The Brain Science Case 83

Chapter 83: 

After the initial commotion, Zhou Jingxun’s attitude had done a 180-degree turn. Not only had she regained her trust in her assistant, but she also had no complaints about reporting to the station with Zhou Jinglin every day.

She had even started to fall in love with this simple life.

Every morning, Zhou Jinglin would prepare breakfast for her, and then she would go to the station with the two male police officers who were also protecting her. She would spend at least an hour on her morning run to maintain her stamina, read online news and fan page comments, and after Shi Changyun arrived, she would start her routine practice or do other secondary work… if you thought about it, coming to the Criminal Investigation Bureau wasn’t so bad.

As long as she didn’t have to see her dad.

With a headband on, Zhou Jingxun, who had just finished her morning run, quickly returned to the office.

Her seat was, of course, arranged next to Zhou Jinglin’s—after all, there were no other empty seats. But this arrangement not only put Zhou Jinglin in the spotlight, but even Cai Yuwei and Xiangrong received a lot of envious and jealous gazes.

“You’re back.” Zhou Jinglin glanced at her and continued to type. “You ran for a longer time today.”

“Yes, my previous injury is almost healed… I can finally resume my rhythmic gymnastics and cardio practice.”

“If you hadn’t said so, I would have almost forgotten you were back to prepare for a concert.”

“Actually, I almost forgot too… morning.” Zhou Jingxun smiled shyly and naturally greeted the other police officers.

Her transformation, Zhou Jinglin had seen it all. Setting aside the initial turmoil, Zhou Jingxun’s personality was gentle and cute, and her style was very down-to-earth. In a few days, probably all the police officers had taken a picture with her, and she had never refused an autograph.

Counting the various ways her colleagues had doted on her… it could only be said that only a young idol could have this kind of princess-like treatment. She didn’t even know if having a young idol here was “boosting everyone’s morale” or “slowing down administrative efficiency.”

And her two assistants had also done a great job with public relations, bringing food and drinks every day. She remembered that yesterday it was a devil’s food cake, the day before it was bubble tea, and the day before that it was Yakult green tea… they were fattening up all the detectives.

But…

These good days were numbered.

The other members of Keys would be arriving in Taiwan the day after tomorrow, and with that would come fan meetings and press conferences and other public events. Zhou Jingxun would definitely have to attend, which also meant she would no longer be reporting to the station.

But her mission was not canceled because of that.

But after the entertainment company had intervened, she still had to ask the director how to carry out the protection mission.

At ten in the morning, Shi Changyun and Vicky appeared. Today’s menu was a pudding cake.

Vicky was in charge of distributing it to the other police officers, and Shi Changyun personally delivered her portion. “Thank you,” she said, and Shi Changyun gave her a grateful smile before discussing work matters with Zhou Jingxun.

Shi Changyun was not only meticulous in her work, but she also knew how to handle people. It was clearly her idea to send snacks to the many police officers. She had also thanked her in person for speaking up for them in front of Zhou Jingxun.

It was a blessing for Zhou Jingxun to have such an assistant.

After finishing her typing, Zhou Jinglin was about to get the next file when another pudding cake suddenly appeared before her.

“Help me eat it.” She smelled a familiar, light perfume. “Are you free now?”

“I’m okay… what’s wrong?”

“I can’t find Chief Fang, and Officer Chen and Officer Lu are also not here… I need to go to the airport. Mrs. Chomsky will be arriving in Taiwan at noon.”

Elena Larsen, Chomsky’s widow. Zhou Jinglin stood up and looked around. “There was a case report just now, so the seniors should all be out. But I can’t leave…”

“I know. So you just have to lend me your car.”

Her response was to glare at Yingli with her big, bell-like eyes.

“What are you glaring at me for?” Yingli bit her lip. “It’s not like I can’t drive.”

“You’re going to drive to the airport to pick someone up?” Weren’t you so scared of going on the highway before?

