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Chapter 46: “Bai Xiaoyuan, your Lei Chi has completed another case.”
The young man named “Zhou You” immediately caught Lei Chi’s attention.
After advising the young people around him, Zhou You walked over. He was full of energy, with a bright smile on his face, and his enthusiastic demeanor was evident: “Hello?”
Lei Chi shook hands with him. The temperature of the person he touched was normal, the palms were dry, and there was no sweat due to nervousness.
“The Crisis Management people came to inquire about the M-series machine.” Hu Shuo said to Zhou You, leading them into the meeting room, “Bring the M-series prototype over.”
The prototype was identical to the headphones owned by Wang Zheng. Zhou You introduced the machine in his hands to Lei Chi and others.
The Soli Company specializes in researching white noise and devices for playing white noise. The M-series is a machine they launched last year specifically targeting the high-end market, with a price of over 30,000 yuan and considerable sales. The body is sleek and perfect, the system is closed, and there is only one special interface dedicated to headphone charging. The headphones have built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers, requiring no connection to any host. As long as the headphone code is recognized on a computer or phone, data transfer can occur.
Lei Chi and the others looked at each other—they had not yet discerned the headphones’ special features.
“The M-series headphones have an exclusive audio library, our VIP library, which is exclusive to our members. Purchasing the M-type machine automatically makes you our member.” Zhou You explained, “This audio library has more than 6,000 kinds of white noise to choose from. If the white noise in the library doesn’t meet the consumer’s requirements, as long as they express their needs, we can find or design white noise specifically for their personal use.”
Cheap white noise headphones on the market generally come with a white noise library with a high degree of similarity. The M-series focuses on custom white noise and is well-known among high-spending consumers and quality-seeking sentinels.
“An M-series headphone can only install one type of white noise,” Zhou You said, “because besides white noise being custom-made, the headphones are also completely personalized. Each sentinel’s situation is different, and the degree of hearing strength may vary subtly. When they purchase headphones, they write down the type of white noise they want.”
Zhou You opened the computer and pulled up a survey form. Lei Chi glanced at it—there were 120 questions.
“These 120 questions allow us to fully understand the sentinel’s needs. For example, some people like the sound of water but don’t like the sound of rain, don’t like too loud wind, and don’t like the subtle sound of rocks hindering water flow in the water. They may even dislike insect sounds and only accept the sound of fish bubbling in the water or leaping out of the water.” Zhou You pulled up a survey form, “We will customize white noise specifically for them and then adjust the attributes of the headphones based on the characteristics of this white noise. Since the white noise needs of each person are different, the settings of M-series headphones are also unique. There are no two identical products.”
“Since all the white noise is designed and produced by your company, please check if there are any impurities in the white noise in this headset,” Lei Chi said. “This is the headset from the case we’re handling… Can you identify impurities in white noise that weren’t designed by you?”
When Zhou You and Hu Shuo took over the headphones, the two of them silently exchanged glances, as if communicating without words. The conspicuous black bloodstains on the headphones’ crevices caught Hu Shuo’s attention, and he quickly let go. Zhou You connected the computer to the headphones and, after a moment, furrowed his brow.
“The white noise in the headphones was not made by our company.”
Lei Chi was stunned, “What?”
“This is pirated white noise.” Zhou You turned the computer screen to show Lei Chi. On the white noise playback interface, the words “Unable to identify the source” were prominently displayed.
“What’s the matter with pirated white noise?”
“The M-series headphones were launched last year, and around the end of the year, we found that some products appeared on the second-hand high-priced market. Many people rushed to buy them, but they couldn’t use so many themselves and would quickly resell them. The problem is that when buying the headphones, the white noise in the headphones matches the buyer’s preferences. When it is transferred to another sentinel, it becomes unusable. A sentinel who likes the sound of water would not accept white noise with wind. Can the white noise in the headphones be changed?”
“It can, but we charge for it.” Zhou You smiled, “It’s business.”
Hu Shuo added, “Many people who buy second-hand headphones are not willing to spend money to come to us to modify the built-in white noise of the headphones. They will search online for tutorials and download pirated white noise made by netizens. Since these white noises are not our products, we cannot determine what is noise inside; after all, shoddy things, all sounds may be noise.”
