[11/27, 12:24, Haijing City]
The car hadn’t gone far from Haijing Bureau when Yi Shi saw Sheng Yu’an. He was wearing sportswear, carrying a gym bag over one shoulder. His broad shoulders and long legs made him nearly 1.9 meters tall. Due to swimming for years, his skin was tanned to a bronze shade. Despite his mature physique, his young face reminded Yi Shi that this kid was only 19, still very much a child.
Sheng Yu’an had noticed Yi Shi long before but didn’t dare to greet him. He scratched his ear, then his forehead, looking nervous. The car stopped in front of him, the window rolled down, and Yi Shi looked at him with a cold, silent expression.
“…Brother,” Sheng Yu’an muttered, head down, eyes wandering, not daring to meet Yi Shi’s gaze.
“Get in.”
Sheng Yu’an hurriedly opened the passenger door and sat inside. He was tall and strong, and the spacious interior of the car was suddenly half occupied. Yi Shi held the steering wheel with both hands and said, “Seatbelt.”
“Oh, right.” Sheng Yu’an quickly fastened his seatbelt, frowning in frustration: What’s wrong with me? We’re both adults, but in front of his brother, he’s always making mistakes and becoming a laughingstock.
The phone navigation started, indicating they would arrive at their destination in 5 hours and 25 minutes. Once on the road, the car was silent. Yi Shi ignored him, and Sheng Yu’an was anxious: Is he angry? Yesterday he was sent back by him; it was obvious the he didn’t want to see him, but he just kept pushing his luck…
He had to admit that, after not seeing him for a while, his brother had become even more refined and beautiful. Using such words to describe a man might be inappropriate, but just seeing Yi Shi’s face would make such descriptions come to mind. After all, he was exceptionally good-looking. Since Sheng Yu’an could remember, he felt his brother was better looking than thousands of TV stars. The scars on his body didn’t ruin his looks but added a touch of decadent sternness.
Sheng Yu’an stared at Yi Shi’s profile, eyes fixed and entranced.
“What competition is tomorrow?”
He snapped back to reality, “The provincial championship.”
“Mm,” Yi Shi kept his eyes on the road, speaking calmly, “Good luck.”
Sheng Yu’an breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Yi Shi took the initiative to speak, everything would be fine. The tense atmosphere in the car finally began to ease, and Sheng Yu’an became more talkative, chatting about interesting things happening at school.
Sheng Yu’an had just started university in September and was admitted as a special sports recruit. University life was completely different from junior high and high school, like a small society. As a freshman, he found everything novel and couldn’t wait to share the people and events he encountered with his brother.
Yi Shi listened quietly, occasionally responding a few words, recalling his own time in the police academy, which wasn’t nearly as rich in experiences. Maybe it was due to his personality; Sheng Yu’an had already bonded with his dormmates, while he had barely spoken a few words with his own dormmates in the first year of police academy.
During a rest stop, Sheng Yu’an took out his phone, wanting to show some pictures of his school to Yi Shi. A voice message came through on WeChat, and he accidentally played it out loud. His dormmate’s loud voice echoed, “Hey, hey, hey, did you smooth things over with that girl? Is she willing to talk to you now?”
Sheng Yu’an’s ears turned red, fumbling to turn off the chat while holding his breath. Yi Shi, holding a bottle of mineral water, remained expressionless, only reminding him, “You’re still young. Uncle Sheng said, no dating in college.”
“I know, Dad has told me,” Sheng Yu’an stammered, “Th-this, is a misunderstanding, it’s not actually…”
“No need to explain.” Yi Shi wasn’t interested, “Just be mindful; I won’t tell Uncle Sheng.”
Sheng Yu’an suddenly felt that all the excuses he had racked his brain for were unnecessary.
He stared at his phone, troubled. The previous chat records were from yesterday. He was sent back after Yi Shi hung up on him, so he had to ask for help from his dormmate with the most dating experience. As a result, that guy had a big mouth, and within half an hour, the remaining four dormmates all knew about it, teasing him in the group chat for his unlucky story of happily going to see someone only to be sent back.
There was no girl at all; it was just his brother all along.
