Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was hard to deny the impact Cheng Lingfei’s case had on everything. Such huge cases were a rarity not just in Gao Lanqi, not just in Meng Xiang, but in the whole nation. In the days that followed, the police mobilized all available manpower to arrest Cheng Lingfei’s remaining lackeys, both in and out of the country. They arrested a huge number of suspects.
Cheng Lingfei controlled a massive crime syndicate with links to various industries in the commercial sector. Additionally, through illegal means like wiretapping and hidden cameras, she was able to blackmail many people and had a firm grip on them. Searching through the blackmail information led to even more cases.
Miao Ying and her team were busy beyond belief due to the increasing workload. They had to slog through complicated tasks daily, and despite the head office sending more units to assist them, they were still unable to get much rest. It had been several days since their last visit to see Zhao Yu in the hospital.
Zhao Yu made use of this rare opportunity to take a break. Although he was obsessed with solving cases, the thought of the tedious paperwork, recording, cross-examinations, and filing irked him. He would much rather solve the Huayun Mountain Massacre case with his free time. Over the past few days, his injuries had recovered substantially and his burns had already scabbed over. His abrasions no longer required bandages and his mental health was in a good state.
Zhao Yu sat in his bed writing a report. He did not have to write the investigation report, but he did still have to complete the individual report that would ultimately decide his future. If he wrote it carelessly, he could be fired from the Special Investigations Team.
As this was linked to Jiang Ke’s prison break, he had to write it with as much emotion as possible. Using his patented narcissism, he boasted about his heroic acts and placed less emphasis on the prison break. He had already written over ten pages, but Zhao Yu was editing some parts he thought were not exaggerated enough. At that moment, the door slid open and in walked Chief Jiao, decked in a trench coat. She held a flower basket in her hands.
“Ah, sis!” Zhao Yu said, hurriedly sitting up and reaching for the flower basket. “You shouldn’t have!”
Chief Jiao smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed, observing Zhao Yu’s surroundings. A few seconds later, she noticed his report and briefly flipped through it. By the end of it, she had burst out laughing. “Zhao Yu, your report! Why does it sound like something fit for a monument?” Chief Jiao said, covering her mouth as she laughed. “This is way too shameless! How can you praise yourself this much in a report?”
“Uhm…” Zhao Yu replied. “Sis, I am only describing the facts! The real-life situation was even crazier than this! I’ve already toned it down, really!”
“You’re still just as playful!” Chief Jiao was unable to contain her laughter. “Speaking of which, jumping off of a plane is something I thought I’d only see in movies! This time, I tip my hat to you.”
“Haha! You’re too kind,” Zhao Yu said, quickly pouring Chief Jiao a glass of hot water from the kettle.
“Zhao Yu,” Chief Jiao said as she took the cup. Her face became serious. “I’m here to deliver some news to you. The higherups have instructions.”
“Oh? But I haven’t even submitted my report!” Zhao Yu pointed at the document and tilted his head. “I thought I was supposed to personally undergo questioning at the office? Why is there a verdict already?”
“Well, it’s not a good verdict!” Chief Jiao said solemnly. “Your performance was excellent in regards to Cheng Lingfei’s case, plus you made huge contributions to Wu Fangfang’s murder and the Rural Homicide case, so the higherups have decided to give you an award. But at the same time, you’re suspended from your duties for three months!”
“What?!” Zhao Yu froze. “So, they give me an award, but suspend me for three months? Isn’t that a little contradictory?”
“Well… Zhao Yu, the award they’re giving you is unprecedented,” she answered.
“What do you mean?” Zhao Yu asked.
“What do I mean? I mean that they really like you and are doting on you!” Chief Jiao looked around before she whispered, “To tell you the truth, you don’t even have to write the report. You can relax, we all know you were coerced into helping Jiang Ke break out of prison. Even if Jiang Ke had actually escaped, we would still think of ways to protect you!”
“Oh…” Zhao Yu said, nodding softly. Although he knew Chief Jiao’s words were meaningless, he still felt the warmth.
“Zhao Yu, do you remember what I told you when you were being stubborn about cracking the Devil case? I have seen many geniuses crash and burn, me stepping in was also to protect you, you get that now, right?” Chief Jiao asked him.
“Yes, I understand completely!” Zhao Yu nodded. “A tall tree attracts the wind, Cheng Lingfei has already taught me that lesson!”
“Good. So, your three-month suspension is just to send a warning to others. Other than the enemies you have hiding in the shadows, there are your colleagues to think about! Regarding Jiang Ke’s case, the criminal office will no longer pursue it and will even be rewarded! But, this time, you have to be more careful than you were back then. We really want to protect you, you’re our trump card.” Zhao Yu nodded. He finally understood the pains behind the leaders’ decisions.
“Out of the five province cases, you’ve already cracked three in just half a year!” Chief Jiao complimented. “Nobody else in the criminal office would be capable of doing that. So, we hope you can maintain this attitude, regardless of what prize or punishment you receive, so that you can reap better rewards in the future.”
“Sis, say no more! I understand!” Zhao Yu said. He was convinced. “Actually, I also wanted to take a break. Constantly coming face-to-face with these near-death encounters is really starting to take its toll on me.”
“Oh? Although I said you were suspended, I didn’t say you could rest,” she said.
“Wait, what…?” Zhao Yu was confused.
“You don’t have to worry about Gao Lanqi!” Chief Jiao said. “Over the next few weeks, you have an even greater responsibility. We’ve already drawn up plans for you. We want you to go through training at the police stations all over again! This is so you can impart your experience to our comrades! If there can be more like you in our industry, it would be our best weapon against criminals!”
“What the h*ll!” Zhao Yu was about to curse but changed his mind. “I fell for your trick again!” Chief Jiao had already scheduled Zhao Yu for training before the new year. It seemed like no matter what he did, he was unable to escape this…
