Category: Friend(GL)

Chapter 93: The Choice

Zhou Tianzui spent the night in the on-call room, checking on You Ruxu a few times. Each time, she would just glance at her from a distance, then return to the on-call room. She was exhausted. Even after knowing You Ruxu was fine, she couldn’t relax, as if she was the one who jumped from the car, her muscles tense and aching. After a sleepless night, she woke up with a slight headache.

He Wei, seeing her like this, asked worriedly, “Dr. Zhou, are you alright?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m fine.”

Her voice was hoarse.

She didn’t look fine at all.

Zhou Tianzui coughed a couple of times, her throat dry and scratchy, a slight nausea, the telltale signs of a cold. She went to make herself a hot drink and heard He Wei ask, “Which ward is Teacher You in?”

The doctor opposite her said, “Third floor, not sure which room, ask Dr. Zhou.”

He Wei looked at Zhou Tianzui hesitantly, not daring to ask.

Zhou Tianzui’s face was dark, her expression stern. He Wei swallowed and turned to whisper to the other doctor, “How did Teacher You end up in the hospital yesterday?”

“Really? Wow! That’s so cool!”

“I want to marry Teacher You!”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” The doctor opposite her chuckled. “Reporter You isn’t gay.”

He Wei retorted, “So what if she’s not gay? Beautiful things transcend gender! Like my love for Teacher You, you wouldn’t understand!”

Zhou Tianzui’s slightly hoarse voice called out, “He Wei, is that report ready yet?”

He Wei cleared her throat: “Almost, almost done.”

Zhou Tianzui glanced at her, a chilling gaze that made He Wei shiver. She quickly turned on her computer and started working on the report.

The news about You Ruxu’s involvement hadn’t been published, not a single report. The video footage of her jumping from the car, filmed by a few drivers, was also suppressed, all news about the incident blocked.

Captain Zhou had been severely reprimanded by her superiors.

Emerging from her superior’s office, her team member quickly asked, “Captain Zhou, what did they say?”

“A written self-criticism.” Captain Zhou said, “Want to write it for me?”

The crew-cut officer’s shoulders slumped. He hated writing self-criticisms, “What about those two men…”

Captain Zhou looked towards the interrogation room, the driver still insisting he didn’t know anything, the other man claiming it was a personal vendetta against You Ruxu, not mentioning Zhou Heng at all. She asked, “Any leads on the informant?”

“They’re still reviewing the footage.” The crew-cut officer said, “We also have the forensic report.”

He handed it to Captain Zhou.

As You Ruxu had said, they had very little information about Xu Jinwan, too little to arrest any suspects, “Has the construction site manager woken up?”

The crew-cut officer said, “He just woke up, then passed out again.”

Captain Zhou nodded: “Let’s go to the hospital.”

You Ruxu was at the hospital, hadn’t slept all night. The doctor asked if it was the pain keeping her awake, You Ruxu wanted to say no, but it did hurt. The doctor gave her a sleeping pill, hoping she would get some rest.

Captain Zhou arrived just as You Ruxu fell asleep.

She didn’t go to see You Ruxu, but directly to the manager’s ward, his injuries more severe than You Ruxu’s, on the seventh floor. The two police officers stationed outside greeted her. Captain Zhou arranged for someone to replace them, then entered the ward.

The room was quiet, the monitor beeping steadily, the heart rate monitor showing a regular rhythm. Captain Zhou pulled a chair over to the bedside, sat down, and looked at the manager.

She glanced at the report in her hand, then at the manager.

The officers outside switched shifts, the ones at You Ruxu’s door also changed. She slept for two hours, the sleeping pill seemingly ineffective, or perhaps the dosage was too low. When she opened her eyes, it wasn’t noon yet.

It was a sunny day, the sunlight streaming through the window, a comforting warmth.

You Ruxu tried to sit up, but her arm couldn’t support her weight. She tried again, but slid back down, leaning against the pillows, turning her head to look out the window.

Zhou Tianzui—was probably at work, right?

Was she still angry?

You Ruxu reached for her phone, wanting to message Zhou Tianzui, but remembering her words last night, the pain in her heart intensified, a suffocating ache. She suppressed the pain and messaged Zhou Tianzui: [The weather’s nice today.]

No reply.

You Ruxu had expected this.

Zhou Tianzui didn’t always reply to every message before, something You Ruxu had been used to, but she had become spoiled by Zhou Tianzui’s recent attentiveness, and now, just a lack of reply, was enough to make her feel a pang of sadness, her eyes stinging slightly.

You Ruxu hadn’t realized she was so fragile now.

She was still staring at her phone.

When there was a knock on the door.

Was it Zhou Tianzui?

You Ruxu tried to sit up, supporting herself with one arm, looking towards the door, “Come in.”

The door opened, and Yu Qiao walked in, carrying a thermos of chicken soup. The light in You Ruxu’s eyes flickered, and her arm gave way, her body falling back onto the bed. Yu Qiao, seeing this, quickly said, “Don’t move.”

You Ruxu nodded.

Yu Qiao walked over to her bedside, placed the thermos on the nightstand, and heard You Ruxu ask, “Godmother, what are you doing here?”

“You didn’t tell me you were sick, you didn’t tell me you were injured.” Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian told me.”

You Ruxu asked, “Isn’t she working today?”

“She said she took the day off.” Yu Qiao said, “She just dropped me off and went back home.”

You Ruxu felt a pang of guilt, spreading through her, a painful ache in her throat. She blinked back tears, waiting for her vision to clear before speaking, “Godmother, you shouldn’t go to so much trouble, I’m fine.”

“Your hand and leg are injured, you can’t even move, how are you ‘fine’?” Yu Qiao’s attitude towards You Ruxu had become much warmer and less formal since adopting her as her goddaughter. She said, “I made you some chicken soup, have some later, I also made braised pork ribs, you’re not avoiding anything, are you?” Then she noticed the bandage on You Ruxu’s arm and added, “Oh, I forgot, I added soy sauce, then don’t eat the ribs today, I’ll steam some for you tomorrow.”

You Ruxu said, “You don’t have to go to so much trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all.” Yu Qiao said, “You call me Godmother, it’s my duty to take care of you.”

“Have you called your parents to let them know you’re okay?”

You Ruxu paused.

She hadn’t told You Shu and Wu Xiulian yet. Captain Zhou had told her about the news blackout, so not wanting them to worry, she hadn’t told them.

Yu Qiao said, “It’s better that way, they’ll just worry more.”

