Chapter 62: Because We Are Love Rivals

Zhou Hui was momentarily stunned. She instinctively turned her head and caught a glimpse of a figure flashing past the doorway.

Sure enough, it was Zhao Min.

Zhou Hui’s heart sank. Why had she come here?

Meng Liansu’s gaze followed toward the door. She snapped the autopsy report shut in her hand, lifted her chin, and said, “Speak of the devil and she shall appear. Perfect timing—the expert’s here. You can consult her about the morphine components in the victim’s body. I hope our deductions are wrong; otherwise, Bureau Chief Zhang’s high blood pressure is going to spike again.”

Han Wei nodded vigorously in agreement. He leaned against the desk and smacked his lips. “You got that right. With Bureau Chief Zhang’s temper, he might just tear the Police Bureau apart.”

Meng Liansu let out a sigh and handed the autopsy report to Zhou Hui. “Then let’s pray it’s not drugs. It’s in your hands now. I’m heading back to the Forensic Room—other bodies from cases are waiting for dissection!”

No sooner had Meng Liansu stepped out of the office than Han Wei sidled up to Zhou Hui with a cheeky grin. “Captain Zhou, wanna go ask her together?”

Zhou Hui shot him a glare, instantly seeing through his little scheme. She pursed her lips. “You’re just itching to see Zhao Min, aren’t you? As if I don’t know you. Last time she shut down your Maldives trip idea—haven’t had enough rejection? What are you scheming with Officer Zhao this time?”

Han Wei chuckled guiltily. “That obvious, huh? Can’t a guy just be eager to crack the case and chat with Little Princess about it?”

“Not a chance. You couldn’t have any other motives.” Zhou Hui flashed him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and strode toward the door.

Han Wei laughed and hurried after her.

“Hey? Where’d Little Princess go? Vanished in the blink of an eye?” Han Wei peered down the empty corridor, looking a touch wistful. “She didn’t already leave, did she?”

Zhou Hui paused for a moment, recalling the direction Zhao Min had headed. She jerked her chin at Han Wei. “Bureau Chief Zhang’s office.”

Han Wei’s eyes lit up. He bolted toward Zhang Yunan’s office in a hundred-meter sprint, whipping up a gust of wind as he blew past Zhou Hui.

Zhou Hui: “…”

Love makes the limbs nimble. Love makes the body strong.

Zhou Hui mused to herself as she strolled unhurriedly to Zhang Yunan’s office door. The door stood wide open, and Bureau Chief Zhang’s furious voice exploded from within. “Han Wei—you’re getting more out of line every day. Don’t you know to knock before barging in?”

Han Wei grinned sheepishly. “Bureau Chief Zhang, I was just worked up about the case.” He waved cheerfully at Zhao Min, who sat across from the desk.

Zhao Min: “…”

Zhang Yunan: “…”

Zhang Yunan wore a constipated scowl. He’d heard bits about Han Wei and Zhao Min’s history but couldn’t be bothered. He rubbed his forehead. “Where’s Captain Zhou? Get her in here. We’ve ID’d the victim.”

Zhou Hui, just arriving at the threshold, paled. She hurried inside, taking stairs two at a time, and demanded, “Bureau Chief Zhang, who is it?”

Zhang Yunan, seeing her there, shoved a file across the desk without preamble. “Victim’s name is Miao Deng.”

“Miao Deng? That name sounds familiar.” Zhou Hui frowned faintly as she took the file. Her eyes landed on the one-inch headshot in the top right of the first page, and it hit her—she’d seen this photo before.

Her brows knitted as memories flooded back to the night of her first dinner with Yu Bai.

…

“All of Wu Guojiang’s files…”

…

“…Wu Guojiang smuggled into Myanmar fifteen years ago. Worked as a thug under Miao Deng for several years…”

…

“…Got locked up seven years ago. Still rotting in prison! Caught in a Myanmar jail, of course…”

…

A long moment later, Zhou Hui pulled herself from the recollection. She drew in a sharp breath, arched an eyebrow, and slid the file back. “Miao Deng? Isn’t he from Myanmar? If my intel’s right, he should still be serving time in a Myanmar prison. How’d he end up in Pingling City?”

From the side, Zhao Min shot her a covert glare and bit her lip.

It’s all thanks to Yu Bai’s info you got. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have a word to say right now.

Zhou Hui, utterly focused on the case, missed the resentful look entirely.

Zhang Yunan explained, “Miao Deng completed his sentence and was released twenty days ago. We just got in touch with Myanmar police. Five minutes ago, they sent his DNA—it matches the victim’s perfectly. Which means the body in the Forensic Room is Miao Deng’s.”

