Qin Yue stared at Han Yi for seconds trying to decide whether she had heard him right. "Supposed to be dead?" She whispered. Han Yi didn't answer immediately.He kept staring at the frozen image of the silver arrow,his expression becoming increasingly serious.The young officer turned away from the monitor,clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken. "Captain...should I keep this running?"Han Yi nodded."Yes.But don't overwrite the original file."
The officer immediately saved a copy. "Understood."Qin Yue stepped closer to Han Yi."You can't just say something like that and then stop there."Han Yi glanced at her."I know."She crossed her arms."Then tell me what you remember."Han Yi looked toward the other officers before lowering his voice."Years ago,I worked on a case involving an unidentified organization."Qin Yue's expression changed."An organization?"He nodded slowly."We never confirmed its name.We only found fragments,few symbols and few people who disappeared before we could question them.And once..."His eyes returned to the silver arrow."...that exact mark appeared."
Qin Yue studied the frozen image again. "What happened to the person wearing it?" Han Yi's jaw tightened."He died."One of the officers looked uneasy."You saw him die?" Han Yi remained silent for a moment. "No." The officer frowned."Then how do you know?"Han Yi turned toward him."Because this what we found."Qin Yue immediately caught the difference."What do you mean? "Han Yi replied,"His identity was confirmed. His vehicle was found.The evidence was enough to close the case."She looked back at the monitor."But you don't believe he died."Han Yi's expression remained calm,but something darker appeared behind his eyes."I believed it then."
Qin Yue quietly asked,"And now?"Han Yi looked at the silver arrow again."Now I'm not so sure."The officer suddenly spoke from behind them."Captain...there's something else."Everyone turned toward him."What?" He pointed at the monitor."I went frame by frame after the SUV leaves."Han Yi walked over."What did you find?"The officer rewound the footage several seconds." Watch the left side of the frame."The warehouse appeared again.The SUV had already disappeared,but the unknown man was still standing near the gate.
Han Yi watched carefully.The man slowly lowered his hand then something caught the light behind him.He saw tiny reflection appeared on the concrete wall."Stop there." The officer froze the frame."Enhance the reflection."The image became blurry,but a faint shape appeared beside the man's shadow.Qin Yue leaned closer."Is that another person?"The officer shook his head. "I'm not sure."Han Yi's eyes narrowed. "Increase the contrast."
The screen changed again and reflection became slightly clearer.It wasn't another person.It was a symbol painted on the wall.A silver arrow pointing downward.Qin Yue stared at it."He left the mark behind."Han Yi shook his head slowly."No."She looked at him."Then what?"He pointed toward the screen."Look at the direction."The arrow wasn't pointing toward the warehouse.It pointed toward the ground.Qin Yue's eyes widened slightly."Underground."Han Yi nodded."Exactly."
One of the officers looked confused."But there's no basement underneath Warehouse Seventeen according to the city records."Han Yi looked at him."Then either the records are wrong..."Qin Yue quietly finished,"...or someone made sure nobody knew about it."For several seconds,no one spoke.The officer suddenly glanced toward the computer."Captain..."Han Yi turned. "What now?"The officer swallowed."The video file is changing."Qin Yue stepped forward."Changing how?"He pointed at the timestamp."The recording originally ended at 23:48:17."He looked increasingly confused."Now there's another thirty-seven seconds appearing after it."Han Yi's eyes hardened."Don't touch anything."
The screen flickered.The camera remained fixed on the gate.For several seconds, nothing happened.Then a figure slowly walked into view.He stopped directly beneath the camera and looked up.The face was still hidden by darkness but this time, the person raised his left hand deliberately. The silver arrow caught the light."Captain Han,"a distorted voice suddenly came through the speakers."You remembered."
Qin Yue froze.Han Yi's expression became completely still.The figure continued,"That's good."He lowered his hand."Because now you can remember what happened the first time."Han Yi stepped closer to the monitor. "Who are you?"The figure remained silent for a moment then he answered,"You already know."The screen suddenly went black.Qin Yue looked at Han Yi."What does that mean?"Han Yi didn't respond.His mind had returned to an old case he had tried to bury years ago.He saw fragments of old photograph and that photo was official death report.He looked at the frozen monitor."It means..."His voice became quieter. "... someone from my past has just walked back into this case."