Around six o’clock, the car finally drove into the familiar streets. Ahead was Changlong Garden, the home where Sheng Yu’an and Yi Shi had lived together since childhood.
“Hey, bro, look, several new noodle shops have opened here. I wanted to invite you to try them, but I haven’t had the time.”
Yi Shi glanced over, not having paid much attention before, but now noticing that several old stores outside the community had been replaced by new businesses. After starting work, he moved out of the house, renting a single apartment outside. It wasn’t due to any estrangement with his adoptive parents, but Yi Shi knew his special identity. With financial capability, he shouldn’t rely on his adoptive parents anymore but should be independent and try to repay their kindness.
Initially, Aunt Lin disagreed, reluctant to let him live outside, but Yi Shi was stubborn. He moved out on his own, leaving only living expenses and giving the rest of his salary to Aunt Lin. She refused to accept it, so he made regular transfers to her account, a habit he continued to this day.
As a result, Aunt Lin worried even more, fearing he couldn’t take care of himself outside. She visited his apartment periodically to help clean and bring food, and she often called him home for meals. But recently, due to the explosion case, Yi Shi seldom returned to his apartment, let alone Changlong Garden.
Yi Shi parked the car and nodded his chin, signaling Sheng Yu’an to get out. Sheng Yu’an slung his gym bag over his shoulder, bending down, “Brother, aren’t you coming up?”
“You go up.”
Sheng Yu’an scratched his short hair, “We’re already here; shouldn’t you go say hi to Mom?”
Yi Shi lowered his gaze, then gently shook his head, “I have to go back to the bureau; I still have things to do.”
Although Yu Xue told him to return tomorrow, thinking about a life hanging in the balance, he had no mind for anything else, wanting to get back to Haijing and find clues to solve the puzzle.
Coincidentally, Aunt Lin, in her home clothes, came to the balcony with a basket of clothes. Sheng Yu’an, with sharp eyes, immediately called out, “Mom! Mom!”
Aunt Lin looked down, surprised to see her son waving at her from below, “An’an? When did you get back? Ah, is that…”
“It’s my brother! He’s back!”
Sheng Yu’an opened the driver’s door, pulling Yi Shi’s arm, “Brother, come down; Mom misses you a lot.”
“…” Yi Shi brushed off his hand, closing the car door firmly. Sheng Yu’an was anxious; why is he so stubborn? Even bringing up Mom didn’t work. He quickly clung to the car window, “Brother, brother, are you just leaving like this? Mom will be really sad…”
“Let go.” Yi Shi started the engine, his tone colder and more detached.
Aunt Lin, watching from above, sighed quietly, “An’an! Come up yourself! Your brother has a lot of tasks and is busy with work; don’t hold him up!”
Sheng Yu’an had no choice but to step aside, standing by the roadside, like a large dog abandoned by its owner, tail drooping, mouth holding the rope that was also abandoned with him.
This was too heartless. After all, they were brothers living under the same roof. Even without blood ties, they had lived together for twenty years, right? When they were young, his brother, although not talkative, wasn’t this cold. Since starting work, he had become increasingly difficult to approach… huh?
The car that was driving away didn’t continue straight out of the community but turned into the garage not far away. After a while, a person came up the pedestrian stairs next to the garage. Sheng Yu’an’s heart pounded like a little rabbit, thumping heavily a few times.
“Let’s go upstairs,” Yi Shi said.
—
Aunt Lin thought Yi Shi had already left, but when the door opened, both brothers stood there, making her pleasantly surprised. She hurriedly invited them in.
“Mom.” Yi Shi changed his shoes and walked in, calling softly.
“Have you been busy lately? You don’t look well,” Aunt Lin said with some concern. “I didn’t know you were coming today. If I had known, I would have bought an old hen to make soup. Are you going back tonight?”
Yi Shi had intended to nod, but seeing Aunt Lin’s expectant look, he swallowed his words, “I’ll leave tomorrow.”
“Ah, okay. You two sit down. I’ll go to the market.”
