The next day, early in the morning.
Captain Zhou didn’t head straight to the police station after leaving home. Instead, she went to Second Hospital first. After several rounds of interrogation, Jiang Jiwen stubbornly insisted that there had been six killers involved in the Shao Yuan Case all those years ago—and that Xu Wenliang, whom he’d already murdered, was the sixth one.
This made his motive for killing Xu Wenliang murky at best, and since Jiang Jiwen refused to spill any details about the crime, the sudden emergence of this “sixth killer” left the City Bureau Criminal Investigation Team with no choice but to keep tangling with him.
Over the past few days, Jiang Jiwen had been completely uncooperative. Every day, he found new ways to butt heads with the police, wearing down everyone from the City Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Team and the Narcotics Squad until they were utterly exhausted and at their wits’ end.
But that was just the nature of police work—no one to complain to, so they had no option but to keep grinding it out with him. What Captain Zhou hadn’t expected was to run into Yu Bai at the hospital.
Jiang Jiwen’s ward was on the fifth floor. When Captain Zhou arrived downstairs, she figured she’d take the elevator up—as she usually did. She also wanted to spare her legs, which had just pedaled a full hour on her bike. But after waiting five minutes with no sign of the elevator numbers hitting “1,” she resigned herself to climbing the stairs. She told herself it was good exercise and inwardly slapped herself twice for the impulsive morning decision to bike to work.
Why on earth had she gotten the crazy idea to ride her bike? Wasn’t her job exhausting enough already? Captain Zhou did a thorough self-criticism in her head. From now on, no biking during overtime situations—never again.
Her reflection had just wrapped up when she rounded the stairwell corner and spotted Yu Bai sitting on a long bench in the hospital corridor, eyes closed as she rested.
A flicker of surprise rose in Captain Zhou’s heart. Yesterday morning, Yu Bai had looked half-dead, all sickly and wan. How was she already at work today? Since when was she so proactive?
Everyone knew that since Yu Bai had joined the police bureau, she’d never once been punctual or diligent about her work—except for that initial episode in the conference room where she’d thrown a fit, ignoring Xu Zhixin’s provocations while forcing Bureau Chief Zhang to read the case analysis report and then turning around to provoke the entire police force.
Though Captain Zhou mentally roasted Yu Bai’s work ethic from head to toe, she still tiptoed over, planning to peek into the ward at Jiang Jiwen first without disturbing this possibly still-ailing “disabled” colleague.
Captain Zhou thought her footsteps were feather-light, making virtually no sound. She was still a good distance from Yu Bai, so unless someone had exceptionally sharp hearing or was a very light sleeper, they wouldn’t notice. But Yu Bai’s shoulders twitched slightly, and then she opened her eyes and looked right at her.
Captain Zhou froze for a second, then casually scanned her up and down. Yu Bai’s condition seemed decent enough, so she relaxed, shoved her hands into her pockets, and asked, “Here so early? Where’s Officer Han?”
Yu Bai smoothed her furrowed brow and gave her a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Once I’m better, of course I come to work. Gotta serve the people, right? You’re not late either, Officer Zhou. As for Officer Han… he went downstairs to buy breakfast for Jiang Jiwen.”
Captain Zhou’s mind slowly formed a question mark. She glanced at Yu Bai, then at Jiang Jiwen lying on the bed in the ward, and asked, “What’s the deal?”
Yu Bai raised her hand and lightly rubbed her forehead, as if there was some unspeakable hardship. The guarding officer, Little Liu, looked equally drained.
Captain Zhou: “?”
“He’s been making a fuss all morning, demanding pan-fried buns. Officer Han went to get them.” Yu Bai nodded toward the ward with a hint of helplessness. “Go take a look, but… brace yourself. The cursing’s pretty foul.”
Captain Zhou was dumbfounded. “He’s got that much energy? He was already railing at everyone all day yesterday.”
Yu Bai was puzzled too. Had she gone too easy on him that day?
