Liang Wenxian sighed, “Captain Ji’s background issue has also been brought up. Last night, Yu Qianming personally said he thinks Captain Ji might be the child lost by the Yu family. And…”

Ling Lie guessed the key point, “And my relationship with him is also a problem.”

“More than that,” Liang Wenxian said. “Do you still remember the last time Captain Ji went to Feng City to find you, and you solved a few cases together on the way?”

“Of course I remember.”

“At that time, Captain Xie gave Captain Ji a vacation, asking him to take all the leave he had accumulated over the years. Actually, that wasn’t purely a vacation.”

Ling Lie’s expression turned serious, “What, the higher-ups wanted to trouble Ji Chenjiao?”

“Not trouble, but the Inspection Team wanted to investigate Captain Ji back then.” Liang Wenxian was also depressed about this matter. “Something happened to Ji Nuocheng and his wife. They are Captain Ji’s parents in name, so…”

Ling Lie couldn’t help but curse, “Xiao Ji knew nothing! Xiao Ji caught the people, Xiao Ji solved the case! How can dirty water just come like this?”

“We are all clear about Captain Ji’s character, but the Inspection Team insisted on investigating. It just so happened that on the day they came, Captain Ji had already gone to Feng City to find you. Captain Xie suppressed the matter, guaranteeing Captain Ji with the uniform on his body, and promised that the Criminal Investigation Detachment would investigate Captain Ji internally and temporarily would not let Captain Ji participate in the Major Crimes Unit’s work.”

So that long vacation came about this way. Ling Lie, an outsider, felt angry just listening to it.

“Does Xiao Ji know?”

“He didn’t know before, but Captain Ji is a smart person. Being taken away this time, thinking about the cause and effect, he should understand.”

Ling Lie asked again, “What about Captain Xie’s side? Can he help Ji Chenjiao do something?”

“Don’t worry, Captain Xie is famous for protecting his own team members.” Liang Wenxian switched to a relaxed tone. “Besides, Captain Ji and Captain Xie have a deeper relationship. They are both Ning Xiechen’s apprentices. Captain Xie will definitely spare no effort. Being investigated is frustrating, but we all know you guys are fine and will return to the team soon.”

Mentioning Ning Xiechen, Ling Lie thought of what Bai Lingxue said. This was originally a very important clue. He planned to tell Ji Chenjiao as soon as he returned. Unexpectedly, Ji Chenjiao went crazy last night, and before he could see him today, he was targeted by the Inspection Team.

The basic situation had been clarified. Liang Wenxian checked the time. “I’ll send you down.”

Ling Lie nodded. Thinking that Ji Chenjiao had already faced the Inspection Team first, he didn’t feel much rejection towards facing those people. On the other hand, Yu Yesheng was extremely unwilling and pulled Ling Lie, refusing to let him go.

Ling Lie sneered, “How did your dad give birth to such a stupid son like you? I think you look more like you were picked up than I do.”

Yu Yesheng was confused, “Ah?”

Ling Lie said, “Besides ‘Floating Light,’ Yu Qianming is the biggest winner in this game. The Yu Corporation will shrink, but you young masters will be guaranteed food and clothing for a lifetime.”

Yu Yesheng still didn’t understand. Ling Lie had already gone downstairs gracefully and walked towards the police car.

Watching the Inspection Team’s car drive away, Liang Wenxian’s face darkened, and he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

The situation was not as optimistic as he just said.

In the middle of the night, Ling Lie returned alone. When Ji Chenjiao brought the news to the Major Crimes Unit, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Xi Wan was so excited she cried. But Ji Chenjiao’s state was very wrong—depressed, angry, and preoccupied.

Liang Wenxian guessed they had argued. Ling Lie acted alone; if he were Ji Chenjiao, he would be angry too. He comforted Ji Chenjiao with a few words, but Ji Chenjiao said worriedly, “Brother Liang, Ling Lie might be in trouble.”

The search and rescue consumed too much mental energy, and Liang Wenxian didn’t catch on at the time. “Trouble?”

