[02/29, 18:13, Nanyi City Bureau]
After Lin Zhizhi returned from Mu Li, she took a long nap. Upon waking and checking her phone, she saw the message from Sheng Guoning inviting her to dinner and almost immediately replied: [Sure, see you tonight (cute cat emoji)].
After this period of getting to know each other, their relationship was at the stage of friends with benefits; although they hadn’t yet broken through that layer of ambiguous intimacy, to Lin Zhizhi, Sheng Guoning’s humorous personality, good character, and just the right amount of handsomeness made him the ideal boyfriend candidate.
So she excitedly got up, treated herself to a spa, put on beautiful makeup, wore the new dress she had bought a couple of days ago, and happily went out for the date. However, just as she stepped out, Sheng Guoning sent another message, sincerely apologizing that he had a meeting that evening and would have to reschedule.
Lin Zhizhi shrugged; perhaps it was because of having an older brother who was a police officer, she had grown accustomed to being stood up, and her heart remained calm without a ripple. To avoid wasting her meticulously prepared outfit, she decided to go eat hotpot by herself. When she got into a taxi and told the driver her destination, she stumbled over her words: “Go to Nanyi City Bureau.”
Even if she couldn’t go out for a big meal, it wouldn’t matter to eat something casual near the bureau. If she sought out Sheng Guoning, he would surely be pleasantly surprised.
As the taxi turned the corner, two figures came into view around the wall. Lin Heyu had a serious and deep expression, while Sheng Guoning looked helpless. Lin Zhizhi immediately felt tense: What was going on? It didn’t look like they were discussing work; could it be that her brother had discovered their rapid progress and was about to hit Sheng Guoning?!
“Driver, stop up ahead!”
Lin Zhizhi cautiously approached, wanting to overhear what was causing the conflict. As she got closer, she happened to hear Sheng Guoning say, “I didn’t mean to take action against you or Yishi; I really just want Zhizhi to be safe.”
“What are you two talking about?”
Both men wore expressions of surprise and shock, as if she shouldn’t be there or shouldn’t have heard that sentence. Lin Zhizhi anxiously fiddled with the tassels on her bag and asked Sheng Guoning, “What did you do? What do you mean by just wanting me to be safe?”
“…It’s nothing.” Sheng Guoning smiled awkwardly, trying to change the topic. “Zhizhi, you look beautiful today! Since you’re here, let’s go eat; there’s a Sichuan restaurant nearby that’s really authentic!”
To her surprise, Lin Heyu didn’t oppose: “Let’s go; it’s getting late. Eat, then head home early.”
“…” Lin Zhizhi glanced at Lin Heyu, then back at Sheng Guoning. “Do you think I’m an idiot? Clearly, you’re hiding something from me.”
Lin Sheng exchanged looks with each other, and at that moment, they reached a rare consensus: Just make up some excuse; they absolutely couldn’t let Zhizhi know the truth.
“Actually, you misheard me; I was saying—wanting to marry you safely.” Sheng Guoning scratched the back of his head. “Although it’s a bit early to talk about this, I just wanted to communicate with your brother in advance; it’s better to prepare, right?”
Lin Heyu nodded in agreement: “Yeah. We’ve talked enough; you can date him openly in the future, no need to hide it from me.”
Lin Zhizhi stared in disbelief, completely thrown off by the sudden “proposal.” She felt flustered, her cheeks turning red: “You… what nonsense are you talking about? I haven’t even thought about marriage…”
Taking advantage of the moment, Sheng Guoning boldly took her hand, eager to go eat and date immediately without delay. Lin Heyu reminded him, “Make sure to take Zhizhi home early after eating. We have a meeting tonight.”
“Okay, okay, for sure! Don’t worry, Captain Lin,” Sheng Guoning assured.
As the two crossed the street and gradually walked away, Lin Zhizhi turned back, seeing Lin Heyu waving. She felt an inexplicable sense of ethereal farewell, as if he were saying goodbye forever.
The ambiguous tension was suddenly broken, and she felt shy and uneasy, unable to make eye contact with Sheng Guoning. Whenever their gazes met, she quickly looked away. The warm yellow light illuminated the beautiful girl, and Sheng Guoning’s previously anxious emotions gradually settled. Imagining the future with a family, he couldn’t help but confess: “Zhizhi, I like you. I’ll protect you well for the rest of my life.”
Lin Zhizhi bit her lip, her face blooming with blush. She tucked her hair behind her ear and gently nodded: “Mm, I believe you.”
