Chapter 155

Chapter 155

When Tang Zhenzhen learned that Tang Qingqing and Zhai Hongyi had already left, she felt extremely disappointed. Her mood sank even lower when Su Rong, in both direct and indirect ways, urged her to work hard for her own living instead of wandering around aimlessly.

Su Rong said earnestly, "You're not young anymore; you should find something to do. It's not easy to find a good man after a divorce, and it will be even harder if you don't have a job. Besides, you can't just sit around and eat up your savings; you need to think about how you'll support yourself in the future."

Tang Zhenzhen felt very uncomfortable hearing this but didn't show it on her face. "Mom, I want to find something to do, but I don't have any connections, so there's no way."

"There are many opportunities out there now, unlike before when you could only work in a factory. Girls don't need to achieve great things; as long as they can support themselves, it's fine."

Tang Zhenzhen almost couldn't keep her composure; these words clearly indicated that Su Rong wouldn't help her find a job.

"Mom, can't Dad arrange something for me?"

"They only hire frontline workers now, and without a formal position. To get an office job, you at least need a high school diploma."

"Can't they make an exception?"

Tang Zhenzhen actually didn't care much about working in a factory, but having a government job was considered more respectable.

Moreover, office work was quite relaxed. Su Rong often knitted or read novels at work, just passing the days.

Su Rong's expression darkened slightly. "Don't say such things again. As a leader, one must set an example. The factory is undergoing reforms, and we are all in a critical period. I won't have much free time in the future, so you don't need to visit so often."

Tang Zhenzhen wanted to say more, but Su Rong cut her off.

"I have to go out. You should head back too."

After that, whenever Tang Zhenzhen came over, Su Rong was almost never home. Over time, everyone knew what was going on, and their looks towards her changed.

From the moment she was brought back, everyone had looked at her with envy, but now their gazes were filled with disdain and contempt.

Even with a thick skin, Tang Zhenzhen found it hard to bear.

What hurt her most was that the men who used to fawn over her were gone, and many girls her age started to mock her.

While some men still tried to charm her, their attitudes changed after learning about Su Rong and Tang Jianguo's stance, looking down on her with a sense of superiority.

Once they treated her like a goddess, now they saw her as dust.

One man thought she had lost value after her divorce and felt he could take advantage of her, even trying to assault her on the street.

Tang Zhenzhen had planned to persuade Su Rong, knowing that Su Rong was easily swayed. But she was so frightened by this man, whom she had never taken seriously before, that she dared not return to the factory area.

Tang Qingqing was unaware of all this, nor did she know that before leaving, Zhai Hongyi had whispered something into Su Rong's ear about Tang Zhenzhen.

He hadn't done much, just casually mentioned how Tang Zhenzhen had almost caused a misunderstanding between him and Tang Qingqing by blocking his way.

Su Rong had genuine feelings for Tang Zhenzhen and found it hard to let go.

But when she heard what Tang Zhenzhen had done, she remembered how Tang Zhenzhen had schemed against Tang Qingqing to marry Mu Weidong.

Su Rong felt deeply guilty towards Tang Qingqing. When she heard Zhai Hongyi's words, she understood his meaning and dared not be lenient.

If Tang Zhenzhen really took Tang Qingqing's boyfriend, even just to spite her, their mother-daughter relationship would be irreparable.

Thus, she decided not to pay attention to Tang Zhenzhen anymore. Out of lingering affection, she still spoke kindly to her, offering advice.

Tang Qingqing completed her school procedures and then took a train south to Jiang City to intern at the Criminal Investigation Team.

Zhai Hongyi had already made all the arrangements in Jiang City. As soon as Tang Qingqing stepped out of the train station, she saw someone holding a sign with her name on it.

Tang Qingqing walked over and greeted the person holding the sign.

"Hello, I'm Tang Qingqing, from Yang City."

The woman holding the sign was around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, dressed in a neat suit and trousers, with short hair, giving the impression of being very sharp and efficient.

"Hello, my name is Qian Shengnan. Mr. Zhai sent me to pick you up. Thank you for the journey."

Qian Shengnan greeted her warmly and took one of her large bags without hesitation.

