Chapter 48

Chapter 48 Mountain Blaze (08)

08

Xie Jingyu turned and smiled, “First come, first served, right? I came first, I’m too lazy to wait.”

Hai Shu said, “A special operations elite should know how to prioritize. Brother Xie, I hope to see you later in the second-floor lounge.”

Xie Jingyu turned and waved, “Not guaranteed.”

Liu Village Chief seemed thoroughly exhausted by the previous commotion. Once in the interrogation room, he immediately began showing determination and stating his position.

Hai Shu handed him a cup of water. “Here’s the situation: we went to Jianglu City and learned that Liu Fool’s parents never actually went there. This is strange. You all said the Liu elders went to Jianglu City to support their two sons, taking money with them in June, but by September, the Liu brothers were missing—and the parents never reached Jianglu City.”

Liu Village Chief was stunned. “We didn’t know that. They did leave in June; you can ask Liu Fool.”

Hai Shu nodded. “He said the same thing, but the Jianglu City police also conducted a thorough investigation and found no trace of them.”

Liu Village Chief said, “Then… could something have happened to them on the way?”

Hai Shu said, “That’s the most likely, but also the most inexplicable.”

“Ah? Why is it inexplicable?”

“Think about it. If the Liu brothers asked their parents to go, then when they departed, surely they informed the brothers, right? If the parents went missing on the way, the brothers had no reaction?” Hai Shu said. “They continued taking engineering jobs as usual, showing no sign of knowing something had happened at home.”

Liu Village Chief was puzzled for a long moment. “Ah… I really don’t know.”

Hai Shu said, “I mean no offense. It’s just another clue, so we need to verify it with someone who might know. Let’s do it this way: tell me, after arriving in Jianglu City, how did you try to find them?”

Liu Village Chief explained that before the Liu parents departed, they had given him the addresses of their two children. They went to those addresses, but no one answered. Being unfamiliar with the area, they wasted several days, wandering around like headless flies, and finally reported to the police.

Hai Shu asked, “Why did the Liu parents give you the addresses?”

Liu Village Chief wiped his face. “They trusted me. Besides, my surname is Liu, theirs is Liu—we’re related from three hundred years ago! Plus, they thought there might be danger. Isn’t Jianglu City known for its rough manners? If anything happened, the villagers could help.”

Hai Shu smiled. “You really helped the Lius a lot. Without the village fund, Liu Fool’s life would have been hard.”

Liu Village Chief smiled awkwardly. “It’s my duty, it’s my duty.”

After seeing Liu Village Chief off, Hai Shu rested in her office for a moment. She had planned to go to Tiepin County, but the detour delayed her. Just as she was about to leave, she remembered the lounge still had Xie Jingyu.

She didn’t know if the special operative was still there.

Hai Shu quietly walked over, pushed open the door. It was empty, not even a trace of smoke. She was a little disappointed—he had already left. But just as she was about to close the door, a strong sense of pressure rose behind her.

Before she could turn around, Xie Jingyu said, “Officer Hai, only now remembering me?”

Hai Shu noticed the bag hanging on Xie Jingyu’s right shoulder—she hadn’t noticed he had brought a bag. She asked, “Going out?”

Xie Jingyu said, “Depends on your decision.”

“Me?”

“You’re heading to Tiepin County for the investigation, right? If you don’t mind having a passenger, I’ll drive.”

Hai Shu was slightly surprised, then remembered the special operative was here on a mission overlapping with the city bureau’s. She indeed needed someone to accompany her, but still asked, “Brother Xie, just curious, are you special operatives usually so idle?”

Xie Jingyu adjusted the shoulder strap. “Officer Hai, you don’t want to take me along? Fine…” He turned to leave. “I was going to act as her driver, after all, she was delayed just now and needs my help.”

Hai Shu laughed, calling him back. “It’s you, Driver Xie.”

As the car weaved through the lanes of Guibai Village, Hai Shu looked out the window. Villagers along the way were staring at the car, as if saying—finally, the police are leaving?