You Ruxu said, “Godmother, you should sit down, is your leg better now?”

Yu Qiao moved her leg slightly, “It’s fine, just a little slow, I’m okay.”

She looked at You Ruxu, “I heard from Xiao Tian that your job is very dangerous, is this case over yet?”

You Ruxu said, “Not yet.”

“Still haven’t caught the person after all this?” Yu Qiao said, “Is it that Fengyuan boss?”

You Ruxu said, “You’ve heard about it?”

“Heard what?” Yu Qiao waved her hand dismissively, “I heard it from the people at the park, they said a host from your station was murdered? Is that true?”

You Ruxu nodded, “Yes.”

“That’s so dangerous.” Yu Qiao said, “It’s practically risking your life…”

She paused.

You Ruxu looked at her, “Godmother?”

Yu Qiao sighed, “I just thought of Xiao Tian’s father.”

You Ruxu was silent, lowering her head.

Yu Qiao, lost in her memories, didn’t notice You Ruxu’s reaction. She said, “When I first met him, we were still in school, after graduating, I never thought he would become a reporter, join a TV station. He got a job there, said he was just an editor.”

“I didn’t understand the difference back then, I just thought it was a good job, no need to be out in the elements, and the salary was good. Later, when he became a reporter,” Yu Qiao said, “I realized how dangerous it was.”

You Ruxu’s voice was low and soft, “Did he ever think about changing jobs?”

“Changing jobs?” Yu Qiao said, “That would be like killing him. I never understood why he loved being a reporter so much. Xiao Xu, why did you become a reporter?”

You Ruxu looked up at Yu Qiao, speechless, her hand gripping the edge of the blanket so tightly that her knuckles were white.

“I…” You Ruxu pursed her lips, “I did something terrible…”

A knock on the door interrupted her. She and Yu Qiao looked over and saw Zhou Tianzui standing at the doorway. Yu Qiao was surprised, “Why are you here?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Just bringing some things over.”

She was carrying a bag, You Ruxu’s toiletries. Yu Qiao said, “Give it to me.”

For her safety, You Ruxu had a private room with its own bathroom. Yu Qiao took the bag inside. Zhou Tianzui stood by the bed, her face pale and tense, her expression serious. You Ruxu looked up at her, “Zhou Tianzui.”

Zhou Tianzui suppressed a cough, her body tense. She took a deep breath and looked at You Ruxu.

You Ruxu said, “I’m sorry.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t be.”

Her words were curt, as if she didn’t want to say anything more. You Ruxu’s face paled further, her lips bloodless, her vision slightly blurred as she looked at Zhou Tianzui, “I yesterday…”

“You Ruxu.” Zhou Tianzui called her by her full name.

It had been a long time since she had called her that. You Ruxu froze, a strong sense of unease, like a sharp blade, severing the connection between them. Her heart sank. Zhou Tianzui said, “Being a reporter is so important, then what about me?”

You Ruxu, meeting her cold gaze, felt her heart plummet into an abyss. She said, “You’re also important.”

“Then choose one.” Zhou Tianzui’s tone was sharp, almost as if she was about to break up with her. You Ruxu didn’t know how to respond, her heart clenching, rendering her speechless.

Yu Qiao came out of the bathroom, “Are you going back later? Why don’t you have dinner here?”

Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu, her gaze deep and unreadable, then turned away, “No, I’m eating at home.”

“You’ll have to cook at home, there’s food here.” Yu Qiao said, “I can just reheat it.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I have to finish a report at home.”

Yu Qiao finally relented: “Then you must eat.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded: “I will.”

She didn’t even glance at You Ruxu.

After she left, Yu Qiao took a peeler, wanting to peel an apple for You Ruxu, and turning around, saw her crying. She asked, “Xiao Xu, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

You Ruxu touched her face, her hand cold. She said, “I’m fine.” Glancing at the bandage on her arm, she added, “My arm hurts.”

Yu Qiao said, “Where? Here?”

You Ruxu choked back a sob, “Yes.”

Yu Qiao said, “Then don’t move, I’ll go get the doctor.”

You Ruxu nodded.

Yu Qiao turned and left the ward. The moment the door closed, You Ruxu clutched her hospital gown, her head lowered, her shoulders shaking slightly, biting her lip hard to suppress her sobs.

Chapter 92: Go Inside

The first time You Ruxu experienced death was when her mother passed away, lying there in front of her, lifeless. She was too young then, her understanding of death unclear, not knowing why everyone said her mother was dead, what “dead” even meant. But based on her limited knowledge, she understood that her mother had left her, left her forever, never to open her eyes again. She didn’t cry, just stood there numbly, at the very front of the crowd, until someone recognized her.

“Don’t let the child see this.”

“This is the child, right? This is her mother.”

“So pitiful, losing her mother at such a young age.”

“Strange child, why isn’t she crying?”

Crying?

Why wasn’t she crying?

She didn’t want to cry, just stood there, watching, until the police arrived, the body taken away, the crowd dispersing. She was led away by a police officer, taken from place to place, seeing her mother’s face beneath the white sheet, bruised and broken, unreal.

That night.

She was sent home.

The small, rented apartment felt vast and empty. She got dressed and ran downstairs, sitting in the familiar flowerbed, sitting there for a long time. As night fell, a passerby asked, “Little girl, why aren’t you home yet?”

She looked up. There were no streetlights, the surroundings dark, only the faint glow from the distant road, making it difficult to see the person’s face.

She said, “I’m waiting for someone.”

The person asked curiously, “Waiting for who?”

She said, “I’m waiting for my mom to come home from work.”

The person paused, as if wanting to say something, then was pulled away by their companion.

She sat there, all night.

The next day, she was found by a neighbor, who took her home, gave her something to eat, then suddenly, many reporters and police officers came, asking her questions. Her tears seemed to have dried up. She didn’t cry, just answered their questions, then she was sent home.

She climbed into bed and slept.

When she woke up, she called out, “Mommy, I’m hungry, I want to eat.”

Only the emptiness of the apartment answered her small voice. She called out again, “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

No one heard her.

She lay back down, hugging the blanket, her small body curled up, her hands clutching the corners tightly. She buried her face in the pillow, her tears finally flowing, a silent sob.

Her eyes ached.

Her vision blurred.

You Ruxu wiped her eyes, her hand coming away bloody. She looked up and saw the construction site manager lying a meter away, his condition unknown. A car screeched to a halt. The black sedans that had been following them also stopped. People rushed out, shouting, “She jumped! She jumped!”

