Over the next few days, Lin Chen remained fully occupied with the dismemberment case. As the investigation progressed and interviews were conducted with the victim’s family and friends, an important lead surfaced two days later. Lin Chen quickly followed the lead and identified the primary suspect… Cao Jie, an employee at a barbershop that the victim frequently visited during her lifetime.
According to his confession, Jiang Xiaoyan had been his client. Because she often came to the shop for hair treatments, the two gradually became familiar with each other. Later, Cao Jie also frequently visited Jiang Xiaoyan’s business. However, he had a serious gambling addiction and also used marijuana.
On the day of the incident, the two got into an argument at Cao Jie’s rented apartment. During a drug-induced episode, he brutally killed her. When the police arrested Cao Jie, they found the victim’s severed head still stored in the refrigerator of his apartment.
At this point, the primary suspect in the dismemberment case had been captured.
Three days later, based on Cao Jie’s confession, Lin Chen led a team to another city and arrested Zhang Han, who had helped dispose of the body and was involved in the illegal trade of human organs. Following the trail of information provided by Zhang Han, they uncovered the largest organ trafficking network in the nation.
For half a month, Lin Chen devoted all his energy to solving the case. He quickly earned the recognition of his colleagues in the unit, and everyone became firmly convinced of the new captain’s capabilities. Especially his assistant, Xia Meng, who had grown deeply admiring of him.
Meanwhile, Bai Mengyan, the flight attendant, had been flying all over the country. Since their last meeting in the office, the two had not been in contact.
After the celebration banquet for the case was over, Lin Chen sat alone in Bai Mengyan’s car. Thinking back on the past half month of intense work, he realized it had been a long time since he had spoken to that lively girl.
Lin Chen had been working in Nanfeng City for four years, yet aside from work, he rarely socialized. Naturally, he didn’t have many local friends.
When he had time to himself, he would either stay at home or go somewhere quiet in the city, sometimes sitting there alone for an entire day.
In the quiet of the late night, loneliness twisted into something deeply real within the human heart. Sitting in the car, Lin Chen found himself wondering what Chen Ya was doing now back in Donghai City. Was she out having dinner with friends, staying at home watching shows alone, or traveling somewhere, enjoying a vacation in a city she loved?
They had been together for ten years, yet this was the longest they had ever gone without contact. Of course… they were divorced now. There was no longer any connection between them.
Just then, his phone rang. The pleasant ringtone broke the silence inside the car. Lin Chen picked up the phone, and when he saw the name displayed on the screen, his heart suddenly surged.
It was Chen Ya.
For a moment, Lin Chen felt an almost uncontrollable urge to answer. He even imagined that Chen Ya might have come to Nanfeng City and wanted to meet him.
Recently, he had been busy with the case. Occasionally, he would see photos she posted on social media while traveling. He could sense that after leaving him, Chen Ya seemed to have found a new life. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
The phone kept ringing. After a moment of hesitation, Lin Chen decided not to answer. They were already separated. If it was truly urgent, she would send a message.
With a restless sigh, he turned off the phone and placed it on the passenger seat before starting the car and heading home.
Ten minutes later, his phone rang again. This time, it wasn’t Chen Ya… it was her younger sister, Chen Lin.
Lin Chen had always treated this former sister-in-law like his own younger sister. They had always had a good relationship, and Chen Lin had always respected him.
At a traffic light, Lin Chen picked up the phone and answered. A familiar, gentle voice came through, “Brother Lin Chen, are you busy? Is it convenient to talk?”
“I’m not busy. What’s wrong?” Lin Chen immediately sensed the urgency in her voice and asked.
Chen Ya had both a younger sister and a younger brother. Compared to Chen Ya’s often domineering attitude toward Lin Chen, her siblings treated him with great respect and often sought his advice on important matters.
“Brother Lin Chen, I’ve run into some trouble in Nanfeng City. Can you come over?” Chen Lin’s anxious tone made it clear that something was wrong.
Only then did Lin Chen realize she was in Nanfeng City. She had arrived that afternoon to discuss a business collaboration and later arranged to meet a close friend in the bar district. However, just moments ago, a few thugs had approached and harassed them, leading to a confrontation.
“Stay where you are. I’ll have someone come over right away,” Lin Chen said before hanging up. He immediately drove toward the bar district.
Handling such a situation was well within his capabilities as a criminal investigation captain. On the way, he called the local police station in the bar district. Since it involved two young women, he was worried that if he arrived too late, they might suffer harm.
Fifteen minutes later, Lin Chen arrived at the entrance of Hao Lai Wu Bar, the location Chen Lin had mentioned. He saw four or five thugs squatting outside the entrance, holding their heads.
Chen Lin stood nearby, dressed in a sexy dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Whether in physique or temperament, she was no less impressive than her sister, Chen Ya.
The moment she saw Lin Chen, she walked up to him with a bright smile and said, “Brother Lin Chen, long time no see.”
Lin Chen smiled and nodded. This was the first time he had seen someone so close to Chen Ya since their divorce.
“You weren’t hurt, were you?” Lin Chen asked with concern.
Chen Lin shook her head and stepped closer, naturally linking her arm with his. She turned to her friends and began introducing him, “This is my sis…” You are reading on novelping . com, the official source.
She paused for a moment, then corrected herself, “This is my Brother Lin Chen. Handsome, right?”
“Handsome,” several attractive girls said in unison, making Lin Chen feel slightly embarrassed.
“I’ll go check on the situation. Then I’ll take you all to eat,” Lin Chen said to Chen Lin before walking over to a few uniformed officers. The bar manager was standing nearby, explaining something to them.
As Lin Chen approached, one of the older officers greeted him respectfully, “Captain Lin.”
“Chief Xu, sorry to trouble you over such a small matter,” Lin Chen said, offering him a cigarette.
Xu Ming accepted it politely and replied, “Captain Lin, no need to say that. Even though you’re no longer at our municipal bureau, if there’s anything within our duty, just let us know.”
“Much appreciated,” Lin Chen said with a nod.
The bar manager, who had overheard Lin Chen’s name, looked at him carefully. Wasn’t this Lin Chen from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Binhai Sub-Bureau? People working in nightlife establishments rarely dared to offend criminal investigators. His reputation was well known.
“Officer Lin, it’s all a misunderstanding. If I had known these ladies were your friends, I would have intervened immediately,” the manager said nervously, his body trembling slightly.
Lin Chen had no interest in dealing with someone like him and couldn’t be bothered.
After thanking Xu Ming again, Lin Chen walked back to the group with a smile and said, “Since you’re all Lin’er’s friends, come on. I’ll treat you all to a meal.”
Seeing how respectful the officers had been toward Lin Chen, and how fearful the manager was, the girls were filled with admiration. A handsome and capable criminal investigation captain treating them to dinner… no one would refuse.
“You’ve been drinking. Give me the keys, I’ll drive,” Lin Chen said considerately to Chen Lin.
She pouted playfully and followed behind him like a child. Soon, the group disappeared into the lively night of the bar district.