Chapter 16: The Vanished Woman (9)

After the interrogation, Teng Fei was taken to Xiaobie Mountain to identify the crime scene, including the place where they had spent the night. Investigators uncovered new pieces of evidence, including a scented sachet Liu Yuwei had prepared as a gift for Teng Fei. It was likely left behind in the rush to see the sunrise that morning.

When Teng Fei later staged the scene, he had been in such a hurry that he overlooked a few details. However, because the mountain was remote and exposed to wind and sand, the evidence remained undiscovered until now.

With this final discovery, the evidence chain in Teng Fei’s murder case was complete.

Meng Siqi had been in a low mood for days. She was not someone who usually got emotional, but Teng Fei and Liu Yuwei’s story had shaken her deeply.

Tang Xiaochuan and Zhao Leiting had also been affected. However, with their experience handling numerous cases, they recovered quickly and soon immersed themselves back into work.

While compiling her final notes, Meng Siqi reviewed Teng Fei’s childhood.

More than ten years ago, Teng Fei’s father was a carpenter. He traveled around for work and was well respected in the village. During the Spring Festival, relatives and villagers would entrust him with fabric ration tickets, asking him to buy cloth for them from the township supply cooperative.

But after setting out on that trip, Teng Fei’s father never returned.

At first, people assumed something bad had happened to him and expressed sympathy. However, as time passed, rumors spread that he had run off with the money and disappeared.

The villagers began to gather at Teng Fei’s home, demanding compensation. His mother, already in poor health, suffered under the weight of losing her husband and the relentless harassment from their so-called friends and relatives. The double blow left her gravely ill, and soon after, she passed away.

At just thirteen, Teng Fei was left to care for his five-year-old sister, Teng Rong. They had no one else to rely on. Teng Fei was hardworking and resourceful, able to read newspapers and books. Thanks to his resilience, they managed to survive.

Looking at Teng Fei’s adult life, Meng Siqi attempted to create a psychological profile. She had been studying criminal profiling recently and hoped to apply what she had learned to analyze Teng Fei’s criminal mindset.

At around ten years old, Teng Fei must have experienced deep confusion and pain over his father’s disappearance. It was the first major turning point in his life. He might have held onto hope that his father would come back, even up until his mother’s final moments. Eventually, though, his feelings of longing turned into resentment for the man who had abandoned them.

But in his father’s disappearance, Teng Fei may have also recognized something: once a person goes missing, they can vanish forever, no matter how absurd the circumstances.

His mother’s death became the second major turning point in his life. The grief of losing her was compounded by the hatred he felt toward those who had tormented her. That was the first time he truly experienced the cruelty of human nature. It hardened him. He built walls around himself and stopped trusting others.

His sister’s illness became the third major turning point. Before his mother died, she had made him promise to take care of his sister. Teng Rong was his only family in the world, the last person who kept him anchored.

When he first started writing, he published a poem in the county newspaper. In it, he compared himself and his sister to two small trees swaying in the wind and rain. He had to grow tall and strong to shelter her.

But when she fell seriously ill, he was overcome with fear. He wasn’t just afraid of losing his sister—he was afraid of losing all the years of struggle and sacrifice, the promise he had made to his mother, and the only reason he had to keep going in this world.

Meng Siqi’s profile ended there, but she believed that hardship often made people more compassionate. Many who suffered deeply developed a greater sense of empathy. So why had Teng Fei become so ruthless and cold-blooded?

She suspected that his inner world was far darker than anything she could outline.

That day, Han Changlin called Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting into his office.

“You two should go check on Teng Rong,” he said. Her illness was still dragging on, and no one knew how she was doing.

Teng Fei had been arrested, and Han Changlin’s instructions were clear—he wanted them to inform Teng Rong about the situation.

In truth, they might not even need to. Teng Fei’s arrest had already made the news, and his novel had been banned. His name was practically erased from public memory.

On the way, Zhao Leiting spoke up.

“Even though Teng Fei hasn’t officially been transferred to the prosecutor’s office yet, and the court hasn’t given a final verdict, under Article 232 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, ‘Anyone who intentionally kills another shall be sentenced to death, life imprisonment, or a fixed term of no less than ten years. If the circumstances are less severe, the sentence shall be no less than three years and no more than ten years in prison.’”

