Chapter 6
Clash
After a boring day of sitting in the office with nothing major to work on, Lin Yan stepped out and lit a cigarette, walking in her high heels while smoking. She kept her uniform jacket draped over her arm.
Before she could finish her cigarette, a flashy Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance of the municipal bureau.
Dr. Lin, the forensic expert, tossed the cigarette and walked towards the car, and a well-groomed young man in a suit stepped out of the vehicle.
As they embraced and exchanged affectionate words, Song Yuhang was busy fixing her broken little electric scooter. She was wearing a simple military green T-shirt with a pure white towel hanging around her neck, hands covered in grease.
When Song Yuhang finally managed to repair the scooter, she heard small gasps from the surroundings. Looking up, she saw the two people by the entrance of the municipal bureau deeply engrossed in a passionate kiss.
She was not far away, and from this angle, Lin Yans slender waist was encircled by a persons hand. She was tall, and together with the slightly bowed head of the other person, there was an expression of involvement on her face.
A camera flash went off, and it was probably going to become tomorrows entertainment headline.
Song Yuhang shook her head slightly, took off her dirty gloves, and tossed them into the trunk. She started the car and slowly drove out of the entrance of the municipal bureau.
The two people and the car behind her gradually turned into a tiny dot and disappeared.
After a while, during a break at a traffic light, the car followed up and stopped right beside her, and the car window slowly rolled down.
Her gaze remained calm and composed as it glided past.
A slender hand extended from the car window, and then a middle finger was raised at her.
This person still couldnt let go of what happened in the morning and held a grudge.
Officer Song chose to selectively ignore it, and as soon as the traffic light turned green, she made a turn and left.
In the rearview mirror, the Rolls-Royce continued straight ahead, gradually distancing itself from her.
For Lin Yan, a rare day off meant revelry, indulgence in pleasure, and living carelessly, with no sense of belonging.
For Song Yuhang, it meant hitting the gym and engaging in free combat; she preferred to spend her time in such places.
After coming out of the gym, she casually bought two kilograms of apples from a roadside vendor. When she returned home, the lights were already on.
She had lived here for as long as she could remember. Over the years, the public security bureau had built several new residential areas for staff and their families, but she and her mother never moved.
The walls of the old residential area had begun to show signs of decay, marked by mischievous children who used ballpoint pens to leave deep and shallow traces. Higher up, the walls were covered in lush ivy, flourishing in the scorching heat of summer.
The building in the residential area was not tall, just six floors, so there was no elevator.
Song Yuhang parked her electric scooter at the entrance of the building, locked it, and carried the purchased fruits. She then walked up the narrow and elongated corridor.
As she ascended, motion sensor lights would switch off one after another. She had just replaced these lights a few days ago.
When she reached the front of apartment 603 on the sixth floor, she took out her keys and unlocked the door.
Mom, Im back.
A woman in an apron emerged from the kitchen, around fifty years old, with white hair starting to show at her temples. When she saw her daughter returning, a natural smile appeared on her face.
Youre back. Go take a shower, look at all that sweat. The meal will be ready soon.
Only in front of her mother did the corners of her mouth, usually stingy with smiles, show a slight curve.
I bought apples, your favorite. Wash them and eat them after the meal.
She took her toiletries and walked into the bathroom, hearing a few complaints from outside the door, You, this child, I havent finished eating the watermelon you bought yesterday
She raised her voice and replied, In the summer, fruits wont last. If we dont finish them, just throw them away.
How can we do that? Its not about the money. Eat a little less later and finish them for me.
Song Yuhang turned on the shower, and the corners of her mouth slightly curved upwards, letting the hot water wash away the tiredness of the day.
The room was not big, with two bedrooms and a living room. The dining table occupied most of the space in the living room.
An old color television was placed opposite the dining table, with a small ancestral altar set up on a shelf. Two memorial portraits were placed, one slightly younger, the other older.
After Song Yuhang finished showering, she lit a stick of incense and then took a seat.
The home-cooked dishes were light and not much in quantity. The few pieces of meat available were all placed in her bowl.
Song Yuhang picked at her rice and said, Mom, just say what you want to say.
Mother Song paused with her chopsticks, feeling a bit embarrassed, Um I took the liberty of making a decision. Tomorrow after work, I arranged for you to have dinner with that Mr. Lin whom you met last time
Cough cough A grain of rice choked her throat, and Song Yuhang quickly drank some tea to swallow it down.
