Chapter 10

With Hu Hua’s arrest, the Criminal Investigation Unit formally opened the case. Back at the station, Nie Fanxin found herself avoiding the Li Juan case, whether consciously or not. Chu Wanning understood her hesitation, but she pulled her aside anyway and asked earnestly, “Fanxin, what should a police officer carry within their heart?”

Nie Fanxin answered casually, “Empathy.”

Chu Wanning gazed at the framed photo standing on her desk—her father, his smile radiant. She mirrored his smile and spoke with quiet gravitas: “A heart full of sunlight. Police work never goes smoothly. What matters is your mindset and how you handle it.”

Nie Fanxin raised her eyes and studied Chu Wanning’s profile. She murmured her name: “Sister Wanning.”

Chu Wanning continued, her tone more serious: “And this talk about empathy? That’s nothing new. Should we feel for victims? Of course. But your approach? Avoidance? If everyone ran away like you, who would investigate? When would cases ever get solved?”

“I…” Nie Fanxin choked up. She’d spent three years in Changyun County and only encountered a single murder, a straightforward revenge killing, nothing involving long-festering social issues. Now, in her first weeks back in Nanyun, she’d walked into a major case with deep roots. It was hard to process.

Chu Wanning’s gentle eyes held her. “Will you work the Li Juan case?”

Nie Fanxin’s lips pressed into a thin line. After a long silence, she forced out a single word: “Yes.”

Chu Wanning’s face relaxed into a smile as she handed over a stack of files. “You keep working Lu Zhenglin’s case. Li Juan’s, I’m giving to Chen Anyou.”

Nie Fanxin looked confused. “Sister Wanning?”

“The Lu Zhenglin and Li Juan cases have extensive crossover. If you’re not mentally prepared, how can I trust you with it?”

Nie Fanxin gathered the materials and finally smiled with something resembling peace. “I’m willing.”

Emerging from Chu Wanning’s office, Nie Fanxin and Chen Anyou drove directly to Lanfeng Residential Compound to visit an elderly woman living alone there. She was Li Juan’s only surviving relative.

The compound had over twenty years of history. Li Juan’s grandmother lived in Building 1, Unit 2, first floor. After the deaths of the three family members, the grandmother had received an insurance payout of six million. For her safety, the community had installed surveillance throughout, though after a decade, many cameras were obsolete with grainy footage or simply nonfunctional.

Chen Anyou knocked lightly. The grandmother was the one watching them through the peephole. Wary of the strangers, she asked, “Who are you?”

Chen Anyou spoke gently: “Grandma, we’re officers from the Nanyun Branch. We’re here to investigate what happened to your granddaughter back then.”

“Granddaughter? Which one? Bullied by whom?”

Chen Anyou said, “Your younger granddaughter, Li Juan.”

The old woman opened the door and stepped back unsteadily with her cane, turning away so her expression was hidden. “Come in. Juan’er jumped to her death. Didn’t the school say she was under too much pressure? Does that mean someone was bullying her?”

Nie Fanxin’s heart ached. She bit her lip and stayed silent.

Chen Anyou forced a strained smile. “We’re just investigating. Nothing conclusive yet. May we take a look inside, ma’am?”

“Of course. I’ll make tea.”

Nie Fanxin hurried to stop her. “No, please, Grandma. Sit. Don’t worry about us.” Once the old woman was settled, the two officers moved into the inner room. In the dim light, a rosewood table against the left wall displayed three spirit tablets: Li Juan and her parents.

Nie Fanxin noticed something and returned to the living room. “Grandma, where’s Li Juan’s older sister Li Lan’s tablet?”

The old woman’s eyes flickered. “Lan’er’s body was never recovered. By our hometown customs, we can’t erect a tablet.”

Chen Anyou, unable to hold back, asked directly: “Do you have any photos of Li Lan?”

The old woman’s hands trembled visibly. “We don’t have photos of her or Juan’er. Too long ago. They’re all gone.”

“I see, Grandma.” Nie Fanxin tugged Chen Anyou’s sleeve and signaled him to stop. They said their goodbyes. Both already had their answer.

Leaning against the white wall outside, Chen Anyou tilted his head back and drew a deep breath. “How do we proceed, Sister Xin?”

“Look into the university Li Lan attended back then. They should have records.” Nie Fanxin wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and walked out of the building complex.

The breeze stirred her hair and ruffled her thoughts. Upholding justice, what was justice? Did delayed justice count?

If everyone did as Li Lan had, order would crumble, leading to consequences no one could foresee.

So even with a heavy heart, all she could do was give her all to ensure justice arrived sooner.

Half an hour later, Binnan Agricultural University pulled Li Lan’s records. The girl in the photo was the same person as “Zhou Lu” from the gym. Ten years. She had vanished without a trace for ten years. What had she been through? No one knew. No one seemed to care. They only wanted to find her and bring her to justice.

“What are you thinking about?” Late at night on the balcony, Nie Fanxin sat alone in a wicker chair when Wan Yi appeared with a cup of warm milk, settling into the chair beside her.

Nie Fanxin leaned over and rested her head gently against Wan Yi’s shoulder. “Sister, say I died, and you learned all the circumstances later. Would you avenge me?”

Wan Yi had a general understanding of the case from colleagues. She gazed at a distant shooting star and replied seriously, “In what form? Murder? Probably not.”

“Guess what Li Lan tried back then.” Nie Fanxin opened her phone. Ten-year-old content still showed up in Weibo search. “One question, two questions, three questions. No one answered. No engagement. The school didn’t want trouble and buried the trending topics.”

