Chapter 19

Everyone stared at the photo on Li Jiali's computer, lost in thought.

Qi Feng sat on the sofa and shook his head. "Is this some kind of totem for a criminal organization? Last year and five years ago, in Colombia and the high seas—if we add this art gallery incident, the scale of this organization exceeds anything we’ve faced before."

Zhao Yang turned to Li Jiali and asked, "Has your AGB encountered this totem again since then?"

Li Jiali shook her head. "Not that I know of. The case involving the high seas casino was information from your Chinese Public Security’s internal system. We don’t have records of it."

Xia Qing, standing nearby, spoke up. "We can start with the victims’ countries of origin in this case and have their domestic police networks conduct screenings."

Benjamin, sitting on the floor with his laptop, flashed a thumbs-up. "I’ll contact the branch offices in Thailand and Cambodia right away."

Xu Zhangying passed around water bottles to everyone. "So, our game plan’s straightforward. The city bureau has already started investigating that 'A Feng.' If things go smoothly, we can connect the dots to the organ trafficking ring linked to the high seas gambling operation, and then we’ll get closer to this eyeball organization."

Li Jiali frowned. "'Eyeball'? You suck at naming things."

Xu Zhangying rubbed his chin. "Then what should we call it? The Eyeball Organization?"

Li Jiali closed her eyes briefly. "Whatever."

Xu Zhangying chuckled, then suddenly asked, "By the way, have all three other suspects been assigned tails?"

Zhao Yang nodded. "Wu Qize, the prop master, is being watched by Team Two. Zhang Lian, the hermit, and Tian Wanghai, the art student, are both under Team Three’s watch. They’re planning to keep eyes on them for about a week first."

Xu Zhangying gave a nod in acknowledgment, then checked his watch. It was already 6 a.m. He clapped his hands. "Alright, alright, you night crawlers, go crash for a bit. We’re back at work at 1 p.m."

Li Jiali closed her laptop and prepared to leave with Benjamin for their place next door. Meanwhile, Qi Feng lay on the sofa, toeing off his slides. "I’m not going back. I’m sleeping at the boss’s place."

Zhao Yang grabbed a water bottle and threw it at him. "You never go home! Either you’re at my place or Xu Zhangying’s. Just give up your apartment already."

Qi Feng flipped over with a huff. "If you hadn’t insisted we split up last year, I wouldn’t have to live alone! The boss doesn’t even care—why are you so naggy? Shut up, I can’t keep my eyes open!"

Xu Zhangying peeled an orange and handed a segment to Xia Qing, who was standing beside him. He then walked over and patted Qi Feng’s head. "There’s a spare room here. Go sleep on the bed."

Qi Feng, fake-sobbed, exclaimed, "Boss, you’re the best!" Then, as if afraid Zhao Yang would keep scolding him, he dashed into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Xu Zhangying crossed his arms and grinned at Zhao Yang. "Speaking of which, I forgot to ask—why did you and Qi Feng suddenly stop living together? Are you taking out a mortgage?"

Zhao Yang rolled his eyes. "This lunatic got a girlfriend last year, so I told him to move out."

Xu Zhangying fake-gasped. "Wow, she actually figured it out?"

Zhao Yang smirked. "She got ghosted in a week. Didn’t even get a kiss."

Xu Zhangying cracked up, and Zhao Yang couldn’t help but join in. A muffled bang came from the guest room.

Belatedly, Xu Zhangying turned to look at Xia Qing, who was still standing in place, staring down at the orange slice in his hand as if he hadn’t heard their bullshitting.

Zhao Yang stood up. "Alright, I’m heading back to crash for a bit too. You’re a consultant, for god’s sake—no need to push yourself so hard. Can you really keep up with these all-nighters?"

Xu Zhangying grinned sharply. "Don’t underestimate me. I went to the academy same as you."

Zhao Yang walked to the door, pausing to give Xia Qing a complicated look before closing it behind him.

Xu Zhangying patted the sofa. "Xia Qing, come sit down. Weren’t you tired standing all this time?"

Xia Qing walked over and sat down, then passed the orange slice back to Xu Zhangying.

Xu Zhangying chuckled at his solemn expression, "It’s for you to eat, not to hold."

