The most terrifying thing about a missing person is that you never know what role they played in a case—were they the perpetrator or the victim—and you never know when they might appear again.

Although only Wan Yue clearly stated that Huang Ke coveted Tang Hongting, as the first suspicious figure to emerge in this old case, Ji Chenjiao had to investigate thoroughly no matter what.

Huang Ke had no friends but used to help his father make deliveries, which was his first livelihood. For ordinary people, their livelihood is their connection to society, so the investigation had to start with his work.

But this wasn’t considered evidence collection, so neither Xi Wan nor Shen Qi were as suitable for the task as one particular person—Ling Lie.

“Captain Ji, are you finally going to fulfill your promise to buy me a car?” Ling Lie was sipping a drink from Mixue Bingcheng by the roadside, slurping noisily through a straw.

Ji Chenjiao replied, “…A promise you dreamed of?”

Ling Lie grinned, “Oh, maybe it was a new phone.”

Ji Chenjiao glanced at him. This guy was at least straightforward.

Utterly ridiculous.

Ji Chenjiao said, “I could consider a bicycle.”

Ling Lie chuckled. “So what’s the job?”

“Go to Cangshui Town and ask around about someone.”

Huang Ke’s father initially hauled sand for a construction company, but the work was tough, and he stopped when Huang Ke finished junior high. With no more school fees to pay and some savings set aside, he took out a loan to buy a small truck to deliver goods to the local beef processing plants, naturally dealing with these factories. Huang Ke was idle and unskilled, unable to find a proper job, so he inevitably came into contact with factory owners and merchants when helping his father.

Ling Lie dressed like the locals and easily blended in, asking around. He found that the factory gatekeepers, warehouse masters, workers, and accountants who had worked with the Huang family had surprisingly good impressions of Huang Ke—very different from the hooligan image others described.

In their eyes, Huang Ke was quiet but efficient, reliable, and uncomplaining. Truck drivers usually didn’t have to load or unload goods—that was the workers’ job—but Huang Ke always helped and kept a box of bottled water in the truck for anyone who needed a drink, never minding the cost.

Sometimes when the factory delayed payments or made accounting errors, Huang Ke would point it out, but unlike other drivers who would mock or get anxious, he simply stated the issue calmly, never rushed or cursed, and continued doing business once he got paid.

“We like drivers like him. We all work hard for a living, no one owes anyone anything. I’m wary of those sly, grinning types. Xiao Huang is honest. I trust him.”

“Later he stopped delivering goods as much, but we understand—not much money in it. His dad’s getting old, but he’s young, he should go out and explore.”

“What did he go do? I don’t know. But you could ask around in Taiwan Town. I think he got involved with someone from there.”

Taiwan Town was nearby, better connected than Cangshui, and the local beef products were mostly shipped through there.

Ling Lie rode a tricycle to Taiwan Town, and after asking around, tracked down someone who might know Huang Ke—a man surnamed Wang, a former driver now running a fruit wholesale shop.

Chatting with him over watermelon, Boss Wang reminisced about events eight years ago. His truck broke down during a delivery and the goods were ruined. Huang Ke happened to pass by, helped him, and even lent him 500 yuan, knowing they were strangers and he might never get the money back.

Moved by this, Boss Wang got through that crisis and often waited in Taiwan Town to meet up with Huang Ke for deliveries. Over time, they became sworn brothers.

“My buddy looked fierce but had a really good heart.”

For half a year they worked together, until Boss Wang heard from young folks in town about long-haul trucking jobs down south—more money, the company provided trucks, but it was exhausting, covering routes from the southwest to the northeast, across the country, requiring trustworthy partners.

So Boss Wang urged Huang Ke to join him. At first, Huang Ke refused, but Boss Wang persuaded him. They left home for weeks or even months at a time. It was hard work, but their wallets grew fat, and they were happy.

“We worked nearly three years, planned to do five more, save enough to settle down—me opening a shop, him finding a wife—but then he suddenly told me he was quitting. I kept asking why. Finally, he said his dad was sick, needed care, couldn’t leave home anymore.”

Those three years matched the period when Huang Ke went missing.

Ling Lie asked, “But staying home won’t earn money. What was his plan?”

Boss Wang slapped his thigh. “I said the same! I even offered him money, but he refused. Said he’d go check the city.”

By “the city,” he meant Xiarong City.

Boss Wang said Huang Ke had grown unusually stubborn this time. No persuading him. He said he had a connection in the city, might find cheap medicine, or get a good job.

After arriving in Xiarong City, Huang Ke kept in touch a few times, said things were fine, job hunting, his father’s medicine sorted out. But three months later, Boss Wang couldn’t reach him—phone disconnected, social accounts vanished. When Huang’s father passed, Boss Wang brought money to the funeral, but kept calling to no avail.

