Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 238

The top office of the Municipal Police Bureau.

Director Wu, the immediate superior of Xing Conglian, stood side by side with Director Dong in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

The elderly man, nearing retirement, held a lukewarm teacup in his hands. His eyes were half-closed, seemingly drifting off to sleep, oblivious to the commotion downstairs.

The entrance of the municipal bureau was already crowded with reporters, capturing every movement of the officers coming and going on camera.

Dong Hua looked down. His previous question got no response, so he had no choice but to raise his voice. “Teacher, you shouldn’t underestimate the situation.”

Yes, everyone knew that he came from the provincial capital, representing the highest authority, but in reality, among the people present, he still had to listen to the other’s opinion.

Once a teacher, always a father figure*. That was probably the meaning behind it.

*Proverb that conveys the idea that the role of a teacher goes beyond mere instruction and extends to a lifelong responsibility and care for their students, similar to that of a father and his child.

“I’m just closing my eyes, not underestimating it.”

The old man standing beside him half-opened his eyes, held the cup, and symbolically took a sip.

“Just now, when I wanted to detain him, why didn’t you let me do it?”

Dong Hua stood with his hands behind his back. He lowered his head as he asked that. It was obviously uncomfortable to have the CEO of Zhourui Pharmaceutical show off his power in front of him and leave.

Director Wu shook his head. “After so many years, you still like to exert your energy in these matters.”

“Since Zhourui Pharmaceutical is a company involved in this case, and their person in charge came to the police station to turn themselves in, isn’t it only natural for us to detain the relevant personnel?” Dong Hua furrowed his brows. He didn’t understand.

“It is within reason, but that doesn’t mean it should be done.” Director Wu Lao’s half-bald head had no hair left, making it a bit dazzling in the sunlight.

“I don’t understand.”

“The person in charge of the company voluntarily came to you to admit the problem. Isn’t this what you wanted? On one hand, he is responsible for the issue, but on the other hand, he is also a conscientious member of the public who provided leads for solving the case and a victimized company. It wouldn’t look good if such a person is detained on the spot by the police.”

Dong Hua frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Take it slow. By now, the people from the Drug Administration should have arrived, right? Since Zhourui’s people like to make the news, then we, on the other hand, can make a big splash.” Wu Tianming looked at the other side. “But before that, let’s make some space for our grassroots detectives.”

……

Inside the Jeep’s cabin.

The in-car radio was still broadcasting news updates. The news had now shifted to sporadic follow-up reports, including analysis from pharmaceutical experts and strategies for families to cope.

As he listened to the information, Xing Conglian’s thoughts were focused on how to ensure the safety of everyone while successfully controlling the situation at the nursing home.

It was highly likely that Shen Lian had already escaped, but there was also a possibility that she had chosen to stay there.

If she had left, which main roads should the local police guard or focus their control on?

Finally, he lowered the volume of the radio and dialed the phone number of the police officer in charge of the Hongshu Town Police Station, which Huihe Nursing Home belonged to.

……

The Huihe Nursing Home in Hongshu Town was about 25 kilometers away from Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant. According to the navigation software, it would take about 30 minutes to drive there.

Fortunately, the traffic wasn’t heavy at the moment, so they encountered no obstacles along the way.

The advantage of having an experienced old police officer by his side was that he knew all the roads in the city, including the towns, like the back of his hand. He could quickly find the best driving route.

Lao Bian had a serious expression as he stepped on the accelerator with a determined gaze. His face bore the distinct lines of a seasoned detective who had weathered the wind and sun over the years.

Lin Chen glanced at the old police officer who was driving and knew that he must have a lot of questions after the commotion in the shop and the subsequent news, but due to his stubborn nature, he kept his thoughts to himself.

The traffic light ahead turned red, and the old police officer slammed on the brakes. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and then reached out, fumbling on the dashboard as if looking for a lighter. Lin Chen handed him a lighter from his pocket.

“You don’t smoke, do you?” Lao Bian turned his head and asked.

Lin Chen shook his head and simply said, “It’s for someone else.”

Lao Bian lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and after making up his mind, he spoke with his arm trembling slightly. However, the hand gripping the steering wheel remained steady. Lin Chen listened quietly as the other person said, “Shen Lian didn’t lie back then, did she?”

Lao Bian’s arm trembled, but his grip on the steering wheel remained steady. Lin Chen listened quietly. “After talking with all of you, I’ve been thinking about that girl from back then. If I had been more patient with her, would none of these things have happened afterwards?”

Lin Chen pondered for a moment, looked ahead at the road, and answered, “There are things that we don’t know until we apprehend Shen Lian. But there’s one thing I am certain of, and it’s also something that has struck me deeply recently.”

“What kind of thing?”

“I suddenly realized that in this world, good-hearted people always rush to take responsibility, while the selfish ones prefer to shirk it. If they can escape unscathed with no damage to themselves, they consider it even better.”

Lin Chen didn’t know if his words could console the old police officer who was burdened by guilt. All he knew was that this might not be comforting at all; it was something that was happening all the time.

……

When Li Nuo received a call from Xing Conglian, he felt both nervous and excited.

He was a police officer on the outskirts of Hongjing, usually dealing with trivial matters in the neighborhood and countryside, such as minor thefts and disputes.

When he was first transferred here, he was full of passion and wanted to make a difference. But in less than six months, he had already realized the reality before him. Unless he was transferred elsewhere, he would never be able to achieve any significant accomplishments or receive any commendations in his lifetime.

Not long ago, news of the events happening in Hongjing reached him, and he was worried about his grandfather. His grandfather had always had cardiovascular problems, and he seemed to be taking medication similar to Zhourui’s. According to the news, there was a high possibility that something might happen to his grandfather… Li Nuo dared not think further.

As a result, Xing Conglian called.

Li Nuo knew who Xing Conglian was.

He was the captain of the city’s criminal investigation division, and in recent years, he had solved several major cases in a row. Li Nuo had gathered as much information as possible on each case and carefully studied them, becoming more and more impressed.

Then, this idol-like figure told him that the wanted suspect Shen Lian might be in his jurisdiction. At that moment, Li Nuo felt a surreal sensation, as if he had been struck by a meteor. After all, the chances of this happening were definitely much lower than winning a five-million-dollar lottery ticket.

Li Nuo hung up the phone and looked at the farmland outside the window, seeing an old dog basking in the sun on the field bank, and a small hill situated by the lake in the distance.

The terrain there was higher, with complex small paths and densely populated residential areas at the foot of the mountain, while higher up, it was a quiet nursing home. In his memory, that nursing home was very peaceful. He had been there during some fire inspections. It housed seriously ill elderly people, and the director was a middle-aged woman with a compassionate heart. There weren’t many caregivers, but everything was well organized.