A flicker of emotion crossed Xia Qing’s face, then he nodded and began eating.

Xu Zhangying asked, "Do you think there's anything unusual about this case?"

Xia Qing replied, "The structure of this criminal network strikes me as unusual."

Xu Zhangying blinked in surprise. "Why?"

Xia Qing lifted his head and said solemnly, "Most international crime syndicates start like small gangs—usually expanding through one or two key connections, driven by profit to establish their networks. But this one is different."

It hit Xu Zhangying—his earlier hunch: the scope and scale of this criminal organization exceeded the usual structural limits. The Colombian girl immolation case five years ago even involved top-tier U.S. political figures. Last year’s gambling case on the high seas implicated domestic officials and tycoons. This year’s human body art case involved domestic art institutions and victims of various Southeast Asian nationalities.

If this was the same organization, how was its criminal network built? Through elite connections? A drug-trafficking network?

This was basically a worldwide crime ring—yet how had it been constructed so silently? How could groups like AGB miss its existence? How was that possible?

After a pause, Xu Zhangying hesitated before speaking, "Xia Qing, actually, I..."

Arms folded, Xu Zhangying leaned on the door, catching the dark circles under Xia Qing’s eyes. He shook his head. "Never mind. I haven’t figured it out yet. No point discussing it now. You must be tired—why don’t you go rest?"

Xia Qing nodded and stood up, not pressing him about what he had meant to say. "You’re tired too. Get some rest. I’ll head back. See you this afternoon, Xu Zhangying."

"See you this afternoon," Xu Zhangying replied, closing the door. As the steady footsteps faded, he suddenly turned and saw Qi Feng peeking out from the guest room.

Qi Feng muttered, sounding put out, "A-Ying, you’re not into Xia Qing now?"

With his arms crossed, Xu Zhangying raised an eyebrow. "What? Have I treated him badly?"

Qi Feng just shook his head. "If it’s Xia Qing, then yes."

Zoning out on the sofa, Xu Zhangying watched as Qi Feng quietly closed the door again.

---

"Brother Zhangying, someone’s looking for you."

Third Brother shrugged off his army jacket, shook off the snow, and hung it on the hook behind the dormitory door before plopping onto a flimsy plastic chair.

The cramped dorm buzzed with noise—lunchtime had just begun. The air smelled of food and instant noodles. All four bunk beds were occupied, and three people crowded around the two rickety desks pushed together as makeshift dining tables.

Third Brother set his food container on the table while Second Brother Feng Zhengqiao and Fifth Brother Ruan Tao eagerly whipped the sketchbook off their ramen. As Feng Zhengqiao handed Third Brother his noodles, he asked curiously, "Who’d brave this cold for Zhangying?"

Xu Zhangying was lying on the lower bunk by the window, a sketchpad over his face as he drowsed. Hearing his roommates’ chatter, he gradually roused himself and sat up, his hair a mess. "Likely the admin officer Teacher Fang told us about."

Fifth Brother Ruan Tao looked envious. "Did the national sketching competition results come out? Seriously, Zhangying, why’re you wasting time here with us in this middle-of-nowhere training camp? If I were as good as you, I’d be on a train home for the New Year."

Xu Zhangying ruffled his hair. "Cut the crap. Nothing’s confirmed yet. If I don’t train, how am I supposed to get into college?"

Third Brother tilted his head, noodles in hand. "I don’t think it’s the admin officer. It’s a guy—lanky and pale."

Xu Zhangying, now wearing his military coat, turned back in confusion. "Lanky and pale? I don’t remember knowing anyone like that. Someone from the repeat class?"

Third Brother shook his head. "No, he looked younger. Had a backpack. Easy on the eyes."

Feng Zhengqiao and Ruan Tao immediately teased, "An Omega? Brother Zhangying’s sweetheart?"

Third Brother shrugged. "Nah, he was taller than me."

Feng Zhengqiao and the others lost their enthusiasm again, about to continue eating when the dormitory door swung open, letting a freezing draft surge into the cramped room.

"Jeez, it's freezing—why open the door so wide? Changying...?"

Xu Zhangying's heart pounded as he flew down the narrow dormitory hallway, barely avoiding collisions with students carrying thermoses or lunchboxes. Each one frowned, ready to curse, only to swallow their anger upon recognizing Xu Zhangying's face, instead warmly calling out, "Changying!"