Once on the highway, Xie Jingyu accelerated. Hai Shu suddenly opened her phone’s recording mode. “Let’s make the statement while we have time.”

Xie Jingyu laughed. “Workaholic? I thought recording statements required at least two officers present? Has your bureau changed the rules?”

Hai Shu nodded. “Special rules for you.”

Xie Jingyu: “Really?”

Hai Shu: “Special situations, special handling. Aren’t you special operations?”

Xie Jingyu slightly slowed the car and smiled, “Alright, just for that line you said about changing the rules for me, I’ll be honest and lenient.”

Hai Shu: “……”

Xie Jingyu: “Hmm?”

Hai Shu: “Being ‘honest and lenient’ isn’t used that way.” She paused, realizing if she kept going like this, she might fall into Xie Jingyu’s rhythm—this guy might just want to ramble—so she straightened her expression. “When I was surveying Liu Fool’s house, I noticed someone peeking over the courtyard wall. By the time I rushed over, he had disappeared, but there was a footprint left on the wall. After examination, the shoe print resembles a special forces combat boot, like the pair you’re wearing now.”

Xie Jingyu was silent for a moment, though the corners of his eyes held a smile.

Hai Shu: “Honest and lenient?”

Xie Jingyu smiled, “That would be me.”

Hai Shu: “Why were you peeking? How many special operatives are in Guibai District now?”

“One question at a time,” Xie Jingyu said. “First, that’s not peeking, it’s reconnaissance. Our superiors sent us here. The overt mission is to assist local police with emerging crimes. But there’s a covert mission too: to understand you. You operate openly, we operate covertly. That’s the difference in approach. You can’t expect us to just meet you and shake hands. We observe secretly, and only appear once we understand your rhythm.”

Hai Shu accepted the explanation. “Alright, so since you appeared, that means you’ve figured us out?”

Xie Jingyu shook his head. “Only because someone was bullying you.”

Hai Shu was stunned, suddenly recalling that summer of her childhood.

It’s said girls can be tougher than boys when young. Back then, Xiao Yu was smaller and thinner than her; by all logic, she should have protected him. But one day, she was playing in a yellow puffy dress with Xiao Yu when the village bully—the fat cannonball—charged at them, pushed Xiao Yu, and tried to lift her skirt.

She screamed. Tiny Xiao Yu headbutted the fat bully like a little dog challenging a bear. The bear actually fell, lying on the ground crying. Xiao Yu was hurt too, a large bruise across his head and shoulder.

She held Xiao Yu, heart aching. “You can’t beat him.”

But Xiao Yu’s eyes were stubborn. “He bullied you!”

Hai Shu instinctively looked at Xie Jingyu, trying to find a familiar spark in his eyes. But Xie Jingyu’s gaze always held a smile, calm and playful, lacking the stubbornness Xiao Yu had.

Xie Jingyu said, “Officer Hai, I notice you like staring at me a lot.”

Hai Shu immediately looked away, recalling the amusement park monkey king. “But during the Spring Festival at Xingchen Amusement Park, you were the one staring at me.”

Xie Jingyu: “Oh, you recognized that?”

Hai Shu thought, with those eyes of his, it would be hard not to recognize.

Xie Jingyu laughed again. “Well, you were staring at me too, otherwise how would you know I was staring at you?”

“Don’t switch the concept,” Hai Shu snorted. “You’ve got a Monkey King face—what’s so good about that?”

Mentioning the Monkey King, Xie Jingyu didn’t respond further.

Hai Shu thought for a moment, then said, “My friend is very good at making Monkey King masks.”

Xie Jingyu, joking lightly, said, “Look at you, back at it again.”

Hai Shu sighed. “Why were you at Xingchen that day?”

“That day really was just a coincidence,” Xie Jingyu said. “We had just arrived in your city, and it happened to be Spring Festival. Our boss—appeared with me from the city bureau—still had a childlike heart. He said he’d never been to an amusement park, so we went on public funds to see the sights.”