“I figure something bad happened to him,” Boss Wang said sadly. “He was simple, kind, loved his dad. No way he’d skip his father’s death unless something terrible happened. But maybe… he broke the law to get money… I don’t dare call the police. What if he did something desperate?”

After hearing this, Ji Chenjiao fell into deep thought. Huang Ke’s months-long absence was explained—five years ago, he gave up his old job because of his father’s illness and went to Xiarong City for cheaper medicine or quick money.

The “connection” he mentioned—who could it be?

Cheap medicine… a connection…

Huang Ke probably had some social difficulty. His closest tie was Boss Wang. Since Wang knew no such person, this “connection” likely wasn’t someone from their trucking days down south. Probably an old acquaintance from his hometown—he must’ve been truly desperate to seek them out.

Ji Chenjiao closed his eyes, and Wan Yue’s face emerged. Wan Yue’s stepfather ran a pharmaceutical company—Xiangtian Pharma—and Wan Yue returned from overseas five and a half years ago, flaunting his wealth and status in Cangshui around the same time.

Could this “connection” be Wan Yue? Did something happen when Huang Ke approached him?

If so, Wan Yue was bold indeed—mentioning Huang Ke peeping on Tang Hongting, implying he sought revenge for her, all because the police would never find Huang Ke to refute him.

Perhaps because Huang Ke was already dead.

Ji Chenjiao abruptly opened his eyes. It was because Huang Ke had sought out Wan Yue that Wan Yue dared to speak so confidently—knowing the man who might contradict him was gone.

For example—a dead man.

Ji Chenjiao returned to his computer and searched for Wan Yue’s stepfather’s company, Xiangtian Pharma. The top results were all about new drugs, charity, donations to poor regions. But further down came negative reports—sales reps violating regulations, illegal waste dumping, financial crimes by executives.

If Huang Ke had met misfortune during his dealings with Wan Yue, Xiangtian was probably involved. Its problems might also explain why Huang Ke didn’t try for a job there.

But investigating Xiangtian would face resistance, and the Major Crimes Unit lacked the manpower.

Ji Chenjiao went to his superior’s office and reported everything. “Wan Yue holds dual degrees, but I checked his records abroad—he’s a failure. His current status is bought by his mother. Normally such a person would stay in the family firm. Maybe his mother pushed him out because she knew the company had problems that could drag him down.”

Xie Qing asked, “So how will you investigate? Can you handle it?”

Ji Chenjiao replied, “That’s why I’m asking you.”

Xie Qing smiled. “Little brother, always giving your big brother trouble.” But then he added, “Last year an executive from Xiangtian was jailed for financial crimes. I’ll apply for a visitation permit and send someone to talk to him.”

Ji Chenjiao sighed with relief. “Thanks, Senior.”

The prison holding Xiangtian’s former executive was in another province. Though Xie Qing said he’d send someone, he actually took the high-speed train himself and would only see the man the next day. That night, Chen Jing’s Nancheng detective squad discovered a female corpse by a river ditch on the southern outskirts—

Although the Zhang Xuming case, connected to an unsolved mystery from twelve years ago, was under Major Crimes’ coordination, Ji Chenjiao trusted Chen Jing’s ability and gave her autonomy. She refused to give up until finding suspect Li Aijie, visiting neighborhoods and reviewing surveillance footage, spotting Li Aijie wandering around Xuncao Village.

The village store’s cameras captured her in black sportswear, baseball cap, dark blue striped bag.

Li Aijie had arrived by town minibus, but no record showed her returning. Chen Jing brought in police dogs and expanded the search. On the third day, a villager reported a strange smell while cutting bamboo shoots.

Local mountain folk knew every scent by season—anything unusual meant trouble.

Chen Jing shifted the search. At dusk, the dogs found the body buried under mud and grass.

In May’s heat, the stench was overpowering. The body had at least four stab wounds in the chest and abdomen, no belongings, but clothes matched those seen in the store footage.

The corpse was taken for autopsy and DNA testing. Though not officially confirmed yet, Ji Chenjiao and Chen Jing both suspected—it was Li Aijie.

That night, the autopsy and DNA confirmed it. Her heart, liver, intestines—severely stabbed; pericardial tamponade. Besides the fatal wounds, her head, shoulders, and arms showed bruises and struggle marks; the scalp was torn. She had fought fiercely before death.

Detectives monitoring Li Aibing immediately brought him to the station. He knelt silently upon seeing his sister’s corpse, mouthing words without sound.

From the car to the morgue, Ji Chenjiao watched him closely. His reaction was still conflicted—deep sorrow, but eerie calm, like he’d expected this outcome all along, waiting for the sword to fall.