！！！

“Released from a Myanmar prison just twenty days ago, and now his body mysteriously shows up at the Pingling City docks? This is too bizarre!” The corners of Officer Zhou’s eyes flicked up as her tone paused. She handed the autopsy report on Miao Deng over. “Also, Bureau Chief Zhang, Forensic Doctor Meng said there are traces of morphine in the victim’s body. She suspects he used drugs before his death.”

“What?”

“What?”

Zhang Yunan and Zhao Min both cried out in shock at the same time. Zhao Min beat Zhang Yunan to it by a step, snatching the autopsy report from Officer Zhou’s hand and flipping through it. Her brows knitted tighter and tighter.

“What is it?”

Zhao Min’s fingers halted on the pages. She lifted her head to look at Officer Zhou. “The information sent over by the Myanmar police shows Miao Deng has no history of drug use.”

Officer Zhou’s brows twitched.

“Maybe we should confirm with them again,” Han Wei said. “The data they sent could be wrong. Miao Deng, he…”

“Impossible!” Zhao Min snapped the autopsy report shut with a smack. Her voice rose sharply, and her gaze toward Han Wei carried extra anger.

She had been tracking Miao Deng for so long, investigating his background down to the last detail. She had never once heard that he had a history of drug use.

The others jumped at her outburst, unsure where this sudden fury had come from. Han Wei instinctively took half a step back and managed a strained smile. “Little Princess, I was just… making a little suggestion…”

Zhao Min shot him a withering glare and turned her head away, falling silent.

Officer Zhou tilted her head toward Han Wei with a look that said, You pissed her off again?

Han Wei racked his brain for his recent behavior but couldn’t figure out where he’d upset his Little Princess this time. He gave Officer Zhou a wry smile and mouthed: I didn’t.

Officer Zhou pursed her lips, clearly skeptical. She nudged him with her elbow and mouthed back: Then what’s her problem?

Han Wei threw up his hands: How should I know?

“Officer Zhou, Officer Han.” Zhao Min whipped her head back around, catching their gestures and expressions. She said irritably, “Miao Deng has no drug history. As for what’s really causing the morphine in his system, you’ll have to wait until I get back to the Narcotics Squad and confirm. Just be patient.”

“Alright, we’ll wait for your results then, Officer Zhao.” Officer Zhou nodded, clapped a hand on Han Wei’s shoulder, and strode toward the exit. “Come on, Han Wei! Back to the office. Let’s check Miao Deng’s entry records.”

“Huh? Oh?” Han Wei jolted at the sudden pat, taking a moment to snap out of it. He reluctantly tore his eyes from Zhao Min and hurried after Officer Zhou. “Captain Zhou, can’t we stick around a bit longer? Little Princess hardly ever drops by. It’s rare to even see her. I’d stay even if she was mad.”

Officer Zhou wagged her index finger in front of his face, opening her mouth to reply, when a voice cut her off.

“Officer Zhou.”

Han Wei whipped around in delight, bounding over in three strides and throwing his arms wide toward Zhao Min. “Little Princess? You and Bureau Chief Zhang wrapped up already? Now it’s our turn to chat! Case stuff’s fine too! I haven’t seen you in forever. Come on, one hug!”

“Get lost. Who’s chatting with you?” Zhao Min shoved Han Wei aside. Her gaze toward Officer Zhou wasn’t any friendlier.

Officer Zhou shoved one hand in her pocket and clutched the documents in the other, leaning against the wall. She arched a brow at Zhao Min. “Something else, Little Officer Zhao?”

Zhao Min’s police uniform was crisp and proper, the autopsy report in her grip. She eyed Officer Zhou’s unchanging black T-shirt with disdain, then recalled how Yu Bai had once borrowed her clothes—first a T-shirt, then jeans. Each one uglier than the last.

What really got under her skin was that time at the hospital when Yu Bai had worn her Peppa Pig jacket. Ugly didn’t even begin to cover it!

The thought made Zhao Min’s gut twist with anger.

She just couldn’t fathom what Yu Bai saw in her. Taste that bad?

She snapped at Officer Zhou, “I’m just giving you a heads-up, Officer Zhou. Now that you’ve ID’d the victim, catch the killer quick and wrap this up. Don’t drag it out like the River Channel Murder Case last time—a whole month with no resolution.”

Officer Zhou blinked. “?”

Zhao Min’s eyes darted back and forth between Officer Zhou and Han Wei a couple of times, finding them both infuriating. She huffed, “Oh, and I hope we never have to team up with your Criminal Investigation squad again. Goodbye.”

With that, she stormed downstairs without a backward glance.

Officer Zhou and Han Wei were left staring at each other in the hallway.

Han Wei stepped forward, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I know Little Princess hates me. But…” He cocked his head toward Officer Zhou, puzzled. “When did you two get on the wrong side of each other? Her attitude toward you seems even worse than toward me. Did you tick her off before?”

