Change it back.
"Give me back my son's life! Give me back my son's life!"
The screams outside the door brought Duan Ruiming back to his senses. The family whose son had died was causing trouble at the police station again. At first, the group of people might have tried to persuade him with sympathy, but as time went on, they inevitably became less concerned. It wasn't that they, as police officers, didn't take it seriously, but these kinds of things couldn't be rushed. The case had no leads, and they didn't know where to begin investigating. Moreover, the procedures for criminal investigations like this were very complicated.
The missing person is a senior high school student named Fei Li. The incident occurred during the days of the college entrance examination. He didn't even take the exam. The last time he was seen in the surveillance footage was at the main gate of the school. After that, he seemed to have disappeared suddenly. The police checked the surrounding surveillance footage but couldn't find any trace of him.
When the case was confirmed as missing, it was already two days after the college entrance examination. All the students had already gone home. It wasn't that Fei Li's classmates couldn't be contacted; the homeroom teachers had their phone numbers recorded, so it wasn't difficult. It was just that the school was setting up the examination rooms and the students were preparing for the exams. Asking them to spend time paying attention to an insignificant person was a bit of a stretch.
Duan Ruiming muttered the name to himself, recalling the scene of the first time he met Fei Li.
Yes, Duan Ruiming had met Fei Li. The first time he heard the name, Duan Ruiming felt it was somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
A picture suddenly flashed through my mind, and then I opened the roster I had investigated.
As the names flashed by, Duan Ruiming indeed saw Xu Li's name on the roster.
Xu Li and I are classmates.
And it seems that they are classmates who have some interaction.
Duan Ruiming went to Xu Li's school, but only as a parent. At the time, Xu Zhengbei was busy with a case and couldn't get away, and Xu Li had just finished her final exams and was scheduled to attend a parent-teacher conference. In the end, Duan Ruiming went to the school in Xu Zhengbei's place.
Xu Li looked a little unhappy, knowing that Xu Zhengbei was too busy to care about anything else, but she still felt that Xu Zhengbei had come and heard it with his own ears.
Xu Li looked at Duan Ruiming at the door with some disappointment.
Duan Ruiming patted Xu Li's head, telling her not to be angry with his father, and that he would come when he had time.
Xu Li, feigning impatience, dodged his hand and then cleared a seat for Duan Ruiming.
It was at this time that Duan Ruiming met Fei Li.
He wasn't very tall, and his build was average, or even slightly chubby if you were to be strict. The school had a uniform, but he wore black clothes and tight pants, a typical outfit for a spirited young man.
Passing by Xu Li, he sidled up to her with a cheeky grin, pointed at Duan Ruiming, and asked, "Who's that guy? He doesn't look like your dad."
Since it was a parent-teacher conference, he couldn't very well say he was a friend. Besides, Xu Li usually didn't like to talk to him much and they didn't interact much. Out of politeness, he replied, "My brother."
Fei Li's expression shifted, it was hard to tell whether he believed it or not, and he walked away laughing in a ridiculous manner.
This was the only fragment that Duan Ruiming recalled much later; after that, he couldn't remember anything.
This person just happened to disappear.
Duan Ruiming felt his temples throbbing, and his palms were even sweating. He rubbed his hands together and wiped the sweat onto his sleeves.
Because she was Xu Li's classmate, Duan Ruiming naturally thought of Xu Li from the beginning, but he didn't think much of it.
But then Duan Ruiming had a vague intuition he didn't want to admit...
It's been almost a month since his last trip to Yangzhou, and there's still no progress. Duan Ruiming stared blankly at the folder on the table, unsure of what to do next.
Jiang Li, captain of the criminal investigation detachment, looked at the scene at the door and shook his head helplessly.
After Xu Zhengbei's accident, Jiang Li took over his position.
Jiang Li saw Duan Ruiming staring blankly, then walked over and patted him on the shoulder.
"This matter is indeed tricky; we have absolutely no leads."
Duan Ruiming shook his head helplessly:
"If there are still no clues, then people from above will definitely come to assist. At that time, the surveillance records and advanced technologies from various regions, as well as top talents from the science and technology departments, will also come."
The incident happened very suddenly, and Fei Li's parents were also in a state of constant anxiety, with time running out.
Duan Ruiming nodded, but his mind was elsewhere.
Surveillance? Will Xu Li be there? The technical department? Will Xu Li's biological remains be found at the scene?
Could this matter really be related to Xu Li?
Duan Ruiming's contact with Xu Li was merely a guess, but Xu Li's reaction was somewhat unusual, which aroused Duan Ruiming's suspicion. However, even though it was a guess, there was some evidence and suspicion involved, and Duan Ruiming's failure to report it constituted withholding information.
Duan Ruiming was on tenterhooks, hoping that Xu Li wouldn't get involved.
——
**
The phone rang.
Xu Li took it casually and saw that it was Zhou Ji.
Xu Li was somewhat surprised. Firstly, Zhou Ji rarely called her, and secondly, she didn't know why Zhou Ji wanted to see her so soon after being discharged from the hospital.
Xu Li walked to the side, turned slightly, held the phone to her ear, and answered, "Hello?"
Zhou Ji must be very busy. She's had a ton of work piled up during her hospital stay, and now it's all waiting for her to handle. I could hear the clicking of papers over there; she's probably still reviewing contracts and reports. I only managed to call her when I had a spare moment.
Zhou Ji: "I can't get through to Junchang by phone. Remember this: the suppliers for both of your stores have terminated their contracts..."
What followed was a whole lot of explanation. It was probably because they heard that Zhou Ji had been in a car accident and was in the ICU that many competing companies started trying to poach him, and investors and suppliers also began to breach their contracts and cooperate with other companies.