Mom
I know, youre not willing to, but all these years you havent shown interest in anyone, and your work keeps you busy. As soon as others hear youre a criminal investigator, theyre reluctant to introduce you to anyone. Its rare to find someone who doesnt mind, so just listen to your mother and give it a try. After all, feelings, arent they developed through interactions too, right?
Song Yuhang knew that the emergence of feelings, whether love at first sight or developed over time, all involved the secretion of dopamine and adrenaline. She had a thousand scientific reasons to refute her mothers words.
However, she couldnt bring herself to say them, especially in front of her fathers and brothers memorial portraits.
I understand, Mom. After finishing the meal, Ill contact him again.
Upon hearing this, Mother Song immediately became spirited and added a few more pieces of braised pork to her daughters bowl.
Great! Then eat up. Tomorrow, you should dress nicely and spend some time with him. No need to rush back. After I finish my meal, Ill go dance with your Auntie Wang.
Speaking of this Mr. Lin, Auntie Wang introduced him. She mentioned that he had gone to his dental clinic to get his teeth fixed, and he had an impressive appearance, a great sense of humor.
Most importantly, he had studied abroad, was single, and unmarried.
Song Yuhang had met him briefly a couple of times, but she didnt have a strong impression of him. She just felt that he lacked the typical vices of ordinary men; at least he didnt smoke in front of ladies. He seemed to be a courteous and considerate person.
Talking about it, both surnamed Lin, but why is there such a stark difference between people?
Song Yuhang thought of that overbearing and arrogant forensic expert, Lin Yan, and couldnt help but frown. She finished her rice in the bowl and said, Mom, Ill go do the dishes.
The next day, it was already mid-morning when Lin Yan woke up from her bed. She pushed the mans hand away from her body, sat up, and reached for a cigarette from the bedside table. She lit it and took a drag to alleviate the headache from the hangover.
Stay with me a little longer the man mumbled, attempting to hug her shoulder.
Lin Yan gestured to stop with her fingertips, leaned against the bedside table, and unlocked her phone screen, which was flooded with missed calls.
Duan Cheng: Sister?! Are you still coming to work today?
Zheng Chengrui: Forensic expert Lin, I bought breakfast for you and put it on your desk.
The attached picture showed soy milk, youtiao (fried dough sticks), and steamed buns.
Lin Yan felt a twinge of toothache.
Finally, there was Fang Xin, with a trembling expression, Sister Lin, Officer Song has been looking for you for a while
Lin Yans toothache became even more intense.
The man ignorantly hugged her and said, Why go to work? Ill take care of you.
She twirled her fingers and almost pressed the cigarette butt onto his face. The man yelped and jumped back, What the hell are you doing this early in the morning?!
Lin Yan threw the blanket aside and got out of bed. The traces of last nights intimacy were still visible, but today, she acted as if she didnt know him anymore. She had no idea who paid whom for services.
The young man has some skills, wanting to take care of an older sister like me. Its too early for that. Lets part ways here; in this world, we wont see each other again.
She stood calmly in front of the mirror, adjusting her clothing. Where curves were meant to be, they were ample, and where slender lines were meant to be, they were slender. There was not an ounce of extra fat on her body, and her complexion was fair. Her petite bare feet on the ground evoked enticing thoughts.
With a natural face at this moment, her long, brown curls cascaded down, revealing distinct facial features. The morning sunlight seeped through the curtains, creating a touch of a fresh and ethereal charm that resembled that of a young girl.
However, that figure was definitely not what a young girl should have.
The man was mesmerized, swallowed hard, and got up from the floor.
Lin Yan was in the process of drawing her eyebrows when she caught a glimpse from the mirror. The corners of her lips slightly curved into a cold smile.
Acting as if she hadnt noticed his stealthy approach, she casually turned away as he lunged at her. She used the eyebrow pencil to swiftly dodge him in that moment, and her hair brushed against his face, leaving behind a sweet scent of perfume.
Before he could fully enjoy the moment, he received a swift kick to his sensitive area. He let out a loud cry, clutching his groin, his legs trembling.
Lin Yan followed up with another well-timed kick, hitting him in the lower abdomen. She didnt hold back, targeting all the vulnerable spots.