“Yes, I know I drive slowly, so I want to leave two hours early…”

“No, no, no. I advise you not to.” Zhou Jinglin was adamant. “Ah Wei, can you take the teacher to the airport?”

“Sure. What’s wrong?”

“Wait a minute, I can…”

“I said no.” She pushed Yingli away and threw the car keys to Cai Yuwei. “Take the teacher to the airport to pick someone up. Someone very important is coming, and only the teacher can receive them.”

“I understand. No problem.” Cai Yuwei readily accepted.

“You and Ah Wei go…” she hadn’t finished speaking when Yingli had already put her hands in her pockets and was walking to the main door. “Teacher?”

“Officer Cai, I’ll have to trouble you.”

Cai Yuwei quickly turned off his monitor and, before leaving, he glanced at her suspiciously. “Teacher, wait for me.”

Just like that… she’s angry? Yingli’s sudden anger left her baffled. But after having witnessed her driving skills, Zhou Jinglin would not let her drive alone, no matter what.

She was doing it for Yingli’s own good. She hadn’t done anything wrong.

Right…?

“She’s angry.” Zhou Jingxun pouted, stating the obvious.

Her face turned pale. “Tsk, what’s there to be angry about? I was just trying to be safe…”

“But you were so fierce just now, Officer Zhou.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. “I was fierce?”

“Yes. If you don’t believe me, ask Vicky.”

She turned to Vicky, and saw that not only Vicky, but also Xiangrong, and the other colleagues who had heard their conversation, were all nodding in unison.

“And Teacher Tang clearly wanted you to go with her… you could have gone. I have Changyun and Vicky with me.”

“How could I do that?” Zhou Jinglin pursed her lips. “I… I’m on a mission from the director at all times.”

“But it’s very safe here.” A single sentence easily broke through her blind spot. “At worst, I can go and stay in my dad’s office now, although it would be very awkward.”

That’s right… as long as Zhou Jingxun doesn’t leave here, no matter how resourceful the culprit is, they can’t hurt her.

“Oh, it’s up to you. I just think it’s fine for you to leave for a bit.”

She hesitated for a moment, her mind filled with the image of Yingli leaving in a huff.

Should I go after her? Or just let Ah Wei take her…

“Senior…” Xiangrong’s weak voice sounded in her ear.

“What?” her tone was fierce.

“Uh, the mouse… you’re about to break it.”

She snapped back to reality and threw the mouse away as if it were a hot potato. “You’re so annoying.”

**

Curled up in the passenger seat, Yingli crossed her arms, still brooding over the earlier conflict.

What’s with that woman? What does she mean, “I said no”?

When did Tang Yingli become her subordinate?

“…Jinglin is being too careful, haha. I can also drive a service vehicle, or my own…”

She can drive, okay? Even if she has to take the surface streets, she will get to the airport.

“…I’ve rarely seen her so angry, and at the teacher. But that also shows how much she cares about the teacher’s safety. Although I do think it’s a little dangerous to ride in her car, haha…”

She used the director’s daughter as a shield, didn’t do her fieldwork, and called to show off. She didn’t care about any of that, but this time she really felt insulted.

That’s too much.

“…The teacher would have preferred it if Jinglin could have brought her, right?”

“That’s not it.” She ran her hands through her hair. “Mrs. Chomsky is old enough. She can’t handle her speeding. It’s better to have a different driver.”

“Ah, she really does drive very fast, haha…”

“I see they’re getting used to living together.” Her tone was teasing. “Keys is only in Taiwan for a concert, and they’ll be going back to Korea soon. Maybe she’ll be the one who’s sad to see them go.”

Cai Yuwei was embarrassed for a moment. “I don’t think so…” and the ones who would be sad to see Zhou Jingxun go would probably be the male police officers.

She turned, finally putting away her complaints. “By the way, when they’re usually out, is it usually you and Officer Xiang who follow them?”

“Most of the time.”

“Have you found any suspicious individuals? I heard their time after work is freely coordinated.”

