Time truly flies. In the blink of an eye, so much time has passed. People are always like this; when you look back, you always feel that time has passed quickly, as if events that spanned a long period happened just yesterday.
I sat beside Liu Yuning. Even though her eyes were tightly shut and she showed no signs of life, I wouldn't give up as long as she had a breath left.
The doctor recently told me that your condition wasn't optimistic. You nearly suffocated in your sleep several times, and I was out on a mission, unable to be by your side.
The doctor has notified me several times, suggesting I change your treatment method and bring you home.
It's not about money or time. It's just that I feel it's not the right moment yet. After this case is resolved, I might take you back. The doctor told me all treatments had been tried, and if conditions allowed, continuing treatment at home would be more comfortable than staying in the hospital, as he mentioned your condition was primarily related to willpower, a psychological effect.
I don't know what you went through then. Perhaps there are still some truths about the case that I haven't uncovered.
I hope you can tell me in person when you wake up what happened that day.
Of course, bringing you home doesn't mean abandoning treatment. Our medical expenses are covered by the department.
Yuning, I apologize for not being able to be with you recently.
Yuning, you and I are both police officers. Although I was a forensic investigator before, after my promotion, I am also a People's Police officer, just like you.
So, I know you will understand me.
I will try my best to be by your side. Don't worry, I know you won't make me wait forever. I believe you'll wake up soon and return to our Crime Punishers team.
I was speaking to myself, and for some reason, I suddenly noticed a girl sitting by the windowsill, a familiar figure. It was the scene from university when you later met me.
I was in the library, reading through books on criminal investigation, while you were by the windowsill, looking at me in front of the lavender. Suddenly, I noticed someone approaching. I didn't look up, treating you as if you were transparent.
You gently lifted my chin. At that moment, Xie Chuchu approached, surprised by what we were doing. Afterward, rumors spread throughout the school that we were... but in reality, our relationship was very pure then; we were just people who admired each other. Yes, mutual admiration.
Before we even graduated, Professor Huo told us that if we joined forces, our case-solving rate would increase by more than twenty percent, no matter where we went.
Unexpectedly, after we graduated, wherever we went, all the cases we handled were solved, resulting in a hundred percent solve rate.
Thinking of this, I tightly gripped Liu Yuning's hand, kissed her tiger's mouth, and then kissed her forehead again. I thought that if He Xin returned safely, I would let her take care of you, preventing her from going to the provincial department unless there was a special mission. Would you like that?
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as your agreement! Yuning!" I hugged her, and as I stood up, I picked up my phone. "It's time, Dad. Did you find He Xin?"
I sent a voice message to "Dad" on WeChat. Perhaps this was our unspoken understanding. I knew only "Dad" could find He Xin at this time.
He quickly replied, "Here is a location. I just found out. However, you need to be careful. Those people might send you a warning letter, but I won't let anything happen to He Xin!"
"Dad, be careful!"
Of course, I wouldn't waste any time. Besides Dad, before coming to the hospital, I had already asked Li Fan, Xia Hou, and Xiao Yuande to continue their investigation outside.
Then, my phone received another message: "Detective He, it's your turn. I have no interest in anyone else, especially that idiot Gao Mingqiang. He was fine, yet he insisted on returning to die. Is this repayment of kindness? You police are truly ignorant. Emotions are worthless in the face of profit!! I'm telling you, this time you must come alone. If I see any other police officers approaching, I will immediately incapacitate He Xin. Then, your father and daughter will be separated forever!"
"Scoundrel! The reason profit exists in this world is because people have emotions. I will catch you!"
I said this without notifying anyone, because that guy had to be dealt with by me alone. We are in Guangming City's Century New City.
This place is actually an abandoned hotel. It's said to be a relic from after an earthquake, located near the most remote wasteland north of Guangming City.
Before arriving, I had consulted a lot of information. These criminals would certainly not sit idly by. They chose this place because it's convenient for escape. However, when I researched the information, I found that it was a dead end, surrounded by mountains and with no waterways. It's strange, wouldn't that cut off their own escape route?
But they must think that this time, only I am coming. Once they take me down, they can escape however they wish.
The other members of the film crew haven't been found yet. I suspect that besides Editor Zhang and Wang Zi, the rest are their members.
I know this is a trap. Whether I can return from here is a mystery, but I must save He Xin, or I will feel guilty for the rest of my life.
Even if it's a dragon's lair or a hell of my own making, I won't take a single step back.
Arriving below the hotel, I saw broken walls and sunken ground everywhere. Many places had cracked open with huge fissures. After parking my car, I gripped my weapon and walked towards an automatic door of the hotel. It was supposed to open with electricity, but the door was already open.
However, the moment I stepped into the hotel, I felt something was terribly wrong. A chilling, icy, deep cold washed over me. At the same time, I heard a strange voice from above: "Detective He, I see you. You are now passing through the hotel lobby, going up the stairs to the fifth floor. He Xin is here!"
"Don't try any tricks!"
"Don't worry, although we are scoundrels, hahaha, we will keep our promises!"
"Scoundrel!" I cursed and then rushed upstairs like a rocket.
I don't know how many flights of stairs I ran up before I reached the fifth floor.
But the moment I entered the fifth floor, I found it filled with dense iron cages. Dim incandescent lights flickered overhead. I initially thought there was no electricity, but upon closer inspection, the incandescent lights seemed to be powered by the backup generator.