Chapter 47: Our Promise (1 of 2)

Lanzhou, Gansu Province.

The mountain range is at a distance.  The extensive city landscape stretches out from the edge of the Yangtze river; its prosperity carries a sense of age from vicissitude.

Han Chen is at a coffee shop at the end of a street, which is where he is meeting Zhao Zi Xu.

Just like in the photo of class 56, Zhao Zi Xu is a tall and handsome man.  His facial features are symmetrical.  He is wearing a simple shirt and long pants.  He looks at Han Chen and reveals a peaceful smile, “Hello.  You are a colleague of Xiao Xi?”

Han Chen nods, “Do you mind if I smoke?”

“Not at all.  I smoke as well.”

Han Chen lights up a cigarette and hands one to Zhao Zi Xu.  They start smoking quietly for a moment without knowing what to say. Read more

Chapter 46: The Blurry You (2 of 2)

It’s the first time that Cold Face feels Han Chen’s phone call request is a challenge.

Somebody’s background, education, and other information can be easily found out.  But how can he look for somebody’s “ex-boyfriend”?

And Cold Face is someone who likes to take action.  After thinking about it for a long while, he calls a cab and decides to go to the hospital directly.

In the patient’s room, Bai Jin Xi is chatting with Xu Si Bai while Xiao Zhuan is peeling an apple on the side.

It’s been a few days since they last met, so Bai Jin Xi takes her time to ask, “Why did you disappear?  Were you teasing me?”

Xu Si Bai is wearing a light brown jacket accompanied by a white shirt, making him look tall and clean.  He pours the chicken soup out from a thermos and into a small bowl and then places it in front of her. Read more

Chapter 46: The Blurry You (1 of 2)

October in a Southern county is already filled with the chilly breezes of autumn.  The long street beside the river has a row of new and old housing.  Cars and pedestrians come and go.

Han Chen parks his car on the side of the street and looks up.

17 Fuyang Lang, Hongshan County.

The place where Bai Jin Xi lived in when she was little.

It’s a three story newly built western style home.  There’s even a small shop in the front.  Han Chen buys a pack of cigarette and starts a conversation with the boss lady, “I want to find out about a person.  I have a friend named Bai Jin Xi.  Did she live here before?”

The boss lady is a forty or so year old kind woman.  She shakes her head, “Nope.  Never heard of her.” Read more

Chapter 45: Feelings for Each Other

Just after walking a few steps out of Bai Jin Xi’s room, Han Chen bumps into Xin Jia.

Xin Jia had followed him when he left his room.  After guarding him for one day and night, she looks rather fatigued.  She looks at Han Chen while crossing her arms subconsciously, “Han Chen!  How could you get out of bed?”

Han Chen glances at her and doesn’t say anything.  He continues walking with his hand pressing on the wall for support.  Xin Jia goes up to him immediately.  She reaches over to lend him a hand, but he avoids her.

“Move aside.”

Xin Jia watches his tall and limping back view and her eyes turn red slowly.  Her expression is calm.  Calm but full of sadness.

After walking a few steps, Han Chen stops suddenly and turns his head to look at her.

Xin Jia’s heart shakes. Read more

Chapter 44: Awakening of a Loyal Wolf (2 of 2)

Jin Xi and Xiao Zhuan are stunned.  Chatterbox and Cold Face are a bit surprised.  Han Chen, on the other hand, continues to be sitting without any expression on his face.

Jin Xi feels that there isn’t a need to ask the question.  It’s because Xu Si Bai has always hated being around a lively group and sees fame and fortune as nothing.  He only likes to stay in his quiet lab in Jiangcheng and live the life that he wants.

But who knew that Xu Si Bai would nod his head after a brief moment of silence, “I’ll think about it.”  He then turns around and leaves.

The fact that Xu Si Bai isn’t rejecting the offer right away, Qin Wen Long is already quite satisfied with this answer.  He turns around to face everyone else and says while making a big wave with his hand, “Let’s start!” Read more

Chapter 44: Awakening of a Loyal Wolf (1 of 2)

The first thing Bai Jin Xi sees after waking up is the sunlight from outside the window.

