Chapter 9: Lure the Snake Out of Its Hole
1. Wang Yang is here
North of Linzhou, a village awaiting demolition sits like a stubborn sore on the city's surface. Its narrow lanes are tangled with low, drooping electric wires, and the air is thick with the decaying smell of bygone times and the stench of cheap takeout. It's a hodgepodge of good and bad people, a perfect place to hide.
The afterglow of the setting sun barely squeezed through the cracks between the crooked buildings, casting shadows of varying lengths outside an unremarkable rental house. Wang Yang half-crouched behind a dusty Wuling Hongguang, wearing a gray jacket that blended in with the surroundings. His eyes were sharp as he stared at the tightly closed, rust-red iron gate a few dozen meters away. He spoke into the miniature microphone clipped to his collar, his voice low but clear and decisive: "Team One, is the rear window blocked? Team Two, is there any movement at the alley entrance? ... Okay, follow my command."
A few years are enough time for a passionate young detective to settle down. Today, Wang Yang's demeanor is more composed and capable, his actions more sophisticated. He has become a capable deputy captain of the Longdu City Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Detachment. This time, he led his team to Linzhou to assist local police in apprehending two seriously injured and extremely cunning interprovincial fugitives.
"The target has been confirmed, they are all inside. Let's get started!" Wang Yang waved his hand violently.
Almost simultaneously, there was a loud "bang!" as the temporarily reinforced iron door was violently smashed open by the battering ram! Amidst the thick smoke and dust, Wang Yang was the first to rush in like a cheetah, his movements swift and professional, followed closely by the team members behind him.
From inside the house came shouts of shock and anger, and a chaotic clatter of collisions. A bald, muscular man, reacting with remarkable speed, swung a beer bottle from the table and hurled it at Wang Yang. He dodged sideways, shards of glass blasting against his ear. Without hesitation, he slammed into the man, using the force of the impact to slam him against the wall. Seizing the moment of pain and daze, he twisted his arms behind his back and, with a single, smooth movement, cuffed him. Another suspect attempted to escape through the rear window, but was snatched down by the waiting team and pinned to the ground.
The battle ended in a flash. The two vicious fugitives were completely subdued, gasping for breath, their eyes fierce but powerless to recover.
"Control!" "Safe!" The team members' voices rang out one after another.
Wang Yang breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the liquid from his forehead, which was not sure whether it was sweat or alcohol, and checked the suspect's handcuffs to make sure they were secure. A machete, a dagger, and a small amount of cash were found at the scene.
Officers from the local police station also arrived and took over the follow-up work. A young Linzhou criminal police officer smiled and patted Wang Yang on the shoulder: "Captain Wang, you're great! Your skills are still as good as ever! Now the brothers can relax and unwind. We must arrange a dinner tonight to celebrate!"
The other team members also cheered: "That's right! Captain Wang, you have to treat us!"
Wang Yang smiled and waved his hand, his face showing the tiredness and relief of completing a mission, but there was a subtle worry in the depths of his eyes. "Go ahead, eat and drink well, it's all on me. I have a friend here who I need to meet."
"Friend?" The young detective winked and quipped in a low voice, "What kind of friend? Who can make Captain Wang not even attend the celebration party? Could it be that he's hiding a beautiful woman in our Linzhou mansion, a beautiful lady from Jiangnan?"
Everyone laughed knowingly.
Wang Yang scolded the boy with a smile: "Get out! You have no sense in your head! He is a serious old comrade." He did not explain any more, walked aside, took out his mobile phone, and dialed Qin Chuan's number.
The phone rang several times before it was picked up. There was some noise in the background, like the sound of wind and cars passing by.
"Hello?" Qin Chuan's voice came, with a hint of imperceptible fatigue and vigilance.
"Fuck! It's me!" Wang Yang said in a familiar tone, as if they had just been joking around yesterday. "I'm in Linzhou! I just finished a case and arrested two tough guys. What's up, Boss Qin? Don't you want to show your hospitality and treat us to a drink?"
There was silence for two seconds on the other end of the phone, as if a little surprised, and then he said, "...Send me the address."
