FY - 4

The next day, Qizhou City West Police Station.

Wei Li’an was eating his bento, flipping through the past few days of interrogation records. There were no discrepancies; it was like replaying a video tape every day.

Deputy Captain Zheng Zhi returned, took off his police cap, and got a glass of water from the dispenser: “How is it? Any new leads yesterday?”

Wei Li’an put down his notepad and continued eating his bento: “No, those sluts are the best at faking it.”

Zheng Zhi took a sip of water and sat down: “Didn’t they say it was a suicide? Just rule it as a suicide then, right? The family hasn’t shown up yet, and Candy even handled the funeral. Investigating a case like this might not yield results and will only make the higher-ups think we’re inefficient.”

Wei Li’an hadn’t thought so initially, but after wasting so much time on this case, he also felt there was no value in continuing the investigation. After eating the last bite of shredded potatoes, he said, “Then I’ll write the closing report this afternoon.”

Zheng Zhi opened his computer, remembered something, and tilted his head: “Hey, weren’t you with the anti-drug squad before?”

Wei Li’an put the empty bento box into a plastic bag, “Why?”

Zheng Zhi had gone to a meeting in the city that morning and heard some gossip from the city police station. “During the anti-drug operation in the Liuhuo region back then, one of our brothers went undercover there, had his hands and feet chopped off by one of the leaders, and was drowned, right?”

Wei Li’an’s face suddenly changed. The hand throwing the trash stopped for several seconds. He hastily tossed it: “That’s not true.”

Seeing his reaction, Zheng Zhi knew he was lying. He opened the online news report about the Liuhuo incident back then: “The October cleanup operation destroyed sixteen major drug trafficking criminal gangs, arrested one hundred and sixty-four suspects, and seized six tons of methamphetamine. In subsequent pursuits, more criminal suspects were apprehended one after another. To this day, only one has yet to be caught.”

He looked up again at Wei Li’an: “It’s the one who killed our man, right?”

Wei Li’an walked back to his workstation, sat down: “It’s been so long, why bring it up?”

Zheng Zhi walked towards him, sitting on the desk in front of him, “No, don’t you think this case is meaningful? If we can catch that person, our team would gain so much prestige.”

Wei Li’an leaned back in his swivel chair, looking up at him: “Do you think the anti-drug squad is just twiddling their thumbs? It’s your turn to catch him?”

Zheng Zhi: “But they’ve been trying to catch him for years and haven’t succeeded.”

Wei Li’an: “Then I ask you, do you have any leads? Or any inside information?”

Zheng Zhi shook his head: “I don’t have any now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t after investigating. I’ve always felt that searching nationwide is an extremely inefficient method. He earned so much money from drug trafficking, where in the world couldn’t he go?”

Wei Li’an shooed him away: “Do something useful. The case of the developer’s forced demolition last month isn’t finished yet.”

Zheng Zhi just wanted to investigate this drug dealer case: “Have you checked on people who have gone abroad in recent years and never returned?”

Wei Li’an told him: “They all returned, no one stayed behind.”

Zheng Zhi clapped his hands: “Then he’s in Qizhou! As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place. So among these people, are there any whose identities don’t match up?”

Mid-sentence, he felt something was off again, “If he dared to come back, he must have changed his identity.”

Wei Li’an was about to write the closing report: “Go back and think about it.”

Once Zheng Zhi’s mind was opened, it was hard to close it again. He continued: “If he’s in Qizhou, where would he be?”

Police officer Sanzi came in and saw Zheng Zhi sitting in front of Wei Li’an. For a moment, he didn’t dare to step forward: “That.”

Both of them looked at him. Wei Li’an kicked Zheng Zhi away and asked him, “What’s wrong?”

Sanzi said: “There was a car accident in Yaogu.”

Wei Li’an didn’t understand, frowning: “What?”

“An employee of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical didn’t pay attention when entering the parking lot and hit a workshop worker. Brain hemorrhage. He was rescued but hasn’t woken up. The worker’s family isn’t having it and started making a scene.”

Zheng Zhi’s brainstorming stopped: “Dongsheng Pharmaceutical? Si Wen?”

Sanzi nodded: “It’s Si Wen’s Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.”

Zheng Zhi: “Then what’s the point? He’s practically running this city. More importantly, shouldn’t someone of his status have some contingency plans?”

Sanzi said: “Medical expenses and follow-up treatment costs have all been paid, and they even compensated twenty thousand. The worker’s family thinks it’s too little and wants another twenty.”

Zheng Zhi waved his hand: “Then you take some people there. Just go through the motions.”

Sanzi looked at Wei Li’an, waiting for his instructions.

Wei Li’an also said: “You go. Mediate a bit. If they get too greedy, just scare them a little.”

Sanzi understood: “Okay.”

As soon as he left, Zheng Zhi continued to discuss with Wei Li’an: “Where do you think that drug dealer might go?”

Wei Li’an put on his headphones, blocking half the noise he was generating.

________________________________________

The worker’s family accidentally poked Si Wen’s forehead with a medical scissor, which they had thrown directly, hitting his forehead slightly to the left. They were quite scared too; once they saw blood, they quieted down.

The doctor bandaged Si Wen. He had already missed his flight, and his secretary booked him the next one, but it wouldn’t be until tomorrow.

He was annoyed and didn’t stay at the hospital to deal with the extorting family, leaving it to his secretary to handle.

He came out, got in his car, drove around the city, and went to Candy.

The manager saw him, and a mixture of awe and jealousy played on his face, making it obvious how conflicted he was. But Si Wen didn’t notice, because he never looked at him.

