In the Nanyi City Bureau, Lao Pan, who has just taken on the role of managing the archives this year, was previously a front-line economic crime investigator. He retired due to injury and was given this easier job, allowing him to coast until a glorious retirement in a few years.
Lao Pan had always been meticulous about his work. Even when dealing with archives, he treated it as a sacred duty assigned by the state. Therefore, he spent nearly a month reorganizing the archive room, categorizing all files by date, labeling each cabinet with a directory, and marking unsolved cases in red. Personnel files and logs were organized by year and department, making it clear for colleagues coming to retrieve files, earning praise for his reliability.
“You can’t find it because I really didn’t see that file while organizing,” Lao Pan adjusted his reading glasses. “Our bureau hasn’t moved since we came here, and it’s been at least thirty years. With such a large space, it’s hard to find something.”
“Lao Pan, could it be that you accidentally put it in the wrong place?” Yan Runping asked.
Lao Pan’s face hardened. “Nonsense! Do you think I’m old and blurry-eyed just because I wear reading glasses? Can I still misread the years? My eyes are still sharp!”
Yan Runping was embarrassed. “No, no, I didn’t mean that. Who would dare question you? I just thought that even with careful people, mistakes can happen. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“There’s no chance of error. I checked it again after the New Year, and I went through all the files from that year.” Lao Pan took out a thick notebook, flipped to the middle, and handed it to Yan Runping. “Look, it’s fresh and hot from this week.”
The notebook was meticulously organized with grids drawn in ballpoint pen, rows for dates and columns for file names, with detailed placement information in parentheses. This directory was like an account book, showing the time each file was checked, a thick book of the old man’s diligent effort.
“Wow, you’re so dedicated. I’m impressed,” Yan Runping exclaimed, bowing. Lin Heyu, who had been silent, focused on the directory, quickly scanning a few pages and indeed not finding the so-called “10.30 Explosion Case.”
Lin Heyu shook his head in disappointment and returned the directory to Lao Pan. Lao Pan said, “That case was quite sensational at the time. The investigation lasted over a month, so there should be internal records. You young people are good with the internet; just check the intranet.”
Yan Runping spread his hands. “Lao Pan, if it’s on the intranet, why would we need to come to the archive room?”
Lao Pan slapped his forehead, forgetting that detail. “Oh, I didn’t think of that. Old age, old age, not as sharp anymore.”
Although they didn’t get any useful information from the archive manager, Yan Runping was not ready to give up and dragged Lin Heyu back in to search again. Lao Pan walked ahead with the keys. Seeing that it was getting late, Yan Runping felt embarrassed about occupying his time after work and kindly suggested he go home early. They would lock up after they were done, but Lao Pan refused.
“As long as I’m here, I have to keep an eye on things; it’s my job! Besides, you young folks are clumsy and will mess things up, and I’ll have to tidy it all up again,” Lao Pan grumbled. “Take your Captain Sheng for example. The kid’s completely unreliable! On the first day, he gave me trouble and even helped me clean up. He was so helpful that I can’t even remember where I put the old records!”
Yan Runping held back a laugh. “Oh, no wonder you had to make a new set of records. Did you give him a good scolding?”
“Of course! I even reported it to his mentor!”
“So, the higher-ups know too? Haha, no wonder he got called in for a talk last time!” Yan Runping burst into laughter, praising the elder’s sharpness, saying that today’s youth needed such guidance from their seniors.
“…” Lin Heyu remained silent. He really didn’t want to entrust his sister to such a careless man.
The three of them entered the archive room. Lao Pan, familiar with the place, led them to the cabinets at the back. This time, they expanded their search, deciding to go through every cabinet nearby. One by one, they opened the cabinet doors and saw the neatly arranged brown paper files. Yan Runping rolled up his sleeves. “Captain Lin, let’s search through these one by one?”
Lin Heyu nodded and squatted down. “You take the top, I’ll take the bottom.”
