Chapter 157: Lost Contact
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When Fang Yuanyuan was footing the bill, Xiang Wan was calling Tang Yuanchu along the corridor, asking if he had news of Bai Muchuan.
To her disappointment, however, the answer to her question was negative. After that, she asked Tang Yuanchu to ask the other detectives. But they were all preoccupied with the tasks assigned by Bai Muchuan about Mao Guigui’s case. They had not even knocked off from work. Xie Hui said that he had tried to contact Bai Muchuan to report the progress of work but was unable to get ahold of him.
The police force had regulations that during the handling of cases, no police officers were allowed to turn off their mobile phones unless they had a valid reason to do so.
So, does that mean Bai Muchuan has vanished from the world? She thought.
Nope. Rather, they’d lost contact of him.
... The last person who had lost contact was Jia An, but he should still be alive.
... So, was the criminal syndicate trying to deal with Bai Muchuan?
Xiang Wan shuddered at the thought of losing contact with Bai Muchuan. Her limbs were as though stiff and frozen as a chill crept up her body from her soles and onto her spine, moving upward, grasping her nerves tightly.
“Are we able to determine his location via GPS?”
Tang Yuanchu paused for a moment as he inquired with the other colleagues. “We can’t,” he answered.
Oh no! They had completely lost contact with him.
“How is it? Any news?” Fang Yuanyuan came over after paying the bill and looked worried as she could feel the gravity of the issue from Xiang Wan’s expression and the aura around her. “Did something happen? Wanwan, don’t scare me!”
Xiang Wan remained silent for a while to calm herself down.
“We’ll talk again after we get to the office.”
In just a few minutes time, she had thought of countless possibilities.
The most logical inference was that when Bai Muchuan looked Huang He up, he encountered an unexpected situation which left him no choice but to settle the problem first... The only thing was that she did not understand–being a resourceful person, Bai Muchuan should have enough time to make better arrangements and coordinate with his men. Why did he have to go alone and in such a secretive manner?
Could it be... he wanted her to “save” him?
...
When they reached the Criminal Investigation Unit, Tang Yuanchu and the detectives were waiting for them.
After hearing Xiang Wan out, they had a simple meeting. After discussion, they decided unanimously that Bai Muchuan and Huang He could have encountered some special circumstance and might be in danger...
However, they could not get ahold of Bai Muchuan. Currently, it seemed that they could only look for Huang He.
“Yuanyuan, we’re depending on you now!” Xiang Wan squeezed Fang Yuanyuan’s shoulders and nodded heavily at Fang Yuanyuan who seemed shocked. “Continue to call him.”
“Me?” Fang Yuanyuan seemed a little ashen. Her head was in a mess. “What should I say?”
“If it’s the woman who picks up the phone, you’ll cry or be a shrew and insist Huang He come to the phone, insist that you need to talk to him personally...”
“Cry, be a shrew?” Fang Yuanyuan looked at her dubiously.
“Yes, be as shrewish as you can.”
“...”
Fang Yuanyuan had never experienced such matters and was, therefore, somewhat nervous.
However, when she heard that Huang He and Bai Muchuan might be in danger, the indignance in her was long gone. So, if she had to call Huang He again, she could only rely on acting as she was not angry anymore..
Dduu... Dduu....
She was nervous when she dialed Huang He’s number.
The phone rang for a long time before someone picked it up.
It was still that woman.
She seemed really impatient as she started yelling before Fang Yuanyuan even opened her mouth to speak.
“Why is it you again? Why are you so shameless? I’ve told you not to harass us anymore, haven’t I?”
“Who do you think you are?” Fang Yuanyuan’s anger was originally gone. But the moment she heard the woman’s words, her burning anger was reactivated. “Let Huang He come to the phone! He has to talk to me personally no matter what. I don’t bleeping need you to tell me what to do...”
“Hur! You don’t know who I am?” That woman sneered with contempt and spoke in a calm tone. “When I’m sleeping with him, you’re still a little toddler wearing split pants! Tell me, who do you think I am?”