Half an hour later, the two of them sat at an open-air roadside stall far from the city center. The plastic tables and chairs were greasy, and the air was thick with the aroma of grilled skewers and fried vermicelli noodles. The southern night breeze carried a moist, warm aroma, a stark contrast to the dry, cold winter nights in Longdu.
Wang Yang gulped down half a bottle of ice beer, took a long breath, and looked across at Qin Chuan, who had obviously lost a lot of weight and whose brows were filled with heavy thoughts. He said straight to the point: "Brother Chuan, stop it."
Qin Chuan was picking up a bunch of grilled eggplants. Hearing this, he paused and looked up at him.
Wang Yang put down the bottle, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, his tone unusually serious. "Brother Chuan, we grew up together and later carried guns together. I'm going to be frank with you. What you're doing now is too dangerous! Following, asking questions, and even going so far as to say, "I'm breaking and entering the house to collect evidence"—isn't that 'illegal burglary'? You used to be a police officer! You know the boundaries of the law better than anyone! Every one of these things you're doing now is treading on the legal line! If anything goes wrong, you'll end up in jail before he does, and it's worth it?"
Qin Chuan didn't say anything, but slowly put down the skewers, picked up the bottle of wine and took a sip.
Wang Yang continued to persuade him, counting on his fingers as he analyzed, "Yes, I admit, Huang Qiang's experience is eccentric, and his behavior is suspicious. But just based on a laugh? How many people leave Longdu every year to work? If there's not 10,000, then at least 8,000 people come to Linzhou! Just because he used to work as a gas worker? When they investigated him back then, he had an alibi, his parents and neighbors all testified for him. There was no problem with the process, and he was cleared of suspicion! Now he's showing up near Ouyang's company, at his doorstep, a delivery man. This is perfectly normal, it could be a coincidence! You've been following him for so long, and besides thinking he's weird, have you found any substantial evidence? No, right?"
He sighed, his tone softened, and spoke earnestly, "Brother, it's been four years. That case is a thorn in your heart, and it's pierced my heart as well. But life must move on. Ouyang has finally settled down, and you insist on uncovering her scars and dragging her into this muddy water? What if we are really wrong? What if he is not? Aren't you crazy? Listen to me, let the past be the past. Just live your own life well, okay?"
Qin Chuan listened in silence, his fingers unconsciously stroking the cold beer bottle. Only after Wang Yang finished speaking did he raise his head, his gaze piercing the smoke from the barbecue stall toward the dark, blurry riverbank in the distance. His eyes held fatigue, struggle, but more than that, a determination bordering on paranoia.
After a long moment, he finally spoke. His voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried an undeniable force: "Old Wang, I understand everything you're saying. Laws, procedures, evidence, coincidences—I've thought about all of this a thousand times."
He paused, then took a long gulp of wine, as if using the cool liquid to suppress his surging emotions. Then, looking at Wang Yang, he spoke word by word, "But I can't get over this hurdle in my heart. That feeling can't be wrong. I trust Ouyang's feelings, and I trust my own judgment. He is the snake, but he's hiding too deep and hasn't revealed his true colors yet."
Wang Yang opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him again, but when he met Qin Chuan's eyes, which burned with a silent fire, he swallowed all his words back. He knew that once Qin Chuan made up his mind, no one could change his mind.
A heavy, helpless silence fell between the two. Only the clatter of street vendors, the clink of woks, and the occasional clink of bottles filled the air. The cold beer flowed down his throat, but it couldn't dissolve the weight in his chest. The beer was soaked with memories of the past, unfulfilled responsibilities, a heavy sense of guilt, and a deep worry about the uncertain future.
2. I know you are the murderer
The next morning, Wang Yang escorted the fugitive back to Longdu with his team. Before leaving, he patted Qin Chuan's shoulder, his thousand words condensed into one sentence: "Be careful, and call me anytime."
Qin Chuan watched the convoy depart, his heart weighing down like a huge rock, growing even more depressing. Wang Yang's well-reasoned persuasion was like a bucket of cold water, nearly extinguishing the burning flame of desperation within him. But the thought of Ouyang Lanlan's horrified eyes, Huang Qiang's strange calm, and the probing question, "Are you living alone?", reignited that fire, burning even more fiercely.