The black sedan paused for a few seconds, then sped away. A police car, sirens blaring, approached quickly. You Ruxu breathed a sigh of relief, sitting up, a sharp pain in her leg. Another car screeched to a halt beside her, its engine still running, the heat rising from the hood.

She looked up.

Zhou Tianzui’s face was grim as she looked at her.

You Ruxu’s throat was dry.

Zhou Tianzui got out of the car and looked down. You Ruxu’s clothes were torn, bloodstains everywhere, her hair a tangled mess, matted with blood against her face, yet her eyes were still clear and bright, a drop of blood trickling down her chin as she looked up at Zhou Tianzui.

A thousand angry words, a thousand questions, but seeing You Ruxu like this, Zhou Tianzui couldn’t say anything.

She looked away.

Her eyes burning, bloodshot.

Captain Zhou quickly arrived with her team, an ambulance already called. She hurried to You Ruxu’s side, “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m alright.”

Besides the pain in her left leg and arm, it was mostly scrapes and bruises. Captain Zhou wanted to say something, looked at Zhou Tianzui, then paused, not speaking.

The ambulance soon arrived. You Ruxu called out, “Zhou Tianzui.”

Zhou Tianzui, her face still grim, got into the ambulance with You Ruxu, examining her injuries. There weren’t many bruises, but the cut on her arm was deep, bleeding profusely. Zhou Tianzui and another medic quickly stopped the bleeding, her expression tense.

You Ruxu suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.

Her hand was bloody.

Zhou Tianzui’s wrist was stained red.

She looked up at You Ruxu, their eyes meeting. You Ruxu whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Zhou Tianzui looked down, her voice cold, “Don’t mention it, Teacher You.”

You Ruxu’s heart ached, hearing her words, a sharp, stinging pain, then a numbness spreading through her. Her chest tightened, a sudden, intense pain making her frown.

She hadn’t cried when she jumped out of the car.

She hadn’t cried despite the excruciating pain in her leg.

But hearing Zhou Tianzui’s cold tone, she couldn’t help the tears welling up in her eyes, her vision blurring, her eyes reddening. She lowered her head. Zhou Tianzui was still tending to her wound, another medic examining her leg.

She wasn’t sure if her leg was broken or just fractured, but it hurt, she couldn’t move it. They just stabilized it for now. She would need a thorough examination at the hospital. The small space inside the ambulance was a flurry of activity. The nurse, handing over gauze, said, “Reporter You, you’re amazing, so brave.”

Zhou Tianzui’s hand paused as she was applying antiseptic.

You Ruxu’s face was pale, “It was nothing.”

“Nothing? You’re practically a legend!” The nurse’s voice was filled with admiration, “You’re so cool—”

She stopped mid-sentence, remembering You Ruxu and the other doctor. But she could already imagine how this story would be told back at the hospital. Zhou Tianzui finished disinfecting and bandaging the cut on You Ruxu’s arm. There was also a cut on her forehead. After disinfecting it, she applied a bandage. As she leaned closer, You Ruxu looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, a heartbreaking sight.

But Zhou Tianzui didn’t meet her gaze, just applied the bandage with an impassive expression, then moved back slightly, “You can take over now.”

The nurse readily agreed, eager to help.

You Ruxu sat on the bed, absently answering the nurse’s questions, her gaze occasionally drifting towards Zhou Tianzui, who was looking down, her face tense and silent.

She suddenly missed the sharp-tongued, prickly Zhou Tianzui.

At least back then, she was willing to talk to her.

They soon arrived at the hospital. You Ruxu was taken for further examination. Her injuries were minor. The construction site manager, also brought in, had multiple fractures in his arm and leg. Because it was winter, and he was wearing thick clothes, his bruises weren’t as severe. And it was a sudden stop at a relatively low speed. If the car had been going any faster, he wouldn’t be sitting here in one piece.

Captain Zhou took the driver and the other man, the one with the knife, back to the police station for questioning. You Ruxu’s left leg was fractured, and the cut on her arm was deep, needing stitches, despite the initial bandaging. The doctor, preparing the anesthetic, seeing her silence as she stared at the wound, said reassuringly, “Reporter You, don’t worry about the scar, it can be repaired.”

You Ruxu returned to her senses and nodded.

After the stitches, she was wheeled out in a wheelchair. She couldn’t move her left leg and would need to be hospitalized. As the nurse wheeled her to the nurse’s station, the head nurse said Zhou Tianzui had already handled the admission procedures. You Ruxu sat quietly and heard the nurse say, “Dr. Zhou is quite thoughtful.”

You Ruxu looked up and said, “Yes, she is.”

“I thought everyone in the inpatient department was afraid of her.” The nurse was young, in her twenties, with dimples when she smiled. You Ruxu asked, “Are you afraid of her?”

The nurse said, “Yes, they say she’s very strict, but I think she’s quite nice.”

You Ruxu nodded.

The nurse was talkative, perhaps because she liked You Ruxu, she kept glancing at her face as she spoke. You Ruxu wasn’t wearing any makeup, her skin pale, bloodless. Realizing she was chattering non-stop while You Ruxu had just gone through so much, she felt a little embarrassed, “Then Reporter You, you should rest, press the call button if you need anything, there’s someone outside as well.”

Two police officers were stationed outside the door. You Ruxu nodded, smiling at her, “Okay, thank you.”

Her smile had an ethereal quality, like the wind you couldn’t catch, the clouds you couldn’t touch. The nurse felt she was different from the person on TV, even though she was right here, in person, she seemed unreal.

Was it because she was too beautiful?

Not really, she had seen many beautiful people, even celebrities.

But You Ruxu’s natural aura was truly unique, and thankfully, her smiling eyes gave her a touch of warmth, making her seem more real. The nurse left the ward. You Ruxu wheeled herself to the window, the sky outside a dark gray, but the hospital was always brightly lit, white-coated figures bustling around.

Where was Zhou Tianzui?

You Ruxu looked down at her phone. The WeChat chat with Zhou Tianzui was still on her last message, I know.

She knew her phone would be confiscated before they reached the abandoned building, so she had brought a second phone, hidden in her boot, only taking it out at the hospital. The phone was still warm from being in her boot, yet she felt cold.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t mention it, Teacher You.”

You Ruxu closed her eyes, her eyes burning.

Someone was standing outside the door.

Zhou Tianzui returned to the obstetrics and gynecology department. Fu Shushu, seeing her, was surprised, “Why are you back?”

She said, “Just picking up something.”

Fu Shushu gave a small “oh.”

