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墨書 Inktalez
The leader of the large-scale human trafficking case in Jin City had raised his daughter so well.
Innocent, kind-hearted, and naive to the ways of the world.
That daughter is Zhang Yi.
Fate can be cruel.
Suddenly, I felt a dryness in my throat, a pressure that seemed to grip me, making it hard to breathe.
"April 14, my father's death anniversary."
A hand patted my shoulder.
A cup of warm water was placed in front of me.
Xing Yishen continued to look at Xiong Er, "So, the suspects' targets are all connected to this case from years ago."
"What was the name of the deceased girl?"
Xiong Er handed over the information, "Her surname is Shen, Shen Qin. She had an older brother who went missing, named Sheh Wei."
With the suspects identified, the police launched a full-scale search in Jin City, focusing particularly on the university town.
The tricky part is that there are no residents in the university town using that ID card.
Xing Yishen mentioned that it is very likely the suspect had stolen someone else's identity.
I had to meet with A Shuang every day to ensure I wouldn’t witness her demise.
No-Face suddenly seemed to have evaporated from existence, leaving no trace behind.
It has been 21 days since Zhang Yi's death.
"Seven days until death."
"Can you slow down a bit?" The sun was quite intense.
"Are your feet sore?" Xing Yishen squatted down to examine my ankle and sighed. "This isn't a sustainable way to keep following me."
"Why don't you move to the police station? I have a single dormitory behind the station."
He was getting busier and couldn't always be with me at the cat café, constantly going out on duty and having to take me along.
That did sound like a decent idea.
He added, "I'll set aside an hour every day to accompany you to the cat café. During this special time, the cats will just have to make do."
I nodded.
"Come back with me to pack your things."
Back at the cat café, Shen Wei was once again busy arranging flowers next door.
He smiled at me, probably used to Xing Yishen being by my side every day.
Xing Yishen still didn't like him.
"Stop putting on that sour face every time," I said while adding cat food. "He's just an honest guy."
"Hmph, an honest guy? Would he give you this?"
He scoffed, pointing at the blue rose he had deliberately placed in the corner. "Honest people get a bad reputation."
What a stingy person.
I ignored him and went to find the first aid kit.
Xing Yishen lingered for a moment before coming over to help me apply iodine and then put on a band-aid.
His clumsy movements were endearingly cute.
“Xing Officer.”
He looked up.
I smiled at him, “The case is over, why not accompany me to the haunted house?”
“Why do you always like these kinds of things?” he frowned.
“It’s not that I like it; I just want to see your face turn pale.”
Before he could retort, his phone rang.
After a while, he returned, “The owner of the escape room found something in the storage room. I’m going to check it out.”
“I won’t go,” I wiggled my toes, “Be quick about it, Xing Officer.”
He hesitated for a moment, nodded, and then jogged out.
The sunlight outside was bright.
Suddenly, I strongly hoped that the case would be resolved quickly.
Shenh Wei came again, this time holding a bouquet of flowers.
A new variety, a lovely pale yellow.
I thought that I should clarify things with him; I wasn’t interested in him.
“Song Yu, can I have a cup of coffee today?” he said as he placed the flowers into a vase.
"Okay."
He pushed a regular cappuccino with a lazy foam art towards me.
"Feeling down?" I asked, puzzled.
He suddenly asked, "Song Yu, do you think we're friends?"
I suppose we are.
I nodded.
He smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "Let me tell you a story."
"I have a younger sister, about your age, who loves flowers, so I opened this flower shop."
"Our parents passed away early, and we relied on each other since childhood. We had a very close relationship."
Curious, I asked, "Why haven't I seen her at the shop?"
"She died. I miss her very much."
I had never seen Shenh Wei display such a sorrowful expression.
Feeling a bit melancholic, I sighed, "My condolences."
He glanced at me but didn't respond.
Suddenly, the phone rang. On the other end was Xing Yishen's anxious voice. "Song Yu, where are you right now?"
"I'm at the cat café. What's wrong?"
The voice on the other end was intermittent, mixed with the sound of car horns.
"Don't panic, listen to me, I'm heading back right now!"
"I found some fragments of blue petals in the storage compartment of the secret room."
"I suspect that Shenh Wei is—"
The call was abruptly cut off.
I looked up.
Shenh Wei was playing with the phone cord, glancing at me casually.
A slight smirk appeared on his lips, his eyes vacant.
It resembled the last look No-Face gave me that day.
"Song Yu, I can't bear to see you die."
"But there's nothing we can do."
When I regained consciousness, it was nighttime.
The cold wind on the bridge was chilling.
Not far away, police sirens blared brightly.
Behind me stood Shenh Wei, along with the railing of the bridge.
No, I should call him Sheh Wei now.
"Sheh Wei, calm down." Xing Yishen called out from a distance, raising his hands slowly as he approached.
Sheh Wei held a knife against my throat.
