Song Hongyu dropped her son at daycare and took a taxi to another residential area. In a car behind her, Zhen Zhen sat next to Qiao Zhikai as they followed at a careful distance. When Song Hongyu entered a building, Zhen Zhen followed on foot. She noticed the elevator stopping at the fifth floor and staying there. Running up the stairs, she found only two apartments on that floor - perfect for surveillance. She positioned herself in the emergency stairwell, watching both doors. Two hours later, Song Hongyu emerged with a slim, pale-skinned man. After verifying he wasn't connected to the gang, it became clear - Song Hongyu was having an affair, and this man wasn't her only paramour.
I chose my disguise carefully: a retired cadre with a birdcage, walking near the pool hall. Yang Bo approached, rolling walnuts in his palm. We stood beneath a tree, talking like old neighbors would.
"He rarely goes home," Yang Bo said. "Usually stays here. Sleeps around one or two in the morning, wakes up around noon. Eats out most days too."
I checked my watch - noon exactly. He'd be awake. Sure enough, minutes later, Deng Ligang walked out of the pool hall, dressed sharply. A young man - Er Biao - pulled up in a car. Deng Ligang got in and they drove off. We followed, keeping our distance. They stopped at a parking lot on Restaurant Row. Inside, beer and dishes quickly covered their table. Deng Ligang sat with Er Biao and several thugs. I led Lin Hui and Yang Bo to the next table. We ordered simply: fried meat with noodles and beer. I couldn't help noticing Deng Ligang's shoulder bag on his chair - its zipper gaped open, revealing a dagger and machete inside.
"Boss, want some baijiu?" Er Biao offered.
Deng Ligang waved it away. "Been out on business lately. Haven't kept an eye on the shop. Any problems?"
One of his thugs spoke up. "Boss, this kid Da Tou from West Street's been causing trouble at the pool hall. Even demanding money from us."
"Tell him if he keeps it up, I'll scoop his eyeballs out with a spoon and crush them myself."
He picked up a rib, crunching the cartilage between his teeth.
"If they don't believe it, let them come. In my book, if you don't draw blood when you hit someone, it doesn't count. When I fight, I must win. That's the only outcome."
His words chilled me. Ten years had passed, but his capacity for violence hadn't diminished.
A young man entered, whispering something in Deng Ligang's ear. Without changing expression, Deng Ligang left his barely-touched meal and departed. We followed him to a residential area and his home.
Inside, he tossed his keys onto the shoe cabinet. Song Hongyu's shoes told him she was home. She sat on the sofa, cracking sunflower seeds, eyes fixed on the TV. She didn't acknowledge his entrance.
"Did you take our son to daycare?"
She grunted, still watching her tearjerker romance drama.
He sat opposite her. "Living quite the carefree life, aren't you?" Mockery dripped from every word.
She finally looked at him. "What's there to envy? This is your home. You could live like this in a heartbeat if you wanted."
Deng Ligang stared at her, struggling to contain his rage. She cracked another seed. "Why are you staring? There's no honey on my face." She didn't bother looking up.
"I think you're getting more and more out of line."
"In your mind, what would be considered 'inline'?"
"Song Hongyu, you don't have a trace of your old self left."
"Have you ever seen a woman who's the same inside and out?"
His voice dropped low. "If you dare meet that bastard again, I'll rip his head off."
She turned to face him. "Why bother with him? If you want to rip something off, rip mine off."
His chest tightened at her words. "Don't think that just because you're the mother of my son, I won't do anything to you!"
"What could you possibly do to me?"
"Don't freaking push me!" The words hissed through his clenched teeth.
Song Hongyu spoke with eerie calm. "Isn't death what people fear most? I chewed up and swallowed that word long ago."
Deng Ligang poured himself tea, his hand trembling slightly.
"Aren't you afraid I'll use family discipline?" he asked.
"Family discipline? Why not use multiplication instead?" A smile played at her lips.
He sipped his tea and walked to her, his eyes dark with complicated emotions.
