After quickly skimming through the news report, Guan Xia sketched the man who had jumped into the river in the video, as well as the passerby who seemed to be the suspect talking to him. She hoped to find some information about the two faces online, but unfortunately, neither of them appeared to use social media much—her search yielded no results.
It seemed this was as far as she could go on her own. Staring at her phone, Guan Xia hesitated for a moment before finally calling Pang Le.
As soon as the call connected, Guan Xia cut straight to the point. "Pang Le, can you send me Lu Tingfeng's contact?"
Pang Le paused, her voice instantly rising a few octaves. "Who? Lu Tingfeng?"
Guan Xia hummed in confirmation and was about to explain when Pang Le pressed, "You're looking for him? Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," Guan Xia replied firmly.
Pang Le fell silent for a few seconds but, surprisingly, didn’t press further. "Alright, I’ll send it to you now."
The call ended abruptly, leaving Guan Xia slightly surprised. Given Pang Le’s usual temperament, she had expected an interrogation.
Relieved that she didn’t have to explain herself just yet, Guan Xia waited for the number to arrive. She carefully rehearsed what she wanted to say before dialing.
The phone rang several times before it was finally answered.
A somewhat subdued voice came through. "Guan Xia?"
Guan Xia wasn’t surprised that Lu Tingfeng recognized her number, but his tone puzzled her. Though they had only met once and exchanged barely a few words, she remembered his voice as bright and lighthearted, with an upward lilt. If not for the fact that the person on the other end had immediately identified her, she would have thought she’d dialed the wrong number.
Suppressing her instinctive curiosity, Guan Xia replied calmly, "Yes. Do you have time soon? I’d like to talk."
She had already prepared her next lines, but Lu Tingfeng surprised her again. "I’d love to have a proper conversation, but I’m sorry, Guan Xia. I have an urgent matter and need to leave Yongquan City—I’m already on my way to the airport. If you’re willing, I can arrange for someone else to speak with you."
Guan Xia’s carefully crafted script died on her lips. She hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Lu Tingfeng sounded genuinely pressed for time. After a brief pause without hearing her reply, he added, "I know I don’t have much credibility in your eyes, but trust me—the person I’m sending is far more reliable than I am. At least meet them first, and we’ll see where it goes?"
Though the situation had taken an unexpected turn, Guan Xia wasn’t about to give up after coming this far. "Alright. But first, tell me—who is this person?"
Before she could finish, Lu Tingfeng anticipated her question. "Like me, they used to be a police officer—a detective."
That eased half of Guan Xia’s concerns. "Fine. But it needs to be soon. I’m in a bit of a hurry."
"Don’t worry," Lu Tingfeng assured her. "I already made arrangements before deciding to leave. They’re already on their way—you’ll meet them by tomorrow at the latest."
After hanging up, Guan Xia felt like she was still dreaming. Based on their last brief encounter, Lu Tingfeng had struck her as reckless and borderline extreme. She had spent so much time deliberating and preparing negotiation tactics, only for her plans to be upended. Well, not entirely wasted—she could still use her prepared arguments, even if she didn’t know who she’d be dealing with instead.
With the first step of her plan successfully set in motion, Guan Xia checked the time and was about to shut down her computer and get ready for bed when a message suddenly popped up.
She tapped it open—it was from Lu Tingfeng, containing a photo and a phone number.
The photo showed a young woman with a strong jawline, sharp eyes, and an air of authority. Her short, ear-length hair and stern, unsmiling expression made her seem far more dependable than Lu Tingfeng.
Guan Xia’s remaining worries dissipated.
The next morning, she woke up early, had her broken lock replaced, ate breakfast, and went for her usual run. Afterward, she settled down with a book, waiting for a call.
She had expected Xu Nian to contact her first with the results of last night’s urgent interrogation, but instead, it was the woman Lu Tingfeng had mentioned.
Just one night—that was impressively efficient. Guan Xia glanced at the time before answering. "Hello?"
A steady female voice responded, "Guan Xia, hello. My name is Ji An. I’m already in Yongquan City—we can talk over the phone or meet in person. Your choice."
Guan Xia considered it. She preferred face-to-face conversations, where she could read the other person’s expressions. "Let’s meet. Where would you like to go?"
Ji An was succinct. "You decide."
From her tone, Guan Xia sensed something and felt even more reassured. After some thought, she said, "Give me a moment to think. I’ll get back to you soon."
"Understood," Ji An replied without hesitation.
Guan Xia stared at her darkened phone screen for a couple of seconds before heading to her study. She retrieved the two sketches from last night and, after some deliberation, called Pang Le again.
Pang Le seemed to have been waiting for this call—she picked up after the first ring. "Finally decided how to explain yourself to me?"
Though her words sounded sharp, the amusement in her voice made it clear she wasn’t actually upset.
Guan Xia couldn’t help but laugh. "Are you free today? I need you to come with me to meet someone."
Pang Le’s voice shot up again. "Meet someone? Who? Please don’t tell me it’s Lu Tingfeng."
She sounded ready to throw hands if it were him. Guan Xia quickly clarified, "No, no—he left Yongquan City. It’s a friend of his, also a police officer."
Pang Le sounded skeptical. "It’s only been three days since we last met, but it feels like two years with all the things you’re suddenly involved in that I know nothing about."
Guan Xia also felt like time had flown lately. "A lot has happened. I’ll explain everything later, but this meeting is really important to me. Can you just come with me first?"
Pang Le swallowed her questions and agreed. "Fine. Where are you meeting? I’ll head over now."
Guan Xia chose a café near Pang Le’s gym, informed Ji An, and sent Pang Le the details.
