Film and Television: My Cheat Code is AI

A shopping mall.

Yang Zhen drove at breakneck speed, with Zhang Yang in the passenger seat and Ding Jian and Tian Rui in the back.

Ding Jian said, "A bomb? Could there really be terrorists?"

Yang Zhen said, "Stop talking nonsense, you'll know when we get there."

When they arrived at the mall, there were crowds of people outside the cordon, and Yang Zhen and his group finally managed to squeeze in.

The police officer at the local police station said, "The mall manager reported the incident, saying there were explosives. We checked and there really are. They're on the first floor, at the corner of the stairs. It's been cordoned off now, and we're just waiting for you to come and defuse the bomb."

Zhang Yang looked at the crowd around him and said, "You call this a lockdown? This is full of people. Evacuate them to a distance of 200 meters. Clear everyone out of the mall."

"Yes."

Another police officer led them to the storage room at the corner of the stairs on the first floor and pointed out the location.

Ding Jian lay down and slowly unwrapped the package. "The real thing."

Tian Rui was still not quite incredulous. "No way, there really is explosives?"

Ding Jian slowly approached the explosives with his hand, but Yang Zhen pulled him away, saying, "Don't touch it! Don't you know what you're doing?"

The countdown timer on the explosive kept ticking away.

Tian Rui said, "Let's wait for the bomb disposal team to arrive."

Yang Zhen said anxiously, "By the time the bomb disposal team arrives, this place will have been blown to bits." He then reached for the explosives.

Zhang Yang stopped him, saying, "Let me do it. I have a steady hand. Brother Yang, help me contact the bomb disposal team. Ding Jian, you lead the way."

Yang Zhen looked at Zhang Yang and asked, "Are you sure you can do it?"

Zhang Yang nodded, handed the tactical chest bag to Tian Rui, and took a deep breath.

Hold the explosive firmly at both ends with both hands, maintaining even pressure. Do not allow it to loosen or tilt, and do not touch the wiring.

[Detecting...]

[Device Type: Suspected remotely detonated homemade ammonium nitrate explosive; the outer casing is a seamless steel pipe, sealed at both ends by welding; the detonator is located in the middle of the pipe. A ribbon cable was detected connected to the trigger circuit; the cable's outer sheath is worn, exposing the internal copper core. The ribbon cable is unstable—any pulling, shearing, or displacement could conduct the trigger circuit, igniting the electric detonator.]

[Detonation method determination: Dual triggering, remote control priority, the wiring is a tamper-proof loop for power-off detonation. The remote control signal frequency band is being scanned; multiple unknown radio signals exist in the current environment, making it impossible to suppress interference in a short time.]

[Bomb disposal can be carried out—but it will require at least four minutes, and the ignition wire between the detonator and the explosive charge compartment must be cut. The current environment does not meet the operational requirements. The indoor personnel density is too high; once detonated, the estimated kill radius exceeds 25 meters, and the fragmentation coverage will exceed the limits of all current building structure shelters.]

[Recommendation: Remove the explosive device immediately. Avoid crowds and enclosed spaces, prioritizing open areas. Keep the device horizontal, maintain the same hand grip position, and limit strides to less than half a meter to avoid vibration.]

After picking up the explosive device, Zhang Yang said to Yang Zhen, "Quickly, contact the bomb disposal team."

Ding Jian said, "I'll lead the way."

The three men began to run slowly, the explosive device held steadily in Zhang Yang's hands.

The countdown timer on the explosive device currently has two minutes and thirty-three seconds remaining.

There was a note inside when they left. Tian Rui took the note, looked at it, and then ran after them.

They ran all the way to an open area, where the bomb disposal team arrived.

With 33 seconds left on the countdown, Zhang Yang handed the explosive device to the bomb disposal team, and the rest of the team hid in a corner.

The bomb disposal team successfully eliminated the danger after disarming the bomb in fifteen seconds.

"It's alright now."

Suddenly, the countdown started again, and everyone lay down on the spot.

After the countdown was reset, it was discovered that there was no explosion.

The bomb disposal team stated, "The explosives inside were not fitted with detonators; it's safe."

Tian Rui ran over and said, "Brother Yang, look at this." She handed him a note. "This is a warning. Tomorrow night at six o'clock, Cong Lan won't be here. Bomb somewhere else!"

Yang Zhen was so angry that he started cursing, "That bastard."