“...”
D*rn! D*rn!
Fang Yuanyuan had put the call on handsfree mode.
All the people in the office could hear the woman’s taunts.
For a woman, a badly bruised ego was worse than being humiliated umpteen times.
Hence, her anger was the usual amount squared to the power of umpteen times.
She need not even act. She was bursting with anger due to the woman’s insults.
“Looks like you’re the old woman whom I met outside Grand Orchid Pavilion...”
“Then you should know your place! So you know who’s the real mistress now!”
“Fine, fine, fine, you’re the oldest, you’re the mistress. You’re with him since the old days. But no matter what, I’ve been with him for long as well. There are always some things that need to be said clearly. Tell him, there’s no point in escaping. If he’s a man, get him to tell me directly...”
“Hurhur! He doesn’t want you anymore and that’s it. What else do you want?...”
With a sneer, the woman seemed to want to hang up again. Xiang Wan immediately raised her notebook for Fang Yuanyuan to see what was on it.
Fang Yuanyuan glanced at the notebook and took a deep breath before yelling with anger, “I warn you, don’t challenge my limit. If you still don’t bleeping pass the phone to Huang He, do you believe that I’ll call the police? I don’t mind making things ugly! Let’s not care about our faces and see who’s going to get more bothered!”
The moment that woman heard Yuanyuan threaten to call the police, there was a long silence.
After a momentary pause, she laughed. “Little girl, he’s not convenient to take the phone now. If you really want to meet him, you can come and have a look yourself. You shall see how he’s going to make it clear to you...”
We can go over? Xiang Wan’s heart twitched and quickly nodded at Fang Yuanyuan.
Fang Yuanyuan continued to speak fearlessly, “Sure! Give me the address! I’ll be an idiot if I don’t come. Where are you both now?”
The woman chuckled and gave her an address.
Her voice had a tinge of banter and derision which could make one feel a chill in one’s bones.
“We’ll be waiting for you.”
...
And she hung up the phone.
It was all quiet in the conference room.
As Bai Muchuan was not there, Tang Yuanchu looked toward their vice-captain, Qi Canghai.
“Old Qi...”
Qi Canghai was the vice-captain of the Criminal Investigation Unit with a more cautious working style. He was also the oldest detective with the most experience in the team. “We are currently unable to ascertain Huang He’s situation—if he betrayed us or being controlled.” He analyzed after summarizing the situation on hand. “What we can be sure of is that he is related to the disappearance of Captain Bai.”
Silence.
Nobody spoke.
The word “betrayal” seemed too heavy to bear, but they could not rule out this possibility.
After a short moment of daze, Fang Yuanyuan raised her hand. “Can I say something?”
She was an outsider after all and knew that it was not really appropriate for her to say anything. Nevertheless, she wanted to clear Huang He’s name.
Qi Canghai nodded his head. “Please say it.”
Fang Yuanyuan got up from her seat and bit her lower lip, looking a little determined. “Huang He’s not that kind of person,” she said with utmost certainty, “He won’t betray us...” After a pause, she lowered her head slightly. “Even if he betrays me, I know that he will not betray that police uniform of his... That’s what he believes in.”
Xiang Wan looked at her.
Who’s the one crying and scolding Huang He earlier?
Indeed, as long as there was something that involved Huang He, she would immediately take his side.
“Even if we don’t talk about Huang He,” Qi Canghai nodded his head. “All of us also understand how Captain Bai is like. He’s not a reckless and clueless person. If his disappearance has something to do with Huang He, I believe he will have his own thoughts about it. The problem right now is that we don’t have any feedback and instructions from him. If we acted rashly by going there directly, we might make things worse or even fall into the trap they laid for us...”
“But we can’t exclude the possibility that Captain Bai could have met with a mishap or in danger,” Tang Yuanchu chimed in, “I’m also worried about Brother Huang. He might be in danger, too...”