Their relationship had eased considerably since Fu Shushu’s promotion to deputy director. Before, there had been much rivalry between them, overt and covert, but after the promotion, she felt a strange sense of guilt, as if she had been given the position because of Zhou Tianzui, a lingering unease. Especially since Zhou Tianzui’s attitude towards her hadn’t changed at all.

It made her feel strangely awkward.

Clearly, she was the only one feeling awkward. And now, Zhou Tianzui even asked her to cover her shift. Everyone thought they couldn’t stand each other. Zhou Tianzui, once again defying expectations, made Fu Shushu feel a strange sense of camaraderie, as if they were working seamlessly together, a silent understanding between them.

In reality, Zhou Tianzui probably didn’t care about any of that.

Zhou Tianzui sat in her office for a while, the nurse on duty curiously asking, “Dr. Zhou, aren’t you going home tonight?”

She returned to her senses and stood up, “I’m going back.”

She had intended to go home, but in the elevator, her hand instinctively pressed the button for You Ruxu’s floor. She walked to the second to last ward on the right. Two police officers were standing outside, one of them on the phone. Zhou Tianzui walked over, and the officer recognized her, “Dr. Zhou?”

Zhou Tianzui also recognized him, he was always with Captain Zhou.

She nodded.

The officer asked, “Are you going in?”

Zhou Tianzui looked at the doorknob, paused for two seconds, then said, “I won’t go in.”

You Ruxu, inside the ward, having just wheeled herself to the door, heard his words, and her hand, reaching for the doorknob, froze, slowly retracting. She curled her fingers, lowering her hand, her lips pressed together, her heart aching, her face paling, but not a sound escaped her.

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You Ruxu: Zhou Tianzui.

Zhou Tianzui: No signal, can’t hear you.

You Ruxu: …

Chapter 91: Danger

You Ruxu froze.

Downstairs?

Downstairs at her apartment building?

She walked to the window, pulled back the curtains slightly, and looked down. It was pitch black outside, only the howling wind and the rustling of branches, she couldn’t see anything clearly, “Okay, I’ll come down as soon as I change.”

Her tone was urgent, conveying a sense of anxiety.

You Ruxu hung up, quickly went to her room, and called Captain Zhou, her voice calm and collected, “Where are you? Are you off duty?”

Captain Zhou had just dozed off at the station and immediately woke up, hearing You Ruxu’s voice, “Not yet, what’s wrong?”

“Listen to my call now, track my location.” You Ruxu’s instructions were clear and concise, “And bring people to my apartment, quickly,” You Ruxu continued, “The person in charge of the abandoned building contacted me, he said he has the USB drive.”

Captain Zhou abruptly sat up, “The USB drive?”

They hadn’t found any USB drive on Xu Jinwan, suspecting Zhou Heng had hidden it. Now, it suddenly appeared, in the possession of the construction site manager. You Ruxu said, “I don’t trust him, but I need to stall him.”

“Don’t…” Captain Zhou hesitated, “Don’t do anything risky.”

You Ruxu said, “They’re probably planning to use the same tactic, so you need to follow me.”

There was very little information about Xu Jinwan’s case, no primary crime scene, the suspects, Zhou Heng and the “informant,” one could easily escape charges, the other couldn’t be found. Even if they found the informant, there was no guarantee they could prove a connection. The longer the case dragged on, the more difficult it would be to find evidence. You Ruxu wanted to go downstairs, to stall the manager.

At least he knew something.

Or rather, he was part of it, and if they could get something out of him, they might find a breakthrough.

Captain Zhou’s heart pounded. She admired You Ruxu’s quick thinking, her ability to analyze the situation and weigh the risks, and even more so, her courage, daring to go down there alone. She said, “Wait for us to arrive.”

“There’s no time.” You Ruxu said, “I haven’t gone down yet, he’s probably getting suspicious.”

He might be gone by the time she got there.

If they missed this opportunity, the person behind it would know they were onto them, they might even give up on Xu Jinwan. They were counting on catching her off guard, so she had to pretend to be off guard.

You Ruxu quickly hung up. In the elevator, she opened her chat with Zhou Tianzui, their last conversation a voice message.

“A Ran, what are you doing?”

She pursed her lips.

Typed: [Zhou Tianzui.]

Zhou Tianzui replied: [Yes?]

You Ruxu sent: [I miss you.]

Such cheesy words, You Ruxu chuckled inwardly, easy to get sentimental in the middle of the night? Being alone at home, it was easy to overthink. Zhou Tianzui, after a while, replied: [I know.]

A seemingly nonchalant response, but she couldn’t suppress the smile spreading across her face. You Ruxu parked her car near the flower beds, turned off the engine, got out, and looked towards the right side of the building. Their building was at the edge of the complex, the area behind it empty, originally intended for a second phase of development, but construction hadn’t started yet, so it was dark and deserted, only the occasional passerby.

It had rained last night, puddles everywhere, the darkness reflecting the faint shimmer of water, making it slightly less opaque.

There was a car parked there.

She couldn’t tell what color it was, a sedan, its engine off, blending in with the night. A figure stood behind the car, near the front, half of his body visible, a man, seemingly talking to someone inside the car.

The person inside couldn’t be seen clearly.

Zhou Tianzui looked for a moment, entered the lobby, pressed the elevator button, and went upstairs.

She opened the door to her apartment and called out, “A Ran?”

You Ruxu had just messaged her, she couldn’t be asleep already, could she? The lights were on. She called out again, no response. She went to the bathroom, no one there either, then to the bedroom, where she saw You Ruxu’s pajamas by the bed.

Had she changed her clothes?

Where did she go?

Zhou Tianzui immediately called You Ruxu, the line busy. She sat on the bed, holding her phone, then suddenly thought of the car she saw downstairs.

And the man.

Zhou Tianzui’s eyes widened slightly. She immediately stood up and walked to the window, looking down. It was too dark to see anything. She rushed to the elevator, repeatedly pressing the button, her hands trembling slightly. She called You Ruxu again.

Still no answer!

Zhou Tianzui’s heart pounded with anxiety. As soon as the elevator arrived, she rushed out.

The car that had been parked downstairs earlier had its headlights on, driving away. Zhou Tianzui tried to chase after it, but it was too late. She got into her car, followed it, and opened the location sharing app on her phone.

After the Xu Jinwan incident, she had been worried about You Ruxu’s safety, and they had turned on location sharing after dinner last night.

A red dot blinked on the screen.

Right ahead.

The distance between them shrinking, Zhou Tianzui sped up, following closely behind.

