Chapter 50: Do Not Strike a Man in the Face

"In that case, the boy is actually a good kid," Mother Zhang remarked with a sigh.

"Good or not, it was just a few words—who knows? At least he’s not a bad person, that much is true." Zhang Guanghui was still harboring resentment toward Deng Qingrong, so she had no desire to say anything pleasant about her son. "Anyway, he had only said those few things before Deng Qingrong tore into him. She berated him, calling him a failure, saying he was a loser, and questioning whether he would ever be of any use to her in the future. She even said that if he actually had the capability to make real money, she wouldn't have needed to find a 'double insurance' policy in the first place. That son of hers is truly spineless—after being yelled at like that, he didn't say a single word. He just slumped his shoulders and sat there, and he didn't utter another syllable until I left."

"That child is quite pitiful. It’s not as if he chose his own parents!" Mother Zhang shook her head in sympathy and let out a long sigh.

As Ning Shuyi listened to Zhang Guanghui recount the day's events, Huo Yan pulled out his vibrating phone and showed her the screen. Seeing that the caller was Luo Wei, Huo Yan stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Ning Shuyi to continue the conversation with the mother and daughter.

Huo Yan did not return. Once she felt she had gathered enough information, Ning Shuyi rose to take her leave. Zhang Guanghui, still uneasy, repeatedly pressed her for answers: since Deng Qingrong had abandoned her as a child, was she, as the biological daughter, under any legal obligation to handle the funeral arrangements? Was there anyone who had the right to demand anything of her? Ning Shuyi patiently explained the legal reality based on what she knew, though she was well aware that there was likely no one left in Deng Qingrong’s life who could make such demands of Zhang Guanghui anyway.

Once they were downstairs and outside, Ning Shuyi asked, "Did Luo Wei call with some kind of discovery?"

"Yes," Huo Yan nodded. "Residents near the neighborhood where the crime occurred reported seeing a suspicious individual. He appeared frequently, wasn't a local, and hadn't been seen there before—he had only started showing up recently. Luo Wei and his team laid in wait near the location provided by the informant and managed to apprehend the suspect."

"Let me guess—it's not the habitual thief we're looking for, right?" Ning Shuyi ventured.

Huo Yan confirmed her suspicion. "Correct. After verifying his identity, we found that he is also a habitual thief, but he is not the one whose fingerprints we found at the scene. However, the man we caught and the one who left the prints were prison cellmates. They served time together; they must be old acquaintances."

"Did they ask him what he was doing near the crime scene?"

"He claimed his friend had gone missing, and he was trying to find him."

Ning Shuyi turned to look at Huo Yan, surprised. "That’s interesting, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Huo Yan replied, checking his watch. "Let's head back. Luo Wei said they’ve detained him, waiting for us to question him ourselves."

"Then let’s not delay!" Ning Shuyi waved her hand and quickened her pace toward the car. Huo Yan, standing over twenty centimeters taller, kept up with her long strides effortlessly. He could have easily walked faster, but he matched her pace the entire way. Once they were in the car, they headed straight for the police station.

Though Huo Yan was new to the city, his sense of direction was excellent. He navigated through routes with lighter traffic and fewer intersections, arriving at the station in short order. Luo Wei had clearly been expecting them; as soon as they arrived, he led them directly to the interrogation room.

The habitual thief reported by the residents was named Zheng Chuan, a seasoned veteran of the prison system. Despite being in the interrogation room, he showed no signs of panic. When Huo Yan and Ning Shuyi entered, he greeted them with a wide, cheeky grin.

"Hard work, you two! You look exhausted! Did you rush back just for my sake?" Zheng Chuan gestured with a smirk, then glanced at Ning Shuyi. "Oh! And a policewoman, too! People say men look handsome in uniform, but I say it’s the ladies who really should be wearing them. Look at you, how lovely!"

Huo Yan slammed his hand onto the table with a sharp crack, startling everyone in the room—including the glib-tongued Zheng Chuan. The thief cast a cautious glance at Huo Yan’s expressionless face, pursed his lips, and quieted down.

As they sat, Luo Wei shot Zheng Chuan a stern glare. Had Huo Yan not reacted first, Luo Wei would have been the one to take the thief down a peg for his insolent comments toward Ning Shuyi. The "Four Golden Flowers" of their unit were all striking in appearance, but if anyone ever dared to dismiss them as mere arm candy, the male colleagues in the unit would be the first to take offense—after all, their professional competence was beyond question.

"You said you’d been hanging around that area looking for someone, right? Well, speak up! Tell us exactly who you’re looking for and when they went missing!" Luo Wei demanded, his voice stern.

"Officer, relax. I’m a law-abiding citizen now!" Zheng Chuan wasn't intimidated by Luo Wei. He knew perfectly well that although his suspicious behavior had led to a report, he hadn't actually committed any crime. Even with the intimidating atmosphere, it meant little to him. He had completed his sentence and been released; no one could punish him for his past record.

Luo Wei glared at him but didn't respond.

Zheng Chuan grinned. "I’m serious, I haven't done anything wrong. I just wanted to see what was going on. I haven't been able to reach my friend for days. I knew the last place he went to hang out was around that neighborhood, and after that, I couldn't get a hold of him. Anyone would be worried if their friend went missing. I didn't know what else to do, so I thought I’d go take a look. Who would’ve thought people would be so sensitive? It’s not like it’s some restricted area with a 'No Trespassing' sign. Is it really worth calling you guys for something like this?"

"Your friend’s name is Li Wei, correct?" Ning Shuyi asked. "The one who was sentenced for home invasion and assault?"

Zheng Chuan chuckled sheepishly. "Sister, don't hit a man in the face or bring up his past. Li Wei made mistakes in the past, sure, but he’s already been through rehabilitation! We can’t keep holding onto his past, can we?"