Perhaps due to the recent erratic sleep schedule and constant running around, Guan Xia had fallen into a deep sleep despite the uncomfortable position. When Xu Nian shook her awake, she was still somewhat disoriented, momentarily unsure of where she was.
Whether it was her disheveled appearance upon waking or something else, Xu Nian’s eyes held a hint of amusement as he looked at her. When she didn’t respond immediately, he repeated, “The task force just sent word. They found a deliberately discarded phone near the arrest site of the seller. The device is damaged, but the tech team is working on repairs. We should have some leads soon.”
Guan Xia finally shook off the grogginess and instinctively twisted her stiff neck and shoulders. But as she was about to speak, she suddenly hissed in pain, pressing a hand firmly against the side of her neck.
Now fully awake, she realized why her neck had felt so stiff—she must have twisted it in her sleep.
Xu Nian’s expression turned concerned as he asked a few quick questions, then quickly pieced together what had happened. Regret flickered across his face. “We’re just waiting for updates anyway—I should’ve let you sleep at the hotel. How bad is it?”
He leaned in for a closer look, gently moving her hand aside to press on the sore spot himself.
Guan Xia obediently stretched her neck, cautiously testing the movement before sighing in relief. “It’s not too bad. Only hurts when I turn too far. A pain-relief patch should fix it in a couple of days.”
Seeing that she wasn’t seriously injured, Xu Nian relaxed. “Good. I remember Brother Jiang keeps some patches handy. Wait here—I’ll go get one for you.”
With that, he hurried out of the office.
The commotion had roused the others who’d been napping. Pang Le yawned widely, rubbing his eyes. “What time is it? Did Geng Jing or the seller confess?”
Guan Xia shook her head, realizing Xu Nian hadn’t mentioned it. “Almost four in the afternoon. Xu Nian didn’t say anything, so they probably haven’t talked yet. But the task force found something else.”
Zhong Xiaoyu, now awake as well, stretched her limbs and glanced around the office. “Wasn’t Xu Nian just here? Where’d he go?”
Before Guan Xia could answer, Xu Nian rushed back in, heading straight for her. He deftly tore open the patch and applied it to her neck.
Pang Le and the others quickly caught on, crowding around. “What happened? Did you twist your neck sleeping like that?”
Guan Xia sighed. “Yeah.”
Pang Le reached out to prod at her waist. “What about your back? Or your shoulders? Anything else hurt?”
Guan Xia instinctively started to shake her head but winced halfway through.
Zhong Xiaoyu chuckled. “Just sit still and talk. No more nodding or shaking.”
Guan Xia obliged. “Just my neck. It’ll be fine in a couple of days. Anyway, back to the case—did Geng Jing or the seller confess? What did the task force find? Have they confirmed the seller’s identity? And what about Liu Xiang? Last we heard, she had a phone for contacting her superiors—did that lead anywhere?”
Her mind felt sharper after the nap, and the questions poured out one after another.
The group’s attention shifted entirely to Xu Nian, waiting for his response.
Instead of answering immediately, Xu Nian reached into a bag on the conference table and pulled out food. Only then did Guan Xia notice he’d brought snacks when he woke her earlier.
The sight of food made everyone suddenly aware of their hunger. They descended on the snacks, wolfing them down while listening intently to Xu Nian.
Leaning against the table, Xu Nian addressed each of Guan Xia’s questions in turn.
“As of three this afternoon, Geng Jing and the seller haven’t confessed yet. But Geng Jing’s starting to crack under the weight of the evidence—less ‘cooperating’ and more ‘backed into a corner.’ The seller, though, is holding up well. Either he’s got nerves of steel, or he’s rehearsed this scenario. Still, nobody’s perfect. The task force already spotted a weak point. Once the phone’s data is recovered, it’s only a matter of time before he talks.”
At that, even Guan Xia slowed her chewing, curiosity piqued. “What weak point? The phone? But it’s still being repaired—how can they be so sure it has anything useful?”
Xu Nian smiled. “According to the task force, it’s identical to the one Liu Xiang used to contact her superiors. If hers had critical evidence, this one should too.”
Guan Xia pressed further. “What was on Liu Xiang’s phone? Just the target lists she mentioned?”
Xu Nian nodded. “Children. Twelve of them. The task force is already tracking them down using the accomplice and target lists Liu Xiang provided. But…”
His expression darkened, and though he didn’t finish, the implication was clear. If their earlier suspicions about the criminal organization were correct, then aside from Yan Xingyu—already rescued—the other eleven children were likely beyond saving.
Guan Xia’s jaw tightened as she thought of something else. “What about Ning Xin’s murder? Did Geng Jing admit to that?”
Xu Nian’s gaze flicked briefly toward Ji An before answering. “With Liu Xiang’s testimony, Geng Jing confessed to killing Ning Xin. But he’s withholding details—probably still hoping to wiggle out of it.”
