CH 39

“Does he have a tattoo on his wrist?”

“Yes, there is a tattoo on the left wrist. It’s a red spider lily pattern.”

Ling Hua’an frowned slightly, after a moment of silence, he said, “The ghost baby that followed Wu Zheng is not Shen Xin’s child, which means that it’s likely Shen Xin wasn’t the only one who has been killed. It’s just the police haven’t discovered it yet.”

“Hua’an, do you mean that besides Shen Xin, there are other pregnant women who have been killed?”

“Looking at the state of the ghost baby today, it should be not long after he was killed.”

“I don’t understand, why did the murderer hunt pregnant women? “Yan Yu’s brows frowned tightly.

Ling Hua’an said thoughtfully, “I can’t be sure about this now. Yan Yu, can you help me check on Wu Zheng’s wife to see if she has been sick recently?”

“Sick?” Yan Yu was startled, then responded, “Okay, I will give you news as soon as possible.”

“The paper talisman I gave you must be worn close to your body, don’t let it leave your body, understand?”

The corners of Yan Yu’s mouth rose, “I’ll wear it around my neck with a string when I get back.”

Ling Hua’an nodded, “what time now?”

“It’s half-past five, there is a newly opened western restaurant near the grocery store. The steak there is good and the place has a nice environment. It’s too late to cook now, so let’s go there to eat.”

“Okay.”

***

In the office of the Criminal Investigation Team, everyone who has been busy all day was eating a lunch box. Jiang Chengyan frowned when he looked at the photos in his mailbox. He has been busy today and has no time to check the mailbox, so he didn’t realize there was an anonymous email in the mailbox until now. He looked at Li Tong and said, “Li Tong, come here.”

“Coming.” Li Tong stuffed the beef meatballs into his mouth and plucked another mouthful of rice before getting up and walking towards Jiang Chengyan’s office, “Captain, what are you looking for me for?”

Looking at Li Tong’s mouth full of rice, Jiang Chengyan couldn’t help but laugh a little, “You better swallow what’s in your mouth first before talking.”

Li Tong laughed ‘hehe’ twice, stretched his neck, and swallowed the food in his mouth. He went to the table, and took a tissue to wipe his mouth, “Captain, it’s okay now.”

Jiang Chengyan shook his head, felt funny then pointed his hand to the computer, “I received an email today from anonymous. Help me check if you can find this person’s address.”

Li Tong looked at it and picked up the laptop, sat down on the chair, and started typing on the keyboard.  About ten minutes later, Li Tong looked up at Jiang Chengyan and said, “Captain, this person is a master. He uses a foreign server and uses a dynamic IP, the address cannot be found.”

Jiang Chengyan nodded, “okay, I see.”

“Eh, isn’t this Shen Xin? Who is this man, why does he look familiar?”

“It’s Wu Zheng, the Director of Lingmei Plastic Surgery Hospital.”

“This plastic surgery has been done on the bed…Eh, no, is this Wu Zheng the father of the child in Shen Xin’s stomach?”

Jiang Chengyan was helpless about the length of Li Tong’s reflex, he said in amusement, “Looking at the two in the photo, I think it should be. ”

“Then this anonymous person is obviously helping us, we’ve been looking for this.”

“They helped us, but I can’t figure out why they helped us.”

“Their purpose?” Li Tong waved his hand and said, “don’t mind them. Anyway, foxes always show their tails1. With this clue, Shen Xin’s case has made great progress. Let’s investigate this case first.”

Jiang Chengyan was stunned for a moment then smiled and said, “Li Tong, you’ve grown up, I’m not as conscious as you.”

“No, no… it’s because the Captain taught me well.”

“Stop flattering! Go eat, continue your meal”

“Okay. But Captain, why don’t you go to dinner? It’s already eight o’clock.”

Jiang Chengyan subconsciously looked at the phone on the table and said, “I’ll go later.”

“Oh… Captain, then I’ll go out first then.”

Jiang Chengyan picked up his phone and flipped to Ling Hua’an’s chat history. He hesitated for a while, but still picked up his jacket and walked out of the office. Jiang Chengyan scratched his head while standing at the door of the police station, he looked at the grocery store opposite. He was going to apologize yesterday, but when he saw Ling Hua’an talking and laughing with Yan Yu, his jealousy came up and he decided to return to the Police Station angrily.

Today, he was busy all day without his feet touching the ground, he didn’t have time to think about these things. But now, it’s like he was being under a spell. Ling Hua’an’s names pop up and he couldn’t think of anything else except Ling Hua’an.

Ling Hua’an sat in front of the cashier and listened to music, his eyes looking out the window. There were countless wandering souls wandering aimlessly on the street. They had lost consciousness and didn’t know what they were doing.

Wang Lei drifted over from the doorway and said in Ling Hua’an’s ear, “Laoban, that fool has been hanging around across the street for half an hour. You said that he usually investigates cases vigorously. So why is it so frustrating when it comes to emotional matters?”

Ling Hua’an didn’t speak, he looked away from the door and look at Wang Lei, “Wang Lei, go follow Yan Yu, that ghost baby is very dangerous. I’m afraid he will trouble Yan Yu.”

“Okay.” Wang Lei answered, then said with difficulty, “Laoban, I’m afraid I’m useless and can’t protect Mr. Yan.”

Ling Hua’an took out a bell from his pocket, and put it on the cashier counter, “this is a soul-absorb bell, you give this bell to Yan Yu. I will pass you a few spells. Remember it and pass it on to him word by word, understand?”

The bell on the cash register suddenly disappeared and appeared in Wang Lei’s hand the next second. Ling Hua’an whispered a few incantations until Wang Lei remembered it. After that, Wang Lei took the bell and said with a smile, “don’t worry Laoban. I will definitely complete the task.”