“……” Hai Shu for the first time felt suspicion toward the mysterious special operative. She still remembered the three men at the city bureau; the tallest, most imposing one was actually this cute guy?

“Don’t try to guess how many of us came,” Xie Jingyu said, seeing her thoughtful expression. “Don’t try to guess the secrets of special operations.”

Hai Shu chuckled. “I care?”

The car continued speeding along the road. Hai Shu felt a strange sensation: around this sharp-tongued man, her nerves, tense from the case, slightly relaxed.

It was the same when she was with Xiao Yu back then. In the second half of summer vacation, though frustrated from never reaching her parents by phone, just being in the small house in Village Five made her calm and happy.

From age eight to twenty-eight, appearances naturally change, but she was certain Xie Jingyu carried traces of Xiao Yu in his face. And Xie Jingyu’s behavior seemed to suggest an inseparable connection with Xiao Yu. But how could Xiao Yu, missing after his adoptive father’s tragic death, become a special operative? Why wouldn’t Xie Jingyu admit it?

While Hai Shu was lost in thought, Xie Jingyu said, “Statement recorded? But I have more to declare.”

Hai Shu hurriedly said, “No, what about those villagers’ phones? Couldn’t take photos or videos—is that your doing?”

Xie Jingyu said, “Just some minor tech. Officer Hai, you don’t really think we special operatives only know shooting and hand-to-hand combat, do you?”

Hai Shu knew special forces had dedicated tech personnel handling hacking, decryption, tracking, and such. “So are you the combat type or the tech type?”

Xie Jingyu said, “I’m not talented, but I can do both.”

Hai Shu: “……”

Xie Jingyu continued to boast to Hai Shu, “I calculated the force and angle of my kick perfectly—he’ll only dislocate, not break. Won’t give them any leverage.”

Hai Shu: “And if it really breaks?”

“No problem,” Xie Jingyu smiled. “Then I’ll just say I’m a police officer—the police take the blame.”

If she weren’t off the wheel, Hai Shu really wanted to toss him out.

After exiting the highway, there was a long stretch of old road, bumpy enough to rattle someone’s soul. Xie Jingyu’s driving skill was excellent; he turned an ordinary police car into an off-road vehicle, fast yet smooth.

Xie Jingyu boasted again, “I’m the special driving champion of our team.”

Hai Shu flattered him, “You’re amazing! You can shoot, fight, hack tech, and drive!”

Xie Jingyu: “…Officer Hai, I feel like you’re teasing me.”

I am teasing you, Hai Shu thought, smirking internally but forcing a polite smile. “How could that be? I sincerely admire you.”

Finally, they arrived in Tiepǐn County, a county that had benefited from early policy advantages, developing well enough to rival some small cities. It was evening, rush hour, the streets packed. Xie Jingyu showed off his driving again, weaving nimbly through narrow lanes. They finally stopped in front of a large street food stall, with a hint of sunset in the sky.

While they were heading to Tiepǐn County, Wen Xu had already contacted the local unit, finding out where the victim’s relative Hua Zhanping currently worked and lived. The information was sent to Hai Shu, who verified with a photo on the car, confirming that the person carving yellow eels outside the stall was indeed Hua Zhanping.

The stall was very busy, fully packed. On food review apps, it ranked high in reputation. Xie Jingyu parked and professionally got a waiting ticket, showing it off to Hai Shu.

Hai Shu smiled, “Your special ops are on public funds again?”

Xie Jingyu righteously: “What are you talking about? Of course, it’s from my little fund.”

Hai Shu didn’t plan to eat here, but since Xie Jingyu queued, she followed near Hua Zhanping, watching him carve eels with other diners. Watching him carve was oddly satisfying, almost a performance—no wonder the owner put him at the front.

After about half an hour, Hua Zhanping went to wash his hands in the pool behind the stall. Once he left, the onlookers dispersed, and Hai Shu followed him.

Hua Zhanping’s face looked fierce, the blood on his hands and apron making him appear more menacing. He noticed someone behind him, turned cautiously, then relaxed when he saw a beautiful woman, his eyes revealing a lecherous greed.