Just then, Officer Han came huffing and puffing back up the stairs with a bag of pan-fried buns. He spotted Captain Zhou and greeted her wearily before thrusting the bag under her nose. “Captain Zhou, you’re here? Want a pan-fried bun?”
Captain Zhou waved it off and pushed the bag back. “Nah, I’m good. Hurry and deliver that to the old man inside! We don’t want him starving first thing in the morning and kicking up another fuss—next he’ll claim the City Bureau is abusing him by withholding food.”
It was enough to make anyone’s blood boil. Officer Han fumed, “That old coot in there? Yesterday he cussed out Captain Xu and Zhao Min until they left. Last night he made the on-duty clerk cry. Now he’s trying the same trick again. You won’t believe this, but Captain Xu’s in Bureau Chief Zhang’s office right now, roaring that in twenty years on the force, he’s never met such an arrogant suspect. He wants Bureau Chief Zhang to ship this precious gem out ASAP, or if he pulls any more stunts, none of us are getting through the day in one piece.”
After saying that, Han Wei still resignedly picked up the pan-fried buns and headed toward the ward, with Captain Zhou following right behind him.
Yu Bai stood at the door without budging. Captain Zhou asked her, “Not coming in?”
Yu Bai let out a dry laugh, replying with exaggerated poise, “I’ll just get some fresh air. You folks from the police bureau can enjoy these perks among yourselves!”
Captain Zhou said nothing, simply pushing open the door. Inside, she heard Jiang Jiwen howling at the top of his lungs. She tugged at the corner of her mouth, finally understanding why Yu Bai had no intention of coming in.
Han Wei set the pan-fried buns down on the table beside Jiang Jiwen’s bed. “Jiang Jiwen,” he said, “eat up. Once you’re done, spill everything you need to confess and be done with it. No point dragging this out with us cops—it’s only gonna last another day or two at most.”
Jiang Jiwen was a hardened crook who’d dabbled in every vice imaginable—prostitution, gambling, drugs—the kind of old slicker whose greatest talent was playing mind games with the police.
He shoved a bun into his mouth and waved his chopsticks wildly, bellowing, “I, your father, have already confessed everything there is to confess! You lot just don’t believe me? That stinking cop surnamed Xu tried to torture a confession out of me yesterday, the bastard! I, your father, told him to forget it. Otherwise, I’ll make sure his reputation goes down in flames—strip that uniform off him before he ever sees the inside of a cell…”
Han Wei had run out of patience. Two days of this nonsense had him seeing red. “Jiang Jiwen, cut the crap and watch your mouth!”
A day and two nights of cat-and-mouse games, round after round of interrogations—the endless duel of cop versus crook between detection and evasion—could wear down even the toughest soul.
And yet Jiang Jiwen, for reasons known only to himself, was dead set on stonewalling the police.
Roaring even louder under Han Wei’s glare, he started throwing a full-on tantrum, demanding to see a hall-level director or he wouldn’t say another word.
Captain Zhou leaned against the windowsill and let out a cold laugh. “Ha! Quite the appetite you’ve got! Straight to demanding one of our provincial directors? Why not just ask for the Minister of Public Security to come chat with you while you’re at it?”
Jiang Jiwen snorted twice, tossed another bun into his mouth, and chewed noisily, oil dripping from his lips. Swallowing it down, he pressed on shamelessly. “No hall-level director or higher, and my lips are sealed. If the case goes unsolved because of it, heh, let’s see how you cops explain that to your bosses.”
Captain Zhou’s face darkened as she warned him, “Jiang Jiwen—”
Ignoring the caution in her voice, he dragged out his words in open provocation. “What, Officer? Go on, make the call! Or else…”
“Or else what?” Captain Zhou furrowed her brow, pointing a finger straight at him. “Jiang Jiwen, you know full well you’re facing the death penalty for murder, so you’re lashing out like a rabid dog. Let me tell you something: even if you clam up completely, we’ve got more than enough to nail you.”
For the moment, that shut Jiang Jiwen up. Captain Zhou stepped out to give Zhang Yunan a quick call, briefing him succinctly on the situation.