“Yes!” Qi Canghai thought for a while, “We need to adopt a more cautious approach.”
“How do we do that?”
“We’ll split into two teams. One team will be the ‘Friends and Relatives Team’ where you guys will act as the friends and relatives; the maternal cousin, paternal cousin, and so on... The second team will follow behind and maintain communications with the first team. The moment something is wrong, the second team will back up the first team.”
“Alright! We’ll go with this.”
“Old Qi, give us the orders.”
“Sure.” Qi Canghai nodded his head and suddenly turned to Fang Yuanyuan. “This operation might be dangerous. I do not recommend you to participate in this...”
“I can’t!” Fang Yuanyuan told the vice-captain, “That woman knows me. We met each other today at Grand Orchid Pavilion. If she doesn’t see me, she’s going to get suspicious...”
“But your safety...”
“I’m Huang He’s girlfriend. Can’t I be considered a half member of the police? I’m not afraid.”
Fang Yuanyuan promised that she would be careful, but Qi Canghai still had his reservations.
Fang Yuanyuan turned to Xiang Wan with an imploring gaze. “I must go no matter what. I want to talk to him to get to the bottom of the matter...”
Xiang Wan furrowed her eyebrows in thought and looked at Qi Canghai. “I’ll go with her.”
To the detectives, Fang Yuanyuan was considered a civilian, while Xiang Wan was considered a member of the police force. Actually, Qi Canghai had wanted Xiang Wan to go in place of Fang Yuanyuan. However, as Yuanyuan was too adamant about it, he acceded to her request in case she did something out of desperation.
“With you two female comrades together, their suspicion will not be aroused easily. But...”
He took a look at Tang Yuanchu and He Wencai whom he assigned to be the “Friends & Relatives Team”. “All of you must play by the ear! At the moment, we know nothing about the situation there. No matter what happens, all of you must ensure your own and the team’s safety...”
“Yes sir!”
Tang Yuanchu nodded his head heavily.
At this moment, a sound came from behind them.
“I’ll go with them too.”
Everyone turned around and saw Cheng Zheng, as well as Mei Xin.
The two of them came down from the forensics department and had heard their conversation. They had been standing there for a while.
“I’m quite familiar with Miss Fang and Teacher Xiang,” said Cheng Zheng with a serious expression, “I can pretend to be their relative and will not invite suspicion.”
His reason sounded reasonable.
The detectives were in a hurry and did not ask Cheng Zheng why he was quite familiar with them. They quickly decided and moved on to talk about the mission.
Xiang Wan, Fang Yuanyuan, Cheng Zheng, Tang Yuanchu, and He Wencai, the five of them would be the “Friends and Relatives Team”. The second team would be led by Qi Canghai to back them up and would stay hidden from sight. Xie Hui was assigned to stay in the Criminal Investigation Unit to be their communication and logistics support—he would be especially useful in case of emergency situations.
“I feel like I’m going to fight a war. I’m so nervous and so excited... and so scared as well!”
Fang Yuanyuan hugged her own arms and moved around as though she was holding her bladder. Her cheeks were red not only because of the excitement but also because of the anxiety.
“Don’t be afraid!” Xiang Wan squeezed Yuanyuan’s hand. “The detectives are with us.”
“Tsk... I need to go to the ladies’ room for a while. I need to relieve myself whenever I’m nervous.”
Fang Yuanyuan kept consoling herself as she walked. “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. The police’s with me, the police’s with me.”
Sometimes, to the ordinary folks, the word “police” could be an umbrella above their heads, helping to block them from the rain at critical times and bring them a sense of security...
Nevertheless, as a member of the police force, Tang Yuanchu was not as excited as Fang Yuanyuan.
“Brothers, what is Captain Bai up to? I totally don’t get it.”
While they were on their way to the given address on Fang Yuanyuan’s car, Tang Yuanchu had been mumbling about this incident.
“If he knew there’s something not quite right, why did he look Brother Huang up secretly and not inform us? If anything happened to them, what are we going to do?”