Inside the car ahead.

The driver glanced at the rearview mirror occasionally, “Someone’s following us.”

You Ruxu also looked at the rearview mirror. It was Zhou Tianzui’s car. She pursed her lips. The man beside her said, “Your phone.”

He poked her waist with a knife, “Your phone.”

His tone impatient.

You Ruxu took out her phone and handed it to him, as if wanting to resist, but the man grabbed it, rolled down the window, and threw it out.

All in one swift motion.

Zhou Tianzui saw something fly out the window. She swerved to the right, wanting to overtake them, but the car in front sped up. She looked at the red dot on the screen.

What they just threw out, seemed to be a phone.

Not You Ruxu’s phone?

Whose was it?

Was there someone else in the car?

Zhou Tianzui struggled to stay calm, not knowing what was happening to You Ruxu.

Her eyes reddened slightly. She called Captain Zhou while driving.

Captain Zhou was surprised: “You’re following them?”

Zhou Tianzui, sensing that she knew something, asked, “You knew?”

Captain Zhou said, “Reporter You just called, we’re sending people over.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Is she crazy? Knowing who they are, and still going?!”

She had just promised to be careful that afternoon, and now she let herself be taken?

Liar!

Zhou Tianzui’s eyes burned, a red film clouding her vision. She wanted to grab You Ruxu and shake some sense into her.

Captain Zhou said, “Reporter You is doing this to solve the case.”

“Isn’t solving cases your job as police officers?!” Zhou Tianzui said, “What’s she, a reporter, doing getting involved?!”

Perhaps surprised by her outburst.

Captain Zhou paused.

She didn’t have a strong impression of Zhou Tianzui, having only met her a few times at the hospital, a very rational person, now seemingly losing her composure, “We’ve already located Reporter You, we’re on our way.”

“Didn’t she think something could happen on the way?” Zhou Tianzui said, “What if they decided to do something to her on the road?”

Xu Jinwan was dead.

It meant these people were ruthless.

They could do anything.

This wasn’t a simple kidnapping, not just intimidation, but a clear intent to harm!

Zhou Tianzui’s anger raged, rendering her speechless. She wasn’t thinking clearly now, the thought that just moments ago, You Ruxu was calling her, messaging her, saying she missed her, and now, trapped in another car, her safety uncertain, it made her panic.

All rationality gone, she just wanted to drive faster, faster!

Catch up!

Catch up to that car!

Zhou Tianzui’s eyes were bloodshot, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, her gaze fixed on the car ahead, her teeth biting into her lip, the metallic taste of blood in her mouth, her expression grim.

A car sped past her.

Captain Zhou said, “Dr. Zhou, stop the car.”

Zhou Tianzui didn’t seem to hear.

Captain Zhou said, raising her voice, “Zhou Tianzui, stop the car!”

Her voice much louder now.

Zhou Tianzui slammed on the brakes, as if suddenly jolted back to reality.

Covered in cold sweat.

Captain Zhou and her team had already caught up to You Ruxu. They had originally planned to discreetly follow the car, working with You Ruxu to find their hideout, but they hadn’t expected Zhou Tianzui to follow them, and by the looks of it, she had been discovered.

These people wouldn’t go to their planned location now.

They had to stop the car, while ensuring You Ruxu’s safety. She couldn’t contact You Ruxu, didn’t know if she was aware of the situation.

You Ruxu had already guessed. She was sitting in the back, the two men flanking her, their bodies blocking the door locks. She didn’t recognize the man on her left, his face menacing. The man on her right was the construction site manager, his usually jovial face grim and serious. The car drove on in silence, she looked around, not speaking.

The car turned onto another street. You Ruxu’s body leaned to the right. The manager said, “Watch it!”

The driver said, “The car behind us was too close.”

Looking closely now.

Zhou Tianzui’s car was no longer in sight.

You Ruxu breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned to the manager, “You’re Xu Jinwan’s informant?”

The manager’s expression faltered.

He wasn’t.

You Ruxu had a feeling.

She asked again, “Zhou Heng sent you?”

The manager frowned.

You Ruxu said, “Zhou Yun?”

The menacing man on her left sneered, “So many questions? Why don’t you ask Xu Jinwan herself?”

You Ruxu remained silent.

The man glared at her.

Quite obedient.

More obedient than that Xu Jinwan.

Xu Jinwan had struggled and shouted when they first took her, he had to slap her and give her sleeping pills to make her quiet down. In comparison, You Ruxu was much more compliant. He glanced at the rearview mirror, no cars following them.

Only two or three black sedans.

Models he hadn’t seen before.

The man said, “Turn around.”

The driver was puzzled, “Huh?”

The man spat, “I said, turn around!”

The car abruptly made a U-turn in the middle of the road, screeching to a halt.

The cars behind them, unable to react in time, swerved into the other lane. You Ruxu, seeing the man distracted, looking out the window, suddenly kicked the driver. The driver’s arm jerked, the steering wheel turning sharply to the left, throwing everyone in the car to the left. The manager, losing his balance, moved away from the door lock. You Ruxu, quick as a flash, unlocked the door, opened it, and pushed the manager out of the car before he could react. He tried to grab onto the seat, but it was too late.

You Ruxu didn’t hesitate and jumped out after him.

The man on her left, his face contorted with rage, lunged at her with a knife, the blade piercing her clothes, a line of blood appearing on her arm.

Chapter 90: Downstairs

“Zhou Yun?” Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu, “You suspect him?”

You Ruxu said, “My father used to say, you can’t just look at a single crime in isolation.” You had to consider all the related people and events. Although their analysis yesterday might have been wrong, and Zhou Heng also had a motive to kill Xu Jinwan, currently, they had reason to suspect Zhou Yun.

Because in this incident, he was the one who ultimately benefited the most.

However, she felt that if it was really Zhou Yun, he wouldn’t leave any evidence so easily.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Then why submit the request?”

You Ruxu said, “It’s called ‘luring the snake out of its hole.’”

Zhou Tianzui glared at her, “It’s called putting yourself in danger!”

You Ruxu said, “If it’s really him, he’ll definitely come looking for me.” Her tone was serious. “Xu Jinwan’s death isn’t enough to convict Zhou Heng.” They needed more pressure.

Or rather, more public outcry.

And where would that come from?

From her.

Zhou Tianzui put down her chopsticks and looked at You Ruxu, her fearlessness only fueling her anger. Her voice darkened, “You’re this happy about using yourself as bait to catch the killer?”

You Ruxu looked at her, paused, and said, “I just want to catch the killer as soon as possible.”

