Chapter 268: Where Did You Go?
Chapter 268 -266: Where Did You Go?
“The city bureau’s system is missing a list from the orphanage. Could he be involved?”
“Yan Zheng told me about this,” Qin Chengyuan said. “When we couldn’t find the orphanage list in the system, he was the first person we suspected. But with no evidence, it’s just a suspicion. Besides, if he was involved in destroying the list, it’s very likely he was also involved in your cover being blown during your mission.”
Su Miaoyi frowned in thought. “Zhuang Yanzheng and I discussed this. My memories are limited, so we guessed it was probably because I had met them at the orphanage before.”
“That’s a possibility. Lu Xian is also a possibility,” Qin Chengyuan said.
Su Miaoyi nodded. “So, besides Lu Xian, could someone else have destroyed the list?”
Qin Chengyuan was silent for a moment. “It’s possible. There have been quite a few internal transfers at the city bureau over the years. Meng Shuyi arrived after you went on your mission; the previous bureau chief retired. In the Criminal Investigation Division, everyone except Yan Zheng and Zheng Qi has been transferred elsewhere. The forensics department… there was an old forensic pathologist before Yan Cheng who also retired a couple of years ago. Other departments have had transfers too.”
‘So if someone was involved, they’ve likely already been moved somewhere else.’
“This matter has been under continuous investigation,” Qin Chengyuan said. “But it’s been a long time, and there’s no direct evidence, so it will take time and be more difficult.”
Su Miaoyi hugged a throw pillow and leaned back into the sofa, mulling over the entire situation. After a moment, she said, “There must be someone behind Lu Xian.”
“Mm.”
“Are you familiar with Lu Xian?” Su Miaoyi asked, looking at him.
“Not at all,” Qin Chengyuan said. “He hadn’t joined yet back when I was at the city bureau.”
Su Miaoyi fell silent again, then looked at Qin Chengyuan.
Seeing her staring at him, Qin Chengyuan narrowed his eyes and said, “Out with it.”
Su Miaoyi grinned and rubbed her hands together. “Minister Qin, it’s just… could you make an exception and issue me a gun? Yan Cheng and Lu Zhishen both have one, so I should be able to as well, right? After all, I’m not just a regular hire, I’m a *special* hire.”
“Yan Zheng mentioned this to me a while ago. He wanted to apply to get you a gun,” Qin Chengyuan said.
Su Miaoyi raised an eyebrow and began to sing his praises. “Zhuang Yanzheng is the most competent leader I’ve ever met!”
“And I’m not?” Qin Chengyuan asked.
Su Miaoyi’s expression froze for a second before she muttered, “You will be if you approve it.”
“And if I don’t?” Qin Chengyuan asked.
“Even if you don’t, I’ll get issued a gun eventually,” Su Miaoyi said.
Qin Chengyuan looked at her, then smiled. “Wait for my word.”
“Thank you, Minister Qin.”
Qin Chengyuan smiled again. He sat for a little while longer, and seeing that she was alright, he left.
When he got home, Shen Shilan was waiting for him in the living room.
Hearing the door open, Shen Shilan put down her laptop and got up to go to the entryway.
“What are you doing out here?” Qin Chengyuan glanced at the laptop on the sofa, then gave her a hug.
Shen Shilan always waited up for Qin Chengyuan when he worked late.
Back when he worked at the city bureau, Shen Shilan worried about his safety. When he came home late, she would wait for him on the sofa, working while she waited.
After he transferred to the ministry, she still waited for him to come home, but she usually did so in the study.
“Your flight wasn’t delayed, but you didn’t come home right after landing. It made me uneasy,” Shen Shilan said.
Qin Chengyuan chuckled. “I called you the moment I landed, and you were still worried.”
“Minister Qin, your phone calls lost all credibility twenty years ago,” Shen Shilan said. “When have you ever told me the truth when I asked if something happened? You were lying in a hospital bed and still told me it was nothing, that you’d be home in a few days. But when I got to the hospital, the doctor was telling me you might need an amputation!”
“It was never that serious. See? I’m perfectly fine, nothing happened,” Qin Chengyuan said with a laugh.
Shen Shilan shot him a glare. Then, looking at the smile on his face, she felt something was off.
‘It seemed… like he was secretly pleased about something.’
Qin Chengyuan took her hand and led her into the living room. Just as he was about to go wash his hands, Shen Shilan stopped him. “Hold on a minute.”
Qin Chengyuan stopped in his tracks. “What is it?”
“Where did you go?” Shen Shilan took two steps to stand right in front of him.
Qin Chengyuan looked at her without speaking.
Normally, Shen Shilan rarely asked him where he went.
Because when he went out, it was for work. He used to investigate cases, and she knew she couldn’t ask about them casually. It became a habit, and she rarely asked about his work.
“Say something,” Shen Shilan said, tilting her head up to look at him.
“I… didn’t go anywhere,” Qin Chengyuan said.
“You’re lying.” Shen Shilan frowned. “Did you go to Weiyang Palace? You went to see Lele.”
Qin Chengyuan’s expression betrayed nothing, but inwardly, he was surprised she knew.
“I bought Lele a new aromatherapy scent the last time I went to Weiyang Palace,” Shen Shilan said. “The smell is on your clothes.”
Qin Chengyuan: “…”
“Also… something’s on your mind.” Shen Shilan looked into his eyes. “You’re secretly happy, but you’re also worried…”
She narrowed her eyes, her expression suddenly tense. “Lele is hurt.”
“Shilan, it’s alright now,” Qin Chengyuan said.
Shen Shilan was silent for two seconds, then raised her hand and pinched his arm. “You hid this from me! How could you hide something like this from me!”
“I didn’t want you to worry,” Qin Chengyuan said. “Lele also said she’s mostly better, so we shouldn’t tell you.”
“And hiding it from me means I won’t worry?!” Shen Shilan retorted. “What do you mean ‘mostly better’? Is it serious? Where is she hurt?”
“Shilan.” Qin Chengyuan pulled her down to sit on the sofa. “I went to see her. She’s in good spirits. If it were that serious, she wouldn’t be at Weiyang Palace.”
“Where is she hurt?” Shen Shilan asked.
“Knife wounds. On her arms, legs, and back,” Qin Chengyuan said.
Shen Shilan was rendered speechless. After a few seconds, she covered her eyes with her hands.
Qin Chengyuan put an arm around her shoulders.
Shen Shilan calmed herself down and glanced at the time. It was already late. Going to Weiyang Palace now would only disturb Su Miaoyi’s rest, so she didn’t move.
After another moment, she pushed Qin Chengyuan’s hand off her shoulder. “You and your daughter are exactly alike!”
Qin Chengyuan just listened.
“You only know how to hide things from me when you’re hurt,” Shen Shilan said. “Ganging up to lie to me. You both have the surname Qin, you’re on the same team!”
Drawing on many years of experience, Qin Chengyuan knew better than to say anything.
‘Anything he said right now would be met with an attack.’
‘He might even “win” a few days of sleeping in the study.’
“Does Shen Yanzhou know too?” Shen Shilan suddenly asked.
Qin Chengyuan nodded. “Yan Zhou has been taking care of her these past couple of days.”
“Fine, fine, fine,” Shen Shilan said. “So the one with the surname Shen isn’t on my team either.”
“I’m on your team,” Qin Chengyuan said.
Shen Shilan glared at him. “What did you talk to Lele about? You were so pleased with yourself I bet you almost couldn’t find your own front door.”
Qin Chengyuan chuckled.
Shen Shilan watched him for a moment, then picked up her laptop and walked toward the study.
‘Reading her papers was already giving her a headache, but now, everything hurt…’