Chapter 142 Bait: Look, I won.
As soon as Liang Jiushan finished speaking, the living room fell silent instantly.
Li Qiuyun was the first to react: "No! This is too dangerous."
She stepped forward hastily: "President Liang, you don't know how dangerous Qian Darong, and especially that Tu Jianxiong, are! They may have weapons, and they're bloodthirsty right now, they have no humanity left! Using you as bait is like throwing a lamb to the slaughter!"
Liang Jiushan is the head of Xingdun Technology, responsible for the database construction, early warning system installation and debugging of the data center. He frequently visits the Municipal Public Security Bureau, so Li Qiuyun recognizes him and calls him "General Manager Liang".
Jiang Ling's heart clenched at Liang Jiushan's words. She gripped the teacup tightly, the scalding hot cup burning her palm. She looked up at Liang Jiushan and shook her head in disapproval.
Liang Jiushan booked a ticket to return home after receiving a call from Jiang Ling last night. He was unaware that the police had discovered the existence of Tu Jianxiong, the second suspect in the murder. He looked up at Jiang Ling with a puzzled expression: "Tu Jianxiong?"
Jiang Ling briefly described Tu Jianxiong's personal information, and then emphasized, "Jiu Shan, these two are extremely dangerous; they are desperate criminals. Arresting them is the police's job; you don't need to take that risk."
Liang Jiushan is a genius in the computer field. His company, Star Shield Technology, has become a rising star in China's cybersecurity and database construction sector. Having just secured its second round of funding, its market value is approaching 50 million yuan, and its future is limitless. A talent like him should be at the forefront of the internet, not on the front lines of law enforcement.
Liang Jiushan's expression was unusually calm. He did not immediately refute, but only gave Jiang Ling a deep look before taking out a brown paper document bag from his backpack, as if he were holding an important ceremony.
Under Jiang Ling's questioning gaze, he carefully took out two documents from the file bag and placed them side by side on the desk in front of Jiang Ling.
One document is a "Special Talent Introduction and Dispatch Form" stamped with a bright red official seal, issued by the Yancheng City Public Security Bureau. The other is an "Employment Notice from Yancheng City Public Security Bureau," with the job title clearly printed as "Data Center, Professional and Technical Police Officer."
Liang Jiushan raised his eyes, his clear and firm gaze meeting Jiang Ling's momentarily stunned look: "Sister Ling, I am now," he paused, his tone filled with utmost seriousness and a hint of barely perceptible pride, "also a police officer."
He looked at Jiang Ling, his voice filled with reminiscence and determination: "The field of computers is indeed my passion, but it is not my only dream. Do you remember? Many years ago, in the police station hall of Jinwu Road, when you rescued my sister and me from despair, 'becoming a policeman' became my dream."
“Over the years, I have worked hard to learn knowledge, start companies, and accumulate wealth and technology, not just for commercial success. I have always known what I ultimately want. The technology I have mastered should not only be used to create commercial value, but also to become a shield and sword to protect this city and to protect the vulnerable like I once was. This is the path I truly want to take.”
“So, I’m back. Not as the president of StarShield Technology, but as a new employee, your colleague.” His gaze was intense, filled with unwavering determination and an almost devout following. “I want to follow in your footsteps, Sister Ling. Not by your back for protection, but by your side, fighting alongside you and all our comrades.”
A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint noise of the city outside the window.
Jiang Ling stared blankly at the two heavy documents on the table, then looked up at the determined-looking, upright young man before her. In an instant, countless images flashed through her mind.
—A frail and helpless junior high school student who angrily resists bullying but compromises countless times;
—A boy with outstanding dialect recognition and imitation skills who helped Xiaoyong, who was abducted, find his parents;
—A clever teenager who actively participated in police operations, selling popsicles at construction sites to gather intelligence, and coaxing Xiaoyu's grandfather to give up custody of him;
—A young CEO who was admitted to Kyoto University a year early, chose computer science as his major, won various competitions, and was a force to be reckoned with at the negotiating table in the business world.
...
Ultimately, all the images converged into the image of Liang Jiushan, dressed in simple casual clothes, with unwavering faith shining in his eyes.
A surge of emotion overwhelmed her, and a bittersweet feeling welled up in her eyes. She suddenly understood that this was not a decision made on a whim by Liang Jiushan, but a life choice he had made after careful consideration. It was a choice he had made after overcoming numerous obstacles and giving up unimaginable wealth and fame to pursue an ideal and aspiration that was deeply hidden in his heart.
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the sob in her throat. When she spoke again, her voice trembled slightly, yet it was filled with understanding and an indescribable pride: "When did you complete these procedures? You even kept it from me..."