He couldn't wait any longer. The feeling of knowing his prey was right before his eyes, yet with no evidence, he could only watch him walk freely in the sunlight, a feeling that nearly drove him mad. Years of detective instinct and months of close observation were like two taut ropes, tightly constricting his conviction—he was the murderer, merely cloaked in a disguise that blended seamlessly into the crowd.
He needed proof, even if it was just to himself. He needed a signal, a signal that could break this suffocating deadlock.
A few days later, Qin Chuan sent a text message to Huang Qiang using an untraceable, temporarily purchased anonymous phone number. The message was brief, yet like a carefully placed bomb, it was enough to stir up a huge wave in the stagnant situation:
"I know you're the perpetrator of the 2011 Longdu serial rape case. I have evidence. I want it back. See you at Beauty Dam tomorrow night at 10 o'clock."
As the text message was sent, Qin Chuan could almost hear his own heart beating violently. He knew it was a risky move, one that could alert the enemy, potentially leading to even more frenzied retaliation, or simply fall on deaf ears, proving him wrong. But he had no other choice.
The next evening, around nine o'clock.
The Qiantang River makes a sharp bend here, its current surging and its embankment winding. Known as "Beauty Dam," it's a tidal bore not too far from the city. Weekend daytime visitors and anglers gather, but on weekday evenings, especially at this time, the scene is long gone. A few distant streetlights cast a dim glow, barely illuminating a small expanse of the concrete dam. Beyond the lights lies a bottomless darkness. The river breeze, carrying moisture and a chill, whistles past, rustling the reeds along the shore, adding to the desolate and eerie atmosphere.
Qin Chuan arrived over an hour early. He chose a spot on the embankment slope, far from the streetlights and covered in dense shrubs and weeds, and stalked in like a sniper, stealthily. This location offered an excellent view, overlooking the entire designated dam area while remaining extremely concealed. He wore dark clothing and even applied a simple camouflage to his face, blending seamlessly into the night. He waited, his senses heightened to the utmost, his ears picking up the slightest sound, his eyes like the most sophisticated instruments, scanning every inch of darkness within his sight. He was even anticipating the appearance of a familiar figure in this desolate place.
Time passed by minute by minute. The river roared in the distance, and nearby there was only the chirping of insects and the sound of wind.
Five minutes past ten.
The dam was still deserted, with only the streetlights casting long, lonely shadows.
Ten past ten.
A figure slowly approached from the other side of the dam. Qin Chuan's heart instantly rose. He held his breath and adjusted the focus of the telescope. The figure was getting closer and closer. At first glance, the figure's outline was somewhat similar to Huang Qiang. He was wearing a dark coat and had his head lowered. Qin Chuan's fingers clenched slightly.
However, when the man walked under a streetlight and raised his head slightly, Qin Chuan saw his face clearly. It wasn't Huang Qiang! It was a completely unfamiliar, middle-aged man with a numb expression. The man walked to a trash can on the dam and casually threw something in it. Then, with his hands in his pockets, he continued walking forward as if nothing had happened, and soon disappeared into the darkness on the other side.
Qin Chuan slowly breathed a sigh of relief, but then disappointment washed over him. Was it a coincidence? Or had Huang Qiang discovered something and deliberately sent someone to test him?
He suppressed his restlessness and chose to remain in hiding. As time passed, the river breeze grew colder, piercing his bones. By eleven o'clock, the dam surface had fallen completely silent. Aside from the sound of wind and water, there was no movement.
Huang Qiang didn't come.
A huge sense of loss and self-doubt washed over me once again. Was I really wrong? That text message fell on deaf ears, the other party completely dismissive. Or was he really just an insignificant delivery driver?
Just when Qin Chuan was about to conclude that the operation had failed and was preparing to retreat quietly, the screen of his mobile phone, which he had previously muted, suddenly lit up in the dark, emitting a continuous, cold vibration.
An unfamiliar local number.
Qin Chuan's heart skipped a beat! He quickly picked up the phone, took a deep breath, and pressed the answer button, but didn't say anything immediately.