"Mr. Zhai told you, right? He has to go to Gangcheng for a few days and can't come to pick you up himself, so he arranged for me to come. Everything, including your accommodation, is ready, and you can move in directly."

Jiang City also had a branch of the company Zhai Hongyi founded, which had been established recently. Qian Shengnan was one of the managers here.

She was a local in Jiang City and mainly responsible for business development. When she learned about the new branch, she volunteered to come and open up the market in Jiang City.

Although starting a new company would involve a lot of work and expanding into a new market would be challenging, especially given Qian Shengnan's role, which would require her to start from scratch, the opportunity was greater.

Qian Shengnan was bold and enterprising. Despite only having a junior high school education, she was well-versed in the company's various electronic products and could explain them confidently.

Whenever an opportunity arose, she seized it firmly, her ambition evident and unhidden.

"It's no trouble, I can manage it myself," Tang Qingqing said, trying to take her luggage back, but Qian Shengnan refused.

"No problem, I've carried heavier loads before. This is nothing. Let's leave quickly; it's a bit chaotic around the train station, and you need to watch your wallet."

Despite being short and slender, Qian Shengnan managed to clear a path and lead Tang Qingqing away.

Some people approached Tang Qingqing, trying to solicit customers, but Qian Shengnan shouted them away in the local dialect.

She helped Tang Qingqing onto a rickshaw and introduced her to the general situation in Jiang City along the way.

"Our city is pretty good, but it has developed rapidly in recent years, so the security isn't great."

Just as Qian Shengnan finished speaking, she saw a bicycle pass by a pedestrian, and the person on the back snatched the woman's bag.

The woman was caught off guard, not only failing to snatch back her bag, but also being yanked and flung to the ground.

Tang Qingqing was utterly stunned, and it took her a good while to come to her senses.

"This..."

Qian Shengnan saw red with anger, "These motorbike thugs are getting bolder by the day! They actually dare to rob in broad daylight on the streets!"

Tang Qingqing wanted to stop and check the situation, but Qian Shengnan stopped her.

"There's a local police station nearby, and the police will be here soon. We won't be able to catch up with that motorcycle, and we can't really help much. Let's head back first. You've been on the train for so long, and you don't look well. We can discuss whatever it is later."

The rickshaw wasn't particularly fast, and the road was quite straight, allowing Tang Qingqing to turn around and see what was happening behind her. Indeed, it wasn't long before she noticed someone in a green uniform running in that direction, so she didn't ask the driver to stop.

"Is this kind of thing common?"

"It's not that exaggerated, actually. They're quite rare in the city center; usually, they're found in more remote areas," Qian Shengnan tried to salvage his dignity.

No matter how imperfect Jiang City might be, it is still home, and Qian Shengnan didn't want Tang Qingqing, the newcomer from out of town, to have too negative an impression of the place.

Indeed, this was an incidental event, and Qian Shengnan was encountering such a situation for the first time. Typically, she would hear about it from others or read about it in the newspapers.

The rickshaw driver, however, directly contradicted: "It's not that exaggerated, it is that exaggerated! If it weren't for the crackdown, it would be even more exaggerated. These guys are like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, no matter how hard you hit, they just won't disappear; they only cry when they're sent to be executed!"

A few days ago, a family was wiped out, and they're still searching for the murderer. Oh dear, the scene was gruesome. It's said that a burglar who intended to break in was discovered, and then, without hesitation, he committed murder.

I often hear people claim they've been robbed when I pick them up. A colleague of mine, not long ago, was transporting a customer to a water treatment plant when they were ambushed halfway. Not only did he lose the money he earned for the day, but his livelihood, his vehicle, was also taken. On top of that, he was brutally beaten and is still lying in a hospital now.

Qian Shengnan chuckled dryly: "Master, don't always focus on the negative. There are plenty of good things too. By constantly mentioning the bad, are you trying to scare away my friend from out of town?"

"Hey, I don't mean to sound so terrifying, but you two girls must be careful. Especially you, my friend, since you're quite attractive, you need to be even more cautious. Don't easily trust strangers; if you're lured to some filthy places, your life could be ruined."