How was it possible that Shen Lian was there?

The summer afternoon sun was unbelievably gentle, casting a golden veil over everything.

Li Nuo shivered and knew that all of this was not an illusion but a truly beautiful sight, and because of its beauty, it would inevitably become very fragile.

The young police officer put his phone back in his pocket and silently recited the instructions Xing Conglian had just given him.

He picked up the walkie-talkie from the table, adjusted his police cap, and rushed outside.

……

When Xing Conglian received the call from Huang Ze, he had just parked his car in the Municipal Police Bureau’s parking lot.

Due to the presence of reporters, the vehicles were congested here, and it took him some time to find a parking space. Huang Ze’s voice was as cold as shattered ice.

“Xing Conglian, you need to report to the Inspection and Supervision Department of the Municipal Police Bureau within an hour without fail.”

Upon hearing these words, Xing Conglian’s movements slowed down. He turned off the engine, sat in the quiet car, and glanced at the pale lights in the parking lot. He asked, “Inspector Huang, is there something wrong?”

His frivolous tone seemed to anger Huang Ze, whose voice became slightly louder as he questioned, “Don’t you know what you did wrong?”

“What did I do wrong?” Xing Conglian repeated those words playfully, leaning back in his seat. He said, “I really don’t know. How about you tell me, Inspector Huang?”

There was an audible intake of breath from Huang Ze on the other end of the phone, followed by a deep exhale as if he were adjusting himself. “No matter where you are or what you’re doing, report to the Inspection and Supervision Department of the Municipal Police Bureau immediately. You have been temporarily suspended, and I will be the one to oversee and investigate your actions.”

“Heh.” Xing Conglian chuckled lightly and said with certainty, “It seems this time it’s about me and not Lin Chen. What kind of trouble has Zhourui Pharmaceutical caused that gives you such confidence to come after me?”

Huang Ze’s voice grew colder. “Remember, within an hour.”

“No need for an hour.” Xing Conglian got out of the car and slammed the door shut, the loud sound echoing in the parking lot.

He calmly said, “I’m already here.”

…….

Lin Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the car door handle.

The car was speeding, and the scenery outside had already changed.

The fields were vast, the sky was high, and the car zoomed through the road amidst the lush green rice fields. Approaching the direction of Hongshu Town, they encountered two police cars coming from the neighboring town. It was obvious that these were the reserve forces assembled by Xing Conglian.

The three cars drove in a convoy, without stopping to greet each other, but their destinations were very much aligned.

At the foot of the small hill at the end of the world, Li Nuo stood beside a low house. He crouched down and greeted an old lady who was sitting in the shade of a tree, enjoying the coolness.

According to Captain Xing’s instructions on the phone earlier, he shouldn’t approach the vicinity of the nursing home but instead maintain surveillance from a distance on the road. However, for some reason, Li Nuo had an extremely bad premonition. So he changed into plain clothes, arranged for others to guard the main roads, and went up the mountain alone.

“Xiao Li.” The old lady squinted her eyes and looked at him for a while before recognizing him. “Is there another fight at Lao Zhang’s house?”

The Lao Zhang she mentioned was a rather rowdy family in the village. Mrs. Zhang was fierce and would get into a physical fight with her husband at the slightest provocation. Out of the ten times Li Nuo came here, eight times it was because neighbors of the Zhang family had called him to mediate. As a small local police officer, he usually dealt with such trivial matters. Now, suddenly having to apprehend some A-class fugitive, it would be fake to say that Li Nuo wasn’t feeling anxious. But he still asked in a low voice, “Grandma Wang, have you been sitting here all this time? Have you seen anyone suspicious coming down from the nursing home on the mountain?”

“Yeah, I’ve been sitting here to cool off after having a meal.” The old lady fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan, sitting up straight and highly alert. “What happened? Is there a thief?”

Li Nuo shook his head. “Something came up. Could you think about it for me?”

“Someone from the nursing home… No, I haven’t seen Auntie Chen today.” The old lady shook her palm-leaf fan again and suddenly tapped her leg. “Now that you mention it, I think I just saw the small van that the nursing home uses for groceries pass by.”

Li Nuo became alert and turned around, immediately dialing a friend at the county’s traffic department to request verification of the vehicles belonging to the nursing home and the surveillance footage at the intersections.

……

When Xing Conglian received the photo of Shen Lian driving the van out of the main road in Hongshu Town, Huang Ze was standing in front of him saying something like, “Xing Conglian, you are now being officially interviewed by the Inspector’s Office. Please turn off all communication devices.”

He didn’t quite catch the details as he carefully examined the surveillance photo.

In the photo, Shen Lian remained calm, like an expressionless mannequin on a shelf, as if going to a prearranged appointment.

The timestamp indicated that it happened twenty minutes ago, which meant that, based on the timing, Shen Lian had taken action almost simultaneously with the appearance of the news.

Xing Conglian’s emotions were momentarily complex. On one hand, he once again admired Lin Chen’s accurate judgment and positioning. On the other hand, he was furious. If it weren’t for Zhourui Pharmaceutical interfering, they would probably have already come face-to-face with Shen Lian.

And for people like him, the angrier they became, the calmer they grew.

Instead of angrily shouting at Huang Ze, he lowered his head and sent a few arrangements through text messages. After finally sending the phone number of the officer in charge to Lin Chen, he had a moment to raise his head and look at the Inspector in front of him.

Perhaps at that moment, he didn’t control his gaze well, or maybe Huang Ze saw the contents of the photo on his phone. In any case, the Inspector slammed the table in anger and said, “Xing Conglian, the authority to handle the case is no longer in your hands. What you need to do is explain the situation clearly!”

Xing Conglian surveyed his surroundings and only asked, “Where are the people from Zhourui Pharmaceutical?”

“That’s not a matter you’re entitled to be concerned about!”

Xing Conglian dragged a chair and sat opposite Huang Ze at the table. “If there’s a situation that requires me to explain it clearly, there should at least be a face-to-face confrontation.” He smirked, took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and asked, “Where is Lao Wu?”

Huang Ze hesitated for a moment, only then realizing who he meant by “Lao Wu”.

“I want to talk to Lao Wu. Bring him to me, whether he’s upstairs or downstairs.”

……

Li Nuo walked down from the small hill just as Lin Chen’s car arrived.

He had seen this psychology expert on TV broadcasts before, and now that he saw him in person, he felt like he was just an ordinary person. Lin Chen was wearing a brick-red checkered shirt and light-colored casual pants, unlike typical experts who wore glasses or had a scholarly air to them. Apart from his fair skin and calm gaze, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.