On the way there, Xiao Liu wore headphones and listened to street noise all the way, making him irritable. Unfortunately, in this hour-long white noise, he didn’t hear any human voices.
“In addition, the white noise in the headphones was updated four days ago,” Zhou You said.
Four days ago, that wasn’t when Wang Zheng committed the crime.
“Can the previous white noise be restored?”
“No, once a new one is downloaded, it will overwrite the old one. The headphones can only install one type of white noise.” Zhou You’s attitude seemed exceptionally patient. “Captain Lei, you’re a werewolf; you might not understand. Sentinels need exclusive white noise. When they sleep or need quiet, they can only listen to the sound that they find most acceptable. Playing something else may have the opposite effect. Therefore, even if white noise headphones are designed to install multiple sounds, they’re practically meaningless. Moreover, our headphones are designed specifically for the buyer, so the focus is on their sound configuration, not storage space.”
Lei Chi turned to look at Xiao Liu, and Xiao Liu nodded, “The white noise headphones I’m using now can only install one sound.”
Zhou You and Hu Shuo both looked at Lei Chi respectfully and gracefully and asked, “Captain Lei, is there anything else?”
Lei Chi looked at the headphones, suddenly having a new thought.
“You said the settings of these headphones are unique, tailored for each buyer?”
Zhou You: “Yes.”
Lei Chi: “Your buyers filled out detailed survey forms during the purchase, and you adjust the headphones based on the contents of the form?”
Zhou You: “That’s right.”
Lei Chi: “So, as long as we figure out the settings of these headphones, it’s equivalent to finding the person who originally bought them, right?”
This time, Zhou You didn’t answer and just nodded slightly.
“Please help me check again who purchased these headphones,” Lei Chi said.
Zhou You looked down at the headphones, still maintaining a calm and courteous smile on his face.
“I’m afraid we can’t help you with this request, Captain Lei,” Zhou You said to Lei Chi. “VIP data is our company’s customer privacy, and without proper procedures, we cannot disclose it to anyone. Just now, you only wanted us to help answer questions, and we strongly support Crisis Management’s work, so we helped with that. However, customer information is indeed off-limits. Please understand, Captain Lei.”
Lei Chi straightened up, grabbing the headphones on the table. The headphones were placed in an evidence bag, making a rustling sound as he gripped them.
“If Captain Lei can bring a collaboration notice, we will definitely cooperate.” Hu Shuo smiled amiably. “Police and civilians working together… crisis management is the police, right?”
He looked at Xiao Liu for confirmation, but Xiao Liu didn’t answer.
The investigation at Soli Company yielded little results, and Lei Chi remained silent on the way back. Xiao Liu thought he was thinking about the headphones, so he tried to console him, “Captain Lei, when we get back, just get a collaboration notice from the chief. It’s not difficult.”
Lei Chi wasn’t thinking about that. He was thinking about Zhou You.
He had seen photos of Zhou Xuefeng, as well as a family photo of Zhou Xuefeng with his wife and child taken in front of their old house.
But more than thirty years had passed, and he wasn’t sure if the current Zhou You was related to Zhou Xuefeng.
…Just because someone with the surname Zhou showed up doesn’t mean they’re necessarily related to Zhou Xuefeng. Lei Chi thought, maybe X is already dead?
Even if X was still alive, even if he happened to be Zhou You, he was doing well now, indicating that after leaving that mountain village and hellish family, he was living a good life.
His suspicion that X killed Zhou Xuefeng was just speculation and completely unfounded. Lei Chi once thought he might be going crazy. Qin Ge had clearly told him that X likely admired and feared Zhou Xuefeng, and it was impossible for him to harm him. Yet he also believed that his intuition had never been wrong, and it must be correct this time too.
After getting off the car, he couldn’t resist pulling Xiao Liu aside and instructing him, “After we get back, find out the identity of Zhou You for me.”
Xiao Liu was puzzled, “Why? What’s the basis?”
Lei Chi: “…The only people in our department who can log into the Special Human Population Data Management System are the chief and you as the administrator. Only you can check.”
Xiao Liu: “Captain Lei, I just want to ask, what’s the basis? Without a basis, how can I check? This is something that will be reported and criticized without a doubt.”
