Early the next morning, Zhuang Zi came out of her bedroom and saw the stack of English documents quietly placed on the coffee table.
She realized that this man not only had a strong sense of pride but was also quite arrogant and self-assured.
Thinking about his expression from last night, she couldn’t help but smile slightly and then headed to the bathroom.
After breakfast, she took the stack of documents and went straight to the study.
Before translating, she skimmed through the content. It turned out to be a detailed case analysis of an international child trafficking case, filled with specialized terminology.
No wonder he found it difficult to read.
It took her the entire day to translate the document into Chinese. She then reviewed it to ensure there were no errors and saved the final version as an electronic document.
As the daylight outside gradually faded, she finally finished typing the last line and stretched her sore wrists.
It was almost six o’clock.
Staring at the document, she wondered if he would be eager to see it and if she should send it to him.
With that thought, she took out her phone and added him on WeChat using his phone number.
Realizing he was likely too busy to check his phone quickly, she decided to take a shower first.
Just as she stepped out of the study, the doorbell rang.
Startled, she quickly calmed down, thinking it must be Aunt Qin and Xiao Mi.
She walked to the front door and checked the screen to confirm the visitors, then relaxed and unlocked the door.
Aunt Qin greeted her with a bright smile, “Oh, I could have arrived earlier, but I stopped by the supermarket to buy some groceries. Miss Zhuang, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? I’ll start cooking right away.”
“No rush,” Zhuang Zi stepped aside, giving them space to change shoes, “You can rest for a while.”
“It’s fine, I’ve been sitting in the car, so I’m not tired.”
……
Aunt Qin was efficient. In half an hour, she had prepared two dishes and a soup.
In the past two days alone in the house, Zhuang Zi had felt somewhat scared. The gas leak accident had left her with lingering fears. Any slight noise in the house made her jumpy, fearing someone had broken in.
Now, with Aunt Qin and Xiao Mi there, the house felt lively and much safer.
After dinner, Zhuang Zi checked her phone. The WeChat friend request had been accepted, so she messaged him:
【Would you like me to send you the electronic document?】
It was dinner time, so Si Hang probably wasn’t busy. His reply came quickly:
【Working overnight, no time. I’ll check it when I get back.】
Overnight work, likely due to a major case.
Zhuang Zi didn’t ask further, knowing he was busy. She was about to put down her phone and head to the bathroom when it rang.
It was Xiao Zhao.
She answered, and Xiao Zhao said, “Miss Zhuang, Captain Si wants to help you check your sister’s call records. I’m preparing the request and need to know how long her phone has been disconnected.”
Zhuang Zi paused, “I’m not sure. Why?”
Xiao Zhao explained, “After a phone number is disconnected, it’s usually canceled and reassigned after three months. If the number has been reassigned, previous call records are updated and can no longer be accessed, even if the request is approved.”
Zhuang Zi frowned.
The number had been inactive for half a year, so it was definitely disconnected, but for how long was uncertain.
She asked, “What if it hasn’t been reassigned?”
“Even if it’s inactive, it can’t be checked unless the number is still in a disconnected state and hasn’t been canceled.”
Feeling anxious, Zhuang Zi immediately went back to her bedroom and took out her sister’s phone. She dialed her sister’s number and held her breath for two seconds, hearing the automated message: “Sorry, the number you dialed is disconnected.”
Relieved, she realized the number was still disconnected and not canceled.
Her sister must have had sufficient balance on her phone to cover the charges for the past few months.
She quickly topped up her sister’s phone with fifty yuan, and shortly after, a message confirmed the number was reactivated.
She called Xiao Zhao back and told him, “The number hasn’t been canceled. Can you check it?”
“We can try,” Xiao Zhao’s tone wasn’t optimistic, “Your sister’s case is closed. Unless there’s evidence to reopen it, getting approval will be difficult.”
After hanging up, her earlier happiness dissipated.
Xiao Zhao’s message was clear: the chances were slim, but he would go through the motions as per Si Hang’s instructions.
Sitting quietly on the bed, her mood grew increasingly dejected.
If there were evidence to overturn her sister’s accident case and apply for a reopening, she wouldn’t be struggling to find proof now.
It was a paradox.
She looked at her phone, considering asking Si Hang if there were any other options. But knowing how busy he was, she felt hesitant to bother him further.
What should she do now?
To access the call records at the service center, she needed her sister’s ID, which she didn’t have.
Frustrated, she ran her hands through her hair. Suddenly, she wondered if providing her sister’s ID number at the service center might work.
With a glimmer of hope, she searched on her phone: how to check a deceased relative’s call records.
She read through the pages of results.
Most answers echoed what Xiao Zhao had said: it required the relative’s ID and relevant documents at the service center, or using connections. Some suggested hiring private investigators if she had the means.