In the plain white colored room, an intravenous drip is still attached to the back of her hand.

A man is sitting beside her bed.

He has his jacket off and is only wearing a white shirt with long brown trousers.  His elbows are on the bed while his hands are together and his face is resting in his palms.  He’s clearly sleeping.

Jin Xi looks at him and reveals a slight smile.

She looks around the room slowly.  There is nobody in the room.  The door is open.  She can see doctors and nurses walking down the hallway frequently.

Where is he?

“You’re awake?” a mild voice with a hint of raspiness says. Read more

Chapter 43: Perhaps It’s You

The East side gradually reveals the marble white color of dawn.

The propellers continue spinning above their heads and many people are running on the aircraft parking ground in a hurry.  Zhou Xiao Zhuan hops off of a helicopter and immediately spots Xu Si Bai, whom he has not seen for a long while, standing not far away.

Xiao Zhuan runs over.

“Forensic Investigator Xu!”

Xu Si Bai is wearing a khaki color jacket.  His features look even more handsome and fair white in the morning sky.

“Where’s she?” his eyes are still watching the other helicopters landing and taking off.

“She’s already on a helicopter,” Xiao Zhuan answers, “She should be arriving soon.  It’s just that……she’s injured and unconscious.”  He takes a peek at Xu Si Bai’s expression after finishing.  But he can’t tell what he’s thinking. Read more

T’s Story: I’m Not Turning Back Part 2

“You will be called T from now on.”

“Does the name have any meaning?”

“You can give it many different meanings, but it can also carry no meaning.  It’s because it is you, T.”

Xie Lu——or perhaps he should be called T from now on.  He felt that the man’s thoughts were deeper and clearer than anybody that he had met.

He was completely different from the typical atrocious criminals that T thought that he would be.

Therefore, even though he followed him to killed others, it felt like they were a righteous act.

From fifteen to twenty-three years old, T followed him for eight years.

But he only stayed by his side for the first three years.

It was because on the third year, that case happened. Read more

T’s Story: I’m Not Turning Back Part 1

The first time Xie Lu held a gun was on a summer day when he was 10 years old.

He was off school for the summer holidays.  His dad was busy running the restaurant, and his mom was gone all day and night.  As usual, he was sent over to his Grandpa’s home at the countryside and wouldn’t be picked up until the school year started again.

But this was Xie Lu’s happiest time of the year.  At the countryside, there were little fishes and shrimps, and many eggs.  There was also his grandpa, who accompanied him all the time.  The countryside was barren, but Xie Lu ate happily and fully at every meal.  At night, he and his grandpa would lie on the bamboo bed.  Xie Lu would recite his favorite hero story from his books to his grandpa.  His grandpa would smile listening, praising his good memory, intelligence, and ambition.

Only the gossips that he heard from the neighbors every now and then made him upset. Read more

Chapter 42: Confidante (3 of 3)

Very soon, the sound becomes louder and noisier.  It sounds like there is more than one helicopter circling the top of the mountain.  And at the same time, a number of searchlights shine into the sky as well as towards the top of the mountain.

“You’re right,” T speaks suddenly, “your moves have gotten better than they were five years ago.”

Just when Han Chen is about to speak, he catches Jin Xi tripping on her footstep with the corner of his eye.  Her face is completely pale and looks as if she is about to faint.  He feels a squeeze in his heart.  He holds the gun steady on one hand and reaches his other arm out, pulls her over, and locks her into his embrace.

She might have triggered the wound inside due to fighting with T just now.  Therefore, after Jin Xi finishes talking, she feels a bigger rush of blood than before and her chest and stomach are hurting like they are going to explode.  She can feel Han Chen’s arm wrapped around her waist tightly.  She leans against his chest, sniffing the scent coming from his body, and her mind starts to become blurry.  She bites hard on her lip to wake herself up again. Read more