Chapter 52 [VIP] The Man-Eating Flower (11)

Chapter 52 [VIP] The Man-Eating Flower (11)

Lu He moved Meng Siqi to one side as if performing a great feat of martial arts, exchanging positions with her. His strength was considerable, yet his movements were gentle, and she barely felt any jolt.

Lu He pushed through the crowd, crossed the aisle, and stepped into the slightly wider entrance of the dining car. He called out loudly, "Comrades, I'll stack your luggage. It's too crowded here; we need to make some space for the female comrades and children."

The passengers, seeing his tall stature and apparent authority, nodded immediately.

Lu He effortlessly picked up several large suitcases and bags that were haphazardly piled up, stacking them neatly in one corner, instantly creating more space on the other side.

"Those with children, come rest here," Lu He shouted.

A woman holding a child and another woman leading a little boy thanked him repeatedly and sat down in the newly cleared space.

Several burly men couldn't help but praise him, "Comrade, you're really strong. What do you do for work?"

"I repair cars," Lu He replied coolly.

"Oh, so you must fix trains then."

The compartment, which had been noisy, suddenly became lively.

"There's still a seat here. Is there any female comrade who wants to sit?" the woman with the little boy called out.

"Yes," Zhao Leiting shouted, "I'm coming right away."

Zhao Leiting pushed Meng Siqi over, and the passengers made way for them. Meng Siqi felt a bit embarrassed; she was a police officer, yet she was taking a seat meant for guests.

She reluctantly walked over, her legs trembling. She really needed to sit down, and the two women had left a spot for her. She almost plopped down, feeling the cold ground beneath her.

Lu He took off his brown coat and handed it to her, his tone gentle yet commanding, "Use this as a cushion."

"I don't need it, really, I don't."

"Listen to me."

Lu He's words carried the weight of a superior's concern, but Meng Siqi paused, her cheeks flushing slightly. She seemed to lose her will to refuse and accepted his coat.

Under Lu He's cool gaze, she carefully placed the coat under her bottom.

Lu He wore a white shirt, seemingly fond of pure white, with a plaid sweater over it. Without his coat, his figure appeared even more handsome, standing out in the crowded compartment.

She felt a warm presence from the ground, a familiar warmth from being close to Lu He. She could sense the comfort and solidity it brought.

Lu He slowly turned his head, no longer looking at her. He found a wall to lean against, lost in thought.

From Meng Siqi's perspective, he looked composed, with a hint of melancholy.

Sitting down made her feel better, and she quickly dozed off against the wall. It was late at night, and everyone would have to squeeze together for the entire journey to their destination, typical of the green train during the Spring Festival in those days.

She seemed to have slept for a while, but when she woke up, her head felt incredibly heavy, as if something was clamping down on her brain. She feared the worst—she might be running a fever.

She touched her forehead and found it burning hot. She hadn't slept well for days, feeling anxious, and the wind on the road combined with the heat inside the train had finally taken its toll.

But she had to endure until they reached their destination, where she could buy medicine from a pharmacy. She had to complete this mission no matter what.

She gritted her teeth, thinking that perhaps a good sleep would make everything better.

As the night wore on, the first light of dawn began to appear on the horizon.

Suddenly, a woman's voice rang out in the compartment, "Quick, come and see. She seems to have fallen ill."

Zhao Leiting, ever alert, was the first to look over. He couldn't believe it—Meng Siqi was curled up on the floor.

He shouted, "Make way, someone is sick."

In three quick steps, he reached Meng Siqi's side and lifted her, "Siqi, how are you?"

She didn't respond, and he felt her forehead again—it was burning hot with fever.

"What's wrong?" Lu He pushed through the crowd and squatted down to ask.

"Brother Lu, she has a high fever. We need to get her to a hospital."

Lu He placed his hand on her forehead, his expression turning serious. Meng Siqi looked pale, her lips devoid of color, and she seemed to have lost consciousness. He said urgently, "We're still half an hour from the next station. I'll go find some antipyretics. Xiao Liang, you two watch over her."

"We know, Brother Lu, don't worry."

Lu He quickly strode through the crowd.

Less than five minutes later, he returned, holding a cup of warm water high above the crowd, finally reaching Meng Siqi's side.

"Brother Lu, did you find the medicine?" Zhao Leiting asked anxiously.

"The train has a first-aid kit. Here are the antipyretics." Lu He handed the wrapped medicine to Zhao Leiting.

"Let me do it. I'll give her the water." With his natural leadership, Lu He almost commanded Zhao Leiting. He squatted down and gently cradled Meng Siqi's frail body in his arms, like a safe harbor, her back resting comfortably.

Lu He's long, slender fingers pressed against her cheek, gently parting her lips.

He noticed how fragile she seemed, despite her usual image as a strong policewoman with a long ponytail, walking with grace and speaking with authority. Now, she looked very vulnerable.