"I had heard before about a girl who was kind enough to guide someone, only to be abducted. It was only after a strict crackdown on vice that she was rescued from a filthy place, alas, she had already been utterly violated."

After the opening up, the economy took off, and some industries that had been banned began to develop quietly.

The rickshaw driver has to pick up and drop off many passengers every day, and he hears all sorts of news. Being someone who enjoys chatting with others, he ends up hearing even more information.

Tang Qingqing listened to her master discussing various cases along the way, deeply feeling the pressure on the local public security department, and why they were so eager to recruit capable individuals.

Qian Shengnan found a house for Tang Qingqing that was very close to the City Public Security Bureau, about a hundred meters away, just across the street.

Moreover, it is the staff dormitory of the city's printing factory. The neighbors around are basically employees of the factory, which makes the community relatively stable and safer.

If it weren't for Qian Shengnan being a local, it would be hard to find such a house; these types of houses are rarely available for rent to the public.

The house is a two-bedroom apartment located on the second floor. It has been built relatively recently, so it is in good overall condition.

What delighted Tang Qingqing the most was that the house even came with a bathroom, albeit a very small one, which would make things much more convenient.

The room had been thoroughly cleaned, with new quilts, sheets, and pillowcases provided. It was also equipped with appliances such as a washing machine, refrigerator, electric fan, and television.

"Is this washing machine also from the landlord?"

Qian Shengnan smiled and said, "This is specially arranged by Mr. Zhai for me to buy. All the appliances here are provided by us, so you can use them without any worry. When you're done renting, you don't need to worry; they can be sold at a low price to company staff as a benefit."

Tang Qingqing didn't expect Zhai Hongyi to be so considerate, thinking of everything for her.

If there was anything less than perfect, it would be that this was on the second floor, which might not be very friendly to Old Liu's legs.

However, due to the humid weather, living on the first floor wasn't suitable either, and the second floor was more comfortable. Old Liu's legs were currently still capable of climbing stairs, so this issue could be ignored for now.

"Please check if there's anything unsuitable. Just let me know, and I'll arrange it for you."

Tang Qingqing shook her head, "It's all very good, much better than I imagined. I have no complaints."

"Would you like to freshen up first, or go eat directly?"

Given the hot weather, Tang Qingqing hadn't been able to shower during her long train ride, feeling as if she had been marinated.

Especially in Jiang City, where it was humid and stifling, sweat dripped continuously. Tang Qingqing had been embarrassed to get too close to Qian Shengnan, fearing she might offend her with her body odor.

Therefore, Tang Qingqing decided to take a shower first, not rushing to eat. She hadn't neglected herself on the train.

After a refreshing shower and changing into clean clothes, Tang Qingqing felt like she had come back to life.

Qian Shengnan didn't take her to a fancy restaurant but found a small local eatery nearby.

On the way, she didn't forget to introduce Tang Qingqing to the general area, telling her where to buy groceries and which shops had the best food, helping her quickly adapt to the local life.

"Is your home nearby?" asked Tang Qingqing.

Qian Shengnan shook her head with a smile, "My home is on the other side, in a village near the city center."

Hearing this, Tang Qingqing understood that Qian Shengnan's familiarity with the area was entirely due to the preparations she had made for her arrival, showing how thoughtful she was.

Even if Zhai Hongyi or Tang Qingqing herself had prepared, they wouldn't have done as well.

"You've really gone through a lot of trouble. You're truly capable, no wonder you became the branch manager."

Qian Shengnan didn't need to be so meticulous; Zhai Hongyi hadn't set such high standards. He originally planned to arrange everything himself for Tang Qingqing, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he had to ask Qian Shengnan to help, planning to tidy up properly when he returned.

Moreover, Qian Shengnan was now a supervisor with a few people under her, so she didn't need to do everything herself.

Yet, she still managed to do all this in her spare time. Although this could be seen as flattering, it also showed her keen insight and high emotional intelligence, making her very suitable for sales management.

Qian Shengnan smiled, "This is nothing, just a minor effort."

Before leaving, Qian Shengnan handed Tang Qingqing the office phone number.

"If there's anything, just give me a call. If I'm not around, leave a message with whoever answers, and I'll come over as soon as I get the news."

