บท 8: Chapter 8-Resentment V
"Who left this splatter of blood on my window?!"
"Touch me again and you won't see the light tomorrow!"
"C-could someone help me, please...?"
"Never saw it." The man with a scar on his forehead walked away after answering the question.
Tang Mi let out a sigh of disappointment when she received the same answer again.
---
After discovering Zhang Tongtong's disappearance, attempts were made to contact her family, but there was no response. Tracking her phone proved futile as it was switched off. Compounding the issue, the lack of security footage in her old neighborhood hindered the investigation.
With the help of Ke Yixing's video surveillance, Ma Youwei and Tang Mi identified the car owner through the license plate number. Unfortunately, the owner had emigrated abroad several years ago. Cooperation with foreign police authorities took time, but it was likely that the owner had little concern for the car, leaving it somewhere to be stolen and used by someone else.
Upon questioning the owner about the car's last location, he revealed that he left it in the K district. The revelation left Ma Youwei, Tang Mi, and others with complicated expressions.
Cities are typically divided into districts, and Z city, being a large city, was no exception to this practice.
One of them was K district, a notorious area known as the Lawless district. This part of the city was rife with poverty, unemployment, debt, and poor education. Yet, it wasn't merely a socio-economic challenge district; it was a haven for criminals. The K district harbored individuals fresh out of jail, those hiding from the police, and a surge in criminal activities ranging from murder to robbery.
Despite the government's knowledge of the situation, combating crime in the Lawless district was a challenge. Criminals were adept at remaining hidden, and victims were reluctant to report crimes, fearing retaliation. The governor could only contain the impact on other districts and issue warnings to the public.
Ma Youwei, Tang Mi, and the rest of the team located the site, but it offered little information. A broken camera was the only surveillance equipment available.
They resorted to asking locals if they had seen the car. Tang Mi approached a thinly dressed 6-year-old child selling chocolate on the street and showed him a picture of the car.
The child stared at her. "...If y-you help me buy c-chocolate, I will then a-answer your question."
Tang Mi intended to purchase the chocolate anyway, as it was pitiful to see a small child trying to earn money. After handing over the money, the child examined the picture.
He took a long time, and Tang Mi was about to leave, thinking the child hadn't seen it. Just as Tang Mi was about to speak, the child nervously said, "I-I think I've seen this car before."
Tang Mi couldn't contain her excitement as she asked, "Where did you see it?"
"I s-saw Sister Luli riding t-this car…"
"Where can I find this Sister Luli?"
The child pointed to a rundown three-story building down the street. Tang Mi expressed her gratitude to the child and reported her findings to the team.
Gathering in front of the building, the team prepared to enter when Ma Youwei's phone rang.
"Hello, Bojing?" Zhao Bojing told Ma Youwei beforehand that it was alright to just call him by his name.
"Officer Youwei! Xiao Lu suddenly went missing!"
After hearing the brief story, Ma Youwei, trusting his police instincts, believed Lu Xiyun's disappearance might be related to Zhang Tongtong. He decided to meet up with Zhao Bojing. Tang Mi and the others would continue their investigation at the current location.
While Ma Youwei was driving, Zhao Bojing was tormented by thoughts of Lu Xiyun's disappearance. It should have taken about 20 minutes for Lu Xiyun to return, but it had already been half an hour, so he tried calling him. Yet, there was no answer. Instructing Yang Jiahui to take care of the cafe, he went out to find Lu Xiyun. Following the usual path to the store, he discovered from the boss that Lu Xiyun had left a long time ago. Concerned, Zhao Bojing knew something was amiss.
Understanding that Lu Xiyun wouldn't venture off alone, and aware that he wouldn't ignore calls, Zhao Bojing grew increasingly worried. Scanning the surroundings, he couldn't find any trace of Lu Xiyun. Fearing the worst, Zhao Bojing decided to involve the police, and given his familiarity with Ma Youwei, he reached out to him for assistance, believing that more hands would be beneficial in the search.
Returning to the cafe, Zhao Bojing briefed Yang Jiahui on the situation. They made the decision to close the cafe once the remaining customers had finished their orders. However, Ma Youwei arrived on the scene.
Feeling a sense of urgency, Zhao Bojing apologized to each customer, explaining that they needed to close earlier than usual due to unforeseen personal circumstances. As he approached the last table, he recognized Ke Yixing, who was accompanied by a woman he hadn't encountered before.
Zhao Bojing, looking distressed, addressed Ke Yixing, "Hello, Mr. Ke. Due to an unexpected situation, we have to close the cafe now. As a gesture of apology, your next visit will include a complimentary drink and dessert."
Normally, Ke Yixing would leave without much inquiry, but this time, he noticed Ma Youwei's presence and Zhao Bojing's visibly troubled demeanor.
"May I inquire if something has happened to Lu Xiyun?" Ke Yixing's keen observation skills allowed him to piece together the unusual events—Lu Xiyun's prolonged absence, Zhao Bojing's agitated state, and the unexpected presence of a police officer.
