AD | Chapter 16

Shen Chen stared at the items on the ground and softly murmured, “Are they all clearly priced?” After a moment, he bent down to pick them up, then fell into a long silence.

Lu Qingfeng drove the car to the vicinity of Changze District and stopped. After parking, the three of them entered the barbecue restaurant together.

Smoke and fire filled the barbecue shop. He first sent Tao Yu away to order food, then found a corner to sit down with Lin Shuyao. Amidst the noisy background, the silence between the two seemed particularly abrupt. He felt a bit awkward, coughed once, rubbed his nose, and returned to the topic that had been interrupted earlier: “Before Tao Yu came over… what did you want to say?”

Lin Shuyao did not answer immediately. He stared at the cup in front of him and asked in return: “Is the killer really… Shen Chen?”

A strange expression appeared on Lu Qingfeng’s face. Although it was strange, he still answered: “He confessed to everything. The motive seems plausible, and there is video evidence left by Bai Mengyu. The murder weapon is also exactly as you analyzed, a scalpel. His professional background matches too, a medical student who dropped out.”

“But it’s too smooth,” Lin Shuyao raised his eyes, meeting Lu Qingfeng’s gaze again.

Lu Qingfeng nodded and agreed: “Indeed. I have the same feeling. Do you remember that anonymous email? It mentioned Shen Chen, and sure enough, Shen Chen turned out to be the killer. Everything seems to have been arranged long ago…”

Just as the two were discussing, a familiar female voice suddenly came from behind: “Captain Lu, I heard you just solved a case, so I specially came over to mooch a meal!”

Hearing this voice, both of them were startled. They turned their heads in unison, and two figures were standing behind them without anyone noticing when they had arrived—Jiang Huainan and Xia Ling.

A trace of surprise flashed in Lu Qingfeng’s eyes: “Xiao Xia? Weren’t you transferred away?” As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Jiang Huainan standing beside her, “Xiao Jiang is here too? Is your health better? Xiao Tao said you weren’t feeling well just now, so I thought you wouldn’t come…”

Xia Ling smiled lightly upon hearing this, a hint of laziness in her trailing tone: “The work over there is finished, so I came back. What? Captain Lu doesn’t welcome me?”

Hearing this, his eyebrows raised, and a smile spread from his eyes: “How could that be?! Of course, I’m only too happy!”

Jiang Huainan beside them scratched his head embarrassedly, the roots of his ears slightly red: “Captain Lu, I wasn’t feeling unwell. I had something temporary to deal with. See, as soon as the matter was resolved, I came.” He paused, his voice carrying a few points of sincerity: “The team is holding a celebration banquet, so I, I absolutely had to come!”

Lu Qingfeng looked at the two people in front of him, casually grabbed two stools from the side, and handed one to each of them. He turned his head and lifted his chin toward Lin Shuyao: “This is Xia Ling, your colleague, also a forensic doctor.”

Xia Ling stepped forward, extending her hand toward Lin Shuyao, her eyes smiling: “Hello, Dr. Lin. My name is Xia Ling. I’ve heard Director Zhang mention you. I heard that this case was solved so quickly largely due to your contributions. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

Lin Shuyao gently shook her hand, his voice gentle: “Captain Lu is the one who is impressive. He managed to find so much information within just a few hours. I only provided some possibilities for him.”

After speaking, the two looked at each other and shared a smile.

Tao Yu, who had finished ordering, happened to walk out from inside at that moment. Seeing both Jiang Huainan and Xia Ling there, he paused, then realized what was happening and walked closer to them: “Xia-jie? What a coincidence, why are you here too?”

Xia Ling looked up at him, her eyes full of smiles: “I finished being busy, so I came back.” After speaking, she turned her head to look at Jiang Huainan beside her: “Hey, Xiao Jiang, I haven’t seen you for so long, you seem to have become even more handsome!”

Before Jiang Huainan could open his mouth, Tao Yu leaned in front of her: “Xia-jie, what about me? Am I not handsome?”

Hearing this, Xia Ling raised her hand to hit him, but Tao Yu dodged sideways, “Xia-jie, I knew you would do this. Luckily, my reactions are fast, hehe!”

Seeing this, Xia Ling laughed and scolded: “Xiao Tao, you are really heartless. What? You don’t want to see me?”

The few of them talked and laughed, and the barbecue and beer were subsequently served. Tao Yu buried his head in eating at the table. Lu Qingfeng occasionally took care of Lin Shuyao and the others. Only Jiang Huainan seemed to be preoccupied with something.

“By the way, Xia-jie, what case were you transferred to the neighboring area to investigate? Is it convenient to say?” Jiang Huainan held a skewer of meat in his hand, asking as he ate.