Her pale face had only a slight flush around her eyes. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her hair was damp.

"Once you take the medicine, you'll be fine," he reassured her.

When Meng Siqi's mouth opened, Zhao Leiting, who was ready, placed the antipyretic in her mouth. Lu He's movements were gentle and steady as he helped her drink the water.

Meng Siqi coughed a couple of times, and the medicine finally went down.

"It's all right now, isn't it?" Zhao Leiting asked anxiously.

"Reducing the fever is just one part of it; we can't go any further. We must get to a hospital at the next stop," Lu He said, his arm supporting her to prevent her from falling and to keep her head from resting against the cold box wall, as if protecting a sick little girl.

His expression was the same as when he was on a case, his eyes firm, resolute, and compassionate, a sense of justice he had developed since joining the police force, with an innate empathy for the weak.

"Alright, let's get off at the next stop," Zhao Leiting hurriedly agreed.

"Brother Lu, we'll be there in five minutes," Liang Yunfeng reminded them a few minutes later. "Should we wait by the door?"

The carriage was crowded, so they had to prepare in advance. Lu He nodded and gently lifted Meng Siqi around the waist, letting her frail head rest against his warm chest. He held her steadily and told the passengers, "Please move aside, we need to get off."

Liang Yunfeng led the way, while Zhao Leiting picked up Lu He's coat and followed behind.

Soon, they reached the door of the carriage, and only a few people were getting off. The train slowed down and gradually came to a stop.

Outside, the night was silent, and the cold wind howled. Liang Yunfeng stepped out first to block the wind, and then Lu He walked out, still holding Meng Siqi. "Zhao Leiting, where's the coat?"

Zhao Leiting quickly approached and wrapped the coat around Meng Siqi's neck, covering her exposed skin.

"We must get to the hospital immediately. She seems to be burning up again," Lu He said, his voice deep as he touched her forehead once more.

As he spoke, he started running, jogging from the station to the main hall, then rushing out onto the main road.

He was tall with long legs, each step as swift as a sprinter's.

Zhao Leiting and Liang Yunfeng struggled to keep up. It was pitch black outside, and Zhao Leiting shouted, "There are no cars!"

Liang Yunfeng was also anxious. "Where are we? There are no cars at the station."

Lu He knew this was a very small station, and at this hour, few people got off, so it was normal to have no cars. If someone did get off, they could walk to find a bus stop or a taxi. This meant he was certain there would be residential or commercial areas nearby, and where there were residential areas, there would be a hospital.

"We all graduated from Police Academy; if there are no cars, we run," Lu He almost commanded, and in the next second, he ran toward a faint light.

The three of them ran for two kilometers through the darkness. Finally, they found a clinic that was open for emergencies. Lu He rushed inside.

When Meng Siqi was lying on the bed, Lu He walked outside. His solitary figure was bathed in a soft glow by the dawn, standing there, gazing into the distance as if lost in thought.

Liang Yunfeng sat in a chair in the clinic's waiting room, his legs trembling. He had never run so fast at the academy. He couldn't help but look at Lu He's back, this man, the pillar of their team, who was indeed extraordinary.

Zhao Leiting coughed dryly, covering his throat. He smiled at the door, truly amazed. Lu He was still full of energy, not even out of breath, and he had carried a person weighing nearly a hundred pounds steadily.

Meng Siqi was dazed, her head heavy, unable to distinguish between heaven and earth, or between light and dark. But she vaguely remembered someone running with her in the fierce wind, like when she was a child, running to school with her father's hand guiding her in the morning sun.

Later, her father was shot, leaving one leg partially paralyzed, and he ended up in a wheelchair. He was a hero in the police department, but he never wanted her to attend the Police Academy or become a police officer. He loved her and faced many criminals throughout his life, eventually being disabled by one of them.

*

When he sat in the wheelchair, he told her, "Actually, because of you, I always gave my all on every mission. I worried that the next time, the criminal might aim at you."

"Because of you, I felt confident charging forward, knowing you would be proud of me. As a police officer, we always feel conflicted. We think we're heroes, but we fear our families will suffer. I've never been a good father, but I hope you'll always be healthy and happy."

The year Meng Siqi graduated, her father passed away. He had worked tirelessly in law enforcement, and in the last two years of his life, he suffered from many ailments even while in the wheelchair.

When she went to pay her respects, her father's colleague told her, "Actually, he had a bullet fragment in his head." He gestured with his hand.

Meng Siqi cried bitterly that day. She remembered how she used to blame her father for not coming home often, for treating the police station like his home, for not wanting her to know about his work, and for hoping she would stay far from the police and live a normal life.

She also remembered seeing the news about Lu He's bones being found, and her father saying calmly, "Being a police officer is like that; no one dares to say they won't make sacrifices!"