Sheng Yu’an took a cola from the fridge. When he returned to the living room, Yi Shi was nowhere to be seen. He panicked for a second, then found Yi Shi in his old room after a quick search.
This was where Yi Shi had lived since he was a child. After he moved out, the room remained as it was. Aunt Lin always hoped her eldest son would come back to live, so the room was kept clean and tidy, with a pot of water-grown devil’s ivy on the desk by the window, its leaves green and the water clear. It had grown lush from a single tender vine through careful nurturing.
At that moment, Yi Shi was at the desk, carefully touching an oval leaf, a faint smile appearing on his lips, a light warmth spreading over his face like the last snow of early spring melting away.
Sheng Yu’an stood at the door, feeling his heart soften. His brother might appear cold, but his gentleness was hidden deep inside, often revealed unintentionally through a glance or an expression.
In just a few seconds, the smile had faded. Yi Shi opened the drawer, casually took out a “Mathematical Dictionary,” and looked up the definition of “※.” It was just a new symbol with no special meaning, just as he found online. This strengthened his belief that it was a shape.
Turning to the explanation of “∧,” he saw that page had marks from a pen, with a circle drawn around the symbol in black ink.
Yi Shi was stunned. Did he draw that? Why didn’t he remember? He had hardly touched this dictionary since graduation. He couldn’t recall why he had made this mark during his student days.
“Brother, what are you looking at?” Sheng Yu’an asked.
Just in time, Yi Shi raised his hand and asked, “Did you use my dictionary?”
“Huh?” Sheng Yu’an walked over, saw the cover, and immediately shook his head, “No, no, no. I’m a lousy student. I wouldn’t use something so advanced. I don’t even know where mine is.”
Since childhood, his studies had been worrying. He is a typical “simple-minded, physically strong” type. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken up swimming and gotten into university through special recruitment.
Yi Shi said no more but stared at the mark. The more he looked, the more it seemed like… a clock face?
He took out his phone, found the saved report file, and in the electronic picture, the line to the right of “∧” was noticeably shorter than the left. The more he looked, the more it resembled the hands of a clock.
It’s time.
This symbol was the exact time of the crime. It wasn’t a mistake, but a precise time. According to the clock face, it should be around 4:30 to 4:35.
To cause panic, the chances at night were slim. It should be during the afternoon rush hour.
Sheng Yu’an watched Yi Shi, seeing him in a daze, and draped an arm over his shoulder, “Brother, what’s up? What are you thinking about?”
Yi Shi snapped back to reality, putting down the dictionary, “Nothing, just work.”
—
With no time to stew chicken soup, Aunt Lin bought two farmed pigeons at the market and some vegetables, all of which Yi Shi usually ate. Every time she asked him, he’d say he had no preferences, but Aunt Lin was meticulous. She kept trying different dishes and noticed what he ate more of, gradually figuring out his “preferences.”
“If there’s no meeting, come back early. Both kids are home.”
“Yeah, just got here this afternoon. He’s busy; An’an kept him.”
“At home, don’t ask about the case. You can boss around at work, but if you nag him here, I won’t be polite.”
Aunt Lin put away her phone and saw Yi Shi at the door, smiling and saying, “Your dad’s on the phone. He’ll be back after work.”
Yi Shi rolled up his sleeves and went in to help with the cooking. Aunt Lin knew there was no use stopping him, and with his help, it was quicker. She put the pigeons on to stew and wiped her hands, “I heard you’ve been on a lot of business trips. Are you adapting well?”
“Not bad. It’s not far, just Haijing.”
“Haijing, huh…” Aunt Lin’s tone was meaningful, “Since I married here, I’ve only gone back once a year. I haven’t had time to see how it’s changed.”
Aunt Lin was from Haijing. After getting married, she hardly went back, hearing there were no relatives left. With two kids and household chores, she had no time to think about her old home.
In Yi Shi’s memory, he had followed his adoptive parents back to Haijing for ancestor worship. Unfortunately, it was so long ago that those few trips felt like they were shrouded in mist. Trying to recall in detail, his mind was blank, unable to see or grasp anything.
