After rushing as fast as he could, Lü Kanshan finally arrived at the budget hotel half an hour later. Lin Heyu was holding Xiao Shitou’s hand, while Yuan Maoqiu stood nearby, munching on a bun. He waved at the middle-aged man who had just gotten out of a taxi, “Lao Lü, you still have a slim chance. The kid hasn’t called Heyu ‘dad’ yet.”
“Doesn’t matter who he calls dad. I’m not the type to hold a grudge.”
Yuan Maoqiu clapped his hands, impressed. So open-minded, truly a role model for us all.
Compared to joking around with Yuan Maoqiu, the conversation between Lü Kanshan and Lin Heyu was much more straightforward. The first order of business was to discuss the situation at the precinct. Lü Kanshan assured him that everything was in place and that they were keeping a close eye on the situation. If anything went wrong, they still had Song Ping, the respected elder sister of the team, whose authority was unquestionable.
“Right now, it’s unlikely that they’re still in Haijing, but we can’t let our guard down. We need to keep a close watch on all the relatives and friends of the suspects,” Lin Heyu considered for a moment. “And remind the hostages’ families again not to engage with the kidnappers privately. If they get a call, they must work with the police.”
“We’ve already done multiple rounds of this. The younger parents are more cooperative, but it’s the older folks who are more likely to try to pay the ransom on their own,” Lü Kanshan sighed. “They see a kid get killed, and they lose their heads, desperate to trade money for the safety of their loved ones.”
Yuan Maoqiu chimed in, “But there are cases where people lose both their money and their loved ones. They should know by now that cooperating with us is the smartest move.”
Of course, but people are emotional beings, and the more desperate they feel, the more likely they are to lose their rationality. There have been absurd cases where small ads promising to bring the dead back to life have tricked people into believing in “miracle doctors,” hoping against hope. Those who fall for such scams are usually grieving loved ones, their judgment clouded by sorrow. The same goes for the families of the hostages now. Even with the facts staring them in the face, they hold on to a sliver of hope, thinking that maybe, just maybe, their child will return safely.
Lin Heyu stroked his chin, “If it comes to that, we can ask Chief Yuan for permission to have technical surveillance monitor them closely, so they don’t have a chance to make any secret deals.”
“Hey, if anyone’s going to ask Chief Yuan for that, it’s got to be this guy here,” Lü Kanshan nodded towards Yuan Maoqiu. “Right?”
Yuan Maoqiu wasn’t having it. No way was he getting involved. His dad had been giving him the cold shoulder lately, and he hadn’t even dared to send a message to say he had arrived safely.
After the serious business was handled, the conversation turned to the child. Xiao Shitou was hiding behind Lin Heyu, only his dark eyes visible. Even though he had been living with Lü Kanshan for a while, there was still a guarded look in his eyes.
Lü Kanshan crouched down, smiling as he reached out his hand, “Xiao Shitou, come back with Uncle? Miaomiao couldn’t sleep last night because you weren’t home.”
Xiao Shitou shook his head vigorously, clearly resisting.
Lü Kanshan tried again, “Grandma made braised beef last night, your favorite. Come back and have some, okay?”
Xiao Shitou still shook his head, unmoved, clutching Lin Heyu’s shirt even tighter.
Lü Kanshan was at a loss and turned to Lin Heyu, “What should we do?”
Yuan Maoqiu, arms crossed, was enjoying the show. He had said Lü would be too late. The kid had already latched onto Lin. He sighed dramatically, “You can’t force it, Lao Lü. Sometimes, the greatest love is letting go.”
Lü Kanshan wished he had the courage to give Yuan Maoqiu a piece of his mind. This guy could turn anything, even family bonds, into melodrama.
Lin Heyu stayed silent. Xiao Shitou, afraid he would be forced to go back with Lü Kanshan, stood on tiptoe and tugged on Lin Heyu’s sleeve, signaling him to bend down.
Lin Heyu leaned in, and Xiao Shitou whispered in his ear, “Let me stay. I can help you.”