Teng Fei had committed premeditated murder with extreme cruelty and would surely face severe legal punishment.

Zhao Leiting spoke with a serious tone. Meng Siqi looked at him standing in the sunlight and felt a surge of emotion. Justice being served was the most beautiful thing in life.

When Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting arrived at the hospital, they learned that Teng Fei had left all the money from selling his books to his sister. Because of this, Teng Rong was still able to stay in the hospital and receive treatment.

Before meeting Teng Rong, the two of them sought out her current attending physician, Dr. Zhang. The previous doctor, Song Ren’ai, had already been detained for investigation.

Dr. Zhang told them frankly about Teng Rong’s condition. Given the current medical advancements, there was almost no chance of a cure. Even with chemotherapy, her suffering would only increase, and she did not have much time left.

That afternoon, sunlight streamed into the hospital room. When Meng Siqi saw Teng Rong again, she was too weak to sit up. Her complexion was deathly pale, devoid of any healthy color. Not a single part of her body appeared well.

She was already at death’s door.

If not for the dustproof cap she wore, she would have looked even more heartbreaking. Meng Siqi found herself wanting to leave as soon as possible.

“I’m sorry…” Teng Rong tried her best to force a smile.

Meng Siqi did not understand why Teng Rong was apologizing. She sat down and comforted her, “Teng Rong, I spoke to the doctor. As long as you keep fighting and continue treatment, you will be fine.”

Teng Rong did not respond. She seemed exhausted, her lips moved slightly, and her eyes turned red as she gazed at Meng Siqi.

Worried that their visit had affected her emotions, Meng Siqi smiled at her and stood up. Zhao Leiting had been standing silently by the side the entire time. Seeing Teng Rong in this condition left him speechless.

Meng Siqi had initially intended to tell Teng Rong about Teng Fei’s situation but ultimately could not bring herself to do so.

In the end, she simply said, “I’ll come visit you again when you’re able to sit up.”

“Sister Siqi…” Teng Rong suddenly spoke, seemingly with great effort. “I don’t want to continue the treatment anymore.”

“Huh?” Meng Siqi had a feeling Teng Rong already knew the truth about her condition.

She immediately bent down and reassured her, “Don’t overthink. Everything will get better.”

“I… I’m sorry to Sister Yuwei… I should have died long ago…”

A single murky tear slowly rolled down from the corner of Teng Rong’s eye.

Meng Siqi felt a wave of sadness. After offering more words of comfort, she did not stay much longer and left the hospital.

A few days later, Meng Siqi was assigned to meet Teng Fei. He sat behind the iron bars in his prison uniform, his face expressionless. He only asked one question: “Did you see my sister? How is she?”

Facing someone so cold-blooded, Meng Siqi chose to be straightforward. “Teng Rong’s doctor said she doesn’t have much time left. She probably only has a short while.”

For the first time, Teng Fei’s face twitched slightly. His lips trembled, but he suppressed his emotions and spoke with a heavy tone. “That’s impossible. I left her money.”

“Money isn’t everything. If it were, there would be no sickness or death in this world.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Teng Fei’s gaze turned icy. He muttered under his breath, “Are you trying to make me feel remorse? I have no regrets. Even now, I do not regret anything.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel remorse. I’m just telling you that your sister already knows everything about you. She has chosen to refuse treatment.”

Meng Siqi had no intention of changing his mind. A person like him was not worth the effort.

But Teng Fei gradually fell silent, his head lowered, his expression unreadable.

She stood up and relayed Teng Rong’s final words to him. “Actually, Teng Rong knew for a long time that she wouldn’t make it. Her biggest wish in this life was to see you and Liu Yuwei get married.”

With that, she took out a small card from her pocket. It was a drawing made with colored pencils. “Teng Rong left this for you.”

Teng Fei took the card and stared at it without moving.

The drawing was crude, but the figures were clear. It depicted a newlywed couple. The groom wore a black suit, holding a bouquet of flowers. The bride was dressed in a white wedding gown, holding his hand.

Above them was a bright full moon, emitting a soft glow. Next to it, Teng Rong had written, “This is me!”

As Meng Siqi walked toward the exit of the holding room, she suddenly heard an agonized wail behind her. Teng Fei was crying. His screams were filled with sorrow and despair, like the howling of a tortured soul.

