Chapter 48
Ren Yi followed Gong Yingxian into the room. It was a spacious area filled with bookshelves and large tables, each covered with various objects that looked like pieces of evidence. The walls were lined with photos, clippings, and documents.
On a small, intricately designed table covered with white velvet, there was only a single picture frame.
Gong Yingxian walked to the table, removed his gloves, and gently picked up the frame, his slender fingers lightly caressing the person in the photograph.
Ren Yi walked over to his side. Gong Yingxian handed him the frame.
Ren Yi received it with great care. He wasn’t just accepting a small frame; he was accepting the trust of a man who hadn’t given it to a stranger in eighteen years.
The photograph was a family portrait of four. It was the most beautiful family Ren Yi had ever seen. The father was handsome and elegant, the mother a national beauty, and their two children looked like little elves, radiant and charming.
Ren Yi focused on the young, innocent boy in the photo. His eyes were as clear as spring water, his smile as bright as flowers. He was held in his mother’s arms, joyfully spreading his arms as if ready to embrace the world. His face showed no fear, no coldness, no sorrow.
But not long after, this child lost everything, falling from the clouds into an abyss from which there was no escape.
Ren Yi couldn’t help but look up at the grown-up Gong Yingxian, feeling an indescribable pain in his chest.
Gong Yingxian averted his gaze and said calmly, “Don’t look at me like that.”
Ren Yi gripped the frame, bitter and at a loss for words.
“My sister and Yan were best friends. They grew up together.” Gong Yingxian chuckled softly. “When I was little, I always wanted to follow them around, but they used to say they’d only let me play when I grew up.”
Ren Yi looked at the girl in the photo, noticing the resemblance to Gong Feilan, just as Qiu Yan had described—a girl like an angel.
“I grew up, but she never did.”
Ren Yi’s nose stung with emotion as he carefully placed the frame back in its original position, silently praying for those in heaven to watch over Gong Yingxian, to help him find the culprit and avenge them.
Gong Yingxian sat down at the table and pointed to the chair opposite him. “Have a seat.”
Ren Yi sat down, glancing around. Just looking at the wall covered in clues was overwhelming, especially since many of the photos were familiar to him—scenes from after the fire.
Gong Yingxian noticed Ren Yi’s gaze. He had never recounted all of this to anyone before and wasn’t sure where to begin. After collecting his thoughts, he slowly started to speak, “My father was the chairman of Baosheng Group back then. The Tianhe Baosheng Chemical Plant was one of Baosheng Group’s factories. You should know the cause of the accident, right?”
Ren Yi nodded. “They say it was caused by a vinyl acetate explosion.”
“Yes. The vinyl acetate explosion ignited nearby chemicals, leading to a chain of explosions. That’s not disputed. But the real cause of the accident and the person responsible…”
Gong Yingxian gritted his teeth. “It’s absolutely not what the media reported.”
“You mean the investigation into the case was wrong?”
“Someone manipulated the investigation, fabricated evidence, misled the conclusions. When they realized the truth might come out, they killed my father, faked it as a suicide out of guilt, and pinned all the blame on him.”
Ren Yi frowned deeply. “Do you know who did it?”
“I have my suspicions, but I can’t be certain,” Gong Yingxian said gravely. “The case is incredibly complex, involving many people both inside and outside the group. The evidence from back then is hard to find. Yan and I have been struggling to uncover the truth.”
Ren Yi thought for a moment and then asked a few questions. “Was the chemical plant explosion an accident or deliberate? Who investigated the case at the time, and were they the same people who handled the investigation into your family’s fire? What useful evidence still remains?”mzMvjipCnHhqCmCxyzieFgEpNIMJAb
voEPxzRyeKEkQBMEboPXNKCuSOlybH
CQbpLyIcwHgNRPA“The investigation into the chemical plant explosion was officially ruled an accident, but given that it was handled by the same people who investigated my family’s case, I have my doubts. Eighteen years ago, electronic communication wasn’t as advanced, and the internet was just starting to develop. Since the case was closed back then, there’s very little useful evidence left. I’ll show you what I have later.”
“Wouldn’t the investigators themselves be the prime suspects then?”
Gong Yingxian’s eyes flashed with hatred. “The captain of the first team in the criminal investigation division at the Hanning Sub-bureau. He died two years after the case was closed, from alcohol poisoning.”