But in a way, when Li Nuo shook hands with Lin Chen, whether it was the strength in his palm or his calm tone that could dispel any tension, Li Nuo felt that this person was highly trustworthy.

“Tell me about Huihe Nursing Home,” Lin Chen said directly, without engaging in small talk.

The police officers who had come to assist from the neighboring town also got out of their cars. However, most of the police force had been deployed to the main roads for surveillance, as the surveillance footage showed that Shen Lian had already left the nursing home. Only the basic 10-person team remained.

Among them, the highest-ranking officer had the rank of a Third-Level Police Superintendent, but in front of Lin Chen, no one interrupted or gave any random orders.

Li Nuo briefly described the situation at Huihe Nursing Home, and Lin Chen didn’t immediately respond.

At that moment, someone spoke up. “Since there is evidence showing that Shen Lian left the nursing home from above, it is necessary to conduct a basic search.”

“But didn’t the notice say that the woman was carrying highly toxic substances? Could there be a trap up there?” another person said.

“She’s just a female fugitive, and she’s already gone. Are we, the police, going to be scared at the foot of the mountain? What kind of image does that give?”

Li Nuo swallowed nervously and looked at Lin Chen.

It was then that the psychology consultant finally spoke. “Did any villagers mention that they haven’t seen anyone from the nursing home coming down the mountain all day?”

“Yes, but it was only Mrs. Wang who said that,” Li Nuo cautiously added.

Lin Chen’s expression visibly grew colder, but he quickly lifted his gaze and said to him, “Do you have the nursing home’s phone number? Make a call.”

It felt like the simplest test or something of that sort, but when Li Nuo took out his phone, he felt that the object in his hand was as precious as gold. He flipped through his contacts and found the number, then looked up. Lin Chen’s resolute gaze met his, and he took a deep breath before pressing the call button.

Everything around became quiet.

The wind coming from the open field blew past him, but Li Nuo couldn’t feel it. His heart was beating fast, and his nervous hands were trembling.

The first beep sounded, and he felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

Beep…

The second prolonged electronic tone slowly followed.

It showed that the phone at the nursing home was still connected, and the line hadn’t been cut off. Li Nuo didn’t know why he was worried about these things, but perhaps there was something he feared deep inside.

He clenched his fist tightly, praying that someone would answer the phone, even if it was just a simple “Hello.”

Every second passed by, and although the waiting tone on the phone wouldn’t last more than a minute, it felt like an eternity to Li Nuo.

However, the call was automatically disconnected by the telecom company before he could even hear that simple “Hello.”

Li Nuo instinctively raised his head and felt as if the golden veil of sunlight that covered the top of the nursing home had turned black, like a shadow casting over everyone’s hearts.

“Go up the mountain.”

Lin Chen lowered his eyelids but spoke with a resolute tone to them.

……

For a long time after that incident, Lin Chen’s memory wasn’t very clear.

Although he was confident that he had walked up that hill and had a visual concept of the layout of the houses on either side and the appearance of the trees, even the way the hens strolled in the fields or the colors of the vegetable fields halfway up the mountain, he didn’t have a logical sequence of the details of how they reached that nursing home or what they experienced during the process in his mind.

However, at that time, he was certain that when they were about 100 meters away from the nursing home, he sensed something unusual in the air.

Earlier, experienced veteran police officers had already arranged for some of the team to flank from the rear in a roundabout manner, while others approached through the neighborhood. Only he and another police officer named Li Nuo walked openly on the cement road directly leading to the nursing home’s gate.

When he smelled that scent, he and Li Nuo exchanged glances, quickened their pace, and rushed towards the iron gate of the nursing home.

When they could see the gatehouse clearly, they were certain that there was no one inside.

The seats were empty, and there was an old-fashioned beige telephone on the table. A visitor registration form hung in a corner on the wall, and aside from that, there were various crooked and scattered items.

Lin Chen looked up, and the surveillance camera in the corner of the gatehouse turned towards him. He stared at the pitch-black camera lens, as if he had seen the vertical pupils of a demon, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

Without wasting any time looking for reinforcements or waiting for backup, the police officer beside him swiftly climbed over the iron movable fence and rushed into the gatehouse to press the open button.

The electric gate slowly moved aside, revealing the panoramic view of the nursing home, bit by bit.

Lin Chen took a deep breath as the scent in the air became even stronger amidst the gray and dilapidated buildings before him.

The young police officer named Li Nuo had turned completely pale, a color that no ordinary human could mistake.

Calls from other police officers came through their walkie-talkies, crackling with static. But at that moment, neither Lin Chen nor Li Nuo had the strength to press the answer button.

It was the young village police officer who reacted first. Li Nuo said nothing, clenched his fist, and turned around, rushing towards the main building of the nursing home.

Lin Chen watched the young man’s back and followed him, stepping heavily with each stride.

The old wooden doors opened, revealing a long corridor.

On one side of the corridor, it was as dark as a shadow, like a ghostly presence. On the other side, sunlight painted it a dazzling but unreal white.

Step by step, Lin Chen walked on the clean and bright porcelain tiles, advancing deeper into the corridor.

On either side of him were rows of standardized ward doors, each closed with an obsessive-compulsive-like habit, resembling tightly sealed coffins that made people not have the courage to touch.

An increasingly heavy odor seeped out from the gaps above and below each door, lingering around him.

The scent was so thick that it permeated through every pore, saturating every corner of the space. It felt like soft ropes tightened around his neck, suffocating him. But he knew very well that this feeling wasn’t suffocation, but despair.

Yes, it was the smell of blood.

Lin Chen took another deep breath, feeling as if he were immersed in viscous plasma. The surroundings were damp and sticky, and he could only manage to place his hand on the doorknob to support himself.

Through the thin door panel, countless images flashed in his mind. Each image appeared as simple black lines against the backdrop of thick blood, twisting and turning, breaking apart and reassembling, becoming more and more distorted and bizarre.

Finally, it was the sound of inconsolable sobbing coming from one of the rooms that awakened him.

The cries were heart-wrenching, carrying a genuine and profound grief.

Lin Chen calmed his mind, and with a wooden expression, he looked out the window. He saw the aged face of Lao Bian and other police officers rushing into the nursing home.

Someone desperately gestured at him, but he couldn’t recognize who it was, so he just nodded in response.

After completing this simple gesture, he turned around, pushed open the door, and walked inside.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 237

In that instant, Xing Conglian’s heart skipped a beat.

He touched the back of Lin Chen’s neck and forced him to look up.

Lin Chen had a gentle expression and moist eyes, but of course, he wasn’t crying.