Zhou Hui’s mouth twitched. “No, nothing like that.” As Han Wei’s face drew closer, she reached out to push him back a little. Taking a deep breath, she nodded and said, “But I think I know the reason.”

“Why?”

Zhou Hui pondered for a long moment before saying with dead seriousness, “Because we’re rivals in love.”

Han Wei’s eyes instantly bulged. “!!!”

Stunned for what felt like ages, Han Wei suddenly had a realization. He gasped and said, “Don’t tell me you like me too, Captain Zhou? No way! Bros is fine, but lovers… that’s really a no-go.”

“…” Zhou Hui slapped him on the back. “I… scram!”

Han Wei leaped three feet away, laughing uproariously as he dashed off. He patted his chest and said, “Phew, that’s a relief. You scared the hell out of me—I thought… Hey? Captain Zhou, so who do you like?”

He hadn’t gone two steps before circling back to Zhou Hui’s side, his face lit up with gossip-hungry curiosity.

Zhou Hui’s lips curved up as she gave him a friendly smile. “Go work the case! No one’s getting off shift until we find Miao Deng’s entry record! Not. A. Chance!”

“Huh?” Han Wei’s smile drooped like a deflated balloon. Trailing behind Zhou Hui toward the office, he whined, “Captain Zhou—do you have to be so ruthless?”

When quitting time rolled around, not a soul in the office had budged. Everyone was glued to their computers, combing through Miao Deng’s entry records.

Sun Ye lifted his head listlessly from behind his screen, propping up his eyelids with both hands as he wailed, “I can’t take it anymore, Captain Zhou. Seriously, I can’t. If I stare at this screen any longer, I’m gonna get glaucoma.”

“Want some eye drops?” Yang Pingfan poked his head out from his own monitor and handed over a small bottle. Adjusting his glasses with a straight face, he said, “Relieves eye strain. Guaranteed to keep you going for two more hours.”

Sun Ye: “…”

Did he need eye drops right now? No, what he needed was to clock out and savor some quality off-duty time.

Sun Ye’s complaint opened the floodgates, and the office erupted in a chorus of groans. After all, five straight hours parked in front of their computers that afternoon had worn everyone down.

Han Wei sidled up to Zhou Hui’s desk and peered at the dizzying list of entry records on her screen. The endless rows of dates and names were starting to blur into double vision.

“Captain Zhou, you think we got something wrong?” Han Wei pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaustion plain on his face. “It should just be the last few days. Pingling City’s got only two airports—not like it should be this hard. We’ve pulled every passenger from the past month and still nothing. Are we barking up the wrong tree?”

Zhou Hui shook her head. “The DNA match came back. It has to be him.” She lowered her gaze in thought for a moment, then a spark of insight hit her. Looking up, she said, “There’s one other possibility.”

“He didn’t use his real name!”

“He didn’t use his real name!”

They spoke the words in perfect unison.

Zhou Hui nodded, her eyes returning to the screen as she scrolled the mouse. “Miao Deng just got out of prison over in Myanmar. With his sensitive status, it’s entirely possible he used a fake ID to make crossing borders easier. Get everyone matching the photos—one by one.”

Han Wei rubbed his face and sighed. “But Captain Zhou, even then, that’s a ton of work. He’s been out for twenty days already.”

Zhou Hui nodded and stood up, addressing the office. “I know everyone’s beat, but this case comes first. Push a little harder. Whoever finds Miao Deng’s entry record, late-night snacks are on me tonight.”

“Woo! Captain Zhou, why didn’t you say so sooner? I’d OT any day for free grub.” Sun Ye grinned cheekily. “Can we order?”

Zhou Hui smiled. “Whatever you want.”

Sun Ye practically bounced with joy, throwing his hand up. “Sparerib rice for me, then!”

“Me too!” “Get me one as well!”

Bellies promised sparerib rice, the team returned to their screens with renewed vigor.

Zhou Hui’s takeout box sat untouched by her side as she pored over photo after photo on her monitor. Dusk had fallen by the time she rubbed her temples and reached for a bite.

The next photo that scrolled into view made her freeze.

The person in the image had slender brows and eyes, porcelain-pale skin, and soft facial lines. Even in a passport photo, her alluring, one-of-a-kind charm was impossible to hide.

Yu Bai?!

The entry record showed she’d arrived three days ago—from Yangon, Myanmar.

Zhou Hui’s heart jolted, a bad feeling rising in her chest. She shoved her food aside and hurriedly scrolled down two more pages.

Sure enough, it was just as she’d feared.

Qin Hua, Uncle Jiu, and the very Miao Deng they’d been hunting—their photos all appeared on the same flight.