The surname Ji wasn’t exactly common, and paired with that given name, it was even more rare. Ji Chenjiao glanced over the description of Ji Nocheng in the file—it matched his foster father in age as well. But this Ji Nocheng was a native of Tongqie County and a neighbor of Xu Yinyue; the police had spoken to him during their investigation because of this connection.

Ji Chenjiao had never asked where his foster father came from. When he was seven, his adoptive parents brought him from Xiarong City to neighboring Liyun City, and until he went to university, they had lived there together. Subconsciously, he’d always assumed his foster parents were originally from Liyun City.

His foster parents were in industry—they ran a modest factory, taking orders from state-owned enterprises. Later, they branched into communications and, following market trends, also invested in real estate. Ji Chenjiao knew that the family business didn’t actually belong to the Ji family; it was his foster mother Zhou Yun’s family that laid the foundation. Ji Nocheng had initially been a technician at the factory and only moved into management after marrying Zhou Yun.

Ji Nocheng himself was an exceptional man—whether as a technician or a manager, he did remarkably well. It was also Ji Nocheng who had spearheaded the company’s transformation. More than a decade ago, many small businesses like the Zhou family’s collapsed due to outdated practices or strategic mistakes, but the Zhou family flourished, riding the market wave. Father Zhou was very satisfied with this capable and steady son-in-law and handed him control of the family business. The Zhou family had two other daughters and two sons besides Zhou Yun.

Ji Chenjiao remembered that his foster parents had a very good relationship. Between them, there seemed to be not only love and familial bonds but also the camaraderie of building something together.

With this in mind, Ji Chenjiao felt that if the man in the file really was his foster father, it wouldn’t be strange at all. Ji Nocheng had left this small county town, met Zhou Yun, and since they were unable to have children of their own, they chose to adopt a child from the welfare center in Xiarong City—after all, Tongqie County fell under Xiarong’s jurisdiction.

But there was one thing that struck Ji Chenjiao as odd: after all these years, why had his foster parents never once mentioned Tongqie County?

The chief said that Xu Yinyue had become an orphan because her parents had worked for the Kang family. When she was a teenager, her parents met with accidents one after another and died away from home. At the time, she had a terrible reputation in the county. To support herself, she could only sell loaches.

Later, she studied on her own, took the secondary teaching school exams, and wanted to teach at a county middle school. But because of her parents and their past with the Kang family, she never got the job. For her, it was as if all her years of hard study had turned to waste paper.

Everyone thought she would go astray and follow her parents’ path, but she insisted on being strong. If she couldn’t be a teacher, so be it—there were plenty of other ways to survive.

Ji Chenjiao had heard of what came after.

But the details of the investigation were only known to those involved at the time. The chief said they discovered that although Xu Yinyue never became a teacher, she secretly tutored students. This was strictly forbidden, so until the police got involved, no parents dared spread rumors about it.

Ji Chenjiao asked, “Was her disappearance related to the tutoring?”

The chief shook his head. “We suspected that, but nothing ever came of it.”

Xu Yinyue graduated from secondary school at eighteen, not pregnant at the time. Some people avoided her because of her parents’ relationship with the Kang family, but others, unable to afford expensive tutors elsewhere, brought their kids to her because she charged very little.

At twenty-two, she became pregnant. People thought she had been involved with someone from the Kang family and shunned her for a time. It wasn’t until her child was three that she began secretly tutoring again.

The last person to see Xu Yinyue was a tutoring student, a first-year high schooler. The student said she behaved as usual and even assigned homework. Because the school was holding remedial lessons before final exams, she told him they would resume after the results were out.

Ji Nocheng’s name appeared on the list of students who’d received tutoring.

Ji Chenjiao pointed to his name. “He studied at Xu Yinyue’s house too?”

The chief smiled. “What a coincidence—you two even share the same surname! I knew him—same grade as me. He was the most outstanding student in our year!”

“Oh? Where is he now?”

“He left our department long ago. He went to university in a big city.”

The chief had strong memories of him: Ji Nocheng was a top student, kind, and always first to help classmates. When their classes clashed, the chief’s class always lost to Ji Nocheng’s.

Ji Nocheng was excellent at everything—studies, looks, personality, sports—the teachers adored him. Back then, they all hated how favored he was, but as adults, they understood why.

But the chief hadn’t expected Ji Nocheng to have secretly taken lessons from Xu Yinyue. In fact, he was the first verified tutoring student they’d found.

The chief sighed, “I could never beat him in exams… so he was secretly getting tutoring, huh?”