Guan Xia gritted her teeth. After working multiple cases, she knew the drill—suspects always clammed up at first, forcing the police to wear them down bit by bit.
Taking a breath, she moved on. “And the seller’s identity? Confirmed?”
Xu Nian nodded. “Not a local. On paper, he’s a personal assistant to a major company’s chairman. He had a legitimate reason for being here—sent on a business trip.”
“No wonder he seemed so calm,” Zhong Xiaoyu remarked. “He came prepared. The way he handled interrogation this morning—must’ve rehearsed every word.”
Pang Le suddenly interjected, “How did the task force even find that phone?”
Xu Nian said, "After apprehending the suspect, the task force thoroughly searched his personal belongings and vehicle but found nothing. They then reviewed surveillance footage of his route multiple times and noticed him making a motion as if discarding something while passing a small puddle. Suspecting evidence destruction, the team conducted an exhaustive search of the area, even draining the puddle entirely, and eventually recovered a smashed phone buried in the mud."
Guan Xia thought to herself, No wonder cases always start with repeated reviews of surveillance footage—such subtle movements, especially at night, would only be detectable this way.
The group relaxed slightly after Xu Nian’s briefing. While there were setbacks, there was also progress—at least they now had leads to pursue, unlike the deadlock with Wu Yingze and his son, where discoveries had yet to yield actionable results.
After an uncomfortable nap in Captain Zhou’s office that left Guan Xia with a stiff neck, the team regrouped, reenergized, and prepared to relieve their colleagues on surveillance duty. Before the shift change, they checked for updates.
Xu Nian hung up the phone and reported, "Peng Yuanwei went to work as usual. Wu Xingxian remains inactive, still at his office. Wu Yingze followed his routine—returned home after 5 a.m. and didn’t leave until past 2 p.m., when his driver took him to his usual bar."
Zhong Xiaoyu groaned, "That guy’s back to his hedonistic ways? So we’re stuck in the car all night again?"
Pang Le sighed, "Looks like it. They just made contact last night—doubt they’ll act so soon."
Ji An offered reassurance, "Think of it this way: it’s good news. It means they’re unaware of police scrutiny, so the task force’s eventual takedown should go smoothly."
Buoyed by the perspective, Zhong Xiaoyu perked up. "True! And it’s only a few more days of tedious stakeouts. Once the task force moves, Wu Yingze’s crew will react—that’s when things get exciting."
With this carrot dangling before them, the next two days of surveillance passed without complaint. Soon, the task force successfully rounded up peripheral members like Geng Jing.
The operation was a triumph—so many arrests that detention centers overflowed. Yet, bafflingly, Wu Yingze and his son showed no reaction, carrying on as if oblivious: one still partying, the other clocking in at work daily. Even Peng Yuanwei, their suspected core member, stuck to his home-clinic routine.
The unusual behavior raised alarms. Before Guan Xia’s team could theorize, reports flooded in: a sudden spike in disappearances across Shangshuang City, all victims having undergone checkups at Kangjian Health Examination Center within the past three months.
The news reached Guan Xia at dusk, just as Wu Yingze—his hair newly dyed ash-gray—sauntered into a bar flanked by bodyguards. Her phone rang immediately after; Xu Nian delivered the jarring update.
Guan Xia gasped, "Weren’t the outer members all captured? How are there so many disappearances? Are we sure they’re not runaways?"
Xu Nian’s voice was weary but grave. "Police confirmed it—missing persons aged 16 to 45, vanishing after work or during outings. The task force hasn’t verified all cases yet, but preliminary findings suggest this isn’t conventional trafficking. The methods are distinct."
A chill ran down Guan Xia’s spine. "So there are more peripheral members than we thought. This could be the syndicate’s counterattack—or retaliation?"
Puzzled, she added, "But why? Most criminal groups play it safe when cornered, covering tracks to survive. This one’s doubling down despite police surveillance. What’s their endgame?"
Xu Nian replied, "The unusual behavior has the task force stumped too. For now, everyone’s scrambling to locate the missing while there’s still time."
Guan Xia asked, "What’s our role?"
"You, specifically. Brother Jiang, Qi Bai, and Lu Tingfeng will keep surveilling the Wus and Peng Yuanwei. You, Pang Le, Wang Yu, and I are temporarily reassigned to assist the task force in the search."
She agreed but voiced concerns: "Something feels off. The peripheral members are acting out crazily, yet the Wus stay quiet. Could this be a diversion?"
Xu Nian assured her, "The task force anticipated that. Only four of us are being pulled. Brother Jiang’s team and others remain in place. Additional officers are also deployed to prevent escapes—they won’t slip away."
Satisfied, Guan Xia said, "I’ll brief Zhong Xiaoyu and meet you with Pang Le."
Xu Nian added, "Wang Yu and I are already en route. To avoid suspicion, coordinate with the relief team, drive away first, then we’ll pick you up nearby."
Typical Xu Nian efficiency, Guan Xia mused. He probably left the moment the alert came in.