She couldn’t ask Jiang Zhihao for the ID, and she had no evidence yet.
Shutting off her phone, she exhaled heavily, feeling a wave of despair wash over her again. Everything seemed to be back at square one.
The clues were right in front of her, but she was helpless.
…….
The next morning, when Zhuang Zi came out after washing up, Aunt Qin was setting breakfast in the dining room. Seeing her looking so tired, Aunt Qin asked with concern, “Didn’t sleep well last night?”
It wasn’t just a bad night’s sleep; she barely closed her eyes.
After talking with Xiao Zhao last night, she felt a constant weight on her chest, and insomnia plagued her again.
She walked to the dining table and sat down. “I have insomnia.”
Aunt Qin muttered, “It’s not good for someone so young to have insomnia.”
Zhuang Zi lowered her head and took a sip of porridge without responding.
After breakfast, as she was about to return to the study, Aunt Qin finished tidying up the kitchen and was preparing to go out grocery shopping with Xiao Mi.
“Aunt Qin,” Zhuang Zi quickly turned and went to the entrance to discuss with her, “Could you go to the mobile service center for me?”
“Sure,” Aunt Qin readily agreed, “No problem. What do you need to do?”
“I want to ask what documents are needed to check the call records of a deceased relative, besides the ID card.”
“Alright, I can do that.”
……
After Aunt Qin left, Zhuang Zi returned to the study and sat alone in front of the computer for a long time.
Thinking it over, she still felt reluctant to give up.
What if she could find clues from her sister’s phone? Maybe the mystery would soon be solved. If her sister’s accident and the stalker who followed her were the same person, all the questions might be answered.
She turned on the computer and searched for more information on investigating call records.
The results were similar to what she found on her phone last night, with some suggestions about obtaining fake IDs.
An hour later, Aunt Qin returned with the news: “They said you need the ID card, death certificate, and proof of relationship.”
Zhuang Zi thought for a moment. The other two documents were easy to get, but what excuse could she use to get the ID from Jiang Zhihao?
As she was pondering, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was Pei Zheng, she answered.
Pei Zheng’s cheerful voice came through, first asking about her well-being and then inquiring, “Have the police solved the case yet?”
“Not yet,” Zhuang Zi maintained her usual polite distance, “Thank you for your concern.”
Pei Zheng, understanding the boundaries, said, “Even though we don’t work together anymore, we’re still friends, and friends should look out for each other, right?”
Feeling slightly guilty for her coldness, Zhuang Zi softened her tone, “Thank you.”
Pei Zheng laughed, “Don’t keep thanking me. If you consider me a friend, just let me know if you need anything.”
Grateful, Zhuang Zi replied, “I’m fine for now.”
“Good to hear.” Pei Zheng paused before adding, “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. If the police solve the case, let me know, so I can stop worrying.”
“Sure.”
Just as she was about to hang up, an idea struck her, and she called out, “Pei Zheng.”
“What’s up?”
Feeling nervous, Zhuang Zi bit her lip and quietly asked, “Do you know where I could get a fake ID?”
She knew it was illegal, but she was desperate. Si Hang had already applied for the call records, but finding evidence and checking records were contradictory tasks. It wouldn’t work.
Even if she got a fake ID, it wasn’t for any wrongdoing—she just wanted to uncover the truth. Once she had the call records, she’d destroy the fake ID immediately.
“A fake ID?” Pei Zheng was puzzled, “Why do you need that?”
Hesitating, Zhuang Zi regretted asking and quickly denied, “Never mind, I just asked out of curiosity.”
Pei Zheng, despite her denial, used his lunch break to find a phone number and sent it to her.
When Zhuang Zi received the WeChat message, she was surprised that he had actually gone and found it.
Pei Zheng wrote, “I got this from a street ad. I’ve already communicated with the person. The price and location details are in the message. Did you see it?”
“Yes, I see it.”
Sensing her reluctance, Pei Zheng didn’t press further, “If you really plan to go, I’ll take the afternoon off and go with you. It’s not safe for you to go alone.”
“No,” she quickly stopped him, “You don’t need to come.”
She didn’t want to involve him.
Besides, she hadn’t made up her mind yet and was still torn about it.
Pei Zheng didn’t argue, pausing for a second before saying, “If you decide to go, call me. Don’t go alone, okay?”
“Okay.”
Hanging up, she stared at the phone number and address, feeling tempted.
Should she just give up on this lead?
Now that she had a way to investigate, it required taking a risk. If she didn’t go and missed this chance, she would regret it forever.
But another troubling thought lingered—what if she went out and couldn’t find the clue, and ended up being tracked and kidnapped again like last time?
She wasn’t afraid of dying; she was afraid of dying too soon. If she died, who would investigate the truth for her sister?
She sat by the study’s window, listening to the sound of the wind and rain outside, feeling isolated and alone.
