Chen Zheng said seriously, “It’s been a while since Ji Shun delivered Liu Pinchao to Yunxiang Theater. If they transferred him somewhere else long ago, it’ll be very difficult for us to track him now. At this point we can only bet that Liu Pinchao is still at the theater, especially here.” As he spoke, he pointed to the simple map of Area B.
“That possibility is actually fairly high. Nanshan City has had a heavy police presence recently. If Zhan Fuhai makes a careless move, he’ll only expose himself. It makes more sense for him to stay put, wait until the attention dies down, and deal with Liu Pinchao afterward.”
Ming Han nodded. “We find a way into Area B. If we can find him, or even evidence that Liu Pinchao was there, we can investigate Zhan Fuhai directly.”
Chen Zheng said, “I suspect Area B isn’t what Yunxiang Entertainment claims it is. Otherwise, after all this time, there should have been at least some news about the construction progress. Zhan Fuhai is very secretive. Once he’s connected to Heaven-Measuring Ruler, it’s hard not to wonder whether something criminal is going on inside Area B.”
“Isn’t that exactly the stage for Wen Wu, Zhou Jue, and me?” Ming Han raised an eyebrow. “We’ve carried out plenty of covert-infiltration missions.”
Chen Zheng said, “But this time is different. Zhan Fuhai knows Ji Shun is in our hands. He can predict that Area B will be our next move.”
Ming Han fell silent and stared at Chen Zheng.
“There’s a major event at Yunxiang Theater tomorrow night.” Chen Zheng handed Ming Han his phone. “Lin Dong is making his stage debut.”
Lin Dong had always worked primarily in television and had both the looks and the acting ability. But after Feather Affairs became a massive hit, instead of riding the momentum, he appeared in public even less than before. His fans had been anxiously waiting for his return. People always said stage acting was the true test of an actor’s skill, and his fans were desperate for Lin Dong to crush every claim that he could not act.
Lin Dong was one of Yunxiang Entertainment’s flagship male stars. To promote his stage debut, Yunxiang Theater had been running events for half a month straight. A large number of celebrities would attend tomorrow, and Zhan Fuhai would be there in person.
“Tomorrow night is our chance.” Chen Zheng said, “When everyone’s attention is on Area A, Area B becomes a blind spot. But there’ll be a huge crowd in Area A, so the risk is high too. We need to coordinate carefully with Cheng Cu and Director Wu and make sure no civilians get hurt.”
Wen Wu and Zhou Jue arrived in Nanshan City. Ming Han introduced them to Chen Zheng. “Bro, they’re both my buddies. Order them around however you want.”
Wen Wu was quiet and did not look much like a police officer. He stood to one side with a smile. Zhou Jue was dark-skinned and powerfully built, the kind of man who looked able to take a beating without blinking. He said enthusiastically, “Bird’s right, Bro. Order us around however you want!”
Ming Han kicked him. “Who told you to call him Bro?”
“Hey!” Zhou Jue protested. “You call him Bro. I’m not allowed to follow your lead?”
“I’m me and you’re you.” Ming Han said, “Call him Bro Chen properly.”
Zhou Jue rolled his eyes. “Ungrateful bastard.”
Wen Wu, on the other hand, walked obediently up to Chen Zheng and said woodenly, “Hello, Bro Chen.”
Chen Zheng was momentarily at a loss. Wasn’t everyone in the Mobile Unit supposed to be as quick-witted as Ming Han? Why did Xiao Wen seem so guilelessly goofy?
Wu Zhan gathered everyone for a meeting to work out the operation in detail. Major Crimes had been covertly watching Yunxiang Theater and had seen no suspicious person leave. Zhan Fuhai had not personally visited the theater either.
“Director Wu, once the event at Yunxiang Theater begins, I’ll go to Area A under the pretext of investigating and draw Zhan Fuhai’s attention. Ming Han, Xiao Zhou, and Xiao Wen will use the opportunity to enter Area B and search for Liu Pinchao. There’ll be too many civilians in the theater, so we have to consider their safety throughout the operation.” Chen Zheng said, “Major Crimes needs to remain fully on standby. Some officers should blend in disguised as audience members, while the rest wait outside the theater to provide support.”
Wu Zhan said, “I’ll coordinate Major Crimes and the rest of the division’s manpower. Captain Chen, don’t worry. We absolutely won’t hold you back.”
