"Did I forget something?"

Glancing at the documents in my hand, I unconsciously rubbed my forehead.

The papers were about Yang Hailiu. I remembered visiting Guanghai Normal University of Technology that Friday.

I think I even saw Yang Hailiu, but...

For some reason, I kept feeling something was off.

In my memory, Yang Hailiu had been incredibly warm to me, chatting and laughing like someone with no suspicion at all.

But I always felt the Yang Hailiu in my mind was completely different from reality.

It was as if my memories had been tampered with, and it troubled me deeply.

"What’s wrong, Chief? Still reviewing Teacher Yang’s file? Didn’t you say she wasn’t a suspect when you got back that day?"

As I lowered my head in thought...

Lin Huiyan’s voice came from above.

Hearing her, I slightly raised my head.

She stood there holding a steaming cup of instant coffee.

Seeing me look up, she placed it in front of me and smiled.

"That’s true, but something feels weird. The more I think about it these past two days, the wronger it gets."

Rubbing my chin, I stared at the gray ceiling.

The deeper I dug into that Friday, the stronger the dissonance grew.

I felt like I was overlooking something.

But the memory of talking with Yang Hailiu...

Had no dissonance at all.

"You’re overthinking it, Chief. The culprit can’t be Yang Hailiu—it’s gotta be someone else."

Lin Huiyan simply thought I was imagining things. To her, Yang Hailiu couldn’t be guilty.

After all, she was a top teacher in Guanghai City, practically the face of Guanghai Normal University of Technology, a provincial model educator.

Who’d believe a decorated teacher would traffic people?

I wouldn’t. Not even I could believe it.

If all the evidence didn’t point to her, I’d never link the two.

"Maybe. So, Lin Huiyan, any new leads on your end?"

I set down the documents and turned to her.

With Yang Hailiu’s trail gone cold, we needed fresh clues.

Otherwise, the case would reset to zero.

"Well... sorry, Chief..."

Lin Huiyan had nothing either. She gave a helpless smile and scratched her head.

This case was back to square one again.

"What about Cai Kun’s team?"

Learning she had no leads, I leaned back in my chair and asked about Cai Kun.

"Cai Kun? Do we even have someone by that name here?"

Lin Huiyan tilted her head at me, confused.

As if my words made no sense.

"Oh, right. What’s happening? Why did I blurt out that name?"

Questioned, I lowered my head and searched my mind.

No memory of Cai Kun surfaced.

Was my brain glitching from lack of sleep?

I slightly ruffled my messy hair, then looked up with an awkward grin.

"I told you—stop pulling all-nighters! Even senility’s kicking in. Go sleep properly today!"

Lin Huiyan glared fiercely, blaming my slip on bad habits.

She really hated me staying up late.

"Alright, alright. What about Du Lilang? Any findings?"

I shook my head to clear the fog and asked again.

"Dunno. I’ll go fetch him."

She tapped her chin, shook her head, and dashed out before I could reply.

"Hey, lazybones! Chief’s calling!"

Soon, Lin Huiyan’s roar—like a lioness’s bellow—echoed from outside.

"Yes, yes! Chief’s wife, I’m coming—"

"Wife my foot! I’m not married yet!"

"Almost there. You and the Chief are perfect together. Why not just—"

"You big dummy! Get in there!"

I heard the rest of their banter.

Lin Huiyan...

I felt a flicker of fondness for her.

As a girlfriend, I wouldn’t mind.

So maybe I should find a sister-in-law for my...

My?

Right—for my younger brother.

At my age, I should probably find a girlfriend too.

"Chief, I’m here. What’s up?"

Du Lilang’s annoying voice cut through my thoughts.

I shifted my gaze to him as he entered.

"Find anything in your investigation?"

The question slipped out as I looked at him.

"Only this. Check for new clues, but it’s probably trivial stuff."

Du Lilang placed a stapled folder on the desk.

He stood quietly, waiting for my next move.

"I’ll see for myself."

I trusted Du Lilang’s judgment—he was a seasoned vet from Criminal Division One.

His conclusions were rarely wrong. But I needed to verify personally.

I opened the file. The contents mirrored mine. Yang Hailiu remained the prime suspect.

But...

"This Lin Jincheng?"

A name in the relationship chart caught my eye.

I pointed to Lin Jincheng’s photo under Yang Hailiu’s entry.

"Oh, I stumbled on this during my dig. They had some odd movements lately, but I think Yang Hailiu was just tutoring him. Lin Jincheng’s grades are shaky—he might not even graduate."

Du Lilang stroked his chin, feigning deep thought.

After a pause, he shared his findings and guess: just a teacher helping a troubled student.

"But my brother... he’s in the same class..."

Mentioning Lin Jincheng made me think of my brother.

Yet recalling him felt fuzzy. I had to strain to remember details.

His grades weren’t great either. And he was close with Lin Jincheng, I think?

"You have a brother, Chief?"

Du Lilang stared like he’d discovered a new planet.

As if my having a brother was shocking news.

"Yeah, I mentioned him before. My brother, Chu Dongyu—"

Seeing his curiosity, I rubbed my chin, puzzled.

I was sure I’d introduced him. Why didn’t Du Lilang know?

"Chu Dongyu? Poetic name, matching yours!"

Du Lilang cut me off, giving a thumbs-up like he adored our names.

"Mom’s doing. She spent two sleepless nights picking them."

I loved my name. And my brother’s. I was grateful to Mom.

Chu was our deadbeat dad’s surname—he ditched Mom after my brother was born. Yet she kept it for us.

Still...

Dad had cared for me briefly once.

Time blurred his silhouette. Now, I couldn’t recall his face at all.

I hated him for abandoning us. But I owed him one thing:

He brought my brother and me into this world.

Without him, we wouldn’t exist.

"Your mom? How is she?"

Hearing about Mom, Du Lilang asked with concern.

Wanting to know her condition.

"She’s lively. Called yesterday—heading to Huangshan in Shaanxi for a trip."

Remembering her voice from the call: energetic, full of spirit.

She’d talked about traveling soon.

Huangshan in Shaanxi was a famed tourist spot, the province’s pride.

Mention Shaanxi, and Huangshan came to mind.

I wouldn’t let her go alone. But she was with her mahjong buddies and their kids.

No worries there.

If not for this case, I’d have gone with my brother.

Brother!

I hadn’t told him about Mom’s trip!

Her reminder flashed in my mind—I’d almost forgotten to tell him.

"Chief, what’s wrong?"

Du Lilang noticed my shifting expression.

"Nothing. Investigate Lin Jincheng. I need to see my brother."

I handed him the file and stood up abruptly.

"Got it. Leave it to me."

Du Lilang nodded firmly.

"I’ll head out. Might ask my brother about Lin Jincheng too."

This wasn’t just personal. Work came first.

I was just killing two birds with one stone.