Guan Xia was somewhat surprised. She instinctively lowered her head to carefully examine the dozen or so photos in front of her, then picked up the sketch beside her to compare it with the paused image of the deceased from the surveillance footage. The sketch was highly realistic—it was her usual standard of work. How could the identity not be confirmed?
Her series of actions made it clear to the experienced detectives present. Xu Nian asked knowingly, "So, the deceased isn’t among these photos?"
Guan Xia pressed her lips together and nodded, puzzled.
Pang Le was also taken aback. "The deceased’s identity can’t be confirmed? How is that possible? In the previous cases, didn’t Guan Xia’s sketches always match the records? Facial recognition technology is quite advanced now. Could it be that the deceased’s appearance in the database doesn’t match reality? Maybe they had plastic surgery?"
Pang Le leaned in skeptically to study the sketch. "Someone that old getting plastic surgery… seems unlikely."
Guan Xia agreed. She replayed the short video clip in her mind. Judging by the skin condition, the deceased was at least in their sixties, with deep wrinkles and a weathered, sunburned complexion—darkened and slightly reddened from prolonged exposure to the sun. The bulging, gnarled veins on their hands suggested a lifetime of manual labor. Even their clothes were plain, if not cheap. All these details pointed to someone barely scraping by, with no extra money for cosmetic procedures.
Ruling that out, the only possibilities were either outdated records in the database or some drastic change in the deceased’s appearance due to a major incident—perhaps an injury?
Guan Xia scrutinized the sketch again but found no visible scars.
Compared to Guan Xia and Pang Le’s bewilderment, the others took it in stride. Wang Yu remarked, "This is an 11-year-old case. The technology back then wasn’t as advanced, and database updates weren’t as frequent. It’s not surprising the identity isn’t matched. At least we’ve confirmed the suspect’s identity—that’s a crucial lead. It gives us plenty of directions to pursue."
Hearing this, Guan Xia and Pang Le quickly set aside their lingering doubts.
"So, when are we heading to Quiming City?" Guan Xia asked.
Xu Nian replied, "Early the day after tomorrow. The paperwork for cross-jurisdictional investigation has already been submitted. Let’s use the time before departure to familiarize ourselves further with the case. That way, we can hit the ground running once we arrive."
Once the departure time was settled, Guan Xia and Pang Le left the Pingjiang District precinct.
On the way to drop Guan Xia off, Pang Le couldn’t help but say, "Working cases with you is always an adrenaline rush. Last time, the suspect was on the run, and the victim’s fate was unknown. This time? Not only is it a cold case, but the suspect is a minor, and the deceased’s identity is a mystery. Who knows how long this investigation will take. I just hope it wraps up quickly like the last one—even if it was a rollercoaster, at least it ended fast."
Guan Xia shared the sentiment. It had been days since her "halo" last recharged. The longer this dragged on, the more uneasy she felt.
"By the way," Pang Le suddenly asked at a red light, "when the case in Quiming City is over, are you planning to visit the orphanage?"
Guan Xia paused, then nodded after a moment’s thought. "I should. The last time I went back was right after my comic series ended. These past two years, I’ve only sent money but never visited. I wonder how the orphanage is doing now."
Pang Le’s question stirred up memories of the orphanage.
Having been reborn into this world as a baby, Guan Xia had always been clear about her goals. The orphanage itself didn’t leave a deep impression, but one child stood out vividly.
She, that girl, and seven or eight other children were cared for by the same orphanage worker—someone they called "Mom." Perhaps because they were close in age, the girl had always sought Guan Xia out to talk, even when both were busy as bees. She never stopped chatting.
To this day, Guan Xia remembered the girl’s constant refrain: "I know I had a family. Those people lied to me. I wasn’t abandoned by my mother. I was taken by traffickers, and she couldn’t find me. That’s why I ended up here. When I grow up, I’ll find my way back. I remember my mom, my dad, and my older sister. They must be looking for me too, waiting for me to come home."
Guan Xia had heard these words from childhood well into her twenties. They attended the same elementary, middle, and high schools. Even when they went to different colleges in Yongquan City, they stayed in touch. The girl often visited Guan Xia’s campus, and they’d explore food streets and parks together. During exam seasons, they’d keep voice calls open while studying, occasionally venting their frustrations.
Before meeting Pang Le, that girl had been Guan Xia’s only friend.
She was remarkable—not exceptionally brilliant, just an ordinary person like Guan Xia, but hardworking, diligent, and fiercely principled. She’d bravely stood up for younger kids against bullies, Guan Xia included.
Guan Xia had assumed their friendship would last much longer. But right after graduation, the girl vanished.
Lost in reminiscence, Guan Xia was jolted back by Pang Le’s voice. "What’s up? You seem miles away."
Guan Xia snapped out of it, a wistful note in her voice. "I was thinking about Meng Lan—my friend from the orphanage. Last time I went to Linshan City to look for her, I couldn’t find her. I even asked around at the orphanage and kept calling, but no luck."
Then, remembering something, she added, "Remember that case a while back—the one where the killer was a psychopath who murdered to ‘preserve’ his victims’ ‘perfection’? I was with a friend at a food street when it happened. That friend was Meng Lan."
The case was less than two months old, so Pang Le recalled it instantly. "Oh, right! Didn’t she find her birth parents? She’s probably busy enjoying family life now, plus work. Doesn’t leave much time for other things."
Pang Le’s tone was dismissive, but Guan Xia couldn’t shake off the echoes of Meng Lan’s words from years past.