There was silence on the other end of the line, too. Only the faint, almost imperceptible sound of breathing carried through the electricity, carrying a cold quality.
The silence lasted for more than ten seconds, a long time that felt like a century. It was as if the other party was also on the other end of the line, quietly waiting and evaluating.
Then, a voice came slowly and dryly. It was Huang Qiang's unique, lackluster voice:
"There's what you need in the trash can."
After saying that, without waiting for Qin Chuan to respond, the call was hung up neatly, leaving only a busy tone.
Qin Chuan gripped the phone, his palms icy with sweat. He felt no excitement at the thought of the call going through; instead, a chill ran down his tailbone. Huang Qiang had not only received the message, but had also correctly guessed that he was nearby, observing! He might even be hiding in a more secluded corner, observing the area from behind, waiting for him, the "sender," to give up and show up to check the trash can!
This is a reverse temptation! A psychological game in the dark!
Qin Chuan forced himself to calm down. He had already partially achieved his goal. Huang Qiang's call was almost a disguised admission of guilt! He was absolutely inextricably linked to the accusations in the text message! Otherwise, a normal person receiving such a ridiculous accusation would either ignore it or call the police. This was definitely not their reaction.
That was enough. As for the "thing" in the trash can, whether it was real or fake, a trap or a clue, it didn't matter at this moment. He must not expose himself at this moment.
Qin Chuan continued to lurk in the same place like a stone sculpture for nearly an hour, until he was sure that there was no more unusual movement around him. Then, like a ghost, he slowly and cautiously withdrew from the Meiniaoba area under the cover of night and terrain.
3. Memories of Crime
The night is deep.
Inside an old residential building in Linzhou, a room with thick curtains drawn seems cut off from the outside world. The only light comes from a dim desk lamp, which only illuminates a small area on the table where a plastic mannequin head wearing a wig is placed.
Huang Qiang sat at the table, holding the delicate comb in his hand, intermittently combing his long, curly brown hair. His movements seemed focused, yet also a little absent-minded. The room was eerily quiet, with only the subtle sound of the comb scraping across the wig.
Time seems to have flown back to a few years ago, those gloomy old communities in Longdu City——
In the flickering light, a voice rang out, shrill and distorted, as if someone was pinching their throat and deliberately imitating a female voice. It seemed particularly abrupt and strange in the silence: "Brother... I'm thinking about it again..."
The source of the sound was Huang Qiang. His lips were only slightly moving and his facial expression was stiff, as if the sound was squeezed directly out of his abdominal cavity.
Then, another voice, low and hoarse, with obvious impatience and a hint of suppressed anger, said: "What are you thinking?"
The shrill voice sounded again, with a morbid desire: "I want you to help me... get another woman."
"Last time I was helping you get revenge, and this time no one is bullying you. Who are you targeting for no reason?" the deep voice retorted, its tone getting heavier.
The shrill voice began to take on a pleading tone, as if it were a drug addict: "I feel... that feeling is very good... It doesn't matter who you do it to... I'll arrange it... Can you help me one more time... Okay? Brother..."
The conversation ended abruptly.
But in the days that followed, a delicate, even timid, gasman, dressed in washed-out work clothes and carrying a heavy gas tank, shuttled between residential buildings. He walked with his head lowered, rarely meeting eyes. But his peripheral vision, like a sophisticated scanner, meticulously observed every house number, the laundry drying outside, the conversations he overheard... He silently memorized: single women, work hours, family structure. Occasionally, the key between his fingers would discreetly leave a simple mark on the mottled corridor wall, a mark only he could understand—"1," "2," "3"...
At night, he lurked like a ghost in the upper hallway of his target, holding his breath, calculating the time. Footsteps sounded, a key inserted into the lock... and the moment the door opened, he pounced like a cheetah, tightly covering the victim's mouth with his hands, stained with gloves stained with motor oil and ethyl mercaptan, and violently pushing them into the house...
Struggling figures, tearing tape, desperate eyes, cold scissors pressed against long hair, the sound of hair breaking...
In that dark room, he was intoxicated and almost reverently combing the wig made from the victim's real hair, carefully putting it on the model's head, showing a weird and twisted smile to the mirror, and muttering almost crazy:
"Mine...all mine..."
