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Raindrops pattered against the glass outside the car window, forming winding streaks of water.

Liang Wuyun focused on driving, while Su Ning stared blankly at the case files in her hand.

"Jian Fan, do you really think it's possible that an outsider committed the crime?" Liang Wuyun broke the silence.

Su Ning closed the folder: "Judging from the loopholes in Qiao Xiaobo's testimony, it's very likely that someone deliberately impersonated Zeng Guowei and drove away. The real Zeng Guowei was probably already..."

He did not continue.

Liang Wuyun gently placed her hand on his: "Don't overthink it!"

"I understand! There's no point in overthinking this kind of thing."

"Oh right! I have to go home tonight to have dinner with my parents. My dad said he wants to hear about the progress of the case."

"Alright! I'll be a monk for today." Su Ning nodded, feeling a sense of relief.

"Pah! You big hooligan! You can't be honest for a day without doing something bad."

"hey-hey……"

Since taking on this case, he felt like he was walking on thin ice, especially when facing his future father-in-law, Director Liang.

After seeing Liang Wuyun off, Su Ning stood in the rain and suddenly remembered the "Thin as a Wing" secret recipe that Zeng Nan had given him.

The exquisite wooden box is now lying in his old apartment where he hasn't vacated the lease.

He spun the phone in his palm a few times before finally dialing the number he hadn't contacted in a long time.

"Hello?" Jiang Dijia's voice was filled with disbelief.

"It's me! Are you free? I want to show you something." Su Ning heard her own voice sound a little strained.

"Now?" There was a pause on the other end of the phone for a few seconds, "...Okay."

The old apartment still looks the way Jiang Dijia remembers it.

When she pushed open the door and saw the open wooden food box on the table and the exquisite "thin as a wing" inside, tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Is this... a real secret recipe?" Her fingers trembled as she touched the edge of the food box.

Su Ning nodded: "Zeng Nan gave it to me. I tried it a few times and finally succeeded."

Jiang Dijia suddenly turned around and hugged him, her tears soaking his shirt: "Jian Fan, why... why didn't you want me back then?"

Su Ning gently stroked her back, inhaling the familiar jasmine scent in her hair: "I'm sorry! I've let you down."

"And now?" Jiang Dijia looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

Su Ning didn't answer, but instead lowered his head and kissed her.

The kiss was tinged with guilt, longing, and a complex mix of emotions that were hard to define.

Afterwards, Jiang Dijia curled up in Su Ning's arms, tracing circles on his chest with her fingers: "My family's hotel is about to go under. If there were a secret recipe for 'thin as a wing'..."

“I can give it to you,” Su Ning interrupted her, “but I have two conditions.”

"What conditions?"

"My father contributed his technology as equity, holding a 30% stake."

"Yes, that's fine! It's only right."

Su Ning rolled over and pinned her down, a sly smile playing on his lips: "Besides... I want to try having my cake and eating it too."

Jiang Dijia's eyes widened, and she pounded his chest forcefully: "You! You're too greedy!"

“It’s too late,” Su Ning grabbed her wrist and gently kissed her fingertips. “You’re already on the wrong side of the law.”

"..."

In fact, Jiang Dijia has been considering her relationship with Suning recently, since she was quite happy with the time she spent with him.

Of course, I can't blame Su Ning for being too heartless in their situation; it's mainly because she and her brother were too greedy.

So when Suning proposed wanting to "have his cake and eat it too," Jiang Dijia was secretly delighted, because it meant she still had a chance to have Suning.

"Jian Fan, I thought you would never contact me again."

"Maybe I'm just too weak-willed! I think about you every day."

"Hmph! Is it because Liang Wuyun treated you badly?"

"It's alright! It's just that you've spoiled my appetite."

……

The police station's conference room was filled with smoke; the case analysis meeting had been going on for three hours.

Suning stood in front of the projector and pointed to the old map of Miryang on the wall.

“We’ve been stuck in the mindset that the perpetrator must be an insider.” He drew a circle on the map with a laser pointer. “But what if we look at it from a different angle, and assume it was an outsider?”

