Chapter 116 18

Chapter 116

The next day arrived—the scheduled date for the training exercise at Tianning Base.

As the planner of the exercise, Li Shang needed to participate in all of the day’s operations. He had to oversee operations from the command room to handle any unexpected situations and make real-time adjustments based on the performance of each team.

Early in the morning, Li Shang changed into his black special ops uniform.

To avoid being affected by injuries, he had taken some painkillers in advance.

He had rested well the previous night, and color had returned to Li Shang’s face.

He Lin watched as Li Shang adjusted his combat suit. Beneath the black uniform, his figure was well-proportioned, agile, and powerful, with a lean waist snugly fitted into the tactical belt—truly impressive.

For a moment, He Lin felt nostalgic. It had been a long time since he last wore a combat uniform. Back in the day, he had looked quite dashing in it too.

Before heading out, Li Shang reminded He Lin, "If anything happens on your end, remember to let me know."

Leaning against the doorframe, He Lin watched intently at Li Shang and asked, "Can you take calls during the exercise?"

"I’m not participating in the exercise, so the rules shouldn’t be that strict. You can send me a message, and I’ll check it when I have time." As he said this, Li Shang didn’t look up at He Lin but skillfully pulled on his combat gloves. "Isn’t routine training meant for emergencies? If the situation becomes critical, I can go handle it."

He Lin, standing behind him, nodded. "Alright."

Li Shang turned around and took two steps toward He Lin, then lowered his head for a final check. His long eyelashes cast shadows, his jawline sharp, with a cool, stern demeanor. His handsome, clean-cut face took on a striking contrast when paired with the special operations uniform.

"You look even thinner than before," He Lin said, feeling a pang of concern. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and lifted Li Shang’s chin with his finger, forcing the other man—who hadn’t paid him any attention for so long—to look directly at him. "Seems like I’ll have to fatten you up when we get back."

Sensing He Lin’s gaze as though he were looking at a pet cat, Li Shang paused in his adjustments. He took a step back, putting distance between them again, and gently pushed He Lin’s hand away. Raising his eyes to meet He Lin’s, he asked, "Captain He, what gives you the right?"

He Lin detected a hint of defiance in his tone and tilted his head, intrigued. "Hmm?"

Li Shang’s lips curved slightly. "Is it part of the Missing Persons Investigation Unit’s leadership culture to fatten up team members?"

He Lin didn’t answer. Instead, he took another step forward, boldly wrapping an arm around Li Shang’s waist and pulling him firmly into his embrace.

Li Shang was taken aback, not expecting He Lin to suddenly do this. Stumbling forward from the pull, Li Shang reacted quickly, pressing a hand against He Lin’s chest.

"What do you mean by this, Captain He?"

"Nothing much," He Lin said casually, using his other hand to grasp the one Li Shang had placed on his chest. "Just following what we both want."

The next moment, He Lin lowered his head and without hesitation kissed Li Shang’s lips.

Li Shang only saw He Lin’s face gradually enlarge in his vision until he could see his own reflection in He Lin’s eyes. Then, their lips met.

The sudden intimacy made Li Shang’s pupils dilate. His first instinct was to pull away, but He Lin, as if anticipating this, held him tight with both hands, leaving Li Shang momentarily unable to move.

At the same time, He Lin deepened the kiss, gradually advancing, gently prying open Li Shang’s lips.

He Lin felt the waist beneath his hands transition from tense and rigid to soft and relaxed. His own approach shifted from testing and invading to guiding and following.

It wasn’t until Li Shang began responding to him that He Lin truly understood what it meant to savor the taste of desire, wishing the kiss could last forever. Only when both were slightly breathless did He Lin reluctantly release Li Shang.

He Lin looked at Li Shang, pleased to find a faint haze of desire coloring his features from the kiss. This discovery made him incredibly happy, his breath carrying a hint of exhilaration.

At that moment, nothing was more thrilling than knowing the one he loved felt the same.

He leaned in slightly, pressing his forehead against Li Shang’s to check if he had a fever, then moved closer to his ear and whispered, "What time will you finish tonight?"

Li Shang was still breathing lightly but replied calmly, "It depends, probably won't wrap up until late."

His schedule was tied to the exercise. This full-day exercise had eight segments, simulating recent domestic and international emergency scenarios, three of which were night operations, so it was bound to run late.