“Could he have been silenced?”
“Possibly. He was originally our biggest lead,” Gong Yingxian said gravely. “Someone wanted to bury everything from back then in ashes, never to see the light of day. But I’m determined to bring it all out into the open.”
“What’s the story with the bird mask?”
Gong Yingxian lowered his gaze. “That night, I saw a man wearing a bird mask. But I thought it was a ghost. For many years after, I wasn’t sure if I had imagined it. It wasn’t until later, through deep memory regression therapy under hypnosis, that I confirmed he was real. By then, the case had long been closed, and no one believed the testimony of a six-year-old child.”
“Memory regression…” Ren Yi gasped.
To undergo memory regression, one has to revisit the memory under hypnosis, and it often takes more than one attempt to succeed. This meant that Gong Yingxian had to repeatedly return to the night of the fire, reliving the most terrifying, painful, and cruel memories over and over again, just to find some useful clue.
There was no extra expression on Gong Yingxian’s face, only an emptiness in his eyes.
Ren Yi’s heart ached. He couldn’t imagine how Gong Yingxian had endured all these years in a foreign country. He couldn’t help but reach out and gently touch Gong Yingxian’s head, his hand trembling as he said softly, “You’ve suffered.”
Gong Yingxian’s body trembled slightly, and his expression stiffened as if suppressing something. He whispered, “As long as I can catch the killer, I’m willing to pay any price.”
“We will catch the killer,” Ren Yi said with certainty. “With the statute of limitations approaching, fate has placed someone with knowledge of the case in your hands. This isn’t a coincidence—it’s a sign that the truth is about to come to light.”
Gong Yingxian took a moment to compose himself. “The bird mask never appeared in the case file because I couldn’t describe it clearly at the time, and the police didn’t believe in ghosts. So the only person who knows about the mask is the killer. I’ll figure out how the hooded man knew about it.”
“He’s the perfect lead. Isn’t this why you became a cop in the first place?”
Gong Yingxian nodded. “Only by being a cop could I access the powerful resources of the police system. Yan and I have the same goal. Over the years, she’s helped me so much. When I was still young, she did everything she could to investigate, collect evidence, and preserve records that might have otherwise disappeared. Without her, I probably wouldn’t have made it this far alone.”
Ren Yi now fully understood why Gong Yingxian was so gentle and close only to Qiu Yan. They carried the same pain and shared the same secrets, supporting each other through it all. Their bond was deeper than blood; Qiu Yan was someone Ren Yi could never compare to.
Ren Yi felt a pang of sourness in his heart, but also relief that at least Gong Yingxian wasn’t fighting this battle alone. “Captain Qiu is truly no ordinary woman. You’re lucky to have her helping you.”
Gong Yingxian stood up and walked over to the wall covered in clues. “Come and take a look.”dLmuLwgeWhwHtfKUNYnKOOzBcjBjVw
Ren Yi walked over and leaned in to examine the post-fire photos and the old, yellowed paper documents. He felt even more awed. Evidence from a fire is already heavily compromised, even when collected immediately, and with the scene long gone and so much time passed, gathering what they had was a monumental feat.
“These pieces of evidence were shown to a fire investigation expert before,” Gong Yingxian explained, “but because the photo resolution is too low and I couldn’t reveal the case details to strangers, nothing valuable was found. Recently, I’ve heard of new AI technology that can precisely restore old photographs. I’ve sent all the photos for restoration.”
“Is this all the physical evidence you’ve been able to collect?” Ren Yi asked.
“There are still some pieces of evidence stored in the Public Security Bureau’s evidence room. They keep things for twenty years after a case is closed, after which, if there are no objections, the physical evidence is destroyed, leaving only digital records.”
“Did you manage to get them?”
Gong Yingxian shook his head. “I’ve seen them and taken photos, but I can’t take them out. I don’t have a legitimate reason to request the physical evidence, and doing so might alert someone. Unless I have enough evidence to challenge the conclusions of the closed case, I can’t take that risk. This is a serious matter. It would mean holding everyone involved in the original investigation accountable. I can’t make a move unless I’m fully certain.”
“When the restored photos come back, we can conduct a new fire investigation,” Ren Yi suggested.
At that moment, a knock came from the door. Qiu Yan had arrived.
