The sudden appearance of someone surnamed Wu sent Guan Xia's thoughts spiraling in a short span of time.
Her emotions surged, her mind in turmoil, so much so that Guan Xia barely registered what Pang Le and the others were discussing. She didn’t even realize they had arrived at the restaurant until Pang Le patted her shoulder and called her name several times, snapping her out of her daze.
Blinking as she met Pang Le’s concerned gaze, Guan Xia remained silent for a few more seconds before finally shaking her head in response to Pang Le’s repeated questioning. "I’m fine. I just thought of something. I don’t know how to explain it right now—let me sort it out first. Once I’ve figured it out, I’ll tell you."
Pang Le didn’t press further, only giving Guan Xia’s shoulder another reassuring pat. Perhaps worried she might stumble, Pang Le even held her arm as they got out of the car before letting go.
"Let’s eat here," Zhong Xiaoyu suggested. "I glanced at the reviews earlier—there aren’t many bad ones, and the complaints were mostly about long wait times or delivery delays. The food should be fresh."
No one objected. Guan Xia, her mind still tangled in suspicions about the past, naturally had no objections either. Lost in thought, she mechanically followed the group inside.
It was peak dining hours, so they had to wait a while before getting a table.
Once seated, Guan Xia sank back into her thoughts.
She forced herself to calm down and began carefully retracing and analyzing memories in her mind.
First, she revisited her years at the orphanage. Though she had always been sponsored, she had never met her benefactor. She tried to recall if any of the other sponsored orphans had either, but nothing came to mind. Another thing—after leaving the orphanage, most of them never returned, though she’d heard many continued to donate money or supplies. Wait—no.
Guan Xia paused as a memory surfaced. Some had come back, though only vaguely. She remembered something about a building’s inauguration ceremony, where a few well-dressed, clearly successful individuals had returned.
She faintly recalled someone whispering in admiration, "I want to be like that too. Even if I was abandoned, I’ll live well—so well that my family will regret it."
Who had said that to her? Was it Meng Lan? Or another child raised by Mother Chen?
The thought led Guan Xia to Meng Lan’s earlier mention of meeting Wu Yang during the training center’s inauguration ceremony, where they’d even shared a meal.
Guan Xia couldn’t remember if Meng Lan had specified it was their first meeting, but that encounter had left Meng Lan deeply impressed—and introduced Wu Yang to Guan Xia, sparking her curiosity.
She mentally mapped out the timeline.
Mother Chen had once mentioned the training center was completed and put into use last year. If Meng Lan hadn’t lied, then her first meeting with Wu Yang was also last year. But Meng Lan’s suicide attempt—when she encountered Wang Huiqin by the lake—was in 2023, meaning her involvement with the criminal organization predated her meeting Wu Yang. This inconsistency made Guan Xia’s earlier suspicions feel shaky.
Then there was Guan Xia’s theory that Meng Lan’s obsessive search for her family might have been manipulated. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, Guan Xia couldn’t recall anyone in their childhood who fit that role.
Perhaps time had blurred her memories, but in Guan Xia’s recollection, the orphanage staff, though few, had all been dutiful. None had ever said anything strange in front of her.
Even during her recent visit to the orphanage while working on the case, nothing had struck her as odd or out of place. Could it really just be a coincidence?
Guan Xia wanted to believe that, but her instincts whispered otherwise.
After wrestling with her thoughts to no avail, frustration gnawed at her. She absentmindedly spun her teacup, the motion so abrupt that hot water splashed onto her hand.
The scalding pain jolted her, and she yanked her hand back.
Everyone nearby noticed—some passing her napkins, others moving cups out of the way. Even Jiang Yingyao, seated farthest away, asked, "You okay? Didn’t burn yourself, did you?"
Guan Xia shook her head instinctively, then froze. Wait, since when was Jiang Yingyao here?
Realization struck, and she turned to see Xu Nian, who had been quietly wiping the spilled water from the table before it dripped further.
Guan Xia hadn’t noticed their arrival at all. Surprised—even startled—she asked, "When did you get here? I didn’t see you."
Pang Le, after checking her slightly reddened hand and confirming she was fine, chuckled. "They just came in. Xu Nian even greeted you, but you were too deep in thought to notice. So? Finally done thinking?"