He Lin stroked the back of Li Shang’s neck with one hand while gently tracing his ear with the fingers of the other. "If I finish early, I’ll come pick you up."

Based on Wu Yuening’s previous situation, those people usually acted on the second day. Their preparations were thorough, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

Li Shang gave a soft "mm" and waved at him, about to step back and leave first, but He Lin pulled him back again.

"I’m going to be late," Li Shang said without struggling, though he said it with a hint of helplessness to He Lin.

Then, He Lin planted a lingering kiss on his eye. Li Shang was slightly stunned—he remembered He Lin had always loved kissing his eyes the most. It was his way of expressing overflowing affection.

Li Shang, who had remained composed even during the kiss, now turned completely red. After He Lin released him, he walked out almost awkwardly, his steps uncoordinated.

After Li Shang left, He Lin didn’t linger either. Seeing that it was about time, he got up to meet with the others.

He soon arrived at the conference room of the Ningcheng Municipal Bureau.

The previous night, he had already coordinated with Zhou Chenlin’s side—the arrest operation could involve mobilizing local police officers for support.

Soon after, he met Fang Jue and Cheng Xiaoyi. Lin Hui and Jin Tingrui had also come to help double-check for any gaps.

Cheng Xiaoyi seemed a bit nervous, likely from lack of sleep the night before. Her hair was fluffy, her eyelids slightly swollen, and she looked listless—a state that closely resembled Yu Sining’s, making her appear more like someone weighed down by worries, someone who might genuinely consider suicide.

The group went over the plan once more to ensure everything was in order.

He Lin equipped Cheng Xiaoyi with some devices.

A small audio transmitter that syncs in real-time was placed in a compartment of her backpack.

A hair tie could provide her detailed location.

Finally, He Lin handed Cheng Xiaoyi what looked like an ordinary small button that could be pinned to her clothes.

He Lin reminded her, "During the day, Fang Jue and I will be following you. If you encounter danger, shout for help as quickly as possible and run to crowded areas. If you’re isolated, coerced, or face an extremely urgent situation, squeeze this button hard—it will send an alert."

Cheng Xiaoyi nodded, taking mental note of his instructions, and pinned the button to her clothes.

She mentally reviewed everything Yu Sining had told her the previous day to ensure nothing was missed.

He Lin patted her shoulder again. "It won’t take long. Once we’ve gathered enough evidence, we’ll bring you back."

Compared to the undercover mission Fang Jue and Li Shang had carried out previously, her task this time was much simpler.

She only needed to play the role of a girl with depression—timid and weak, unable to cope with workplace bullying from her superiors. Because it was a so-called good company, her family wouldn’t allow her to resign. Feeling trapped, she contemplated taking her own life.

The mission would only last two days.

With Li Shang absent, Lin Hui helped her verify her cover story details and then proceeded to connect and test each device one by one.

Once everything was confirmed, the corresponding tracking software was installed on her phone and tablet.

Seeing that everything was arranged here, Jin Tingrui pulled He Lin aside and said, "Captain He, your case is nearly ready for the arrest operation. There’s something I need to handle at the Municipal Bureau, so I’ll take Lin Hui and head out first thing."

Last night, Jin Tingrui and Lin Hui talked again about how things were going with the team. The new case was pretty tricky, and Jin Tingrui wanted Lin Hui to come back.

They had done all they could to help here; the suspect had been identified, and only the arrest remained, so there wasn’t much more they could contribute. Staying here wasn't doing any good anyway.

Actually, the case at hand wasn’t that urgent; Jin Tingrui was afraid Lin Hui might try to go find that Mr. Square.

That incident had essentially left Lin Hui’s family in ruins.

If Lin Hui acted impulsively and went for some personal payback, even Jin Tingrui wouldn’t be able to protect him.

So the safest option was to get Lin Hui out of there ASAP before the arrest.

This time, Lin Hui didn't get as worked up as last time. He just listened with his head down until the end, then gave a slight nod to show he agreed.

Only then did Jin Tingrui finally relax and let out a sigh of relief.

So, once things were running smoothly that morning, Jin Tingrui brought this up with He Lin.

He Lin said, “Sure, what's the plan for getting out of here?”