Xiao Chenggang scratched his head: "Team Leader Jian, how do we explain the police car that Qiao Xiaobo saw?"

“Disguise.” Su Ning clicked on the remote control, and the screen switched to a photo of a police car. “It was raining heavily the night of the incident, and visibility was poor. If someone was wearing a police uniform and driving the same model of police car, they could easily have fooled Qiao Xiaobo.”

Ah Yuan raised a question: "But what about the safe key? According to the records, the key has always been with Zeng Guowei."

A glint flashed in Su Ning's eyes: "That's the key. I suspect the perpetrators did it in two steps: first, they kidnapped or killed Zeng Guowei to get the key, and then their accomplices, who had already infiltrated the police station, would provide assistance."

The conference room was silent.

This bold hypothesis overturned everyone's thinking over the past two decades.

"So, Team Leader Jian, you mean..." Brother Jie slowly began, "that this was a meticulously planned gang crime?"

Su Ning nodded: "That's right! Moreover, the perpetrator was very familiar with the police station, and even knew the blind spots of the surveillance cameras and the duty schedule."

He turned to the crowd and said, “I suggest we investigate in three groups: one group should investigate the black market for antiques; another group should investigate antique collectors who had dealings with Zeng Guowei back then; and the last group should investigate suspects in past cases of cultural relic smuggling.”

After the meeting, Deputy Director Lü stopped Su Ning and said, "Xiao Jian! Your idea is good, but you need to be careful about your approach. There are some people... you can't mess with."

Looking at Lü Fangming's meaningful expression, Su Ning suddenly remembered the sentence in Zeng Guowei's notes: "Lü said that the budget is tight, so we'll wait until next year."

"Director Lü, I understand."

"Yes, do a good job! I have high hopes for your future."

"Thank you, Director Lü."

……

The Miryang Antique Market was bustling with people, and the sounds of vendors calling out their wares filled the air.

Suning, dressed casually, squatted down in front of a stall selling used books.

"Boss, how much is this copy of 'Jinshi Lu'?"

The stall owner, an elderly man with white hair and beard, looked him up and asked, "Young man, you know about this?"

"I know a little." Su Ning turned the page of the book. "I heard there used to be a police officer named Zeng who was very knowledgeable about antique appraisal?"

The old man's hand trembled almost imperceptibly: "You mean Old Zeng? What a pity."

"What's a pity?"

"He's gone!" the old man said in a low voice. "Old Zeng has a sharp eye; many players seek his advice. But he's too straightforward and has offended quite a few people."

Suning feigned nonchalance: "Oh? Who did you offend?"

The old man looked around and leaned closer, saying, "It's those Qi brothers. Once, Old Zeng publicly said that the 'bronze tripod' they were selling was from last week, not from the last dynasty, which infuriated everyone."

Su Ning was startled: "When did this happen?"

"About two months before he disappeared," the old man suddenly became wary. "Why are you asking that?"

Su Ning flashed his police badge: "Officer. Sir, what's your surname?"

"My surname is Zhao." The old man's face changed. "Officer, I don't know anything, I'm just a street vendor..."

"Mr. Zhao, don't be nervous." Su Ning put away his identification. "Zeng Guowei is a good policeman. We want to clear his name."

"..."

After leaving the antique market, Su Ning immediately called Brother Jie: "Investigate the Qi Shumin and Qi Yuanmin brothers, especially their connections with Zeng Guowei."

Back at the police station, the investigation team had already compiled information on the Qi brothers.

The projector displayed photos of four people: Qi Shumin, Chen Jiuwen, Li Sanzhu, and Zheng Bensheng.

“These are the four people arrested in the cultural relic smuggling case back then.” Brother Jie pointed to the screen. “Strangely, their sentences were all very short. Qi Shumin even immigrated directly after his release.”

Su Ning frowned: "Who approved the medical parole?"

“They were all approved by the same judge.” Sister Hong flipped through the records. “What’s even more suspicious is that Qi Yuanmin suddenly became rich after the incident, opened an antique shop, and bought a luxury house.”

"Where is Xue Jianting?" Su Ning asked.