Ren Yi greeted her, and she responded with her usual grace, confidence, and professionalism. Today, she was wearing a dark gray suit, almost identical in color and style to Gong Yingxian’s outfit. Standing together, they didn’t just seem close—they were strikingly well-matched in both appearance and temperament, like a perfect pair.
Ren Yi suddenly felt like there wasn’t space for him around them, and he smiled wryly at the thought.
“Yingxian, did you tell Captain Ren about the case?” Qiu Yan asked.
Gong Yingxian gave a brief “mm” in response.
“That’s great,” Qiu Yan said with a smile. “It’s so helpful to have someone like Captain Ren involved. With a professional fire investigation expert, we might finally have a breakthrough.”
Ren Yi replied, “You’re too kind. The real breakthrough is that suspect. I feel like this is something arranged by fate.”
Qiu Yan nodded. “Yes, it’s been eighteen years, and now, at the critical moment, we’re given a new lead. This sense of destiny is truly mysterious.” She smiled. “Maybe Captain Ren is our lucky star.”
Ren Yi smiled back. “I hope so. I hope we can catch the culprit soon.”
“I came from the sub-bureau just now,” Qiu Yan said. “Cai Qiang is interrogating Chen Pei—the suspect. This guy is extremely difficult. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything. Either he doesn’t speak, or he tries to play the police. He avoids our questions, and while he can’t deny that he was at Wanyuan District that day, he won’t admit to starting the fire.”
“What about his accomplice?” Ren Yi asked.MAimUSKNKIgtMEusMsgOODkatAvUqm
“His two accomplices were also arrested. They hung out together, sometimes working as bouncers, other times collecting debts. However, they don’t seem to be aware of the arson incident. We’re still investigating.”
“What about the cybercrime unit? Chen Pei’s contact with the car arsonist must have been online.”
“That’s right, we’re looking into it. I refuse to believe there’s no trace left behind.”
“Any updates on the car arson suspect, Peng Fei?”
Qiu Yan said, “Peng Fei doesn’t seem like the person who set the car on fire, but we think he knows who did. Either way, he definitely knows something. I’ve already requested his detention. His psychological defenses will soon crumble, and he’ll talk.”
Gong Yingxian added, “We’re closing in from two directions. Eventually, they’ll be trapped in the same dead end. Once they hit rock bottom, they’ll turn on each other. The truth will soon come out.”
The three of them sat down and shared more details with Ren Yi about the old case. Ren Yi mentioned he would go to the headquarters to check the fire department archives on the chemical plant explosion and the Gong family arson case. He believed they might find something new, even if it meant tracking down the firefighters who responded to the incident back then. There’s no way they’d come away empty-handed.
At the same time, he planned to have a serious conversation with his father. Maybe his dad still remembered something, which would certainly be more valuable than the memories of a six-year-old child.
They talked a lot, and eventually, the topic shifted to Seraph.
“Xiao Tan said this website has a predecessor. A few years ago, it was shut down by U.S. law enforcement, but it’s resurfaced in the last two years. The website is backed by a group, and they have contacts and active users in the country, probably more than we imagined. These are some of the details Xiao Tan found online.”
Gong Yingxian sneered, “Ever since we caught Zhou Chuan and Chen Pei, this website has exposed a lot. We’ll follow the trail and find more people.”
“I don’t doubt that, but I am a bit worried,” Qiu Yan said with a frown. “Your information has been exposed. As the case deepens, I’m concerned for your safety. If you notice anything suspicious, you must tell me. I’ll assign officers to protect you.”
“Alright.”
They continued chatting until Sheng Bo called them for lunch, which was already prepared.
Qiu Yan stretched lazily, “You two better hurry up.” He then walked off, laughing and chatting with Sheng Bo.
“Coming,” Gong Yingxian said as he tidied up the documents he’d brought out.
Ren Yi glanced at Qiu Yan’s graceful figure, then at Gong Yingxian. He felt a twinge of jealousy, though he had no right to feel that way. He couldn’t help but blurt out, “Captain Qiu seems to be the only one who calls you by your first name, huh?”
Gong Yingxian replied nonchalantly, “Hmm, seems like it.”
“We’ve been friends for a while, but I still call you Dr. Gong, and you call me Captain Ren. Doesn’t that feel a bit distant?”