He held out his hand. Song Hongyu, thinking he wanted to make peace with an embrace as he had before, stood and approached him. Instead, his arm swung out, striking her face with brutal force.
Song Hongyu exploded, destroying everything she could reach before storming out, the door crashing behind her.
The impact seemed to clear Deng Ligang's head. Realizing the gravity of what he'd done, he chased her to her father's house. Old Song had grown strange and irritable living in this foreign place, without friends or family nearby. He'd gotten into repeated arguments about returning to their Huayuan home, bothering neighbors until community security had to intervene.
Seeing Deng Ligang, Old Song launched into a tirade. "You ruined my New Year's Day, then you destroyed my Spring Festival. Why not bring some joss paper on Qingming Festival and burn me and the house down while you're at it?"
His curses grew more vicious with each breath. Despite Deng Ligang's violent nature, he respected his elders. Old Song was his father-in-law - he couldn't strike back or curse him. But as Old Song's insults grew more outrageous and his voice rose, Deng Ligang's patience snapped.
"What's wrong with a son looking for his mother and asking her to come home?" he demanded.
Spittle flew as Old Song shot back, "If you weren't keeping my daughter here against her will, would I be trapped in this place where I don't know a single face, year after year?"
"I've been working myself to the bone to support your Song family. Even if I don't deserve praise, don't I get credit for my efforts?" Deng Ligang asked.
"No matter how big someone else's roof is, it's not as good as having your own umbrella. We don't need your hard work. Tonight, I'm taking my daughter, son, and grandson back to Huayuan."
"Do you dare to leave?"
Old Song's eyes bulged. "You'll see if I dare or not!"
"Let me go ahead of you then."
Deng Ligang jumped onto the windowsill, pushed the window open, and turned to Old Song. "Mention leaving one more time, and I'll jump right now. After that, your entire Song family, old and young, can open wide and drink the northwest wind!"
When survival was at stake, Old Song fell quiet. Song Hongyu grabbed Deng Ligang and pulled him from the windowsill.
Without another word, he took her hand and led her home.
Meanwhile, Gu Jing and Xiao Ma posed as customers at Feng Shuanghuan's tea shop. They sat at the tea table, watching her wash and brew.
"This is Jin Jun Mei, premium black tea," she explained. "It takes about 60,000 to 80,000 buds to make one jin."
Gu Jing sipped and nodded. "Delicious."
"Fragrant," Xiao Ma added.
"Try this Biluochun," Feng Shuanghuan offered.
They sampled cup after cup, enjoying the free tasting.
"Sister, can you top up mobile phones here too?" Xiao Ma asked.
"Yes, we offer that service."
Shi Bi, now going by Sun Xuequan, returned and startled at seeing them.
"Where's our son?" Feng Shuanghuan asked.
"Playing football with some kids outside," he replied.
This Shi Bi had gained at least thirty jin. He was barely recognizable - skin loose, body obese, radiating defeat and decay. Gu Jing studied his features carefully, confirming this was indeed their target. Shi Bi nodded politely to them before retreating to the back room.
Gu Jing bought two liangs of jasmine tea and left with Xiao Ma.
Of the four, Ji Dashun had fared worst. He'd quickly tired of life with Xiao Liying. When she mentioned a relative who'd struck it rich in coal mining and built a siheyuan back home, Ji Dashun's interest peaked. He took it to Deng Ligang, who saw potential in the mine's distance from Suilu - a hundred li away made it manageable. He gave Ji Dashun investment money but demanded 30% of yearly earnings. Same deal with Shi Bi, who put 30% of his billiard hall and foot massage business into their shared pot.
Deng Ligang wasn't being greedy - he was using money to keep the gang intact, preventing them from drifting apart. They agreed to minimal contact, meeting only for New Year's meals. Ji Dashun had blood on his hands too, though not as much as Deng Ligang and Shi Bi. His partner Liang En found him sharp and capable, always delivering excellent results. He admired Ji Dashun enough to put him in charge of procurement. The coal yard workers sensed something darker in him though - a dangerous edge that made them keep their distance.