Chen Zheng was about to continue when Ming Han suddenly interrupted. “Zhou Jue and I will go to Area B. We’re only looking for one person. We don’t need three people. Bro, Wen Wu stays with you.”
Wen Wu glanced at him, nodded, and obediently moved to Chen Zheng’s side.
Chen Zheng said, “Zhan Fuhai has met me, and he knows I used to work in Luocheng. If a stranger suddenly appears beside me, it may make him suspicious instead.”
Ming Han said, “Wen Wu doesn’t have to stay beside you. You can spread out across Area A and let him act as circumstances require.”
Chen Zheng did not quite understand. Major Crimes officers were already going to be dispersed throughout Area A. There was no need to waste an elite Mobile Unit officer there too.
At that moment, Wen Wu spoke. “Bro Chen, Zhou Jue and Ming Han work together more smoothly. I’m better at operating alone.”
Since Wen Wu himself had said so, Chen Zheng did not insist. “All right. Then we’ll cover each other in Area A.”
Wen Wu lowered his head. “Mm.”
The uproar over Luo Yingqiang’s murder had gradually faded in Nanshan City. Once a person died, truth and rumor alike slipped their restraints. Stories spread everywhere that his mother had died years ago and he had hired an outsider to play her for publicity, that he had been unfaithful in marriage, that he took lovers of both sexes. His public image had completely collapsed, reduced to gossip. But even the most explosive story became tasteless after being chewed on for too long. The year’s end was approaching, and people had plenty of new social hot topics to chase.
Lin Dong’s first stage performance became Nanshan City’s headline. Fans came not only from Han Province but from all over the country, gathering outside Yunxiang Theater from the morning onward. The theater could not possibly hold that many people. Most of them did not even have tickets. They simply wanted to be as close to their idol as possible.
Because of Lin Dong, the eastern part of Nanshan City all the way to the New District was unusually lively. Major Crimes had blended into the crowds early. According to the schedule, warm-up activities inside and outside the theater would begin at one in the afternoon, with an appreciation banquet before the play and a celebration banquet afterward. Zhan Fuhai would attend the appreciation banquet.
At four in the afternoon, Chen Zheng got into the driver’s seat, preparing to leave the municipal bureau. Someone tapped lightly on the car window, and Ming Han’s face was nearly pressed against the glass. The tension in Chen Zheng’s nerves eased a little. He rolled down the window and smiled. “Trying to hitch a ride again? Not today.”
“Not hitching a ride. I want something from you.” Ming Han was so tall that bending over like this made him look oddly aggrieved.
Chen Zheng asked, “What?”
Ming Han said, “Your hand.”
Chen Zheng was surprised. “My hand?”
“We’re about to split up for separate assignments. I’m a little nervous.” Despite saying that, Ming Han did not look nervous in the slightest.
Chen Zheng turned slightly and held out his right hand. “What, if I give you my hand, you won’t be nerv—”
The rest of the word caught in his throat when a light kiss landed on his fingers. Chen Zheng’s mind went blank for an instant. By the time he recovered, Ming Han had already released him, smiled, stepped back several paces, and given him a lazy salute. His lips formed the words, “Thanks, Bro.”
Chen Zheng: “…”
Zhou Jue came running over and slapped Ming Han on the shoulder. “Why are you standing here? Old Tang’s looking for you. He ended up calling me!” Then he noticed Chen Zheng and grinned. “Oh, so you were whispering with our Bro.”
Chen Zheng snapped out of his daze. “I’m heading out. Stay in contact and be careful.”
Perhaps because there were so many fans, traffic on the way to the theater was terrible. Chen Zheng gripped the steering wheel, the fingers Ming Han had kissed burning hot. The heat seemed to travel through his blood all the way to his ears and cheeks.
What the hell? Pulling something like that on me while we’re working!
He turned off the climate control and opened the window for air. Winter cold rushed in and finally cooled him down a little.
Fan groups were everywhere outside Yunxiang Theater. Traffic police and security guards were maintaining order. Chen Zheng passed through security using his police credentials and saw luxury cars filling the outdoor lot. At this hour, Zhan Fuhai should already have arrived.
With the temporary work pass the traffic police had given him hanging around his neck, Chen Zheng moved freely through the theater complex.
