Shen Ting felt his spine tingle under this gaze. He quickly found a way out for himself and followed the proverbial pole down: "I completely understand how you feel. I know your mind is completely filled with the case right now. So I'll just suffer a bit. Even with such beauty before me, business comes first. Satisfied?"

Terrified that Chu Huainan would actually try to make their relationship "speed up a bit," Shen Ting immediately returned to the main topic.

After briefly summarizing the case, in order to make Chu Huainan believe he genuinely had access to firsthand information regarding the case, he jokingly supplemented some details that only the detectives handling the case could possibly know. Of course, he didn't forget to repeatedly emphasize that all of this was purely hearsay from his good bro Chen Cong, a leader in the CID.

While Shen Ting was speaking, Chu Huainan's eyes were fixed entirely on the computer screen. Yet, he physically demonstrated the true meaning of multitasking.
He noticed that rather than analyzing the case, this young man seemed more focused on trying to analyze his reactions to hearing this information.

This person always liked to deliberately look at people through the corners of his slightly raised eyes.
In Song Ci's dossier, there were quite a few photos of him wearing this exact expression.
This was vastly different from the cold, aloof plainclothes detective in Chu Huainan's memory.

That year, after the financial street incident occurred, Chu Huainan had specifically kept an eye on the related news reports. However, the young man who had single-handedly stopped a severe violent incident never made a public appearance in the media.
In all the various reports, the media tacitly and obscurely referred to him using the phrase "a certain plainclothes detective."

Having been subjected to militarized training by Chu Qiaoxin, Chu Huainan inexplicably found himself drawing associations with entities like the "Cheka" or the "KGB"—unmentionable secrets hidden behind the state machine.

After listing the existing clues, Shen Ting propped his chin up with one hand, channeling his inner Sherlock Holmes as he analyzed: "You just said the leaker used a mobile network to email the media in a crowded place. Well, I think this killer is a bit strange!"

Strange? While reading the outline for tomorrow's regular meeting sent by Wang Xiaojun on his laptop, Chu Huainan waited for the perpetually dramatic young man to continue.

However, casting the killer aside, the other party suddenly asked: "Do you still remember the person who posted the rumor thread?"

That poster who maliciously spread rumors and left both the cyber police and the elites of Yuannan's cybersecurity department completely helpless—of course Chu Huainan remembered him.

Seeing him nod, the youth sitting across from him adopted a profound expression: "This poster is definitely not simple. When ordinary rumor-mongers post online, they never even consider that their casually fabricated lies might alarm the police. But that psycho who spread the rumor that your dad hired someone to kill your mom intentionally covered his tracks from the very beginning."
Saying this, he looked over through the slightly raised corners of his eyes: "This proves that the other party had long prepared themselves for a police investigation. According to my bro, the bastard who posted the rumors and the big mouth who leaked the fingerprint info could possibly be the same person. And that person... is the killer."

Seeing Chu Huainan's calm expression of I already knew that, yet noting that he didn't point out the flaw in his logic—the leaker and the poster shouldn't be the same group of people—
Shen Ting narrowed his eyes and continued hinting: "What's strange is, since the killer was capable of hiding their tracks through the Dark Web when spreading rumors, why didn't they use such advanced methods when leaking the info? Why go out of their way to use a mobile network to email the media? That completely defies common sense!"

Chu Huainan finally lifted his head from the meeting outline.
Actually, bringing this person back here to listen to his so-called case analysis was nothing more than an excuse to create an opportunity for the two of them to be alone, and to further observe the other party.

This case shared countless intricate connections with the incident that caused his mother's death. Fifteen years later, at the exact same time and location, another deceased person sharing the same profession as the previous victim appeared. These bizarre coincidences couldn't help but remind Chu Huainan of another unusual accident.

Back then, his uncle Chu Zhensheng had dumped a massive amount of Yuannan Group stock shortly before his mother passed away. Although Chu Zhensheng provided the unfortunate yet plausible excuse of "owing massive gambling debts," Chu Huainan had always harbored suspicions about it. Because, based on his understanding, while Chu Zhensheng loved to gamble, he never played for stakes that high.

After his father's death, upon taking power, Chu Huainan immediately sent people to investigate the flow of funds from his uncle's massive stock sell-off back then. Shockingly, he discovered that the huge sum of money Chu Zhensheng acquired from selling the stock never even left the country!