Tang Qingqing was grateful for her kindness, "I've already caused you so much trouble today. You're not my employee, and this isn't part of your job. I don't know how to thank you."

"Don't be so formal. I'm not doing this as an employee, but as a friend. Mr. Zhai is someone I greatly admire. If it weren't for his help back then, who knows where I'd be now. Besides, I'm a local, and it's only right that I take good care of visitors like you.

Especially since you're here to improve our city's security. As you saw today, we desperately need someone like you. I don't want to see my hometown turn into such a mess, always associated with bad things. And with the rampant criminal activities, it would also hinder my future work."

Qian Shengnan smiled slyly, "Besides, having a connection with you means I have someone in the Public Security Bureau, which will make things easier for me in the future."

Qian Shengnan's words made Tang Qingqing even more impressed by her shrewdness; she always knew how to make people feel good.

The next morning, Tang Qingqing arrived at the City Public Security Bureau with her letter of introduction. The bureau leaders had already heard about her and were very pleased to have her on board.

"Comrade Tang Qingqing, we're delighted that you've chosen our City Public Security Bureau. We urgently need someone with your expertise!"

The political commissar greeted her warmly with a handshake.

These days, it's already difficult to attract a college graduate, let alone one with specialized skills. When the City Bureau leadership saw Tang Qingqing's resume, they almost couldn't believe their luck.

Interns usually start by assisting and need guidance to apply their knowledge in practice. But Tang Qingqing could hit the ground running from day one.

Tang Qingqing saluted, "I'm here to learn. Please take care of me in the future!"

"From your resume, I can see you're already a very experienced comrade. We'll assign you to the Third Major Case Team. The team leader, Comrade Zhao Zhentao, is also young, not much older than you, and should be easy to work with. Despite his youth, he has rich experience and strong capabilities."

"Yes, sir!"

The political commissar led Tang Qingqing into the office of the Third Major Case Team, where only one person was present.

"Where is everyone?"

The person on duty quickly stood up, glancing at Tang Qingqing with surprise before quickly averting his gaze.

"They're all out working. The boss took Li Yue and Huang Jiajia to handle the mass murder case, while my mentor and Zhao Daqing are dealing with the textile factory case."

The political commissar looked at Tang Qingqing helplessly, "That's the situation here. With you here, you can share some of the workload, so we won't be so overwhelmed."

Tang Qingqing smiled, "I'm here to work. Just tell me what needs to be done."

"Zhou Zhibin, come meet the new comrade. This is Tang Qingqing, who will be interning with your team. She's a top student from the Police University and an expert in footprint tracking. Take good care of her. If anything goes wrong, you'll be held responsible!"

Zhou Zhibin responded eagerly, "Commissar, rest assured!"

After the commissar left, Zhou Zhibin hurriedly poured Tang Qingqing a cup of tea and led her to his desk.

"Comrade Tang, sorry, we had a meeting yesterday and rushed straight to the scene to save time, so I'm the only one here now."

Zhou Zhibin scratched his head awkwardly, avoiding eye contact with Tang Qingqing.

He had known that a university intern would join their team and that it would be a woman, but he hadn't expected her to be so beautiful. She didn't look like a police officer at all.

Such striking looks were unsuitable for surveillance or undercover work; she was too noticeable and likely to draw attention.

Tang Qingqing smiled, "I understand."

Seeing Tang Qingqing's radiant smile, Zhou Zhibin dared not look at her directly, shifting his gaze uncomfortably.

"If you need anything, just let me know. I'll go organize some documents now."

Tang Qingqing asked, "Can I look at the case files we have?"

"Of course, wait a moment."

Zhou Zhibin quickly brought out a stack of documents, "Here they are."

Actually, there were more, but Zhou Zhibin feared overwhelming the talented student. He even felt foolish for bringing out so many at once.

Tang Qingqing wasn't bothered; she was already very experienced.

She began reviewing the documents and taking notes. At lunchtime, she handed two case files to Zhou Zhibin.

"Have these cases been solved yet?"

Zhou Zhibin took a look and saw they were all burglary cases involving large sums stolen from factory financial offices or stores.

