Coming to Myself

Lushan Sub-bureau, large conference room, brightly lit.

A dense crowd had already gathered, seated in the darkness.

Ding Xiongwei, clutching a notebook, his face frosty, strode toward the conference room. The leadership was about to arrive. Just as he reached the entrance, he saw someone standing by the wall, hands in pockets, gazing into the distance—aloof and solitary as a tree.

Spotting Ding Xiongwei, the person locked eyes with him for a few seconds before lowering their gaze.

Ding Xiongwei sighed inwardly, frustrated yet disappointed. He cleared his throat softly.

You Mingxu immediately looked up at him again.

The unspoken communication between master and disciple had played out countless times before. Ding Xiongwei glanced toward the back door of the conference room. Understanding, You Mingxu nodded. He then strode into the conference room with a stern expression.

You Mingxu lowered her head and slipped quietly through the back door, finding a seat in the corner. A few colleagues nearby exchanged glances but turned away, pretending not to see her.

Only then did You Mingxu slowly raise her head. First, she saw Ding Xiongwei and several other bureau leaders seated prominently in the front row. Even Director Duan had come, his expression grim. As Yin Feng’s close senior brother, what did his presence at today’s meeting signify?

Her gaze lifted further, landing on the golden police emblem hanging on the wall. The blue and red at its center resembled a lake and sunlight, stinging her eyes with a faint ache.

The meeting began.

Xu Mengshan was also seated at the front today—he was both an eyewitness and the officer on duty that night. Xu Mengshan seemed like a stranger now, his face shrouded in ten pounds of ice. He recounted the events of that night almost flatly, devoid of emotion:

"...After using the restroom, I hurried back to the ward and encountered You Mingxu, along with several people accompanying Yin Feng. I saw Comrade Han Lei unconscious at the ward entrance, with anesthesia gun marks on his neck.

I immediately rushed into the ward and saw Chen Feng collapsed on the floor. Yin Feng was choking Li Mingdi, whose life hung by a thread...

Yin Feng stopped. I was attacked, struck by an anesthesia gun, and lost consciousness. When I woke up, they had already fled."

Immediately afterward, surveillance video clips began playing on the LCD screen mounted on the front wall:

Chen Feng and Yin Feng arriving at the ward one after the other.

Chen Feng assaulting the duty officer and forcing his way into the ward.

Yin Feng entering the ward.

Then the angle shifted to footage from a camera mounted on the ceiling outside the ward. Though at a distance and capturing only half the room with blurry glimpses of physical struggle, the sequence almost perfectly corroborated Xu Mengshan’s account.

Next, Tuya carrying the unconscious Yin Feng on his back, the group hastily fleeing the ward and escaping.

...

Even after a day and a night had passed, watching those scenes again, You Mingxu could still feel a dry, dull ache in her heart. She lowered her eyes, suppressing the faint tears, her mind instead conjuring the image of Yin Feng, tears streaming down his face as he looked at her.

She hadn’t come to the meeting today to pry or probe.

She simply didn’t believe what had happened yesterday.

Even if Yin Feng had said those words himself...

But what exactly had happened before she and Xu Mengshan arrived last night? Who knew?

Could Yin Feng have had no choice, acting under duress?

Or perhaps he wasn’t in his right mind—victim of someone else’s scheme?

With these thoughts, her heart began to beat with renewed vigor.Although Yin Feng hadn't contacted her since last night, and all police officers in the city had been urgently mobilized to search for him, no one had managed to find even a trace of their whereabouts.

If he wanted to hide, no one could find him.

So today, You Mingxu, disregarding the gossip and the stares of others, attended the meeting again. She needed to understand exactly what had happened, what impact this night had on the police force, and what it meant for the Punisher...

After a brief discussion, the leadership quickly reached a conclusion.

But when You Mingxu heard the words "warrant for arrest," her heart plummeted like a kite with its string cut.

The decision was announced by Director Duan. Today, he looked as if he had aged several years, his eyes weary and pained, as he said in a heavy voice, "...The warrant will not be made public, but it will extend across the entire province. His residence, office, and all other locations will be sealed off, and a full investigation will be launched against him..."

You Mingxu stood in a corner of the hallway for a long time, finishing three cigarettes, before returning to the office.

A few colleagues from the team were there. When they saw her enter, they exchanged glances, and only Xu Mengshan stayed while the others left.

You Mingxu sat down in front of Xu Mengshan, who took out a cigarette and asked, "Want one?"

You Mingxu replied, "I've had enough just now."

Xu Mengshan let out an "oh" and said, "If you want to cry, go ahead. There's no one else here, just me."

You Mingxu glanced at him and gave a bitter smile. The two sat in silence for a while, You Mingxu pressing her hands to her face. Xu Mengshan, his heart aching, wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

After a long moment, You Mingxu wiped her face, took a deep breath, and said, "Go on."

Xu Mengshan said, "Give me your phone."

You Mingxu placed her phone in front of him. As Xu Mengshan attached the monitoring device, he said, "All your communication devices and internet at home will be monitored. Two police officers will be stationed downstairs, 24/7. Until the case is closed, you cannot perform your duties or leave Xiangcheng. Understand?"

You Mingxu replied, "Understood."

Xu Mengshan's eyes reddened as he said, "There's nothing else. You know the drill. If he contacts you, report it immediately."

You Mingxu: "Yes."

You Mingxu stood up to leave. As she reached the door, Xu Mengshan called out to her, saying, "Sister You, when I yelled at you last night and told you not to get involved, it wasn't because I suspected you of bending the rules. I was afraid you might not understand the situation and do something that could get you in trouble later. It was best for you to do nothing at the time."

You Mingxu said nothing and left.

But as soon as she reached the stairwell, she saw Ding Xiongwei returning after escorting several leaders downstairs. His face still wore a faint smile, but the warmth didn't reach his eyes.

Seeing You Mingxu, he paused slightly. She walked toward him and said calmly and steadily, "Lao Ding, I'm counting on you for Yin Feng's case. I know you'll investigate it thoroughly. I'll wait at home for the results."

Ding Xiongwei looked at his capable subordinate, his heart aching, though he showed no sign of it on his face. He asked, "Did Mengshan brief you clearly?"

"Yes."

"Go home and get some rest. Leave everything to us."

But You Mingxu stood still.

Ding Xiongwei sighed and asked, "What else is there?"

You Mingxu met his gaze: "Lao Ding, do you believe in him?" And what about Director Duan? And the others? Do they believe in him?Ding Xiongwei remained silent for a moment before saying, "I believe. A person's character and convictions aren't understood overnight. It's through our long-term interactions—his attitude toward criminals, the opinions he's expressed one after another, and his various actions assisting us in punishing evil and capturing wrongdoers.

But You Mingxu, compared to intuition, I must place greater trust in evidence."