Xu Zhangying didn’t have time to respond to each of them, descending the stairs like a gust of wind before rushing toward the dormitory’s main entrance.

Pushing aside the thick curtain shielding against the snow and wind, a vast expanse of white snow and glaring light greeted him. Standing at the doorway, he spotted a guy in a black puffer coat standing in the snow. Students hurried past him, rushing into the buildings, but he remained still, head down, staring at the snow beneath his feet—perhaps trying to avoid the biting wind and snowflakes.

"Xia Qing?" Xu Zhangying widened his eyes, asking cautiously.

The boy looked up, revealing a face as pure as snow, his bright eyes reflecting the snow’s glare. "Xu Zhangying."

Xu Zhangying hurried over and hugged him tightly, his grip so strong that he brushed against Xia Qing’s icy cheeks. "How did you get here? It’s such a long way—why didn’t you tell me? How did you even find this place?"

In the frigid air, Xia Qing's breath fogged in the air, his small face further wrapped by a white scarf. He acted like he wasn’t cold at all, gazing at Xu Zhangying as he said softly, "My school brought me to Beijing for a physics competition. After it ended, I came to see you. Auntie Ye knows—we even brought you something."

Xu Zhangying felt his eyes prickle. He rubbed his hands together before pressing them against Xia Qing’s face, finding it as cold as ice. He immediately tugged him toward the dormitory. "You dummy, standing out here in the snow—come inside!"

"You slept in the art studio again."

"Nonsense, I didn’t. I showered and slept in bed every night."

"You slept in the art studio."

Xia Qing stood inside the dormitory, staring at him with certainty.

Xu Zhangying was awakened by the sound of rain. The sudden summer storm in Guangdong was fierce, hammering the windows. Combined with the relentless chill from the air conditioner, it made him feel a deep, chill to the bone.

He rubbed his face and saw the clock’s hands pointing just past one. He got up to wash his face, and Qi Feng, also awake, sleepily opened the door to join him at the sink.

"It’s raining again. Sweltering season’s starting," Qi Feng mumbled through a mouthful of toothpaste.

Xu Zhangying set down his towel and chuckled. "Not yet."

After an urgent morning investigation, the second and third criminal investigation teams relayed their initial findings on "A Feng": the man was likely around 30 years old, a male alpha, once active in high-end entertainment venues in the red-light district, specializing in befriending young heirs of wealthy families. Some claimed he was likely a pimp. A former classmate of Zhao Lanyue from City No. 12 High School recalled that "A Feng" was notorious among the sophomore and senior classes, often seen with Li Xuyang and other rich kids at various nightlife spots.

Li Xuyang wasn’t just any rich kid—he was the grandson of Li Tianyue, the prominent chairman of Qingyuan Real Estate Group. This was the same company that owned the industrial park where the trucks transporting Exhibits 256 and 327 had most likely vanished.

Tan Song, looking at his computer, addressed the group: "The second team is checking clubs. It’ll take time to uncover 'A Feng’s' real identity."

Song Yuli said firmly, "This can’t be a coincidence. Qingyuan tampering with surveillance is highly suspicious."

Everyone in the Major Crime Unit shared the same thought, falling into silence—the case now involved immediate family of Qingyuan’s founder, making it exponentially harder to secure the company’s cooperation.

Xu Zhangying found the name "Li Xuyang" on the documents vaguely familiar. He leaned toward Zhao Yang and whispered, "I don’t remember this guy from the Li family. Is he Li Xuyin’s brother?"

His voice was so quiet that Tan Song and Yu Mei, sitting across from them, could only eye them intently, unable to hear.

Zhao Yang frowned slightly and muttered under his breath, "No, Li Xuyin is from the second son’s branch. This guy is from the third son’s—they’re not siblings."

Xu Zhangying nodded in understanding. He remembered now—back in school, both the Lin and Li families liked enrolling their children in the same provincial key high school, so he and the others had been classmates with two of the Li family’s direct descendants.

Like all successful men, Qingyuan’s chairman, Li Tianyue, had a fixation with lineage. He had three official wives, fathering five alpha sons, who in turn bore grandsons, turning the family into a kingdom of its own.