Gong Yingxian looked back at him. “Do you want to call me by my first name? Then go ahead.”
Ren Yi blinked a few times. He wanted to, but there was this strange reluctance, as if he didn’t want to call him the same way Qiu Yan did. Trying to justify himself, he awkwardly said, “Your name is a bit tricky to pronounce.”
“What’s tricky about it? My grandfather gave me this name, and it’s full of meaning.”
“Well, it’s… not the smoothest in terms of pronunciation. What does your name mean?”
Gong Yingxian’s eyes seemed to lose focus as he looked ahead, sinking into memories. “It has three meanings. ‘A dancer moves in harmony with the rhythm, and a singer follows the melody,’ where the ‘string’ refers to a musical string. ‘Arrows rain down like porcupine quills, and the fiercest warriors fall to arrows shot with precision,’ where the ‘string’ refers to a bowstring. My grandfather wanted me to be both scholarly and martial. Also, he said life is inherently lonely, and he hoped I could find a soulmate, someone who resonates with my life’s harmony.”
“Wow, that’s so profound,” Ren Yi marveled. Only a name with such depth could suit someone as perfect as him. He thought of how his own name came about and couldn’t help but find it amusing.
“Do you want to call me by my name?” Gong Yingxian asked, staring at Ren Yi without blinking.HdXzkAcRsmIEVkKdMfgprasutuFYoX
“Hmm…” Ren Yi grinned. “Calling you by your first name isn’t anything special. How about I call you Xiao Gong? That’s what your colleagues call you, but since we’re friends, I should have a more unique way to address you, right?”
Curious, Gong Yingxian asked, “What do you want to call me?”
Ren Yi clapped his hands. “I’ll call you ‘Old Gong!'”
Gong Yingxian gave him a sideways glance. “You can’t go a day without joking around, can you?”
Ren Yi burst into laughter. “Old Gong, I think it’s perfect.” He laughed a bit too dramatically, trying to cover up the nervous flutter he felt when he said those two words.
Gong Yingxian seemed a bit flustered. “Alright, alright, let’s go eat.”
Ren Yi stopped laughing, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Gong Yingxian. “OK, Ying… Xian.”
Gong Yingxian gave a faint smile. “So what would you like me to call you?”
“Don’t call me Xiao Ren, and definitely don’t call me Old Ren. Anything else is fine,” Ren Yi joked. “How about just using my name?”
“Alright.” Gong Yingxian mimicked Ren Yi’s deliberate, solemn tone. “Ren… Yi.”
They both exchanged a smile.
After lunch, Qiu Yan and Gong Yingxian headed back to the station to work overtime interrogating suspects. Ren Yi, still on his half-day leave, decided to visit his dad and take care of the favor Qi Xiao had asked of him. If time allowed, he would swing by headquarters to check the records.
On the way, Ren Yi called the captain of the Beigang fire team and asked him to move up the fire safety inspection. The captain readily agreed. Afterward, Ren Yi informed Qi Xiao, who responded with a rather suggestive and teasing photo, accompanied by the text: “Thanks, bro!”
Ren Yi chuckled and replied, “You’re welcome.”
When he got home, he could already hear loud singing from inside.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Ren Xiangrong singing along with a wartime movie on TV—though it wasn’t really singing but more of a strained shouting. It was off-key, and the lack of melody made it especially grating.
“Old Ren, Old Ren, stop yelling already!” Ren Yi shouted, covering his ears.
The housekeeper emerged from the kitchen, with tissue stuffed in her ears, giving him a helpless shake of her head. Ren Yi understood from her expression that his father was in one of his episodes.
Ren Xiangrong, seemingly out to antagonize them, shouted even louder when he saw Ren Yi, flailing his arms and slapping his wheelchair.
The housekeeper mouthed to Ren Yi, “Are you staying for dinner?”
Looking at his dad, Ren Yi felt a wave of exhaustion. He hesitated, torn between wanting to leave and wanting to stay. The housekeeper beckoned him to the kitchen.
Once inside with the door closed, the housekeeper gave a tired smile. “He’s been at it for a while. He should tire out soon.”
Ren Yi sighed. “Thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s nothing. Oh, by the way, Captain Ren, did you find a new housekeeper yet? I mentioned it to you last time.”
