Chapter 16: Apologize Before Doing the Right Thing

Chapter 16: Apologize Before Getting Down to Business

Guan Yingjun lowered the phone from his ear, his expression darkening. "When did this happen?"

"This afternoon at 4:30..."

Everyone looked grim.

The West Kowloon Regional Police Station had a backlog of cold cases where the Jiang family were the beneficiaries. Most of these pending cases, lacking concrete evidence, were just one informed witness away from being resolved.

Jiang Yongyan held a unique position—not only was he the CEO's personal assistant, but also the Jiang family's house manager. He knew more than enough secrets.

He was a crucial witness for the West Kowloon Regional Police Station.

They had planned to wait until the prosecution concluded the "Feng Jiamin case" and Jiang Yongyan's sentence was determined before conducting a prison interrogation.

Instead, they received news of Jiang Yongyan's death.

Zhang Xingzong scratched his head. "What do we do now?"

"First, let's handle the case at hand. I'll go to Sham Shui Po after work. I haven't been able to get anything out of Fu Yiwei—you all try sounding him out too. I'll first..." Guan Yingjun paused, remembering he was still on the phone with Jian Ruochen, and his heart tightened.

He had only hesitated for a second, and Jian Ruochen had already hung up.

Now, it had been a good minute...

Guan Yingjun glanced down at his phone screen, where three small words blinked.

Call ongoing...

He breathed a silent sigh of relief and put the phone back to his ear. "Sorry, work just came up."

Jian Ruochen grunted in acknowledgment. "Heard it. The phone's mic is pretty good. Business comes first."

Li Changyu had finished grading the papers and was standing by, watching the scene unfold.

Guan Yingjun had always been stubborn since childhood, never turning back until he hit a wall.

He had long wanted to see this guy meet his match.

After all these years, someone had finally proved him right.

Guan Yingjun wasn't sure how to respond, so he found himself an out. "I'll pick you up and introduce you to Team A at the Major Crimes Unit."

Jian Ruochen said coolly, "So you do remember."

Guan Yingjun coughed lightly.

He had been worried that Jian Ruochen would get too close to the Team A members and win them over with just a few words, so he had deliberately avoided a formal introduction.

As a result, Team A only knew Jian Ruochen as Professor Li's student and had no idea he was the future Criminal Psychological Consultant.

Guan Yingjun asked, "Should I pick you up from Hong Kong University now?"

"No, taking a taxi is faster."

·

West Kowloon Regional Police Station, Major Crimes Unit Team A office.

Guan Yingjun hesitated, staring at the disconnected call.

Was he not angry anymore?

It didn't seem like it. There was a sense of formality to it.

Zhang Xingzong held the case report, studying Guan Yingjun's expression, and stammered tentatively, "H-how did it go?"

Guan Yingjun said, "He'll be here soon."

Zhang Xingzong: "...Glad we didn't lose the consultant."

Sigh, what's so hard about saying sorry and softening up a bit?

"Is 'sorry' that hard to say?"

The two stared at each other.

Zhang Xingzong raised the case report to cover his mouth: "Did I say that out loud?"

Guan Yingjun fell silent for a moment.

Now, the initiative was entirely in Jian Ruochen's hands. He couldn't let it stay that way—he had to regain some control.

He asked, "What do you think someone who loves the rule of law would like as a gift?"

Zhang Xingzong: ?

What an abstract question.

"Are you planning to give a gift to the Commissioner? Director Lok probably likes decorated officers, right? Try racking up more commendations?"

Guan Yingjun mused.

·

When Jian Ruochen arrived at the West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit, only Guan Yingjun was in the Team A office; no one else was around.

He took a step back to check the sign at the door.

It was indeed the Team A office.

Just as he stepped back, hurried footsteps approached.

Guan Yingjun, thinking he was about to leave, reached out and grabbed Jian Ruochen's shoulder, saying quietly, "Sorry."

He paused, then spoke awkwardly, "I shouldn't have been testing you after you repeatedly made key contributions... I offended you. I'm sorry."

Jian Ruochen didn't respond.

Guan Yingjun lowered his head, carefully choosing his words. "Professor Li can certainly help with investigations, but he could never have secured such crucial evidence for Team A on his own. You are not his replacement."

His tone was gentle. "I know what you want. You want to be a police officer, don't you? After you graduate, I'll write you a recommendation letter for the police academy."

Hong Kong's police academy is a 27-week program. You can either take the entrance exam directly or get a recommendation.

Guan Yingjun didn't give Jian Ruochen a chance to refuse. He took a round, silver-edged badge from his pocket and pressed it into Jian Ruochen's palm. "Keep this as collateral. In three years, you can use it to ask me for the recommendation letter."

Jian Ruochen opened his hand to look.

"That is a Medal of Bravery, typically awarded only to undercover officers who have performed acts of exceptional bravery."

"Most people don't live to receive this medal."

He rubbed it with his thumb, feeling the warmth of the medal and Guan Yingjun's sincerity, then asked teasingly, "Why isn't it gold?"

