Nine years earlier Xu Jiu’s mother had been killed on her way home from work. Xu Jiu had wept uncontrollably, fallen ill, and run a high fever for days. After she woke she remained silent and withdrawn. Young Jiang Yanzhi had held her hand and promised he would catch the killer himself. He died trying to keep that promise.
Jiang Yanzhi fumbled helplessly then wiped the tears from her face. “Why are you crying”
Xu Jiu sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Nothing I just realized how good you are.”
He froze looking at her. This familiar yet changed girl seemed different — she called him, she worried about him, she reached out. It felt like the little sister he knew had come back. “Bei Bei…”
His phone rang. A colleague reported. “Yuan Shuai was not home Neighbors say he never returned last night.”
“Keep watching Contact me immediately if he appears.”
Qin Shuo slapped the steering wheel. “Just when we had a lead!”
“Stay on it Once we find him and confirm who rode with Chen Qingqing the case closes.”
“Look how upset she is seeing you hurt.”
“Do not call her that She is my sister not yours.”
“What should I call her then”
Jiang Yanzhi’s temples throbbed. “Certainly not that.”
“All right You are boss She is the big boss then.” Qin Shuo steered toward food. “Let us eat then pick up Wang Jianjun.”
At a crowded restaurant Xu Jiu took the corner seat so the two tall men could stretch their legs. Jiang Yanzhi’s knee brushed hers across the table. He wondered how she stayed so thin despite eating well as a child. He ordered abundantly. “Eat more You are too thin.”
All her favorite dishes filled the table. She ate heartily noticing her body lacked strength and muscle — unlike in her past life. She would get strong and keep him safe. Leftovers were packed.
Qin Shuo whispered. “Big boss You get special treatment Usually we just eat noodles.”
“Noodles”
“When busy anything hot is enough.”
Wang Jianjun was escorted from the faculty compound. His wife Wu Cuilan wept. “What has he done”
“Embarrassed now”
Wang Jianjun hurried them along. “Please let us go quickly.” He regained composure once away from neighbors. “I only wanted a child of my own Why am I arrested”
“Do you know how old she was”
“It was consensual.”
Xu Jiu spoke up. “She was underage You were her teacher Your position made it not equal It was sexual assault.”
“I paid How is that a crime”
“Foolish or just driven by base desire”
Insulted Wang Jianjun turned on her. “How do your parents teach respect”
Jiang Yanzhi cut in. “You broke the law Do not expect respect.”
At the station under bright lights Wang Jianjun confessed. “I only misled her Once too far along to end it would happen naturally.”
Zhang Haiyang brought a report and whispered to Jiang Yanzhi whose expression turned cold. “What deal did you make with Zhao Bin”
Zhao Bin the doctor sat in the next room. Wang Jianjun looked confused. “I paid him to help keep the child.”
Jiang Yanzhi dropped the report. “Zhao Bin’s fingerprints were on the tape used to smother the infant Explain that.”
“Zhao Bin killed my child” Wang Jianjun raged. “I paid him generously Why would he Who is he to do this”
His shock seemed genuine. Jiang Yanzhi stepped out. “Wang Jianjun did not know.”
Xu Jiu nodded. “Payment would not risk that.”
Qin Shuo frowned. “But the woman seen with Chen Qingqing Could Zhao Bin dress as a woman”
“We will ask him.” Jiang Yanzhi softened. “Go sit in the office Fan is there Cooler.”
“May I hear”
“Protocol…” He relented. “I will ask Captain Su.”
He returned with a fan and a thermos leading her to the observation room. “See through the glass Press this button if you need me.”
She nodded familiar with everything. He noticed her bright eyes and looked away clearing his throat. “Honey tea Careful it is hot.” She smiled seeing his ears turn pink.
Inside Zhao Bin slouched. “I only told a small lie Nothing serious.”
“Only a lie”
“My prints do not matter.”
“They matter very much.” Jiang Yanzhi leaned forward. “How did you smother the baby with plastic and tape Do you need details”
Zhao Bin slumped. “Wang Jianjun ordered it.”
“Ordered it”
“He left a note Said the child could not be his Offered ten thousand yuan I could not save that in three years.”
Qin Shuo struck the table. “It was a life.”
“Better off not born into that family.”
Jiang Yanzhi’s voice turned cold. “You are a healer not an executioner.”
“How did you enter and leave”
“I am school doctor No log needed Her due date was yesterday I waited at the clinic Took her to the stadium so no one would hear.” He paused. “Smothered it while she was distracted Told her it was stillborn She believed me.”
“You are a monster.”