“Qi Yuanmin’s henchmen have a long criminal record.” Brother Jie pulled up a menacing ID photo, “but they always manage to get away with it, they have some expert guidance.” Su Ning tapped the table: “Tomorrow we’re going to Chuanshui Prison to see Zheng Bensheng. He’s the only one of the four still in the country.”

"it is good."

……

The interrogation room at Chuanshui Prison is cold and oppressive.

When Zheng Bensheng was brought in, Su Ning could hardly recognize the lean man in the photo...

The man in front of me was obese and bloated, but his eyes were unusually sharp.

"Zheng Bensheng, do you know why we're looking for you?" Sister Hong opened her notebook.

Zheng Bensheng grinned, revealing two gold teeth: "The government missed me!"

"Seriously!" Brother Jie slammed his hand on the table. "How much do you know about the December 23rd cultural relic theft case?"

"What case? I've been in there for over ten years, I know nothing about what's happening outside," Zheng Bensheng feigned ignorance.

Su Ning suddenly spoke up: "Qi Shumin is living a very comfortable life abroad. Do you still keep in touch?"

A flicker of panic crossed Zheng Bensheng's eyes: "No...no."

"That's strange," Su Ning said, pretending to look through some documents. "Weren't you two sworn brothers back then? Why didn't he give you a hand after he got rich?"

"Officer, what exactly do you want to ask?" Zheng Bensheng's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

Su Ning approached him, her voice low: "I want to know, who orchestrated the theft at the Miyang branch? Who killed Zeng Guowei?"

"I don't know!" Zheng Bensheng suddenly stood up, but the prison guard pushed him back into his seat. "I don't know anything!"

"Don't know?" Su Ning sneered, tossing a stack of photos at him. "Then how do you explain these?"

The photo shows Zheng Bensheng and Qi Yuanmin together, taken shortly after Zheng's release from prison.

Zheng Bensheng's face turned deathly pale: "This...this is just an ordinary gathering..."

"A party?" Su Ning pulled out another bank statement. "After the party, your account had an extra 500,000?"

Zheng Bensheng began to tremble, his gold teeth clicking together: "I...I..."

“You still have a chance,” Su Ning leaned down and stared at him. “Speaking out now will be considered a meritorious act. Once we find out, you will be an accomplice.”

Sweat soaked through Zheng Bensheng's prison uniform.

Only his heavy breathing could be heard in the interrogation room.

“I…I need to think about it…” he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.

Suning and Jie exchanged glances: "Okay, I'll give you 24 hours. I hope to hear a different answer by this time tomorrow."

As she left the prison, Sister Hong couldn't help but ask, "Team Leader Jian, where did those photos and bank records come from? They're not in the case file."

Suning smiled mysteriously: "It's a bluff. Looks like it worked."

……

Municipal Bureau, Director's Office.

"No! That's too risky!" Director Liang paced back and forth in his office. "To take action against Qi Yuanmin without solid evidence—do you even know who's backing him?"

Su Ning stood in front of the desk, neither humble nor arrogant: "Director Liang, we are not arresting him directly, but setting a trap to lure him in."

"What game?"

“Tang Shouyu has a high-quality replica of a bronze artifact, which is so realistic that it can be mistaken for the real thing,” Su Ning explained. “We’ll have someone pretend to sell it at Qi Yuanmin’s shop. Given his greed, he will definitely try to force us to buy it.”

Director Liang stopped, his brow furrowed. "Tang Shouyu? That guy's background isn't clean! He's also Li Wei's brother-in-law. How did you get involved with him?"

Suning remained unfazed: "It's necessary for solving the case; we each get what we need."

"Nonsense!" Director Liang slammed his fist on the table. "You're asking a tiger for its skin!"

“Director Liang,” Su Ning looked him straight in the eye, “why did you specifically remind Zeng Guowei to be careful about the safety of cultural relics before you were transferred? Did you already suspect that someone was planning to take action?”

Director Liang's expression froze instantly.

The office fell into dead silence.

"You...it seems you've investigated quite a lot!" Director Liang's voice was hoarse.