Ren Yi had completely forgotten. “I’ll get on that right away.”
“Alright. My husband and I will be heading back to our hometown for the New Year. There’s only about two months left, so please try to sort it out soon.”
Ren Yi nodded, deciding to stay.
After a while, Ren Xiangrong did stop shouting, but he wasn’t exactly peaceful during dinner either. One of the main symptoms of his condition was the endless torment he inflicted on those around him when he had an episode. It was hard enough to find a reliable housekeeper, and the thought of having to replace her gave Ren Yi a headache.
After dinner, Ren Xiangrong was exhausted and went to bed early. Realizing there was no chance of getting any answers today, Ren Yi returned to the station and went straight to find Qu Yangbo.
Qu Yangbo was surprised to see him. “Aren’t you supposed to have half a day off?”
Ren Yi rubbed his tired eyes. “My dad wasn’t doing too well today. He fell asleep, so I came back.” Sometimes, staying in that house felt like suffocating.
Qu Yangbo asked with concern, “Do you need to take him to the hospital?”
Ren Yi shook his head. “It won’t help. He doesn’t want to go to the hospital anyway. He’s more comfortable at home.”
Qu Yangbo looked at the fatigue in Ren Yi’s eyes and could only sigh.
“Oh, by the way, I need a favor.”
“What’s up?”
“If it’s a fire department archive from many years ago, would it be kept at headquarters, or would it still be at the station? Or do they keep backups like they do now?”
“Depends on the case. How many years ago are we talking?”
Ren Yi hesitated. “Eighteen years ago.”
“That long?” Qu Yangbo was surprised. “What are you looking into?”ATIzorcsuNpApwxIJNQUiGBxFyrDmV
“I’ll explain later, just answer me first.”tUAebTrWyMOjTmPAJDhbqQXRDkQmiR
IuijKupuKNOTujm“Eighteen years ago, we didn’t have digital files. Backing up records wasn’t as simple as it is for us now. And it’s been so long; the organizational structure has changed a lot. If that squad wasn’t split up or merged, they should still be part of the squad. But honestly, I can’t say for sure. What exactly are you trying to look up?”aqcvWFQnGJCXzSjMHEDbSOMpNjgXFv
CuymCVnNMIuyXOs“Do me a favor.” Ren Yi patted Qu Yangbo’s shoulder. “I want to find the fire department records from the Baosheng Chemical Factory explosion eighteen years ago.”YMuJRLzEYBcBncVVMqXETxMZDDUdGJ
XteoNJViAoNuifwQu Yangbo, puzzled, asked, “What do you need them for?”jridUjWNuGJnjykrgMyuiyqrSXgxbP
qfDWzxWkZvURKdSRen Yi hesitated, “Actually… I promised someone I wouldn’t say. Bro, just help me out, it’s really important.”JbYukcyCRYbZRwBiTJMGaZuBcvrUyo
UhtvdGymAUDodLNQu Yangbo adjusted his glasses, “It’s related to Gong Yingxian, isn’t it?”FWHloznekGfHWPfQOznhLEEXllszMZ
veLuFPLPnRqqUwtRen Yi let out a small laugh and nodded.cznETIRvonYvaESdrXjHHbDcyrkyso
OHDkjLqsBsInvWn“Alright, I’ll ask around for you.”IjZIksbIoqaUbOpEHYghiUXROfgdxp
LSELRCUSAmejGDI“And also, the Gong family fire case from six months later.”CmsbFabJYgqoUvidHsJpzDDXyjlXEq
kGvCSNvrtuKGNZZQu Yangbo squinted. “What’s going on here, really?”iDPoBNJICrbsYtTwVzmjILdmKZRrPv
WhrIZUAasOzYxemRen Yi pleaded, “Please, don’t ask and don’t tell anyone. Just help me out, okay?”MKKVNzrIoKNOqxVmqMlGjKZpoPfniG
LdGMomsFnMabZxGQu Yangbo gave him a sideways glance, “You owe me one.”pWykhInsaXHwFVwScEiBCMIvAsfLaQ
DpraJFJiUxGnUIi“I owe you one.”RgRxuAQIDLPtmTwRnDZOmCOPLaIPwG
awBhYkPMTlrQMfeiYLEkafqWJuEuNqvDPbiRKYMufaiDI