“I’ll send him home. In this state, he can’t help the investigation,” Chen Jing said.

Ji Chenjiao nodded. “Thank you.”

Early the next morning, Ji Chenjiao was woken by the shrill ring of his phone. On the other end, Chen Jing said urgently, “Captain Ji, Li Aibing is missing!”

The police surveillance on Li Aibing wasn’t as strict as having someone guard his door or point a camera directly at his window; his level of suspicion hadn’t reached that stage yet. All the police needed was to track his daily routine and be aware of his whereabouts.

That day, when Li Aijie was confirmed dead, Li Aibing returned home in complete silence, grief barely hidden beneath his expression. The officers accompanying him even felt pity. Before entering his apartment, he turned around and gave the officers a slight bow to express gratitude for escorting him home.

One officer comforted him, “Stay strong. We’ll make sure the murderer is brought to justice.”

“To justice…” Li Aibing muttered, shaking his head slightly.

The officer asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Li Aibing gave a bitter smile, turning away. His back looked thin and hunched. “Thank you.”

The officers returned to their vehicle and dozed off during the early morning hours. When they awoke and checked the surveillance footage as usual, they hadn’t seen Li Aibing leave the building. But soon after, Chen Jing called, asking them to bring Li Aibing in for further questioning. When they knocked on his door, there was no response. Checking the footage again, they discovered that at around 4 a.m., an elderly white-haired man had left the building.

After repeatedly comparing the man’s height, build, and gait, they confirmed—it was Li Aibing!

“I knew Li Aibing was suspicious! He kept claiming how close he was with his sister, but while she was missing these past few days, he was still out shopping at the mall! Way too calm!” Vice-Captain Zhang Feng roared. “He gambled that we’d never find the body, so his life wouldn’t be affected. But now that the body’s been found, he knew we’d close in on him—so he ran!”

Chen Jing rubbed her aching head. The tracking teams had already been dispatched, and technical surveillance was trying to locate Li Aibing via cameras and cell signals, but no good news had come in yet.

Unlike Zhang Feng, Chen Jing didn’t believe Li Aibing was simply on the run. If he wanted to flee out of guilt, he’d had plenty of chances before. Was he waiting for confirmation of his sister’s death? But why?

Ji Chenjiao, who had stayed up late the night before, shook off his drowsiness midway through the call and hurried to Li Aibing’s apartment.

In the footage, Li Aibing was seen carrying a small travel bag. Its lower part bulged slightly but didn’t seem heavily packed. The room itself was tidy and clean.

Officers from the local precinct were carefully searching the apartment. Ji Chenjiao picked up a framed photo of the siblings from the TV cabinet, frowning. What was Li Aibing planning by slipping away from the police’s watch now?

Suddenly, an officer in the study shouted, “Captain Chen! Captain Ji!”

The officer held a sealed glass jar containing yellow needle-like crystals. Ji Chenjiao carefully put on gloves, took the jar, and cautiously opened the lid.

Chen Jing’s pupils shrank. “This is…”

“Gunpowder,” Ji Chenjiao said.

The others gasped. “Why would Li Aibing have this? What’s he planning?”

“Material for an explosive,” Chen Jing muttered, a rare look of tension on her face. “We must find him immediately. Otherwise…”

Ji Chenjiao put the jar down and glanced at the time—8:30 a.m. Most businesses opened at nine. If Li Aibing’s target was that person, they might still make it!

“Captain Chen, head for Building 3 at Financial Harbor immediately. Li Aibing works at Quanyao Investments!”

The police cars sped through the city as Ji Chenjiao called for backup from the city’s SWAT team. At last, he understood the strange conflict in Li Aibing’s behavior.

Li Aibing had been involved in the murder case twelve years ago. The deaths of Liu Yuchun and Zhang Xuming made him realize that someone was eliminating all past participants. His sister, whom he relied on, had disappeared—and she was likely the one who killed Zhang Xuming.

Why did she kill? To protect him.

But after that, she never contacted him again. Perhaps she had been killed by that person too. Caught between deep grief and desperate hope, he’d forced himself to stay calm.

Because the police hadn’t yet officially confirmed her death. What if? What if she’d only run away?

He had to maintain this fragile illusion for as long as he could.

But now—if his sister had truly been murdered, then there was only one possible killer. Only one.

He’d prepared a weapon long ago, even explosives—though why he possessed such things remained unclear. Once his sister’s death was confirmed, nothing could hold him back. He was going to seek revenge.

On Wan Yue—the other participant in the Tang Hongting case!

During the morning rush, Financial Harbor was packed with sharply dressed professionals. Some drove luxury cars; others sipped Starbucks coffee and nibbled sandwiches as they hurried to their offices.