We traced Ji Dashun's phone to a coal mine 100 kilometers outside Suilu City, an area thick with coal operations. After mapping his connections, we identified his coal boss. I called him posing as a Tianjin power plant buyer. Liang En, spotting a business chance, rushed to meet at the agreed coffee house.
I arrived first and greeted him. Without preamble, I showed my police badge. As confusion crossed his face, I produced Ji Dashun's photo.
"Know this man?" I asked.
"Yes, Wu Jianye. My business partner," Liang En said.
"He's a fugitive. We've hunted him for ten years."
Liang En's jaw dropped, sweat breaking out on his forehead. "I didn't know. I swear I didn't know."
"Your past ignorance isn't the issue. But now that you know, failing to cooperate would make you an accomplice. We'd have to act accordingly."
"I'll help, but I need one guarantee," Liang En said.
"Go on."
"Wu Jianye's burned out from drinking and women. Working in the dark, wet mines hasn't helped. He's got cancer now. Since the diagnosis, his temper's worse than ever. Everyone at the mine avoids him. I can guide your people in, but I can't show my face. He might try to drag me down with him."
"We'll ensure your safety," I promised.
Nine days we'd watched Suilu City. Now we had all four confirmed, Snow City sent twenty special officers for the arrests. I wouldn't use local police - too many connections could leak information. One mistake would waste everything. Deng Ligang was exceptional at avoiding detection and pursuit, always armed with a knife. We needed perfect execution to catch him. If he slipped away again, we might never get another chance. I'd considered every angle, my own life included.
I divided the tasks. I'd take primary target Deng Ligang, backed by Deputy Squad Leader Yang Bo and two special officers over 1.8 meters.
Gu Jing would handle Shi Bi, while Zhen Zhen and Lin Wei took Song Hongyu. As I assigned their roles, I held Zhen Zhen's gaze longer. She met my concern with steady resolve.
Ge Shoujia would pursue Ji Dashun, a hundred li distant. This was our crucial first phase. If it failed and word spread, all four would scatter instantly - like water drops in an ocean, impossible to recover.
Ge Shoujia was unremarkable - short, northern Jiangsu accent, the kind of face that vanished in crowds. He led four plainclothes officers to Ji Dashun's mine. They found Liang En in a coal-dusted office, drinking tea and smoking with others.
"Boss," Ge Shoujia said, "we're from Danyang, Jiangsu. Looking to buy coal."
Liang En caught their meaning and stammered nervously, "For coal, you'll need Fourth Brother."
Ge Shoujia had someone guide them to the mine shaft. Inside, darkness and damp air pressed around them as their eyes adjusted.
"Fourth Brother here?" Ge Shoujia called out.
Silence.
"Fourth Brother?"
A voice echoed from deep in the tunnel. "Who's asking?"
"We're from Danyang, Jiangsu. Here to buy coal. They sent us down to find Fourth Brother."
"Who told you where to find me?" Ji Dashun demanded.
"Boss Liang En."
Ji Dashun emerged from the shadows, studying the dark figures before him warily.
"Go back up. I'll be there soon," he said.
"Sure, Fourth Brother. Please hurry though - we need to catch a flight back to Suilu this afternoon."
Ge Shoujia turned and walked away. Ji Dashun watched their shapes fade into the tunnel's darkness. Age had only sharpened his caution. He had to watch for both police and Deng Ligang these days. The coal buyer seemed harmless enough - short, thin, with that northern Jiangsu accent. His companions were harder to read. Better to wait a bit longer.
Ge Shoujia didn't leave. He posted officers at the shaft entrance while others checked for other exits. They found three in total. After twenty minutes without sign of Ji Dashun, Ge Shoujia stationed three officers at each exit and went back in. Ji Dashun had darkness for cover while Ge Shoujia walked exposed.
To maintain his cover, Ge Shoujia called into the tunnel, "Brother Si, what's the hold up? I'll miss my flight at this rate."
Ji Dashun watched silently from the shadows.
Getting no response, Ge Shoujia stopped. "Brother Si, I can't wait anymore. I'll just buy from Boss Zhang's mine next door. Same coal seam, should be similar quality."