Xing Conglian lowered his head, and at that moment, not far from outside the car, a young man’s voice erupted in excitement, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the Jeep, and then the knocking on the door. “A’Chen Gege, we found it. It should be right!”

Lin Chen suddenly flipped off him and sat upright.

Xing Conglian’s emotions didn’t break, and he wanted to say something, but in the end, he simply held Lin Chen’s wrist and kissed the top of his head.

……

The back door opened, and Lin Chen appeared calm.

Wang Chao looked suspiciously at the two faces that were saying, “We were discussing official matters.”

“Speak!” Xing Conglian urged.

Wang Chao was startled and looked down at his laptop screen. He immediately said, “There’s a rural nursing home in Hongshu Village on the outskirts of the city.”

After saying this, Wang Chao paused.

“And then?” Xing Conglian asked.

The teenager flipped the laptop towards them and showed them, saying, “And then, I couldn’t find any information about available beds in this nursing home. They only have an empty website.”

“What does that mean?” Lin Chen narrowed his eyes.

“The nursing home doesn’t have internet access, which means it’s an isolated information island.” Wang Chao paused, then continued, “This Huihe Nursing Home is also a designated institution that cooperates with the government and accommodates a group of homeless people every year. But there’s no indication that Shen Lian has any connection with this institution. The investor is a company that deals with agricultural products, and the owner of the agricultural product company passed away three years ago. Shouldn’t we investigate that company…”

Wang Chao was about to start rambling again, but Lin Chen interrupted him, saying decisively, “This is it.”

“Ah, that’s right!” Wang Chao immediately shut up, shouting excitedly, “Should we inform that dumbass Huang Ze?”

……

In the office, Huang Ze sat alone in his seat with a sense of solitude. Most of the people around him had already left, and the office was mostly empty.

Due to the sudden situation that just occurred, the director from the provincial department urgently ordered all police officers in Hongjing City to return to their posts. After receiving their respective tasks, the people who were originally crowded in the office dispersed, and it was the personnel from the Inspector Office who now found themselves with nothing to do.

A subordinate who had been standing behind Huang Ze approached him and whispered, “Inspector Huang, Director Dong is asking for you.”

Huang Ze looked up, incredulous, and glanced behind him.

……

Huihe Nursing Home.

The girl who had been lying on the bed suddenly opened her eyes. It might have been because the sunlight outside was too strong, or perhaps the cicadas were chirping too loudly. She stared at the black mold spots on the ceiling, then reached and took out her phone from under the covers.

……

Outside Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant, a wave of scorching heat swept through the street.

The trees on both sides of the road swayed violently, as if sensing something. Xing Conglian didn’t immediately answer Wang Chao’s question; instead, he looked towards the entrance of the small restaurant.

The street fell silent, and the police officer who had been standing at the door, playing games on his phone, suddenly stopped. A new message notification appeared on his screen, and he reached out, opened it, and read it for a while.

The next moment, he put his phone back in his pocket. As if the pause in magic had ended, he turned and quickly walked towards the police station’s entrance.

Subsequently, the sound of ringing phones came one after another, and Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant became like a boiling bathhouse. Everyone put down their food, some read text messages on their phones, and others answered calls.

An officer who had rushed to the door looked like an athlete who took off after the starting gun went off.

The light blue plastic curtain at the entrance of the restaurant was pulled aside, and the next moment, all the police officers inside swarmed out, like a wave crashing towards the street.

Xing Conglian sat in the car, watching Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant empty out in a short period of time. He knew very well that just now, a notice had been sent out for all departmental police officers to immediately return to their posts.

……

Shen Ping was a news anchor at Hongjing TV Station.

Due to certain coincidences, he shared the same surname as a certain lady who was currently causing a stir among the higher-ups. Their names even sounded somewhat sibling-like.

But Shen Ping had no relation to Shen Lian whatsoever. In fact, he had no idea who Shen Lian was until he received that press release.

The press release came from Zhourui Pharmaceutical, a major taxpayer in the city. It was directly sent to his email after a phone call from the head of the public relations department, whom he was acquainted with.

At that time, he was preparing to record the top-of-the-hour news. The phone rang, and he keenly sensed the seriousness of the situation from the tone of the person from the public relations department at Zhourui Pharmaceutical.

When he hung up the phone and opened his email to read the press release, he realized in an instant that this was definitely a major case that would shock the entire country.

Shen Ping put down the script, glanced at the female anchor beside him, and rushed towards the direction of the control room.

……

Under the shade of the trees, inside the Jeep, Lin Chen and Xing Conglian simultaneously took out their phones and looked down. However, there was no vibration or incoming call displayed on their phones—not even an unread message.

This unusually calm situation made Xing Conglian’s expression solemn. His eyebrows slightly raised, but quickly returned to normal. Only those who knew Xing Conglian well would understand what this meant.

In theory, Xing Conglian could get out of the car and grab any police officer nearby to ask or make a phone call to find out what had happened to his subordinates. However, his first reaction was to step out of the backseat and say to the teenager standing outside the car, “Get in and sit down.”

After saying that, he walked straight to the driver’s seat, started the vehicle, turned on the air conditioning and the car radio.

The top-of-the-hour news on Hongjing TV Station happened to begin.

The anchor’s horrified voice came through the speakers and echoed inside the Jeep.

……

Shen Ping sat in the anchor room.

Before going on stage, he changed into a black-and-white striped tie to appear more solemn.

The countdown sound came through the headphones. Shen Ping closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and tried his best to calm himself down.

Three minutes ago, the director rushed down from the station manager’s office and shouted at him across the studio, gasping for breath, “Shen Ping, broadcast the news!”

Shen Ping knew he had made the right bet.

The young male anchor opened his eyes and clenched his fist; the bright lights in front of him dazzled his vision. He looked at the teleprompter in front of him and said in the most serious tone:

“The following is urgent news…”

……

“We have received news that Zhourui Pharmaceutical recently reported a severe case of drug poisoning through our station, as well as through other TV stations, including Yongchuan, Changping, and Fengchun, as well as online platforms, to the entire society…”

A neurology ward at a hospital.

The television hanging in the rest area outside the ward had been silent all along, and a person who looked like a nurse was sleeping on a bench. However, someone hurriedly ran out of the ward and turned up the volume of the television, causing a continuous flow of sound.

The deep blue studio made the male anchor in a well-tailored suit appear particularly solemn, but what made one’s throat tighten even more was the information mentioned by the anchor in the news.

