Proofreader: Sandra

CASE 8: LOST PARADISE 

Chapter 146

On an autumn night, the osmanthus flowers in the neighborhood were in bloom. Only then did Song Wen realize there were so many osmanthus trees in the yard, with clusters of bright yellow flowers everywhere. The air smelled sweet, like eating candy.

After returning home, the first thing Lu Siyu did was take out the cup Song Wen had given him. Then he carefully washed the cup. Song Wen thought that was the end of it, but Lu Siyu then started boiling water.

Song Wen sat on the sofa, lazily petting Xiao Lang, and watched him bustling about. “The case is over, so we can relax for a couple of days without having to rush around to crime scenes. What’s the hurry?”

“I’m doing an experiment,” Lu Siyu said, pouring the freshly boiled water into the cup and then closing the lid.

As soon as the cup was filled with hot water, the lid quickly turned red, eventually displaying the temperature: 95°C.

Song Wen asked, “What’s the result of your experiment?” Even Xiao Lang seemed to understand and perked up its ears, looking in Lu Siyu’s direction.

Lu Siyu looked at the cup in his hand, his face expressionless, and solemnly announced, “This cup indeed shows the temperature.”

Song Wen laughed, “Of course, if it didn’t, I’d have to return it and get a refund.”

Lu Siyu wasn’t done playing yet. He poured out the hot water and opened the ice water dispenser on the fridge. This device wasn’t used often, only occasionally when cooking.

Soon, ice water flowed down, and he filled the cup with it. Since the cup was still hot, the numbers on the lid jumped to 10°C, then stabilized at 5°C. This time, the lid turned ice blue.

Lu Siyu continued his summary, “So, the lid changes color when the temperature is too low…”

Then he checked the instruction manual, mixing some warm water and hot water together. Finally, the temperature displayed as 45°C, and the ring turned pink.

This was the optimal drinking temperature. Satisfied, Lu Siyu took a sip from the cup. The temperature was just right, and there was no strange taste.

“Is it fun?” Song Wen watched him fussing with the cup for over ten minutes while he sat on the sofa, feeling a bit lonely.

Lu Siyu took another sip of water and replied coolly and seriously, “Yes.”

“Is this… because you have nothing else to play with?” Song Wen felt amused but also a bit pleased and proud to see Lu Siyu genuinely enjoying the gift.

Thinking about how busy Lu Siyu had been all evening, Song Wen felt concerned and said, “It’s already eleven o’clock. You should take advantage of the break and rest.”

“Right away. I’ll go to bed in a moment.” Lu Siyu had just responded when his phone suddenly rang.

Lu Siyu put down the cup and picked up the phone, looking slightly surprised at the caller ID. Then he answered, “Hello…”

Song Wen was about to ask who would be calling at this hour. He rarely saw Lu Siyu receive phone calls, and if he did, they were usually from couriers, property management, or telemarketers. He couldn’t guess who would be calling so late.

The caller seemed to say something, and Lu Siyu’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“What happened? Who’s calling?” Song Wen sensed something was wrong with Lu Siyu’s expression and stood up, shooing away Xiao Lang.

Looking at Lu Siyu, Song Wen suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. He had felt this way before, as if from the first time he confronted Lu Siyu here, fearing a day like this would come.

Lu Siyu didn’t answer him. Holding the phone in one hand and grabbing his car keys with the other, he headed for the door.

“What’s going on?” Song Wen was increasingly puzzled.

As Song Wen was about to follow, Lu Siyu looked up and said, “Don’t follow me!”

Then, as he walked quickly, his voice trembled as he spoke into the phone, “There’s no one around me now, go ahead.” After listening to a few more words, his eyes turned red, and he rushed out the door.

“Lu Siyu?!” Song Wen was utterly shocked by his actions. He wasn’t one to obediently follow instructions and immediately chased after Lu Siyu. However, he was a step too slow, only catching up to see Lu Siyu driving away.

Song Wen felt that tonight’s events were extremely strange. He ran out of the neighborhood as fast as he could and flagged down a taxi, showing his ID, “Police! Please follow that car ahead.”

The driver, a middle-aged man in his forties, didn’t dare to delay and stepped on the gas.

By this time, it was late at night. In the dark of Nancheng, streetlights lit up one by one like stars.