He turned to leave. Ji Dashun didn't stop him. Zhang was indeed his competitor's name. Maybe this buyer was legitimate.
As Ge Shoujia neared the entrance, Ji Dashun called from the shadows, "How much you want?"
Without turning, Ge Shoujia answered, "You're not serious about dealing. I'll pass."
Ji Dashun followed at a distance. "How much?"
"Business needs trust. We don't have that, Brother Si. Go back to work."
He stepped out. Ji Dashun, seeing the sale slipping away, rushed after him. A waiting officer swept his legs, dropping him. As the officer grabbed his arm for cuffing, Ji Dashun flung coal dust in his face. The officer's grip loosened. Ji Dashun bolted back into the tunnel with Ge Shoujia right behind.
Ji Dashun darted like a cornered rat. He ducked behind a wall outcropping. Ge Shoujia ran past but caught movement in his peripheral vision. He dropped and rolled, grabbing Ji Dashun's ankle and slamming him into the wall. Ji Dashun screamed, his knife clattering away. His body went slack. Ge Shoujia grabbed his collar and dragged him into daylight.
Coal dust masked Ji Dashun's features completely.
"You're Ji Dashun, right?"
Ji Dashun just rolled his eyes. An officer doused his face. Black water streaked down, revealing his true face.
"That's you alright," Ge Shoujia said, moving to lead him away.
Ji Dashun spotted Liang En by the entrance and fixed him with a murderous stare. Liang En shook with fear at the intensity.
"If this worthless body hadn't failed me," Ji Dashun snarled, "I'd have strung you up already, you bastard."
They forced him into a car and drove away. Boss Liang stood paralyzed, not daring to move a muscle.
From inside the surveillance vehicle, I watched the pool hall and massage parlor across the street with the special police unit. My thoughts drifted to Ge Shoujia, stationed over fifty miles away. Deng Ligang hadn't emerged since entering yesterday. His workers arrived punctually at 9 AM, despite the lack of customers, keeping themselves occupied with table repairs and cloth replacements throughout the morning. While my eyes stayed fixed on the pool hall, my mind wandered to the coal mine operation. At 1 PM, Ge Shoujia called with news of Ji Dashun's capture. I immediately gave the signal. All three teams sprang into action.
Deng Ligang woke with a start. In his dream, he'd been walking through a desolate wasteland when the ground turned to glue, trapping his feet. Each desperate attempt to free himself only pulled him deeper.
Upon waking, a nameless dread settled over him. First his left eye had been twitching all day, then his right, and now these disturbing dreams. He could handle any business problem thrown his way, but his wife - she was like needles under his skin. When something festers long enough, it eventually has to burst.
Er Biao came in, suggesting they get hot pot with lamb spine.
"Not today," Deng Ligang said. "You should stay in too. Something doesn't feel right. Help watch the shop."
"What's wrong?" Er Biao asked.
"If I knew exactly what, that would be half the problem solved."
Deng Ligang made himself instant noodles in an electric pot. A few bites filled his stomach but left his mind unsettled. He wandered down to the massage parlor, requesting their best masseuse in Room 2.
Old Hu arrived as requested, but Deng Ligang's unease persisted. "Let's use the back room instead."
It was a windowless storage space, cluttered with linens and supplies.
Deng Ligang lay face-down, letting Old Hu's expert hands work away his tension. As his muscles loosened, sleep crept in. Old Hu quietly switched off the light and slipped out.
Since gaining weight, Shi Bi had become a dedicated sleeper. He'd go down at 11 PM and wouldn't surface until 11 AM. Feng Shuanghuan let him be. Their son was old enough to handle school on his own now. Better to have a husband sleeping than gambling away their money. The shop was quiet anyway - she could make lunch and wake him later. She was cracking sunflower seeds and watching TV when Gu Jing walked in. He glanced around, clearly looking for Shi Bi. Feng Shuanghuan recognized him as yesterday's tea customer.
She smiled. "How's the tea? Good, right?"