“It’s nothing much, just some cases involving sweeping away pornography and drugs,” Xia Ling replied.

The atmosphere at the table gradually became strange, but he seemed not to notice and continued: “Speaking of which, Captain Lu, I always feel something is strange… Don’t you think so? It’s like someone has already told us the clues, and we only need to investigate based on the clues ‘it’ gave us. We are completely being played in the palm of their hands. It’s too passive.”

Hearing his words, Lin Shuyao also nodded in agreement.

“And Captain Lu, I listened to Shen Chen’s final confession the whole time. I always feel his reaction was a bit strange, but I can’t pinpoint what’s wrong.”

Hearing this, Lu Qingfeng’s face darkened. He looked at Jiang Huainan, his voice serious: “Xiao Jiang, I understand your words, but when we investigate cases, we look at evidence, not feelings.”

“But…” Jiang Huainan wanted to continue arguing, but was stopped by Lu Qingfeng: “Alright, this case is closed. Let’s not discuss it anymore.”

The air instantly solidified. Lin Shuyao timely raised his skewer, smiling to smooth things over: “These skewers are getting cold. Eat first, eat first! Is anything more important than filling our stomachs?”

Lu Qingfeng patted Jiang Huainan’s shoulder, his tone softening: “Dr. Lin is right. Xiao Jiang, don’t think so much. Eat first. Look at Tao Yu.”

Hearing this, Jiang Huainan turned his head and only then noticed that Tao Yu was completely buried in the barbecue. Grease from the skewers was all over his face, but he didn’t care about his image at all.

Seeing this, he sighed: “Sigh, sometimes I really envy people who can eat and sleep well.”

Xia Ling picked up the beer on the table and spoke appropriately: “Alright, since I’ve returned to the team today, shall we clink glasses to celebrate?”

Lu Qingfeng was the first to raise his drink, his cup lightly touching Xia Ling’s wine glass: “I’m driving, so I’ll substitute tea for alcohol. Everyone can relax today, but drink in moderation.”

“Wuwu, mm-hmm, okay!” Tao Yu’s mouth was stuffed full, and he answered indistinctly.

“Welcome back, Xia-jie!” Jiang Huainan immediately echoed.

Lin Shuyao was amused by his eating manner. He picked up his wine bottle and lightly clinked glasses with Xia Ling: “To our new colleague, welcome back to the team.”

Everyone drank in one gulp. After finishing, Tao Yu wiped his mouth and said to Xia Ling: “Xia-jie, I have a small wish. Please, for the sake of our working relationship, help me realize it.”

Xia Ling raised her eyebrows, giving him a look that said “speak quickly.” Tao Yu immediately put his palms together: “Could you please show mercy, Xia-jie, and stop hitting my head? If you keep hitting me, I’ll really become a fool.”

Before he finished speaking, Xia Ling’s hand had already risen. Tao Agilely dodged backward, looking aggrieved: “We agreed to be colleagues, how can you still sneak attack?”

Thanks to Tao Yu’s interruption, the atmosphere finally relaxed a lot. The few of them gradually started chatting. After three rounds of drinks, except for Lu Qingfeng, the others seemed to be slightly drunk.

After finishing the meal, Lin Shuyao stumbled to his feet, feeling the world spin. The scenery before his eyes twisted into blurred blocks of color. In the end, he was almost half-supported and half-carried into the passenger seat.

After seeing off the others, Lu Qingfeng drove Lin Shuyao home.

“Are you okay?” Lu Qingfeng asked with concern.

“…I’m fine.” Lin Shuyao closed his eyes, then opened them, “However, you did the right thing just now.”

“What?” Lu Qingfeng was startled.

“Stopping Xiao Jiang.”

Lu Qingfeng’s hand on the steering wheel paused slightly, and his voice lowered: “Mm… This case can only end here. If we continue investigating, it will upset ‘them’.”

“Right.” Lin Shuyao responded, hesitating to speak further: “It’s just…”

“You want to ask about that email?” Lu Qingfeng turned his head to look at him.

Lin Shuyao slowly nodded, then turned to look out the window. The lights outside flashed in his eyes: “Yes. Seven years ago, after my sister died, I cracked her email account and saw some anonymous emails too.”

Lu Qingfeng’s heart tightened: “What did they say?”

He looked out the window, an indescribable exhaustion in his voice: “They were all trivial daily matters. I just don’t understand… why send them anonymously.”

Lu Qingfeng keenly caught the evasion in those words. His fingertips tapped lightly twice on the steering wheel, and he continued to press: “So, was that why you frequently skipped class during that period? But you weren’t an adult yet. What could you have done?”

The answer was a long silence. It wasn’t until the car slowed down that Lin Shuyao softly broke the silence: “Captain Lu, we have arrived.”