That money, supposedly used to pay off gambling debts, was immediately funneled into a certain financial institution upon arrival. Through interbank lending, it became short-term bridge financing for certain projects!

And when Yuannan's stock plummeted to rock bottom, that money flowed right back. While buying back his original shares at a low price, the remaining funds became an astronomical profit easily pocketed by Chu Zhensheng—as if he possessed the ability to foresee his mother's death.

Harboring suspicions against Chu Zhensheng, Chu Huainan had spent all these years trying to uncover the truth behind his mother's death.

That day, shortly after his chance encounter with Song Ci at the hotel, Chu Huainan found a small card in his jacket pocket.
Written on it in standard semi-cursive script were two short phrases: [Corrupt Cop, Chu Zhensheng].

Chu Huainan immediately associated it with the body-dumping case that had been causing an uproar recently. —The killer had also left a note at the scene saying [Corrupt cops are on earth].

And a few days ago, after returning from the airport police station, while looking into Song Shi, he surprisingly discovered that Song Shi and Chu Zhensheng used to interact frequently.

In all the years he had spent investigating Chu Zhensheng, he had never once realized this!

Chu Zhensheng, whose vigilance was typically quite low, had intentionally hidden his interactions with Song Shi from the outside world. Why?

And who was it that slipped that card into his pocket?

Chu Huainan's first suspect was Song Ci, who had shared an elevator with him that day.

But why would Song Ci leave this card? What was he trying to hint at?
And was he... really Song Ci?
Furthermore, exactly what kind of connection did all this have with the case from back then?
And was his mother's death truly just an accident?

Carrying a string of unanswered questions, Chu Huainan couldn't rely on anyone else to provide support or assistance.

If a blood-related uncle couldn't be trusted, and the police representing justice could potentially be corrupt cops, then the only person left to disperse the dense clouds of mystery and uncover the truth... was himself.

Chu Huainan slightly narrowed his eyes, which reflected the glow of the screen. His gaze was deep and sharp.
Although the road ahead was shrouded in heavy fog, and fortune and disaster were unpredictable, to someone who excelled at breaking through predicaments and reveled in accepting challenges, the temptation of the truth far outweighed the fear of the unknown.

The young man's words just now led Chu Huainan to a new conclusion.

If the game of a criminal hiding from the police was compared to a video game...
Then the poster who knew how to use the "Onion Router" to hide their tracks was a high-level, technical player in the game. But choosing to use a mobile network to confuse the public was a method only a beginner in the starting village would use.
Would someone equipped with a sniper rifle choose to fight the enemy to the death using bayonets?

The answer was no.

Shen Ting, who had been deliberately guiding the conversation, let out a sigh after confirming the other party had understood his underlying implication. Pretending to be completely unaware of the logic behind his own words, he lamented: "What a pity, it seems my discovery isn't very meaningful. It doesn't offer any substantial help in finding the killer."

Saying this, he picked up his cup and, like a dragonfly skimming the water, lightly wet his lips again: "This case is truly bizarre; everywhere you turn is a dead end. My thought process is actually consistent with the police's. I also feel the killer is highly likely a relative or friend of An Kang or Li Guangqiang. And the police have already confirmed that both of them had a son."

Chu Huainan still didn't reply. Unable to guess his thoughts from his expression, Shen Ting continued: "But according to the latest police intel, both of their sons went missing shortly after the incidents occurred." He curled his lip speechlessly. "Isn't that a hell of a coincidence? The highly suspicious relatives have essentially been legally 'dead' for years due to being missing. As for that Li Songyuan, even his household registration was canceled!"

The previously silent Chu Huainan suddenly asked: "Why was Li Songyuan's household registration canceled?"
Shen Ting froze, asking in return: "Is there a problem with his household registration being canceled?"

When he first learned of this news, he instinctively felt something was off about it, but he could never pinpoint exactly what it was.

Expressionlessly, Chu Huainan said: "To cancel a household registration, one must submit a special application to the local precinct where the registration is held."

"Oh, you mean that." Shen Ting pretended to recall for a moment. "My friend seemed to say that Li Songyuan's distant younger cousin applied for the cancellation of his household registration in April 2009."