Gu Jing placed the package on the counter. "Opened it at home. It's all stems, barely any leaves."
Feng Shuanghuan's smile vanished. "You watched me package it yourself. Fair exchange - money for goods."
"I don't want a refund. Just different tea," Gu Jing said.
"No exchanges after it's been opened," Feng Shuanghuan said flatly.
"You can't run a business on one-time sales," Gu Jing pressed.
"Watch me. Going to shut me down?" she challenged.
"Where's your sense of fairness?" he asked.
"I am fairness. Take it or leave it," she declared.
"I won't argue with a woman. Get your husband."
"He's not at your beck and call. Go back wherever you came from. Stop wasting my time."
Xiao Ma walked in, taking in the scene.
Feng Shuanghuan, thinking he'd take her side, snapped, "What do you want?"
Xiao Ma put down a hundred yuan. "Phone top-up."
"Machine's broken. Can't help," she said.
"Worked fine yesterday. What happened?" Xiao Ma asked.
"People drop dead walking down the street. Why can't a machine break?" Feng Shuanghuan retorted.
"What kind of service is this?" Xiao Ma demanded.
"This is exactly my service!" Feng Shuanghuan shot back.
"This is completely unacceptable!" Xiao Ma pressed.
"Unacceptable? What are you going to do about it - launch me to the moon?" she sneered.
"I'll report you to the Commercial Bureau," Xiao Ma warned.
"Go ahead! Run along then! Don't trip over your own feet on the way there," she taunted.
In the back room, Shi Bi stirred from his sleep, listening to the rising voices.
Gu Jing stepped forward. "With an attitude like that, you're giving me a refund."
Feng Shuanghuan exploded. "What, you want to eat your own shit? Go cry to your mommy if you need someone to wipe your ass. Don't try your con games here!"
"No refund means no business today," Gu Jing threatened.
Feng Shuanghuan bounced with rage. "Ask around! Nobody scares Feng Shuanghuan! Touch my shop and you'll lose a finger!"
Shi Bi emerged from the back room, taking in the scene. He quickly inserted himself between them.
Pulling money from his pocket, he pressed it into Gu Jing's hand. "Let's all calm down! Business needs harmony! Of course we'll handle returns and exchanges for unsatisfied customers."
Feng Shuanghuan lunged for the money, but Shi Bi blocked her.
Turning to Xiao Ma, Shi Bi said, "Brother, there's another shop around the corner for phone payments."
As he raised his arm to point, Gu Jing seized it, twisting it behind his back. Shi Bi dropped to his knees, gasping. Xiao Ma grabbed his other arm, wrenched it back, and snapped on handcuffs. They hauled him toward the door.
Feng Shuanghuan stood frozen. Then she burst into action, running to the neighboring dumpling shop's kitchen, snatching a cleaver from the cutting board, and charging back out.
The dumpling shop owner's wife jumped back, calling after her, "What are you doing? Stop!"
Feng Shuanghuan screamed, "Thugs! They're kidnapping people! I'll kill them!"
The owner's wife retreated inside, watching through the window as two men dragged Shi Bi toward a car, his feet scraping the ground.
"I'm innocent!" he shouted. "Why are you arresting me?"
Feng Shuanghuan charged, cleaver raised. Xiao Ma tripped her, sending her sprawling. The cleaver clattered away. She pushed herself up, blood streaming from her nose, smearing it across her face as she wiped it. Gu Jing and Xiao Ma shoved Shi Bi into the car.
The vehicle roared away in a dust cloud. Feng Shuanghuan chased after it, screaming. The dumpling shop owner's wife retrieved her cleaver and stood in her doorway, watching the car vanish and the woman running after it. Her husband stood behind her, wiping his hands on his apron.
"I told her," the wife said. "A gentle wife makes a happy home. She thought I was jealous. Well, look now."
The massage parlor basement was dim, private rooms lining both sides of the hallway. Every door was shut.
I nodded to Yang Bo to call from a local number. We listened carefully - no ringtone. I mouthed, "Vibrate."
Yang Bo nodded, dialing again.