“It is reported that the drugs involved may include Zhourui Pharmaceutical’s Nao Kangning, Huihe Pharmaceutical’s Shu Naoping, Yingmeng Pharmaceutical’s Liti Niping, and Kangtaidelin Company’s Pu’er Kangning, among various types and batches of drugs. Zhourui Pharmaceutical reminds all patients and friends who have taken these drugs that they may be contaminated with other chemical components or may cause various adverse reactions of the nervous system. If you experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, depression, or mania, please stop taking the medication immediately and seek immediate medical examination. Zhourui Pharmaceutical also urges all middle-aged and elderly patients who have taken the aforementioned drugs to immediately stop taking them and not hold any wishful thinking.”

Because the TV volume was too loud, more and more people walked out of the wards and stood motionless in front of the television. It wasn’t only the patients’ family members, but also elderly people being supported and even those who stood alone with a cane, trembling as they leaned against the wall.

The TV screen paused for a moment, with black text on a white background, listing all the drugs involved in the case.

The ward fell into silence.

A doctor in a white coat stood in front of the television. Seizing this opportunity, he looked back at the bewildered patients behind him but didn’t know what to say.

“My father… My father seems to have been taking that medication all along!” a patient’s family member tentatively cried.

“Doctor, what does this mean? Has my mother been poisoning herself all this time?” An emotionally unstable patient’s family member’s eyes turned red.

More and more people crowded around the doctor, and the once quiet ward became noisy.

At that moment, an elderly person standing alone in a corner suddenly spoke, and their old and hoarse voice cut through the chaotic voices of inquiries, causing everyone to fall silent.

“Doctor, can we… can we still be cured of this illness?”

The old man opened his mouth and asked in such a manner.

A shiver ran through everyone present, and a sense of panic gradually spread along with this mournful question.

……

Principal Su sat on a small stage by the balcony.

The old man didn’t have the habit of watching the news, and he didn’t use outdated things like radios. Unfortunately, his wife was a professor of political science and ordered that the news be played continuously in the house. So, when the anchor from Yongchuan TV Station, in a tone almost identical to Shen Ping’s, solemnly spoke about the severe drug issue related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular drugs, he only heard a sound of intense rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

His wife was tidying up the storage cabinet, her trembling hands picking up the medicine bottles anxiously. She said with a worried expression, “What should we do?”

Thinking of Lin Chen’s recent phone call, Principal Su easily connected the dots, but he still casually said, “My dear, let’s analyze this problem using philosophical methods and divide it into two…”

His politically astute wife immediately interrupted him, “Did Chenchen call you because of this?”

“I don’t know.” The old man waved his hand. “It’s also possible that he just missed his mentor.”

“Stop that.” His wife’s face was filled with worry. “The situation is so troublesome that Chenchen had to call you. It’s probably serious.”

“Don’t worry too much. Even if the sky falls, there’s someone tall to hold it up.” The old man touched his chin. “For example, Chenchen is taller than me, and I’m definitely taller than you.”

His words didn’t calm his wife’s mood. The woman in an apron rubbed her eyes and took a couple of steps forward. She held his hand, half-squatted down, and tremblingly asked, “Or… should we call Fengzi back?”

……

Similar scenes were happening in many ordinary households.

Some elderly people were furious, some were reluctant to throw away the medicine in their cabinets, and some were already lying in bed. There were even those who hurriedly turned off the television and prepared to go to the hospital.

But most ordinary families didn’t have the same reckless attitude as Mr. Su. Just like there were many parents who loved their children in the world, there were also many filial sons and daughters who respected their parents.

Golden Harvest Tower, located near the city government’s CBD, was one of the top commercial office buildings in the city. At this busy time of the afternoon, all the usual office scenes came to a halt due to the breaking news.

The office manager’s computer was on, and Shen Ping’s voice echoed through the only speaker in the office. By the time it reached the corners, it was no longer very clear, and more employees were refreshing their web pages.

“According to sources from Zhourui Pharmaceutical, the suspect in the poisoning case is named Shen Lian. She was a former employee of the R&D department at Zhourui Pharmaceutical. Due to certain reasons, Shen Lian abused her authority and contaminated the medicine with special chemical substances for several years. Zhourui Pharmaceutical is issuing a public appeal through our station, warning that Shen Lian is extremely dangerous and currently carrying a large amount of highly toxic drugs. She is currently on the run, and we earnestly request the police to apprehend Shen Lian.”

Inside the office building, the sound of web pages being refreshed constantly filled the air.

On the internet, keywords such as “poisoning”, “Zhourui Pharmaceutical”, and “Shen Lian” skyrocketed in popularity at an alarming rate. Everyone held their breath and focused, trying to obtain the latest information.

Some clever netizens even linked “Shen Lian” to the tragic incident at the barbecue stall in Hongjing last night. In an instant, a bigger wave of public opinion spread.

……

The hotline of Zhourui Pharmaceutical was inundated with calls.

However, since the company had already made up its mind and prepared comprehensive crisis public relations, the incoming calls were handled with professionalism.

Sweet-voiced women answered the calls, offering apologies first and then expressing that the company would take responsibility. The soft and gentle voices calmed the tempers of many callers.

The women who answered the hotline had received the most professional training. After soothing the emotions of the callers, they would also express that Zhourui Pharmaceutical was also a victim and hoped that the police would apprehend the culprit soon.

By using a skillful approach, the pharmaceutical company transformed itself into a victim with a strong sense of social responsibility, while the party that had not fulfilled its duty became the police, which allowed the dangerous criminal to remain at large for over 12 hours.

Shen Ping paused, symbolically flipped over a page, and faced the camera to continue speaking. “Below is the official announcement just received from the police—the Hongjing police have issued an A-level warrant, publicly seeking the fugitive Shen Lian.”

……

In the office lobby of the Municipal Police Station.

All the working police officers on the first floor became nervous and busy. The arrest operation, which had been quietly initiated by Xing Conglian, was forcibly brought to the forefront.

Countless orders were issued from higher-ups, including traffic control at key points, community investigations, and online searches. The sounds of computer keyboards, printers, and typing filled the air. Almost everyone was busy with their tasks.

On the platform railing on the second floor, the top leaders of the Provincial Public Security Department and the CEO of Zhourui Pharmaceutical stood side by side, surrounded by leaders from various departments, from the province to the municipal bureau.

The two individuals in front of the railing shook hands as a gesture of courtesy.

The impeccably dressed CEO of Zhourui Pharmaceutical, expressed regret, saying, “The relevant materials have been submitted to the task force. It was a management mistake on our company’s part, which has caused a lot of trouble for our police comrades.”

Dong Hua turned around, looked at the busy subordinates below, and didn’t directly respond to that statement. His expression didn’t reveal any emotions.

Just when the meeting was at a deadlock, the CEO of Zhourui Pharmaceutical suddenly arrived with a large amount of information and reported a severe case of poisoning to the police.