She wasn’t seriously expecting Zhang Yunan to send someone from the Provincial Department just for a lowlife like Jiang Jiwen.
But before noon had even arrived—right after she’d told Han Wei to head home and get some rest, assuring him she and Yu Bai had it covered—Han Wei suddenly blurted out a startled “Holy shit!” from behind her, making Captain Zhou jump.
She whipped around instinctively. “Dad? What are you doing here?”
Director Zhou shot her an exasperated look but said nothing.
Only then did Captain Zhou notice Zhang Yunan standing with him.
She gave an awkward chuckle, and she and Han Wei chorused in unison, “Director Zhou, Bureau Chief Zhang.”
Director Zhou ignored his daughter entirely, his gaze sliding past her to land on Yu Bai. With warm affability, he asked, “Little Yu, settling in okay at the City Bureau?”
His expression was kindness itself, as if Yu Bai were the daughter and not Captain Zhou.
Yu Bai smiled calmly. “Thank you for your concern, Director Zhou. I’m settling in just fine.”
Director Zhou pressed on genially. “Zhou Hui hasn’t been giving you any trouble, has she?”
Captain Zhou: “…”
Yu Bai’s eyes flicked toward Captain Zhou for a split second—Captain Zhou caught the glint of amusement there, along with the faint quirk of her lips. “No,” Yu Bai replied to Director Zhou. “Captain Zhou… has been very good to me.”
Captain Zhou: “…………”
Fortunately, true to his dedication to public service, Director Zhou didn’t keep grilling Yu Bai. He headed straight into the ward.
Captain Zhou let out a breath of relief. The sight of her father was like a mouse spotting a cat—she’d do anything to steer clear.
As soon as the three of them entered, Han Wei nudged Captain Zhou with his elbow and whispered excitedly, “Whoa, Captain Zhou! Spill the tea—when did you and Yu Bai get so close? You’ve even met the parents!”
Captain Zhou tugged at her mouth in a humorless smile. “Met the parents, my ass. Me and Yu Bai? You’ve gotta be joking.”
Han Wei tsked twice, clearly not buying Captain Zhou’s flimsy excuse. “Captain Zhou, sharing is a virtue. Come on, spill the beans! …Don’t want to? Aw, come on, we’re all brothers in arms here…”
“Han Wei—” Captain Zhou began.
Han Wei tuned out the hissing spike in her anger and spouted utter nonsense with a perfectly straight face. “Captain Zhou, so that’s why you haven’t dated anyone all these years—you like women? How did I never notice?”
Captain Zhou gnashed her teeth and raised her hand to smack him on the head. “Han Wei—you’re asking for a beating!”
Han Wei leaped three steps away, flashing a cheeky grin. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Captain Zhou, violence isn’t cool… What if your temper scares Yu Bai off? Maybe… tone it down a notch?”
Captain Zhou could tell no words of wisdom would ever come from this fool’s mouth. She waved him off decisively. “Get lost!”
After shooing Han Wei away, she turned and pushed open the hospital room door, catching Jiang Jiwen’s words just in time. “That’s right, Xu Wenliang had nothing to do with the old case. I killed him after seeing those news reports a few days back. I had other reasons for killing him.”
Zhou Boyan asked, “What reasons?”
Jiang Jiwen hesitated for a moment, let out a sigh, and finally relented. “Drugs. We were fighting over supply channels.”
Everyone in the room tensed up at once.
“What channels? Whose?” Zhou Boyan furrowed his brow gently, looking thoroughly vexed. Captain Zhou knew that expression well—it always appeared whenever he tackled a thorny case.
Jiang Jiwen flashed a sly grin at Zhou Boyan. “Chief, this is a big fish. Might even help you land a whole pond. Gotta show a little appreciation, right?”
Zhou Boyan mirrored the smile, sly as a fox, and lobbed the question right back. “How do you want us to show it?”
Jiang Jiwen’s mind raced, and he immediately demanded a twenty-five-year reduction from his death sentence.
Zhou Boyan shot that down. “Not possible.”