Lei Chi: “…”
Xiao Liu: “The last time I helped you check Lu Qinglai’s personal information, I was already criticized once. It’s only May now, and if I get reported three times this year, my year-end performance will be ruined. The organization is strict, and discipline is strict. This is what you taught me.”
Lei Chi punched him.
After the head of the Criminal Investigation Division listened to Lei Chi’s report, his initially smiling face gradually became serious, and eventually, it even stiffened.
“Lei Chi… you…”
Lei Chi stood upright for ten minutes, waiting for the chief to finish scolding him before asking, “So, can we issue a collaboration notice? By the way, I believe Zhou You is highly likely to be the X from the Cai Mingyue case, whose whereabouts are unknown. He can help us clarify the doubts about the female corpse in Zhou Xuefeng’s clinic and Zhou Xuefeng’s death.”
The chief looked at him, “Lei Chi, what case are you investigating?”
Lei Chi remained silent.
“Your direction has gone off track. In the Cai Mingyue case, your responsibility was to investigate the people involved. What we need to find are the parents who requested the infanticide back then. Now, Zhou Xuefeng and his wife are both dead. Even if his son is alive, what help can he provide in the Cai Mingyue case? As for the Wang Zheng case, you insist on taking it; I can’t stop you. But now that the criminal has been identified as Wang Zheng himself, his confession, Xie Shaoqian’s confession, and everything at the crime scene match. The murderer is him. What’s the point of being hung up on a pair of headphones?”
Lei Chi was about to speak, but the chief quickly interrupted, “Don’t talk to me about intuition. I know your intuition is accurate, but we can’t investigate cases based on intuition.”
When the chief began to drink tea, Lei Chi seized the opportunity to speak, “Chief, I can give up investigating Zhou You in the Cai Mingyue case, but in the Wang Zheng case, it’s highly likely that someone used white noise headphones to suggest or even instigate him to commit the crime.”
“The one who instigated him is surnamed Xie!” The chief glared at Lei Chi, took a deep breath, and softened his tone slightly. “Lei Chi, do you know how the public opinion is regarding the Wang Zheng case now?”
Lei Chi had been too busy lately and hadn’t paid much attention to public opinion and news.
“The president and director of the Semi-Zombified Human Rights Protection Association came to see me together today, and the situation is indeed very serious. The news about Wang Zheng has spread too quickly. Now, whether on the internet or in society, the hostility towards semi-zombified humans can be said to have reached its peak. In various places across the country these past two days, there have been many incidents of attacks on semi-zombified humans. The assailants say that if they don’t eliminate semi-zombified humans first, they will be the ones who die.” The chief told Lei Chi, “The worst part is that a considerable number of semi-zombified humans who were originally monitored and treated at home are beginning to be abandoned.”
Lei Chi was stunned, “Abandoned?”
The chief said, “Real abandonment. Just today, nearly a hundred semi-zombified humans were dumped at the gates of welfare institutions nationwide, and most of them are minors under the age of eighteen.”
Lei Chi’s expression became even more serious.
“Also, a significant number of elderly people, who are almost defenseless when facing hostility and harm, have started to be abandoned.” The chief sighed, “Lei Chi, I know you are enthusiastic, and I know you value and love this job. But, really, don’t go off track, especially at this time. The case should be closed when it should be closed. Send it to the prosecutor’s office, schedule the trial as soon as possible, and calm down this turmoil.”
Lei Chi: “Chief, the real cause of the turmoil is not us.”
The chief nodded, “Yes. But do we currently have the ability to temporarily calm down this storm?”
Lei Chi clenched his teeth and didn’t speak again.
“Ba Xiaoyuan, your Lei Chi has solved another case.” Xie Zijing, flipping through the newspaper, raised his head and read aloud the report to the loudly snoring Ba Xiaoyuan, “Captain Lei of the Crisis Management Criminal Investigation Division informed the reporter that during the investigation of the semi-zombified murder case, Wang Zheng…”
Ba Xiaoyuan gave him a glare, “Whose Lei Chi? Whoever wants him can have him; it’s none of my business.”
Xie Zijing put down the newspaper, “Maomao, so cold.”
Ba Xiaoyuan glanced at his lion, closed his mouth, and said nothing.
After the Barbary lion was released, it occupied the best spot in the center of the office, lazily lying down with closed eyes and a long-haired rabbit squatting on its head. The rabbit’s fur almost covered its own eyes as it stared at Ba Xiaoyuan through the gaps in its fur.