She had scheduled the meeting for an hour later, so she hung up, changed, and left immediately. Luck was on her side—she caught a taxi right away and arrived without a hitch.
She thought she was early, but Ji An was already there, seated at a secluded corner table with a cup of coffee, sipping slowly.
Pang Le had also arrived, sitting by the window and idly playing with her phone. The moment she spotted Guan Xia, she stood up and greeted her, "You're here. Where's the person you wanted to meet?"
Guan Xia tilted her chin toward Ji An's direction. "Over there."
Pang Le followed Guan Xia's gaze, her expression shifting to surprise. "That's Lu Tingfeng's friend? He actually has someone this cool as a friend? What did he do to deserve that?"
After thoroughly expressing her disdain for Lu Tingfeng, Pang Le slung an arm around Guan Xia's shoulders and walked over to Ji An, extending her hand first. "Hi, I'm Pang Le, Guan Xia's best friend. And you are?"
Ji An glanced at Guan Xia before standing up to shake Pang Le's hand. "Hello, I'm Ji An, a friend of Lu Tingfeng's."
At the mention of Lu Tingfeng's name, Pang Le instinctively pursed her lips.
Ji An then turned to Guan Xia and extended his hand. "Hello, Guan Xia. First time meeting you—I hope I haven't disappointed you."
The phrasing struck Pang Le as odd, and she frowned at Ji An.
Guan Xia, meanwhile, took a moment to envy Ji An's height—a full head taller than her—before shaking his hand. "Hello, I'm Guan Xia."
After the introductions, the three of them sat down. Pang Le naturally took the seat beside Guan Xia and, without needing any input, ordered coffee according to Guan Xia's usual preferences.
Once the server brought their two cups of coffee and ensured there would be no further interruptions, Guan Xia looked at Ji An and spoke. "Before we get into the main discussion, I'd like to ask—how much do you know about my situation?"
Ji An's already serious expression grew even more solemn. He straightened slightly in his seat and said, "You might not believe this, but Lu Tingfeng really didn't tell me much. He only said you were the only person he found who might be able to help us."
Guan Xia wasn’t entirely convinced and pressed further. "Aside from my name, that's all he told you?"
Ji An nodded earnestly. "Yes. In fact, among the people we both know, I’m the only one who even knows your name."
Guan Xia fell silent for a moment before asking another question. "Do you know Xu Nian?"
Ji An shook his head. "I've heard of him, but never met him. He seems to be Lu Tingfeng's closest friend, but Lu Tingfeng rarely brings him up. When we get together, we usually just focus on work. There’s not much casual conversation."
"Work?" Pang Le suddenly interjected, curiosity piqued. "What kind of work?"
Ji An glanced at Guan Xia, hesitating before answering. "It's a bit complicated. Hard to explain in a short time. If things go well today, you’ll find out eventually."
Given that they’d just met, it was natural for him to hold back some details.
Pang Le realized her question might have been too forward and quickly picked up her cup, quietly sipping her coffee.
Ji An turned back to Guan Xia. "Anything else you want to ask?"
Of course there was—in fact, the questions in her mind were piling up. But Guan Xia also knew Ji An wouldn’t reveal anything until they were on the same page. "Not for now," she replied.
Ji An rotated his cup slightly, his gaze steady on Guan Xia’s eyes as he spoke earnestly. "Since you’re done, let me share my thoughts?"
Guan Xia nodded, adopting a listening posture. Pang Le, sensing the importance of what was coming, instinctively straightened her back, her expression turning serious.
Ji An slowed his speech, choosing his words carefully. "I don’t know why Lu Tingfeng believes in you or why he sees you as hope. But I’ve known him long enough to trust his judgment. So from here on out, whatever you do, I’ll do everything in my power to assist you. As long as it’s not illegal or harmful to society, I won’t even ask questions. Though if you’re willing to share, I’d love to hear it."
Guan Xia hadn’t expected Ji An to be this straightforward—even more direct than Pang Le. She was momentarily taken aback before replying, "You really wouldn’t ask?"
Ji An nodded firmly. "As long as it’s not illegal or harmful to society."
Guan Xia couldn’t help pressing further. "And you don’t want anything from me in return?"
Ji An smiled for the first time that evening. "Compared to vague verbal promises, I have more faith in genuine help that comes naturally from human connection."
Guan Xia couldn’t suppress a smile of her own. She was now genuinely glad Lu Tingfeng had left abruptly the night before. Though Ji An was his friend, he was clearly far more principled and sincere. If she had to collaborate with someone, she’d much prefer someone like him.
Since Ji An was being so decisive, Guan Xia set aside the prepared explanations and pulled out the two sketches she’d drawn the night before.
"You’re being so direct, so I’ll skip the pleasantries," she said, handing over the sketches. "I need to know the identities of these two people. Can you find out?"
After her recent interactions with Xu Nian, Guan Xia had gained some understanding of their investigative procedures—at least enough to know that reopening a cold case required new leads. If this were a case in Pingjiang District, she’d have gone straight to Xu Nian. But since it crossed districts and, based on last night’s system alert, seemed complicated, she didn’t want to trouble Xu Nian until she had a clearer picture of who these two people were. Besides, this was a good opportunity to gauge Ji An’s capabilities.
Faced with Guan Xia’s abrupt request, Ji An didn’t ask a single question. He took the sketches, examined them briefly, then carefully tucked them away before answering simply, "Alright. Give me two days. I’ll contact you once I have the information."
(Author’s note: Been dealing with a stuffy nose and headaches lately—might have caught a cold. Struggling a bit with writer’s block, and my thoughts aren’t flowing smoothly. I’ll do my best to sort out the plot. Love you all.)