Sheng Guoning was overjoyed, suddenly feeling grateful for the unexpected turn of events brought about by her brother, which made his relationship with Zhizhi take a qualitative leap. As long as they got through today, everything would return to normal, and they still had countless futures ahead.
Around 7:30, Sheng Guoning sent Lin Zhizhi back to the Youth Cube apartment, stopping to buy many desserts along the way. As they parted, Sheng Guoning hugged Lin Zhizhi tightly: “Don’t stay up too late drawing when you get back. If you’re tired, go to bed early. I’ll message you after the meeting.”
“Mm, okay. I’m fine, you focus on work,” she reassured him.
After closing the apartment door, it was pitch black inside. Lin Zhizhi leaned against the wall, and a sense of weariness gradually washed over her.
Earlier during dinner, Sheng Guoning’s phone had been buzzing incessantly, the screen lighting up repeatedly. When she casually glanced at it while reaching for her drink, the contents surprised her.
[Team One has returned; Captain Lin not found.]
[Let Team Two return as well; we’ll continue the search tomorrow.]
[There will be a meeting later regarding the task assignments for tomorrow’s mechanical factory.]
Captain Lin must refer to Lin Heyu. What does “not found” mean? Seizing the opportunity while heading to the restroom, she dialed Yuan Maoqiu’s number, trying twice before he finally picked up. Yuan Maoqiu, still at Peacock Head Mountain, assumed she had received news from Sheng Guoning and patiently reassured her. It hadn’t been 24 hours since Lin Heyu went missing, and they would definitely find him; there was no need to worry.
Her brother was missing.
But they had just met, and the sentence that had been interrupted earlier lingered in her mind. She was not fooled by the sweetness of love; upon calm reflection, it was evident that what they both wanted to hide was definitely very important.
“Hey, Brother Yuan, it’s Zhizhi. Are you back at the police station now?”
“I’m at the station; there’s a meeting at 8 o’clock.”
“My brother hasn’t come back yet, has he?”
“Um… Zhizhi, don’t worry…”
“I know he’ll be fine.” Lin Zhizhi paused, “I called to ask if Brother Yuan knows who ‘Yi Shi’ is?”
———
[01/18, 15:43, Nanyi City, Changlong Garden]
As the New Year approached, the big cleaning to eliminate the old and welcome the new was an unavoidable task. Lin Zhizhi had already started cleaning; Sheng Yuanan had gone home for the holidays. Since the last incident, he had become much more obedient and well-behaved. He had changed his habit of sleeping in and often helped with chores, as if he had grown up overnight.
“Mom, I’ll clean the balcony glass; you don’t need to climb up and down.”
Her son had become so sensible, bringing comfort to Lin Zhizhi’s heart. She handed him a rag: “Then be careful; catch the dirty water. There are still blankets to be collected downstairs.”
She moved a small stool and slowly began to pick the green beans from a bag. While Sheng Yu’an cleaned the glass, he chatted with her: “Mom, where’s Dad? I haven’t seen him since I got on holiday; even at the end of the year, he shouldn’t be this busy.”
“…This year’s situation is special; there hasn’t been such a big case in previous years.”
Sheng Yu’an nodded. Indeed, the impact of the explosion at the machinery factory was too severe; it was a case that would be recorded in history. However, he always felt something was off. He hadn’t heard his parents make a single phone call during the holidays, and it seemed that since December, the atmosphere between them had turned cold and strange.
Then there was his brother, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time. He felt anxious like a cat on hot bricks but didn’t dare to show it, so he could only secretly bother Yu Xue. Yu Xue, bothered to the point of having to relent, could only reveal that Yishi would be fine, which made him feel slightly reassured.
After cleaning a large piece of glass, Sheng Yu’an carried a basin of dirty water to the bathroom. Suddenly, the security door opened, and he exclaimed with joy, “Dad! You’re back!”
Sheng Guoning nodded, placing his keys on the shoe rack, then turned to look at the balcony. Lin Zhizhi stood up, and their eyes met; the emotions in her gaze were indescribable—there was resentment, sadness, and reluctance. Despite this, she didn’t greet him and continued to focus on her work.
Sheng Guoning sighed silently and returned to the bedroom alone. Sheng Yu’an looked around anxiously, alarm bells ringing in his mind: this was bad; a situation like this was far scarier than fighting!
Could it have been like this since that day? The training intensity in the team had increased recently; he had gone home less often. Every time he called back, his mother said everything was fine, and he thought they had reconciled. A month had passed, and not only had the conflict not eased but had instead deepened, leaving Sheng Yu’an with a furrowed brow, no longer in the mood to continue cleaning the glass.
