Han Lingfeng said, rummaging through his pockets and finally pulling out a slightly wrinkled black mask from his pants pocket. “Use this for now, Xiao Jiang. Ask the public health staff for it when they come later.”
"Thank you." Jiang Ling quickly took it and put it on.
After the scene was cordoned off, Jiang Ling went back to her car, grabbed a camera, and started collecting evidence. Several people in reflective vests who were far away were communicating with civilians around them while those who were closer were helping to set up measurement signs.
“He was going to run away,” Han Lingfeng said, looking at the front of the car. “He drove recklessly towards the suburbs, and his turns and collisions were completely unexpected.”
"Hmm." Cheng Xiangwu replied, looking at the crooked shop sign. "He wanted to kill me."
As she spoke, she suddenly turned her head and made eye contact with a civilian who was gathering around the yellow line in the distance, or rather, made eye contact with the phone camera.
"Where do you take the statement?" she asked.
"In the car." Han Lingfeng took out his car keys. "Which pizza place are you going to?"
Inside the police car with its lights off, Cheng Xiangwu was able to enjoy the privilege of being in the passenger seat. She put the camera bag, which clearly belonged to Jiang Ling, into the glove compartment, hoping that the other party would figure out its location on her own.
"You just left like that?" Cheng Xiangwu watched the accident scene slowly recede into the distance.
"There's nothing left to see at the scene." Han Lingfeng said, turning the steering wheel with one hand while fastening his seatbelt. "You still have your seatbelt on you."
"Oh." Cheng Xiangwu touched the seat belt, glanced at the bloodstains on her upper body, and then fastened it under her arm.
The vehicles were moving slowly, not only because of the unexpected accident, but also because it was rush hour.
“I went to the South Suburbs Prison and questioned everyone who had contact with Qin Zixi. He was an honest man, and he didn’t have much on his mind. After his parents and children died, you were the heaviest burden. Because he couldn’t handle it himself, he had to find someone, and finding too many people only exposed himself.” Han Lingfeng looked ahead, the street scene passing by her eyes. “Senhu City is indeed a small place, and he was just a nobody. He didn’t really have any reason to die.”
"You doubt me?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
“To solve a headless case, we need to find a breakthrough. I went back to that neighborhood, stood on the rooftop and thought about it, and then I had an idea,” Han Lingfeng said. “Cheng Xiangwu, you are the breakthrough I’m looking for.”
The breakthrough remained silent.
"Qin Zixi died without any ties or knowledge of the truth, but you are different. Why did the union members want to kill you?" Han Lingfeng asked.
"I don't know," Cheng Xiangwu said. "But I almost got hit by a car just now, so I'm a little curious now."
There was always a smell of smoke in the police car. The two of them squeezed into the front seat, making the back seat seem empty, but the smell didn't know how to change.
“I’ve investigated you,” Han Lingfeng said. “If there’s a reason, then we can only start by looking into your parents’ affairs.”
The face that was a gift from his parents flashed by in the reflection of the car window.
"You mean those people killed my parents, and now they want to kill me too?" Cheng Xiangwu finished speaking and chuckled. "If there really was such a deep-seated hatred, why don't those people—"
“We won’t chase them out of Senhu City.” Han Lingfeng continued, “I have two theories, do you want to hear them?”
“I can’t jump out of the car either,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
“The first possibility is that someone is blocking their way, so they can’t get out,” Han Lingfeng said. “The second possibility is that there’s something here that they don’t want to leave.”
In general, this situation will end up with both types of attacks combined against the victim.
“You’re sure about that chain of persecution,” said victim Cheng Xiangwu.
“There’s no other possibility, so I’ll believe you,” Han Lingfeng said. “Besides, ordinary people can’t escape that kind of pursuit. You escaped this time, but the next one won’t be any slower.”
“I don’t need to run away,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
"Where is your friend?" Han Lingfeng asked, using a declarative sentence.
The streetlights glowed dimly, vying with the afterglow for the most brightness at sunset.
"...Tell me your two speculations." Cheng Xiangwu braced his arm against the car window and propped his head up.
“The people blocking them are obvious, but they can’t get any information from them for now, so I’ve decided to start with the second approach.” Han Lingfeng’s tone was undulating. “Social relationships, economic dependence, psychological identification, control methods—we’ll be able to get some information out of the driver once he wakes up.”
"But I'm afraid he won't wake up." Cheng Xiangwu thought of that Zhang.
“No, his lack of consciousness further narrows the possibilities,” Han Lingfeng said in a deep voice. “Medicine or religion, it’s not a single option.”
