The moment You Mingxu returned to Xiang City, she was immediately buried under an overwhelming pile of work.
The aftermath of this case involved a massive amount of follow-up tasks, enough to keep them busy for a month or two. With their team currently short-staffed, she had to assist with many other cases as well. As a result, for the first week, she was so swamped she could barely catch her breath, pushing almost everything else out of her mind. Only late at night, when everything was quiet and she finally had a moment to rest, would she think of Yin Feng. But by then, she knew he must already be asleep.
You Mingxu wasn’t the clingy type. Even back when she was with You Yingjun, it was always him chasing after her. So she rarely sent him overly affectionate messages.
Clearly, the current Yin Feng was much the same as her in that regard.
By Saturday evening of that week, realizing she could finally sleep in the next day, it dawned on her that an entire week had passed without any contact between them—not even a single text from Yin Feng.
Even if he was still bedridden, this wasn’t normal.
You Mingxu recalled Yin Feng’s awkward demeanor when she left Guizhou. She still couldn’t figure out what had caused it. After turning it over in her mind, she guessed it might still be due to Lao Jiu’s sacrifice. He probably felt guilty and responsible, and by extension, didn’t want to face her.
Late at night, leaning against the headboard, You Mingxu thought for a while and then smiled.
She decided to let him work it out on his own.
“If you ever leave one day, I truly don’t know what I would do.”
With those words, she felt secure inside.
Two weeks later, the workload in You Mingxu’s hands finally began to ease up. With some free time on her hands, she turned her attention to investigating a particular case.
A case from nineteen years ago, one that had happened when she was eight years old.
After much deliberation, You Mingxu decided to start by inviting Ding Xiongwei out for a drink. She had always known he was once a colleague of her mother’s.
After work that day, the two of them entered a private room in a restaurant. You Mingxu handed the menu to Ding Xiongwei. Never one to stand on ceremony, he ordered a few dishes without hesitation. You Mingxu then poured him some tea.
Ding Xiongwei took a few sips calmly and said, “This one’s on me. Consider it a reward.”
You Mingxu wasn’t one to argue over money and replied straightforwardly, “Fine.”
Ding Xiongwei chuckled and asked, “What made you think of treating me to a meal? As the saying goes, ‘A son married is a son lost.’ Everyone in our team is like that.”
Holding a cup in her hand, You Mingxu said leisurely, “Even if I had a wife, I wouldn’t forget about you. It’s been a while since we caught up—can’t I just have a meal with you?”
Ding Xiongwei retorted, “Cut the crap. Spit it out.”
You Mingxu smiled briefly, then turned serious. “Lao Ding, I want to know… about my mother.”
Ding Xiongwei took another sip of tea, not showing any surprise.
During the time she was held hostage by the Punisher, Yin Chen’s words—every single one of them—had been truthfully recorded in her report without any omission. After the report was submitted, there had been no reaction from the higher-ups.
Ding Xiongwei sighed and asked, “What exactly do you want to know?”
You Mingxu said, “Her relationship with Xing Jifu and Yin Chen. And the serial case in which she died in the line of duty.”
Ding Xiongwei said, “You must be wondering, if she was connected to those two criminals, how could she still be a police officer? And how could you become one too?”
You Mingxu remained silent, her cool, clear eyes fixed directly on him.Ding Xiongwei understood her gaze, smiled, nodded, and his voice softened: "You're right. Your mother did nothing wrong. She was an outstanding police officer, from beginning to end."
You Mingxu's heart settled at once.
However, Ding Xiongwei fell into thought and said, "Actually, I only know the general outline of what happened back then. But this is the first I've heard that Yin Chen was also involved in those events."
That was many years ago.
At that time, Ding Xiongwei was just in his early twenties, and like You Mingxu's mother—You Ruixue—he was a rookie in the police force. They were in the same unit and got along quite well.
Ding Xiongwei still remembered that You Ruixue's temperament was not as bold as You Mingxu's. She was quiet and gentle, yet very intelligent, with an innate pride that mirrored You Mingxu's. Her appearance was also somewhat sweeter than You Mingxu's.
Naturally, such a female officer attracted many suitors in the department. Ding Xiongwei had even considered pursuing her back then but didn't dare. However, You Ruixue clearly had high standards—she had even politely turned down the "department heartthrob," a handsome and dashing deputy captain. So lesser admirers like Ding Xiongwei quietly gave up their hopes.
A special team was formed in the department to crack down on organized crime in the district. At that time, the Kaiyang Group didn't exist yet; there were only a few criminal gangs that had drawn the police's attention.
You Ruixue joined the task force.
Ding Xiongwei wasn't part of the team, so everything that happened later, he only heard from others.
He heard that You Ruixue had initially fallen in love with someone unrelated to the case. He was a top student who had returned from studying in the United States, the son of a business family, handsome and refined. The two of them were deeply in love.
Meanwhile, the department's crackdown on crime continued to proceed step by step.
Later, for a period, Ding Xiongwei occasionally noticed that You Ruixue's complexion didn't look well. Once, during a group dinner, she suddenly retched and looked very unwell. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
A few days later, a superior called You Ruixue into the office. They spoke for an hour, and then she came out. The next day, she was transferred out of the anti-crime task force and returned to regular criminal duties.
Although there were various rumors at the time, it was already the 1990s, and people's minds were more open. At most, they gossiped behind her back and then let it go.
Ding Xiongwei heard that You Ruixue's boyfriend had to rush back to the United States for an urgent matter, leaving her alone. Some said she had been abandoned; others claimed she had been deceived. But back then, Ding Xiongwei prided himself on being fair-minded and perceptive. He even secretly observed that You Ruixue, clearly pregnant, appeared calm and had a light in her eyes. So he concluded that she and her boyfriend were probably still fine—perhaps he was held up by something and couldn't return just yet.
Since You Ruixue was the goddess in the heart of a young rookie like Ding Xiongwei, he naturally hoped for her happiness.
But even after You Ruixue took leave, reportedly to give birth, that man never returned.
Ding Xiongwei didn't see You Ruixue again until two years later.
At a small local police station.
He heard she had requested the transfer herself.When he saw her again, Ding Xiongwei realized she remained exactly as she remembered. Despite being a top police academy graduate from a family of officers, having been transferred from the promising and prestigious Major Crimes Division to a remote police station, she still appeared calm and gentle, with an unyielding spirit hidden beneath the surface. Only a soft glow of new motherhood seemed to linger between her brows.
While speaking with her about official matters, Ding Xiongwei overheard her receiving what was likely a call from home.
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