Chapter 27

Checking the time, Liang Sheng should have already finished work, so they would not be able to find him now.

Just as Ruan Mingxi was considering whether to send someone to his home, Yao Panpan’s startled voice came, “Captain, that account has sent another message!”

Ruan Mingxi immediately went to the computer. Seeing the photo that had been posted just seconds earlier, his face darkened.

“According to the IP location, the content was sent from the same place where the photo was taken,” Yao Panpan said.

As soon as she finished speaking, a new notification appeared at the top of the homepage.

The other party had posted a new update.

Ruan Mingxi picked up the mouse and refreshed the browser. Instantly, the homepage displayed the latest post, which was an image showing a 48‑hour countdown.

“What does this mean?” Ying Shi leaned closer to look, his face full of confusion.

Before they could figure out what the sudden countdown meant, the account unexpectedly gained massive traffic, with comments and likes rising sharply.

“What’s going on? Didn’t we already notify them to handle it? How could it suddenly explode in popularity?” Ruan Mingxi’s voice rose involuntarily.

Yao Panpan immediately panicked and hurried to call the person in charge at the network center.

“The network center reported that someone boosted the visibility of this post. Since the corpse‑disposal case already had many onlookers after the two times bodies were retrieved, now with this sudden post and the added data boost, the traffic naturally spiked, which is why the numbers grew so fast.”

Ruan Mingxi’s expression was so grim it looked as if water could drip from it. “Handle it quickly. We cannot allow panic to spread.”

Ying Shi immediately said, “Most of the field investigation team went with Ren Xian to Gao Hai’s home. Right now, the bureau is short on manpower.”

Ruan Mingxi replied, “I’ll call other precincts to request personnel. The people we have here should pack up and prepare to head out.”

With a new corpse‑disposal site appearing, Lin Peixin, being the forensic doctor, naturally had to go along.

Ruan Mingxi picked up the coat draped over the chair. As he passed Jiang Xuzhou, he lowered his voice and said, “Go home and rest tonight. Don’t wait for us. If there are clues, I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“I…”

“Listen, go home.” Jiang Xuzhou had barely spoken one word before Ruan Mingxi cut him off.

“Your dark circles are so heavy people might think someone hit you. Tomorrow you still have to go back to school. If Professor Wei sees you, he’ll think we’re mistreating you.”

Jiang Xuzhou knew that Ruan Mingxi would be busy for a long time tonight. He did not say more, so as not to distract him. “Alright. Be careful yourself.”

“Got it. It’s late, let’s go now. I’ll help you get a taxi. Send me a message when you arrive home.”

As he spoke, he was about to lead Jiang Xuzhou out.

“No need for a taxi. I drove here.” Jiang Xuzhou said.

Ruan Mingxi paused in surprise. “Your car was repaired so quickly?”

Jiang Xuzhou shook his head, “No. Before coming to the bureau, I went back to the old house and drove out another car.”

Hearing this, Ruan Mingxi raised his eyebrows slightly. He had forgotten that Jiang Xuzhou owned more than one car.

“Alright, where is the car parked? Give me the keys, I’ll drive it out for you.” Ruan Mingxi reached out his hand.

Jiang Xuzhou handed him the car keys, and soon the car was parked right in front of them.

“Let’s go!”

As the car drove away from Ruan Mingxi, he gave the door a playful slap.

The sharp “thump” of his palm left Jiang Xuzhou momentarily stunned. Realizing what it was, he chuckled softly.

The situation had come suddenly, and Ruan Mingxi had kept a stern face all along. Jiang Xuzhou had worried that his mood was not good.

Now, seeing that he still had the energy to joke around, Jiang Xuzhou realized his ability to adjust himself was strong, and his own anxious heart finally settled.

After Jiang Xuzhou’s car drove out of the police bureau gates, Ruan Mingxi’s softened expression vanished instantly. He immediately got into the bureau’s car and rushed to the crime scene.

…

The previous night, after arriving home, Jiang Xuzhou had sent Ruan Mingxi a message saying he was back.

But all the way until noon the next day, after finishing his classes at school, he still had not received a reply from Ruan Mingxi.