Ji Chenjiao frowned. “Didn’t Ji Nocheng leave for the city after high school? When Xu Yinyue disappeared, he shouldn’t have been in the county, right? How’d you find him?”

“He came home to visit his parents.” The chief explained Xu Yinyue went missing in winter. Ji Nocheng and his wife came back for New Year’s. The county was small; the police questioned nearly everyone. It was Ji Nocheng himself who admitted to the tutoring.

In his final year, even though Ji Nocheng’s grades were good, Tongqie County’s education lagged far behind. He knew Xu Yinyue had studied at a city teaching school and might have advanced methods. She was often seen near the school gates, clearly looking for students to tutor.

He approached her and asked for lessons. She hadn’t intended to tutor him, but some business was better than none. She brought him home and taught him patiently. Afterward, his grades skyrocketed, leaving the second-ranked student far behind.

He was grateful to Xu Yinyue but busy with university and work. They’d had no contact since. He only heard about her illegitimate child from high school friends. Everyone was surprised, but he’d told the police he wasn’t—she’d always been independent and unrestrained.

Ji Chenjiao barely remembered Ji Nocheng’s parents—they’d lived comfortably in a care home until they passed. Zhou Yun had said they deserved to rest after a hard rural life.

Ji Chenjiao asked, “Did his family stay in the county?”

“They left long ago.” The chief said they’d been taken away that same winter when Xu Yinyue disappeared. He hadn’t seen Ji Nocheng since—not even at reunions.

Ji Chenjiao borrowed the class yearbook from the chief’s wife. Looking at the faded photo, he recognized the thin, youthful Ji Nocheng—his foster father.

A strange feeling grew in Ji Chenjiao’s chest. The case seemed to be shifting into an unpredictable direction. Ji Nocheng’s appearance wasn’t directly connected, but emotionally, Ji Chenjiao couldn’t quite dismiss him as irrelevant.

Kang Wanbin was found dead in a crayfish pond, his hand cut off and dumped on the crayfish shell heap. Tracking the local seafood industry, Ji Chenjiao discovered Tongqie County had once thrived in aquaculture. Kang family inmates said Kang Wanbin often showed up at their markets.

Following this line, he’d found the controversial vendor Xu Yinyue—unmarried, mother to a child, vanished mysteriously. Her knife skills were supposedly better than today’s famed “Loach Queen.”

Investigating her disappearance to see if it linked to Kang Wanbin yielded no direct ties—yet suddenly Ji Nocheng’s name appeared in her past.

Coincidence?

Ji Chenjiao kept calm—it all seemed innocent. Ji Nocheng grew up there, got tutoring from a woman who hadn’t yet become pregnant or disappeared. When she had her child, he was already graduating. When she went missing, he wasn’t living there—he’d only visited for New Year.

The police files made no mention of Kang Wanbin. When Xu Yinyue disappeared, he was studying abroad.

Yet Ji Chenjiao felt lost, as if trapped in fog.

Ling Lie returned to the hotel, cooking loach in Boss Liu’s kitchen, phone on loud playing Jaco’s video.

“This Queen is nothing! Sister Xu was our true loach queen!”

“Come to Tongqie County for real loach! No scams here!”

“I miss Sister Xu. She was so beautiful when young…”

The stew simmered, its scent thickening. Ling Lie, eyes closed, counted time. When the lid lifted, fragrant steam burst out.

The loach was tender, perfect.

When Ji Chenjiao returned, Ling Lie regretfully set the dish down. “Ah, Captain Ji—you came back just now?”

Ji Chenjiao, lost in thought, murmured, “Hm?”

Ling Lie tapped his chopsticks. “I guess I can’t eat it all alone now.”

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

Ling Lie grinned, leaning close. “Captain Ji?”

Ji Chenjiao shoved him away, washed up, and sat to eat. In his bowl were the fattest loaches.

Ling Lie said, “You look brain-dead from overthinking. Eat the best—it’ll help.”

The fattest were indeed the tastiest. Ji Chenjiao slowly realized Ling Lie had picked the best for him.

The loach was delicious beyond expectation—even the broth was good for two bowls of rice. Ji Chenjiao ate and spoke of the “variable” he’d found.

“Ji Nocheng is my foster father. I can’t detach myself emotionally to see this clearly. You’re an outsider—what do you think? His presence doesn’t affect the case, right?”

Ling Lie set down his chopsticks. “Interesting. Captain Ji, maybe this case is meant for you.”

His eyes gleamed strangely in the light. Ji Chenjiao, watching him, felt as if he were the one being studied. “Why?”

Ling Lie asked, “Why did your father suddenly appear here in this investigation?”