No, he needed to think of a way.
Having picked half the green beans, Sheng Yu’an suddenly squatted beside Lin Zhizhi, looking at her with a pleasing expression: “Mom~ How about we go out to eat today? Dad is finally back, and it’s been a long time since we’ve dined out together.”
“I’ve already bought the ingredients.”
“We can save them for tomorrow; today I’ll treat you,” Sheng Yu’an quickly took the bag of green beans away, not giving her a chance to refuse. “That’s settled! I saw a new Sichuan restaurant on Weibo, let’s go try it out!”
After convincing Lin Zhizhi, he opened the bedroom door again: “Dad! We’re going out to eat tonight; hurry up and change your uniform!”
“Did your mom agree?”
“Of course! She asked me to come and remind you to change your clothes.”
Sheng Guoning felt secretly relieved. With An’an around, perhaps his relationship with Zhizhi could gradually improve. In a marital relationship, many things cannot be said in front of the child. Because of this, the child becomes an important bridge in maintaining the family.
Sheng Guoning opened the wardrobe to search. Lin Zhizhi walked in and finally took the initiative to speak: “What are you looking for?”
“A brown windbreaker.”
Lin Zhizhi opened the third door and accurately found the windbreaker, while Sheng Guoning took out a powder purple cashmere coat from the hanging area: “Zhizhi, wear this; the color suits you well.”
Lin Zhizhi smiled faintly: “Forget it, I’m already old.”
Such a simple statement rejected his goodwill. Later, Lin Zhizhi took a black coat; she rarely wore such dark colors. This coat had been buried at the bottom of the box for years, and it finally had the opportunity to be worn.
The Sichuan restaurant that Sheng Yu’an saw on Weibo had just opened and was holding an event; each table could draw a coupon directly to discount the meal. Lin Zhizhi had good luck and drew a half-price coupon, finally revealing the first genuine smile of joy tonight.
Sheng Yu’an exaggeratedly applauded, thanking his mom for saving him money. He planned to go shopping later to digest and buy her a gift.
“What route did you take? It’s all small alleys.”
“This is the path my friend took me last time; it’s much closer than driving from here.”
A light flickered ahead in the narrow opening, and Sheng Yu’an rushed out of the alley with open arms: “Dad, Mom! Come and see where we are!”
Sheng Guoning and Lin Zhizhi walked out of the small alley and froze—across from them was the pedestrian street near Pingju Plaza. Time Flies Coffee Shop was in the left rear, the square was on the right, and the big diamond and fountain were all turned on. The lights had just turned on, and the streets were bustling, vividly depicting the bustling night scene of Nanyi.
But all of this, in Lin Zhizhi’s eyes, would only remind her of the things that had happened by the fountain; she could neither accept it nor let it go. Sheng Yu’an hadn’t yet realized he was making things worse with his good intentions, excitedly saying: “Mom, there’s a new arcade at Pingju Plaza; it’s only 30 yuan for 100 tokens! The stuffed toys are really easy to grab; I’ll catch a few for you!”
Lin Zhizhi didn’t speak, and Sheng Guoning held her hand: “Zhizhi, An’an is so happy; let’s go shopping.”
The next second, his hand was shaken off. Lin Zhizhi looked up at him, biting her lower lip, her eyes red.
She silently questioned, asking how he could be so calm. Just imagining Sheng Guoning pressing Lin Heyu down in the water made her feel like she was suffocating.
“…I’m sorry.” Sheng Guoning’s hand, suspended in the air, gently dropped. He had said this dozens of times, yet Lin Zhizhi still refused to accept the apology.
Sheng Yu’an stood dumbfounded beside them. In that moment, he seemed to see the chasm between his parents, deep and unbridgeable. It was hard to tell when his loving parents gradually became the most familiar strangers. What was more terrifying was that he witnessed it with his own eyes but felt powerless, only able to let them drift further apart.
———
[02/29, 22:46, Time Flies (Pingju Plaza Store)]
Lin Zhizhi sat in a corner booth on the first floor, holding a mocha that had long gone cold. She had been sitting there for two hours, hoping to wait for the person she wanted to see.
[He was a man, about 1.8 meters tall, quite thin, but very striking in appearance, with very fair skin, like a doll.]
[I had seen him three times: once with Lao Lin at a café called ‘Time Flies’; the second time was when Lao Lin brought him to a hotel at night; the third time was a few days ago by the riverside in Muli City.]
[Today, it seemed he had come to Nanyi, taking the Xiao Shitou with him; surveillance footage captured him entering ‘Time Flies’ with the Xiao Shitou.]
