It was already early winter.
Xiang City was experiencing a continuous spell of overcast and rainy weather, with the sun rarely making an appearance. Yet the people of Xiang City were remarkably resilient to the cold. Despite the steadily dropping temperatures, many still wore only thin shirts and trousers, having grown accustomed to the chill until they no longer felt it.
You Mingxu was one of them.
In the morning, a light drizzle dampened the streets. She stepped off the bus wearing only a loose, long blazer and slim-fit pants, which accentuated her slender, almost fragile figure. However, her expression was equally unapproachable—cold and aloof, radiating an aura that kept others at a distance. Passersby mostly stole a distant glance at this fierce, icy beauty, hardly daring to attempt any conversation.
Upon arriving at the police station, she hastily ate breakfast, clocked in, and attended the weekly meeting. Together with Xu Mengshan, she summarized the major case in Huaicheng. No one mentioned Fan Jia’s name—the deputy chief in charge of criminal investigations couldn’t bear to bring it up, and Ding Xiongwei refused to as well. Only the seat Fan Jia usually occupied remained empty, right beside You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan.
With Chen Zhaoci’s death and capture, the police publicly announced the resolution of the Huaicheng serial cases, sparking a strong public reaction. Despite repeated regulations and crackdowns, illegal Campus Loan companies, often tinged with criminal elements, continued to loom like a gray net over university campuses. The sex crime syndicate uncovered in connection with these loans sent chills down the spines of those who heard about it.
Guided by a member of one such sex crime syndicate—who was also a former victim of Campus Loans—the son of a butcher from the lowest rungs of society, influenced by his surroundings, embarked on a spree of serial killings alongside his father and Chen Zhaoci.
Chen Zhaoci, as an overlapping member of both syndicates, attempted to shift the blame and escape but was tracked down by the police, leading to the arrest of all involved criminals.
By this point, the victims included Liu Yisha, Zhao Feier, and three other single women, bringing the death toll to five.
The number of university student victims was countless and impossible to tally.
——
As the meeting adjourned, Ding Xiongwei called You Mingxu over and took her back to his office.
In fact, from the moment he saw her today, Ding Xiongwei sensed something different about his capable subordinate. She had always been fierce and vigorous, full of life. Today, although she still carried an air of arrogance, the way she slumped into the chair now exuded a certain laziness and nonchalance.
Such changes only come after going through significant experiences. Ding Xiongwei understood this clearly—he had been through it himself. Every detective, especially the outstanding ones, undergoes a process where their bones feel shattered and then remolded, with the pain buried deep within the fractures, gradually forging a demeanor that is restrained yet even more intimidating.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, Ding Xiongwei, for the first time, brewed a cup of tea and placed it in front of You Mingxu. She accepted it without ceremony: "Thanks, boss." After taking a small sip, she said, "Regarding Gu Tiancheng’s matter, it seems the higher-ups have suppressed it."
Ding Xiongwei replied, "That’s why I called you in. I’ve read your report. This person likely has far-reaching connections, and the higher-ups plan to investigate discreetly first."
You Mingxu said, "Count me in."
Ding Xiongwei nodded. "Take a few days off first. The higher-ups need to figure out how to proceed. We’ll call you when needed."
"Alright."
Ding Xiongwei glanced at her, his gaze deep and sharp. "Before Gu Tiancheng escaped, he revealed quite a bit. Do you think he did it intentionally or unintentionally?"You Mingxu replied, "Given his personality, his words are often a mix of truth and lies. He harbors ill intentions yet struggles to restrain himself."
"Oh?" Ding Xiongwei's tone carried a teasing note. "So, according to you, which parts are true and which are false?"
You Mingxu met her superior's gaze head-on, unflinching before this old wolf: "If I had to say, the idea that Gu Tiancheng's case and the teenage exchange murder case have hidden truths might be real; the fact that he and those behind him have ulterior motives is also true. But smearing Yin Feng's name—that's false. He resents me for arresting him and is deliberately trying to drive a wedge between me and Yin Feng."
Even Ding Xiongwei was momentarily speechless at You Mingxu's unapologetic defensiveness. He decided to address the elephant in the room: "Are you really involved with that kid?"
You Mingxu shot him a sidelong glance. Old and shameless, spouting nonsense. As if she were some kind of beast.
Yin Feng... aside from his current innocence, how was he still a child?
The corner of her mouth unconsciously lifted.
Ding Xiongwei, sharp-eyed, found his usually ice-cold subordinate's subtle, lovestruck expression utterly unbearable. He waved a hand dismissively. "Enough, let's get back to business!"
You Mingxu replied calmly, "You brought it up. To be frank, things are going very well between us now. From now on, he's my boyfriend—you and the others better show him some respect."
Ding Xiongwei gave her a stern look but conceded defeat. "Fine. Anyway, personally, I don't believe Gu Tiancheng's words either. I trust Yin Feng. But Gu Tiancheng wouldn't mention him without reason. That day in Tibet, when he encountered you and Gu Tiancheng, it was indeed too coincidental. There might be some hidden clues related to him—keep that in mind."
You Mingxu fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yin Feng once mentioned that he remembers someone always spying on him, following him, making him feel intensely threatened. It's possible he became a target for criminals for some reason. Maybe his abduction by Gu Tiancheng in Tibet was planned, not accidental. But he still can't remember anything now. Don't worry—I'll keep a close watch on everything around him."
Ding Xiongwei thought it over and said, "Protect him well. Whether before or after his amnesia, he's someone worth our protection."
You Mingxu smiled.
"Lao Ding," she said, her tone turning serious. "Do you think there really is a high-intelligence criminal organization behind Gu Tiancheng? If so, what's their purpose? Why haven't we uncovered them yet?"
Ding Xiongwei took a sip of tea and replied, "Actually, during a meeting with the higher-ups a couple of days ago, someone raised the same question. Gu Tiancheng's escape from the river definitely involved accomplices. But is it truly organized crime? My judgment—yes. While you were recovering from your injury in Huaicheng, Luo Ping and the others uncovered some clues."
"What clues?""Besides Zhao Feier and Liu Yisha, the Deng father and son also abducted three other women from the streets, remaining undetected all along. I found it suspicious from the start—even if they were low-income, inconspicuous single women, how could it be such a coincidence that no one noticed or reported their successive disappearances? Later, we discovered that after the three went missing, someone had taken follow-up measures: for instance, sending text messages to their families to reassure them; informing friends they were going on a trip; and even purchasing train tickets to fabricate alibis. Initially, we suspected Chen Zhaoci might be behind it, but Deng Yao confessed that he knew nothing about these actions and was certain Chen Zhaoci hadn’t done them. He was the one who captured the women—Chen Zhaoci had no involvement at all."
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