They began their serious search, even opening each file to ensure the cover hadn’t been mislabeled, putting it back only after confirming it wasn’t what they were looking for. Lao Pan watched them for half an hour, satisfied that they seemed reliable, before leaving after his wife urged him to come home for dinner.
Watching Lao Pan’s figure disappear at the door, Lin Heyu said, “He’s truly a respectable old comrade.”
“Of course, our Nanyi City Bureau is known for producing such exemplary seniors!” Yan Runping chuckled. “I hope to join their ranks when I’m older.”
Lin Heyu recalled the list he had made while organizing personnel from both worlds with Yi Shi. Yan Runping was already the head of the preliminary review team, so he smiled and said, “You definitely will.”
———
The two started at six o’clock, only stepping out briefly for dinner, and stayed in the archive room the whole time. By the time it was past ten, after going through five cabinets with no results, Yan Runping plopped down on the floor, rubbing his sore shoulder. “The hope is getting slimmer; my enthusiasm is almost crushed.”
Leaning against the wall, Lin Heyu’s expression remained calm. He had lost hope of finding anything after thoroughly searching the first cabinet. After going through five cabinets, he was even less inclined to continue what seemed like a pointless effort—what’s not there simply isn’t there, even if they turned the archive room upside down.
“Let’s go back,” Lin Heyu suggested. Yan Runping ruffled his hair, smiling apologetically. “I’m really sorry, Captain Lin, I didn’t even manage to help.”
“Don’t say that,” Lin Heyu reached out his hand. Yan Runping took it and used the support to stand up, rubbing his creaky back. “Lao Pan’s line about being past his prime should be directed at me. My back is sore and stiff after just a short while. What about you, Captain Lin?”
Lin Heyu shook his head; he didn’t feel anything. He was meticulous about managing fatigue in every part of his body. If his neck got tired from looking down too long, he’d immediately lift his head to rest. If his back stiffened from sitting on the floor, he’d stand up and change positions right away. To him, keeping his body in peak condition was crucial.
They locked the archive room door again, returned the keys, and it was time to leave. The City Bureau was nearly empty, with only one or two offices still lit. Among them, the Criminal Investigation Department’s large office was the brightest. Yan Runping sighed, “Criminal Investigation, Criminal Investigation, not as easy as administration; Economic Investigation, Economic Investigation, not as profitable as business.”
This was an old saying in the team, just a bit of self-deprecating humor, occasional grumbling. Although this line of work wasn’t as comfortable as administrative work or as lucrative as business, they had persisted for so many years, hadn’t they?
If no one bears the burden, how can the world enjoy peace and prosperity?
Noticing Yan Runping’s low spirits, Lin Heyu put a hand on his shoulder and patted it. “Don’t worry. There are other ways.”
Not finding the file here was a bit of a regret, but Yi Shi would exchange his case information. Lin Heyu was convinced that the cases on both sides were the same, and the information was equivalent, so he wasn’t too fixated on the “10.30 Explosion Case” file.
But Yan Runping couldn’t let it go. Ever since hearing that another explosion might occur, he had been anxious, eager to prevent another tragedy. This wasn’t just a simple criminal case; an explosion of this magnitude would cause multiple deaths, damage buildings, and incite public fear. Especially since Nanyi had already experienced one explosion before, turning the mechanical factory into ruins that had been abandoned for years before being rebuilt. If another explosion happened, could this city still be a safe place to live?
This was his hometown, where he was born and raised. He had the duty and responsibility to protect and defend it, not just because of his profession but also out of a deep sense of attachment.
In just a few days of working together, Lin Heyu had noticed that Yan Runping was full of a strong sense of justice and patriotic fervor. Therefore, he didn’t want to see him troubled and patiently reassured him, “This tragedy won’t repeat itself. Trust in our strength.”
Yan Runping smiled, “I feel bad that you’re comforting me. This case is hanging over us; you leaders have it the hardest. After all, you’ve got higher-ups over you, and the higher-ups have even bigger leaders above them. It’s a chain, and the pressure is intense.”