On screen, an account called “Lan and Juan” had posted “Three Questions” to Aolin Middle School.

“First question: Who told Li Juan about her family’s death before the exam? Second question: Why was Li Juan’s body cremated so quickly? Third question: Why were her belongings not all returned to her family?”

Only a handful of people had commented. After that, it sank without a trace.

Wan Yi felt Nie Fanxin’s quiet devastation. She wrapped a hand over Nie Fanxin’s clenched fist, soothing her: “Fanxin.”

“Am I useless? Letting emotions get the better of me as a cop?” Nie Fanxin turned her head and buried her face in Wan Yi’s shoulder, crying.

“No, Fanxin. People are emotional. Cops are human too. And I know you. When it counts, you’ll do the right thing.” Wan Yi shifted slightly, pulling Nie Fanxin closer, letting her weep against her. “It’s okay to cry. When you’re done, tomorrow’s a fresh start.”

Nie Fanxin sobbed harder. “I’m pathetic, always crying in front of you.”

“If not in front of me, then who? I’m here whenever you need me.”

“Mm.” Nie Fanxin wrapped her arms around Wan Yi’s waist, gradually calming from heaving sobs to soft sniffles, and finally silence.

Wan Yi grabbed a tissue and pressed it to her face. “Wipe it yourself.”

“You do it.”

“Feeling better now?”

Nie Fanxin sniffled and coaxed, “Come on, are you going to help me or not?”

“Fine.” Wan Yi gave in, took another tissue, and carefully wiped her tears.

“They say soldiers bleed, not cry.”

“Nonsense. No bleeding. But you can cry as much as you need. Only I’ll see it.”

“Okay, watch.” In the darkness, Nie Fanxin looked to the brightest star in the sky and thought, Every older sister must be like Wan Yi.

The investigation team searched for two days without finding Li Lan. On the third day, Nie Fanxin and Wan Yi were driving home, trading shifts. At Section Four of Taihe Road, Nie Fanxin suddenly swerved left.

“Fanxin, what’s wrong?”

“I think that’s Li Lan. Hold on.” Nie Fanxin followed the Buick as it turned right into an alley. Street parking was dense. She normally drove steadily, but with both hands busy chasing the car, she said urgently, “Call Sister Wanning, request backup, and get the traffic department to assist.”

“Okay.” Wan Yi fished out her phone and dialed Chu Wanning.

“The number you have dialed is busy. Please try again later.” Wan Yi tried twice; both times, the line was busy.

“She’s in a meeting, I forgot. Call Chen Anyou.” Nie Fanxin reached for her phone with one hand, but Wan Yi stopped her.

“Focus on driving. I have him on WeChat.”

Wan Yi held her breath, opened WeChat, pulled Chen Anyou out of her blocked list, and started a voice call in a single fluid motion.

“Hello, Forensic Doctor Wan.” Chen Anyou’s voice crackled with excitement.

Wan Yi said, “Officer Chen, Fanxin has something urgent.”

“Sister Xin?”

Nie Fanxin kept it brief: “Taihe Road Section Two. I’m sending my location. Get traffic police to intercept a Buick, plate B-XL-316.”

Chen Anyou didn’t follow: “Why?”

“It’s Li Lan. I saw Li Lan.”

Chen Anyou said, “Sister Xin, I can try, but my authority’s limited. I’ll dispatch our own support first. For traffic police, we’ll have to wait…”

Chen Anyou’s call ended, indicating he was already on it. Nie Fanxin kept pace with the Buick, maintaining about fifty meters to avoid detection.

Wan Yi gripped the armrest, alert and ready.

“Fanxin, left.” The car ahead accelerated suddenly. Nie Fanxin dodged two pedestrians and was about to turn right when Wan Yi warned, “Right.”

The Buick broke free of the alley and merged onto a main road. Nie Fanxin pressed the accelerator. Wan Yi drew a deep breath, gripping the armrest tighter.

Cough, cough. “Right. She turned right.”

“She’s leaving the city? Heading for the expressway?” The words had barely left her mouth when the Buick veered right and entered the ramp.

Wan Yi considered the situation. “Fanxin, on the highway, traffic police will struggle to catch up.”

“Then it’s on us. Tell Chen Anyou to alert toll booths at all exits. Stop her.”

“We don’t know which exit she’ll take.” After a moment’s thought, Wan Yi dialed Wan Tong, who answered after a few rings.

“Xiaoyu.”

“Old Wan, we need traffic police coordination on the Jiangbin Expressway Wuyi section.”

Wan Tong trusted their judgment without hesitation. “Send me your location.”

“Mm. Cough, cough.” Wan Yi couldn’t suppress another cough.

Wan Tong asked, “Getting sick?”

“No, just too much excitement. A bit tired. I have my meds, don’t worry.” Speaking too much at once triggered another round of coughs. She knew her body. Sensing the onset, she fished out her inhaler and took a deep draw.

“Wan Xiaoyu?” Nie Fanxin caught the movement and asked worriedly, “You okay?”

“Cough, cough. I’m fine. Focus on driving.” Wan Yi took another puff and turned away.

Nie Fanxin’s eyes flicked between the road and Wan Yi every couple of seconds, worry building. “Wan Xiaoyu.”

“I’m fine.”

Nie Fanxin could clearly see the fine sheen of sweat on Wan Yi’s forehead. Her jaw tightened and released, over and over. Then she spotted the exit sign five hundred meters ahead, slowed, and hit the right turn signal.

“You’re more important. I can catch her anytime.”