Qin Yue stared at Han Yi."You are saying that the person wearing that symbol was dead."Han Yi nodded slowly."Yes.""Then why would someone use the same symbol now?"Han Yi looked toward the monitor. "That's what I intend to find out."Qin Yue stepped closer."And you're not going to tell me what happened in that old case?"Han Yi glanced at her."I will.""When?"Han Yi gave her a tired look."When I understand it myself."Qin Yue sighed."That's not exactly reassuring."A faint smile appeared on Han Yi's face for less than a second."I wasn't trying to reassure you."
One of the officers suddenly raised his hand."Captain."Han Yi turned."What is it?"The officer pointed toward the surveillance equipment."The computer is still connected to something."Han Yi walked over."Explain."The officer examined the cables."This system isn't just receiving footage."He pointed toward a small indicator blinking beneath the main monitor."It's transmitting."Qin Yue's expression changed. "Transmitting where?"The officer shook his head."I don't know yet.The connection is encrypted."Han Yi immediately said, "Disconnect it."The officer hesitated."If I cut the connection,we may lose whatever they're sending us."Han Yi looked at the monitor."Then save everything first."
The officer quickly began copying the files. "Thirty seconds."Qin Yue frowned."Why thirty?"The officer looked at the screen." That's how long the system says it needs to finish the transfer."Han Yi's eyes narrowed. "Again."Qin Yue understood."Someone wants us to wait."Han Yi nodded."And they're counting on our curiosity."One officer quietly asked,"Should we wait?"Han Yi looked around the room."Yes.But nobody touches anything."
The seconds passed slowly.Qin Yue stood beside Han Yi,her eyes fixed on the progress bar."Captain..."Han Yi looked at her."What?" She hesitated."If this person really knows you..."Han Yi waited."...then maybe this isn't about Jun wei at all."Han Yi's gaze hardened."I've been thinking the same thing."The transfer reached ninety percent and computer suddenly emitted a soft chime.The officer leaned closer."Complete."
Han Yi immediately said,"Open the file."A new folder appeared on the screen.It contained only one document.The filename was simply ARCHIVE_09.Qin Yue frowned. "That's it?"Han Yi nodded."Open it."The offy clicked the file and scanned photograph appeared on the monitor.It showed a group of people standing outside an old building. The image was faded and several faces had been scratched out deliberately.Qin Yue leaned closer."Do you recognize anyone?" Han Yi didn't answer.His eyes had locked onto one person standing at the far edge of the photograph.A younger version of himself was visible in the background.Qin Yue slowly turned toward him."Captain..." Han Yi's face had gone completely still. "That's me."
The officer stared at the photograph."You were there?"Han Yi nodded once."Yes."Qin Yue looked at the date printed beneath the photograph.Her eyes widened."This was taken years before Jun Wei was born."Han Yi said nothing then Qin Yue noticed another detail.She pointed toward the person standing beside Han Yi in the photograph. "Who's that?"Han Yi's expression changed. The man was partially turned away,but the silver arrow was clearly visible on his left hand.
Qin Yue whispered,"That's him."Han Yi slowly nodded."Yes."The officer enlarged the photograph and that man's face remained partly obscured,but his posture was unmistakably familiar.Qin Yue looked at Han Yi."You said he died."Han Yi's voice was barely audible."He did."Qin Yue stared at the photograph."Then how..."Before she could finish,the screen suddenly changed and line of text appeared across the bottom of the image.*YOU WERE THERE WHEN IT STARTED.*
Qin Yue's expression tightened."What does that mean?"Han Yi stepped closer to the monitor.His eyes moved across the photograph until they stopped on a small detail in the background.A child stood near the doorway of the old building.The child's face had been deliberately scratched away. Han Yi's breathing became slower.Qin Yue noticed immediately."Captain?"Han Yi didn't answer.She looked at the photograph again. "Is that..."Han Yi quietly said,"I don't know."
Qin Yue turned toward him."You do know something."Han Yi remained silent for several seconds then the computer suddenly produced another message.*ASK WHO THE CHILD WAS.* And after that screen went black.Qin Yue stared at it."Who was the child?"Han Yi's expression became unreadable."That's the question they're forcing us to ask."He turned toward the underground room and the hundreds of photographs surrounding them."And I have a feeling..."His eyes moved toward Jun Wei's photograph."...the answer is connected to him."