Jin Tingrui patted his shoulder: “I figure you guys will need the cars. The cars from the Ningcheng Municipal Bureau are nowhere near as easy to use as our own. Later, you might also need to haul the servers and computer gear back, so I plan to take Lin Hui back by bullet train. I’ll leave the car for you—just bring it back when you're finished up.”

He Lin nodded. He and Li Shang would take one car, while Fang Jue and Cheng Xiaoyi would take another to transport the equipment—two cars would be just right. He asked, “When are you leaving? Do you need us to give you a ride to the station?”

Jin Tingrui said, “Nah, today’s train tickets are tough to get. We only scored tickets for tonight. We'll just grab a cab later. You guys just focus on the case.”

Then he added, a little worried, “By the way, if you catch the suspect, be sure to give us a heads-up right away.” As he said this, his gaze drifted toward Lin Hui, who was talking to Cheng Xiaoyi not far away.

He Lin agreed right away: “Of course. You’re all a huge help cracking this case. We’ll definitely let you know ASAP.”

.

As the scheduled time approached, Cheng Xiaoyi caught a taxi to near the meet-up spot. She gave her gear one last check, took a deep breath, and walked alone toward the designated restaurant.

She entered the private room, where two people had already arrived—a man and a woman.

Cheng Xiaoyi had seen them repeatedly on surveillance footage and immediately confirmed they were the right people. However, since they were here to eat, they weren’t wearing masks.

Gu Chuxi still had long hair hanging down over her shoulders. She smiled and greeted Cheng Xiaoyi: “I’m the Queen of Hearts. We’ve chatted before.”

Xie Nian waved at her: “I’m Mr. Square.” Up close, Xie Nian wasn't bad-looking, but he had a really creepy vibe, like a snake tasting the air with its tongue.

Cheng Xiaoyi also introduced herself: “Hello, I’m Sisi.” That was Yu Sining’s screen name.

Gu Chuxi smiled at her: “Not everyone’s here yet. You can take a look and see what dishes you’d like.”

Cheng Xiaoyi glanced over the menu and, imitating Yu Sining’s downbeat, sluggish tone, said: “Anything is fine. You can order.”

She had just met Yu Sining yesterday. The woman seemed calm but spoke very slowly, with a faint sense of despair. Cheng Xiaoyi had strong imitation skills and nailed about eighty percent of Yu Sining’s demeanor.

Seeing this, Xie Nian flagged down the waiter and ordered several dishes, all of which sounded quite expensive. Then he smiled at Cheng Xiaoyi: “When it's come to this, we should at least eat something good.”

Just then, the last person finally arrived—a woman who appeared to be around thirty years old, with messy hair and was a little overweight. As soon as she entered, she bowed apologetically: “I’m sorry, I’m Meiyu. There was traffic, so I was delayed. I’m late.”

Cheng Xiaoyi had also seen some information about this woman from the chat logs they'd recovered. Her screen name was Plum Rain Season. She was a mother who had recently given birth. She quit her job before becoming pregnant, and her mother-in-law often argued with her while helping with the child. She had run away from home several times, but her family only grew more dismissive of her, which led her to consider suicide.

Gu Chuxi said generously: “It’s fine. You didn’t mean to be late. We met online and finally managed to gather here.”

Meiyu seemed to want to say something, but Gu Chuxi stopped her: “No rush. Let’s talk after we start eating.”

Soon, all the dishes were served. Xie Nian got up and closed the door and instructed the waiter not to enter.

The four picked up their chopsticks and ate quietly, each wrapped up in their own thoughts.

Then, Gu Chuxi spoke: “Although we’ve chatted online, I still want to hear your stories and your resolve again, because this isn’t a joke—we’re really going to die together.”

She continued: “To show sincerity, I can tell you my real name. My name is Chen Xiao…”

Cheng Xiaoyi listened quietly. Gu Chuxi had mixed together her own story with Chen Xiao's, briefly mentioning that she was battling depression and wanted to end it all.

Xie Nian sat with his head bowed under the light. He was so thin he was like a skeleton with skin stretched over it: “I’m Xie Nian, a freelance photographer. Since last year, I’ve known I have cancer. After over a year of treatment, I’ve almost run out of money. For me, death is a release.”

When it was Cheng Xiaoyi’s turn, she said: “I’m Yu Sining. My family is very strict and harsh with me. They found me a good job, but the work pressure is too high. My life is a mess. I was diagnosed with severe depression half a year ago, and I really don’t have the courage to go on…”

She had already been working for several years and had that weary office-worker vibe. She cited some real examples of workplace PUA to avoid raising suspicion.