Ji Chenjiao had no answer. He’d asked Ling Lie to be the detached thinker, yet Ling Lie pulled him deeper into the storm.

He kept wondering—why, indeed, did Ji Nocheng appear now?

Ling Lie added, “We were chasing Kang Wanbin’s trail, but now he seems to have vanished from the case.”

Ji Chenjiao felt a tightening in his chest. Since arriving, Xu Yinyue had been the clearest clue. People blamed her fate on the Kang family, but no one had directly pointed to Kang Wanbin. Even the county police ruled the Kang family out. Ironically, Ji Nocheng’s connection to her seemed closer than Kang Wanbin’s.

Ling Lie poured loach broth onto rice, stirred it fragrant and spicy, ate two mouthfuls with a pleased hum, then said, “Captain Ji, some cases target the police themselves.”

These words were like a hand, instantly twisting Ji Chenjiao’s nerves into a knot. He murmured almost to himself, “Targeting me?”

“It’s not impossible that they’re targeting your family too.” Ling Lie shoveled food into his mouth.

Ji Chenjiao thought of his adoptive parents, who had suddenly decided to travel west. They had claimed they just wanted to relax, but both times he called, neither Ji Nuocheng nor Zhou Yun had sounded relaxed at all. He sensed something was off—but after so many years of living together, their patterns of behavior made him hold back from asking directly if something was wrong.

But now his father’s name appeared in the case he was investigating. Coupled with his parents’ strange behavior… was this really just coincidence?

The loach tasted delicious, but Ji Chenjiao no longer had the appetite to enjoy it. He picked up his phone, walked to the window, and dialed Ji Nuocheng’s number.

After about ten seconds, the call connected. Ji Nuocheng’s voice sounded calm, as if he was outdoors; the howling of the wind could be heard in the background. “Xiao Chen, what’s the matter?”

Ji Chenjiao’s brows gradually knit together. His father’s calmness felt forced. He knew what Ji Nuocheng was like when he was truly gentle and composed—like when he had chosen the name ‘Chenjiao’ for him. But now, there was tension hidden in his voice. This was not a call Ji Nuocheng had wanted to receive.

“Dad, where exactly are you traveling to now?”

“We’re in the west.”

“Where in the west?”

Ji Nuocheng paused. “Xiao Chen, did something happen?”

“Hm? No. Why do you ask?”

“Ah, good then. Just asking. You don’t usually ask where we are.” Ji Nuocheng changed the subject. “Is work busy? Have you eaten?”

Ji Chenjiao said, “Where’s Mom? I want to talk to her for a bit.”

“She… she went off with some friends she met along the way to take photos.”

“So you’re alone now?”

“Yes, we joined a small tour group. I’ve got a bit of altitude sickness, so I fell behind the rest.”

Ji Chenjiao listened to his father’s breathing on the other end. After a moment, he said again, “Dad, I actually called today because I wanted to ask you something.”

“Alright. Go on.”

“There was a case in Xiaron City recently. The victim was a well-known businessman named Kang Wanbin.”

“I know. It was all over the news. He was from that Kang family.”

Ji Chenjiao felt his father’s tension spike. Some people talk more when they’re nervous—and Ji Nuocheng was like that.

“I’m currently in Kang Wanbin’s hometown, Tongqie County, investigating the case.”

As soon as he said this, Ji Chenjiao clearly heard the sound of his father’s breath catch. “Dad?”

“Ah… Tongqie County. Right.”

“Dad, was your hometown Tongqie County?”

“No!” Ji Nuocheng replied quickly, but then seemed to realize why Ji Chenjiao was asking and added, “Why are you suddenly asking about me? I didn’t catch on right away. It’s true—I used to stay in Tongqie County for a while. Xiao Chen, are you asking about something there?”

“Yes, because I happened to see your name in some old case files.”

“O-old case files?”

“The Xu Yinyue disappearance case. Do you remember it?”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, broken only by the howling wind.

“I don’t get it. Weren’t you investigating Kang Wanbin? How’s this related to Xu Yinyue?”

“We followed Kang Wanbin’s trail and it led to Xu Yinyue. The locals all say she was harmed by the Kang family, so we’re looking into it as well.” Ji Chenjiao said, “Dad, are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m just surprised. I never thought after so many years I’d hear Miss Xu’s name again—and from you, no less.”

“Miss Xu?”

“Yeah. She was my tutor when I was in high school.”

Ji Nuocheng began recounting his memories of Xu Yinyue. Ji Chenjiao had heard many people talk about her, and his father’s account didn’t differ much. But then Ji Nuocheng said he had once seen someone from the Kang family harassing her.