Now that Zhou Ji has returned unharmed, the group is too embarrassed to come back. They can't bring themselves to ask for cooperation again, but no one wants to have a falling out with Zhou Ji. If they need help in the future, they won't be able to ask again. They've built up a network of connections, and if the relationship between the two sides becomes strained, they'll definitely suffer.
Xu Li nodded.
Zhou Ji asked Xu Li and Zhou Jun to tell him that he would look for suppliers and partners again. They needed to write log reports and send them to him in the next few days so he could find partners. He also said that some people might come to Mingyue Night or Tianguang Hall to look for him recently, and they should just say that he was not there.
While some people may be too proud to admit it, that doesn't stop others from disregarding pride for money. What does pride matter? Money is king.
This incident also allowed Zhou Ji to see some people for who they really were. Although he had carefully selected and calculated these people from the beginning, there were still some mixed cases among them, which was the only good thing about it.
Xu Li agreed and then hung up the phone.
Finding Zhou Junchang's phone number, Xu Li felt a bit curious and, after thinking it over, dialed the number.
Xu Li was simply curious about what Zhou Junchang was doing now, as he wasn't even answering Zhou Ji's calls.
After two beeps, a female voice from the machine came through: "Sorry, the number you dialed is currently busy."
The call went through, but it was busy. That doesn't make sense. It's his own phone, but Zhou Jun often sees Zhou Ji's number and should answer, right?
What the hell is going on? I don't understand.
Xu Li picked up her phone and continued working.
Because Zhou Ji was hospitalized, Xu Li's mind was not on Tian Guang Hall at all, so Xu Li also worked overtime until late at night these days. Perhaps for the same reason, Ming Yueye also worked late, even longer than upstairs.
That makes sense, since bars make their money at night.
At midnight, Xu Li stretched and finished writing today's log report as Zhou Ji had instructed.
Xu Li shook her aching fingers, got up to get her bag and prepare to go home. When she came out, she saw Zhou Junchang with his back to her.
Xu Li was surprised because Zhou Jun usually didn't come upstairs, but then she remembered the phone call Zhou Ji had made today, and thought that it was just in time.
Before Xu Li could speak, she saw Zhou Jun staring intently at his phone, as if trying to find some new tricks in it.
Xu Li was about to mock him when she took a closer look and realized the phone looked familiar.
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that it wasn't his or someone else's.
The phone screen remained on the caller ID, and the caller happened to be Zhou Junchang.
It was Zhou Junchang's phone call, but it wasn't his name.
This was the name Xu Li used to save Zhou Jun's contact information when she was angry—a non-mainstream master who was suspected of having epilepsy, loved to annoy people, and cared a lot about his image.
Because the note was too long, the name was not fully displayed.
However, the opening words also gave me a jolt.
Xu Li wondered, is it too late to run now?
But the person in front of her had already noticed her presence, and instead of turning around and looking at his phone, he asked, "Is this me?"
Zhou Junchang received a phone call earlier today, causing him to miss calls from Zhou Ji and Xu Li. He called back from Zhou Ji, but Zhou Ji's assistant answered. Zhou Ji had a long meeting this afternoon and was currently in the conference room, so they didn't know what Zhou Ji needed to tell them. He didn't return Xu Li's call because he was called to mix drinks. By the time he remembered, it was already evening. Zhou Junchang had been at the front desk all evening and hadn't seen Xu Li return home, so he decided to go upstairs and ask her directly.
I didn't see Xu Li when I came up, so I made a phone call first. I heard the phone ringing next to me, glanced at it unintentionally, and then saw this contact name.
Xu Li preemptively struck, arguing forcefully: "How dare you peek at other people's phones like that!"
Zhou Junchang reached for his phone, feeling both angry and amused: "How dare I say that?"
"Give me back my phone!"
"Change it back."
Change it back? It was never changed at all; Xu Li has always used this name.
No way!
Xu Li certainly didn't reply so confidently. She couldn't possibly win the fight; he was tall and strong, and she barely reached his shoulder. She chuckled and tried to take the phone back: "Let me see—"
Zhou Junchang saw through it at a glance and raised his hand slightly.
Xu Li could have easily grabbed it by standing on tiptoe, but Zhou Jun, being mischievous, held it a little higher and missed.
Xu Li grabbed Zhou Junchang's shoulders. The weather had passed its coldest time, and they were indoors. Zhou Junchang was only wearing a long-sleeved shirt. Through the thin fabric, Xu Li could feel the firm muscles and outlines beneath the clothes.
Xu Li was very sensitive to touch and withdrew her hand somewhat unnaturally.
The atmosphere started to change a little.
When Xu Li withdrew her hand, the inside of her arm gently brushed against Zhou Junchang's chin, making it ticklish.
Zhou Junchang stopped moving, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Xu Li had just withdrawn her hand, but seeing Zhou Junchang staring blankly, she quickly snatched the phone back.
The incident happened in an instant, and afterwards neither of them spoke and they stood there in place.
Zhou Junchang awkwardly touched his chin, his head tilted to one side.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Junchang finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Change it back...."
The assertiveness in his tone was gone.
Xu Li protested softly, her tone slightly mischievous: "I won't change."
"..."
Xu Li pouted and couldn't help but look down and steal a glance at Zhou Junchang.
Seeing the latter's anger and surprise, Xu Li found it somewhat amusing.
The awkward atmosphere instantly dissipated. Zhou Junchang, who was initially angry but also embarrassed, couldn't muster any temper. He finally softened his tone, but Xu Li still insisted on going against him.
Don't you think this person is a bit ungrateful...?
"what ever."
Then he left with a graceful back view.
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