Cai Yuwei was taken aback, his brow furrowed. “Um, suspicious individuals…”

Her gaze shifted to the driver’s seat. “You’re not just focused on looking at the idol stars, are you?”

A direct hit. “N-No, of course not. She really hasn’t had any contact with any other outsiders…” he laughed sheepishly.

“Oh?” she drew out the word.

“It’s true. Only her mother… only the director’s wife comes to see her almost every day.”

Yingli rested her chin on her hand. “So she hasn’t met anyone else.” That was a little unexpected.

“Teacher, actually, don’t be fooled by Xiao Xun’s initial fuss. She also knows that the more low-key her movements are, the safer she will be. I think she was probably shocked by that Wang guy, right? In any case, she hasn’t met any friends privately.”

Chen Huomu had checked Wang Conghong’s call records and had found that his first call with the organization was three days before Zhou Jingxun had returned to Taiwan. To achieve their cooperation, the organization had even transferred a sum of money to him through a shell account.

Contacted only three days before… that explains why Wang Conghong was just a driver for the kidnapping. The question is, who gave the second order for him to act?

The most suspicious were the two assistants, but Vicky had been temporarily assigned by the company, and Shi Changyun had been with her for a long time and was very close.

Could she have been controlled? If so, then why not just bribe the two of them to do it directly?

Although Zhou Zengxiang had managed to suppress the reports of Zhou Jingxun’s kidnapping, the culprit should have known that the plan had failed. After so many days, there had been no follow-up action… were they still waiting for the right time, or had they given up?

“…Over the past few days, we’ve also talked a lot with her assistants. It turns out Vicky graduated from the Korean department of C University and was a college classmate of a famous female star. I think her name was Lin something-chen… and Shi Changyun has a daughter. She’s in the same entertainment company as Xiao Xun. I should ask her what her daughter’s name is someday.”

“She has a daughter that big?” Shi Changyun was so young, no more than thirty-five.

“Yes, I had the same reaction as you when I heard.”

A daughter, the same entertainment company… her index finger on her lips, Yingli frowned and said, “Maybe we should find out about her daughter’s development.”

He shrugged. “She probably hasn’t debuted yet. After all, it takes a few months to a few years to be a trainee.”

Yingli said, “Mm,” and looked at the clock in the car. “Officer Cai.”

“Huh?”

“You’re driving too slowly. Mrs. Chomsky’s flight is about to land.”

“Oh, damn it.” Staring straight ahead, he slammed on the accelerator.

**

Yingli had been out all afternoon and had only returned to the station after work.

Zhou Jinglin had sent several messages to Tang Yingli, but she didn’t know if she was really busy or just deliberately not looking, but there wasn’t even a “read” receipt.

After finally waiting for the three of them to return, she, who was still brooding over the conflict before they had left, immediately went to greet them.

“Jinglin, your car is so easy to drive. I’ve already filled it up…”

“Thank you.” She interrupted and snatched the keys from Cai Yuwei’s hand, then went to meet Yingli, who was walking behind. “Teacher…”

Next to Yingli was a short old woman, who must have been Chomsky’s widow.

“This way.” Yingli led Elena, until she ran into a wall. “Officer Zhou, what’s wrong?”

Zhou Jinglin expressed her welcome to Elena in stiff English. “I…” she met the familiar gaze, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say. “That, the message I sent…”

“I was busy explaining the investigation results to the madam on the way, and also communicating about the upcoming tests, and then I arranged for her to settle in at the hotel. I haven’t had a chance to reply.” She smiled and gently pushed Zhou Jinglin aside with her shoulder. “Move aside. It’s cold outside. Let the madam in first.”

That smile made her relax a little. “Oh, oh.”

“Officer Zhou.” Turning back, before she could even catch up, she saw Zhou Jingxun waving at her in the hallway. “The car is back, right? Let’s go to the night market today.”

Meeting three pairs of expectant eyes, she was taken aback and could only watch as Yingli walked further and further away.

“Officer Zhou?”

“Ah, okay, okay… I’ll just pack up a few things and we’ll go.”