"I am worthy of being a woman. This is perfect..."
"Why do you...why do you have the right to..."
"What I can't have, no one else can have..."
"I'm going to take away your most precious thing..."
…
The vortex of memories disappears.
Huang Qiang suddenly looked up from the table, his face expressionless, his eyes filled with cold fear and renewed fury. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails practically dug into his palms.
That sudden text message was like a rusty key that suddenly opened the Pandora's box that he had tried to seal forever.
Are the survivor of the fourth case, the woman who has been appearing in his sight recently, and the sender hiding in the dark the same person?
He thought he had long since left Longdu, lurking among the masses, his bloody and twisted past buried deep within. He had once been obsessed with the morbid pleasure of controlling life and death, depriving people of their pleasures, a near-mad, vengeful outlet. But the near-exposure four years ago, and the brush with the police, had left him like a frightened bird, forcibly suppressing this desire, seeking only peace and concealment.
Who knows that the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop.
"The tree wishes to be still... but the wind does not stop..." He muttered to himself, repeating a line he'd heard by chance in junior high Chinese class but had inexplicably memorized today. The corners of his mouth slowly twitched upwards, forming a cold, sinister arc.
Rage, like venom, began to spread through his veins once more. His secret, a secret that concerned his life and death, had actually been discovered? Who had done it? Was it that woman? Or someone else?
He was unhappy. Very unhappy.
4. Keep your mouth shut
It's late at night.
Ouyang Lanlan frowned in her sleep. The tension during the day and the loneliness at night made her sleep uneasily.
Sudden--
"Buzz—buzz—"
The phone on the bedside table vibrated violently, the screen suddenly lighting up, glaring in the darkness. It rang once, then stopped abruptly.
Ouyang Lanlan was awakened, opened her eyes in a daze, looked at the dark screen, and was stunned for a few seconds, thinking it was a harassing call or a wrong dial. She muttered something, turned over and wanted to go back to sleep.
However, within a few minutes.
"Buzz—buzz—buzz—"
The phone rang stubbornly again, this time with a continuous vibration and ringing sound.
Ouyang Lanlan's heart tightened for no apparent reason, a bad feeling coming over her. She picked up her phone, and an unfamiliar number appeared on the screen. After a moment's hesitation, she pressed the answer button and put it to her ear.
"Hello? Who is this?"
There was dead silence on the other end of the phone.
There was only the sound of breathing.
The slow, low, penetrating sound of breathing came clearly through the receiver. Again and again. It was as if someone was clinging to the microphone, silently observing her.
Ouyang Lanlan's sleepiness was instantly scared away, and the hairs on her body stood on end!
"Hello?! Speak! Who are you?!" Her voice trembled with fear.
The other party remained silent, with only the creepy breathing sound. After more than ten seconds, the call was abruptly hung up. A busy tone came.
Ouyang Lanlan sat on the bed, her phone in hand, her heart pounding, her pajamas soaked with sweat. She leaped out of bed and ran barefoot to the door, panicking and repeatedly checking to see if the door was locked and the safety chain was engaged.
She immediately called Qin Chuan, her voice tearful: "Qin Chuan! He...he called again! Not talking! Just gasping for breath! I was scared to death!"
Qin Chuan's voice immediately sobered up: "Don't be afraid! Lock the door! I'll be down soon!"
In less than half an hour, Qin Chuan arrived at her door. He first carefully observed the corridor before letting Ouyang Lanlan open the door.
However, the moment Ouyang Lanlan opened the door, Qin Chuan's gaze suddenly fixed on the floor outside the door.
There, lying quietly, was an ordinary white envelope.
No signature, no postmark.
Qin Chuan's heart sank. He motioned for Ouyang Lanlan to stay still and carefully placed a tissue under the envelope as he picked it up. It was very thin.
He walked into the house, closed the door, and unpacked it carefully under the light.
There was no letter paper inside, only a sheet of lined paper torn from a notebook. It was covered with printed words cut from newspapers and old books, forming a sentence:
"Mind your mouth. The past is in the past. Live the rest of your life happily."
The font sizes are different and the arrangement is slightly crooked, with a deliberate sense of chaos and coldness.