Yet, despite over a dozen sons and grandsons, not a single high-tier alpha was born. Meanwhile, the Lin family, with only three Omega daughters, first produced Lin Shuhua—a high-tier alpha from the second daughter’s line—and later Xia Qing, a top-tier alpha from the eldest daughter’s branch.

So, even for the super-rich, the pursuit of high-ranking alpha descendants was a roll of the dice.

Xu Zhangying was deep in thought when he noticed Xia Qing's gaze lingering on him. He couldn’t help feeling a pang of guilt. Ever since being called out by Qi Feng that morning, every time he gave Xia Qing the cold shoulder, the guilt gnawed at him a little more.

Fang Puxin said, "I'll go apply for a search warrant with Chief Shen."

Yan Jianbai raised his hand. "No rush. We don’t have enough intel yet. Just going off witness statements won’t get us permission to search inside Qingyuan. It could tip them off."

Fang Puxin frowned. "But just like how the truck couldn’t have vanished into thin air, it’s most likely in the industrial zone now. It’s been over half a month—the longer we wait, the higher the chance the exhibits are moved or destroyed. If we wait until we catch 'A Feng' before entering Qingyuan, we’ll waste too much time."

Qi Feng, sitting beside Xia Qing, winked at Xu Zhangying. She tilted her head at him and said, "What if we sneak in? I see tons of trucks and workers going in every day—it doesn’t seem that strict."

Tan Song let out an exasperated noise and immediately retorted, "Are you nuts? You’re an outsider loitering around—you’d definitely get caught."

Qi Feng shrugged. "I’ll throw on a hard hat and a work uniform."

Xu Zhangying chuckled. "What, playing undercover reporter now?"

The moment the words "undercover reporter" left his mouth, Qi Feng’s smile vanished instantly. Zhao Yang also tensed up. Xu Zhangying, however, remained unfazed and continued pondering Qingyuan Group’s connection to the case.

Suddenly, Xia Qing broke the silence. "Getting into Qingyuan’s industrial zone isn’t difficult."

Everyone looked up, thinking to themselves—so the big shot finally chimes in.

But then Zhao Yang spoke up. "If you personally take us in for reconnaissance, won’t Qingyuan Group give you trouble?"

"Whoa, did Zhao Yang actually say that?" Yu Mei covered her mouth in disbelief. "Weren’t you the one who told Professor Xia to figure it out himself when he first raised concerns about Qingyuan?"

"What’s wrong with what I said? Shut your mouth!" Zhao Yang snapped, though his face had already turned red.

Xu Zhangying stroked his chin, piecing together the conflict between Zhao Yang and Xia Qing before he’d arrived.

He hadn’t expected Zhao Yang to actually change his stance after their talk the other night, no longer harboring hostility toward Xia Qing.

Maybe it wasn’t just Qi Feng who missed the old days.

Fang Puxin looked at Xia Qing with concern. "Zhao Yang’s right. Plus, using your pull doesn’t align with standard procedure. Could this cause problems for you?"

Xia Qing remained unperturbed. "Even if it does, it’s no big deal."

Damn, that’s smooth, they all thought.

Sometimes Xia Qing was so low-key that they’d briefly forget his staggering wealth. But at critical moments, this guy’s clout made sure nobody forgot who he was.

The operation was set for the next day. Since this was an internal Major Crime Unit mission, Yan Jianbai personally selected the team. The industrial park on the city outskirts was a newly built Qingyuan facility for large-scale machinery R&D, so it wasn’t massive—just three main factory buildings with five auxiliary structures for administration and employee housing. Since retrieving the original surveillance footage from their internal network was no longer feasible, on-site evidence collection was now the most efficient approach. After all, a whole truck couldn’t be that hard to hide.

Yan Jianbai assigned three people—Zhao Yang, Qi Feng, and Tan Song—to enter the Qingyuan industrial zone the next day under the guise of Xing’an Group staff. Xia Qing made the call right in front of everyone, and by the time he hung up, the three officers had been given fake identities to join a Xing’an subsidiary’s delegation for a tour and bidding meeting inside the industrial park.