"The culprits in these burglary cases were very careful and left no traces at the scenes. We're still investigating. Based on the current evidence, it's likely the same perpetrator or group."

The thief's range of activity was extensive, making it hard to confirm if it was the same person, despite the similar methods.

Usually, thieves prefer familiar areas and wouldn't travel so far.

"Are the crime scenes still sealed off?"

"Some have been reopened to avoid disrupting business."

"So, some are still sealed? Can I go check them out?"

Zhou Zhibin was taken aback, not expecting Tang Qingqing to be so proactive on her first day.

She was a newcomer to Jiang City, having only arrived recently.

Looking at this delicate and seemingly frail girl, he was surprised by her dedication.

At first glance, Zhou Zhibin thought she would be the type content with office work, knowing that frequent fieldwork wouldn't preserve such beauty.

"Is it not allowed?"

Zhou Zhibin snapped back to reality, "Of course, it's allowed. I've finished my tasks, so let's go after lunch."

Tang Qingqing nodded. She indeed knew little about Jiang City. Although she had studied the map in detail, it would definitely not be smooth at first. Having a partner would certainly be better and could help avoid danger.

Zhou Zhibin led her to the cafeteria. People who knew Zhou Zhibin glanced at Tang Qingqing with a hint of admiration in their eyes, then looked curiously at Zhou Zhibin.

The more daring ones would ask proactively, "Zhou Zhibin, who is this beautiful lady? I haven't seen her before."

"She's a new university intern for our team. She's a top student!"

Upon hearing this, those people’s expressions changed instantly.

An older colleague who was more informed looked over, "Is she the expert in footprint analysis?"

"Footprint analysis?"

"That's what it means."

Tang Qingqing smiled at them, "Hello everyone, I'm Tang Qingqing. Please take care of me."

"Hey, I've heard that name!" A detective who was eating rice suddenly looked up, "You're Tang Qingqing? The one who helped us solve the 411 case?"

There was a reason why Tang Qingqing chose Jiang City. She had previously worked with the Public Security Bureau here, though only through correspondence, discussing cases.

However, she was quite satisfied with their work attitude. Plus, it was conveniently close to where Zhai Hongyi was, so she decided to come here.

"It must be me."

This made everyone in the cafeteria, who were eating, sit up straight. The 411 case had caused quite a stir at the time because the victim was a businessman from Hong Kong who came to invest and set up a factory.

He was murdered in Jiang City, which caused a huge uproar and had a very negative impact.

If the case couldn't be solved quickly, it would greatly disappoint Hong Kong businessmen and reduce their willingness to invest.

Therefore, both the city and provincial authorities took it very seriously, insisting on solving the case as soon as possible to ensure public safety.

The damage had been done, and if it wasn't addressed promptly, it would drive away potential investors and affect even more businessmen from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and abroad.

At the crime scene, there were many bloodstained footprints. The chief directly ordered the experts in this field to provide the most detailed report as soon as possible.

Thus, they found Tang Qingqing.

In recent years, Tang Qingqing had published many articles on footprint analysis in publications like the Public Security Gazette and had received awards, making it easy to find her.

Based on the footprints, Tang Qingqing helped the investigators lock down the suspect, ultimately leading to the arrest of the real culprit.

The murder of the Hong Kong businessman had nothing to do with the mainland; it was an internal family conflict, with someone hiring a killer.

The murderer was a member of the businessman's entourage, deliberately placed by his side, and then killed him on the mainland.

At the time, the mainland was poor and backward, so the people involved thought that if they planned carefully, the mainland police wouldn't have the ability to uncover the truth, making it safer than committing the crime in Hong Kong.

Moreover, the forces behind the murderer didn't want to invest money in the impoverished mainland and preferred to channel funds to developed countries.

By doing this, they could legitimately sabotage the investment plan and achieve two goals at once.

However, their arrogance backfired. The mainland took the case very seriously and solved it within a very short time.

Tang Qingqing played a significant role in solving the case.

The footprints at the scene were disguised, and they thought they could deceive everyone. But Tang Qingqing's keen eye immediately spotted the problem.

The murderer wore large shoes on small feet and put them on backwards to cover their tracks.