Qin Yue remained beside him,her eyes fixed on Jun Wei's photograph."If you're right,then the child they mentioned isn't just part of the old case."Han Yi shook his head."No...They wouldn't have shown us that message if the connection wasn't important."Qin Yue looked toward computer screen."Then why hide the answer?"Han Yi's eyes narrowed. Because they want us to find it ourselves... He slowly looked around the room,the photographs,the surveillance equipment, and the scattered children's drawings. Someone spent a great deal of time building this place.They didn't leave information here by accident..."Because telling us would give us the answer,"he said."Making us search for it gives them control over where we look."
Qin Yue stared at him for several seconds. "And if they're waiting for us to reach it?"Han Yi's expression became cold."Then we'll make sure they don't decide what happens when we do."
One of the officers removed the storage drive from the surveillance system and placed it inside an evidence container. "Captain,we've copied everything we could." Han Yi looked at the evidence bag. "Good. Take the original drive as well."The officer hesitated."Even if it's damaged?"Han Yi nodded."Especially if it's damaged.We don't know what else might be hidden inside it."Qin Yue glanced once more at the photographs covering the walls."What about all of these?"Han Yi looked around the room."Photograph everything."The officers immediately began documenting the walls, the equipment,the drawings,and every marked location on the city map.
Qin Yue stopped beside the map and studied the red circle one more time."We're still going to investigate this location,right?" Han Yi looked at the circle."Yes."She raised an eyebrow."Even after everything we've seen tonight?"Han Yi calmly replied, "Especially because of everything we've seen tonight."Qin Yue sighed."You really don't know how to choose the easy road." Han Yi adjusted his glasses."Neither do you."She smiled faintly."Unfortunately,you're right."One officer approached them. "Captain,the upper warehouse is secure.We didn't find anyone else."
Han Yi nodded."Good.Call the local authorities and have them seal the factory. No one enters until the forensic team finishes documenting everything."The officer acknowledged the order and moved away.Qin Yue looked toward the staircase. "And the hidden basement?"Han Yi glanced back at the underground room. "Seal this section too."She frowned."What if someone comes back?"Han Yi's expression hardened."Then they'll find us waiting."
Qin Yue gave him a skeptical look."You don't actually plan to sit here all night,do you?" Han Yi turned toward the stairs."No."He looked at the evidence container in the officer's hands."We have enough information to start connecting the old case with Jun Wei's disappearance."Qin Yue followed him."And the child in that photograph?"Han Yi stopped halfway up the stairs.His expression darkened slightly. "That's the part I don't understand."Qin Yue waited."If the photograph was taken years ago..."Han Yi continued slowly,"...then whoever sent us that message wants us to believe the child matters now."
Qin Yue's eyes narrowed."You think that child could be connected to Jun Wei?"Han Yi looked back at her."I don't know."He paused before adding,"But I'm no longer willing to assume that anything in this case happened for the first time."Qin Yue quietly absorbed his words before following him upward.The officers came behind them, carrying the evidence and copied drives.As Han Yi reached the warehouse floor,he stopped and looked back one more time at the dark staircase beneath the hidden hatch."Captain?"Qin Yue called from near the entrance.Han Yi turned."Coming."He walked toward her,but just before leaving,his phone vibrated once more.He stopped.
Qin Yue noticed."Another message?"Han Yi pulled out the phone.The screen showed an unknown sender.It was just a single location pin.His eyes narrowed.Qin Yue stepped closer."Where is it?"Han Yi looked at the coordinates for several seconds.Then his expression changed slightly."It's not another location."Qin Yue frowned."Then what is it?"Han Yi slowly raised his eyes toward her."It's the police station."Qin Yue's face became serious."Our police station?"
Han Yi locked the phone."Yes."One of the officers overheard them and immediately turned around."Captain,should we call it in?"Han Yi shook his head."No."Qin Yue looked at him."Why not?"Han Yi glanced back toward the sealed warehouse. "Because whoever sent this message already knows we'll be going there."He put back his phone and walked toward the exit. "And this time..."His voice became quieter. "...I want to know who is waiting for us."The doors closed behind them.