The man knelt on the ground, drenched in sweat, his throat choked as if there was a piece of cloth stuck inside, preventing him from making any sound.
If it werent for your decent looks and somewhat adequate skills, would I bother playing with you? she said, coldly dragging the eyebrow pencil across his face. Her control was excellent, not causing any harm but still delivering a great psychological impact.
The man was on the verge of kneeling and begging for mercy, Sister, Im sorry Please be gentle, dont please dont harm me I rely on this face to make a living.
Take a good look at yourself. Besides the good karma left behind by your parents, youre nothing but trash. Provide for me? Who do you think you are? Youre not even worthy of being my shoe polisher.
After making a scene and playing around, this mans cowardly behavior left her feeling bored.
She patted the eyebrow pencil on his face a couple of times before returning it to her palm. It was a familiarity that came from years of handling surgical knives.
To prevent him from causing more trouble, Lin Yan used a tie to bind him firmly to a chair, tying a secure knot.
Before leaving, she pulled out a stack of RMB from her wallet and slammed it on his face, Heres your payment for your whoring. From now on, never fucking appear in front of me again. Otherwise, every time I see you, Ill beat you up. If you want to act like a duck, be prepared to face the consequences of being treated like one.
If one were to say this man was a legitimate second-generation rich kid who had played with numerous women, little did he expect to be put in his place by Lin Yan. The moment the stack of RMB was thrown at him, his eyes turned red, and in anger, he forcefully spat out the stinky sock that was used to gag his mouth.
Lin Yan, you just wait and see!!!
His words were met with the cold slam of a door.
After dealing with the clueless young man, Lin Yan was in a good mood as she casually walked into the police station, hanging her uniform on the coat rack and comfortably leaning back in her chair with a cup of coffee.
Duan Cheng leaned over and placed a report in front of her, saying, Sister, can you sign here?
Is this the injury assessment from yesterday?
She quickly flipped through a couple of pages, finding no major issues. She took a ballpoint pen from the pen holder on the table and signed her name with a couple of strokes.
However, Duan Cheng seemed hesitant with the signed document in hand and awkwardly smiled, Um maybe you should give this to Officer Song.
Fang Xin leaned in and whispered softly, She came earlier for the document, but you werent here, so Duan Cheng didnt give it to her
Sigh, I thought it was something important. Its just a document, right? Ill go find her, have her review it, and then send it to the filing room, right?
Lin Yan grabbed the thin piece of paper, stuffed it into a folder, and stood up. Fang Xin asked, Do you know where she is? Should I accompany you?
No need, dont you know Im clueless and incapable of asking for directions? Lin Yan waved her hand and walked out, wearing high-heeled shoes with a seven-centimeter heel.
As she walked, passing officers glanced curiously at her. Lin Yan didnt look around; it seemed like she was just walking, but she was actually observing the surveillance cameras in the hallway.
One, two, three
After passing three cameras, upstairs were the offices of the bureau chief, deputy bureau chief, command center, and political department
On the next floor, the number of cameras noticeably increased. Lin Yan lowered her head, examining the patterns on the tiles. When she reached the fourth camera, she arrived at the filing room.
Lin Yan knocked on the door a couple of times, registered her identity, and explained her purpose. The staff was about to let her in when she withdrew and playfully leaned on the counter.
Hey, young man, I just got here yesterday and thought of having a look around. You know, forensic experts are always interested in peculiar cases. Can you do me a favor?
He was fine when she wasnt talking or smiling, but once she smiled, it seemed like there was some romantic intention. With her naturally enchanting face and a soft, slightly coquettish voice, the buttons on her uniform could barely contain the allure that was about to burst forth.
The young and spirited officer blushed as he stuttered, Uh, okay but you have to leave your phone here. You can check the files inside, but photography is prohibited.
Sure, no problem, Lin Yan readily took out her phone from her pocket, placed it on the table, and slid it over to him. She also flirtatiously tossed a couple of alluring glances, leaving the officer flustered and red-faced.
The filing room was relatively empty in the early morning. Several computers were available for indexing data.
Similar to a library, various files were neatly arranged by criminal or civil cases, chronological order, and location of the incidents. As she walked further in, the cases became older, something she was already aware of.
Her high heels made no sound as she moved around. When someone passed by to retrieve some information, she merely stood with her hands in her pockets, a document tucked under her arm, and walked away calmly and composedly.