Ouyang Lanlan came over and saw these words, her face turned even paler, and her body trembled slightly: "This... this is him..."
"It must be him." Qin Chuan's voice was terrifyingly low, his eyes sharp as a knife. "There are no fingerprints, no handwriting, there is no way to investigate. This is a warning to you."
He took a deep breath and decided not to hide it anymore: "He might think that the text message was sent by you. Or, at least think it is related to you."
I sent a text message to "lure the snake out of its hole" and briefly told Ouyang Lanlan what happened at Meiniaoba last night.
After hearing this, Ouyang Lanlan was even more frightened, but her eyes revealed a strange sense of certainty and anger: "It really is him! He really is that beast!"
The fear still lingered, but after confirming the identity of her opponent, she felt a sense of determination to fight to the death.
What Qin Chuan didn't tell Ouyang Lanlan was that, after picking up the envelope, he subconsciously shone his flashlight carefully on the wall beside the door. On the slightly mottled surface, a very inconspicuous short vertical line symbol, as if casually scratched with a sharp object, could be vaguely seen. It looked very much like the "1" sign representing "living alone" outside the door of the Longdu crime scene.
5. New Guardian
Ouyang Lanlan barely slept that night, while Qin Chuan stayed awake on the sofa in the living room until dawn.
The next morning, Qin Chuan hurried out with a grave expression. Huang Qiang's reaction had been quicker, more direct, and more dangerous than he had anticipated. The silent phone call and the collage letter were blatant warnings and threats. He couldn't imagine what extreme actions Huang Qiang would take next if he believed Ouyang Lanlan was the only person with inside information or a threat.
More direct and rigorous protective measures must be taken. We can no longer rely on the other party's hesitation and luck.
He was out and about all day, contacting real estate agents, checking properties, and purchasing items. That evening, he knocked on Ouyang Lanlan's door again, carrying a heavy tool bag.
"Who?" Ouyang Lanlan's vigilant voice came from inside the door, and her reaction was faster than any previous time.
"I, Qin Chuan."
The door was ajar, with a safety chain hanging on it. Ouyang Lanlan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was him through the crack, and removed the chain to let him in.
"Why are you here again?" She looked at the bulging tool kit in Qin Chuan's hand, feeling a little confused.
"I'll give you some safety measures." Qin Chuan said briefly, put down his bag, and took out several pairs of obviously thicker and stronger alloy anti-theft door chains.
There were several matchbox-sized white plastic devices (door and window alarms) and even a small can of pepper spray. "These old-fashioned door chains don't work; they can be kicked open with a bit of force. But there's this thing you attach to door and window frames. If someone breaks in and the connection is broken, it'll sound a shrill alarm over 120 decibels, loud enough to wake up everyone on the floor and double as a bright flashlight to blind them."
Without further ado, he pulled out a screwdriver and other tools and expertly began removing the old door chain and installing a new one. His movements were professional, precise, and precise, just as focused and reliable as when he was on the scene back then.
Ouyang Lanlan watched him busy at work, a complex feeling welling up in her heart: a strong sense of security, yet also a hint of helpless sadness. "Thank you, Qin Chuan. Actually... there's really no need to go to all this trouble. I'll be more careful next time..."
"No need to bother. Safety first." Qin Chuan said without turning his head, his tone unquestionable, "Caution is no match for deliberate malice." He quickly completed the installation, carefully debugged the alarm, and clapped his hands, "Okay, let's try it."
Ouyang Lanlan tried the new door chain and found it was indeed much stronger than before, giving her a solid sense of security. The alarm was also extremely sensitive.
"Okay, I'll go upstairs then." Qin Chuan began to pack up his tools.
"Going up?" Ouyang Lanlan was stunned for a moment, "Where are you going?" She subconsciously glanced out the window, it was already deep night.
Qin Chuan opened the door and pointed at the ceiling. He tried to force a casual expression on his face to dilute the solemn atmosphere. "I forgot to tell you, from today on, we are neighbors. I rented the house upstairs from you, room 1303. Call me anytime if you need anything. Come down quickly."