*

The case had finally come to a close.

When Han Changlin submitted the final case report, Director Liu was pleased. “Changlin, you did an excellent job on this case.”

Han Changlin had been waiting for those words. With a mix of humility and pride, he replied, “As you said, Director Liu, everything went smoothly. But we did face some challenges. Fortunately, our colleagues in the Second Unit are outstanding.”

Director Liu flipped through the report. “I heard the key evidence from Xiaobie Mountain was discovered by that female rookie officer.”

“Meng Siqi,” Han Changlin quickly responded. “She’s meticulous and has a strong ability to connect clues. She has great potential. I just haven’t praised her too much yet, in case she gets too proud.”

“I’m more worried about you getting too proud,” Director Liu said with a chuckle.

“Haha…” Han Changlin laughed lightly.

Director Liu continued, “But if I remember correctly, you were originally dead set against taking her on.”

Han Changlin scratched his head sheepishly. “Well, at the time, I guess I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Changlin, there’s still a long road ahead. I can see that the Second Unit has improved significantly, but don’t get complacent. Stay true to your mission. Also, work more with the First Unit. There are rumors that your teams don’t get along.”

“That’s not true,” Han Changlin explained. “Lu He and I have always been close. Whatever you heard must be nonsense.”

“Hmm. The department is considering merging the First and Second Units. But don’t worry. As long as you continue proving yourself, I won’t take away the Han Changlin brand so easily.”

Han Changlin gave a formal salute. “Director Liu, rest assured! I won’t let you or the department down!”

Stepping out of Director Liu’s office, Han Changlin let out a deep breath. As an experienced officer, he could tell that Director Liu was both giving him a subtle warning and a small reward. However, Han Changlin also realized that as long as they maintained their current level of performance, the Second Unit would surely become the department’s benchmark. When that happened, Lu He would have no choice but to bow down.

Feeling quite pleased, Han Changlin returned to the office and clapped his hands. “Brothers, let’s go out for a gathering after work. This meal is on me!”

Zhao Leiting was the first to respond. “Captain Han is feeling generous today!”

Han Changlin restrained his smile. “Zhao Leiting, you always have something to say, huh? Since when have I ever been stingy with you guys?”

“Captain Han is always generous!” Tang Xiaochuan added from the side.

Han Changlin chuckled. “See? This is why I enjoy working with excellent colleagues like Xiaochuan!”

Everyone burst into laughter. Even Meng Siqi, who was organizing her notes, couldn’t help but smile.

At the end of the workday, they packed up and left the office together. It was rare for all five members of the Second Unit to leave work at the same time, but after solving a major case, their walk carried a new sense of confidence.

As they passed by other colleagues from different departments, some even stepped aside, as if wary of being overwhelmed by their presence.

Just as they reached the main entrance, fate played a hand. Approaching them from the opposite direction was none other than the First Unit.

The First Unit had a larger group of seven people, immediately giving them a numbers advantage.

Meng Siqi didn’t recognize most of them except for Luo Xiaoguo, but the man standing in the center of their group instantly caught her attention.

He was tall and stood with commanding presence. Dressed in a perfectly fitted brown leather jacket, he walked with a natural, effortless strength. The white collar of his shirt peeked out just enough to partially conceal the sharp line of his Adam’s apple.

As he drew closer, Meng Siqi got a clearer look at his face. It was stern and exuded an almost intimidating aura. His lightly tanned skin gave him a rugged look, and his features were sharply defined—like something carved with bold strokes in a comic book. His piercing phoenix eyes gazed straight ahead with an air of judgment.

There was no need to guess. This had to be Captain Lu of the First Unit.

The moment their two groups met, it was like a face-off between a tiger and a lion. The tension in the air was almost palpable.

When they were just a meter apart, both groups stopped simultaneously.

The atmosphere grew thick with an unspoken challenge. No one spoke.

After a brief moment, Han Changlin, perhaps in a particularly good mood after Director Liu’s talk, took the initiative to speak. “Captain Lu, just got back?”

Captain Lu, ever composed and exuding confidence with a hint of aloofness, replied simply, “Yes, just got back.”

“I heard your latest case has been giving you some trouble,” Han Changlin said, his tone carrying a slight provocation.