The perpetrator’s name was Shen Lian, and for reasons, such as revenge on society, she had been releasing toxic substances in a series of brain recovery drugs produced by Zhourui Pharmaceutical for several years.

No one knew what kind of toxic substance it was. But as far as he knew, that maddening chemical component had caused an extremely terrible incident at a barbecue stall in the city last night, resulting in the death of a police officer.

However, even the pharmaceutical company itself couldn’t confirm the exact nature of that chemical substance. Based on the CEO’s brief remarks, it should be a new type of neurotoxic drug.

Dong Hua sneered in his heart. After the events of last night, they both knew that it was no different from a biochemical weapon, but no one dared to draw such a conclusion.

What made him feel even more embarrassed was the content of Zhourui Pharmaceutical’s public announcement through the news media.

In fact, the local police in Hongjing had already taken action last night, but during the operation, they failed to warn the public about personal safety and didn’t issue a formal arrest warrant for Shen Lian. Although he understood that frontline officers had their own considerations when handling a case, it was precisely because of these considerations that the pharmaceutical company, which should have been the main culprit, took the initiative and gained an advantage over the police. It was difficult to accept such frustration.

He tapped the railing and glanced back.

As the culprit’s immediate boss, Director Wu, the head of the Pharmaceutical Bureau, stood at the outermost edge, observing with detachment, like a dissident who didn’t fit in.

Dong Hua withdrew his gaze and looked at the CEO of Zhourui Pharmaceutical, nodded, and simply said, “You’ve worked hard.”

“Our company will do its best to cooperate with the police operation.” The CEO bowed deeply, showing utmost sincerity. “I won’t disturb the work of the police any further, so I’ll take my leave first.”

After speaking, the middle-aged man who effortlessly stirred up a huge storm completely withdrew himself. He turned around, about to leave, but after taking a step, he turned back as if suddenly remembering something. A humble smile appeared on his face. “Regarding the accusation made by the Captain of the criminal division against me for dereliction of duty and soliciting bribes from our company, I request that the police handle it impartially.”

Instantly, a hushed silence fell over the crowd, followed by murmurs and whispers.

No one expected that the content of their secret conversation just now would be this.

“Isn’t there someone from the Inspector Office present?” The senior leader paused, scanning the crowd. “Isn’t this your responsibility?”

Huang Ze raised his eyes sharply but could only take a deep breath and salute. “Yes, Director.”

……

Inside the Jeep parked outside the Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant, the atmosphere was absolutely calm and undisturbed by external forces.

The radio news had already moved on to the next topic, but neither Xing Conglian’s nor Lin Chen’s phone rang.

No one spoke inside the vehicle.

Wang Chao looked around, deeply shocked by the previous news. What did it mean? Zhourui Pharmaceutical voluntarily admitted the medication issue to the public but completely absolved themselves of the responsibility of concealing the truth. They even directly targeted Shen Lian and pushed her to the forefront as the mastermind.

In the end, the teenager couldn’t help but shout, “Are they all fucking idiots?”

Lin Chen and Xing Conglian exchanged glances; their lips curling into a cold, mocking smile. “How can you say they’re idiots? They’re obviously incredibly clever.”

“It’s an exemplary public relations move for a crisis,” Xing Conglian added.

But whether it was his boss or A’Chen Gege, neither of them made any further moves after saying that.

Wang Chao anxiously shifted on the seat. “Now that Shen Lian is wanted by the police, should we still report her possible hiding place?”

“Shen Lian is such an alert person that even the presence of a police officer nearby would make her escape immediately. Now that she’s being wanted with the highest level warrant on TV, how could she not react?”

Xing Conglian’s tone was unexpectedly calm, but the calmer he was, the more it alarmed Wang Chao.

“What should we do now? Should we keep Shen Lian’s hiding place a secret? Zhourui Pharmaceutical has already alerted her, so could Shen Lian suddenly go mad and start poisoning people? If Shen Lian escaped from the nursing home, what should we do?”

“What should we do? Of course, we’ll solve each problem one by one.” Xing Conglian turned his head and glanced at Lin Chen.

As if understanding his thoughts, Lin Chen nodded and said, “I understand. I’ll go to the outskirts first.”

“I’ll arrange for people to be on surveillance in the surrounding area. It’s better not to act rashly until the main force arrives. Stay safe.”

After Xing Conglian finished speaking, he made a motion of making a phone call. Lin Chen nodded, organized all the materials about Shen Lian on his side, held them under his arm, and pushed open the car door to get out.

Wang Chao became anxious. “A’Chen Gege, where are you going?”

“I’m going to the location you found. Hopefully, there’s still time.” Lin Chen got out of the car while speaking.

“Are you going alone? What about the Boss and me?”

Wang Chao sat in the car, shouting at the man sitting in the driver’s seat while looking at Lin Chen’s back.

“You go to Xiao Zhan’s place and see if there’s anything you can help with. Try to protect him and don’t let Zhourui’s people get there first.”

“But how can I protect Mr. Xiao Zhan when I’m powerless?”

“Stop talking nonsense.” Xing Conglian said decisively, “Take a taxi by yourself.”

His Boss’ voice was so intimidating that Wang Chao couldn’t help but get out of the car. When he stood on the hard asphalt road, he couldn’t help but turn around and ask, “And what about you, Boss?”

However, the engine had already started, and the Jeep backed up half a parking space, turned the front, and disappeared into the distance.

Wang Chao was sprayed with exhaust and took a few steps forward, holding onto Lin Chen’s sleeve in frustration. “Where is the Boss going in such an urgent situation?”

“With such a big incident happening and no one informing us, Zhourui Pharmaceutical probably did some action behind the scenes. He’s going to handle those matters.”

“Why would Zhourui Pharmaceutical suddenly take action? Did something happen?” Wang Chao opened the ride-hailing app on his phone. There weren’t many vehicles around, and he jumped up and down on the road in frustration. “But what can Zhourui Pharmaceutical do?”

“Don’t think too much.” Lin Chen’s reassuring voice came, and when Wang Chao looked up again, he could only see Lin Chen’s back as he walked straight across the road.

He hailed a taxi directly and shouted, “A’Chen Gege, should I call a taxi for you?”

With his back turned, Lin Chen just waved his hand and stepped onto the sidewalk. After walking a few steps, he stood in front of the entrance of Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant.

There, a retired police officer who had changed careers stood at the door curtain, looking at him with a solemn expression.

Lin Chen looked at the old man and calmly asked, “I need to go somewhere. Are your driving skills still good?”

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Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 236

Since it was an illusion, it was always short-lived.