Even Fang Puxin, an old hand, was taken aback by how smoothly the arrangements went. "That’s it? It’s done?"

Xia Qing simply nodded. "Two of my secretaries will lead the team tomorrow. Departure at nine, tour until three in the afternoon. Is that enough time?"

Tan Song and Qi Feng exchanged glances. "Should be. This was always meant to be a smash-and-grab job anyway."

Xia Qing approached everything like he did in the lab—calculating success rates precisely, planning the steps to achieve results in advance, and preparing contingency measures. This time, he even sent in his A-team, ensuring the operation was seamless and low-risk. Even Zhao Yang had to give him props.

By the time the arrangements were finalized, Criminal Investigation Units 2 and 3 had also reported back on their initial findings. According to sources, staff at two high-end entertainment venues downtown still remembered "A Feng." He had once worked as a business manager at one of the clubs, but the ID he registered under was fake—even the name "A Feng" was likely an alias.

So the "A Feng" lead had hit a brick wall. Around the same time, Xu Zhangying and the team also received word from their AGB Singapore branch colleagues—Zhao Xiuzhen’s beta daughter, Wang Tianxiao, had taken a leave of absence from school last January. Her registered residence was now empty, as if she’d gone without a trace.

The severity of the situation exceeded everyone’s expectations. It was almost certain now that Zhao Xiuzhen’s family were prime suspects in the case. But Zhao Xiuzhen was like talking to a wall—she babbled wildly, insisting she knew nothing, claiming she still called Wang Tianxiao every week. She wouldn’t crack about where Wang Tianxiao was or why Zhao Lanyue had been funneling money into her account.

Zhao Xiuzhen's husband and daughter-in-law knew even less, especially the daughter-in-law, who wasn't even aware of Zhao Lanyue's existence. Their son, Zhao Qiyuan, had already been detained for alleged involvement with minors. During interrogation, he divulged details about Zhao Lanyue’s social circle at the time, but the information was barely useful.

On a rainy evening, the office window was open, and a cool breeze drifted in. Yan Jianbai and Yu Mei were smoking, and Xu Zhangying's eyes were itching for one but forced himself to look away.

The moment he averted his gaze, he met Xia Qing’s sharp eyes. Xu Zhangying scratched his nose, embarrassed. Back when he was younger, Xia Qing had often caught him smoking, and even after all these years, he still reflexively feared his disapproval.

"For now, we can only follow procedure and pursue multiple leads—capture 'A Feng,' interrogate Zhao Xiuzhen, and investigate Qingyuan," Fang Puxin said, clicking his pen shut before coughing from Yan Jianbai’s smoke. He scowled. "How many have you smoked already? At this rate, your lungs’ll quit before you at the mid-year checkup."

The younger officers snickered as Yan Jianbai awkwardly stubbed out his cigarette. Xu Zhangying eyed the freshly lit cigarette with regret but tilted his head and added, "Officer Fang, there’s one more lead."

Fang Puxin paused. "Really? What did I miss?"

"Keep monitoring the other three suspects," Xia Qing supplied.

Tan Song looked puzzled. "Officer Xu, you still think one of them is actually the killer?"

Most shared his skepticism. After all, all current leads pointed to Zhao Xiuzhen, and aside from prop master Wu Qize, the other three had no connection to her—let alone motive. The investigative team had focused their efforts on Zhao Xiuzhen, treating the surveillance of the other three as mere formality.

Xu Zhangying rubbed his face, glanced at Xia Qing, and admitted, "I think at least one of them is."

Song Yuli: "At least?"

Xia Qing then spoke up as well. "I agree."

Zhao Yang and Qi Feng, sitting on either side, looked between Xu Zhangying and Xia Qing. Zhao Yang rolled his eyes, while Qi Feng propped his chin in his hands, eyes lit up, eager alongside Shao Qiaoqiao.

Song Yuli and Tan Song shared a wary look. Xu Zhangying, the international liaison, was known for his out-there hunches, but if even the reliable and upright Professor Xia thought it possible, did that mean the three suspects were more suspicious than they seemed?

Yan Jianbai studied them both. "Officer Xu, Professor Xia, do you have a top suspect?"

Xu Zhangying and Xia Qing exchanged a glance before turning to him and said at the same time:

"Wu Qize."