Ji Chenjiao: “His return is too strange. Two survivors, Yu Yesheng is a member of the Yu family, and he is also half a member of the Yu family. Yu Yesheng was at least still in Rongmei when the explosion happened. He was inexplicably taken away and inexplicably sent back.”

Liang Wenxian gasped, “Ling Lie will be suspected!”

Ji Chenjiao looked at the night, in the direction of the county hospital where the ambulance had taken Ling Lie. Maybe people from the Inspection Team would appear soon, but Ling Lie had various physical examinations to do. Even if they wanted to take Ling Lie away, they would have to wait until dawn for the doctor at the county hospital to issue a certificate.

And at this time, the Inspection Team could only come for him, who had a close relationship with Ling Lie.

Everything was in chaos at night. No one knew what happened before the explosion, why Yu Qin’s people all died, why Yu Yesheng was thrown out, and why Ling Lie was taken away and sent back. Ji Chenjiao could only suppress his anger and concern for Ling Lie, sticking to his post while preparing for what might happen.

The technical investigation side had already discovered that Ling Lie and “Floating Light” had appeared at Yurong Tange. The special police immediately blocked half the mountain and locked onto the villa where Bai Lingxue was located, but the villa was already empty.

Why “Floating Light” didn’t kill Ling Lie but sent him back was truly thought-provoking.

Sure enough, around 2 a.m., Xie Qing called, telling Ji Chenjiao to be mentally prepared. The Criminal Investigation Detachment would protect him and Ling Lie and had already contacted the Special Action Team, but there was also a request for him—he must not hide anything for Ling Lie’s sake.

Soon, the Inspection Team’s car arrived. Liang Wenxian sent Ji Chenjiao to the car, his heart anxious.

Ji Chenjiao said, “Brother Liang, I have a favor to ask you.”

Liang Wenxian said, “Don’t be polite with me.”

There were outsiders around. Ji Chenjiao couldn’t care so much and leaned into Liang Wenxian’s ear in front of them: “Go to the county hospital tomorrow morning. I’m worried Ling Lie will be averse to the Inspection Team. Using the Special Action Team’s identity to suppress them might invite unnecessary trouble.”

Liang Wenxian said solemnly, “Leave it to me.”

Having sent both Ji Chenjiao and Ling Lie away consecutively, Liang Wenxian felt empty. Not killing Yu Yesheng and sending Ling Lie back unharmed was probably another conspiracy of “Floating Light.”

When Ling Lie arrived at the City Bureau, Ji Chenjiao had already stayed up all night. Of course, although the distance between them was only a few rooms, there was temporarily no chance to meet.

Xie Qing was one of the few people in the Criminal Investigation Detachment who could see Ji Chenjiao now. The inspector opened the door for him, and he put a paper bag on the table containing a hamburger and a cup of iced coffee.

There were dark circles under Ji Chenjiao’s eyes, and stubble had appeared. Although he had just washed his face, he still didn’t look very energetic.

“Captain Xie.” Ji Chenjiao wanted to say something.

Xie Qing gestured for him to eat breakfast quickly. “I know you vain guys care about your figure and don’t like eating hamburgers, but I thought about it and it has the highest energy.”

Ji Chenjiao took out the hamburger, inevitably thinking of Ling Lie—in the past day, he always thought of Ling Lie, from worrying madly to being angry enough to swallow Ling Lie alive, to barely calming down, but then thinking about the investigation Ling Lie would face.

He wanted to say, loving the house and its crow, he didn’t dislike hamburgers anymore now.

“Just eat and listen to me,” Xie Qing said. “Your problem isn’t big. The main thing is that you might be the child lost by the Yu family. Yu Qianming said he felt like old friends at first sight with you. If you weren’t a police officer, he really hoped you could return to the Yu family and inherit the family business that belongs to you.”

Ji Chenjiao said decisively, “Impossible.”

All variables were concentrated on his background and the kinship test Ling Lie hid at home. But from yesterday to now, he had barely spared a thought for this matter. Whether he was Yu Ge or not didn’t matter. Ling Lie taking risks behind his back was what he really cared about.