"It is now 9:50, Song Yu."
The voice was like a spell.
I moved my lips and realized my throat was parched.
In a hoarse voice, I said, "I originally thought you were going to chase me, but it turns out you want to hunt me down."
"Heh."
He chuckled softly but said nothing more.
"10 o'clock, is that the time when that car successfully retrieved the body?"
"April 14, A Shuang's movie ticket. Do you think A Shuang should die on this day because he stole your sister's life?"
He fell silent, and I knew I was right.
Seven years ago.
April 14.
Across the river bridge.
My father died.
Zhang Yi's father died.
Shen Qin also died.
In that case, the preserved Zhang Yi died at the time when Shen Qin was retrieved.
The swapped ticket Qi Qi took for A Shuang led to her death, on the anniversary of Shen Qin's passing.
Like an ancient sacrificial ceremony.
“Zhang Yi was murdered because Shen Qin also—”
“Enough! Don’t say any more!” he suddenly shouted in agitation.
The knife pressed closer to my neck.
There was a slight sting.
“Sheh Wei, calm down! You can make any demands you want; just let the hostage go.”
Xing Yishen was already very close, just ten meters away.
I rarely saw such a flustered expression on his face.
“Song Yu, you need to calm down too.”
Facing death, I felt surprisingly calm. Alone like this, dying wouldn’t be so bad, except for the knife at my throat.
But…
I glanced across at the other side, feeling a bit reluctant.
Sheh Wei moved closer to me. “If my sister hadn’t died, I would have wanted to pursue you.”
“Sheh Wei.” I looked out at the river, its surface shimmering. “Why do you think I should die?”
“Only one of us can live. Why did he choose the younger Qin Shuang?”
“Why can’t my sister live?”
“She’s about to turn eighteen; she has a bright future ahead!”
Sheh Wei buried his face in my shoulder.
"Song Yu, let's die together."
"You'll accompany me to see my sister."
He cried.
I remained indifferent. "Sheh Wei, you will go to hell."
"A good girl like Shen Qin won't wait for you in hell."
Sheh Wei smiled again, "9:58."
Two minutes left.
"Let A Shuang live; it wasn't my father's choice."
"It was Shen Qin's choice."
"She believed that the brother who always supported her would be proud of her."
"Unfortunately, she was wrong."
With tears in his eyes, Sheh Wei smiled sadly. "You're not her."
I sighed, feeling pity for him.
"A Shuang didn't die; you mistakenly killed her classmate."
"A Shuang said that when she was pushed out of the car, Shen Qin asked her to deliver a message to you."
"If there's a chance in the next life, she still wants to be your sister."
"Remember to place her ashes and flowers together."
He suddenly laughed maniacally.
10 o'clock.
A sudden feeling of weightlessness enveloped me.
I heard Xing Yishen shouting my name.
How strange, it's summer, yet the river water is still so cold.
I woke up.
Once again on the white sheets.
The medicine dripped slowly, drop by drop.
Xing Yishen was in the bed next to mine.
Uncle Zhao came with a group to offer their condolences; Xiong Er and the others hurriedly dropped off some fruit and left, likely still busy wrapping up the case.
The ward felt empty.
I stared blankly at the bed next door.
This person, could he really become a vegetable?
Am I destined to take care of him for the rest of my life?
What if I suddenly want to run away?
The white sheets shifted slightly, and Xing Yishen's face turned red as he gasped for air.
"Are you pretending to be confused?"
He looked at me with a sly smile. "Let them write the case report; I don't like writing that stuff."
"Isn't it nice to take a few more days of paid leave?"
...
Sheh Wei didn't die; after being rescued, he confessed. Xing Yishen said it should be a death penalty case.
The serial murder case was solved, and the media rushed to praise the government's credibility and the police's decisiveness.
The university town was lively again.
On the first day the cat café reopened, A Shuang came to show her support.
She had a gentle personality, but her smile was charming.
Fei Fei liked her too.
Xing Yishen walked in and, as usual, tossed three Three Hundred Dollar Bills on the counter.
"I'll have a cup of coffee."
"Wait a moment." I called out to him as I looked for change.
He chuckled lightly. "Is it cheaper now?"
I pointed to the crowded café. "It's busy today; I'll charge you 30 for a cup."
He was quite unlikable; every time he came in, none of the cats would approach him.
"I've discovered something."
"During these days in the hospital, I can't see anything at all."
He fell silent, meeting my gaze.
After a while, he said, "That's a good thing."
I nodded. "I think so too."
"I'm getting older, and my master is busy arranging blind dates for me," he continued with a laugh. "I asked if I could meet the daughter of my idol."
"And then?" I looked at him, curious.
"He told me to go die somewhere."
I lowered my head and laughed, pouring myself a cup of Americano with milk.
"In a couple of days, it's my dad's birthday. Come with me to see him."
"Sure thing."
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