Although Ruan Mingxi often failed to reply when busy, today Jiang Xuzhou felt especially uneasy.

“Xuzhou?”

Professor Wei wanted to ask about the situation at the city bureau while assisting with the case, but he did not expect that after calling several times, there was still no response.

It was only when his arm was lightly touched that Jiang Xuzhou quickly came back to himself. “Sorry, teacher, I was distracted.”

Seeing Jiang Xuzhou’s state, Professor Wei grew concerned and asked warmly, “Is the pressure too much, being your first time handling a case independently with the special investigation team?”

He knew Jiang Xuzhou’s abilities well. Smart and calm, but like a flower carefully nurtured in a greenhouse.

This time, letting him join the special investigation team was his first time working independently with a group, unlike before when Professor Wei personally guided him step by step.

Professor Wei worried that perhaps he had been too strict, pushing him too hard.

In just two or three days without seeing him, Jiang Xuzhou already looked visibly more exhausted.

Meeting his teacher’s concerned gaze, Jiang Xuzhou immediately raised a gentle smile. “There is pressure, but don’t worry. I can handle it.”

Professor Wei offered some reassurance. “When I first assisted the special investigation team, I was also very nervous. I didn’t dare speak recklessly, afraid that one wrong suggestion might lead the team in the wrong direction, adding unnecessary work and wasting time on the case.”

“But what I want to tell you is, believe in yourself.” Professor Wei’s eyes were kind. “If you don’t even trust your own answers, how can you provide help to the comrades in the investigation team?”

The two of them chatted for a while, and Professor Wei suggested that he wanted to visit Yan Peiliang in the hospital.

Yan Peiliang’s body was not in serious condition. His continued stay in the hospital was mostly because of psychological issues.

Jiang Xuzhou offered to drive him to the hospital first, then go to the police bureau afterward.

After Wei Wenshan got out of the car, Jiang Xuzhou was just about to leave when he saw Chu Liyang carrying Ruan Mingxi out of the hospital.

“Not to criticize, brother, but you’re really reckless.”

Chu Liyang had just arrived at the hospital and happened to catch sight of the “strong‑willed despite injury” Ruan Mingxi trying to sneak out.

“You’re too extreme. Jumping straight from the third floor without blinking. Luckily there was a broken rain canopy below to block the fall, otherwise you’d be stuck in the hospital for a month or two.”

Chu Liyang was very talkative. Once he saw someone at the hospital, he would chatter endlessly.

“Enough already, you’re making my ears hurt.” Ruan Mingxi’s face showed clear impatience.

“Hurry up and take me back to the team. There’s still a lot of work to do.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ruan Mingxi froze.

“What’s wrong?”

Sensing that the person on his back was not quite right, Chu Liyang quickly stuffed the receipt into his pocket and looked up.

“Oh my, what a coincidence!”

“What happened to your leg?” Jiang Xuzhou frowned, his expression dark.

Meeting his gaze, Ruan Mingxi suddenly felt a little guilty.

But that guilt lasted only two seconds. He quickly raised a smile on his face. “You don’t even know how heroic I was last night. At the scene, I caught the suspect myself.”

“And what about the jumping from the building?” Jiang Xuzhou did not join in his joking tone. His voice was calm and serious.

Chu Liyang was affected by the subtle atmosphere and instinctively swallowed hard.

“That guy tried to run, so I chased him. He jumped down from the building. I couldn’t just stand there and watch him escape, so I jumped too.” Ruan Mingxi said. “There was a rain canopy on the first floor. We both landed on it. My leg is fine. Chu Liyang is just making a fuss, insisting on carrying me. I can walk on my own.”

Suddenly feeling “stabbed in the back,” Chu Liyang’s eyes widened instantly.

Alright, fine, so that’s how you want to play it.

“And who was the guy just now insisting I carry him?” Chu Liyang lowered his voice, gritting his teeth as he asked.

Before he finished speaking, Ruan Mingxi gave him a tug, “It wasn’t me anyway.”

Jiang Xuzhou pretended not to notice the small exchange between the two.