Sister Hong heard Si Wen had arrived and personally came to greet him. Seeing the bandage on his forehead, she was curious but didn’t pry, leading him into the VIP room and diligently pouring him a glass of real Royal Salute: “Mr. Si, what would you like to do today?”

Si Wen held a cigarette between his index finger and thumb of his right hand, his left hand resting on his knee, tapping rhythmically. After a moment: “Where’s Zhou Yan?”

Sister Hong was quite embarrassed: “It’s Sunday today.”

Si Wen’s gaze sharpened: “Even prostitutes get weekends off now? Do they have social security too?”

Even the experienced Sister Hong trembled hearing Si Wen’s tone. She quickly explained, “Mr. Si, you set the rule that Zhou Yan doesn’t work on Saturdays and Sundays... She, she’s usually at your place at this time...”

Si Wen then remembered that Zhou Yan had gone to see him yesterday, and he had told her to get lost.

But was that her reason for disappearing? Was he spoiling her too much? He finished his cigarette, stubbing it out in the ashtray, “Call her and tell her to get her ass over here!”

Sister Hong didn’t dare to defy him and went out to call Zhou Yan.

The phone connected, and she immediately cursed: “Are you tired of living? Leaving Mr. Si hanging!”

Zhou Yan had just dropped Zhou Siyuan off at his piano class and was about to go back to wash his dirty backpack when she received the call. She didn’t understand: “How am I leaving him hanging? He was the one who told me to get lost.”

Sister Hong was furious: “You have an attitude now? You, a prostitute, dare to have an attitude?”

Zhou Yan then hung up on her.

Sister Hong cursed for a string of words before realizing Zhou Yan had hung up. She swore again, then called her back: “Mr. Si is here, looking for you. Get yourself ready and come over right away!”

“Okay.” With that, Zhou Yan pressed harder on the accelerator.

By the time she had gotten ready and arrived at Candy, Sister Hong had already given all the advice she could. Si Wen’s patience was already running out, so much so that when he saw Zhou Yan, he erupted instantly, “Come here!”

He was in the southwest corner of the private room, where the lights were dimmest, so dark that you couldn’t even see his expression up close.

Zhou Yan didn’t want to see his face either. She brushed past Sister Hong, who was leaving, and heard her quietly instruct her not to anger him. Then she heard the sound of the door closing, the central speakers playing ‘Don’t mention the past again,’ but there was no sound of her own heartbeat.

Over the years, Si Wen had tried every possible way to torment Zhou Yan; he couldn’t think of any new tricks anymore.

She had long ceased to be afraid.

She walked up to Si Wen and, before he could speak, knelt down and leaned on his lap.

Si Wen pinched her face: “You dare to disappear?”

Zhou Yan: “I wouldn’t dare.”

Si Wen used force with his hand: “Then where did you get the nerve to make me wait so long?”

Zhou Yan would never defy Si Wen; after all, he paid well, and she wasn’t some high-minded person, otherwise, she wouldn’t be selling herself. But over time, there were things she couldn’t understand. “Didn’t you tell me to get lost?”

Si Wen thought he had heard something new. He leaned forward, bringing his ear closer: “What did you say?”

Zhou Yan said nothing more, her lips sealed, her face expressionless.

Si Wen abruptly pushed her away. The screen light happened to project onto his face, magnifying his disgust infinitely.

Zhou Yan saw it. She used to not understand why Si Wen, who detested her so much, still kept her around. Was it to emphasize that he was so rich he could show charity however and to whomever he pleased, regardless of the person?

Si Wen called Sister Hong in: “Bring in some new girls.”

Sister Hong nodded: “Okay, I’ll arrange it for you right away.”

Zhou Yan was still kneeling in front of the sofa, showing no reaction to what Si Wen had just said.

Si Wen became even angrier, not wanting to look at her: “Get away from me!”

Zhou Yan turned and walked out. Before she reached the door, Si Wen called out again: “Did I tell you to leave?”

Zhou Yan turned back and stood in the private room, a distance from his position.

Soon after, Sister Hong brought in some people. Dressed in nurse costumes, they stood in a row, their short skirts barely covering their crotches. Their tops were too tight, their chests spilling out, looking like they would suffocate them.

Sister Hong said: “Mr. Si. These are all new girls, they’ve had physicals, they’re clean. And as you requested, they’ve signed confidentiality agreements.”

Si Wen was the boss of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical, thirty-two years old, with a certain status in Qizhou. Yet, even those of higher status than him dared not call him by name in public. No one knew why, but everyone was simply afraid, and slowly a concept formed—in Qizhou, if you want to live, don’t mention Si Wen without reason.

He occasionally came to Candy to play, but rarely called for escorts. Most of the time, he just came to vent his anger or insult Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan had become numb to it, and so had Sister Hong, and all the internal staff at Candy.

Even so, they would never privately discuss his actions, his temperament, or his character. They dared not.

Si Wen looked at them one by one, then casually pointed: “You, and you, come here.”

The two girls who were pointed at walked over, moving awkwardly, their faces still showing shyness. They were new to the business, having been tricked by the madam into believing they could be lucky enough to hook a rich patron and live a life of comfort. They had no idea that what awaited them was boundless purgatory.

Zhou Yan was no longer noticed, which was good; she could freely watch the American drama playing on the screen.

She wondered who had changed the channel; it was truly thoughtful.

The two girls half-knelt in front of Si Wen, each holding a bottle of liquor. One of them asked, “Which one would you like to drink?”

Before Si Wen answered, he glanced at Zhou Yan. He noticed she was watching TV? And quite engrossed?