Ba Xiaoyuan’s sand cat and Tang Cuo’s panda were not released; both of them were afraid of this lion. Only the long-haired rabbit wasn’t afraid but dared to grab the lion’s mane and sway it like a swing. White and golden fur entwined together, and Ba Xiaoyuan often had to help them untangle.
The long-haired rabbit was not afraid of the lion but seemed to be scared of Ba Xiaoyuan. As soon as Ba Xiaoyuan approached, the rabbit immediately shrunk into the lion’s arms, trembling.
But when Ba Xiaoyuan walked away, the rabbit would act like it was now, staring at her intently.
“Qin Ge, your rabbit is strange.” Ba Xiaoyuan turned to look at Qin Ge. “Also, can you remind Xie Zijing not to bring such a big beast out? People from other departments are afraid to come here.”
Qin Ge glanced at the rabbit and the lion, then looked up at Xie Zijing. Xie Zijing happened to be staring at him too; their eyes met, and Qin Ge quickly turned away, while Xie Zijing’s face showed a suppressed smile.
Tang Cuo’s message timely arrived at Ba Xiaoyuan’s phone: [Is there something going on between Qin Ge and Xie Zijing?]
Ba Xiaoyuan: [Of course, something big.]
Qin Ge cleared his throat, putting down the files in his hands. “There’s a seminar on Friday about the research on the ‘sea areas’ of special humans. The documents are here with me. Each department needs to send representatives to attend. I will definitely go. Does anyone want to join me?”
During this period, Xie Zijing had already felt dizzy just from reading the materials and books Qin Ge provided him. As soon as he heard that it was related to the “sea area” again, even if Qin Ge was the one going with him, he was unwilling to follow. Tang Cuo’s gaze wandered, and he remained silent for a long time. On Friday night, he had scheduled a class with Gao Shu, who then invited him to the rooftop after class to have dinner and watch the shark. Tang Cuo was excited beyond words, eager to rush to the gym as soon as he got off work.
Seeing that the other two had no reaction, Bai Xiaoyuan spoke up, “I’ll accompany you. It just so happens that I also want to learn more about the knowledge of the ‘sea area’.”
Qin Ge nodded and sent his and Ba Xiaoyuan’s names to the office before returning to his work. After a while, he casually said, “By the way, the seminar is at the National Library. Are you going there by yourself, or should I pick you up?”
His words had just finished when both Xie Zijing and Tang Cuo raised their hands and said, “Wait! I’m going too!”
Ba Xiaoyuan’s expression changed, and after a moment, she turned to Qin Ge and said, “Then I won’t go.”
Qin Ge: “No, I’ve already sent your name.”
Ba Xiaoyuan remained silent. Xie Zijing and Tang Cuo exchanged a glance, both excited.
“Ba Xiaoyuan’s boyfriend works at the National Library, right?” Xie Zijing asked. “What’s his name?”
Qin Ge: “I don’t know… And don’t release your lion in the parking lot! Put it back!”
At this moment, Tang Cuo also got out of the car, scratched his head, and suddenly pointed to a car that had just parked on the opposite side, “Lei Chi?”
Qin Ge: “…”
Xie Zijing: “…”
Lei Chi was already walking toward them, waving his hand in greeting. He turned out to be the representative sent by the Criminal Investigation Division to attend the meeting.
Under the pressure, Wang Zheng’s case had to be hastily closed, but the pair of white noise headphones had always been a knot in Lei Chi’s heart, and he had never thought of giving up on it. Seeing that the seminar would discuss the impact of external sounds on the ‘sea area,’ he immediately registered for it, planning to discuss it with the experts afterward.
Lei Chi glanced at everyone, and Xie Zijing answered the unspoken question, “Ba Xiaoyuan came by herself and has already gone inside.”
“Okay.” Lei Chi asked, “Do you guys eat candy?”
The three of them each took a peppermint candy. While Tang Cuo was unwrapping the packaging, he asked, “So does anyone know what Ba Xiaoyuan’s boyfriend is called? With so many people in the National Library, how do we find him?”
Xie Zijing: “Shh!”