“Wang Lei, you will go to the underworld to reincarnate in half a month. No matter when this case ends, I will accompany you to the beach before you leave. ”

“En. Thank you Laoban.”

Wang Lei walked out through the door and passed Jiang Chengyan, and then the bell at the door rang

“Captain Jiang is here, it seems a little late today.” Sun Ming, who was handling the goods, heard the movement and then looked at the door from the shelf.

Jiang Chengyan stood at the door. Looked at Ling Hua’an, and explained in a low voice, “The team is a bit busy today, so I came a little late.”

Sun Ming looked at Ling Hua’an and saw that he had no intention of speaking, so he couldn’t help but glanced sympathetically at Jiang Chengyan, “Then make yourself at home, Captain Jiang. I haven’t finished handling the goods here.”

“Ah, do your work, don’t worry about me.” Although he was answering Sun Ming’s words, Jiang Chengyan’s eyes were always on Ling Hua’an, but Ling Hua’an had no intention to pay attention to him. That made Jiang Chengyan feel uncomfortable. He hesitated a moment before walking over and mustered up the courage to say in a low voice, “Hua’an, I’m sorry, don’t be angry, okay?”

Ling Hua’an took off his headphones and said indifferently, “Whatever Captain Jiang wants to buy, you can go get it yourself.” The word “Captain Jiang” makes him extremely bitter. He regretted how he lost his temper yesterday. He smiled bitterly, “Hua’an, don’t be like this. I feel uncomfortable listening to it.”

“Then what do you want me to do? “Ling Hua’an felt irritable in his heart, “Captain Jiang, we are just friends, I don’t need to accommodate you in everything.”

Jiang Chengyan was stunned, over the past month, Ling Hua’an’s attitude towards him has changed a lot. He is always taking care of him, making him almost forget that Ling Hua’an is actually a cold-hearted person. Jiang Chengyan felt anxiously flustered, “Hua’an, I’m sorry. I was wrong yesterday. As long as you’re not angry anymore, you can punish me in any way you want. Don’t be like this, okay?”

The indescribable irritable feeling in his heart and negative emotions rose in instant causing Ling Hua’an on guard. He closed his eyes and silently recited the Heart Clearing Mantra. It took a while for him to calm down. He can’t help but feel shocked, the ghost baby that was entangled in Wu Zheng was really difficult to deal with. Even himself unconsciously gets affected.

“Hua’an, can you forgive me?” Jiang Chengyan lowered his voice. There’s a pleading voice in his tone.

Ling Hua’an said calmly, “Captain Jiang, I have something to do today and I didn’t prepare any food. If you haven’t eaten it yet, eat some instant noodles.”

“Hua’an, don’t do this.” Ling Hua’an’s indifference made Jiang Chengyan feel terrible.

“I’m not in a good mood today, I didn’t mean to get angry with you just now. What happened yesterday is over, you don’t have to take it to heart.”

“Hua’an, are you in a bad mood because of me?”

Ling Hua’an was silent for a while, “I think I have done enough, but that person can’t understand it at all. I’m a little tired and hesitant to continue.”

For some reason, Jiang Chengyan’s heart became more and more panicked. He subconsciously said, “Maybe that person is just too slow, you give him a little more time…”

Jiang Chengyan was stunned when he finished speaking.  He didn’t understand why he wanted to speak up for that rival in love. Wouldn’t it be better for Ling Hua’an to give up?

Ling Hua’an was also stunned for a moment. He looked at Jiang Chengyan and asked “Do you think he is slow too?”

Jiang Chengyan struggled for a moment, enduring the sourness in his heart, he said, “En. Hua’an you’re so good. If he knows that you like him, he will be very happy.”

“Captain Jiang, if you like someone, what would you do?”

“I…” Looking at Ling Hua’an’s eyes, Jiang Chengyan was a little nervous, “If he also likes me, I will find a chance to confess, but… I’m just a little scared. If I confess, we can’t be friends anymore.”

“So how do you make him realize that he has feelings for you?”

Jiang Chengyan was so nervous that his heart was beating wildly and said, “This …… I, I don’t know.”

Ling Hua’an laughed in anger. He really doubted his own vision, how could he fall in love with such a fool.  If it was someone else, with such an obvious hint, they should be understood.

Sun Ming, who was eavesdropping on his ears, hated that iron was not steel, and he crushed the crispy noodles in his hand.  He shook his head, simply tore open the package, and ate it. He silently groaned in his heart, ‘When encountering such a piece of wood, the people who eat melon don’t want it.’2

Seeing that Ling Hua’an was silent, Jiang Chengyan cautiously asked, “Hua’an, did I say the wrong thing?”

“No, I overestimated that person’s emotional intelligence.” Ling Hua’an really felt dumbfounded, “Captain Jiang, go and make your noodles. It’s getting late.”

When Jiang Chengyan heard Ling Hua’an still called him “Captain Jiang”, he asked again, “Hua’an you’re not angry anymore? But why do I think you don’t want to talk to me?”

“No, I’m just pissed off by that idiot.”

“It’s not that you’re angry with me, then can you stop calling me ‘Captain Jiang’? It sounds awkward.”

“Pfft,” Sun Ming, who was eating the crispy noodles, couldn’t hold back his laughter. He said in a low voice, “That…Laoban, I ate little at night. I feel a little hungry. So, I eat some crispy noodles.”

Jiang Chengyan’s heart and eyes are full with Ling Hua’n and forgetting there’s another person in the store. He was embarrassed that he want to find a crack in the ground and squeeze oneself in.3