Area A was laid out like stars surrounding the moon. A main theater stood at the center, where Lin Dong would perform tonight, with seven smaller buildings around it. Three were smaller theaters, while the other four housed banquet halls, press halls, and similar spaces. The appreciation banquet was being held in Banquet Hall No. 1, with a red carpet laid out in front. Chen Zheng made a circuit of the area but saw no sign of Zhan Fuhai. Cheng Cu messaged him that Zhan Fuhai’s car had departed later than expected and was still on the road.
Chen Zheng headed toward Area B, but a security guard politely stopped him and explained that the area ahead was a construction site and unauthorized personnel were not allowed inside. Chen Zheng stood beside the landscaping and looked over the route. The greenbelt was broad, with trees at the far side and a wire fence hidden behind them. Even if someone climbed that fence, they would still have to cross a stretch of gravel before reaching the fence around Area B.
Chen Zheng had no intention of forcing his way in. He turned and went back to the bustling banquet hall.
A commotion broke out. He initially thought Zhan Fuhai had arrived, but when he looked back, it was Lin Dong. According to the schedule Chen Zheng had received, Lin Dong was not supposed to attend the appreciation banquet before the performance. He should have been backstage preparing to go on.
The businesspeople, prominent figures, and media inside the banquet hall had been mingling among themselves, but Lin Dong’s appearance instantly drew every eye. Dressed in a black formal suit and smiling beneath the spotlights, he looked like a flawless work of art.
His assistant followed nervously behind him, saying something in a low voice. Lin Dong replied, “It’s fine. It won’t take long. Everyone came here for me today. I don’t want them to feel disappointed.”
Then he generously told the people gathering around him that President Zhan had been delayed, so he had taken it upon himself to come keep everyone company for a while. He hoped they would all enjoy the evening.
Chen Zheng could not help thinking that idols really were a different breed. Lin Dong spoke without leaving a single opening and seized every opportunity to present himself well.
The atmosphere became lively the moment Lin Dong appeared. When he learned that countless fans without tickets were still waiting outside the theater, he actually had his assistant start a livestream so he could share the moment with them.
That was when Chen Zheng began to sense something was off. Celebrities livestreaming at events was nothing unusual. There were even publicity scripts where the team supposedly refused to start a stream and the celebrity “took it upon himself” to give the fans a bonus.
But everyone in this banquet hall was either from the industry or part of Zhan Fuhai’s network. Lin Dong kept emphasizing to his assistant that he did not want to disappoint his fans and wanted them to take part too. Who exactly was this performance for?
If this wasn’t scripted, why was Lin Dong so determined to do it? Was this really just some mutual devotion between idol and fans?
Chen Zheng opened the livestream and took a look. The fans were already going wild, their affection practically spilling through the screen.
Lin Dong greeted them politely and chatted with the ease of a friendly older brother next door, repeatedly thanking everyone for waiting for him and for indulging his whims.
The livestream did not last long. Zhan Fuhai finally arrived, and Lin Dong ended the stream as soon as he appeared. Zhan Fuhai also seemed surprised that Lin Dong had come to the appreciation banquet. Smiling, he told him to hurry and get ready so he would not delay the performance. They appeared to get along extremely well.
Lin Dong said goodbye to everyone. As he left the banquet hall, Chen Zheng happened to be standing by the door.
Lin Dong looked at him, a faint crease appearing between his brows. His assistant urged him to hurry. Lin Dong had already walked past Chen Zheng when he deliberately turned his head for another look.
Wen Wu had also reached Area A. Chen Zheng said, “Keep an eye on Lin Dong.”
Wen Wu replied, “Understood.”
Evening gradually settled in. Winter sunsets lacked summer’s lavish colors. Once the sun slipped below the horizon, the little remaining gold faded almost immediately. Glasses clinked throughout the appreciation banquet, and Zhan Fuhai was unquestionably the center of attention. Many of those present were wealthy figures from Nanshan City. Now that Luo Yingqiang was dead and Yingqiang Group was waiting to be carved up, Zhan Fuhai, the outsider and rising power, had somehow found himself standing at the center of the city’s interests.
He moved easily among one president after another. Someone leaned over and said something in his ear. After his gaze wandered around the room several times, it “accidentally” landed on Chen Zheng. Surprise appeared on his face and he walked over. “Captain Chen, what brings you here? Don’t tell me you finally took my proposal to heart and came to lend me a hand?”