Lei Chi’s footsteps paused, and after a while, he caught up with them, saying, “Leaving aside the candies, does Ba Xiaoyuan’s boyfriend work at the National Library?”
Qin Ge could only nod, “Yes, she mentioned it herself.”
After that, Lei Chi remained silent until they walked to the entrance of the National Hall and saw Ba Xiaoyuan waiting at the check-in counter. He took out a small bag of chocolates and handed it to her, saying, “Everyone gets one.”
Ba Xiaoyuan looked at the other three people from the office skeptically and asked, “Do you all have this too?”
The three had already finished their peppermint candies and nodded as they stared at the clearly higher-tier chocolates in Ba Xiaoyuan’s hand.
Only then did Ba Xiaoyuan accept Lei Chi’s gift.
Xie Zijing and Lei Chi walked together, and when they saw Ba Xiaoyuan entering the venue, Lei Chi asked, “Are you still giving gifts?”
“I’ve been carrying them for several days; I didn’t have a chance to see her, so I can only give them now.” Lei Chi said, “I just wanted to give her some candy to eat, nothing else.”
Xie Zijing: “…”
He kind of wanted to learn Lei Chi’s style—the kind of charisma that remained unshaken even when the world was falling apart.
After they were seated, Xie Zijing looked around for a while, not very interested, and took out his phone to read the news. Tang Cuo met his classmates, and a few people chatted about something. Tang Cuo released the panda, attracting half of the venue’s attention.
Ba Xiaoyuan and Qin Ge sat together, quietly discussing work matters. Lei Chi occasionally turned his head to look at the two, but most of the time, his gaze wandered over the faces of the men in the venue. Ba Xiaoyuan’s boyfriend probably wasn’t in this venue, but he couldn’t help but stare at every handsome face, scrutinizing them with a sharp gaze.
Scaring away a few people, Lei Chi noticed that Xie Zijing handed him a phone.
Discussions about the Wang Zheng case on the internet hadn’t stopped but gradually shifted toward the threat of special humans, the universal human rights of special humans, and whether completely zombie-fied humans still counted as people. Lei Chi glanced at it, shrugged, and didn’t say anything. Xie Zijing felt his complicated emotions and patted his shoulder, “I understand.”
Lei Chi also didn’t know what he understood. As they walked down the corridor, they passed by a tall and handsome young man, and Lei Chi once again stared at him, unable to look away.
After a whole morning of meetings, as Xie Zijing had never been there before, Qin Ge took him away from the venue to visit the main hall. Xie Zijing asked if they had the set of “The Sentinel and His Six Guides” here, and Qin Ge said he didn’t know but felt like punching someone in his mind.
After Xie Zijing finished wandering around, the two of them took the elevator downstairs. Xie Zijing asked Qin Ge, “Bai Xiaoyuan said her boyfriend manages data at the National Library. Which office manages data? Should we go take a look?”
Qin Ge immediately stopped him, “Don’t do that. Xiaoyuan doesn’t like it.”
In the elevator, another man with a briefcase turned to look at the two of them.
Qin Ge lowered his voice, “Since she didn’t say, just calm down and stop asking.”
Xie Zijing replied, “Her boyfriend is supposed to be better than Lei Chi? I don’t believe it.”
Qin Ge asked, “Is Lei Chi your idol?”
Xie Zijing answered, “Yes.”
Qin Ge felt a bit annoyed, so using his body as a cover, Xie Zijing then placed his hand on Qin Ge’s waist. Qin Ge decided to let it go and didn’t want to argue with him.
The elevator doors opened, and the two of them walked out one after the other. Before they could take a few steps, they were stopped by someone. “Hello,” the man who had called them in the elevator said, “Are you from the Crisis Management Office?”
The man introduced himself as Zhang Ling, a staff member at the National Library responsible for database management.
Xie Zijing and Qin Ge exchanged a glance, both intrigued.
“I overheard you talking about Bai Xiaoyuan just now. Is she Sentinel Bai Xiaoyuan from the Crisis Management Office? Her spiritual body is a sand cat,” Zhang Ling asked.
Xie Zijing immediately smiled, “So, you’re Xiaoyuan’s boyfriend? That’s quite a coincidence.”
Zhang Ling didn’t smile; his expression was serious, with a hint of anger.
“I am not her boyfriend,” Zhang Ling said. “We broke up early last year.”
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