The reminder dragged Guan Xia’s focus back to her earlier dilemma. She rubbed her temples. "I tried, but I’m still missing pieces. It’s not urgent, though—it’s all just speculation for now. Whether it holds up depends on further investigation."
"Investigate what?" Xu Nian tossed the damp napkin into the trash and studied her. "Did you find something new today? That’s why you’ve been so distracted."
Recalling Pang Le’s remark about their recent arrival, Guan Xia realized they hadn’t exchanged updates yet. "We did. At the Kangjian Medical Center’s parking lot, we spotted a suspicious person. My gut says he’s dangerous, and since it was right outside the center, I suspect he’s linked to that criminal organization—possibly even a key figure."
She pulled out her sketchbook from her bag, flipping to the page with the blond man’s portrait, and handed it to Xu Nian.
Xu Nian examined it, snapping a photo with his phone and sending it off before asking, "What was the scene like when you saw him? Was he alone?"
Guan Xia shook her head. "No, several cars entered the parking lot together. He wasn’t driving—he was in the left rear seat. Since his car was closest, I got a clearer look at him. The others were harder to see in the heavy rain, but I’d bet they’re part of the same group."
After two minutes of typing, Xu Nian set his phone down. "I sent the sketch to Captain Zhou. As the local PD, he should ID the blond guy quickly. By the way, how did the surveillance review go yesterday? Any leads?"
Though they had only been apart for two days, Xu Nian's question made Guan Xia realize just how much progress they had made during that short time.
Guan Xia took the lead in recounting their findings, with Pang Le and Ji An chiming in to fill the gaps. It took about twenty minutes, but by the end, all the clues they had uncovered over the past two days were finally shared with Xu Nian.
Xu Nian, his dark circles more pronounced than ever, let out a relieved smile. "This is a major breakthrough. With such solid evidence, we can definitively pin Liu Xiang's crimes and use it as leverage to extract her confession. Once Geng Jing is released and lulled into a false sense of security, Captain Zhou and the team can catch him in the act. That way, we’ll dismantle the entire outer circle of the criminal organization centered around Kangjian Health Examination Center. And what a coincidence—you even stumbled upon a core member today."
Xu Nian’s enthusiasm was infectious, lifting the weight off Guan Xia’s shoulders and lightening her mood.
However, when Liu Xiang was mentioned, Zhong Xiaoyu couldn’t help but ask, "By the way, Captain Xu, how is Liu Xiang now? Has she grown suspicious of us? Has Geng Jing been released yet? And what’s the special task force’s plan? Can you share any details?"
Zhong Xiaoyu wasn’t the only one curious. Guan Xia, Pang Le, and even Lu Tingfeng paused what they were doing, turning their full attention to Xu Nian.
Xu Nian didn’t hold back. "Fan Ya was released last night. Of course, Captain Zhou had someone tailing her. After resting overnight, she went to the hospital this morning to tend to Liu Xiang. Liu Xiang’s wound didn’t hit any vital organs, but it was deep, damaging her intestines and contaminating her abdominal cavity. She’s awake but extremely weak, and the pain leaves her with no energy or inclination to suspect anything. So far, her behavior shows no signs of doubt. As for Geng Jing, he hasn’t been released yet. Captain Zhou’s plan is to hold him for the full 48 hours—that’ll be tonight. If all goes well, by this weekend, Captain Zhou’s team should wrap up their investigation on Geng Jing’s end."
Xu Nian explained everything in detail, and everyone listened intently. Fortunately, they had booked a private room, so as long as they kept their voices down, there was no risk of being overheard by waitstaff.
After discussing Liu Xiang’s condition and Geng Jing’s status, Xu Nian moved on to the special task force.
He poured out the tea in Guan Xia’s cup and refilled it before continuing. "As for the task force, we spent two days in meetings—mostly getting up to speed on the situation here. They’ve taken over Liu Xiang’s interrogation and the follow-up arrests of her accomplices. The meetings also emphasized a thorough investigation of Kangjian Health Examination Center. A new batch of colleagues arrived from Dingyuan Province, and I estimate that within three days, there’ll be a major operation."
Guan Xia couldn’t resist interjecting, "Is that all they discussed? Didn’t they mention anything else? We submitted so many leads—what about Wang Huiqin, Yao Qingyan, or that other suspected member of the organization, Feng Xingping, from the Zhang Weiyan case?"