The phone on the bedside table buzzed. Deng Ligang opened his eyes, checked the unfamiliar local number, then set it down, letting it vibrate until it stopped. He simply declined the call.
A worker passed by with fresh towels, noticing Yang Bo. "Who are you looking for?"
"The manager," Yang Bo said. "I want a full massage."
"Get a ticket upstairs," the staff member said.
"Nobody's there," Yang Bo replied.
"They're all at lunch. You'll need to wait."
"Is there a back exit?" I asked.
"No."
"Show me around."
The staff member led us through the parlor, confirming no back exit existed. After they left, I positioned four special officers to search every room thoroughly.
I stood at the corridor's end.
"We checked," Yang Bo said. "Just storage. Never used for customers."
I walked away, paused, then returned.
"Call again," I said.
Yang Bo dialed. I heard it - a faint buzz, like an insect's wings.
In the darkened storage room, Deng Ligang lay watching his phone screen glow.
"Who keeps calling?" he wondered.
I burst through the door. Deng Ligang flipped off the bed with practiced grace, slamming me down, his knee crushing my chest. I struck his throat hard. He faltered but recovered instantly, bolting past me. I pursued him up the stairs until a waiting officer kicked him back down. Deng Ligang rolled to his feet. I aimed at his forehead, but he kicked the gun from my grip with stunning speed. He sprinted deeper into the corridor. I retrieved my weapon and followed, Yang Bo close behind.
Deng Ligang ducked into the storage room. I charged after him. He toppled a cabinet toward me. I leaped over it into darkness. My foot slipped, and I plunged into a hole, landing hard enough to see stars. Struggling up, I lit my phone. A narrow passage cut through the wall.
The crafty bastard had planned his escape route carefully. I followed the tunnel into a large vegetable cellar, cold and damp, stocked with produce and liquor boxes. A shadow climbed a ladder, pulling it up after. I jumped futilely. The cellar walls had rough brick joints. I dug in fingers and toes, climbing desperately.
I emerged in a walled backyard. The ladder lay discarded by the cellar entrance. Deng Ligang had vanished. I'd been right behind him, maybe three minutes back. The ground was frozen solid - even a master tunneler couldn't have dug through it. Special forces surrounded the area for blocks. He couldn't have flown away. Rage burned through me. Where had he gone?
I scaled the wall for a better view. Fifty meters out stood a public restroom. A truck loaded with sacks was parked nearby. The driver emerged, zipping up, heading for his vehicle. He started the engine. I jumped down and planted myself in front of the truck.
The driver startled, rolling down his window. "What do you want?"
"What's your cargo?" I asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
I flashed my police badge.
His attitude shifted instantly. "Potatoes."
"Let me check."
Without protest, the driver stepped out and let me inspect. I climbed up - each potato sack weighed about fifty kilos. I checked them one by one, sweating from the effort.
"Just potatoes here, officer. No illegal goods," the driver said, confused by my thoroughness.
As I wiped my forehead, something caught my eye - a bit of fabric in the corner. My pulse quickened. I took two steps toward it when suddenly the sack above the fabric rose up. Deng Ligang gripped it with both hands, hurling the fifty-kilo sack at me. I dodged. He leaped off the truck with me right behind. The driver dropped to the ground, hands over his head.
Barefoot, Deng Ligang couldn't run fast. I closed the gap, pushing hard. Our martial arts match devolved into raw survival. I kicked the back of his knee, catching him off balance. He crashed down. I pressed my gun to his head while Yang Bo aimed at his chest. We both chambered rounds.
Two towering special officers rushed in, flipping Deng Ligang face-down. They cuffed his hands and shackled his feet. He rolled over to sit, his dark eyes scanning the four of us.
"Which department?" he asked.
"Provincial," I said, keeping it vague.
"On what charges?"
"National gang crackdown. Prostitution and gambling ring. Hadn't you heard?"
Deng Ligang went quiet, but visibly relaxed. In Suiluo City, he had connections. He figured he'd be out on bail within days for charges like these.
As we led him toward the gate in his shirt and pants, a group of young men came running. Obviously his crew. They shouted demands for his release.