After leaving the convenience store, Zheng Rui and Lian Ziho stepped back onto the sidewalk.People walking toward nearby shops and vehicles moving steadily along the road. Neither of them spoke at first. Zheng Rui kept his hands in his coat pockets while Lian ziho walked beside him,his thoughts still stuck on the ring they had seen in the footage. He could still picture it clearly in his mind. That strange design.He tried once again to remember where he had seen it, but nothing came to him.
They were only a few steps away from the riverside parking area when Lian ziho suddenly slowed down.Zheng Rui noticed immediately and stopped as well. "What?" he asked quietly. Lian ziho didn't answer right away. He casually looked toward the shop windows, then across the road, pretending to be checking the traffic. His eyes moved from one person to another. "We're being watched again," he murmured. Zheng Rui's expression didn't change. "I know." Lian ziho looked at him. "You knew?" "Since we left the store." Lian frowned. "And you didn't tell me?" Zheng Rui gave him a brief sideways glance. "You noticed on your own." Lian ziho sighed. "You could've said something." "You would've started looking around." "I already am." Zheng Rui smiled. "Exactly." Lian ziho shook his head, but his expression remained serious. "How many?" Zheng Rui casually glanced at the reflection of a store window instead of turning around. "Not sure yet." "Then let's find out." "That's what we're doing."
They continued walking toward their car as if nothing had happened. Neither hurried nor looked back. Lian ziho kept his attention on the ahead while occasionally checking reflections in the shop windows. A few people walked past them carrying shopping bags. A cyclist crossed the road. A woman stood near a bus stop checking her phone. Everything looked completely ordinary. Yet Lian ziho could feel that someone was keeping pace with them.
When they reached the parking area,Lian ziho automatically started toward their sedan, but Zheng Rui suddenly turned in another direction. Lian ziho stopped and looked at him. "That's not our car." Zheng Rui didn't stop walking. "I know." Lian hurried after him. "Then where are we going?" Zheng Rui's lips curved into a faint smile. "To see who follows us." Lian ziho stared at him for a second before quietly laughing. "You really enjoy doing this, don't you?" Zheng Rui glanced back. "Not particularly." "You look like you do." "That's because you're imagining it." Lian ziho shook his head. "How can you joke at this kind of situation." They continued past several parked vehicles, moving toward a busier section of the street instead of their own car.
Zheng Rui led Lian Ziho away from the main road and toward a narrower street lined with small shops and old apartment buildings. Lian glanced over his shoulder through the reflection of shop window. The man with the newspaper was still there. The second man had also changed direction. Lian ziho's expression tightened. "They're still following us." Zheng Rui nodded calmly. "I know." "You said you had an idea." "I do." "Are you going to tell me what it is?"Zheng Rui glanced at him. "Not yet." Lian gave him an irritated look. "You really enjoy making people wait." "You're still walking with me." "Because I want to know what happens." Zheng Rui gave a faint smile. "Then keep walking."
They reached a small intersection where three narrow streets met. Zheng Rui suddenly stopped beside a closed clothing shop and looked at the reflection in its glass door. Lian stopped beside him. "What now?" Zheng Rui didn't answer. He watched the reflection carefully. The man with the newspaper had stopped at the other end of the street. The second man stood near a parked motorcycle, pretending to check his phone. Neither approached. Zheng Rui quietly said, "They're waiting." Lian ziho frowned. "For what?" "For us to make the next move." Lian ziho looked at him. "Then let's give them one." Zheng Rui's eyes shifted toward a narrow alley between two buildings. "That alley leads to the back street." Lian understood immediately. "You want them to think we're going that way." "Exactly." Lian ziho nodded. "And then?" "We turn around." Lian looked at him for a second. "Simple." "Simple usually works." They started toward the alley at a normal pace.
The man with the newspaper folded it under his arm and began walking faster. The other man put his phone away and moved toward the same alley from the opposite side. Lian
Ziho noticed and quietly said, "They're moving." Zheng Rui nodded. "Good." Lian glanced at him. "Good?" "Now we know they don't want to lose us." They reached the mouth of the alley. Zheng Rui suddenly grabbed Lian ziho lightly by the shoulder and pulled him behind the corner.