Seeing the tears welling in her eyes and her softened tone, Liang Jiushan knew she understood. He smiled, a warm and bright smile: "I made up my mind after graduation, but I still had some things to take care of at the company, so I postponed reporting for duty until today. I wanted to give you a surprise, and more importantly, I wanted to prove my determination with concrete actions, not just empty words."
Jiang Ling smiled.
She reached out and slapped Liang Jiushan's arm hard: "Fine! Since this is your choice, and since you're now wearing this police uniform... then I won't stop you. Welcome to the data center, Comrade Liang Jiushan."
“From now on, we’ll fight side by side.” She extended her hand.
Liang Jiushan held her hand tightly, his grip steady and warm, his eyes shining with an incredibly bright light: "Let's fight side by side, Sister Ling."
At this moment, the transformation of their identities was quietly completed, and it seemed as if vines had sprouted from the ground, entwining them together.
Li Qiuyun's curious gaze shifted between Liang Jiushan and Jiang Ling, but the subtle atmosphere made her wisely remain silent.
Liang Jiushan did not forget his mission.
“I know it’s dangerous,” he said, his voice steady and his logic clear. “Two antisocial criminals are hiding in the shadows like frightened mice. The police have no way of predicting their next move. Every second they linger in the crowd increases the danger! Routine searches take time, and that’s what we lack most.”
He released Jiang Ling's hand, his gaze intense: "Tu Jianxiong is a desperate criminal, and Qian Darong is now cornered. They know the police are conducting a full-scale manhunt, so they'll only become more vigilant and covert. The longer it drags on, the more variables there will be. They might go into hiding, or even leave Yan City, or they might do something even more insane in their desperation. More importantly..."
He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Ling: "Their targets are clear: you, my sister, and me. Qian Darong knows my sister works at the No. 1 Middle School and you work at the Municipal Public Security Bureau. He may have inquired about it, perhaps even scouted the area. You only escaped because you two rarely go out at night. There's no such thing as a thousand days of guarding against thieves. Are we supposed to wait like this for a month, six months, a year, or even longer? Can the police afford to deplete their resources? Do we still have the opportunity to work and live normally?"
“But…” Li Qiuyun finally found a chance to speak.
“There are no ‘buts.’ What we need is a meticulous plan.” Liang Jiushan’s tone was calm and composed beyond his years. “I’m not trying to be a hero. The core of my plan is to ensure absolute safety—my sister’s safety, Sister Ling’s safety, and my own safety. This requires the full cooperation and meticulous planning of the police to reduce the risk to zero.”
He looked at Li Qiuyun: "Officer Li, my suggestion is: use me as bait, deliberately expose my whereabouts in the area near the Textile Factory Affiliated Middle School, and lure them in. The Textile Factory Affiliated Middle School is the school Qian Darong attended before his arrest. He has an emotional attachment to it because he used to be a local bully, with his underlings supporting him and bullying his classmates at will. It was a place where he once had his glory days, and it has unusual significance. However, this area must be sufficiently securely separated from the school's teaching area, and the operation must be strictly controlled during the time when there are few people after school. It must not disrupt the normal teaching order or endanger any students."
After listening to Liang Jiushan's clear and detailed explanation, Li Qiuyun frowned. Instead of immediately refusing, she began to ask questions: "How exactly do you do it? How can you be sure they will come looking for you? And how can you guarantee absolute safety? The area around the school is complex, with a lot of people and vehicles. Even after school, there are many uncontrollable factors."
Liang Jiushan had clearly considered these issues beforehand, and analyzed them clearly and logically: "First, let's analyze the motives. Qian Darong hates me to the bone. In his distorted mind, it was me and Qiqiao who caused his later misfortune. People like Tu Jianxiong enjoy provoking the police and creating chaos. Targeting me, someone on Qian Darong's hate list, would better satisfy his morbid vanity and desire for challenge. My appearance is perfectly reasonable."
"Second, location selection. It can't be near the school gate, nor can it be in a completely deserted place. I suggest Xuefu Road, which is behind the school's affiliated middle school. There are fewer pedestrians on that road at night, but it's not completely closed off. There are a few small shops and stationery stores still open, and there are suitable spots for vehicles to park and observe along the roadside. More importantly, that road is relatively straight, with a wide field of vision, and the buildings on both sides are neatly arranged, which is very conducive to the police's advance deployment, observation, and action. We can choose to make a short stop in front of a small shop, or appear anxiously pacing along that road while making a phone call."
Liang Jiushan looked at Jiang Ling and Li Qiuyun with a determined look in his eyes, clearly having already done his homework on the surrounding environment.
"Third, information dissemination. I can't just tell them where I am, that would be too fake. I've already thought about using television to reveal my whereabouts."
Li Qiuyun's eyes widened: "A TV?"