She remembered it was her first year after graduating from university. Her manga was still unfinished, and she was frantically rushing to meet deadlines when she suddenly received a call from Meng Lan, who excitedly told her that her biological parents had been found. She indeed had an older sister, and now she also had a younger brother. She had asked her mother—it turned out she hadn’t been abandoned; she had been kidnapped by human traffickers. Her parents had searched for her for many years.
At the time, Guan Xia felt both happy for Meng Lan and worried for her. After all, Meng Lan wasn’t a child anymore. Children cost money when they’re young but earn money when they grow up. Guan Xia feared Meng Lan’s family might be deceiving her because they saw her as a source of income.
She had subtly tried to probe Meng Lan about it, but Meng Lan’s response was straightforward: "I know what you’re worried about. Honestly, I was worried too at first, so I observed them secretly for a long time before reaching out. They’re very well-off now—living in a villa, driving luxury cars, and even my sister has her own career. Don’t worry, I won’t be taken advantage of."
To reassure Guan Xia, Meng Lan even sent over a few photos. Guan Xia scrutinized them carefully and, once convinced they were genuine, was sincerely happy for her. But then, less than half a year later, Meng Lan suddenly vanished.
Just two days before, they had been chatting about traveling together once Guan Xia finished her manga. Then, without warning, all contact ceased. Messages went unanswered, calls went straight to voicemail. After completing her manga, Guan Xia even went to Linshan City to look for her. When she couldn’t find Meng Lan, she filed a police report out of concern. The authorities investigated and said everything was normal—Meng Lan hadn’t gone missing, nor was she being held against her will.
Guan Xia understood that Meng Lan simply didn’t want to be in touch. If they had fought, it would have made sense, but everything had been fine. Why would she cut off contact? Guan Xia couldn’t figure it out, and a nagging feeling told her something must have happened.
Years passed, but Guan Xia never let it go. When direct contact failed, she tried gathering information about Meng Lan indirectly, but unfortunately, others knew little.
Perhaps her expression was too troubled, because Pang Le kept glancing at her before finally sighing and saying, "Well, since we’re going to Quming City to visit the orphanage anyway, we can ask the staff there. Kids grow up and get busy with life, but the staff usually know something. If that doesn’t work, we can ask Ji An once she’s free. She has wide connections—she’ll definitely find some information within legal limits."
At the mention of Ji An, Guan Xia’s worries about Meng Lan momentarily faded. Counting the days, it had been nearly a week since the three of them parted ways, but Ji An still hadn’t sent any updates. Guan Xia wondered how the case investigation was going, whether their two missing friends had been found, and whether Ji An herself was in any danger.
Guan Xia and the others set off for Quming City at 7 a.m. For convenience, they took two cars. As soon as they got in, Wang Yu said, "We contacted colleagues in Quming City yesterday and learned more about the 814 case. The victim’s face was severely damaged, making identification difficult, but the crime scene yielded a lot of physical evidence. After the Daqu County police conducted extensive door-to-door inquiries without success, they collected biological samples from a large number of males aged 14 to 60 in the nearest village, Songxiang."
Guan Xia listened intently and asked as soon as Wang Yu finished, "Collecting biological samples means the suspect left traces like hair or skin cells with DNA at the scene. If they were collecting samples while the suspect was still missing, what about his family? Weren’t they home? Otherwise, the case should’ve been solved back then."
Wang Yu replied, "After the suspect ran away, his family—including his parents, uncles, and other relatives—were all out searching for him. Only two elderly people in their sixties and a 10-year-old child were left at home, so they fell outside the sample collection range. Since the suspect’s family wasn’t home during the crime and had solid alibis, no additional samples were taken after they returned. That’s how this case slipped through the cracks."
Pang Le clicked his tongue in disbelief. "This suspect got really lucky, slipping through like that. But if we go now, recollect samples, and get a match, wouldn’t that mean the case isn’t just reopened—it’s practically solved?"
Xu Nian interjected, "Even with direct evidence, we still lack supplementary proof to form a complete chain. We need evidence placing the suspect in Daqu County’s Songxiang Village at the time of the crime."
Guan Xia asked, "When I saw them, it was at the bus terminal. I remember the North Bus Terminal had coaches to Daqu County. If they didn’t take the bus, they must’ve gotten there another way. But whether by public transport or unlicensed taxis, there’s no way they left zero traces."
"It is strange," Wang Yu admitted. "But according to our colleagues in Quming City, the Daqu County police turned the entire county and nearby villages upside down. They even borrowed manpower from other units to review surveillance footage, but they found no trace of the victim—not on buses, taxis, or ride-shares. They checked everyone with similar clothing, but none matched."
Pang Le stroked his chin thoughtfully. "If they didn’t take a vehicle, maybe they rode bikes? They couldn’t have walked, right?"
At the word "walked," Guan Xia suddenly felt like she’d overlooked something. After racking her brain, it hit her. "Wait—I saw them on the afternoon of August 12th, and the victim was discovered on the morning of August 14th. That’s over 36 hours apart. I’ve never been to Daqu County or Songxiang Village, but I know Daqu is only about 100 kilometers from Quming City. If they took a vehicle or rode bikes, it would’ve taken just a few hours—no way they arrived only on the 14th. Unless the time of death wasn’t the 14th, and the body was just found then. But that doesn’t make sense either—it wasn’t winter when villagers stay indoors. It was summer, and the body was in a roadside grove. It couldn’t have gone unnoticed for long."
Xu Nian said, "Both forensic examinations confirmed the time of death was around 7 a.m. on August 14th."
Pang Le looked baffled. "So they really walked? Damn, over 100 kilometers! What was the victim thinking? Or maybe he ran out of money and had no choice but to walk. If that’s the case, it’s tragic—spending his last dime doing a good deed, only to meet a bad end and lose his life there."