They also deliberately called many people to go to the crime scene and intentionally disrupted the scene when the body was discovered, causing everyone to run around in panic, leaving numerous mixed footprints on the ground to confuse the investigation.

Tang Qingqing uncovered the truth from the color photographs. Based on the clues she provided, the local investigators quickly arrested the suspect and gathered enough evidence to prove their guilt.

Solving the case restored confidence in the mainland's security among hesitant investors.

Everyone in the City Bureau remembered this case well, so they immediately recognized Tang Qingqing when mentioned.

However, many only knew of her as an expert and were unaware of her specific background, so seeing her in person was quite surprising.

She's so young!

There were only a few footprint experts nationwide, and many were already quite old.

It was a discipline that required extensive experience, and many spent their entire lives honing their skills.

Tang Qingqing politely smiled at everyone. She had encountered such reactions many times and was no longer fazed by them.

As long as she had the skills, it didn't matter how others initially perceived her; she would quickly prove herself.

"Truly, heroes emerge from the young. How long have you been studying to be so skilled?" the older detective marveled.

"About ten years."

"Ten years? How old are you?"

Tang Qingqing smiled, "I learned from my master, who is an expert in footprint analysis. He used to study sheep tracks and will come over soon."

The onlookers praised her, and the older detective was the most enthusiastic, "Oh, such an expert is coming to help us! Since he's coming, he might as well drop by."

"Right, if the old man has nothing else to do, he can come over for a stroll and give us some guidance."

A female officer shook her head with a smile, "You guys are really something, treating a new colleague like this. Tang, go get your food first, don't mind these people."

Tang Qingqing thanked her, but just as she finished getting her food, the female officer said to her,

"But what they said isn't entirely unreasonable. If you have time, bring your master over; our cafeteria serves great food!"

Everyone burst into laughter, "Forensic Zhang, you have no right to criticize others!"

"I'm different from you. I invited the veteran comrade here for a meal. Comrade Tang has just arrived and is bound to be uncomfortable. Having family around will help her settle in and work with peace of mind."

After Zhang Hui finished speaking, she looked at Tang Qingqing, "Have your dormitory been arranged? Your master is male, right? Has his accommodation been taken care of?"

"I rented a place outside, right in the printing factory."

"That's fine. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. We may not have much else, but we have plenty of strong workers, all battle-hardened."

After this meal, Tang Qingqing felt much less alienated.

She found this environment very familiar and very much to her liking.

After the meal, Tang Qingqing went to the scene with Zhou Zhibin.

The hot and humid weather in Jiang City made Tang Qingqing feel both hot and suffocated. After getting off the bus and walking to the factory area, she was drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

Seeing her like this, Zhou Zhibin bought a cup of soda from the convenience store and handed it to her.

"How are you holding up?"

Tang Qingqing took it, "The weather here is completely different from where I come from. I'm usually not so fragile."

"The road we just took had no shade at all. It's not just you; I almost got sunburned too. Now it's still bearable, but in July and August, running around outside is like playing with fire.

The worst part is seeing a corpse; the smell is unbearable!"

Thinking about something, Zhou Zhibin suddenly found his soda not as sweet.

After a while, the two entered the factory.

The gatekeeper remembered Zhou Zhibin and informed the others, then followed Zhou Zhibin and Tang Qingqing to the crime scene.

"It's exactly the same as before, nothing has been touched."

The new office building had just been completed, and they were planning to choose an auspicious day to move in. Unexpectedly, such an incident occurred, so they moved immediately without further ado, leaving the scene intact.

The gatekeeper led them to the scene. The office had been sealed off and remained untouched, so the electric fans and other appliances were still there.

He was about to turn on the fan when Tang Qingqing stopped him.

"It's so hot today, turning on the fan would make it cooler."

Tang Qingqing shook her head, "No need, it's fine like this."

Seeing her insistence, the gatekeeper did not say anything more.

"This thief must be a professional, a habitual offender. We spent a lot of money on this safe, and it turned out to be useless!"

Looking through the door, the safe's door was still open, showing no signs of damage from the surface.

It was evident that the thief was highly skilled, able to open the safe without force.