Guan Yingjun: "..."

"Gold ones are awarded posthumously."

He wasn't dead yet.

Jian Ruochen said slowly, "I won't take it."

Guan Yingjun's throat tightened slightly.

Jian Ruochen tucked the medal back into Guan Yingjun's chest pocket, patting the solid chest as he did so. "It wouldn't be right."

"Medals cannot be used as collateral or sold; they can only be given to immediate family. Otherwise, it violates the award regulations. Don't hand it out carelessly in the future... I won't report you this time."

Guan Yingjun paused, taken aback.

Since receiving the medal, he had had it stored at the bottom of a box and had no idea about such rules.

Three months ago, the media had been praising the Superintendent of Yau Ma Tei Police Station for giving his medal to his new wife.

So it could only be given to family members...

Jian Ruochen said, "Let's lay all our cards on the table now."

Guan Yingjun suppressed his discomfort. "Alright, go ahead."

Jian Ruochen raised a finger. "First, I don’t need your complete trust. You can investigate me privately if you want, but don’t keep testing me. It gets old."

"Second, I don’t care what happens privately, but when we’re working, it’s best to trust each other to avoid problems."

"And finally..."

Guan Yingjun looked down at him, expecting the citrus-scented lips to say something troublesome, but instead, Jian Ruochen said, "Third, treat me as a consultant right now and introduce me to the members of Team A."

Guan Yingjun’s heart suddenly relaxed, only to realize that the pace of this conversation was entirely controlled by Jian Ruochen, not what he’d planned.

He forced himself not to overthink it and turned to call the Team A members back to the office. First, he introduced Jian Ruochen to the team: "Everyone already knows him. He’s Professor Li Changyu’s student and, from today onward, officially our Criminal Psychological Consultant for Major Case Team A."

Zhang Xingzong started clapping.

No matter the questions or doubts, keeping our benefactor was the real priority.

But...

"Jian Ruochen is only a freshman, right? He’s good at helping with sting operations—those just require good acting, not professional knowledge. But being a consultant is different."

The tall, thin guy next to Zhang Xingzong elbowed him. "He’s Li Changyu’s student. If he doesn’t know something, he can just ask Li Changyu."

Since Li Changyu wasn’t willing to come to the station, having his student was the next best thing.

Jian Ruochen knew that until he proved himself, the Major Case Team A members would only recognize Professor Li as the true Criminal Psychological Consultant.

But the police station was a place where results spoke for themselves. There was no rush.

Guan Yingjun then pointed to the team members and introduced them to Jian Ruochen: "Ding Gao, Liu Sizheng, Huo Mingxuan, Bi Wanwan, Song Xuyi, Lin Jiacheng, Zhang Xingzong."

Jian Ruochen shook hands with each of them, greeting them seriously. Skipping the small talk, he got straight to the point: "Where are the interrogation logs from the past seven days? Let me take a look."

Everyone was stunned.

A week ago, Jian Ruochen had been friendly and approachable, smiling at everyone. Now, being serious, his presence was almost as intimidating as Guan Yingjun’s.

Zhang Xingzong handed over the interrogation logs.

Jian Ruochen flipped through them and found the information barely anything there.

The killer of the Sham Shui Po patrol officer was named Fu Yiwei. His reason for killing the officer was to lure Jian Ruochen out for a date.

Then, when things got serious, he intended to eat his lover.

"Is this all?" Jian Ruochen shook the papers in his hand.

Guan Yingjun: "Yeah."

Ding Gao whispered, "It’s only been seven days. This is all we’ve got so far."

Ding Gao was true to his name—tall and thin like a beanpole.

He wore a long black coat with a soft, crumpled collar and a wrinkled hem. The coat looked un-ironed, suggesting he didn’t pay much attention to his appearance and was more casual, likely the outspoken type.

Jian Ruochen looked away. "Good work. Detective Guan, please take me to see the suspect."

Guan Yingjun reached out to open the office door for him. As they walked, he said, "This suspect is likely linked to a serial murder case. That case spans five years, with victims all being attractive teenagers aged 16 to 20. Our Major Case Team A believes it’s a serial murder case, but since no bodies have been found, higher-ups have been treating it as missing persons cases."

"A week ago, our team detected heavy blood traces in Fu Yiwei’s shower. The recent victim’s body was intact with no evidence of dismemberment, so the blood likely belongs to other victims."

Jian Ruochen looked up. "But?"

Guan Yingjun continued, "But the suspect claims he was slaughtering chickens."

As they spoke, they reached the interrogation room.

Guan Yingjun, figuring he should finish making amends, said, "Thanks for coming all this way. Once you’re done with the interrogation and we close the case, I’ll buy you dinner."

Jian Ruochen said with a faint smile. "Aren’t you afraid I won’t crack him?"

Guan Yingjun glanced back at the team members following closely behind and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "They like you, but they don’t respect you yet. Don’t you want to prove yourself to them?"