She once thought all of that was distant from her, but one day, it became all too close.

She began to cough violently, and her father's smile slowly faded, replaced by the image of Lu He.

Lu He was the only link between her two worlds.

She hoped he would be safe and well in this world.

"You're awake."

Zhao Leiting's face gradually came into focus.

"Where am I?" Meng Siqi looked at the white ceiling and then at Zhao Leiting.

"At the hospital. You were sick, and it's been half a day."

Meng Siqi finally remembered losing consciousness on the train. She asked, "Where's Lu He?"

"He saw you were fine and went to take care of some business with Xiao Liang."

Indeed, they had come here on official business. She asked, "How did I get to the hospital?"

"How else?" Zhao Leiting paused, unsure whether to recount the arduous journey. He had seen Meng Siqi crying in her sleep and worried she might still be concerned about Lu He. He slowed his tone, "It was all arranged by Brother Lu. He found a car and brought you here directly."

When Meng Siqi woke up, her head felt much lighter. She didn't know what had happened the previous night, suddenly feeling dizzy and losing consciousness without any warning.

Perhaps it was the stress from Song Xinran's case.

Leaving the hospital at three in the afternoon, the sunlight felt warm. They were still within the province, and they needed to take another train. The thought of the crowded train made her head ache. They had already covered most of the journey, and taking a taxi was an option, but with the New Year approaching, the fare would be exorbitant.

As she hesitated, Zhao Leiting suddenly said, "I'll make a call. Brother Lu said there's a friend nearby who can give us a ride."

Seeing Zhao Leiting go to the convenience store to make the call, Meng Siqi felt a wave of relief.

Lu He's friend was surnamed Qin, in his forties, likely someone Lu He met during a case in this area. When they met, he was very enthusiastic and kept talking as he drove: "It's been years since I last saw Captain Lu. I'm really excited that you called today... You don't know how much Captain Lu helped me back then. Without him, I wouldn't have gotten through that tough time... Captain Lu is top-notch at solving cases. I'm not exaggerating; he's truly amazing... Your police team is incredible."

Master Qin talked a lot about Captain Lu's case-solving days here, making Lu He sound almost legendary. In his heart, he believed that Lu He was the top detective in the world.

However, he kept silent about that particular incident, and Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting did not ask either. Such a favor might be related to the salvation of a loved one, so Meng Siqi would not bring up that sealed memory in his heart.

Meng Siqi dozed off for a while during the second half of the car ride. Around six o'clock, they arrived at their destination, Yongan Town, where Song Xinran and Jin Yaming had grown up.

Zhao Leiting wanted to pay Master Qin, but Master Qin said that Captain Lu had already transferred the money to him, and he couldn't refuse it.

The town was located in Yongyuan County, one of the more developed towns in terms of transportation, so the journey went smoothly, and Meng Siqi didn't feel carsick.

After Master Qin drove away, the two found a small hotel, booked two adjacent rooms, and settled in.

The next morning, they got up at the agreed time, had breakfast nearby, and then headed to the address on Song Xinran's ID card. According to the map, it was just over twenty minutes' walk from there.

Walking through the morning mist, Meng Siqi gradually felt warm, and the chill in her legs disappeared.

"Is it there?" Zhao Leiting held a map in one hand and pointed to a cluster of residential buildings ahead.

Unlike city buildings, the houses in Yongan Town were built along the main roads in clusters, without the concept of housing estates. These houses had no particular order; each family had a small yard, and most of the houses faced south, though some ignored direction.

Despite the disorder, the uniform rising smoke from the chimneys made the area look "neat and tidy," full of the warmth of daily life.

Because there was no order, it was easy to believe that this place had not changed for many years, so Song Xinran and Jin Yaming's home must be somewhere here.

Every path led to someone's door, and the two stepped into a small alley. Unlike cities, rural areas and towns did not have house numbers, so they could only ask around.

Zhao Leiting, being outgoing and articulate, approached anyone active in the yards: "Sir, do you know where Song Xinran lives?"

"Song who?" The old man took a long time to understand and couldn't remember the name.

When asked about Jin Yaming's name, he shook his head again.

They asked several households, all with similar reactions.

"Could we have the wrong place?" Meng Siqi asked.

"No way," Zhao Leiting checked the map again, "Their ID addresses are right here."

"But could the IDs be fake?" In those days, first-generation IDs were used, and there was no internet connection, so it was possible to forge them.

Given Song Xinran's mindset, if she really wanted to hide her past, it wasn't impossible.

"I get it," Zhao Leiting suddenly said excitedly, "They've been away from home for several years, maybe the elders here have forgotten?"

Meng Siqi thought it was very likely, and considering the custom of giving children nicknames in the countryside, perhaps no one here knew their real names.

She had an epiphany, and Zhao Leiting's eyes lit up. Almost in unison, they both said, "The school!"