"Didn't you already have a physical exam?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
"Let's not even talk about how rudimentary the hospital equipment here is. The tests are endless, and if they end up revealing something about gene or cell engineering, there's nothing we can do." Han Lingfeng said this, but his tone was eager to try. "The health supplement has been sent for testing, and we'll have to wait a few days, but I've checked, and no one in the community has shown any abnormalities."
"What about religion?" Cheng Xiang asked five times. "With that kind of suicide attack method, I would believe it even if you said it was brainwashing."
"You can't say that. It's too one-sided to say that religion is brainwashing just because you talk about it," Han Lingfeng said in disagreement. "Besides, if we say it's brainwashing, those attackers might not be able to be convicted due to mental illness, which is very unfriendly to the promotion of people within the system."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiangwu turned to look at the civil servant and, seeing her brows furrowed with genuine emotion, asked, "So what do you intend to do? Follow the clues and uncover the mastermind behind it all to complete your mission?"
"The mastermind behind it all—I would have liked that name seven years ago, but not now," Han Lingfeng said with a smile. "But there's always a cause to everything, and you should think of it that way too."
Thinking of the cloaked figure referred to as an unidentified flying object, Cheng Xiangwu didn't know what to think, so she looked out the window again. "What if no one catches him for you? What if all the religious people worship the same god?"
An objective, unique, and elusive God.
“It will happen,” Han Lingfeng said.
"Are you so sure?" Cheng Xiangwu asked doubtfully.
"Those who pay, those who control social circles, those who provide protection, and those related to the main areas of activity," Han Lingfeng said confidently. "There's always a solution, and then you won't have to worry about your friends suddenly dying, your house suddenly burning down, or your school suddenly disappearing when you leave Senhu to work."
Recalling the shop shelves that were so badly damaged they couldn't be picked up and their owner, Cheng Xiangwu fell silent for a moment.
Once the sky darkens, it quickly turns black, with crimson receding into the background and revealing a hazy blue.
"You must not be a good person, Cheng Xiangwu." Han Lingfeng said, turning on the left turn signal and waving through the car window to let the pedestrians go first. "But there are some things that anyone can do, as long as the result satisfies everyone, that's enough."
A person carrying a backpack smiled and quickly crossed the zebra crossing, the paper cup of oden in their hand still steaming.
“I don’t get involved in police affairs,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
“You can get involved in your own family affairs, even those from thirteen years ago,” Han Lingfeng said. “You can go and find out the truth from thirteen years ago for your sake and for the present and future of this place.”
The vehicle slowly pulled over to the side of the road. Han Lingfeng unlocked the car door, and the sound of the knocking was like an alarm bell.
"I'll drop you off here." She looked at Cheng Xiangwu. In the dimly lit front seat, her expression was indistinct in the blue-dominated space. "For pizza, I recommend Hawaiian. Remember to add olives."
“…Thank you for the suggestion.” Cheng Xiangwu loosened her seatbelt and opened the car door. “I will seriously consider it.”
The police car watched the people who entered the pizza shop leave, then drove away silently.
On her way back with the pizza, Cheng Xiangwu's free hand was draped over her coat and tucked into her pants pocket, constantly fumbling for her phone. The fishy smell emanating from her clothes kept rising, even overpowering the pizza's aroma, taking advantage of the distance to stimulate her already weak sense of smell.
The road grew darker and darker, and the visible area became increasingly narrow. Although it was a familiar road, the poor lighting robbed her of the advantage of familiarity and threw her into a blurry and cramped world.
The surroundings seemed to quiet down. At night, everyone seemed afraid of disturbing others, or perhaps afraid of having their secrets exposed. Normally, natural sounds would be more prominent in such situations, but those with hearing impairments would only perceive the silence as if they were truly deaf.
The fingertips dangling in the air feel cold. Is it from the cold, the dampness, or simply from the temporary loss of temperature caused by the plastic bag? Those who cannot confirm their feelings cannot know the truth.
The dim light from the previous streetlamp was about to disappear, and the next landmark was not far ahead. To the left was a building that Cheng Xiangwu was inevitably familiar with, because it was called Wuxianglou (Five Fragrances Pavilion). The building, made extra gloomy by light and chemical reactions, could frighten children afraid of the dark at night, even if it did nothing.
The dark buildings are waiting, the bright yellow streetlights are waiting, the past is waiting, and it will always be there.
Cheng Xiangwu didn't say anything, but when she opened her door a short while ago and saw Gu Wanqiu sitting there waiting for her, she felt a little happy. She didn't know what this person had been through, but she thought it must be related to her.
She stood under the streetlight for a while, then quickly left.
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