“You and An’an are grown now. I should make time to go back. The family ancestors’ graves are taken care of by the clan. It’s really a shame. I wonder how the old clan leader is, if he’s still alive…”
“Clan?” Yi Shi had a sudden realization. “Aunt Lin, are you from Linjia Village?”
Aunt Lin nodded, and Yi Shi turned off the tap. “I recently went to Linjia Village. The old clan leader is in good health.”
Aunt Lin looked surprised, then began asking about Linjia Village. After a few words, she realized it was entirely different from her memories and felt a bit disappointed. “I’ve been so busy these years, I almost never went back. But my brother and I aren’t really from Linjia Village. We don’t even have our names in the genealogy…”
“Dad! Welcome back!” Sheng Yu’an’s robust voice rang out from the living room, interrupting the conversation in the kitchen. Yi Shi wiped his hands and walked out of the kitchen, meeting a middle-aged man in a dark blue uniform.
“Dad.”
Sheng Guoning nodded and placed his car keys on the shoe cabinet. “You’re back. How is it in Haijing…”
His words trailed off because his wife was standing at the kitchen door, raising an eyebrow and holding a spatula.
“…” Sheng Guoning waved his hand. “Take a good rest now that you’re back. Don’t think about the case.”
—
In the Sheng family hierarchy, Aunt Lin was at the top. Sheng Guoning absolutely obeyed her. No discussing work meant no discussing work. After dinner, he took Yi Shi to the rooftop to have a smoke and digest.
The rooftop was empty. After closing the door, Sheng Guoning asked, “The report from Haijing has been submitted. Are you sure that was a distress signal and not just a ruse?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Pang Daozi doesn’t need to put on a show to kill.”
“What about that set of codes?”
Yi Shi could only guess part of it. Without solid conclusions, there was no point in saying anything, so he shook his head. Sheng Guoning, holding his cigarette, said, “I used to be on the criminal investigation team. When I was young, I always overthought cases, complicating simple things. Don’t follow my old path and make things hard for yourself.”
“Got it.”
Yi Shi was naturally reticent. Apart from the case, there wasn’t much to say between father and son. After finishing their cigarettes, Yi Shi opened the rooftop door. Sheng Guoning suddenly asked, “Yi Shi, did you meet…”
Yi Shi looked at him, waiting for the rest. After a few seconds, Sheng Guoning continued, “Did you meet Haijing’s former captain? I used to work on cases with him; we’re old friends.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Alright, that’s all. Let’s go back down.”
Yi Shi felt a bit suspicious, sensing that his father meant someone other than Yuan Kang.
The next morning, Yi Shi put on his old school tracksuit and went out for a jog. His height had stabilized at 177 cm after entering the police academy. Despite his slender build, he always appeared tall. His weight hadn’t changed much, so he could still wear his old clothes comfortably.
He put on wristbands and jogged along the street towards a pedestrian street. As he looked up, he noticed a sign in the distance and gradually slowed down.
It was a newly opened café with a brand-new, glossy mahogany sign, its recessed letters filled with bright red paint. Flowers were planted within the fence around the café, and the eaves were adorned with a ribbon wind chime that tinkled in the breeze.
This was the place, Time Flies. A place he had visited once but had no memories of.
The café offered breakfast and opened early. By 7 o’clock, it was already full of customers. Yi Shi pushed open the door, the wind chime ringing. A young and beautiful owner greeted him, “Hello, sir. How many?”
“Just one.”
“Alright. Please find a seat. You can scan the QR code on your phone to place an order. After ordering, press the hourglass button on the table. Breakfast will be served within 15 minutes. If it takes longer, you’ll get a free item of the same value.”
Yi Shi glanced around the first floor, but there were no vacant single tables, and he didn’t want to share a table with anyone. So, he went up to the second floor. The ceiling’s mural was fantastically exquisite, merging sunrise and sunset, day and night, as if climbing this staircase would lead to an upside-down world.
Yi Shi couldn’t help but look at it a few more times. He found a random seat on the second floor and took out his phone to scan the code for the menu. Someone else came up from downstairs and stopped at his table. He looked up and was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected to see Lin Heyu here again.
“Together?” Lin Heyu asked.