Liang Jiushan nodded: "That's right! Television. Now Qian Darong and his gang are hiding, afraid to contact their old friends. But rats hiding in the gutter have no other entertainment but watching television. Just then, I received an interview invitation from Yan City TV station, wanting me, a Yan City native, to talk about my entrepreneurial history. Why not just show my face and then casually reveal my whereabouts?"
Li Qiuyun's eyes lit up. This is a great idea!
It was neither deliberate nor unintentional, yet it was sure to attract Qian Darong's attention. Seeing his enemy being interviewed on television, and seeing Liang Jiushan living a life of success, Qian Darong would surely be driven mad with jealousy. If a few more words of provocation were uttered, he might actually fall for it.
Thinking of this, Li Qiuyun's attitude softened, and her gaze towards Liang Jiushan carried a hint of appreciation. It's really good to have someone like him join the police force.
As Jiang Ling listened to his well-organized analysis, she felt a sense of awe and wonder, as if she had seen a scholar who had been away for three days.
The Liang Jiushan before her was no longer the boy she remembered who needed her protection. He was meticulous in his thinking, insightful, and even possessed a remarkable understanding of criminal psychology, police procedures, and terrain utilization. His proposed solutions were bold, but not reckless; the resourcefulness and strategy they contained forced her to re-evaluate him.
He chose the location near the textile factory's affiliated middle school instead of the safer Xingfuli area opposite the police station. This seemed to increase the risk, but in reality, it exploited the victim's psychology, increased the credibility of the bait, and made it more effective.
“Fourth, and most importantly, is security and emergency response.” Liang Jiushan’s expression was extremely serious. “This requires professional planning from the police. Secret roadblocks must be set up at both ends of Xuefu Road to ensure that suspicious vehicles cannot quickly ram through and escape once the operation begins. All shop employees and owners along the street need to be communicated in advance or replaced by plainclothes officers to ensure that they are on our side. Snipers and observation points must be set up in high positions that are absolutely concealed and can cover the entire road section.”
"I need the most skilled team members for close protection, but they must be hidden in places that are absolutely invisible, such as inside a disguised vehicle or a shop. Communication support must be foolproof. The rapid response team must be deployed at the nearest point to ensure a response within seconds. Moreover, we must assume that Tu Jianxiong may not appear in person, or may use other methods that we do not know, such as using vehicles to ram or remotely throwing dangerous objects. We must have comprehensive contingency plans and clear evacuation routes."
After explaining his action plan, he looked at Li Qiuyun: "Officer Li, please convey my plan to Captain Lei in its entirety. This is not about personal heroism; it's a suggestion that has been carefully weighed. We aim to achieve the fastest breakthrough with the highest efficiency and controllable risks. I am willing to bear the risks I should bear, but the safety of the students, passersby, and myself ultimately depends on the professionalism and capabilities of the police. If Captain Lei's assessment determines that the risks around the school cannot be fully controlled, I will comply with the arrangements."
This time, Li Qiuyun did not hesitate at all and nodded, saying, "Okay, I will immediately report your ideas and reasons for choosing the location to Captain Lei in detail. But whether or not to adopt them is ultimately up to Captain Lei to decide."
She walked to the side, picked up the walkie-talkie, and began to report to Lei Xiao in a low and detailed voice.
Only Jiang Ling and Liang Jiushan remained in the living room for the time being. Jiang Ling walked up to him, looked up at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "Do you know what you're doing?"
Liang Jiushan looked down at her, the sharpness in his eyes fading, replaced by gentleness: "I know. It's precisely because I know the danger that I choose the best place to lure the snake out and resolve the danger as quickly as possible. Sister Ling, I've grown up; I'm no longer the little kid who needs you to shield me."
He gently took Jiang Ling's hand and noticed that her fingertips were icy cold, so he enveloped them in his warm palm: "Trust me, and trust Captain Lei and the others. This is the fastest way I can think of to end all this. Don't you want to catch them as soon as possible, so that Qi Qiao can teach in peace, the students can be carefree, and neither you nor I will have to live in fear anymore?"
Jiang Ling's heart trembled slightly at his words.
Of course she wanted to.
She wanted to end this nightmare more than anyone else.
Looking into Liang Jiushan's eyes, she saw courage, responsibility, and a maturity beyond his years, and she knew she couldn't stop him. Just as he said, he had grown up and was making his own judgments and choices.
She gripped his hand tightly in return, her eyes hardening: "Be extremely careful. Every step must be taken in absolute obedience to the police's instructions. There must be absolutely no unauthorized action! If there's any sign of trouble, halt the operation immediately!"
"I promise." Liang Jiushan nodded solemnly, a reassuring smile curving his lips. "My job is to be a convincing decoy. The rest is up to the professionals. I'm looking forward to having a nice meal and chat with you and my sister after this is all over."
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