After they got on the bus, they began investigating Cong Lan's situation. Tian Rui called the duty officer of the Municipal Bureau's Household Registration Section, "Cong Lan, female, was a saleswoman at Daqiao Store in Daqiao Town before 96. Her household registration was transferred out in 98. We need her home address."

Ding Jian asked, "Is it ready?"

Tian Rui said, "Check again on the computer."

Yang Zhen said anxiously, "Tell them to hurry up. There are less than 24 hours left until 6 p.m. tomorrow. Urge them to hurry up."

"Yes." Tian Rui urged, and soon a message came from the other end of the phone: "Fenghua District, Xinyuan Community, No. 48."

Upon hearing the address, Yang Zhen stepped on the gas and drove towards Cong Lan's house.

We arrived at Xinyuan Residential Area an hour later.

Yang Zhen said, "Zhang Yang, Ding Jian, you stay here and guard the area. Tian Rui, you come in with me."

"Brother Yang, first floor, on the right."

Upon reaching the door, Yang Zhen said, "This is it. Knock gently."

After knocking on the door, Tian Rui asked, "Is anyone home? Is anyone home?" Before she finished speaking, she heard a voice inside saying "Mom, Mom," along with the sound of something breaking. Yang Zhen pulled out his pistol and became alert.

Yang Zhen knocked hard on the door and said, "Open the door."

A man said after the door opened, "What are you knocking for? Who are you looking for?"

Tian Rui asked, "Does Cong Lan live here?"

Who are you?

Yang Zhen pulled out his identification and said, "I'm from the Major Crimes Unit of the branch office."

Just then, a woman ran over, still buttoning her clothes, and said, "I...I'm Cong Lan. What can I do for you?"

The man said, "She is my wife."

Tian Rui said, "Please help us with something."

"What's wrong?"

At this moment, the child ran over and hugged Cong Lan, saying, "Mommy, I won't let you go."

Cong Lan said gently, "Mommy won't leave."

Tian Rui asked, "Can I go in?"

The man glared at him and said, "I didn't stop you."

After Yang Zhen and Tian Rui entered the room, Cong Lan took the child back to the bedroom, and then sat on the sofa without saying a word.

Tian Rui told Cong Lan about what had happened that day, but Cong Lan remained silent.

Tian Rui asked, "Think carefully about who would be looking for you in this way." She looked at Cong Lan, who remained silent, and sat down, looking at her. "You can't possibly not know who's looking for you, can you?"

Cong Lan shook her head and didn't say anything.

At this moment, Yang Zhen said to the man, "Why don't you come inside and sit for a while?"

The man, tilting his head back, said, "Why should I?"

Yang Zhen said, "How about this, you wait at the door for a while?"

The man said, "Get out? This is my house."

Yang Zhen said, "Alright, if all else fails, you'll have to take your wife back to the team." Then he said to Cong Lan, "Come on, let's go to the team."

The man stood up, holding his coat in his hand, and said, "Fine, you guys are good." He glanced at Cong Lan, then left.

After watching the man leave, Yang Zhen said to Cong Lan, "Tell me, who was so desperate to see you that they were willing to bomb the department store?"

Cong Lan looked at Yang Zhen and shook her head, saying, "I don't know."

Yang Zhen said, "Take a look at this note first." He then handed the evidence bag to Cong Lan.

Cong Lan held the note in her hand, staring at it intently. At this moment, Yang Zhen said, "Did you see that clearly? If you knew the truth but didn't say anything, you're an accomplice."

Cong Lan licked her lips. "But...but...it might be him."

"Who?"

"We used to be close, and then we went to work in the Production and Construction Corps in Northeast China. He was in charge of demolition." Cong Lan's voice choked as she spoke. "Later... he was sent to a labor camp. But I haven't heard from him for seven or eight years. A couple of days ago, I got a phone call. I think he got it from a colleague in the Corps. He's probably been released. He said he wanted to come see me. But I'm married now, and I... I have children, so I haven't seen him."

Yang Zhen asked, "Where is this person now?"

"I have no idea."

"What's his name?"

"Tian Dajiang".

"Okay, you'd better not go out these next few days. We'll come find you if we need anything."

Yang Zhen and the others stood up and left. At the door, Tian Rui asked, "Cong Lan, why did he insist on seeing you at the mall?"

"He doesn't know where I live."

"Sure, it's not some secret place."

"That's because...that's where we had our first date," Cong Lan said. "I've told you everything I should tell you, but I don't know anything else."

Yang Zhen said, "Let's go."

After Yang Zhen and the others left, Cong Lan breathed a sigh of relief.