Their eyes met for a few seconds. The child’s gaze was clear and innocent. Lin Heyu hesitated for a few moments before finally saying, “I’ll make a call.”
He stepped aside to make the call. Lin Zhizhi had just woken up and was in the middle of her skincare routine. When she heard that Xiao Shitou needed someone to look after him, she immediately jumped at the chance, “He can stay with me! I’ve been working on a children’s product line, and such a lovely child will definitely inspire me!”
“What about work?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you yesterday, the company gave me a week off to go on a creative retreat. Including the weekend, I have nine days off in total!”
Lin Heyu was still a bit concerned, worried that it might be inconvenient for Xiao Shitou to stay with his sister. But Lin Zhizhi was unusually enthusiastic, whispering sweet nothings into his ear until he reluctantly agreed, “Alright… I’ll be in Nanyi for a while anyway, so Xiao Shitou can stay with you for now.”
Xiao Shitou heard everything clearly. His eyes sparkled with joy as he hugged Lin Heyu’s waist, “I’ll be good and won’t cause any trouble for Auntie Lin!”
Lü Kanshan and Yuan Maoqiu exchanged glances. Lü Kanshan shrugged. Well, that was a wasted trip. He came alone, and now he’d be going back alone. Yuan Maoqiu tried to comfort him, “Miaomiao’s already a handful, jumping around and talking nonstop. Do you really want another kid? Let him handle it.”
“I know our family and Xiao Shitou aren’t meant to be. The kid lived with us for half a month and still kept his distance. But look at how he is with Heyu.” Lü Kanshan nodded toward Xiao Shitou, who was standing on tiptoe, hugging Lin Heyu’s waist, smiling so brightly that his eyes looked like crescent moons.
Yuan Maoqiu sighed, “If I didn’t know Lao Lin so well, I’d suggest he go get a paternity test right now.”
The Haijing team members began trickling out of the hotel. Seeing Xiao Shitou and Lü Kanshan, they were all surprised. Zou Bin was stunned, “Senior Lü, you’re bringing a kid to investigate?”
They hadn’t seen Lin Heyu since the team disbanded the previous night, so they had no idea Xiao Shitou had snuck out. They thought Lü Kanshan had brought him along from the start, a case of bringing the whole family to the front line.
Lü Kanshan raised his hand—no, even if he wanted to, the kid didn’t want to be with him. Besides, he didn’t plan on staying long today. As part of the interrogation team, there wasn’t much for him to do until they caught someone. So, after confirming Xiao Shitou’s arrangements, Lü Kanshan booked a ticket to head back and cancel his half-day leave.
Lin Heyu quickly briefed them on the day’s plans. The team split into two groups—one continued investigating the information on the small workshops, while the other scouted the Shantang Scenic Area. Zou Bin and the others planned to grab breakfast on the way. Meanwhile, Lin Heyu, Xiao Shitou, and Yuan Maoqiu moved from the hotel entrance to the bus station, where they “coincidentally” ran into Sheng Guoning.
Sheng Guoning, driving a police car, was in a particularly good mood today. He rolled down his window and greeted them, “Good morning, Captain Lin, Officer Yuan.” He noticed Xiao Shitou, “The little guy’s still here?”
Yuan Maoqiu raised his hand, “Good morning, Captain Sheng. Don’t worry, we’re not bringing a kid along for official work. We’re just waiting for someone to pick him up.”
“Waiting for who? A colleague from Haijing?”
“Zhizhi,” Yuan Maoqiu said casually, only to receive a sharp glare from Lin Heyu.
Hearing Lin Zhizhi’s name, Sheng Guoning’s eyes lit up, “What? Miss Lin is coming over? And the child will stay with her?”
Lin Heyu cast a sidelong glance, clearly indicating, “This has nothing to do with you.” Sheng Guoning chuckled, “Well, then I’ll just wait with you. We’re all working together now, right? We should help each other out. Are you heading to Qiantang? I can give you a lift; it’s on my way.”
“No need.”
“No need to be so polite. It’s my pleasure.”