Ouyang Lanlan was completely stunned. She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say. The warmth in her heart was slightly diluted by a feeling of being both amused and embarrassed, and a slight sense of unease. "I live in 1003, and you live in 1303. What kind of neighbors are these?"
Qin Chuan complained seriously, as if he was talking about a daily trivial matter: "Do you think I don't want to rent the house opposite or next door to you? I can't contact the landlord of 1002 at all. It is said that it has been vacant for a long time! A family lives in 1004, and we can't just kick them out. As for 1303, the floor is a bit high, but I still asked several agents for help, talked for a long time, and paid a deposit of half a year before I finally got it! Be content!" He deliberately omitted the detail that the rent was much higher than the market price.
Ouyang Lanlan looked at him pretending to be wronged and complaining, knowing that he was trying to comfort himself, and couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth, but quickly suppressed the smile and whispered: "Qin Chuan, you really don't have to do this. This is too much of a fuss. You have your own life too."
"I'm happy to." Qin Chuan interrupted her, picked up the tool bag, and said in a tone that did not allow for rebuttal, "Let's go. Remember, if you feel anything is wrong, shout loudly or call directly, don't hesitate. I'll run down the stairs, it's much faster than waiting for the elevator."
He pushed the door open and went out, then seemed to remember something and turned back to add, trying to lighten the mood: "By the way, I'm moving into a new house, why don't you treat me to a meal to celebrate?"
Ouyang Lanlan saw the fatigue and concern that were hard to conceal in his eyes, and her heart ached. She deliberately put on a stern face, but her tone softened: "You wish. Wait until you catch him."
Qin Chuan didn't mind. He chuckled and turned to head for the emergency exit. The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell, and a voice came from above: "I'll walk up the stairs to exercise! And familiarize myself with the escape route and the surroundings!"
He felt inexplicably happy because before leaving the house, Ouyang Lanlan leaned forward slightly to close the door, and her collar opened slightly.
Qin Chuan noticed that she had carefully tied the police uniform button he had given her to a simple black leather cord and hung it around her neck. The golden national emblem against her fair, slender neck gleamed faintly but firmly in the dim light of the room. The cold, hard metal formed a strange yet harmonious contrast with her delicate skin, making it look exceptionally beautiful and unique.
He was slightly startled, then the corners of his mouth curled up imperceptibly. He didn't say anything, but his heart felt like being gently hit by something.
Ouyang Lanlan noticed his gaze and subconsciously touched the button with her hand. Then she lowered her head somewhat unnaturally, her ears slightly red, pretending to adjust the door lock.
Qin Chuan didn't say anything after reading it. A silent and subtle tacit understanding flowed quietly between the two of them.
Ouyang Lanlan closed the door and leaned against the cold door panel, listening to the faint and deliberately heavier footsteps coming from upstairs, one, two, and gradually fading away... The string in her heart that had been tense for too long and was almost about to break seemed to be finally held firmly by a strong and warm force, and loosened a little.
She subconsciously reached her hand toward her chest, her fingertips touching the cold, hard metal button. She carefully traced the small, convex and concave national emblem pattern on it with her fingertips, as if she could draw a trace of reassuring, heavy strength from it.
Upstairs, Qin Chuan opened the door to room 1303. The room was bare, with only the most basic furniture and a faint smell of freshly swept dust. He walked to the window and looked down, just in time to see a corner of Ouyang Lanlan's balcony. He took out his walkie-talkie and tuned it to a specific frequency. It was a powerful civilian walkie-talkie he had bought that day, set to an encrypted channel, and handed one to Ouyang Lanlan, keeping the other for himself.
"Hello, test. 1003, can you hear me?" he whispered into the intercom.
Soon, Ouyang Lanlan's voice, slightly humming with electricity but clear, came from the intercom: "...I can hear you. 1303."
"Roger that. Doors and windows locked, alarm on. Good night."
"good evening!"
Qin Chuan put down the walkie-talkie and looked at the warm light downstairs again, his eyes becoming sharp and firm again.
The mantis-like criminal was alarmed and showed his claws.
Hunting has entered a new phase. Guarding must also be airtight.
He knew that the real battle had just begun.
(End of Chapter 9)
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