Although she was involved in shady dealings, there was no hint of it on her face. She appeared calm and composed.
Her fingertips glided over the neatly arranged boxes one by one, 2008, 2007, 2006 all the way back to 1994.
After such a long time, her heart still couldnt control its erratic beating.
She knew it was not the right time now. She had already familiarized herself with the positions of the CCTV cameras here. Sneaking in quietly with the equipment after dark would be the best approach.
However, as soon as she saw that year, almost as if driven by an unseen force, she subconsciously reached out. Just as her fingertips touched the box, a sudden chill ran down her spine.
Years of vigilance made her instinctively deliver a backhanded elbow without turning around; it was her instinctive reaction in dangerous situations.
Song Yuhang also instinctively remained cautious. In the blink of an eye, the two of them exchanged silent moves. Leveraging her height advantage, she pressed the other person against the shelves.
The area was far from the exit, and the curtains were still drawn, casting a dim light. When their eyes met, Officer Song, who had always been composed, furrowed her brows slightly.
What are you doing here?
Both of them maintained their positions, engaged in a subtle power struggle. Officer Songs elbow was at the others neck, while the other persons hand tugged at her tie. Their full chests pressed against each other, making Officer Song aware of the inappropriateness. Realizing this, she intended to let go.
Unexpectedly, the person still held tightly onto her tie, grasping her arm as well, displaying a relentless determination.
I went to your office to find you, but you werent there. So, I came here. Tsk tsk, why are you chasing after me and pulling me around?
She slightly raised her voice, making it audible to others yet still secretive enough.
Song Yuhang had a premonition that someone was coming. She took a deep breath, her tone turning colder.
I said, let go.
She lowered her voice, each word enunciated clearly, her tightly pursed lips exuding a sense of intimidation.
Lin Yan could certainly feel that she was on the verge of losing her temper, but she was used to being shameless and without boundaries.
One of her daily pleasures was witnessing people getting angry, especially someone like Song Yuhang, whom she couldnt stand but couldnt eliminate.
To see even the slightest crack in that calm and expressionless face brought a smile to her face even in her dreams.
I She followed along her arm, getting closer to her, and slightly raised herself on her toes, as if she was wrapping her arms around her neck, gently breathing by her ear, her words flowing like the scent of orchids.
Officer Song, why are you getting so angry? A sweet scent of womens perfume filled the air, and the womans tone was perfectly delicate and coquettish.
Song Yuhang gently closed her eyes, and she could see the faint twitching of her jaw.
Lin Yans lips curved into a charming smile as she leaned in, saying, I wont let go. What can you do about it?
The footsteps were getting closer.
Before she could enjoy her victory for too long, her smile froze on her face. Accompanied by a loud noise, the back of her head forcefully collided with the iron shelf, causing her pain and dizziness, with stars dancing before her eyes.
The young officer hurriedly ran over, placing his hand on the holster of his gun, What happened?!
Song Yuhang took the documents back from Lin Yans embrace and pulled out a pen from her uniform jacket to sign the papers, her tone casual.
Its nothing. Dr. Lin just had a little fall. You can go about your business.
Oh The young officer belatedly withdrew his hand, still looking concerned as he glanced at her, The floor can be slippery here. Dr. Lin, be careful.
I Lin Yan held the back of her head, her eyes turning red from the pain. It had been many years since she had experienced physical pain like this, and for a moment, she couldnt quite process it.
Song Yuhang interjected at the right moment, cutting her off, Here are the documents. Go put them away.
The young officer took the files from her, feeling that something was off about these two.
He had seen that Lin Yan took quite a hard hit, but why didnt Captain Song, who was usually composed and steady, lend a helping hand?
Little did he know that the fall that left Lin Yan in so much pain was actually caused by the push from Captain Song herself.
Song Yuhang closed the pen cap and put it in her own jacket pocket, walking alongside the officer as they headed outside. She didnt even glance back once.
From now on, dont let just anyone into the file room. Strictly follow the procedures. Access to the files must have the signature of a section-level or higher official. Understand?
The young officer stood at attention and saluted, Yes, Captain Song!
The section-level or higher officials in the bureau would be the first to be affected, and wasnt she one of them?!
It was said that Lin Yans scolding echoed through the entire corridor that afternoon.
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