The two of them went back and forth like a game of tai chi. Xiao Shitou curiously looked up at them, but Lin Heyu pressed down on his head and ruffled his hair, saying, “Nothing to see here.”
Before nine o’clock, Lin Zhizhi arrived. The temperature today was even higher than yesterday. She was dressed in a silk long-sleeve blouse and a pleated skirt, paired with white polka-dot stockings and round-toe platform heels, exuding a youthful and lively vibe. Sheng Guoning’s eyes were filled with admiration. Yuan Maoqiu tapped on the car window, reminding him to wipe the drool off his face. He teased, “Are you being too blatant, or has Lao Lin just gotten soft?”
“Brother! Brother Yuan!” Lin Zhizhi cheerfully ran over, heading straight for Xiao Shitou, “Xiao Shitou~ Good morning~”
Xiao Shitou, being perceptive, was much more cordial to Lin Zhizhi today than he was yesterday, voluntarily calling out, “Auntie Lin.”
Lin Zhizhi ruffled his little head, and just then, she heard a light cough behind her. She turned her head to see Sheng Guoning and waved at him with a smile, “Officer Sheng, you’re here too. Good morning.”
Sheng Guoning’s heart instantly soared, “Uh, good morning, Miss Lin.”
Lin Heyu handed Xiao Shitou over to Lin Zhizhi, seemingly a bit concerned, and gave a few more instructions, “If you can’t cook, order takeout. Don’t forget to eat because you’re drawing designs. If you can’t even take care of yourself, how are you going to look after a little one…”
“Okay, okay, I got it, bro. Stop nagging.” Lin Zhizhi made a funny face, “You’re starting to sound like an old mother.”
“…,” Lin Heyu’s face darkened halfway. Lin Zhizhi, holding Xiao Shitou’s hand, muttered as they walked away, “Run, run, Auntie will take you to get some macarons~”
The lively figures of the two of them danced in the morning sunlight as they gradually moved farther away.
Sheng Guoning gazed at Lin Zhizhi’s back, rubbing his chin and muttering, “So cute.”
Yuan Maoqiu clicked his tongue and shook his head, thinking Sheng Guoning was going crazy. Lin Zhizhi was like a precious treasure to Lao Lin, and trying to win her over would be like reaching for the stars.
Sure enough, after Lin Heyu got into the car, he crossed his arms and calmly said, “You won’t be able to win over my sister, give it up.”
“What! Give me a chance, brother-in-law!”
“Hmph.”
—
Upon returning to Nanyi, Yi Shi initially planned to head straight to the detention center to bring Zhao Chenghu out. Yu Xue patted his back and suggested he go home first.
“No need. It’s more convenient to interrogate him at night,” Yi Shi replied indifferently.
Yu Xue, of course, understood exactly what Yi Shi meant by “convenient.” On their own turf, it wouldn’t be like in Haijing, where they had to hold back. Yi Shi could go all out, and he was confident that by the end of the night, Zhao Chenghu would be thoroughly broken.
“Exaggerate the details about catching Lin Erde when you tell Zhao Chenghu. He won’t hold out for long,” Yu Xue said calmly. “Trust me, go home tonight and interrogate him tomorrow. Aren’t you tired after driving all afternoon?”
Yi Shi shook his head innocently. Though he’d stayed up all night, he’d slept through most of the day, so he’d driven the entire afternoon without swapping with Yu xlXue. Yu Xue pushed him by the shoulders in the opposite direction of the police station, saying, “Go home, go home. Even if you’re not tired, think about me, will you? At least let me go home to shower and change.”
“Oh, then let’s meet at the station after ten…”
“What after ten? You’re single, but can you consider that normal couples might have plans after ten?” Yu Xue smiled mischievously, leaving Yi Shi confused. “…Couples’ activities?”
Yu Xue nodded and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “If you’re unsure, let me clarify. ‘Marital duties.’ Got it?”
In an instant, Yi Shi’s ears, along with half of his face, turned a light pink that blended into his fair complexion. It was only then that he remembered Yu Xue wasn’t single. He actually had a live-in partner. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and if Yi Shi was this insensitive, would Dr. Qi haul him off to the autopsy table and dissect him?