Huang Ze coughed heavily on the other end of the phone; the sound was loud enough to drown out their conversation.

“In fact, I don’t know how all this you’re talking about is useful in locating Shen Lian.”

Huang Ze stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of the municipal bureau, with a subordinate behind him who mentioned that even the higher-ranking officials wanted a briefing on the situation. In the background, the sound of opening and closing doors and hurried footsteps could be heard nearby. What was more, the number of reporter vehicles outside the municipal bureau was visibly increasing.

It felt like something big was about to happen.

The entire corridor fell silent, starting from the far end. Huang Ze knew that time was up, and in the end, he could only say curtly, “Alright, Lin Chen, you have twenty more minutes.”

……

Huang Ze hung up the phone decisively.

At the entrance of the dumpling restaurant, under the camphor tree, the box of dumplings in the hands of the teenager was nearly empty.

The abrupt sound of the hang-up made the teenager look up cautiously, and he asked, “A’Chen Gege, I don’t understand how we’re supposed to find Shen Lian. Is that my fault?”

Lin Chen had already sorted out his thoughts. “For Shen Lian, she has limited options during her escape. Since she has achieved her goal, the only possibility is that she’s in hiding. Tracking the whereabouts of an ordinary criminal might be difficult, but for Shen Lian, she would choose a place that makes her feel extremely safe.”

“Li Jingtian chose to hide in the embassy, which is quite safe, but what kind of place would make Shen Lian feel safe?” Wang Chao asked.

“When she’s with ‘her people’,” Lin Chen said. “Now, let’s look back at the cases we have. There’s one question that has yet to be answered: Why did Shen Lian drive the elderly people to madness?”

“Could it be related to the old man who died? That old man also had mental issues, right?” Wang Chao suddenly realized. “Lao Bian just mentioned that Shen Lian got excited when she heard about the old man’s time of death! But at the time of the incident, she didn’t speak up for the old man, didn’t tell the truth to the police afterwards, and only reported it after a month and a half. Why did someone so lacking in sympathy break down when she discovered the issue with the old man’s time of death?”

“Specifically, it’s not sympathy but empathy*,” Lin Chen corrected. “Empathy develops during childhood and is an emotional state that involves anticipating others’ suffering and wanting to help them. She had a hard time sensing the old man’s pain and helping him, but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t sense her own pain. In fact, even the most cold-blooded violent criminals have a strong sense of empathy, but they only protect their own comrades and disregard the lives of others.”

*Clarity: Empathy is how much compassion and understanding we can give another, while sympathy is the feeling of pity for another. Empathy is our ability to understand how someone feels, while sympathy is our relief at not having the same problems. Empathy is understanding, while sympathy is sharing.

“What does this imply? Who are Shen Lian’s companions?”

Lin Chen paused.

The wind blew through the camphor trees along the road, casting swaying shadows on them, but there was no sound.

……

Huihe Nursing Home was also eerily quiet.

But this kind of silence, rather than being described as peaceful or serene, was better characterized as deathly stillness.

Like in the night, there was no one in the corridors of the nursing home during the day. The clean and bright tiles indicated good cleaning, but their pristine condition also meant that there was little foot traffic.

This wasn’t normal because anyone who had been to a nursing home knew that the elderly liked to sit in the shaded corridors and chat. However, this scene was completely absent here.

The stray dogs on the embankment were barking again; their barks rising and falling with the undulating terrain.

A lady who appeared to be a caregiver stood in front of a mirror, tidying her clothes. The water flowed steadily, and the lady’s damp fingers left water stains on her collar.

This was a standard double occupancy ward, and the room was extremely dim. The light in the bathroom was on.

Two elderly people still lay on the hospital beds. In the dim light, one could vaguely see their frail frames covered by white sheets. One hand was placed outside the sheets, while the other remained beneath.

On their chests, the thin blankets had clearly been carefully tucked in, and above that were the wrinkled necks resembling tree bark. Their lips dried into two lines, and their eyes, covered in a large amount of sclera, hollow and lifeless.

Yes, both elderly people on the hospital beds had their eyes open. They gazed at the ceiling, looking at some long-standing mold spots that grew along the ceiling cracks.

Footsteps echoed in the ward again as the caregiver walked to the window. She pulled back the curtains, allowing the bright sunlight to pour into the room. However, even this sudden brightness couldn’t make the two elderly people on the hospital beds blink.

The slight rise and fall of their chests indicated that the elderly people hadn’t passed away, but compared to a corpse, there wasn’t much difference.

At that moment, the caregiver turned around, pulled back the covers, and laid down.

……

Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant.

Wang Chao asked what could have caused Shen Lian to be unable to accept the old homeless man’s death being related to herself.

Lin Chen pondered over various possible causes, but the simplest and most likely reason was only one.

“For Shen Lian, she couldn’t accept becoming a murderer like the residents of Xiaolin Lane.”

Not only Wang Chao, but even Xing Conglian was stunned. Police officers in the distance mounted their motorcycles and sped away.

“This is just my speculation, and we’ll have to wait until we meet Shen Lian to understand the specifics.” Lin Chen steadied his breath and said calmly, “Normal people, when faced with extreme stimuli, employ various defense mechanisms or cognitive adjustments to alleviate psychological stress. But for Shen Lian, her psychological issues mean that she can’t alleviate the pressure like a normal person when confronted with these situations.”

“So?” Xing Conglian asked. He had stubble on his chin, a sharply defined face, and wise eyes that could easily see through people’s hearts.

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze, suppressing the emotions in his heart, and said calmly, “In simple terms, Shen Lian initially believed that the old man accidentally died during a scuffle with the residents of Xiaolin Lane, and she didn’t feel any psychological stress because the old man’s death had nothing to do with her. But when she suddenly discovered that the old man hadn’t died that night, but gradually died from severe injuries in the cold rainy night, her knowledge of this fact without even glancing at the old man turned her into one of the murderers.”

Wang Chao nodded, and Lin Chen continued, “Normal people in similar situations might simply think it’s the responsibility of others present, deflecting blame and letting the matter pass. But Shen Lian couldn’t.”

Lin Chen said, “There are three types of aggressive psychological defense mechanisms: displacement¹, projection², and introjection³. If I’m not mistaken, Shen Lian’s subconscious mind chose the latter. Introjection refers to incorporating objects of love and hate symbolically into one’s own self. In Shen Lian’s case, she absorbed the mentally disturbed elderly person as part of herself.”