The sky was dark and heavy, like the end of the world.
Since her sister’s phone number was still active, it was more reliable to find a way to get the ID from Jiang Zhihao.
If that failed, she could consider more risky options later.
……
Having not slept well the night before, Zhuang Zi got up and went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea before returning to the study to continue reading.
It wasn’t until Aunt Qin called her for lunch that she came out to the living room for a bit.
After lunch, feeling increasingly sleepy, she decided to take a nap. Having not slept a wink the previous night, even an iron man couldn’t hold up.
She went back to her bedroom, drew the curtains, and lay on the bed, trying to fall asleep. Just as she was dozing off, the phone rang suddenly, startling her awake.
Answering the call, the person on the other end identified themselves as from the Chengbei Police Station, instantly erasing any trace of sleepiness.
The officer asked, “What is Pei Zheng to you?”
Startled, she immediately sat up in bed. “He’s my colleague.”
“You need to come to the Chengbei Police Station immediately. He got arrested for trying to get you a fake ID!”
“………”
Zhuang Zi hung up the phone, quickly got dressed, and hurried out.
In the living room, Aunt Qin was doing a thorough cleaning, and Xiao Mi was helping water the plants on the balcony.
Making up an excuse, she told Aunt Qin, “An old colleague came to see me. I’ll be back soon.”
Aunt Qin, a bit worried, asked, “Did you call that colleague of Si Hang’s?”
Despite her anxiety, she still had her wits about her. Calling a police officer to accompany her to bail out someone who was getting her a fake ID would be a huge joke.
But now Pei Zheng was in trouble because of her. Not going to bail him out would be ungrateful.
Besides, since the incident, he was the only one who still called to check on her.
Maybe there were too few people in this world who truly cared for her. So now, even if a stranger risked everything for her and got into trouble, she would do everything to help them.
“I already called. He’ll be downstairs soon.”
Aunt Qin smiled, “Alright then, will you be back for dinner?”
“I will.” Looking at the stormy weather outside, Zhuang Zi asked, “Do you have an umbrella?”
When Aunt Qin returned with an umbrella, she hurriedly left.
In the elevator, she put on a mask and pulled her coat’s hood over her head, covering her face completely. This way, no one would recognize her.
She hoped, against all odds, that she could just drive to the police station and return without any trouble.
Silently, she prayed that she could successfully bail out Pei Zheng and that nothing would go wrong.
…….
Yesterday afternoon, there was a murder case in Yang County. Si Hang received orders from the director and rushed there overnight with Xie Kui and Xiao Meng.
They returned to the police station at around 3 PM today.
As soon as he entered the Criminal Investigation Department’s office, Xiao Zhao ran over to report, “Boss, yesterday we found a suspect near a pharmacy on Longchuan Road who might be the one who kidnapped Zhuang Zi that night. The surveillance footage is here. Do you want to take a look?”
Without even taking a sip of water in his office, Si Hang turned and headed to the screening room, asking Xiao Zhao, “Is anyone watching him?”
“The pharmacy owner provided the tip. By the time we got there, he had already fled. He must know the police are after him and doesn’t have a fixed hideout.”
In the screening room, the officer operating the surveillance equipment immediately pulled up the footage.
Standing in front of the large display, hands in his pockets, Si Hang frowned as he watched the footage.
The surveillance was from the street outside a pharmacy, timestamped at 7:42 PM the day before yesterday. Since it was nighttime, the lighting wasn’t very clear. The man wore a mask, and his long hair almost covered his eyes.
Si Hang asked them to freeze the frame and zoom in on the man’s face. He quickly realized the man was wearing a wig.
He frowned, staring at the man for a long time. The figure seemed familiar yet unfamiliar, but he couldn’t recall immediately.
At that moment, the officer at the computer called out, “Captain Si, look!”
His gaze shifted, and his heart sank.
The officer pointed at the screen, “This footage just came in. It’s the same man.”
The timestamp on the video showed 1:51 PM today, and the location was across the street from Baijiang Apartments—his home!
That man had found out Zhuang Zi was staying at his place!
A sudden sense of foreboding hit him. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Zhuang Zi.
The ringing continued incessantly. Watching the man on the screen, Si Hang’s expression grew increasingly grim, but there was no answer on the other end.
Cursing under his breath, he turned and strode out, just as the call was finally answered.
He stopped abruptly, his voice low, “Zhuang Zi?”
There was a brief silence.
As she didn’t respond, he was about to speak again when he heard a trembling voice, “Si Hang…”
For some reason, hearing that voice made his chest tighten painfully.
His voice tense and hoarse, he asked, “What happened?”
Her breathing seemed unsteady, and she said shakily, “I… I messed up.”
_______
The author has something to say: Captain Si: A day away from home, and you’re tearing down the house!