At thirty, I started my comeback from the intelligence system.

After a brief exchange, Chen Geng agreed to everything.

As she got up to leave, Liang Dan said, "Should I have the driver take you?"

"No need, Mr. Liang, I drove here," Chen Geng politely declined.

Liang Dan nodded and didn't insist any further.

After Chen Geng left, Liang Dan said to Lao He, "You follow up personally and use the most reliable connections to get the recording forensic examination as soon as possible. At the same time, secretly investigate Zhou Peng and Jin Ding, following the clues in the recording. Be quick, but discreet."

"Understood." Old He put away the computer and USB drive.

Liang Dan walked to the window and saw Chen Geng walk out of the teahouse and head towards the roadside parking lot. A brand-new black Lincoln Z turned on its lights. Chen Geng was in the driver's seat.

"A Lincoln Z? The top-of-the-line model must cost around 400,000, right?"

Liang Dan raised an eyebrow slightly. A designer who had just divorced, was rumored to be "blackmailed" by his ex-wife, and was earning a fixed salary at GG Company, could casually pull out hundreds of thousands to buy a car outright? And he even had "friends in Beijing"?

"Old He," Liang Dan said slowly, "besides investigating Zhou Peng, also keep an eye on Chen Geng. No need to go too deep, just see who he's been in contact with lately, especially... people from the Beijing area."

"Okay, Mr. Liang."

After leaving the teahouse, Chen Geng called Zhang Jiaxiao to ask if she was free that evening to discuss the Luohu Park matter.

The phone rang for a while before being answered, with some background noise. "Hey, Gengzi! What's up? I'm a bit busy here!" Zhang Jiaxiao's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"What are you busy with? Are you free tonight?"

"Tonight? Tonight won't do! I have a major battle to fight!" Zhang Jiaxiao lowered his voice, but a smile spilled from the receiver. "I've made plans with Nurse Lin to see a movie! Tonight! 'The Wandering Earth,' I heard the special effects are amazing!"

Chen Geng was taken aback: "Lin Xiaoxiao? You guys... so fast?"

"Hehe, fate is unstoppable! We added each other on WeChat after the barbecue the other day, and we hit it off really well. It's hard to ask her out since she's on holiday, but today was her day off, so I tentatively asked her out, and she said yes! This is our first official date, it's all about this!"

Zhang Jiaxiao said excitedly, "Gengzi, if this succeeds, you'll be the number one contributor! I'll treat you to a big meal later!"

Chen Geng laughed: "Okay, good luck. You guys have fun, I'm fine now."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Geng shook his head, feeling happy for Zhang Jiaxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao was a good girl, and Zhang Jiaxiao was reliable; it was a good thing they could become a couple.

However, it seems I'll have to handle the matter of Luohu Park on my own.

He ate a bowl of noodles at a roadside stall, then went home, changed into a dark gray casual sportswear outfit and running shoes, put on an ordinary baseball cap, looked at himself in the mirror, and looked like an ordinary night runner.

At 9:30 p.m., Chen Geng drove to the outskirts of Luohu Park and found an inconspicuous roadside parking space.

The park is an open wetland park with a large area, featuring a lakeside trail and small woodlands. There are still a few people strolling and jogging here, but it becomes more secluded the further you go in.

He took a deep breath, stuffed a large screwdriver into his waist pack, and then jogged into the park like any other night runner.

The intelligence indicated a location on a secluded path near the bamboo forest on the west side.

Chen Gengxian jogged slowly along the main road, observing the surroundings.

The western side of the park is relatively dimly lit, with dense bamboo groves and winding paths leading deep into the area, making it truly deserted at night.

He couldn't call the police directly; no one would believe him, and he couldn't explain how he knew.

The only option is to try the most basic method—"patrol" the area to see if we can spot anything unusual beforehand, or... encounter the potential victim, Mu Xueke, and try to warn her or get her to leave.

Time passed second by second.

Chen Geng pretended to be tired from running and walked back and forth on the main road near the bamboo forest to stretch his muscles, but his eyes were warily scanning the entrance to the bamboo forest path and the surrounding dark areas.

He saw several couples walking hand in hand, several middle-aged women walking briskly, and one or two men walking alone, but none of them were his target.

He also tried to approach several young women who appeared to be alone, pretending to ask for directions or reminding them, "It's quite dark here at night, be careful if you're alone," but he was met with a few eye rolls and a "you're crazy."

He was clearly mistaken for a man with ill intentions who tried to pick him up.

Chen Geng felt somewhat helpless, but he could understand.

Just as he was thinking about whether to try a different approach, around 11 p.m., a young girl wearing a convenience store uniform, carrying a small bag, with a thin figure and a tired face, turned from the main road into the secluded path leading to the bamboo forest with her head down.

Judging from the direction, it seems like they're taking a shortcut to some staff dormitory area on the other side of the park?

Chen Geng's heart tightened. This time, this attire, all alone... He immediately followed at a distance, while simultaneously observing his surroundings with even greater vigilance.

Almost simultaneously, deep within the bamboo grove path, near an abandoned old public toilet and sanitation tool shed, two dark figures were huddled in the shadows behind the tool shed, arguing in hushed tones.

"Zhang Dabiao, are you even reliable? Where's your friend in Hong Kong? He promised to pick us up today, but I can't get through to him on the phone!"

"Li Wu, a thin, fierce-looking man with a scar on his cheek, growled, toying with a switchblade in his hand."

"How the hell should I know! We agreed on this! Maybe...maybe something went wrong on the way!"

Another, slightly more muscular man, with puffy eye bags and a fleshy face, scratched his greasy hair in frustration. His stomach growled loudly, "Damn it, I'm starving! I have to get something good to eat after robbing this money!"

"Eat, eat, all you ever do is eat!"

Li Wu cursed, but his eyes lewdly glanced towards the entrance of the small passage.

"This lousy place, haven't seen a decent one all day. If a woman shows up later, I'll take the money, and... I'll have to have my fun! I've been squatting here for so long, I'm dying of pent-up desire!"

"Do as you please, just be quick and don't leave any trouble behind."

Zhang Dabiao licked his lips, seemingly more interested in "eating".

The two men were Zhang Dabiao and Li Wu, fugitives who had been wanted and fled to this area.

They arranged to meet a smuggler who was smuggling people to Hong Kong, but the smuggler disappeared.

With his money running out, he decided to "do one last job" on the spot to get some travel expenses.

The ruthless Zhang Dabiao planned to kill them after robbing them, while the lecherous Li Wu hoped a woman would come along to make his move.

11:25.

The girl in the convenience store uniform walked unnoticed into the depths of the bamboo forest path, her footsteps sounding exceptionally clear in the silence.

Not far away, Chen Geng slowed his pace and followed silently, his palms slightly sweaty. He could sense that more than one pair of eyes in the darkness had already fixed their gaze on that lonely figure.

Further along the main road, a tall figure dressed in sportswear and wearing headphones, who seemed to be jogging at night, saw Chen Geng following a girl into a secluded path. She frowned, slowed down, and quietly followed.

In the interrogation room of the Luohu branch, Yang Yongchao slapped his thigh: "Brothers! The smuggler who was arrested yesterday has confessed. There are two illegal immigrants hiding in Luohu Park!"

"More importantly, these two are suspected of being online fugitives. Our team is going to get a major boost. Get ready, let's go!"