Lin Heyu wasn’t one to complain. He simply said, “It’s okay.”
“Hey, I heard your deputy director set a deadline. The sun rises and sets with fewer days left!”
“Yes, one week.” Lin Heyu did a quick calculation, “There are five days left.”
Given the previous pace of the investigation, closing the case in such a short time would have been extremely difficult. But now, the situation was different. After last night, they had a secret weapon and could switch from being reactive to proactive. It was time to take the initiative.
So, to some extent, Yi Shi can also be considered a “foreign aid.” With his help, this game with the bandits can be decided.
“Five days, Captain Lin, do you have confidence?”
Lin Heyu gave a faint smile, everything was clear without words. For some reason, seeing his smile, Yan Runping finally felt relieved: “That’s good, I hope we can have good news tomorrow.”
Back at the hotel, Yuan Maoqiu hadn’t gone to bed yet, and was energetically holding his phone. Lin Heyu didn’t need to ask; the situation clearly indicated that he was chatting with some pretty girl. After work, personal time was their own, and Yuan Maoqiu called this behavior “stress-relieving mental entertainment.”
Yuan Maoqiu jumped up: “You finally came back, if you’d been any later, I would’ve locked the door.”
“You lock the door?” Lin Heyu sneered, “You’re not a girl, who’s going to bother attacking you at night?”
“…,” Yuan Maoqiu hit the bed, “It’s a basic rule for staying out! I’ll have the comrades at the police station give you a lesson when we get back.”
Lin Heyu was tired, not in the mood to bicker with him. He quickly washed up and lay back in bed, ready to sleep. The lights were off when Yuan Maoqiu suddenly said, “Hey, Heyu, let me tell you something interesting.”
“Sleeping.”
“It’s about Zhizhi.”
Lin Heyu sat up, “Speak.”
Yuan Maoqiu clicked his tongue and shook his head. Definitely a sister complex. Lin Heyu stared at him, urging him with his eyes to get to the point. Yuan Maoqiu looked gossipy: “Zhizhi had dinner with Sheng Guoning tonight and took Xiao Shitou with her. That guy Sheng Guoning, when he saw another child, was dumbfounded. Tonight’s dinner was—hahahaha!”
Tonight, Sheng Guoning went to the appointment full of excitement and reserved a hotpot restaurant (Lin Zhizhi just loves hotpot). Unexpectedly, not only did Lin Zhizhi come, but she also brought a child. Sheng Guoning recognized the kid, and the atmosphere wasn’t particularly awkward. When Lin Zhizhi went to mix the hotpot seasoning, leaving the two of them alone, the little one asked, “Uncle, are you going on a date with my mom?”
“…Mom?” Sheng Guoning was stunned, “Aren’t you just temporarily staying at Miss Lin’s house?”
Xiao Shitou shook his head and answered crisply, “No, I’m staying long-term. Mom is going to adopt me, so from now on, I’ll be her child.”
Sheng Guoning never expected that Lin Zhizhi, so young, would adopt a child. But the child was fair-skinned, pretty, and well-behaved, with large, bright black eyes, and didn’t seem like he was lying. This was really too much of a surprise. He was thinking of finding a girlfriend to talk about marriage, but who would have thought he’d get an adopted child along with it?
He only considered it for half a minute before gathering his courage: “That’s okay. Uncle will love you like a father and treat you well.”
Xiao Shitou tilted his head, “You really don’t mind having me?”
Sheng Guoning smiled and reached out to touch his black hair: “Really, if I had known you were coming today, I would’ve bought an extra portion of Chaoshan milk pudd.”
Xiao Shitou was silent, the obedient smile on his face gradually fading. He stared at Sheng Guoning’s face for a full minute, seeing only sincerity in his eyes, and couldn’t help but feel puzzled: Could it be true? Is this man really willing to be with Auntie Lin and her child?