The First Unit members visibly tensed, their expressions turning colder, but Captain Lu showed no reaction.

Instead, he calmly said, “Congratulations on solving your case.”

That single sentence was rare enough coming from him, and Han Changlin was quite satisfied. He made a gesture, half-raising an arm as if inviting a friendly embrace. “Come on, let’s go for a meal. My treat!”

“I got some things to take care of, Captain Han. Maybe next time.”

With that, their brief conversation ended, but Meng Siqi took in the whole scene with curiosity. She didn’t quite understand why there was this subtle rivalry between the two units when they were all working towards the same goal.

But what happened next was even more awkward. Despite having exchanged words, neither group seemed willing to step aside and let the other pass first.

For half a minute, they just stood there in silent confrontation.

Finally, Han Changlin lifted his chin and said, “See you around,” before stepping sideways to make way. Only then did the rest of the Second Unit follow him, albeit with some reluctance.

That evening, they gathered at the same street-side restaurant as before. Meng Siqi could tell that Han Changlin was in high spirits. He even joked, “I’m a generous man, but Captain Lu is just too stubborn. Never mind, let’s have a drink!”

“Cheers!”

Between laughter and conversation, Meng Siqi finally heard Han Changlin give her a rare compliment. Halfway through his beer, Han Changlin said, “Everyone contributed to this case. Our Second Unit doesn’t have a single weak link, and especially you, Xiao Meng. You did well.”

There was a slight hint of intoxication in his eyes as he glanced at her. His voice was a bit slurred, but the praise was genuine.

Feng Shaomin, who had a low alcohol tolerance, was already half-asleep in his chair, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips. It was unclear if he had even heard the compliment.

Zhao Leiting, who had volunteered to stay sober so he could drive them home later, raised his teacup with a grin. “Siqi, Captain Han rarely praises people like this. Here’s to you—keep up the good work!”

Tang Xiaochuan, also slightly drunk, stretched out his arm, raised his glass, and cheered loudly, “Congratulations!”

Meng Siqi had originally poured herself a cup of tea but quickly switched it for a beer. She drank it all in one go, feeling a rush of warmth in her chest.

As she gazed at the neon lights in the night, she thought, what a wonderful moment this was.

*

Since Meng Siqi lived the farthest, she was the last to be dropped off. She had only had two or three beers and wasn’t drunk, just slightly tipsy. She rolled down the window halfway, enjoying the cool night breeze.

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. She asked, “Zhao Leiting, does everyone in the Second Unit dislike the First Unit?”

Zhao Leiting chuckled. “Even though it looks like there’s tension between the two units, when it comes to real cases, we all charge forward together and help each other out. So there’s no real problem—it’s just that neither side likes to back down in arguments.”

“That makes sense. Do you know much about Captain Lu?”

“Captain Lu?” Zhao Leiting turned the wheel as he spoke. “He’s strong. One of the best.”

“Oh?”

“He even had the chance to transfer to the provincial department before, but for some reason, he turned it down.”

Meng Siqi was surprised. “Wouldn’t that have been a better career move? Maybe his family is here in Jinyang City?”

“Seems like he’s a local.”

“Then he must be a homebody.”

Zhao Leiting laughed. “A guy like Lu He? I doubt he’s the type to get homesick!”

Meng Siqi let the night wind blow against her face for a while longer. Something felt familiar about that name.

She asked, “Lu… what?”

“You’ve been in the department this long and still don’t know his full name? It’s Lu, as in ‘road,’ and He, as in ‘crane’!”

Meng Siqi found the name Lu He strangely familiar. She was not the kind of person to remember names for no reason. Tilting her head, she glanced out the window as a newsstand passed by. Suddenly, she remembered—she had seen this name in a news report in her original world.

Lu He! Could it really be him?

There was an infamous case known as the “Red Makeup Serial Murder Case” which had remained unsolved for thirty years. The case gained attention in her original world when an old building was being demolished, and workers discovered decayed bones inside a cement-filled oil drum.

DNA testing confirmed that the remains belonged to Lu He, the lead detective who had gone missing while investigating the “Red Makeup Serial Murder Case” thirty years ago.

And now, in this world, Lu He was working on a case eerily similar to the “Red Makeup Serial Murder Case”.

Was there some unspeakable secret behind her arrival in this world?