"Police business! Back off!" I ordered.
The thugs brandished wooden clubs, refusing to move.
"Leave or I shoot! Last warning!" I drew my weapon, scowling.
Yang Bo and the officers clicked off their safeties, aiming at the gang. Seeing our guns, the young men froze in their tracks.
A Passat screeched to a halt in front of us. The two special police officers and Yang Bo rushed Deng Ligang into the car. Before I could even reach for the door handle, the nervous driver gunned the engine and the car vanished into the distance.
Standing there alone, I felt exposed. The thugs, sensing their chance, closed in with predatory grins. But years on the force had hardened me. I loaded my weapon with a sharp click and met each of their stares.
"Five bullets," I said evenly. "They move faster than any of you. Make a wrong move, and you'll find out exactly how fast."
A crowd of thugs is still just a crowd - none of them wanted to die today. I walked back into the massage parlor, calm as could be. In the storage room where we'd found Deng Ligang, I gathered his clothes and shoes, bundling them in a sheet. Outside, the thugs were still milling around uselessly. Every taxi I tried to flag down spotted my gun and sped past. Finally, I tucked the weapon away, gave the thugs one last hard look, and strode right through their midst. They waited until I was some distance away before following.
In the Passat, Yang Bo suddenly noticed my absence. "Where's Chief Peng?"
The special police officers exchanged blank looks. Yang Bo exploded. "You left the chief alone back there with those criminals? What were you thinking?"
Tires squealing, the Passat whipped around. I was walking quickly now, bundle on my back, gun ready. The thugs stalked behind me, growing bolder. Two more taxis refused to stop. As the thugs closed in, I braced myself for a fight. Then the Passat burst through the crowd. Yang Bo flung open the door and I dove in, slamming it behind me as we roared away.
Deng Ligang, still hooded, twisted around to peer out the back window. His posture told me everything - he wasn't worried at all.
When we pulled up to the Security Bureau, we found Feng Shuanghuan trying to force her way past the entrance. She'd followed Shi Bi here. As security dragged her back, she screamed, "Old Sun! Sun Xuequan!"
We took Shi Bi and the trembling Deng Ligang to the basement for questioning. I pulled off their hoods and tossed Deng Ligang his clothes.
Once dressed, he studied me. "You're not from around here. Where are you really from?"
"Xuecheng Police Department."
Both men stiffened, understanding what that meant.
I turned to Shi Bi. "Your wife followed you."
His eyes welled up, and something complicated passed across his face. Sensing he needed to talk, I led him to the next room.
"The world is huge," he said quietly, "but without love and home, it means nothing. I've lost both."
"Do you understand what you've done?"
He nodded. "The past is quicksand. The more I fought it, the deeper I sank. Fate doesn't play favorites. You're here about Xuecheng, aren't you?"
I kept my expression neutral.
"I won't survive if I go back there," he said. "If you want my help, I have one condition."
"Go on," I said.
"Let me see that woman outside. I need to set things right with her. After that, I'll tell you everything you want to know."
"Alright," I agreed.
They brought in Feng Shuanghuan, her hair wild and unkempt. When she saw Shi Bi in chains, she rushed forward and grabbed him.
"What did you do? Tell me! Sun Xuequan, what have you been hiding?"
Shi Bi gave me a pleading look.
"Could you take these off? Just for two minutes?"
I nodded to the officers to remove his handcuffs.
Shi Bi slipped off his gold ring, necklace, and watch, pressing them into Feng Shuanghuan's hands.
She stared at him, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm facing a death sentence," he said softly. "Heaven was kind enough to give me ten more years, to let me have this time with you. You always asked why I treated you and the child so well. Here's why: every day with you felt borrowed, precious. These last few years, I've been happy. But Shuanghuan, our time is over. Go home to our child. Don't try to find me again."
For a moment, she just stood there. Then she threw herself against him, clutching him tight as they both broke down.
I gestured to the officer, who stepped in to separate them. They cuffed Shi Bi again and led him away. Feng Shuanghuan walked out sobbing, her figure growing smaller until she vanished beyond the gates.