Jiang Jiwen backpedaled fast. “Commute to life, then. Death to life.”
“That depends on what kind of information you give us.”
Jiang Jiwen let out a sinister chuckle, baring a mouthful of yellow teeth. “Guaranteed worth the price, Chief. Absolutely. You won’t regret it. Let me tell you, you cops got lucky running into me. I wouldn’t spill to just anyone…”
Zhang Yunan cut him off. “Enough stalling, Jiang Jiwen. Out with it—who owns the channels?”
Jiang Jiwen chuckled slyly, milking the moment. “It wasn’t just me and Xu Wenliang scrapping over them. Wu Guojiang was in on it too. Now you know whose channels, don’t you?”
“Yan Mingchang?” several voices exclaimed in unison.
“Exactly. Yan Mingchang. He’s Pingling City’s biggest drug distributor. Every bit of product coming into the city passes through his hands before it hits the streets.”
Zhou Boyan eyed him with a frown; clearly, this was old news. “We already have that intel. Anything else to add?”
“Heh heh, hold your horses, Chief!” Jiang Jiwen paused dramatically for a few seconds, feigning mystery. “Like I said, Xu Wenliang wasn’t tied to the case from two years ago. But we did have a peripheral player back then.”
!!!
Jiang Jiwen barely got two sentences out before starting to hum smugly again. “This guy wasn’t the one you rotten cops nabbed two years back. That was just a fall guy, a smokescreen cooked up by the boss pulling the strings. Surprise! You’ve been crowing about catching your suspect for two whole years. Ha! Without me, you’d never crack this case, no matter how hard you banged your heads together.”
His broken arms and legs suspended in slings did nothing to hinder that flapping mouth of his. Jiang Jiwen wiped the spittle from his face and pressed on. “They called him peripheral, but none of us five knew his real identity until a month ago, when Wu Guojiang spilled that it was Yan Mingchang.”
Yan Mingchang?!
“Jiang Jiwen, what kind of bullshit are you spinning?”
The entire precinct had spent days witnessing Jiang Jiwen’s gift for bald-faced lies. No one bought a word now. Probably a rough childhood—he’d clearly never heard the boy who cried wolf tale and had no clue that lying came at a steep price, especially to the police.
“I’m not bullshitting! It’s all true. Yan Mingchang told me himself.” Jiang Jiwen craned his neck, hollering. “He’s a big shot—why would he link up with a lowlife scumbag like Wu Guojiang for business unless Wu had something on him? That’s it—he’s killed before! Officers, think about who: a cop! An undercover cop! If this blows up, Yan Mingchang is toast. Utterly finished.”
“Then yours truly’s gonna shake him down for a bundle. Yours truly killed the guy, and I’ll own up to it—but Yan Mingchang’s a murderer too. Why’s he get to play big boss, strutting around in suits and ties looking all respectable, scarfing down abalone and sea cucumbers in five-star hotels? Meanwhile, I hole up in some shitty rental eating instant noodles three meals a day, covered in coal dust hauling truckload after truckload just to scrape by? Can’t even afford to keep a hooker on the side. Officer, you tell me—is that fair? Is that fair?”
The cops had no interest in debating life’s fairness with this lowlife thug.
Jiang Jiwen answered his own question without missing a beat. “Damn right it’s not fair. Yan Mingchang’s got mistresses stashed all over the place, second wives and side chicks galore—and that bitch surnamed Tong in the office is always batting her eyes at him. All I wanted was to make a little extra cash.”
“Hey! Chief, this has gotta count as turning state’s evidence, right? You gotta shave some time off that life sentence at least…”
Once the interrogation wrapped up, Zhou Boyan and Zhang Yunan hurried back to the bureau to hammer out a plan for nabbing Yan Mingchang.
Zhou Hui and Yu Bai waited for the shift-change crew to arrive before heading down to the underground parking garage. They walked in silence the whole way.
As they stepped out of the elevator, Yu Bai spoke up out of the blue. “Captain Zhou, wanna grab a coffee?”