Su Ning nodded: "You know the inside story, don't you?"

Director Liang slowly sat back in his chair, as if he had aged ten years in an instant: "I just... heard some rumors. Someone is planning to target those cultural relics, and I reminded Lao Zeng to strengthen precautions..."

He closed his eyes in pain, "I never imagined it would harm him."

"Who is it?" Su Ning pressed.

Director Liang shook his head: "I don't know. But they have a lot of influence; they can handle both the police station and the courts at the same time."

He opened his eyes, his gaze complex. "Jian Fan, this case is more dangerous than you think. I didn't dare investigate it back then, but now... are you sure you want to continue?"

Suning answered without hesitation: "Confirmed."

"..."

……

The plan proceeded as scheduled the next day.

Tang Shouyu sent two of his men with a precious antique to Qi Yuanmin's antique shop to ask for its sale.

As it turned out, Qi Yuanmin was a cunning old fox. He could tell that the two brothers didn't know anything about antiques, so he lied to them and said that they were holding a fake, and that he was only willing to pay a low price of 30,000 yuan to buy it.

Following Tang Shouyu's plan, the two brothers deliberately abandoned their decision to sell the antiques and left Qi Yuanmin's shop with them.

Shortly afterward, Qi Yuanmin, who had already set his sights on the antiques, sent Xue Jianting and his men to catch up from behind and forcefully gave the two brothers 30,000 yuan to buy their antiques.

When they saw that the two brothers refused to agree, they even started to snatch it from them.

Just then, Su Ning and his men, who had been lying in ambush, rushed up and captured Xue Jianting and the others.

The entire process was captured clearly by hidden cameras.

However, in the interrogation room, Xue Jianting acted as if he were completely unfazed.

“I made a legitimate purchase, and I paid the money. What kind of robbery is this?” He arrogantly waved his handcuffed hands.

"Legitimate?" Brother Jie sneered. "Why not trade in the store? Why bring four people to chase you for two blocks?"

Xue Jianting grinned: "We country folk just love excitement, is that a problem?"

Seeing that Xue Jianting refused to confess, the police questioned him again, "Xue Jianting, those two brothers who sell antiques have only been to Qi Yuanmin's antique shop, and have never been to any other shops. If Qi Yuanmin hadn't sent you to rob the antiques, you would have had no way of knowing that those two brothers were selling antiques."

"Hmph! That's all just your own assumption."

"Xue Jianting, confess honestly! Is Qi Yuanmin your boss?"

"No! I don't know any Qi Yuanmin."

However, even at this point, the stubborn Xue Jianting still maintained a defiant attitude.

In the adjacent monitoring room, Su Ning observed Xue Jianting through a one-way glass window.

Although the man with a fierce face was crude, he was unusually adept at handling interrogations, clearly having received professional "training."

“He won’t talk.” Tang Shouyu appeared behind Su Ning at some point. “The thugs the Qi family employs are specially trained; ordinary interrogation won’t work.”

Su Ning didn't turn around: "What brilliant ideas does President Tang have?"

“Extraordinary people require extraordinary methods.” Tang Shouyu’s voice was as cold as a venomous snake. “Leave him to me, and I guarantee he’ll confess even how many times he wet the bed as a child.”

Su Ning turned around and looked directly at the dangerous man: "Thank you for your kindness, but we are police officers, and we obey the law."

Tang Shouyu smiled meaningfully: "Officer Su, sometimes the law is too slow."

Just then, Sister Hong rushed over: "Captain Su! Zheng Bensheng wants to see you! He says he has an important lead!"

Su Ning immediately walked out, and whispered to Tang Shouyu as he passed him, "President Tang, the game has only just begun."

On the way to the prison, Su Ning's phone rang.

It was Zeng Nan: "Officer Jian, I found a strange photo while sorting through my father's belongings. It might be helpful to the case."

"What picture?"

"A photo of my father and Qi Yuanmin, but... it looks like it was taken secretly."

Suning gripped the steering wheel tightly: "I'll be there soon."

Outside the car window, the night in Miryang was as dark as ink, and a storm was brewing.

...(End of chapter)