NOS Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Mopan Mountain (5)

Chapter 5: Mopan Mountain (5)

This unpleasant case recollection was finally interrupted by Yu Chunming’s suddenly ringing phone. Han Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and invited everyone downstairs to eat.

During the meal, he deliberately sat opposite Guan Yao.

The Linchang (Forest Farm) Police Station’s cafeteria wasn’t big, barely able to accommodate a task force. Meng Changqing, Li Xiaotian, and others could only take their lunch boxes back to the office upstairs to make room for others working overtime.

Han Chen glanced back at Yu Chunming, who was still on the phone at the end of the corridor, then turned to Guan Yao with a smile: “He’s got a lot going on, we won’t wait for him.”

Guan Yao didn’t touch his chopsticks: “You and… Officer Yu are both master’s graduates from the police academy?”

Han Chen replied with a beaming smile: “He is, I’m not. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I was assigned back to my hometown. Chunming went on to graduate school. It wasn’t until after he was admitted to the Songlan Municipal Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment that I was transferred from the local level.”

Guan Yao “oh”ed, then seemingly casually asked: “Officer Yu is… a local of Songlan?”

“That’s right,” Han Chen raised his head and waved to Yu Chunming, who was walking this way. “If he’s not from Songlan, where else could he be from?”

Guan Yao raised his eyebrows, preparing to get up and give Yu Chunming the seat directly opposite Han Chen, but Yu Chunming put a hand on his shoulder, indicating not to move.

“I’ll get your food for you.” Han Chen was enthusiastic and friendly.

Yu Chunming didn’t answer, and immediately wanted to light a cigarette after sitting down.

Guan Yao couldn’t bear it any longer: “Can you change this habit of smoking anytime, anywhere?”

Yu Chunming was silent for a moment, then stood up, preparing to go outside to smoke.

“Okay, okay, sit down, sit down.” Guan Yao had no interest in letting outsiders watch the Linchang (Forest Farm) Police Station’s “internal strife.”

That’s right, even though Han Chen had been trying to get close to Yu Chunming all day, Guan Yao still categorized him as an “outsider.”

— No matter how much Yu Chunming and he were at odds, he was still a member of the Linchang (Forest Farm) Police Station.

Guan Yao cautiously adhered to this rigid and self-respecting facade.

But Yu Chunming really didn’t smoke. He put away his cigarette, picked up his chopsticks, and said, “I’m taking half a day off this afternoon.”

Han Chen looked at him: “Taking time off? Something up?”

“Something up.” Yu Chunming answered briefly. Obviously, he didn’t want to explain what it was.

However, Han Chen didn’t seem to have much sense of it. He insisted on asking, “What’s wrong? Do you need my help?”

Yu Chunming lowered his head and ate two mouthfuls of rice, ignoring Han Chen’s eagerness.

“No need.” He said lightly.

Guan Yao wanted to laugh when he heard this, thinking that old classmates were nothing more than this. Could this unchanging ice cave be warmed by you?

However, immediately afterward, Guan Yao saw Han Chen very familiarly reaching out his chopsticks and picking the celery and scallions from Yu Chunming’s bowl.

“The conditions in your place are indeed difficult. It’s already this time of year, how come the heating hasn’t been turned on yet?” Han Chen said with a smile. “I’ll help you pick out the celery.”

Guan Yao clearly heard Yu Chunming take a deep breath as Han Chen reached out with his chopsticks. He seemed to be enduring something, but this person, who always said what he thought in front of him, didn’t say a word at this time. He just put down his chopsticks and looked at Han Chen.

Han Chen was full of smiles: “Why aren’t you eating?”

Yu Chunming didn’t answer, probably wanting the person next to him to get him out of this awkward situation, but when he turned his head, he saw Guan Yao with a look of indifference, concentrating on eating his meal. Yu Chunming couldn’t help but ask: “Are you very hungry?”

Guan Yao raised his head blankly: “Huh?”

Yu Chunming pushed his lunchbox in front of him: “I didn’t eat much. If you’re hungry, help yourself.”

After saying that, he stood up, deftly pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and left without looking back.

Han Chen didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He adjusted his glasses and said unhurriedly: “Chunming is just like that. He was like that in Songlan, too. He had a terrible temper, but fortunately, his skills are excellent, and his mentor valued him, so no one dared to say anything. If it weren’t for back then…”

He stopped talking halfway, shook his head, obviously waiting for Guan Yao to ask him himself.

But Guan Yao avoided the topic. He picked up a celery stalk and asked seriously, “Officer Yu doesn’t eat this stuff?”

Han Chen was stunned: “Huh?”

“It’s such a good thing, we can’t even grow it here.” Guan Yao said with great regret.

Of course, how could he not have smelled a hint of ambiguity in Han Chen’s words? Long before Yu Chunming was transferred to the Linchang (Forest Farm) Police Station, Guan Yao had heard that this police officer was here because he had made a mistake.

As for what mistake he had made? Guan Yao had no interest in finding out.

He had a set of principles to restrain himself. Since he was still wearing the police uniform, it meant that Yu Chunming was still his colleague, his comrade-in-arms. He disliked this person, but his past wasn’t his business. As for what mistake he had made? Guan Yao didn’t care.

So, Han Chen saw him glance at Yu Chunming’s back, then smile and say: “Oh, you just said Officer Yu has a bad temper. He does have a bad temper, but for us police officers, excellent skills are the most important thing, aren’t they?”

Han Chen didn’t expect Guan Yao to answer like this. He was stunned for a moment, then nodded and smiled: “That’s right, that’s right.”