Zhou Tianzui: “Don’t give me that.”

She was fuming.

Zhou Tianzui completely lost her appetite.

You Ruxu, seeing that she had barely touched her food, sat beside her, her voice softening slightly, “Zhou Tianzui.”

Her tone made Zhou Tianzui think she was about to say something sweet and tender, almost seductive. Zhou Tianzui’s stern facade almost crumbled. You Ruxu said, “If you were in my shoes, you would do the same.”

Zhou Tianzui retorted, “I’m not as noble as Teacher You.”

You Ruxu said, “What if you encountered a patient in danger, would you save her or not?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “That’s completely different!”

“It’s exactly the same.” You Ruxu said, “You would save her, it’s your duty as a doctor, you wouldn’t give up even if there was only a sliver of hope. It’s the same for me, uncovering the truth is my duty, I’ll pursue every lead, no matter how small.”

Because that sliver of hope, that one in ten thousand chance.

To many, was everything.

So many unsolved cases, if there was even the slightest chance, perhaps they could catch the killer, bring peace to the deceased, ease the families’ pain, and let the public know the truth, so the discussions wouldn’t just be gossip, but a testament to justice.

Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu.

You Ruxu said, “What?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Why aren’t you being a blockhead now?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m not a blockhead.”

Zhou Tianzui pretended not to hear, “What?”

You Ruxu rolled her eyes.

Zhou Tianzui chuckled, exasperated, “I’m not eating anymore.”

You Ruxu said, “Aren’t you hungry?”

Zhou Tianzui: “I am.”

You Ruxu frowned: “Then why aren’t you eating?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Feed me.”

You Ruxu wanted to shove the spoon in her mouth!

She hadn’t had much of an appetite herself, thinking about Xu Jinwan, but Zhou Tianzui’s antics made her eat more, the warm food comforting her. Her complexion also improved. After dinner, they sat in the car for a while.

You Ruxu was busy with work, constantly replying to messages.

Zhou Tianzui was busy looking at her.

You Ruxu’s eyes, light-colored, reflected the glow of the laptop screen, the words and symbols imprinted in them. Zhou Tianzui, finding it amusing, reached out and covered You Ruxu’s eyes.

Suddenly, darkness.

You Ruxu pulled her hand away, “What are you doing?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Watching you work.”

You Ruxu said, “Just a few more minutes, I’m waiting for an email.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay, Teacher You is always the busiest.”

You Ruxu’s ears turned slightly red.

She couldn’t stand the formal address now, it sounded more suggestive than even “A Ran.” Zhou Tianzui touched her earlobe, and You Ruxu moved away, Zhou Tianzui sitting up straight.

The email soon arrived.

You Ruxu closed her laptop, “Let’s go home.”

Zhou Tianzui drove, You Ruxu in the passenger seat. The streets were crowded, the festive atmosphere of the approaching New Year palpable, shops decorated with colorful lights, red lanterns hanging from the trees, but the rain from last night made the air damp and chilly.

When they arrived home, Zhou Tianzui filled the tub for You Ruxu, telling her to take a bath. You Ruxu relaxed in the warm water, almost dozing off, when Zhou Tianzui’s phone rang, the sound so loud she could hear it even in the bathroom. You Ruxu quickly rinsed off and came out, hearing Zhou Tianzui say into the phone, “I understand, I’ll be right there.”

You Ruxu asked, “Something wrong at the hospital?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Something came up, you go to sleep if you’re tired, I might be late.”

A premature baby, needing a C-section, but the family refused, insisting on a natural birth, they had been arguing for two days. The mother started experiencing abdominal pain in the afternoon, changing her mind back and forth, and now, seeing her in so much pain, the family panicked and started causing a commotion. Fu Shushu was currently in surgery, attending to a pregnant woman injured in a car accident, so they called Zhou Tianzui.

When Zhou Tianzui arrived at the hospital, Lin Luo was trying to reason with the family, the husband’s voice loud and agitated, “Where’s the doctor? Where’s that Dr. Zhou? She said this afternoon that we could have a C-section!”

Lin Luo explained, “Dr. Zhou is off duty.”

“Then doesn’t your hospital have any other doctors?!” His voice rose sharply. Zhou Tianzui, putting on her gloves, stood behind him. Lin Luo’s eyes lit up, “Dr. Zhou!”

The husband turned around. His blustering stopped abruptly, meeting Zhou Tianzui’s gaze. His voice lowered involuntarily, “Dr. Zhou, please examine my wife!”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Wait outside.”

The man hurried out, glancing back at his wife worriedly. Zhou Tianzui drew the curtains, examined the patient, and wrote a prescription. Lin Luo, who had been running around non-stop, took the prescription, whispering, “Dr. Zhou, it’s been so hectic today, the families are all so difficult.”

A hint of complaint in her voice.

Zhou Tianzui glanced at her, “Even if they’re difficult, you have to communicate with them properly. I remember communication with family members is a required course, did you pass?”

Lin Luo, taken aback, thinking Zhou Tianzui was unhappy with her complaint, quickly said, “Of course I passed.”

Zhou Tianzui smiled faintly. Lin Luo, relieved, heard her say, “Take her to the operating room.”

Lin Luo said, “Okay.”

Zhou Tianzui removed her gloves and messaged You Ruxu: [I’m at the hospital.]

You Ruxu, leaning against a pillow, was reading the messages in the group chat. After Xu Jinwan’s death, the group had become much quieter, the discussions subdued, everyone’s tone serious and professional.

Regarding You Ruxu taking over the Fengyuan story.

Teams 1 and 3 were no longer as sarcastic as before.

“We used to call her pretentious, a fake ‘bright moon,’ who knew she was the real deal.”

“Indeed.”

A few people had bought coffee for You Ruxu. She wasn’t in the office. Chen Xiang called her to tell her, “Teacher You, I never knew the three teams could be so harmonious.”

You Ruxu was also surprised.

Even the leader of Team 1 put aside her prejudice and cooperated with Shi Qi. Now, the entire TV station had only one goal.

To find the killer as soon as possible.

You Ruxu replied to the message, got out of bed to pour herself some water, and saw the doll by the water dispenser. Zhou Tianzui had chuckled when she bought it, “You’re not expecting me to cuddle with that, are you?”

Not for cuddling, but Zhou Tianzui seemed to enjoy playing with it, even giving it a new hairstyle when she was bored. You Ruxu chuckled, took the doll, and sat down on the sofa. Her phone lit up, it was a message from Zhou Tianzui, telling her she had arrived at the hospital.