Chen Zheng lifted the temporary work pass hanging from his neck. “We’re short on manpower. I was assigned here to help maintain order.”
Zhan Fuhai’s eyes traveled over the pass, and he suddenly laughed. “Captain Chen, why put yourself through all this? Aren’t you tired of being transferred around? You’d be better off coming to work for me sooner. Your prospects would be much better.”
Chen Zheng said, “President Zhan, you’re joking again.”
Zhan Fuhai glanced behind him. “Since Captain Chen came to keep our appointment, why don’t we have a proper conversation today? Whether you’re really here just to maintain order, you know and I know.”
Chen Zheng said calmly, “Hm?”
Zhan Fuhai let out a low laugh. Chen Zheng was about to continue fencing verbally with him when a figure suddenly entered the edge of his vision.
A figure so familiar he could never forget it.
He snapped his head in that direction and saw someone dressed as a waiter, back turned, walking toward Door No. 2. His heart leaped into his throat. He instinctively cut Zhan Fuhai off. “Sorry, something came up.” Then he immediately headed after the man.
The banquet hall was too large. By the time Chen Zheng finally reached Door No. 2, the man had already disappeared through it. Chen Zheng fought to control his emotions, his gaze searching rapidly through the black night and the glare of the lights.
He could not have mistaken him. That back belonged to Han Qu!
Under the night sky, Areas A and B seemed like two different worlds. The roar from Area A was loud enough to pierce the heavens, while Area B seemed forgotten, curled inside a silent cage.
Two black-clad figures vaulted the wall with practiced agility and landed steadily on the other side. Zhan Fuhai clearly placed great importance on tonight’s stage premiere. Work in Area B had stopped as well, and not a single light was on. Steel frames and tower cranes rose across the construction site, their silhouettes transformed by the distant lights into grotesque monsters.
Ming Han did not move immediately. He concentrated on surveying the surroundings. It was too quiet, beyond the normal stillness of a shut-down worksite. Even when construction stopped for the night, there should usually be someone on duty. Here, it felt as though the silence itself had been arranged in advance as part of a trap.
“Careful,” Ming Han said to Zhou Jue beside him. “There may be a trap.”
Zhou Jue nodded. “Split up and search?”
Ming Han pointed to the left. Zhou Jue understood and silently slipped into the darkness on the right.
The winter wind was fierce. It was less noticeable downtown, but the New District had very few tall buildings, and this stretch, apart from the theater and Yunxiang Entertainment’s office building, was practically wasteland. The gale howled across Ming Han’s face, carrying wave after wave of cold.
Ming Han thought he heard something, like metal scraping against metal. But the wind was too loud, and the cheering from Area A overwhelmed his hearing. For a while he could not tell what the sound was. When the wind died down, the scraping seemed to stop too, as though he had imagined it.
His concentration sharpened further as he moved toward the construction area.
Area B was larger than he had expected. Apart from the tower cranes, everything was covered in dust-control netting. There was not enough light at night to see through it, and the building frames rising twenty or thirty meters above the ground formed an enormous maze that aggressively blocked the way ahead.
It really was an ideal place to hide. Ming Han entered the “maze” with extreme caution. Dust hung thick inside the netting. He could not help thinking that if Zhan Fuhai wanted to make a move against him here, it would be easy enough. Use the dust to trigger an explosion, and when the police investigated afterward, they could claim it had only been an accident. As for why it exploded, they could even blame him for firing a gun inside.
He focused even harder and moved through the “maze.” Time seemed to slow unnaturally. The noise of Area A disappeared completely, and his eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness, but he still found no sign of a target.
Zhou Jue had found nothing either. The “maze” enclosed by dust-control netting seemed truly empty.
Then Ming Han turned into the depths of the maze and discovered there was far more here than met the eye. A ramp sloped downward, and the available space suddenly multiplied, resembling an underground city.
Ming Han descended. The light from Area A barely reached this far, and the darkness pressed against him like a heavy wall. He kept close to the wall as he moved down, already drawing his gun from his waist.
“Thud.” A faint sound made him stop immediately. He searched the darkness with all his attention. His sense of space was distorted down here, and it took him some time to identify the direction the sound had come from. Yet there seemed to be nothing there.