Before he could speak any flirtatious words, Hai Shu presented her badge. He hesitated, then turned to leave. Hai Shu stepped forward, blocking him. “Don’t be nervous. I’m a police officer from Huiyong City. I don’t handle Tiepǐn County matters. I’m not here about your previous fight.”

Hua Zhanping eyed her suspiciously, “Then what do you want?”

“To have a chat,” Hai Shu said. “Recently, a homicide occurred in our jurisdiction. The victim’s identity hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

Hearing “homicide,” Hua Zhanping became irritable. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Through kinship comparison, we found you’re related to the victim,” Hai Shu said. “Does your family have a cousin you haven’t contacted for six months?”

Hua Zhanping’s lips twitched, frowning. Half a minute later, he seemed to remember something. “My maternal uncle has a daughter, she ran away years ago. You mean her?”

Hai Shu immediately asked, “Who is she? How old is she this year?”

Hua Zhanping annoyedly ruffled his hair. His irritation wasn’t just from being questioned, but from Hai Shu mentioning her. “Her name’s Tang Jinli. She’s a crazy woman; I don’t remember her exact age.”

Tang Jinli? Hai Shu wrote the name down. When she wrote the character for “li” (chestnut), her hand paused. Chestnut—the chestnut Liu Fool mentioned, giving her wild chestnuts in autumn that a certain woman never got.

Hai Shu had originally thought the chestnut was merely an autumn symbol; if a woman came to Guibai Village in spring or summer, she wouldn’t receive chestnuts. Now it seemed the chestnut held a deeper meaning in Liu Fool’s heart.

Hua Zhanping said, “That woman’s dead? How did she die?”

Hua Zhanping seemed to dislike the missing cousin, so Hai Shu decided to engage him. “Why do you say she’s crazy?”

“Tsk, it’s not just me saying it! The whole family says that!” Hua Zhanping cursed. “My uncle’s family did bedding business in the northwest. It was just her and her brother, she held all the money. As kids, she’d say rude things at relatives’ meals. Later, she wouldn’t give her brother money. When my uncle returned, they told her to split the money, but she didn’t care—when they weren’t home, she made the rules.”

According to Hua Zhanping, Tang Jinli was extremely selfish and cruel. She was eight years older than her brother; he had to follow her. Once she became an adult, she used his allowance for beauty treatments, even minor cosmetic surgery. Relatives tried to teach her discipline, but she said the family wronged her. She argued that since a daughter was born, they should pursue a son themselves, but she had to raise him—she wouldn’t suffer for her brother.

Relatives, embarrassed and frustrated, stopped interfering. Occasionally, they took the brother away for better meals. Tang Jinli had poor relations with all relatives, feeling all of them wronged her. Over the years, Hua Zhanping believed it was Tang Jinli who reported him to the authorities, since she was present and had always disliked him. When he was arrested, he saw her satisfied smile.

Tang Jinli once applied to be a flight attendant but was rejected. Relatives teased her every New Year about it. Her parents only smiled bitterly, not stopping her—Tang Jinli had already hurt them too much.

After failing to become a flight attendant, she stayed at home, lazy, claiming to do creative work, though no one knew what. A few years ago, her uncle fell ill and paused business. Tang Jinli didn’t show concern and, annoyed by scolding, demanded money from the family to start a business.

Her ventures? Clothing sales and nail services. In a small county, both could succeed but required diligence and perseverance, which she lacked. After exhausting her funds, she declared that her brother was grown, and there was no place for her in the family—she had to leave.

Over the years, her maternal uncle’s family grew cold and didn’t stop her. Once she left, she never returned, not even during holidays. Last Spring Festival, Hua Zhan’guo heard other relatives ask the uncle about Tang Jinli; the uncle waved his hand: “She came to collect a debt, I’ve paid it, from now on, let’s pretend this daughter never existed.”