Thinking about this, Yi Shi broke out in goosebumps and quickly distanced himself from Yu Xue, nodding hurriedly, “Mm, got it… got it. You head home, I’ll… I’ll…”
“You go home too,” Yu Xue said, pointing to his watch. “I didn’t arrange for anyone to expect you at the detention center, so you won’t be able to see anyone if you go.”
The two of them went their separate ways. Yi Shi passed by a dessert shop and emerged five minutes later, standing at the intersection to hail a cab. He typed in his apartment address as the destination on his phone, but then remembered that Yu Xue had told him to go “home,” so he changed it to Changlong Huayuan.
The winding paths of the old neighborhood were dimly lit, with few streetlights, and the air carried a faint scent of herbicide. The shadows of trees loomed like monsters ready to swallow a person whole. Yi Shi walked at an unhurried pace. Just as he turned the corner to his building, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared in front of him, and he barely managed to stop before bumping into it.
His sudden appearance clearly startled the dark mass, which quickly split into two figures. Yi Shi squinted his eyes and realized it was two people standing in the small grove. He couldn’t make out their features, but one was tall and the other slender and thin—likely a couple on a date.
These days, it’s not unusual to find young couples sneaking around in the woods, so Yi Shi had no interest in meddling. Out of a sense of duty, he kindly reminded them, “There have been a lot of violent crimes recently. Try to avoid being out at night and stay safe.”
“Who are you? Are you trying to interfere with our date?”
Yi Shi was taken aback. A man?
He took another look at the taller figure next to him. Well, in this day and age, same-sex relationships were no longer considered taboo. He had a same-sex couple in his own circle, so running into another one on the street was no big deal.
Without further comment, Yi Shi skirted around the trees and continued on his way.
When he opened the door to his home, Auntie Lin thought it was Sheng Yu’an returning and called out, “An’an,” only to be surprised and delighted to see Yi Shi standing there.
“Oh my, you always show up unannounced. I didn’t prepare anything special for dinner. Have you eaten yet? I’ll call An’an and have him bring you some takeout on his way.”
“No need, I’ve already eaten.” Yi Shi quickly stopped her and handed over the bag from the dessert shop. “I brought this for you.”
Auntie Lin accepted the bag, opened it, and found a box of colorful macarons. She beamed with joy, “How did you know I’ve been craving these? I’ve been thinking about buying a box all day while doing the housework.”
“Don’t eat too much tonight,” Yi Shi reminded her.
“Ay, I know. Eating something this high in calories at night—no way I won’t gain weight.” Auntie Lin held the box of macarons with a satisfied smile on her face. “My son is so considerate, unlike my husband, who can’t even remember what I like to eat. He’s on a business trip again and won’t be back until tomorrow. Sometimes I wonder why I married him in the first place.”
Yi Shi smiled and glanced at the bouquet of roses on the coffee table. “Are those flowers recent?”
Auntie Lin blushed slightly. “It’s our wedding anniversary. Good thing he remembered; I was this close to heading to the civil affairs office to change my mind.”
Such jokes could only be made by couples with deep affection for each other. Far from causing any offense, they actually made others envious of their strong bond. Just then, Sheng Guoning called, and Auntie Lin took the phone to her room to answer, thanking Yi Shi for bringing the dessert.
Yi Shi poured himself a pot of water and went to the balcony to water the plants that Auntie Lin was tending to. The door opened again, and this time it was Sheng Yu’an, humming a tune with his headphones on. When he looked up and saw a tall figure standing on the balcony, he didn’t even bother taking off his shoes before rushing over. “Bro! You’re back!”
“Mm.”
Sheng Yu’an, like a big golden retriever, pounced on Yi Shi’s back, hugging him and acting all cutesy. Yi Shi, both amused and exasperated, was about to pry him off when a faint scent of grass, with a slightly pungent undertone, hit his nose. It was the same smell he’d noticed earlier from the shrubs downstairs.