“Don’t rush to state your position. The formal kinship test hasn’t come out yet,” Xie Qing said. “Yesterday, with Yu Qin and Ling Lie missing, Yu Qianming suddenly informed us of this clue. His intentions are worth exploring. Junior Brother, I don’t think he really feels that blood is thicker than water and wants to find his relatives in the countdown of his life.”

Ji Chenjiao: “He wants to make sure I can’t rise in the public security system.”

“As long as you know this in your heart. I really have no position to intervene in your family affairs. Besides,” Xie Qing paused, “That test result from the gray institution is very unfavorable to you. It at least proves that you and Ling Lie had long guessed about the relationship between you and the Yu family, but you didn’t actively avoid suspicion, nor did you report this clue.”

Ji Chenjiao lowered his gaze and said after a moment, “The responsibility for this lies with me. I accept the punishment.”

“I understand your psychology, and I will explain to the Inspection Team.” Seeing Ji Chenjiao finish breakfast, Xie Qing took the paper bag and prepared to leave. “Junior Brother, don’t have too much psychological burden. It’s just facing the Inspection Team. Me, Captain Ning, who in the position of captain of the Major Crimes Unit hasn’t experienced it?”

Ji Chenjiao understood that Xie Qing came to comfort him. He stood up and saluted Xie Qing. “Senior Brother, thank you.”

Xie Qing smiled. “Don’t be so distant.”

Ji Chenjiao said, “It’s about my vacation last time.”

Xie Qing was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood that Ji Chenjiao, having been locked up all night, had figured out that unusual vacation.

Xie Qing sighed, walked over to hug Ji Chenjiao, and patted him on the back. “Isn’t a leader meant to shoulder responsibilities? I don’t go to the front line or risk my life. If I don’t block anything for you guys, how can I be worthy of you calling me Captain Xie?”

As the door was about to close, Ji Chenjiao finally couldn’t help asking, “Ling Lie… how is he?”

Xie Qing said, “Physically fine, chatting with the inspectors.”

The door shut out the noise outside. Ji Chenjiao stood blankly for a while, then leaned against the table. The events of yesterday replayed in his mind like a rewinding tape. The moment he pushed Ling Lie down, he was truly angry enough to lose his reason. The large bruise on his leg was from Ling Lie’s kick. Only now did he vaguely feel the pain.

But even he didn’t expect that in such a short time, half out of spite and half out of calmness, he made the decision to let Ling Lie go to the county hospital alone.

At that time, he hadn’t fully sorted out the train of thought. He just instinctively didn’t want to see Ling Lie, instinctively felt it was best not to stay with Ling Lie.

After the ambulance drove away, smelling the burnt smell in the wind and the desolation of the coming autumn, he clearly thought of the possibility he later analyzed for Liang Wenxian.

The Inspection Team would inevitably investigate him and Ling Lie, but with Ling Lie under observation in the hospital, the Inspection Team could only take him away in the middle of the night. Both the Major Crimes Unit and the Special Action Team would have more room to respond.

When Ling Lie went to Rongmei alone yesterday, was it also an urgent judgment made under sudden circumstances? So he didn’t tell him?

Ji Chenjiao tiredly brushed his forehead hair, still unable to convince himself to completely let go of this matter. Thinking that Ling Lie might have been buried in the sea of fire, his nerves tensed rapidly.

He even felt a barrier across him and Ling Lie. He couldn’t cross it to forgive Ling Lie.

“Investigate me if you want, what are you locking up Ji Chenjiao for?” Ling Lie sat on the chair with his arms crossed, looking at Xu Jiang with cold brows.

Xu Jiang asked, “Why did you go to Rongmei yesterday?”

Ling Lie recounted receiving Yu Qin’s call, escaping death from the bullets of Yu Qin’s subordinates, and accidentally saving Yu Yesheng. He didn’t embellish, but he also didn’t mention his relationship with Bai Lingxue.

