Volume 1, Chapter 35: Do you still remember your mother's case?

With these words, Mr. Yin gave a wave of his hand.

"Eagle of Justice" let out a miserable cry as a powerful, violent gust of wind slammed into his body, pinning him down and sending him flying. It was a simple gesture—a mere flick of the hand—yet it sent a grown man weighing over seventy kilograms soaring through the air. Clearly, Mr. Yin had tapped into the abilities of a "Divine Path" player.

"Eagle of Justice" was filled with horror. As he was tossed into the corridor, he saw the door to the office at the end of the hallway slam shut with a thunderous bang. His heart skipped a beat, and he swallowed hard, his face pale and flickering with uncertainty. Who on earth was "Licking Cockroach’s Jade Feet"? How could a mere nickname cause Mr. Yin—the highest-ranking "Divine Path" player in the Public Security Bureau, a man known for never showing his emotions—to lose his composure the moment he heard the name?

...

Half a day later, at Beijing Airport.

A handsome, upright figure stepped out of the arrival hall with a black backpack slung over his shoulder. The young man’s skin was not exactly fair, but it wasn't dark either; it could only be described as a healthy wheat-toned bronze. His features were strikingly handsome: a high, perfectly proportioned bridge of the nose paired with sharp, single-edged eyelids. His irises were as dark as ink, deep and wise, resembling black holes that seemed to draw you in if you stared too long.

It was difficult to read any emotion or sentiment from those calm eyes. All that remained was an indescribable, profound stillness. His demeanor was laid-back, and his attire was casual—a simple, plain black loungewear set. It lacked any flashy highlights, yet when paired with his clean-cut short hair and a towering height of 1.8 meters, he remained a stunning sight, attracting the side-glances of many young women even without the adornment of luxury brands.

"Son! Over here! Stop looking around!"

Just then, someone seemed to be waiting for him. Before the young man could take out his phone, a short, dark-skinned young man wearing the light blue uniform of a public security officer walked up to him with a grin and threw his arms around him.

"You look pretty good, kid. Did you get checked out these past two days? How were the results?"

Seeing the newcomer, a faint smile finally touched Qin Shang’s expression as he tilted his chin upward.

"Are you looking to court death, you bastard?"

The dark-skinned youth froze, bewildered. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"I told you to read more books, but you insisted on herding cattle. That means 'Are you fucking looking to die?' You unfilial brat, you’re trying to usurp power the moment you arrive? Seems I haven’t disciplined you in too long. Have you forgotten who’s the father and who’s the son here?"

As he spoke, Qin Shang gave his best friend a sharp rap on the head. The blow was enough to bring tears to Xu Mingyang’s eyes.

"Damn it, Qin Shang, you son of a bitch! I’m out here worrying about your health, and if you weren't a patient, I’d show you the consequences of assaulting a police officer..."

The two of them bickered all the way to the parking lot until Xu Mingyang led Qin Shang to a police cruiser. Qin Shang’s mouth twitched.

"You actually drove a police car to pick me up!?"

"It’s not like it’s your first time riding in one, what’s the big deal..."

With that, Xu Mingyang hopped into the driver's seat. A moment later, he poked his head out, seeing Qin Shang’s eyelid twitching with blatant resistance, and said with some annoyance, "I’m out here on the clock to pick you up. Our captain is strict, so I had to tell him I was out on patrol."

"I've seen people use public funds to wine and dine, but who uses a police car for personal errands?"

"Less talk, just get in the car..."

Qin Shang sighed. It was true; he had arrived suddenly, and having someone to pick him up was already a blessing. Old Xu was working, so he couldn't expect him to make extra time. Using the excuse of a patrol was the best he could do to fool their captain.

"I’m sorry for the trouble..."

Qin Shang climbed into the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt. Xu Mingyang pursed his lips in displeasure. "Don’t be so formal between father and son!"

"Shut up and just drive!"

"Where to?"

"Xiangya Villas!"

As soon as he heard this, Xu Mingyang slammed on the brakes, his voice rising several octaves. "Where!?"

"Xiangya Villas!" Qin Shang frowned and repeated himself.

"What are you going there for? That’s one of Beijing’s most high-end neighborhoods. Everyone living there is either unimaginably rich or powerful. I heard that if you aren't worth eight figures, you can't even move in. Even the dogs in that neighborhood eat delicacies. Why are you running off to Xiangya Villas?"

"I’m doing a favor for someone, delivering a message to a friend."

Qin Shang’s lips moved slightly. He hadn’t expected the person "Grandpa Niu" entrusted him to find to be such a wealthy bigwig. Xu Mingyang didn't press further; he wasn't like Jiang Qiqi, always sticking his nose in where it didn't belong. He had received the text from Qin Shang at noon and knew he must have had an urgent reason for coming to Beijing. However, he was tactful enough not to mention the name Jiang Qiqi. Ever since she had gone missing, Qin Shang had been commuting between the Public Security Bureau and her office every day.

He had come to Beijing once before, but finding no leads, he had returned home. At that time, he was about to start his second round of chemotherapy and couldn't handle the strain. But clearly, his wife, Jiang Qiqi, was the one weighing heaviest on his heart. Her disappearance was as clean as if she had evaporated into thin air. Qin Shang couldn't find any leads outside of the Bureau and her company, mainly because Jiang Qiqi was an orphan with no living relatives.

Xu Mingyang had met her first during a case where she was the victim. Later, he hosted a dinner where she attended, and to everyone's surprise, the sweet and lively girl had taken a shine to Qin Shang. It had broken the hearts of many admirers. She was a dream girl to many, and Xu Mingyang himself had initially approached her with selfish intentions. Who would have thought his best friend, Qin Shang, would "snatch the peach" shortly after getting out of prison? Perhaps it was their shared background as orphans that allowed their feelings to grow so quickly. Xu Mingyang didn't hold a grudge—he wasn't a villain. Aside from envy and well-wishes, why would he turn against a brother of so many years over a woman?

"Oh, right, that matter regarding your past has a conclusion now. I'll tell you later..."

"?"

"Are you speaking in riddles? What matter regarding my past?"

Xu Mingyang seemed to have remembered something, but Qin Shang narrowed his eyes.

"Brother, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t keep me hanging. I’m a brain cancer patient—isn't it a bit immoral to torture me like this? If you forget what you were going to say next time, I’ll die with regrets..."

"Pfft, pfft, pfft. Don't say such unlucky things."

Xu Mingyang gripped the steering wheel and cleared his throat. He looked at Qin Shang with hesitation before saying, "It’s about your mother’s case. Do you remember it?"