She replied with an emoji, put down her phone, and played with the doll. The arm fell off again, she didn’t know if the joint was loose, it kept falling off. Exasperated, she reattached it. Looking at the doll, she thought of Xu Jinwan.

Their last meeting.

Outside the abandoned building. If she had stopped Xu Jinwan then, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened. You Ruxu absently played with the doll’s hair, then after a while, put it down on the coffee table and went to her room.

She didn’t know when Zhou Tianzui would be back.

She felt a little restless.

Lying in her familiar bed, hugging her familiar teddy bear, surrounded by familiar scents, yet sleep wouldn’t come. She opened WeChat and found Zhou Tianzui’s previous voice messages.

“I’m going to work now.”

“Just finished a surgery, I’ll call you later.”

“A Ran, what are you doing?”

You Ruxu clicked on the last message and replayed it.

“A Ran, what are you doing?”

Once.

Again.

She dreamt of Zhou Tianzui’s voice, pulling her to stand in front of Yu Qiao, “Mom, let me introduce you, this is You Ruxu.”

Yu Qiao, looking indifferent, said, “I know, Xiao Xu.”

Zhou Tianzui then said, “She’s Shi Ran.”

Yu Qiao chuckled, “Shi Ran, is it?”

Then she walked over and suddenly pushed her. You Ruxu fell into an abyss, a sudden jolt waking her up, her neck covered in sweat, a chilling coldness. She reached for her phone and checked the time, it was 11:30 pm, Zhou Tianzui still wasn’t back.

Thinking about the dream, You Ruxu felt uneasy. She called Zhou Tianzui, who sounded surprised, “You’re still awake?”

“I just woke up.” You Ruxu said, “You haven’t finished work yet?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll be done soon.”

You Ruxu gave a small “oh” and said, “Drive safe.”

Zhou Tianzui agreed.

After hanging up, You Ruxu got up to pour herself a glass of water. Her phone rang again. She thought it was Zhou Tianzui, but it was an unknown number. You Ruxu paused for two seconds, then answered, “Hello?”

The person on the other end asked, “Is this Reporter You?”

You Ruxu immediately recognized his voice, “You’re the person in charge of the construction site?”

“Yes, it’s me.” The man’s voice was low, the wind whistling in the background, “I have something for you.”

You Ruxu said, “What is it?”

“It’s Xu Jinwan’s.” The man said, “Xu Jinwan, she—she often met people at the site, she came to see me that day and said if anything happened to her, I should give this USB drive to you.”

A USB drive. You Ruxu gripped her phone tightly, “Where are you?”

The man, standing in the wind, looked up, “I’m downstairs.”

Chapter 89: The Request

Xu Jinwan was dead. When You Ruxu arrived at the scene, it was already crowded. She had been found downstream, not the primary crime scene. Yellow tape cordoned off the area. The police were questioning witnesses. People were taking photos, pushing and shoving. You Ruxu, holding an umbrella, walked over to Captain Zhou, who was wearing a raincoat, her hair completely drenched. Captain Zhou angrily kicked a nearby stone, frustrated. You Ruxu asked, “What’s the situation?”

Captain Zhou looked at Xu Jinwan’s body, covered by a white sheet: “She died last night.”

Her wrists were slit, a staged suicide. There were no other injuries, her clothes clean, no signs of struggle, just her body dumped by the river. The rain had washed away most of the evidence.

The witness was a school kid, walking home for lunch, taking a shortcut when he saw the body. The river was long, they didn’t know where the body was dumped, or if it was placed there directly. Any footprints were washed away by the rain. The boy, seeing the body, immediately called the police. Then, recognizing Xu Jinwan from recent news reports, took a photo and sent it to his friends. The photo spread rapidly, ending up online. Although the photo and the related Weibo posts were quickly taken down by the police, the news of Xu Jinwan’s death still spread like wildfire.

The netizens who had been accusing her of faking her disappearance fell silent.

Posting comments like: [Rest in peace.]

Others, enraged, started tagging the police, asking if Zhou Heng was responsible.

Zhou Heng slumped in his chair, unable to process the news.

Dead?

Xu Jinwan was dead?

Impossible.

He had never ordered them to kill her. Zhou Heng’s face paled, a feeling of things spiraling out of control, but how? He immediately called Chen Jiushu.

This loss of control was unsettling.

Chen Jiushu answered.

He said, “Mr. Zhou, it’s done.”

Zhou Heng frowned, “Done? What are you talking about? I told you to release her, what did you do?!”

Chen Jiushu said, “But Xu Jinwan knew it was us.”

Zhou Heng’s grip on the phone tightened. Xu Jinwan knew it was him. If they released her, she would definitely come after him. But why did Chen Jiushu kill her?

Zhou Heng was furious: “Then you should have told me!”

Chen Jiushu said, “I apologize.”

Was this something a simple apology could fix? Zhou Heng wanted to flip the table. He took two deep breaths. He had expected Xu Jinwan to come after him, even if she knew the truth, did she have any evidence? The previous evidence was fake, even if she tried to use it against Fengyuan, no one would believe her, there was no need to kill her!

Now he was in a difficult position.

Zhou Heng hung up. He was about to call for his assistant when there was a knock on the door, two police officers standing outside. Zhou Heng’s face darkened. Hearing them ask him to cooperate with the investigation, he gritted his teeth and said to his assistant, “Ask Lawyer Song to come over.”

The assistant hurried out. Zhou Heng went to the police station with the officers.

He feigned ignorance, saying he didn’t know anything. When You Ruxu arrived at the police station, he was sitting in the interrogation room, sipping tea, his lawyer beside him. Captain Zhou said, “He’s like a clam, refusing to open up.”

You Ruxu said, “He didn’t say anything at all?”

“Just that he doesn’t know anything.” Captain Zhou said, “We’re still waiting for the forensic report.”

You Ruxu, looking through the glass, clenched her hand.

The internet was in an uproar over this reversal, accusing the police of incompetence, of lacking credibility, even claiming the TV station was colluding with Zhou Heng. All sorts of accusations were thrown around, their anger unrestrained. The entire country was following this case.

You Ruxu left the interrogation room and crouched down in the corridor, the image of Xu Jinwan’s pale, swollen face flashing before her eyes. She closed her eyes, and her phone rang. It was Zhou Tianzui.

You Ruxu answered the call.

Police officers bustled around her, their footsteps hurried. She leaned against the wall, a sense of helplessness washing over her.