Having faced too much deception and cold treatment from a young age, Xiao Shitou wouldn’t easily trust a stranger. He shook his head, “I’m not sure, I can’t believe you yet.”
“Ah? I’m just like Uncle Lin, I’m a policeman. A policeman’s promise is always kept.”
“…Not the same,” Xiao Shitou said seriously, “He won’t hurt me, and he won’t hurt Auntie. I know him.”
Sheng Guoning smiled, revealing a row of small white teeth: “Then, Xiao Shitou, can you give me a chance to try to get to know me? I will never hurt you or Miss Lin, I promise.”
Xiao Shitou thought for a moment, then extended his delicate little hand, holding out his pinky: “Then let’s make a pinky promise. If you hurt me or Auntie, you’ll never be with her.”
“Deal.”
The large hand quickly linked pinkies with the small one. When Lin Zhizhi returned with the seasoning, she blinked: “What are you two doing?”
Sheng Guoning scratched the back of his head, nothing, just playing a game with the kid. During the meal, Sheng Guoning carefully observed, and noticed that Lin Zhizhi helped Xiao Shitou with the food and peeled shrimp for him, just like a mother taking care of her own child. This made him believe even more in Xiao Shitou’s words.
After returning, he asked Yuan Maoqiu for tips on pursuing a “single mother,” almost making Yuan Maoqiu laugh to death. When Lin Heyu came back and saw him so energetic, he was listening to Sheng Guoning’s “adventure.”
“Oh, that kid, he’s going to kill me with laughter! Hey, why did he say he was adopted by Zhizhi? That’s obviously impossible!”
Lin Heyu was also speechless, lying on his arm with a helpless sigh, “…Maybe he just wanted to give Sheng Guoning a hard time.”
“Saying ‘giving a hard time’ is harsh, I think he was ‘testing’ Captain Sheng. That kid’s been through a lot, matured early, and is probably worried about Zhizhi getting tricked by a scumbag.” Yuan Maoqiu’s face was sore from laughing, “He’s really a little devil, and Sheng Guoning actually took it seriously. Love really lowers your IQ, I wonder how Zhizhi would react if she knew?”
Lin Heyu imagined Lin Zhizhi’s reaction: overjoyed, hugging Xiao Shitou and spinning three and a half times in the air, then kissing him hard, exclaiming in an exaggerated voice: “Oh, Xiao Shitou, you’re so, so, so thoughtful~ Auntie loves you so much!”
“…” Lin Heyu was silent. Forget it, let them do as they please.
They chatted a little more about looking for some case files. Without realizing it, it got late, and Lin Heyu’s phone vibrated. It was a message from Yi Shi.
Lin Heyu immediately abandoned Yuan Maoqiu and focused on reading the message. Yuan Maoqiu grumbled and pulled up the covers. He muttered that after the founding of the country, no spirits were allowed, but this handsome stone must have slipped through the cracks.
Yi Shi had sent a few pictures, containing some information on the “10.30 explosion case.” Lin Heyu quickly glanced over them without looking closely, busy replying to his message: [Still up?]
Actually, Yi Shi had already gone to bed and was now extremely sleepy, but he remembered their agreement to exchange case information and had set an alarm to wake up and send it. Lying on his pillow, he told Lin Heyu that the information was incomplete and that he’d finish it when he returned to Haijing tomorrow.
[Don’t worry, go to sleep. Be safe on the road tomorrow.]
Yi Shi yawned, half asleep, unaware of what he had sent. His phone chimed with a reply from Lin Huoyu: [No.]
Yi Shi forced his eyes open and shifted his gaze to the message he had sent—[Do you have a girlfriend now?]
He jolted awake in an instant, terrified. He considered retracting the message but, after seeing the reply below, felt that doing so would be too obvious.
Forget it, forget it, just pretend nothing happened.
If he asks, I’ll say it was Yu Xue who sent it.