Ji Chenjiao immediately asked, “When? Who was it?”

“After my college entrance exam. I’d received my admission notice and was so grateful to Miss Xu that I bought a watermelon and some cold dishes to celebrate with her. But she wasn’t home. Just as I was about to leave, I heard arguing. Miss Xu was being dragged by a man. I didn’t recognize him, but he was definitely with the Kang family—one of those guys who patrolled the seafood market. He threatened her, telling her not to cross the Kang family.”

Ji Nuocheng gave a bitter laugh. “Xiao Chen, you probably think I’m a coward for not stepping in to protect her. But I was only eighteen. The Kang family ruled Tongqie County—I didn’t dare play the hero. I hid in a corner and didn’t make a sound. Miss Xu was pushed back into the house. I never got to celebrate with her. The watermelon and cold dishes—I ended up sharing them with my classmates.”

“You investigating this now… maybe it’s fate giving me a chance to atone.” Ji Nuocheng sighed. “Xiao Chen, Miss Xu was harmed by the Kang family. She’s been missing so many years—she must be dead. If you can catch the murderer, her soul will finally rest in peace.”

After some more conversation, during which Zhou Yun still didn’t return, Ji Nuocheng urged his son to solve the case, then hung up.

Ji Chenjiao leaned against the window, replaying the call in his mind.

Everyone said Xu Yinyue had been harmed by the Kang family—but their descriptions were always vague, with no specific names or events. Only Ji Nuocheng had said he’d personally seen her being followed and dragged into her house by someone from the Kang family.

But the county bureau’s old files didn’t mention this at all.

Maybe Ji Nuocheng hadn’t told anyone back then. Understandable—he was a newlywed, visiting home for the New Year, and the Kang family still held power. No man of that age would want his wife to see his fear. He’d chosen to keep it secret. It made sense.

Behind him came the sound of clinking dishes. Ji Chenjiao turned to see Ling Lie finishing up the loach and rice, cleaning up.

“I’ll do it.” Ji Chenjiao walked over and took the bowls.

Ling Lie followed behind. “You sounded so distant talking to your dad.”

“Distant?”

“Like interrogating a suspect—not talking to your father.”

Ji Chenjiao turned his head. “Was it that bad?”

“Not your words—your expression. Terrifying.” Ling Lie pulled out his phone and openly showed off a photo he’d sneakily taken. “You look just like when you interrogate suspects.”

Ji Chenjiao raised an eyebrow. When he questioned someone, every nerve and sense became a cage, enclosing the suspect without gaps—missing nothing.

He really had been like that on the call—something he hadn’t noticed until Ling Lie pointed it out.

Ling Lie patted his shoulder. “Hey man, are you mad ‘cause I said you looked scary?”

“How could I be?”

“Then why stare at me like that?”

Ji Chenjiao looked away, continuing to wash dishes.

“Scary as in your aura—not ugly.” Ling Lie patted him again. “Relax. You’re still handsome. A serious man is the most beautiful.”

Ji Chenjiao gave him a light kick. “You’re the beautiful one.”

Ling Lie grinned. “You don’t get along that well with your dad?”

“It’s okay. But we’re not biologically related.”

Ling Lie narrowed his eyes slightly. “Hug for Captain Ji.”

Ji Chenjiao waved him off. “Hands off.”

Ling Lie laughed carelessly. “Ah, Captain Ji’s had a good meal—time to solve some crimes!”

Ji Chenjiao: “…No baby talk allowed!”

Thanks to Jaco’s report, the “Loach Queen” Xu Yinyue—missing for years—had returned to public attention. Independent media swarmed into Tongqie County, digging into every forgotten corner of this little place.

Ji Chenjiao instructed the Major Crimes Unit to monitor online chatter closely. Even if most of it was rumors, even a 0.01% chance of truth was worth checking.

Jaco was still in Tongqie County. His recent reports had left the competition far behind, so his boss sent him two new assistants and even came personally to “reward the troops” with a huge table of crayfish.

Jaco barely touched the food, frequently checking the comment section. Suddenly, he noticed a message from a user with a garbled name saying that their elderly mother—after seeing the news about Xu Yinyue—remembered their old friendship with her. Back then, they’d been too afraid of the Kang family to speak out. Now nearing the end of life, they wanted to tell the truth publicly.

Jaco smiled and stood up immediately.

His boss, drunk and tipsy, called after him, “Hey, we’re not done eating—where are you going?”

Jaco turned back with a grin. “Bringing a lead to the police—broadening our company’s connections.”