It was said this was where most of Xiarong City’s elite gathered.

Li Aibing got off the bus and squeezed into the crowd heading toward the central business tower. He’d removed his conspicuous white wig and straightened his back, but his black tracksuit and backpack still made him stand out.

People glanced curiously at him, wondering if he was an intern. Though good-looking, his outfit was odd for the place.

Li Aibing shifted his backpack to his chest, put on a baseball cap, and followed the crowd into the central business tower. Quanyao Investments was inside this very building. Soon, Wan Yue would arrive.

Li Aibing slipped his right hand into his bag, feeling for the hidden compartment that held his outdoor knife.

It was a sharp knife, long enough to kill if stabbed into the heart. But he wasn’t confident about attacking Wan Yue in such a public space. So he had a backup plan—the explosive beneath the hidden compartment.

His cold gaze swept over the passing white-collar workers. He recalled how his sister had once said she wanted to become someone like them.

Who had ruined her? Him? No—it was Wan Yue and those bastards!

Traffic jams delayed the city and local police cars. Ji Chenjiao contacted the nearby Financial Harbor police station, ordering them to watch for anyone matching Li Aibing’s description, and tried to call Wan Yue.

Wan Yue, walking from the parking garage toward the business tower, frowned at the incoming call, ignored it, and stowed his phone away. There were plenty of excuses—driving, busy unlocking the door, in a meeting. Easy to brush off.

With graceful poise, Wan Yue entered the lobby, smiling politely at the receptionist. But then he felt something—a cold, clammy sensation creeping up his neck.

Suspicious, he turned. The crowd parted slightly, revealing Li Aibing stepping out from behind the elevator wall.

Their eyes locked. Li Aibing’s left hand hung by his side; his right was buried in his backpack. Wan Yue’s eyes widened in shock, his lips shaping the words: “Li Aibing?”

The nearby office workers instinctively sensed danger and scattered. Wan Yue took a step back, trying to flee.

But Li Aibing’s hand shot out from the bag, holding a 7-centimeter knife with a blood groove!

Screams erupted. People ran wildly, some falling, high heels clattering to the floor. In a flash, Li Aibing lunged straight at Wan Yue, the blade aimed for his chest!

But the expected carnage didn’t occur. Wan Yue reacted fast, dodging the knife. Yet Li Aibing’s momentum carried him forward, knocking Wan Yue to the floor. The two struggled fiercely as local officers rushed in. “Stop! Police!”

Wan Yue froze for an instant. Li Aibing seized the chance to grab the knife and press it to Wan Yue’s throat.

Though bigger and stronger, Wan Yue dared not move. Sweat drenched his expensive tailored suit as his heart pounded wildly, the pulse in his carotid artery pressing against the cold blade.

He had no doubt—Li Aibing would strike without hesitation.

“Drop the knife!” the officers shouted, trembling slightly. The worst they’d handled here was financial disputes—this was something else entirely. “Release the hostage!”

Li Aibing slowly backed away with Wan Yue in his grip. “Stay back! There’s explosive powder in my bag!”

As soon as these words left his mouth, screams erupted once again, and the crowd scattered in panic.

The local police station could no longer handle the situation and immediately reported to Ji Chenjiao.

Inside the police car, the atmosphere turned tense. Ji Chenjiao made a quick decision—he and the other members of the Major Crimes Unit jumped out and rushed toward the nearest subway station.

There was only one stop left to Financial Harbor. Ji Chenjiao instructed the local police to stabilize Li Aibing and organize an evacuation.

“My sister’s dead. You killed her, didn’t you?” Li Aibing, despite being extremely agitated, was frighteningly calm. He gripped Wan Yue tightly, his voice pouring coldly into the other’s ear. “Bastard. Wan Yue, you really are a bastard. I should’ve killed you back then!”

Wan Yue fought to suppress his fear, panting heavily. In a low voice that only the two of them could hear, he said, “If you do this, we’ll both die! Listen to me—let me go. I wasn’t the one who killed your sister…”

Before he could finish, the tip of the blade pressed into his skin, drawing a thin line of blood. Wan Yue froze, not daring to move.

“How can you still lie to my face?” Li Aibing said coldly. “If it wasn’t you, then who else killed her?”

Wan Yue winced in pain. “What choice did I have? She came to kill me first! If I hadn’t acted, I’d be dead already!”

“You think you don’t deserve to die?” Li Aibing laughed bitterly in rage. “Today, you’re going to die here. Even if this knife can’t kill you, what’s in my bag is more than enough to blow you to pieces!”

Wan Yue shuddered. “You want to die with me?”

Li Aibing’s voice turned mournful. “Twelve years ago… I should’ve died with you then.”