The festive atmosphere had passed, replaced by a chilly night. The peak traffic had been the previous day, and now, close to midnight, there were few vehicles and pedestrians on the road.

“Please keep close…” Song Wen urged the driver. The driver floored the gas pedal, but the taxi’s performance couldn’t match Lu Siyu’s luxury car. Luckily, there were few intersections or red lights.

The two cars sped down the road, one after the other, covering several kilometers in no time.

As time went on, the distance between the two cars increased. Song Wen, growing more anxious, couldn’t fathom what could make Lu Siyu so urgent. Looking through the front windshield, he saw that Lu Siyu was still on the phone. Song Wen could only urge from behind, “Mister, please go faster.”

The driver responded, “Young man, are you chasing a fugitive?”

“Special task, can’t disclose!” Song Wen, frustrated, even considered grabbing the wheel. “Let me drive if you can’t go faster.”

“Even on a mission, safety first!” the driver replied, stepping harder on the gas.

After exiting the highway, the road became more deserted. They were heading towards the outskirts of the city, an area sparsely populated, especially on a holiday night. The surrounding buildings were dark, with only the streetlights providing faint illumination.

In the distance, Lu Siyu’s car grew smaller and then disappeared around a corner. Song Wen almost cursed aloud, contemplating calling for backup, only to realize he had left his phone behind in his rush.

The taxi finally reached the same turn. As they rounded the corner, they encountered a chaotic scene.

Under the silent streetlights, a car accident had occurred. It appeared to be a collision between a sedan and a large transport truck.

The accident had happened some time ago. Both vehicles were eerily silent, severely deformed from the impact. The sedan was almost completely crushed.

Shattered glass, scattered bolts, unidentifiable car parts, and a damaged tire littered the ground. Some debris was still smoldering, and the air was thick with the metallic smell of blood.

A serious accident had just occurred here!

Lu Siyu’s car had only just arrived. He was rushing toward the sedan.

Song Wen didn’t waste time explaining, shouting to the driver, “Stop the car!”

Without waiting for the driver to stop, Song Wen flew out of the car.

Lu Siyu reached the sedan first. He forcefully pulled open the severely deformed car door and leaned in. Just one glance and his whole body turned cold…

By this time, Song Wen had also reached the car and saw the person sitting in the driver’s seat. He was utterly shocked to recognize the driver—it was Xu Changying.

Xu Changying’s head was bowed, blood dripping from his forehead and lips, pooling around his collarbone. He was still strapped in by his seatbelt. The deformed steering column had pierced his body like a spear, almost impaling him completely. His arm hung limply, blood dripping from his fingertips. Near his hand, a phone was still connected in an ongoing call…

The call earlier had come from Xu Changying. It might have been a call for help, but such a long call seemed to indicate it was more complicated than that…

“Captain Xu…” Lu Siyu called out. He desperately tried to pull Xu Changying from the seat, but Xu’s legs were completely trapped by the deformed car, and his body couldn’t be moved due to the injuries caused by the steering wheel. In this situation, only professional rescuers could pry open the vehicle. Lu Siyu and Song Wen were powerless.

“Can he be saved?” Song Wen asked softly. Though he hadn’t interacted much with Xu Changying, seeing such a tragic scene still made his heart ache.

Song Wen had seen many crime scenes, but car accident scenes were the ones he disliked the most. The unpredictable nature of how a living person could be transformed in an instant collision was unsettling.

In these moments, one truly felt the fragility of the human body—flesh and blood crushed by steel, bones shattered, internal organs torn apart… Song Wen wasn’t a doctor, but even he could see how severe Xu Changying’s injuries were.

Lu Siyu wiped his reddened eyes with the back of his hand and shook his head at Song Wen. He had examined Xu Changying’s injuries: deformed chest, sunken abdomen, severe internal damage. Xu was already without breath or heartbeat. From this alone, it was clear that the man was beyond saving.

Xu Changying had died before they arrived, without even a chance for rescue.

Song Wen felt a heavy weight on his chest. He had seen many dead bodies, but this was the first time he had witnessed an active-duty officer die right before his eyes.

Though he had seen much life and death, and was prepared for sacrifice himself, knowing death is everyone’s final destination didn’t ease the pain. His fingers felt cold, and his breathing became heavy.

He remembered the first time he met Xu Changying—a cold, proud man who seemed impervious to the world’s evils.