This information was obtained from Yuan Maoqiu. The man named Yi Shi had a close relationship with her brother, and their interactions were ambiguous, to the point where they joked about being “couples” and did not deny it. Moreover, he had taken the Xiao Shitou to this place. Even though Lin Zhizhi asked all the staff as soon as she entered, and they all said they hadn’t seen such a distinctive adult and child, she firmly believed that waiting here would yield results.
“……Miss, Miss?”
Lin Zhizhi suddenly came back to her senses and looked up. “Sorry, is there something wrong?”
The staff member bent slightly, speaking with concern. “You look a bit unwell; are you feeling sick?”
Lin Zhizhi quickly shook her head, glancing around the now-empty café. “Aren’t you closing soon?”
“No, no, today we received a notice from the manager that we’re open all night; please don’t worry.” The staff member bowed. “I’ll get back to my work now; if you need anything, feel free to ring the bell.”
A café actually staying open all night seemed to be a temporary decision, limited to today. Could it be because of the once-every-four-years February 29? Lin Zhizhi finished the last bit of her cold coffee, feeling a bit embarrassed just sitting there, and ordered a glass of freshly squeezed juice while casually picking up a fashion magazine from the shelf.
Time passed slowly; she was still the only customer in the café, hidden in the booth with high backs. Just as she was immersed in the stunning fashion designs, a sound of wind chimes came from the entrance. She leaned forward to look and widened her eyes: her brother had arrived!
Lin Zhizhi steadied her nerves and didn’t rush out. Instead, she hid in the booth and quietly observed. She saw Lin Heyu sit down in the spot closest to the door, seemingly also waiting for someone, as he kept tilting his head to gaze out at the night view through the glass window.
Who was he waiting for? It was getting late. It was almost midnight, with only a few pedestrians on the street, and surrounding shops were closing up. Even the large diamond in Pingju Square was preparing for its countdown to turn off the lights.
The wall clock’s hour, minute, and second hands overlapped, all pointing to 12. Lin Heyu seemed to have seen something; he suddenly stood up and opened the café door.
“You’re here.”
The voice drifted to Lin Zhizhi’s spot, leaving only the tail end. She immediately looked toward the floor-to-ceiling glass; there was no one outside. Who was her brother talking to?
Lin Heyu’s hand reached outside the door, sending chills up Lin Zhizhi’s arms. A strong feeling of unease washed over her, as if once her brother stepped out, he would truly be gone.
“Brother!” Lin Zhizhi dashed over. Lin Heyu had already half-stepped outside the store, and upon seeing Lin Zhizhi, his eyes showed not just surprise but also a hint of anxiety.
Lin Zhizhi rushed to grab his arm. The moment she touched Lin Heyu, she saw the person outside—tall and slender, with a gray cap hiding a pair of cold, thin eyes. He extended his right hand, which met Lin Heyu’s left hand, while she clutched Lin Heyu’s right arm, as if afraid of losing her brother.
“Zhizhi, what are you doing here?” Lin Heyu furrowed his brows. “Did Sheng Guoning not take you home?”
Lin Zhizhi quickly shook her head. “No, he took me back. I heard you were missing and couldn’t stay at home, so I wanted to come find you.”
She looked at the man outside and stepped out to stand in front of her brother. “Are you Yi Shi?”
At that moment she stepped outside, both pairs of eyes flickered with alarm as they exchanged a glance—this was bad; she had accidentally come over.
“Hey, I’m talking to you!” Lin Zhizhi waved her hand in front of Yi Shi’s eyes, turning back to complain. “Brother, your friend is so rude.”
Lin Heyu also turned back to observe. The café’s scene had transformed, and there was no going back for Lin Zhizhi now. With things having come to this, he could only succumb to fate and pulled Lin Zhizhi behind him. “Stop messing around.”
Yi Shi finally spoke, “Yes, that’s me.”
“You and my brother—” Lin Zhizhi’s gaze fell on their still clasped hands. Since it had come to this, there was no need to ask further.
Yi Shi did not evade or hide; he nodded indifferently again. “Yes, just as you think.”
“……” Lin Zhizhi wasn’t shocked but puzzled. She had never heard of her brother having someone he liked before; who knew he would suddenly have a male partner. Life’s drama and surprises came unexpectedly.
Yi Shi slowly pulled down his mask.
Lin Zhizhi stared blankly, hit by a “beauty shock” that left her speechless. She marveled at and admired Lin Heyu; as expected of her brother, he truly had good taste.