“From my experience, we might have encountered a tough nut this time. They must be a well-organized criminal syndicate. Otherwise, why are all these cases so well planned out? Sigh, why didn’t they report this case? With just the two of them, it just feels so mysterious and unsettling!”
Everyone listened, but they also seemed to be deep in their own thoughts for nobody answered him.
Tang Yuanchu looked to his left and right as no one answered him. Then he looked at Cheng Zheng.
“Captain Cheng, what do you think about our mission? Do you think it’s appropriate?”
Cheng Zheng’s gaze was cold. “If we did well, then it will be appropriate.”
“...”
Such a reply was too superb.
If they handled this mission perfectly, of course, it would be appropriate.
“But what if we didn’t handle it well? Will it affect Captain Bai?”
“...”
Cheng Zheng took a glance at him but did not answer.
At present, nobody had information on what was going on at all. All they had were just speculation. How would he be able to answer that?
...
They followed the address that the woman told Fang Yuanyuan and drove out of the city. They finally stopped outside an alley at the outskirts of the city.
While driving on the way there, they saw construction sites all over the place, and the houses on both sides of the alley were dilapidated and pitch dark. Most people who used to live there should have been relocated. They could only make out some faint, scattered lights from afar, making the place seemed not as desolate.
“Is this the place?”
Fang Yuanyuan stopped her car and looked at the GPS navigation system in doubt.
“It’s correct. We’ve reached the place.” Tang Yuanchu magnified the map and looked at the street sign that the car lights were shining on. “Give her a call. Tell her that you’ve arrived and ask her where she is...”
“Eh? Call now?”
“Now.” Tang Yuanchu nodded his head in certainty.
“Okay!”
Fang Yuanyuan lowered her head and looked for her mobile phone. As she was too nervous, her hands could not help shaking.
However, the moment the call went through and she heard the woman’s seductive, soft voice, she immediately transformed into a female warrior.
“Hello, I’m here now! Where are you and that scumbag? Dare to come out and meet me?!”
“You’re here?” The woman seemed to be surprised and gave a light chuckle. “Drive along the alley till you see a courtyard. That’s it.”
“Why are you staying in this kind of place?” Fang Yuanyuan could not contain her urge and blurted, “Such a dark and run-down place.”
“Hahaha!” The woman laughed merrily. “This is because we are poor! Come on in, little girl...”
“Just you wait!”
Fang Yuanyuan hang up and started her car.
But for a few consecutive times, she couldn’t start up her car...
Xiang Wan: “...”
Tang Yuanchu took a look at her. “Let me drive the car.”
Fang Yuanyuan’s hands were shaking, but she still tried to put up a strong front. “No need, I can do it.”
Vrrooomm —the car started and darted out suddenly.
Everyone leaned forward then fell back. “...”
...
The courtyard at the end of the alley was brightly lit, brighter than in the daytime.
Not only that, there were two or three small villas in the courtyard. The architecture of the small villas had a rural style to it, yet it did not show any shabbiness, let alone poverty.
The entrance of the courtyard was wide open. Just one eye and anyone could see what was inside.
The inner courtyard was spacious. There was a car parked in a corner. Xiang Wan could immediately recognize that was Bai Muchuan’s car.
Thump! Her heart was as though being elevated and was so nervous that it became a ball of tension.
Tang Yuanchu quickly sent the GPS location to Qi Canghai followed by a message. “Found Captain Bai’s car.”
Qi Canghai replied, “Continue with the mission.”
Everyone: “Got it!”
Tang Yuanchu quickly exchanged glances with Xiang Wan.
Xiang Wan got off the car and opened the car door for Fang Yuanyuan, motioning for her to come down.
“Don’t be afraid. Show your shrewish attitude...”
“... Gosh, the words you use!”
Fang Yuanyuan gave her a glare, hands on her waist, and shouted toward the courtyard.
“Huang He, Huang He! You come out right now to see me—”
...
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