Zhou Zhibin said, "We didn't find any fingerprints on the safe; he was very careful."

Tang Qingqing looked around, then squatted down and tilted her head to examine the floor.

Sometimes she lay flat on the ground, her face pressed against the floor for inspection.

Zhou Zhibin and the gatekeeper followed her gaze but saw nothing.

The gatekeeper was quite curious, "Comrade Public Security, what is this lady looking at?"

Zhou Zhibin smiled at him but did not speak.

The gatekeeper did not press further but kept watching Tang Qingqing's movements.

Tang Qingqing had solved many similar cases before, including one for the Machinery Plant, which led to a series of events.

However, the previous case involved an insider, while the current situation with the safe suggests that a professional gang might have been targeting this place for a long time, studying this type of safe to quickly complete their task. Whether there was an insider providing information remains unclear.

After completing her examination, it was already evening.

She finally got up from the ground, scribbling in her notebook, only then remembering that someone was with her.

"Sorry, once I start examining, I lose track of time."

"Understood. Did you find anything?"

Tang Qingqing handed her notes to Zhou Zhibin, "I can now determine the thief's appearance and age. Since he managed to avoid the security patrols, he must have scouted the area multiple times. He probably waited nearby, and when he noticed no one around, he sneaked in. We need to search the surrounding area later."

Zhou Zhibin looked at the notes in his hand. Although he already knew Tang Qingqing's capabilities, he was still amazed.

Not only did she write specific data in her notebook, but she also sketched the suspect's approximate build.

And it wasn't just one sketch; she drew several, flipping through them quickly, the figures seemed to move like in a cartoon.

Although they were quick sketches and the number of pages was limited, causing some frames to be skipped, the general idea was clear.

If Zhou Zhibin saw the suspect's back on the street, he might recognize him.

"Did you really see footprints?" Zhou Zhibin marveled, unable to believe someone could be so observant if he hadn't seen it himself.

He had examined the scene before, especially the area in front of the safe, but the concrete floor showed nothing.

"The prints weren't very clear, so the data isn't precise, but it shouldn't be too far off."

As Tang Qingqing and Zhou Zhibin walked out of the office building, they saw the sun was almost setting.

Tang Qingqing rubbed her stomach, "Why don't we go get something to eat first, and then come back to investigate later?"

"Sure."

The two found a shop nearby to have dinner, and then began a new round of searches.

During the previous investigation, they had deduced the most likely route the killer would take.

So Tang Qingqing followed their deduction, searching for suspicious footprints in the area.

As it grew completely dark, Zhou Zhibin watched Tang Qingqing crouching down to examine the ground, just as she had been doing earlier, and felt a deep sense of admiration.

Tang Qingqing had shattered his impressions from the very first night. This woman was truly dedicated, diving into work before even getting to know everyone in the team.

No wonder she had been assigned here; she was a perfect fit for working with their boss.

When Tang Qingqing finally found the thief's footprints and looked up, she realized that her face and arms were extremely itchy. Upon inspection, she realized she had been bitten by mosquitoes.

"These mosquitoes are so venomous!"

Tang Qingqing was taken aback. She had actually prepared by applying mosquito repellent, a result of years of experience on the job.

But she hadn't expected that the repellent she brought wouldn't work on the mosquitoes here, and they had still managed to bite her relentlessly in such a short time!

Zhou Zhibin scratched his head, "Huh? There are mosquitoes? I haven't been bitten at all. I thought this place was pretty good, no mosquitoes."

Zhou Zhibin often got bitten while keeping watch, hiding in bushes or similar places, but he never had issues even after applying repellent.

Today, he had thought his luck was good, only to find out the mosquitoes had all gone for Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. Maybe her blood, being from out of town, was particularly appealing to them!

She took out some anti-itch spray from her backpack and sprayed it around the bites.

Zhou Zhibin was surprised, "You're really well-prepared."

He was already impressed when she pulled out a flashlight from her bag, but to have this as well...

Tang Qingqing smiled, "I've gained a lot of experience, so whenever I go to a crime scene, I always carry a backpack."

As she spoke, she took out a lollipop from her bag and handed it to Zhou Zhibin, "Have some candy, it helps maintain your energy."