Though months had passed, Guan Xia remembered vividly how Feng Xingping had manipulated Zhang Weiyan on the bridge in the surveillance footage, leading to the horrific murder of Zhang Weiyan’s uncle’s family of four.
Then there was Lu Manqing, who had been silenced, and the missing police firearm from the West District precinct in Yongquan City.
Guan Xia had countless questions, but Xu Nian could answer none of them. He shook his head. "The task force didn’t bring up any of that in the meetings. However, Director Ren called me. He didn’t say it outright, but I got the sense that once this case is wrapped up, I might gain clearance to follow up on some of these leads."
Guan Xia sighed inwardly but wasn’t disappointed. She knew neither she nor Xu Nian held high enough clearance to access such core information.
By then, their food had arrived, and the group tacitly agreed to drop the conversation and focus on their meal.
After dinner, the rain still hadn’t let up. True to his word, Lu Tingfeng drove them back to the vicinity of Kangjian Health Examination Center.
But this time, luck wasn’t on their side. Lu Tingfeng parked in an inconspicuous spot, and they waited for nearly two hours, well past midnight, without spotting a single soul—let alone the blond man. Eventually, they returned to the hotel.
The moment they entered their room, Pang Le pulled Guan Xia onto the bed, her expression serious. "What’s been on your mind? You’ve been tense all night. Look at yourself in the mirror—your frown could crush a mosquito. Are you suspecting Wu Yang’s involvement with the criminal organization? Or is it Meng Lan?"
Guan Xia lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment before answering, "Right now, I’m suspicious of everything. But if you ask me to pinpoint what exactly, I can’t."
Pang Le suddenly leaned in, her face inches from Guan Xia’s. Startled, Guan Xia barely had time to react before Pang Le grinned and shrugged. "If you’re suspicious of everything, then investigate everything. We’ve worked with Xu Nian and Ji An long enough—they trust you completely. If you think something’s off, they’ll dig into it without needing an explanation."
She pressed a finger to Guan Xia’s furrowed brow. "Stop overthinking. If you can’t figure it out now, let it go. Once the case in Shangshuang City is closed, we’ll look into every single thing you’re suspicious of. Let’s see… where should we start?"
Pang Le pretended to ponder for a few minutes before her eyes lit up. "How about your orphanage? Think about it—whether it’s Meng Lan, Wu Yang, or even Wu Yingze’s father, if he’s connected to Wu Yang, then the common thread leads back to the orphanage. With all of us digging, any hidden clues will surface. And don’t forget the task force—once we report our findings, no matter how powerful Wu Yang is, he’ll be arrested."
Pang Le’s straightforward approach eased Guan Xia’s mind a little. Then, struck by sudden inspiration, Guan Xia bolted upright. "You’re right! We should—"
Her abrupt movement caught Pang Le off guard, and their foreheads collided with a loud thud.
Guan Xia winced, clutching her head as the rest of her sentence vanished into a groan. After a moment, she managed to finish, "We really should start from the source."
Pang Le clutched his head, his expression twisted as he looked at Guan Xia, both amused and exasperated. Still, he played along, saying, "So you’ve figured it out? I told you not to bottle things up. You’ve got plenty of friends now—three cobblers with their wits combined can rival Zhuge Liang. With all of us here, we’ll definitely get to the bottom of whatever’s worrying you."
Guan Xia couldn’t help but laugh at Pang Le’s exaggerated grimace paired with his dead-serious tone. She nodded and said, "I’ve figured it out. The situation might be complicated, but as long as we trace it back to the source, we’ll uncover the truth."
As she made her decision, Guan Xia quickly mapped out a plan in her mind. She intended to return to the orphanage once the case in Shangshuang City was wrapped up.
The last time she’d gone back, her system hadn’t been upgraded yet, so she hadn’t noticed anything unusual about the orphanage. But now it was different—with the system’s intuitive alerts, if there really was something wrong, no one would be able to hide from her. She’d investigate every lead until she turned the place inside out.
There was one more thing—she wanted to find a chance to catch a glimpse of Wu Yang from afar. No suspicion could compare to seeing him with her own eyes.
Whether he was friend or foe, the system would always give her the clearest answer.