Gu Chuxi comforted her: “Your boss is terrible. And families are like that—hurting you recklessly under the guise of doing what’s best for you.”

When it was Meiyu’s turn, the woman’s eyes reddened, and she spoke tearfully: “I’m Jiang Mei. I gave birth last year, and since then, my life has changed. My mother-in-law argues with me every day over trivial matters. My husband, my in-laws, my parents—they only care about the child and no longer care about me…”

As she spoke, she began to cry.

Cheng Xiaoyi could tell this woman was likely suffering from postpartum depression. What she needed was to break free from childcare and her tedious family life, not to die.

But Gu Chuxi and Xie Nian at the table clearly had no intention of letting their prey go.

Gu Chuxi patted the woman’s back: “Your husband’s attitude toward you is wrong. He might even be cheating.”

Xie Nian considerately handed her a tissue: “Such a mother-in-law is too much. And your husband doesn’t appreciate you at all—he just sees you as a tool for carrying on the family line.”

Cheng Xiaoyi kept her head down and stayed silent. Their words were clearly just pouring salt in the woman’s wounds, strengthening her desire to die. They wanted her dead.

The previous victims had probably gone through the same thing. Cheng Xiaoyi wondered if these words could serve as evidence of incitement to suicide.

After all four had introduced themselves, Gu Chuxi said: “Since everyone is resolved, let’s finalize how we’ll end our suffering.”

Next, they discussed various methods of suicide as if they were in a group chat.

“Slitting wrists is too painful. I’ve tried it.”

“If you’re saved after taking sleeping pills, it’ll be troublesome. Charcoal burning is better.”

“I prefer jumping into a river, but I’ll go along with you. I’ve also prepared a rope.”

Listening to their conversation, Cheng Xiaoyi felt her heart tighten.

This wasn’t an ordinary meal—it was like a tea party hosted by death.

She looked down at the dishes on the table: chicken, duck, beef, lamb. Suddenly, she felt nauseated by the meat, as if she were seeing rotting animal carcasses.

Just then, Gu Chuxi, while speaking, picked up a piece of cherry foie gras and put it in her mouth. The crimson fruit jam stained the corner of her lips. Her meticulously powdered skin was as pale as a corpse.

Seeing this, Cheng Xiaoyi suddenly felt sick and wanted to vomit.

But Gu Chuxi didn’t let her off. She turned and asked: “Yu Sining, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I… I’m scared…” Cheng Xiaoyi said instinctively. She took a deep breath and added, “Whenever I think about dying, I get nervous, and when I’m nervous, I need to use the bathroom.”

Gu Chuxi laughed: “Don’t be afraid. We’ll be together—it won’t be lonely at all. I also need to use the bathroom. Let’s go together.”

Jiang Mei, tired from crying, also stood up: “I want to go too.”

Xie Nian stopped them: "We're almost done eating. I'll go settle the bill, and you can pay me back. Also, the funds for the trip for the next few days need to be given to me as well."

The four of them grabbed their bags and stepped outside. The three women went to the restroom, while Xie Nian went to the front desk.

There were only two stalls in the restroom, and one was occupied. Both Cheng Xiaoyi and Jiang Mei let Gu Chuxi go first, and she didn't protest.

Cheng Xiaoyi took the opportunity to observe the restaurant’s restroom—with a door on one side and a window on the other.

After Gu Chuxi came out, Cheng Xiaoyi went in. Gu Chuxi said to them, "The smell in here is awful. I’ll wait for you outside."

Just then, the door to the other stall opened.

After finishing up, Cheng Xiaoyi washed her hands at the sink and saw Jiang Mei come out too.

Among the four, two were criminals, and one was a police officer—only Jiang Mei truly wanted to die.

Cheng Xiaoyi wanted to save Jiang Mei: Saving her and bringing her along, she’d have to consider her presence, which would complicate their operation. If they couldn’t save her in time, this woman might really die.

Thinking this, she frowned at the woman and whispered to her, "What about your child at home? Do you really not want him anymore? If something happens to you, he’ll lose his mother. How will he live in the future?"

Seeing Jiang Mei freeze, Cheng Xiaoyi glanced around—Gu Chuxi didn’t seem to be listening.