He immediately pushed Sheng Yu’an away and stared at him. “Was that person downstairs you?”
Sheng Yu’an scratched the back of his head, looking confused. “What do you mean, downstairs? I just got back…”
“The community is doing weed control. To carry the smell with you, you’d need to stay there for at least five minutes.”
Sheng Yu’an’s eyes darted around nervously, avoiding Yi Shi’s gaze. Yi Shi grabbed his arm and dragged him into a room, closing the door behind them.
Yi Shi crossed his arms, looking down at Sheng Yu’an, who was sitting on a chair, his expression that of someone interrogating a suspect. “Tell the truth—was it you or not?”
Sheng Yu’an looked up at Yi Shi, his heart sinking. Stammering, he said, “…Yes, it was me, but let me explain! He’s just a friend I met online…”
“A hookup?”
“No, no!” Sheng Yu’an quickly clarified. “We just play games together. Today was our first time meeting in person, and I didn’t expect him to have feelings for me. I—”
“Alright,” Yi Shi raised his hand, cutting him off. “I won’t meddle in who you date or if you hook up with someone, but I remember your friend mentioning a girl when we were in the car last time. You’d better be clear about your feelings—I’ve handled too many cases of love triangles ending in tragedy with your father.”
“There really isn’t…” Sheng Yu’an felt aggrieved, but Yi Shi remained unmoved, his face stern. “It’s better if there isn’t. Don’t do anything reckless that’ll worry Mom.”
Sheng Yu’an nodded, hanging his head like a child who’d been caught doing something wrong. He quietly tugged on Yi Shi’s arm, saying, “I don’t want to date anyone. You know that, right? You’re the only one in my heart…”
Pain suddenly shot through his wrist, and Sheng Yu’an yelped, his arm twisting outward at a painful angle, almost as if it were going to be broken. Yi Shi had a firm grip on his right hand, his tone more severe than ever before. “Sheng Yu’an, I warned you before not to have such thoughts. If you think me moving out wasn’t enough, then don’t bother seeing me ever again.”
Sheng Yu’an, breaking out in a cold sweat from both the pain and Yi Shi’s words, frantically grabbed his sleeve with his other hand. “Bro, I’m sorry! I won’t bring it up again! Please don’t avoid me!”
Yi Shi shook off his hand, his usually calm expression twisted with rare emotion. He took a moment to collect himself before leaving Sheng Yu’an’s room. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Auntie Lin peeking into the living room.
“I heard some noise and came out to check… Are you two fighting?”
“…No, just messing around.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” Auntie Lin patted her chest in relief. “An’an’s still a kid—reckless and headstrong. When you were at home, at least someone kept him in check. Now he does whatever he wants, with no one to rein him in.”
Yi Shi was silent for a moment before saying, “He’ll grow up. I’ll keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t go astray.”
Sheng Yu’an was nine years younger than him, and in many ways, he was the closest person Yi Shi had in this family. Yi Shi was naturally aloof when it came to emotions, but this was someone he’d raised from a tiny tot, so deep feelings had inevitably developed over time. Even without a blood relation, Yi Shi had always considered Sheng Yu’an a true younger brother and hoped this warm brotherly bond would last a lifetime.
Until that year. The summer breeze was warm, and the scent of gardenias wafted in through the windows. Sheng Yu’an, who was then in middle school and already as tall as Yi Shi, stood by the door, nervously holding a pink envelope and stealing glances at him.
Yi Shi waved him over with a slight smile. “Got a love letter at school?”
Sheng Yu’an’s face turned bright red. “It’s not… It’s for you.”
Yi Shi froze, too shocked to even reach out and take it.
Sheng Yu’an stuffed the envelope into his hand, his smile full of shy innocence as he shyly confessed, “Bro, open it… I like you.”
It was that same year that Yi Shi quickly found a place outside and moved out. On the surface, he claimed it was to reduce the burden on his adoptive parents, but deep down, he knew the real reason all too well.
I keep getting a strong feeling that Xiao shitou and Yi shi are same person