Hai Shu asked about Tang Jinli’s parents’ address—they happened to be in Tiepǐn County and would go out on business again next month. Hua Zhanping was called by the owner to continue carving the yellow eels. Hai Shu returned to the front of the street stall and was about to look for Xie Jingyu when she saw him sitting at a large table, waving at her.

The stall’s lighting was bright, warm yellow, highlighting Xie Jingyu’s lips and nose, reddened from the spice. And those eyes, tearing from the heat, deep feeling gone, leaving only the trendy broken look—pitiful.

Hai Shu: “……”

Street dogs could be pitied, but this dog—definitely self-inflicted, undeserving of sympathy.

Hai Shu walked over. “You actually ate it?”

“I said it’s from my little fund.” Xie Jingyu said, scalding a new set of bowls and chopsticks with hot water, then pushed them toward Hai Shu. “You criminal investigators from Huiyong City don’t all practice fasting, right? Eating a proper meal, a few bites won’t interfere with your cultivation, will it?”

Hai Shu sat down. The stall was called a “big street stall” not because of the quantity of food, but because the plates were large. At first glance, Xie Jingyu ordered a full table, but besides a mountain of chili, the meat wasn’t much—just enough for the two of them.

Hai Shu could handle spice. After trying the stir-fried yellow eel and spicy bullfrog, she ordered a bucket of rice.

Xie Jingyu laughed. “So, no fasting after all?”

Hai Shu said, “Enough nonsense—there’s business after we eat.”

Finally, a grilled vegetable platter arrived. Calling it a platter was generous—it only had baked potatoes and grilled mushrooms. Hai Shu’s gaze immediately fell on the mushrooms. She loved grilled mushrooms, but no one around her knew.

Since coming to Huiyong City, she hadn’t had a meal with colleagues. In Bincong City, during meals, she never ordered what she wanted. Once, at a barbecue, a colleague asked, “Mushrooms! Anyone want mushrooms?” She was about to say she wanted two skewers, when someone nearby laughed, “No! Who eats mushrooms!”

Clearly, grilled mushrooms weren’t popular.

If anyone knew she loved grilled mushrooms, it was only Xiao Yu.

At night on Wandù Street, workers set up charcoal grills by the river to earn extra money selling barbecue. Back then, varieties were limited—mostly dried tofu, potatoes, and lotus root. Hai Shu and Xiao Yu had been a few times, always eating potatoes because Xiao Yu liked them.

Hai Shu muttered, “Uncle, why no mushrooms?”

“Mushrooms? Nobody likes them, and they’re hard to get.”

A few days later, Xiao Yu suddenly called her to the river. She arrived to find he’d dismantled the fridge shelves at home, making a makeshift grill, and on it—mushrooms!

“Xiao Yu, where did you get these?” Hai Shu was overjoyed and hurried to help.

But Xiao Yu thought she was clumsy and didn’t let her touch anything. It was hot; he tended the fire and flipped the mushrooms, sweat soaking his hair and vest. Hai Shu was forced to stay at a distance, hopping like a rabbit on the river stones.

“Ready, come eat!” Xiao Yu ordered, and she ran over. She tasted…

Xiao Yu watched anxiously. “How is it?”

She smiled brightly. “Delicious!”

Thinking back, the taste wasn’t that remarkable—Xiao Yu wasn’t a chef, and it was just simple oil, salt, and chili—but the mushrooms were grilled just for her, the fire lit just for her.

Until she left Wandù Street, Xiao Yu never revealed where he got the mushrooms. When she asked too long, he gave her a black face. She didn’t mind; that day, by the fire, his face got even darker from smoke for her sake.

“Cold, it won’t taste good,” Xie Jingyu took the baked potatoes himself.

Hai Shu quietly took the grilled mushrooms.

Xie Jingyu said, “Officer Hai, why the sudden melancholy?”

Hai Shu put down her skewer and looked at him. “It reminded me of the grilled mushrooms I had as a child. These aren’t as good.”

The corner of Xie Jingyu’s eye twitched slightly, then he smiled. “Then next time, you’ll treat me.”