Zhou Tianzui had seen You Ruxu from afar. She was on duty, but had switched shifts with Fu Shushu. After asking You Ruxu where she was, she drove straight to the police station. Just as she entered and was calling You Ruxu, she saw her slumped figure.

She hadn’t even looked this dejected when she was injured before.

Zhou Tianzui felt a pang in her heart. She held her phone and called out, “A Ran.”

You Ruxu gave a soft response and heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Look up.”

You Ruxu looked up.

The white tiles of the police station were gleaming, reflecting the light onto Zhou Tianzui, making her features even more striking. She walked over to You Ruxu, “What are you doing here?”

You Ruxu stood up. After running around all day, and having crouched down just now, she almost couldn’t stand. Zhou Tianzui reached out and helped her up. You Ruxu stretched her numb legs, “Nothing.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Waiting for news?”

You Ruxu nodded: “Zhou Heng hasn’t come out yet.”

Zhou Tianzui sat down beside her on a bench. You Ruxu’s face was pale, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the interrogation room. After a few minutes, she took out her laptop and started working. Zhou Tianzui admired her, always carrying her laptop everywhere, she didn’t know how it wasn’t heavy.

You Ruxu’s typing was fast, her fingers slender, her gaze focused as she typed, the screen’s light reflecting in her eyes, making them seem clear and bright. After a while, she finally looked up at Zhou Tianzui, “Why are you here?”

Zhou Tianzui: “Just noticed I’m here?”

You Ruxu said, “No.”

She had just been thinking about Xu Jinwan, her mind in turmoil, only calming down after working for a bit, “I switched shifts with Dr. Fu.”

You Ruxu said, “You didn’t have to…”

“Didn’t have to what?” Zhou Tianzui said, “You almost fell just now.”

You Ruxu wanted to say she wasn’t that fragile, but Xu Jinwan’s death had been a shock, the image of her body lying on the ground replaying in her mind every time she closed her eyes. It wasn’t that You Ruxu hadn’t seen crime scenes before, but this was different.

She felt guilty.

The door to the interrogation room opened. The lawyer came out. You Ruxu walked over to Captain Zhou, “Where’s Zhou Heng?”

“He’s still inside.”

You Ruxu handed her laptop to Zhou Tianzui, “Wait for me here.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded, watching You Ruxu and Captain Zhou enter a room next to the interrogation room. She held the laptop, glanced at the bag, and suddenly felt like she was waiting for her girlfriend to finish work.

You Ruxu said to Captain Zhou, “There’s no reason for Zhou Heng to kill Xu Jinwan.”

This was an objective analysis.

Captain Zhou said, “I know.”

But they couldn’t release him yet, they still needed to find more clues, “We have a lead on Xu Jinwan’s informant.”

You Ruxu’s eyes lit up, “You do?”

The police had been investigating the locations Xu Jinwan visited, the people she contacted, the sources of her information, filtering through everything.

“We haven’t identified the person yet, but we’re checking the surveillance footage.”

You Ruxu nodded.

Once they identified the informant, it would be much easier to find out who he was working with.

She said, “Okay, then I’ll organize the information and publish a report later.”

The entire country was following the case. You Ruxu didn’t go back to the station, but sat on the bench with Zhou Tianzui, organizing the information on her laptop, sending the finished draft to the group chat. Shi Qi and the leader of Team 3 reviewed it and approved it. She would be reporting on the case live during the evening news. It was the biggest story in Jindu now. Xu Jinwan’s death had made the case even more serious, the criticism against Fengyuan and Zhou Heng intensifying. The police had mobilized all their resources, even requesting assistance from IT specialists from other districts.

She heard that Fengyuan was in chaos. Zhou Heng, now under close scrutiny by the police, had been temporarily suspended by the board, and Zhou Yun was now in charge of all Fengyuan’s affairs.

You Ruxu, waiting for the cue from the evening news team, held her phone, her lips pressed into a tight line. Even under such immense pressure, she maintained her composure, her voice calm and steady during the live broadcast. But the moment it ended, she leaned against Zhou Tianzui, her body suddenly weak and heavy.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Going home?”

You Ruxu nodded, “Yes, going home.”

Zhou Tianzui asked, “What about Xu Jinwan’s case…?”

“We’ll wait for the police to find her informant.” You Ruxu’s phone rang as she spoke. She answered, it was the 4S shop, saying her car was ready, asking when she would be free to pick it up. You Ruxu said, “I’ll come by when I have time.”

“Okay, you can contact Mr. Chen before coming over, the insurance money has been processed, and he paid for the repairs in advance.” The staff member said, “We’ve been trying to reach him for the past two days, but no answer. We’ll need his signature when you pick up the car.”

You Ruxu said, “Okay, I understand.”

She hung up, and Zhou Tianzui asked, “Your car’s ready?”

You Ruxu nodded, “Yes.”

They stood up. Zhou Tianzui took her laptop bag, and they walked out together. Captain Zhou, emerging from the monitoring room, saw them leaving, You Ruxu looking very comfortable and at ease in Zhou Tianzui’s presence.

She felt a little envious of Zhou Tianzui.

Zhou Tianzui opened the car door, “What do you want for dinner?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m not hungry yet.”

Zhou Tianzui asked, “What did you have for lunch?”

You Ruxu was silent.

Zhou Tianzui glanced at her, then drove to a restaurant near the hospital. It was raining, so there weren’t many people inside. The owner and his wife were chatting. Listening to their conversation, You Ruxu suddenly said, “I’m having second thoughts.”

“Second thoughts about what?” Zhou Tianzui handed her the takeout containers she had wiped clean and looked at her.

You Ruxu said, “If I hadn’t given her the Fengyuan story…”

Would Xu Jinwan still be alive?

Zhou Tianzui said, “If you hadn’t given her the story, she would be fine?”

You Ruxu was silent.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Anyone could have investigated that story, even if you hadn’t given it to her, she would have investigated it herself.”

You Ruxu understood, but seeing someone alive just a couple of days ago, now a cold corpse, she still felt a deep sadness, The noodles arrived. You Ruxu added some vinegar and stirred the bowl, “But it’s still partly my fault, if I hadn’t been in that car accident…”

She stopped mid-sentence.

And looked at Zhou Tianzui.

Zhou Tianzui also looked at her: “What?”

You Ruxu said, “I need to make a call.”

She took out her phone and called Captain Zhou, “I want to make a request.”

Captain Zhou: “Go ahead.”

You Ruxu said, “I request an investigation into the driver who hit me, to see if he had any contact with Zhou Yun.”