HH Chapter 29

Cheng Ye floored the accelerator, and if not for the traffic lights, he might have flown straight to the destination.

“Do you have a grudge against them?” Cheng Ye asked, stopping the car.

Pei Qinghuai shook his head. “No.”

“Then how do you know they’re targeting you?” Cheng Ye countered.

“Maybe they found someone they can have fun with and don’t want to lose their toy,” Pei Qinghuai said indifferently. “They’re just a bunch of mentally immature lunatics.”

Cheng Ye pursed his lips and nodded, repeating, “Mentally immature lunatics—yeah, that’s exactly what they are.”

Back at the station, Zhang Deli was waiting with a grim expression. As soon as Cheng Ye arrived, Fang Yuan quickly pulled him aside and whispered, “Captain Cheng, what’s wrong with Director Zhang? Did you provoke him again?”

Cheng Ye swatted Fang Yuan’s hand away. “Do I look like that kind of person?”

Just then, Zhang Deli walked over. “Cheng Ye, you’re back. Let’s get started! Xiao Pei, come with me.”

“Alright,” Cheng Ye said. “Notify everyone to gather in the conference room.”

Pei Qinghuai followed Zhang Deli to the office. “Sit, sit, don’t stand.”

Though he said that, Zhang Deli couldn’t sit still, pacing back and forth, frowning so deeply he could probably hold a cigarette in the crease.

Pei Qinghuai could see what Zhang Deli was thinking and said, “The red paint has been sent for testing. I’m fine and can continue participating.”

The 327 case back then was significant, and many copycats emerged, but there were differences. The substance in the red paint was never made public by the police. It was a diluted hallucinogen, made into paint, and not very harmful to the human body.

So there’s only one possibility: it was their way of marking authenticity.

Zhang Deli’s expression grew more serious. “That’s not the main point.” He looked at Pei Qinghuai with a troubled face. “If the test results confirm it, then they are targeting you!”

Pei Qinghuai chuckled. “Director Zhang, you figured it out too.”

Zhang Deli sighed. “I’m not that senile yet.”

Pei Qinghuai stood up, his expression relaxed. “Not being able to participate in my sister’s case back then was my regret. I can’t miss this one.”

Seeing Pei Qinghuai’s current demeanor, Zhang Deli didn’t know what to say, his face complicated. After a long pause, he spoke again, “This case is no small matter. If they are indeed after you…”

Seeing that Zhang Deli was about to launch into a long speech, Pei Qinghuai interrupted, “I know, Director Zhang. I will be careful. Let’s not keep them waiting.”

Zhang Deli, realizing he couldn’t argue with Pei Qinghuai, just sighed and said nothing more.

“Captain Cheng, what’s up with Director Zhang? Is there a situation?” Fang Yuan asked Cheng Ye after glancing at him.

Everyone else also turned their gaze towards Cheng Ye. Cheng Ye clasped his hands together and spoke in a low voice, “The 327 case has reappeared.”

Everyone froze for a few seconds, then Fang Yuan asked, “Is that for real?”

Cheng Ye met Fang Yuan’s gaze. “The forensic team is testing. We’ll wait for the results.”

“Wasn’t that case closed a long time ago? How has it suddenly resurfaced?” Jiang Fei asked. “Is it a copycat?”

“I hope it’s a copycat!” Zhang Deli’s voice responded as he entered the room.

“Director Zhang!”

Everyone stood up upon seeing Zhang Deli. He raised his hand to signal them to sit. “We’ve worked together for years, no need to be so formal.”

After they sat, Zhang Deli stepped forward, his voice steady. “You should have heard from Cheng Ye. Let’s not jump to conclusions. We wait for the final results.”

He paused. “Let’s focus on the current case. Cheng Ye, you start.”

“Okay.” Cheng Ye glanced at Pei Qinghuai sitting at a distance, then turned to Zhang Yibao. “Let’s begin.”

Zhang Yibao nodded and spoke, “I’ve reviewed the surveillance from the snack street. Chen Yuxin was indeed there early on June 14th. The person with her was a company boss, Li He, 38 years old, married.”

Chen Xiaonuan showed disdain. “Married men doing this, no man is good!”

Fang Yuan quickly added, “I don’t do that! Don’t include me!”

Zhang Yibao also raised his hand. “Me neither.”

He chuckled and continued, “At 3:50 a.m., Li He left the snack street alone and never returned.”

“Did you check the school’s surrounding surveillance?” Cheng Ye asked.

“Yes,” Zhang Yibao replied. “No footage of Chen Yuxin leaving the school.”

“That’s odd. No footage of her leaving, yet she appeared outside,” Jiang Fei mused. “Could she have turned invisible?”

Fang Yuan elbowed Jiang Fei. “Show me how you turn invisible!”

“I was just saying,” Jiang Fei replied innocently.

Zhang Deli spoke up, “Regardless of how she left the school, Li He was the last to see her alive.”

Cheng Ye nodded and said, “Jiang Fei, take Fang Yuan and bring Li He in. Chen Xiaonuan, take your team to investigate at the school.”

“Got it.”

Once the room was cleared except for Zhang Deli, Pei Qinghuai, and Cheng Ye, Pei Qinghuai stood up. “I need to take a call.”

After Pei Qinghuai left, Cheng Ye moved his chair closer to Zhang Deli, grinning. “Director Zhang, tell me how Pei Qinghuai got involved in the 327 case?”

Zhang Deli leaned back. “Why? Now you’re interested? Weren’t you the one reluctant to have him join us back then? I won’t tell you.”

Cheng Ye looked aggrieved. “Who hasn’t been young and foolish? I was immature back then.”

Seven years had passed since the 327 case. Pei Qinghuai would have been only twenty-one, still in police school while others were tackling major cases. The difference was stark.

Seeing Cheng Ye’s eager expression, Zhang Deli shook his head. “That case was handled by me and a few veteran detectives. By the third incident, the public was in a state of panic. It was a kidnapping case, and it was broadcast live.”

“With each case, we were on high alert. The kidnapped person had a spike set behind their neck, fixed with ice. As the ice melted, the spike would fall and pierce the neck.”