Lian stumbled half a step and looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing?" Zheng Rui whispered, "Wait." They stood close to the wall, hidden from the street. Lian could hear footsteps approaching. His shoulder was still against Zheng Rui's arm. Neither spoke for several seconds. The first man walked past the alley entrance and stopped. He looked inside. The second man approached from the opposite side. "Where did they go?" he asked quietly. "They were right here." Lian ziho looked at Zheng Rui with widened eyes. Zheng Rui raised one finger to his lips, telling him to stay quiet.
The two strangers searched the street for several moments before one of them spoke again. "Call him." The other pulled out his phone. "No answer." "Try again." "I already did." Lian ziho's eyes narrowed. Zheng Rui heard it too. Someone else was waiting for their report. Then the first man suddenly said, "Forget it. We need to tell him they noticed us." The second man lowered his phone. "What about the ring?" Zheng Rui's expression changed instantly.
Lian ziho noticed it too. His eyes widened. The ring... The men began walking away. Zheng Rui waited until their footsteps faded before quietly stepping out from behind the wall. Lian ziho followed. "Did you hear that?" Zheng Rui nodded. "They know about the ring." Lian ziho's expression became serious. "Then they were watching us because of what we found at the store." Zheng Rui looked toward the direction the two men had disappeared. "Probably." Lian ziho clenched his jaw. "So the footage wasn't just a clue." "No." Zheng Rui's eyes hardened. "It was bait."
Zheng Rui glanced toward the convenience store. "Or bait for anyone who was looking for that ring." Lian ziho frowned. "Then why let us see it?" Zheng Rui looked at the surrounding buildings, checking the windows and rooftops before speaking. "Because they wanted to know what we'd do after seeing it." Lian ziho's expression tightened. "And now they know." "Yes."
Lian ziho glanced back toward the street. "What about those two?" "They'll probably report that we noticed them." Lian ziho's eyes narrowed. "Then we shouldn't go back to the car together." Zheng Rui looked at him. "Exactly." Lian ziho immediately understood. "You think they're still watching our car?" "Possibly." Zheng Rui checked his phone and then slipped it back into his pocket. "We need to find out how many people are following us." Lian ziho looked around. "And how do we do that?" Zheng Rui's expression became calm again. "We give them two targets."
Zheng Rui gave instructions as they started walking again. "At the next corner..." Lian ziho looked at him. "We split?" Zheng Rui nodded. "Five minutes." Lian ziho frowned. "You're sure?" Zheng Rui gave him a small smile. "You can handle yourself." Lian ziho sighed. "Guess I have to." Zheng Rui glanced at him."Don't do anything reckless." Lian ziho raised an eyebrow. "You're the one splitting us up." "That's different." "How?" Zheng Rui thought for a second. "I have a plan." Lian ziho gave him a skeptical look. "That's not an answer." "It's the only one you're getting." Lian ziho shook his head, but a faint smile appeared on his face."Fine." They continued walking as if nothing had changed. When they reached the next corner, Zheng Rui turned toward another street while Lian ziho continued straight. Neither looked back.
Lian ziho walked alone for several minutes. He could hear footsteps behind him. At first they were distant. Then they became slightly faster.He glanced at a shop window and caught the reflection of the same man who had been following them earlier. So he chose me...Lian ziho continued walking until he reached a narrow alley between two old buildings.
Without hesitation, he turned into it. The footsteps followed immediately. The alley was quiet and mostly empty, with stacked crates against one wall and a fire escape above. Lian ziho walked deeper inside before suddenly turning around a corner and stopping.He waited then footsteps entered the alley. The man looked around. "Where did he go?" he muttered. He walked farther in, checking both sides.
Lian ziho was nowhere to be seen. The man frowned and reached for his phone. "Damn it..." Before he could unlock the screen, a calm voice came from directly behind him. "Looking for me?" The man's entire body froze. He slowly turned around. Lian ziho stood a few meters away, "You followed me all this way." The man stared at him. "Who are you?" Lian ziho took one step forward. "You were following me first." The man's hand moved toward his jacket. Lian ziho immediately noticed. "Don't." The man stopped. Lian ziho's eyes narrowed. "Who sent you?" The man remained silent. "Who told you to watch us?" Still nothing. Lian ziho took another step. "And what does the ring have to do with..." The man opened his mouth. "The ring..." Lian ziho's eyes narrowed."What about it?" The man's gaze suddenly shifted above Lian ziho's shoulder. "You shouldn't have..." Before he could finish, a gunshot suddenly echoed through the alley.