Not long ago, they had worked together to resolve the crisis at Nancheng Tower.

Despite any minor conflicts they might have had, those were insignificant in the face of life and death. Xu Changying was a living person, an outstanding police officer, still young and full of potential.

He wasn’t afraid of death, but he hadn’t died fighting criminals or at his post. He died on a remote street corner in Nancheng.

A bizarre car accident left him lying here, covered in blood, turned into a corpse.

Song Wen patted Lu Siyu’s shoulder to comfort him. He didn’t attempt to move Xu Changying’s body again. If the person was already dead and trapped in the car, moving the body was pointless and could destroy crucial evidence.

Song Wen then checked the other vehicle involved in the accident, a large truck. Inside, the lone driver lay slumped over, his head caved in, already long dead.

This car accident was highly suspicious. It occurred suddenly on a deserted street on National Day night, surrounded by closed factories and companies, with no one around.

From the marks at the scene and the tire tracks, it was evident that the truck had suddenly swerved, pushing the sedan towards the roadside guardrail, and then slid to the side after the collision.

This might have been a premeditated murder.

Song Wen, remembering that he didn’t have his phone, saw the taxi still there and realized he hadn’t paid. He took out some cash to pay the driver and asked, “Sir, can I borrow your phone to call the police?” Even his voice was trembling slightly.

Seeing the horrific accident, the driver quickly handed over his phone.

Forcing himself to calm down, Song Wen made several calls, briefly explaining the situation each time. He hesitated before dialing Song Cheng’s number, knowing someone else would soon inform him.

After making the calls, the taxi left. Song Wen turned back and saw Lu Siyu standing motionless beside Xu Changying’s body, his head bowed, either in deep thought or mourning.

Since receiving that call and seeing Xu Changying’s death, Lu Siyu seemed to be in a daze, like a soul had left his body.

When Song Wen approached, Lu Siyu finally looked up.

Standing at the accident scene, Song Wen was puzzled. Why had Xu Changying suddenly gotten into a car accident? Why had he called Lu Siyu for help? What was Xu doing so late—chasing a case lead or something else?

Xu Changying was a police officer dispatched from the provincial bureau, investigating the enigmatic 519 case. Yet, he mysteriously died in a car accident tonight…

Song Wen realized there was more to this than met the eye, recalling what Li Luanfang had told him earlier.

Lu Siyu licked his lips and slightly regained his senses. Before answering the call, he had never expected Xu Changying to call him. He certainly hadn’t expected the call to be so shocking… He was still in a daze.

Song Wen asked Lu Siyu, “Xu Changying called you because…”

Lu Siyu’s tone returned to the coldness from when they were not yet familiar, his gaze avoiding Song Wen.

“I’m sorry, Captain Song… I can’t tell you anything right now.”

After speaking, he looked up at Song Wen, his beautiful eyes reflecting the bloodstains, holding a thousand words but saying nothing.

“Not even to me?” Song Wen frowned, stepping closer.

In the autumn streets, the weather had turned cold. At this deserted corner, only the streetlights provided illumination.

The air smelled of burning and blood. Lu Siyu turned to look at him, tears still glistening at the corners of his eyes. For a moment, his body trembled slightly, as if his defenses were on the verge of collapsing.

After a moment of hesitation, Lu Siyu shook his head, “No.”

It was precisely because it was him that he couldn’t…

The two stood on the corner of Nancheng’s streets, less than two meters apart, but it felt as if an invisible hand was pushing them further apart.

At 5 a.m., in the interrogation room of Nancheng’s police bureau, Lu Siyu sat at the inquiry table with his head down.

At this moment, nearly six hours had passed since last night’s incident. During these six hours, the Nancheng Municipal Bureau had begun investigating the traffic accident that resulted in Xu Changying’s death. The accident occurred in a blind spot in the surveillance video coverage area. Previous surveillance footage only showed Xu setting off for a while before the large truck followed him from behind.

No one knew how the two vehicles collided.

According to members of the new 519 special task force, they were still searching for the truth behind the case from that year. Recently, Xu Changying had told them he had some leads but didn’t specify what they were.

Xu Changying’s roommate, who lived with him, stated that Xu had left after 10 p.m. tonight. However, he didn’t mention where Xu was going.