He adjusted his pace and moved toward it slowly. The only sound he could hear was his own heartbeat. The dark path stretched on for a long time, as though it had no end. But once he reached the bottom, the ground began to slope upward again and a faint light appeared ahead. Ming Han mentally retraced the route he had taken. This underground space seemed to form a V. If he continued, he would emerge back above ground from the other side.
Something caught his foot as he moved forward. Ming Han crouched and found a cardboard box, with a mat beside it. Half-eaten bread lay in the box, and there was still warmth in the mat. Someone had been here moments ago.
Ming Han became even more cautious. The faint light near the exit flickered as someone passed through it. He broke into a run. By the time he reached the exit, the figure had vanished, while the wind had grown even stronger. Ming Han swept his gaze across the surroundings. The figure flashed into view again, running toward a tower crane.
There was no time to hesitate. Ming Han immediately followed.
The celebration in Area A was thunderous, swallowing every unsettling sound. Lin Dong had already gone onstage, and the fans who could not enter the theater were singing and dancing as though attending a concert, cheering him on from outside.
Ming Han fixed his eyes on the figure ahead. He had not seen the man’s face, but judging by his height, build, and the way he ran, Ming Han was certain it was Liu Pinchao. He had to catch him. Liu Pinchao was the most important witness they had for investigating Zhan Fuhai and Heaven-Measuring Ruler.
The figure darted into the tower crane and began climbing upward with obvious effort. Ming Han’s heart clenched. If someone wanted to escape, climbing a tower crane was hardly a sensible choice. Was Liu Pinchao trying to kill himself?
Ming Han’s gloved hand closed around the steel frame. He made the decision instantly. He had to follow him up.
In Area A, the audience was enjoying the stage play crafted specifically for Lin Dong. Outside the theater, however, Chen Zheng had been thrown badly off balance by Han Qu’s sudden appearance. He had never imagined he would see Han Qu under circumstances like these. Why had Han Qu come here?
Han Qu was dressed as a waiter and blending into the crowd. Was he here to keep watch on someone’s movements? The moment Chen Zheng noticed him, Han Qu disappeared. Was Chen Zheng the person he had been watching?
But… a faint sense of wrongness surfaced in Chen Zheng’s mind. The situation was too urgent, and the psychological shock had hit too hard. For the moment he could not grasp exactly what felt wrong.
To satisfy the fans, Yunxiang Entertainment had set up an exhibition of Lin Dong’s works in the area inside the main entrance and outside the theater. The place was packed and noisy. Chen Zheng kept searching for Han Qu and spotted him again beside a standee of Lin Dong.
“Excuse me! Coming through!” Chen Zheng forced his way through the crowd. This time he did not lose sight of Han Qu. Han Qu seemed to notice him again and quickly headed toward a side entrance of the theater.
Chen Zheng finally broke free of the crowd and chased after him. Han Qu did not enter the theater. Instead, he moved through the shadows outside it, following the base of the wall.
Chen Zheng’s brows drew tight, but his pursuit slowed.
No. Everything is off.
The police operation tonight had never included tracking Han Qu. No one had even considered the possibility that Han Qu might appear. Major Crimes, the Mobile Unit, Chen Zheng himself, all of them had one objective: find Liu Pinchao and use him as the breakthrough point for investigating Zhan Fuhai.
The moment Han Qu appeared, their plan was bound to change. Had Han Qu shown himself solely to disrupt the police operation? Han Qu had been missing for almost two years. He was absolutely not someone who lost his composure so easily.
As Chen Zheng gradually calmed down, the strange feeling from earlier finally found a logical explanation. If Han Qu truly meant to observe someone, then with his ability he would never expose himself. Han Qu had deliberately let Chen Zheng see him. Once had not been enough, so he had appeared a second time.
Was Han Qu trying to lead him somewhere? Did he know that if Chen Zheng lost his head, tonight’s police operation would probably fail? Or…
Chen Zheng’s pupils suddenly contracted. Ming Han was in danger.
A violent gust rose without warning and tore across the ground. In the distance, the steel frames and tower cranes in Area B gave off a terrifying metallic screech. Chen Zheng turned around, putting his back to the direction Han Qu had fled. Keeping his voice as calm as possible, he informed Major Crimes not to wait any longer and to move on Zhan Fuhai immediately. Then he contacted Wen Wu. “Han Qu is near Gate No. 3 of the theater. Xiao Wen, you should know who he is. Find a way to follow him.”
Wen Wu answered at once. “Yes!”