During questioning, Shi Bi confessed to everything - ten murders in total.
We had three of the four suspects, but Song Hongyu remained free. Zhen Zhen, Lin Hui, and Li Pengfei watched her building all night and into the morning. Song Hongyu stuck to her routine: dropping her son at daycare, meeting her lover, having lunch. Afterward, she went straight to her brother's market stall. She took over while he went to eat. Then she headed into the underground mall. The long, straight corridors made it tricky to follow her without being spotted. Zhen Zhen couldn't risk staring too long - if Song opened a door, they might end up face-to-face, and she'd be recognized.
Zhen Zhen switched places with Li Pengfei, taking the ground level while he watched below.
Minutes later, she called him. "She's just shopping. I can see her," he reported.
Something felt wrong to Zhen Zhen. She told Lin Hui to stay put while she went to cover the other end. She hurried down the stairs and found Li Pengfei by a stall.
"Where is she?" she whispered.
Li Pengfei pointed toward the small goods section. "Sitting in there."
"Sitting?" Alarm bells rang in Zhen Zhen's head. She moved closer to look, and her stomach dropped. The woman was dressed like Song Hongyu, but it wasn't her. Zhen Zhen fought to stay calm. This was a straight corridor - Song Hongyu couldn't have just walked out in plain sight.
"She's still here on this street," Zhen Zhen told Li Pengfei. "Lin Hui's covering that end, you take this entrance. I'll check every store. She didn't just disappear."
Li Pengfei moved to guard the stairs while Zhen Zhen searched each shop methodically. Nothing. She reached the end without finding Song Hongyu. Fear crept up her throat, but she pushed it down. She doubled back to the hat shop, three stores from the end, and looked in again. Only the owner was there, standing behind the counter with her back turned. Red down jacket, felt hat, short hair at her shoulders. The clothes didn't match Song Hongyu, but something made Zhen Zhen want to check anyway. Just then, her phone rang - it was me. She stepped to the entrance to answer. I told her the other teams had finished their missions. It was all on her now.
Anxiety gnawed at her. The sun was setting when she looked back toward the hat shop. The woman in the felt hat had vanished from behind the counter. "Anyone here?" Zhen Zhen called out. A middle-aged woman emerged from behind a curtain. "Looking for a hat? Everything's half off today."
Zhen Zhen's blood went cold. She bolted out, catching a glimpse of movement by the general store and sprinting after it. The figure darted into the back storage room, Zhen Zhen right behind her, leaving the shopkeeper staring in shock. The storage room was tiny. The woman in the felt hat had nowhere left to run. When she turned, her eyes were hard and cold - it was Song Hongyu. Zhen Zhen pulled out her cuffs and grabbed one of Song's hands.
Song's free hand shot out, snatching a horsewhip from a shelf and swinging it at Zhen Zhen. Zhen Zhen didn't flinch or let go. She seized Song's arm and twisted it behind her back until something popped. Song screamed and dropped to her knees. Zhen Zhen cuffed her quickly, yanked off the hat and wig, and ripped open the down jacket to reveal white clothes underneath.
"Nice moves," Zhen Zhen said. "You almost got away."
After fixing Song's shoulder, she put the cuffs back on. Song caught her breath. "Why are you arresting me?"
"You know what you did."
"I don't!" Song's voice was defiant.
Zhen Zhen pointed to herself. "Remember me?"
Song looked her over. "Never seen you before."
"2004. The kidnapping at Hehua Complex, Building 8, Unit 1, Room 3002, Luancheng."
Song hesitated for just a second. "Don't know what you mean."
Zhen Zhen pulled out the silver bracelet and held it up. "Remember this?"
Song's face went pale.
"This bracelet saw you kill that person."
"It doesn't have a mouth," Song shot back. "How'd it tell you?"
"No, but you do. You told me everything. I remembered every word."
"Got any proof?"
"Yes. I'm Zhen Zhen. The one you tried to kill."
Recognition hit Song Hongyu then, and her lips started to shake.
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