The forensic department had already surveyed the scene, and Xu Changying’s body awaited further autopsy.

Surprisingly, they couldn’t find any information about the deceased truck driver in the system. The person had been driving a stolen vehicle, had no phone on them, and seemed to have never existed. They couldn’t find fingerprints, their blood wasn’t in the database, and they couldn’t even retrieve any information from their ID.

The whole situation reeked of strangeness.

Everyone had been busy all night, and eventually, Lu Siyu was called into the interrogation room. Now, the only clue seemed to be the phone call Xu Changying made just before the accident.

Everyone speculated that Xu Changying must have said something important during that call, leaving behind crucial information.

However, Lu Siyu remained tight-lipped about it.

Due to his special status, Song Wen was asked to stand aside and sat with Gu Bureau in the observation room.

Since last night’s incident, they had hardly slept all night. There had been a change of personnel in the interrogation room. Currently, it was Tian Ming and Cheng Mo conducting the questioning, with the two captains personally taking charge.

They never imagined that the tactics they employed against criminals would one day be used on their own colleague.

“Why did Xu Changying call you?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What exactly was said during that call?”

“He only told me the location of the accident.” Lu Siyu answered calmly, repeating the location of last night’s accident.

“Is that all in the seven-minute call?” Tian Ming obviously didn’t believe it.

“He mentioned that he was being followed by a suspicious vehicle, told me the location, and then I heard the sound of impact.” Lu Siyu replied calmly, “The actual duration of the call wasn’t that long. I just didn’t hang up, hoping for the best, and kept calling him…”

Tian Ming seemed helpless, “Xiao Lu, you’re also a police officer, we’re all colleagues… Those were the last few minutes of Captain Xu’s life. Are you using this to evade my questions? Who would believe that… Could you please think again, whether there was anything else in that call, even just a few words or something else.”

Cheng Mo raised his head and softened his tone, “We all know you may not be involved in this matter, but Captain Xu’s death is significant. What he said before he died might be related to the case. Can you really not tell us anything?”

At this point, Lu Siyu lowered his head and remained silent. His eyes were still red from crying earlier, and his handsome face showed no expression in response to the questioning from the two captains.

Tian Ming reiterated in a firmer tone, “What else was said in that phone call?”

Lu Siyu spoke coldly, “I believe that uncovering the truth behind Captain Xu’s accident is our common goal now. But regarding that phone call, I really have nothing to say. If you continue to question me here, it’s just a waste of time.”

Seeing no progress in further questioning, in the observation room, Commissioner Gu massaged his temples and said to Song Wen, “The Provincial Bureau is already aware of this matter, and Commissioner Song is on his way here. However, he was attending a meeting out of town earlier, so he might be a bit late.”

Song Wen glanced at the interrogation room and then spoke, “Commissioner Gu, I don’t think we should treat Lu Siyu as a relevant person in this matter. I was present when he received the call. It’s evident that Lu Siyu has no connection to the accident and is completely unaware of other details. We shouldn’t treat him like this.”

Commissioner Gu’s expression became serious. “I’m just hoping we can find some clues…”

Song Wen continued, “We all share the same desire to solve this case. Commissioner Gu, have you considered the possibility that Xu Changying may have died before he had the chance to leave a message?”

Song Wen had doubts about the content of the phone call. He knew that asking Lu Siyu directly would yield no results. There must be a reason making it difficult for Lu Siyu to speak, something they hadn’t discovered yet. He recalled Lu Siyu’s reaction when he received the call and his expression at the accident scene, strengthening his suspicion.

Commissioner Gu sighed, “The phone call Xu Changying made to Lu Siyu before he died is just too strange.”

Although Xu Changying had a great admiration for Lu Siyu, their meetings were few and far between.

When Xu Changying was in danger, he didn’t call his trusted friends or his superiors; instead, he called Lu Siyu. The reason behind this decision baffled everyone.

Song Wen added, “We all felt uneasy seeing the accident scene last night. I’ll take my time to ask Lu Siyu about this matter later. As for Captain Xu’s accident, I’ll definitely investigate thoroughly and provide everyone with an explanation. There’s still a lot of aftermath work to be done.”

Commissioner Gu nodded. “Let’s end it here for today. Let Lu Siyu go back first. You also go and rest. When Commissioner Song arrives, we’ll hold a meeting to discuss further.”