¹Redirection of an impulse (usually aggression) onto a powerless substitute target. For example: You’re angry, and you kick the dog to vent your anger.
²Attributes unwanted thoughts, feelings, and motives onto another person. For example: You hate someone, but you feel that it’s wrong, so you tell yourself they also hate you, solving the issue.
³Sometimes called identification, involves taking into your own personality characteristics of someone else, because doing so solves some emotional difficulty. For example: A child left alone frequently may try to become “mom” in order to lessen their fears.

He made a joke, saying, “It’s like a part of the deceased’s soul entered her body.”

With a light sound, the food container in Wang Chao’s hand fell to the ground. “That’s too twisted!”

“Suddenly, Shen Lian changed, and is her remarkable academic performance also related to this?” Xing Conglian asked astutely.

“It’s just a speculation. After all, we don’t know the specifics of that particular elderly person. But you should know that sometimes schizophrenia is synonymous with geniuses.”

Wang Chao shuddered and realized something. “So elderly people with mental illnesses are her kind? What is she trying to do, turn all the grandpas and grandmas in the country into lunatics? And what does this have to do with Teacher Duan?”

Lin Chen lowered his eyes and patted Wang Chao’s head. “Look, I’m not a god. How could I know so much? So, since Teacher Duan helped us find Shen Lian, let’s find her and ask.”

“How do we find Shen Lian!” Wang Chao blurted out the question, feeling foolish. He turned around quickly, squatted in front of the flower bed, and opened his laptop to search for institutional information.

Lin Chen said, “Psychiatric rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, or shelters. Hongjing isn’t a metropolis, so there won’t be too many of these institutions in the vicinity. Excluding large institutions under the national civil affairs department, private centers will be even fewer…”

……

The scorching summer wind rolled over the lush green fields, over the large expanse of melon sheds, and rolled all the way to the city center along the embankment.

The overwhelming heat wave swept past the various tall and low buildings, rolling across the square in front of the Hongjing Police Station.

A Lincoln drove along the Municipal Government Street and slowly stopped at the entrance of the police station.

The reporters who arrived upon hearing the news gathered at the entrance of the police station like sharks smelling blood, occupying advantageous positions. They didn’t dare to go too far, but naturally, they didn’t want to give up their front-row spots.

Compared to the bustling reporters at the entrance, the atmosphere inside the actual conference room was solemn, and everyone was exhaling smoke.

At the head of the room sat the superior whom even Huang Ze bowed to.

The superior had a serious expression, and the room fell silent. Finally, he slammed the table. “You’re saying it’s a major incident, but so far no one can make sense of it?”

Perhaps due to the boss’ anger, the thick smoke in the air trembled.

At that moment, the door to the conference room was knocked.

Huang Ze abruptly looked towards the door.

……

Outside the Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant.

Under the glaring sunlight, Wang Chao’s laptop reflected a blurry white light that was almost indiscernible.

Lin Chen sat quietly beside him, with a calm expression. Sweat stains appeared on his fair and delicate neck due to running around and sun exposure, like a layer of glaze on porcelain. He wasn’t looking at the screen, but more like thinking aimlessly about something.

“Don’t think too much,” Xing Conglian said to Lin Chen.

This sentence was somewhat cryptic, but for Lin Chen, it should be more straightforward.

Lin Chen gazed into the distance with no intention of concealing his thoughts. “I just find the human psyche fascinating. For someone like Shen Lian, a natural psychopath, it’s actually the remaining trace of kindness in her humanity that drove her to madness.” Lin Chen paused and added, “I wish I’m wrong.”

Xing Conglian was suddenly startled, looking at Lin Chen, but the latter didn’t meet his gaze.

Xing Conglian stood up, putting his hand in his pocket, and said, “Consultant Lin, come with me.”

Lin Chen looked up, and Xing Conglian took out his car keys, pointing in the direction of the Jeep parked under the shade of the roadside tree.

Lin Chen followed him to the car as instructed.

Xing Conglian habitually opened the driver’s side door but found Lin Chen standing behind him. He twirled the keys in his hand and turned around to look at Lin Chen.

“You want to talk to me alone, but I don’t feel like talking,” Lin Chen said to him.

Xing Conglian nodded, instantly understanding Lin Chen’s meaning. “Right, the driver’s seat is a bit cramped.”

He opened the back door and went in first, with Lin Chen following, stepping into the car.

Thanks to the new car tint, the interior of the car was extremely dim, and sunlight filtered through the shade of the trees illuminated a small section of the seats. Although it was midsummer, the coolness from the car’s air conditioning hadn’t dissipated completely, leaving a slight chill in the air.

Lin Chen placed his other foot in the car, and Xing Conglian held his wrist, half-jokingly saying, “Actually, the driver’s seat isn’t bad. You can sit on my lap.”

Before he finished speaking, the car door slammed shut.

Xing Conglian felt Lin Chen intertwine his fingers with his own, and in the next moment, Lin Chen followed his suggestion, spreading his legs and straddling him.

Xing Conglian felt his chest tighten. Lin Chen’s warm body pressed against him without any gaps, and Lin Chen’s willingness to comply sometimes scared him.

Without even looking down, he could imagine Lin Chen’s posture.

At this moment, Lin Chen was half-kneeling on the seat, with his canvas-shoed feet protruding from the cushion. The shoelaces hanging in the air were gently swaying.

A similar scene had appeared in Xing Conglian’s memory before. At that time, the air was filled with a tantalizing sensuality. But now, even though their relationship had progressed so far, it had become a matter-of-fact calmness.

However, he didn’t have time to ponder over what this calmness meant. After all, Lin Chen was leaning against his shoulder, his cool breath falling on his neck. Through the fabric of his shirt, Xing Conglian gently caressed Lin Chen’s sweaty back. He could clearly feel the contours of Lin Chen’s shoulder blades, the protrusion of his spine, and the supple skin covering them.

Lin Chen had made it clear earlier that he didn’t want to talk; he just wanted to sit quietly together.

In this serene process, Lin Chen’s breathing rhythm remained unchanged. But because the cabin was so quiet, they gradually became aware of each other’s heartbeats. As their breaths intertwined and the temperature rose, there was an indescribable ambiguity, but more importantly, perhaps because of the weight of Lin Chen on his legs or the strong beat of his heart, Xing Conglian felt a sense of complete trust.

A deeply precious and unrestricted emotion.

After a while, a short enough time for Xing Conglian to not fully savor this feeling, he heard Lin Chen say, “Xing Conglian…”

“Now you’re using my full name. This must be serious.” Xing Conglian kissed Lin Chen’s ear.

“I…”

Before Lin Chen could continue, Xing Conglian interrupted him, saying, “You’re not that fragile. You don’t need me to constantly monitor your mental state, and the moment I notice any signs of trouble, I have to stop you and have a conversation?”

“No, I am fragile, and I really need you.”

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