She grabbed Jiang Mei’s hand: "I'm desperate, but do you really want to die with those two? Death isn't the answer. What you need is to see a doctor, find a job, and live a good life!"

A flicker of change appeared in Jiang Mei’s eyes. Her depression stemmed more from having no one to confide in, and she’d stumbled into joining the group. She hadn’t fully made up her mind. Having just cried and vented, her emotions had eased slightly, and Cheng Xiaoyi’s words jolted her awake: "Then... what should I do?"

Cheng Xiaoyi pointed to the window nearby: "If you still want to live, climb out of the window and run, while there’s still time!"

After speaking, she turned and left. Gu Chuxi was outside the restroom, smoking a slim cigarette. Seeing Cheng Xiaoyi come out, she asked, "What about her? Why is she taking so long?"

Cheng Xiaoyi said, "She said she’ll be a while."

To buy time, she asked Gu Chuxi, "About the charcoal burning suicide... is it really not painful? Even though I’ve made up my mind, I’m still scared."

Gu Chuxi fiddled with her hair: "Don’t worry, I’ve looked it up. If done properly, you’ll just fall asleep and feel nothing."

They chatted for two or three minutes before Gu Chuxi finally sensed something was wrong. She pushed open the restroom door and saw both stall doors open and the window ajar.

Her face instantly darkened. Xie Nian had just paid the bill and happened to be walking downstairs. Gu Chuxi grabbed him: "Jiang Mei ran! Go after her!"

Cheng Xiaoyi didn’t want to go with them, but Gu Chuxi, seeing her hesitate, pulled her along: "Come on, we can’t let her talk to anyone!"

Cheng Xiaoyi said, "She... she probably wouldn't..."

He Lin and the others had already coordinated with Zhou Chenlin. Even if she reported it, it wouldn’t tip off their targets. Besides, He Lin and Fang Jue might be nearby and could save Jiang Mei.

But to avoid raising suspicion, Cheng Xiaoyi followed them out, pretending to search while deliberately slacking.

Behind the restaurant was a narrow alley.

The two sides were less than a hundred meters apart. Gu Chuxi and Xie Nian split up to search.

Soon, Jiang Mei was caught by Xie Nian and dragged back. Both were panting heavily.

Cheng Xiaoyi felt a pang of pity for her—if the woman had run just a few dozen meters farther and encountered someone else, she wouldn’t have been caught.

Gu Chuxi looked displeased: "Why did you run off without a word?"

Jiang Mei, pulled along, looked terrified and instinctively apologized: "Sorry, sorry... I don’t want to die anymore. Can you let me go? You can keep the money; I won’t ask for it back."

Gu Chuxi was wary—they were behind the restaurant where people could pass by at any moment, making it hard to act. Luckily, Jiang Mei was timid and probably controllable.

She snorted: "If you want to leave, you’ll have to explain yourself first."

Xie Nian wore a hypocritical smile, but his tone was pressuring as he stared at the pitiful woman: "How can you be so selfish? We agreed to die together, but you fled at the last moment. How can you go back on your word?"

Jiang Mei’s eyes were dazed, her body trembling.

Xie Nian continued: "Haven’t you run away from home before? You tried it, and how did they treat you? If you go back now, they’ll just laugh at you and scorn you even more. Only if you die will they regret it. Only then will they remember your goodness."

Gu Chuxi stepped forward, her voice gentle but chilling: "Think about it—what good will going back do? Your husband and mother-in-law won’t change their attitude, and your parents won’t value you either. You’ll be just like before. This family, this world—clearly, there’s no place for you anymore."

Hearing this, Jiang Mei’s emotions collapsed again. She trembled and burst into tears.

Gu Chuxi stepped closer and stroked her shoulder, her words manipulative: "Only death can free you completely. Come back with us, sleep well, and all your troubles will vanish. We’ll be with you."

After a while, Jiang Mei stopped crying. The woman seemed numb, dazed, and expressionless. She no longer mentioned not wanting to die or wanting to leave.

"Good, you’ve thought it through," Gu Chuxi said, putting an arm around her shoulder with a smile. "Let’s go. On to the next stop..."

Cheng Xiaoyi followed the three of them forward.

Every word of their conversation had been relayed verbatim through the listening device to He Lin and Fang Jue’s ears...