Zhao Bojing, hesitated for a moment when he heard Ke Yixing's question. However, he decided to share the truth, considering there was nothing to lose. Besides, Ke Yixing had previously assisted in the missing person case of Zhang Tongtong.
After explaining the situation to Ke Yixing, there was no noticeable change in his expression. However, the woman who had been silent until then spoke up, "Are you sure he didn't just go somewhere? Teenagers like to go have fun."
Zhao Bojing shifted his gaze to her and inquired, "This is...?"
"I'm his sister, Ke Ruiyue. You can just call me Ruiyue."
"I understand Xiao Lu well. He is well-behaved. He wouldn't run off without telling me, and he doesn't like to go out. More so, to unknown places alone."
Ke Yixing then expressed his concern, "I hope you find him soon," and left with Ke Ruiying, as they didn't want to waste more time in their search.
The local authorities soon arrived and spoke with Zhao Bojing, collecting detailed information about Lu Xiyun, his routines, recent activities, and any potential connections that might aid in the search. Zhao Bojing provided them with photographs and additional details to facilitate the official report of Lu Xiyun as a missing person.
"Mr. Zhao, it's crucial to act swiftly but methodically in such cases. We need to gather as much information as possible about Lu Xiyun's recent activities. Any changes in his behavior, new acquaintances, or unusual incidents could be essential clues. If there have been any deviations from his routine, it might shed light on his current whereabouts or state of mind. We will also inquire with people who might have seen him. We understand this is an incredibly distressing situation for you, and we'll do our utmost to bring Lu Xiyun back safely. Please keep your phone on, and we'll keep you updated on our progress. If you think of any additional details or if anything comes to mind, don't hesitate to share it with us."
Ma Youwei, absorbing the gravity of the situation, added on the side, "Given the recent disappearance of Zhang Tongtong and the suspicious car, there could be a connection between the two cases. We should cross-reference any information we have on both Lu Xiyun and Zhang Tongtong, looking for common threads, locations, or people associated with them. My team will coordinate with everyone. This will enable a comprehensive search effort."
After expressing their concern and promising a thorough investigation, the local authorities, and Ma Youwei left the cafe.
Zhao Bojing informed Yang Jiahui that the cafe would be closed for a few days.
Zhao Bojing, filled with self-blame, closed the cafe after cleaning with Yang Jiahui and returned home. Despite understanding that dwelling on remorse was unproductive, he couldn't shake the weight of responsibility. In the following days, he devoted his time to actively searching for Lu Xiyun.
-- -
Tang Mi and her team entered the building, knocking on each door. They discovered a door with a sign that advertised various services like games, billiards, massage, bar, and KTV. Knowing it wasn't a regular entertainment center, two officers were sent inside, while Tang Mi and the rest of the team waited at the end of the hall.
After a while, the officers returned with information. They learned that Sister Luli, one of the "waiters," had stopped coming to work two weeks ago. Similar instances occurred with other popular "waiters" in the same line of work, with varying lengths of absence, ranging from months to weeks. However, no one bothered to look for them in the Lawless District, where everyone dealt with their own lives and avoided matters unrelated to them.
---
At the police department, Ma Youwei, Tang Mi, and the others presented their findings. Upon listening to the reports, Ma Youwei, the captain of the team, remained silent, deep in thought. The rest of the team followed suit, sensing the gravity of the situation. The recent events weighed heavily on Ma Youwei's mind.
It all started with Zhang Tongtong's disappearance. Her apartment showed no signs of forced entry, with locked doors and windows. Following a lead from Ke Yixing's video surveillance, the investigation led to the Lawless District, where they discovered Sister Luli, who had connections to the missing car. However, she, along with other "waiters," had gone missing two weeks ago. Now, Lu Xiyun was added to the list of missing individuals.
While missing person cases were not uncommon, the simultaneous disappearances of multiple individuals raised concerns. The situation seemed too coincidental to be dismissed lightly.
---
"See you later in the meeting," Ke Ruiyue said as she stepped out of the elevator.
Meanwhile, Ke Yixing reached the highest floor and entered his office. Those visiting the office for the first time couldn't help but marvel at the expansive space. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city. Alongside the usual office furniture, three long sofas surrounded a glass table in the center. A flat-screen TV adorned one side of the wall, and another door led to a bedroom where the owner could rest when needed.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Placing the documents on the desk, Cheng Linghua said, "The documents from the financial department need to be reviewed. Also, to remind you, the auction invitation from the Li Corporation is tomorrow."
"Find out who else is attending the auction and double-check the security arrangements for us."
"Got it. Do you need anything else?"
"No. That's it."
"Then I will go out. Call me if you need anything."
"En."
Cheng Linghua closed the office door, leaving Ke Yixing to gaze at the landscape while lost in thought.
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