Chapter 18

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, a series of knocks sounded from the office of the captain of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the Luoan City Public Security Bureau.

“Come in!”

Director Hao walked into the office. “Oh? Xiao Gu, busy as always, I see.”

Gu Zhixing looked up and immediately stood up. “Director, what brings you here?”

He quickly grabbed the kettle beside him and poured a cup of water. “Please, have some water, Director.”

Director Hao sat down with a chuckle. “You’re quite something. It’s only been half a month, and you’ve already solved several cases!”

“That’s all thanks to your guidance, Director!”

“Oh, cut it out. I didn’t guide you at all. I heard you recently caught someone involved in a hired murder case?”

Gu Zhixing nodded. “Yes, we caught him last night.”

“How’s the interrogation going? Has he confessed?”

“We did a preliminary interrogation last night. The murder-for-hire charge is solid as a rock.

I’ve assigned Xiao Cai to continue questioning him today. I have a feeling this guy isn’t simple. If the opportunity arises, I want to dig deeper.”

“Oh? You got something else on your plate today?”

“Yeah, I got word that something’s come up. I need to head over in a bit.”

Director Hao nodded. “That matter is even more critical. Go handle it.” Then he sighed. “I really wish you were under my command.”

“Uncle Hao, don’t worry! If you ever need me in the future, I’ll definitely help out—no questions asked!”

“Haha, alright! I’ll take you up on that and have a word with your superior when the time comes. Oh, by the way, how’s your grandfather?”

“The same old problems. But now that the weather’s warming up, he’s feeling a bit better. Come autumn, though, his coughing will get worse again.”

“Sigh… People of that generation have all endured too much hardship. Alright, I won’t keep you any longer. I’m off.”

Gu Zhixing saw Director Hao out and closed the door behind him.

Director Hao was the only person in the entire Public Security Bureau who knew his true background.

In his past life, when things went south, Director Hao had tried to protect him. But the evidence was irrefutable, and despite all his efforts, he couldn’t turn the tide. In the end, Director Hao himself was demoted.

As for Gu Zhixing, since his mission had been classified, very few people in the military even knew about it.

By the time his father found out a year later, it was already too late.

Gu Zhixing let out a self-mocking chuckle. Once he returned to the military, he was definitely going to root out that traitor.

Li Yuechan stretched lazily and glanced at the clock. It was already past two in the afternoon.

No wonder she was starving—she had completely missed lunchtime!

She quickly ducked into her small room and pulled out the meat buns she had stored there that morning. Wow, they were still warm!

She wolfed them down. Heh, this little room really was useful. No matter when she put food inside, it always stayed the same as when she left it.

After devouring four big buns, she looked around. Seeing no one, she left her space and headed toward the traps she had set up.

She was still some distance away when she heard a series of agonized cries.

She focused her eyes—and nearly jumped in shock.

Oh my god! A wild boar!

And underneath it, crushed flat, was a rabbit!

She smacked her lips. Well, how was she supposed to eat that now?

Before she could figure it out, the wild boar locked eyes with her.

Her heart skipped a beat.

The next moment, the boar raised its front hooves, preparing to charge out of the pit.

Reacting swiftly, Li Yuechan grabbed her heavy iron shovel and swung it down hard on the boar’s head.

Blood splattered instantly.

She struck twice more, and with a final snort, the wild boar stopped moving.

Heh, you really thought you could take me on?

She stored the wild boar and the flattened rabbit in her space’s small house, then disguised the trap again. She’d check back in a couple of days—maybe she’d get another catch.

The wild boar smelled too strong, so she didn’t want to eat it. As for the rabbit… well, it was beyond saving.

She sighed and continued deeper into the forest.

As she walked, she suddenly spotted a wild pheasant not far ahead.

Carefully, she picked up a rock from the ground and hurled it.

With a loud flutter, the pheasant dropped to the ground.

Excited, she rushed over—only to find five pheasant eggs nearby!

Happily, she stored both the pheasant and the eggs in her space.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard footsteps approaching.

With a quick movement, she ducked behind a tree, her mind racing. Did the newcomer see her just now?

The footsteps drew closer, and she finally got a good look.

Oh! A familiar face!

She stepped out boldly and waved her hand.

“Hey! What are you doing here?”

Gu Zhixing’s brows furrowed the moment he saw her.

What was this girl doing out here alone in the deep mountains?

Beside him, Lu Weidong clearly recognized Li Yuechan as well. He greeted her enthusiastically, “Xiao Chan! What a surprise! It’s you!”

Li Yuechan quickly searched her memory. “Oh, Dongzi-ge!”

Gu Zhixing suddenly felt an odd sense of jealousy. Dongzi? And he was calling her “Xiao Chan” so casually?

Meanwhile, he didn’t even know her name!

He cast a resentful glance at Lu Weidong and forced a smile. “Oh? You two know each other?”

Lu Weidong grinned. “Of course! Xiao Chan used to play with us all the time when we were kids. Then I joined the army, and we didn’t see each other as much.”

Gu Zhixing studied Lu Weidong carefully—tall, strong, and with decent looks.

A sudden sense of crisis hit him.

Keeping a polite smile, he turned to Li Yuechan and asked in a familiar tone, “Xiao Chan, what are you doing out here in the mountains?”

Li Yuechan rolled her eyes. This guy sure was acting familiar.

Casually, she replied, “Oh, we ran out of meat at home, and I was craving some. So I came to see if I could find anything.”

Lu Weidong immediately said, “Xiao Chan, you rest here! I’ll go catch a pheasant for you and roast it.”

Gu Zhixing clenched his fists. Since when was Dongzi such a smooth talker?!

Not wanting to be outdone, he quickly added, “Yeah, Xiao Chan, you just wait here. Dongzi and I will go hunt something for you.”

Li Yuechan beamed and nodded.

Great! Free food!

Gu Zhixing grabbed Lu Weidong and pulled him away.

Once they had walked far enough, he finally asked, “Dongzi, what exactly is your relationship with Xiao Chan?”