The capitalist, profoundly versed in human nature, immediately spotted the new suspicious point. He sneered and said: "When family members report a missing person dead, the vast majority of the time it is to resolve issues regarding the ownership and distribution of inheritance. But Li Guangqiang was drowning in debt, and Li Songyuan was nothing more than a penniless student back then. Since neither of them had any assets to their name, why would an enthusiastic relative meticulously calculate the exact time requirement and go out of their way to proactively report Li Songyuan's death to the police station?"

Shen Ting was stunned by his words. Then he immediately realized exactly where the vague sense of wrongness he had felt earlier lay!

The law stipulates that a citizen can only be declared dead after their whereabouts have been unknown for four full years.

Thinking about it carefully, the timeline of April 2009—the exact moment Li Songyuan was reported dead—was simply far too perfectly timed.
And just as Chu Huainan said, unless it involves inheritance, very few people are willing to proactively report a missing relative dead. After all, the application process is tedious and requires a mountain of paperwork. Who would willingly take on such a thankless hassle?

Just as Shen Ting buried his head in organizing the case details...
The capitalist, who always seemed to beat the police to crucial clues, added: "Furthermore, you mentioned earlier that Li Guangqiang's older cousin—meaning Li Songyuan's uncle—had cut ties with Li Guangqiang's branch of the family long ago. Then why would his son go looking for trouble, specifically helping a distant older cousin whose family had severed ties with them years ago report a death?"

Before his voice completely faded, the laptop in front of Chu Huainan let out a "ding" —a new email had arrived in his inbox.

Moving the mouse, he clicked open the email and rapidly scanned it. Chu Huainan's slightly furrowed brows relaxed. He turned his face to look at Shen Ting, saying pointedly: "Song Ci, has anyone ever told you that if you were willing to be a police officer, you would probably be a mascot of good fortune?"

Hearing the word "police officer," Shen Ting's nerves tensed almost subconsciously. But immediately after, he let out a contemptuous laugh: "Police officer? What's so great about being a police officer? In what way is a police officer better than me?"
He cast a disdainful glance downward with his clear, bright eyes. Crossing his arms and leaning back into the sofa, he raised his chin arrogantly: "I am a taxpayer. I feed the police!"

Faced with this young man whose face practically screamed I am proud, I am honored, I provide fertilizer for the development of my motherland, Jianghu City's universally recognized major taxpayer merely gave a low-key smile: "You are very good."

Thinking about Song Ci's character and upbringing, Shen Ting felt that being praised as "very good" was truly cringe-inducing.
Concluding that the capitalist was "blinded by lust," and recalling that the "lust" causing his blindness was actually himself, he couldn't help but spit contemptuously in his heart.
Gritting his teeth, Police Inspector Shen—whose mind was flashing with the four giant words sacrificing oneself to the thief—leaned over and openly looked at the other's computer: "What new message did you get? Is it about the case? Let me see!"

All talk and no action is just a hollow show—Comrade Ear, please hurry up and 'sacrifice your body to the thief' already.

P.S. Although Ear is slightly at a disadvantage in the 'one particular area' that Jinjiang (JJ) doesn't allow us to discuss in detail... when it comes to the battle of wits and courage, the two are perfectly matched and equally formidable.

In the main plot of the case, the Capitalist’s rhythm has already been completely thrown off by Ear. My cuties, let me see your hands in the comments section~~

Also, tomorrow’s update will be in the evening—posted around 11:00 PM. The day after should be back to the midnight schedule. Love you all!

Follow the pole down (顺杆下): A Chinese idiom meaning to take advantage of an opportunity or excuse provided by someone else to gracefully exit an awkward situation or agree to something without losing face.

Cheka / KGB (契卡 / 克格勃): Soviet state security organizations known for their secrecy and ruthlessness.

Bridge financing (过桥资金): Short-term loans used until a person or company secures permanent financing or removes an existing obligation.

Mascot of good fortune (福将): A lucky general/person who brings good luck to their team or naturally stumbles upon success.

I provide fertilizer for the development of my motherland (我给祖国发展添肥料): A sarcastic/humorous variation of patriotic slogans, implying that simply by paying taxes (or existing), he is contributing to society.

Sacrificing oneself to the thief (舍身从贼): A dramatic phrase meaning to sacrifice one's purity, honor, or body to an enemy or villain for a greater cause.