Xu Jiang said, “So you mean Yu Qin wanted to lure you to Rongmei to blow you up, and she also invited ‘Floating Light’ and Yu Yesheng at the same time? If ‘Floating Light’ didn’t show up, Yu Yesheng would take the blame? Why did Yu Qin have to silence you?”

“Because…” Ling Lie stopped. To explain the sequence of events clearly, he had to mention Ji Chenjiao’s background. He didn’t want to tell outsiders.

Xu Jiang pressed step by step, “Because of what?”

A “no comment” was already on the tip of Ling Lie’s tongue, but he suddenly remembered Liang Wenxian’s instructions at the county hospital. That old thing Yu Qianming didn’t mind the trouble getting bigger. Since he said Ji Chenjiao might be a member of the Yu family, hiding it here was meaningless.

Ling Lie changed his posture, sitting more casually. “Because I suspect Ji Chenjiao is Yu Ge. No need for me to introduce who Yu Ge is, right?”

Xu Jiang sneered, “The former you, the current Ji Chenjiao.”

Ling Lie said, “Ji Chenjiao didn’t know. It was my unilateral suspicion. I did both tests. The test results revealed a secret Yu Qin had concealed for more than twenty years. She is not the real Yu Qin. To cover up this secret, she is responsible for at least two homicides.”

Xu Jiang frowned. The Procuratorate had not yet grasped this information.

Ling Lie snorted. “Professional clues are naturally useful only when handed over to professional criminal police. You Procuratorate don’t understand, I don’t blame you, but keeping me locked up here is delaying the investigation.”

Xu Jiang immediately said, “Then how do you explain that Yu Qin wanted to silence others, but in the end, she was silenced herself?”

Ling Lie: “Of course because she sucks.”

Xu Jiang stared into Ling Lie’s eyes for a long time. “I will hand over the clues you provided to Xie Qing of the Major Crimes Unit in full, but you and Ji Chenjiao cannot participate in the investigation for the time being.”

Ling Lie showed a disdainful expression of “I don’t care.”

“Don’t be happy too early.” Xu Jiang asked again, “Did you see ‘Floating Light’ kill Yu Qin and her subordinates with your own eyes?”

Ling Lie said, “Didn’t see it, but heard gunshots and saw blood. I say, Inspector Xu, regarding whether I lied about Yu Qin’s death, can’t you read the autopsy report?”

Xu Jiang wasn’t annoyed. “Bodies burned like that, some incomplete, of course need you, the ‘party involved,’ to supplement the description. Since ‘Floating Light’ and the Yu family are accomplices, why would ‘Floating Light’ kill Yu Qin?”

Ling Lie only stated the most superficial reason. “Yu Qianming cut ties with ‘Floating Light,’ and Yu Qin wanted to frame ‘Floating Light.’ Both sides wanted to rely on the police to strangle ‘Floating Light,’ especially Yu Qin. Being ridden on their heads, would ‘Floating Light’ take no action?”

Xu Jiang said after a while, “Ling Lie, you didn’t tell the truth.”

Ling Lie frowned slightly. “Every word is true.”

“But you concealed something.”

“…”

Xu Jiang said again, “But what I’m most curious about is that you were an insider the whole time. ‘Floating Light’ blew up Yu Qin and everyone, yet actually took you away before the explosion. What exactly is your relationship with ‘Floating Light’?”

Ling Lie was silent.

Xu Jiang said, “Was your joining the Special Action Team ten years ago a conspiracy?”

After a moment of silence, Ling Lie suddenly laughed out loud.

Xu Jiang’s expression turned cold. “What are you laughing at?”

“You’re not insulting me, you’re insulting the IQ of certain people in the Special Action Team.” Ling Lie said, “Why don’t you go ask Captain Fu Zhong… oh right, the old man has retired. Then go inquire about Xiao Yuan, the deputy director of the Dongye City Bureau, and see if he is a fool who invites wolves into the house?”

These words were too vulgar and merciless. Xu Jiang slapped the table. “Ling Lie, you are under investigation by the Inspection Team. I advise you to watch your words and deeds.”

Ling Lie spread his hands. “I’m stating facts. Which sentence poked your lung pipe?”