Guan Yao also raised the corners of his mouth, then unceremoniously took the lunchbox that Yu Chunming had left on the table and poured all of the food he hadn’t touched into his own bowl: “Want some?”

The words Han Chen originally wanted to say were blocked by Guan Yao. How could he be in the mood to eat now? He gave a dry laugh and politely replied: “I’m not very hungry.”

Guan Yao said happily: “Then I’ll eat.”

Yu Chunming had already walked far away. No one in the police station knew where he had gone, just like everyone didn’t know where he lived, what relatives he had, or what kind of friends he had.

This person was an out-and-out “wandering soul,” drifting around every day. He never communicated much with people and rarely smiled. Usually, he wore an arrogant and aloof face, lifting his chin when looking at people, as if afraid others wouldn’t know he was a highly educated criminal police officer from the big city.

Guan Yao hated his pretense, but Guan Yao had to admit that his pretense looked pretty impressive.

— Especially when analyzing the case at the crime scene.

After eating, when he returned to the Research and Evaluation room, most of the task force members who had stayed at the Linchang (Forest Farm) Police Station had gone out on field work. Only a young female police officer from the trace evidence team, who had just been transferred from the capital of Jin A Lin Shan Area at noon, remained.

This female police officer had a quiet and elegant temperament, with her hair tied in a ponytail. She sat at the end of the conference table, head down, typing on the computer.

Meng Changqing didn’t know when he had sneaked into the room. He was crouching under Guan Yao’s chair, tidying up materials in a sneaky manner. While tidying up the materials, his eyes weren’t honest either, occasionally looking up and glancing at the female police officer over there.

“What are you looking at?” Guan Yao asked, arms crossed, sizing him up.

Meng Changqing immediately stood up straight: “Mas, Master, you’re back?”

Guan Yao pulled out a chair and sat down, looking at his little apprentice with a half-smile: “You’re quite enthusiastic, aren’t you?”

Meng Changqing scratched his head, deliberately straightening his back: “I was just thinking, to help out, see if you need anything here…”

“Don’t need anything,” Guan Yao waved his hand. “You may return.”

“Okay, yes.” Meng Changqing looked back somewhat disappointedly at the young female police officer who was still typing on the computer without looking sideways. “I, I’m leaving.”

“Go ahead.” Guan Yao said with a smile.

Meng Changqing reluctantly went out the door, looking back again before leaving to see if his beloved master had any important instructions for him. If it weren’t for the fact that Li Xiaotian’s side had a theft case that needed manpower, this kid didn’t know how long he would have lingered at the door.

“Making such a fuss.” Guan Yao chuckled.

The female police officer sitting over there heard this. She raised her head and looked at Guan Yao: “Is he your apprentice?”

Guan Yao was stunned, quickly saying in his heart that the kid mustn’t lose face for his master. Only then did he ask: “What’s wrong? Did he annoy you by squatting in this room just now?”

The female police officer stood up, smiled, and extended her hand to Guan Yao: “Hello, my name is Na Fei. I’m… Officer Yu Chunming’s junior colleague.”

“Ju, junior colleague…” It was Guan Yao’s turn to stutter.

“He’s two grades above me. We were very close when we were at the police academy. You could say we came from the same school.” After Na Fei finished speaking, she added: “Not the school of Captain Wang from the Songlan Municipal Bureau, but the school of Professor Chen from the police academy.”

“Oh, oh,” Guan Yao quickly stepped forward and shook Na Fei’s hand. “Officer Yu has quite a few acquaintances.”

“After all, there aren’t many fellow natives at the police academy, so those of us who came from Jin A Lin Shan all know each other.” Na Fei said.

Guan Yao raised his eyebrows: “Jin A Lin Shan? Isn’t Officer Yu… from Songlan?”

Hearing this, Na Fei’s originally warm expression froze. She quickly looked Guan Yao up and down, then in a stiff and slightly awkward tone said: “Ah, he… used to live here for a short period of time.”

“Is that so…” Guan Yao nodded. “I heard that he seemed to have stayed at One Zero Three Forest Farm. I don’t know much about it, sorry.”

After saying this, Guan Yao noticed that Na Fei’s gaze at him gradually became strange. She sat down again and quickly typed on the keyboard, seemingly dealing with some work problem.

Guan Yao was completely puzzled, so he had to lower his head and look through the materials. Fortunately, Liang Chong and Han Chen entered the room a moment later, saving the originally tense atmosphere.

That afternoon, after sorting out all the details of the case, Guan Yao was assigned to video monitoring and dispatch inspection. He led Meng Changqing, who was eager to join the task force, squatted in front of the computer for most of the day, and dispatched almost all the surveillance videos in Za Mu Er from the previous five days, but couldn’t find out where the missing Liu Bin went after leaving Longgang Village.

By the evening, Meng Changqing yawned and said: “Master, could it be that Liu Bin was also eaten by wild animals?”

Guan Yao frowned and looked at his phone: “Yu Chunming isn’t planning on coming back today?”

Meng Changqing asked with a pair of sleepy eyes: “Is Officer Yu sick?”

“What’s wrong with him?” Guan Yao put down his phone impatiently. “He looked pretty energetic when he was arguing with everyone in the Research and Evaluation room this morning.”

“Well, before he left at noon, I saw him pouring a handful of medicine into his mouth near the water dispenser.” Meng Changqing said.

Guan Yao’s expression froze, and he looked back at Yu Chunming’s desk.

This person probably had obsessive-compulsive disorder. The desk was neat and tidy and spotless. Besides a computer and a mouse, nothing was placed on it. The cabinets and drawers underneath were also locked tightly. Without his own key, no one could open them.

Retracting his gaze, Guan Yao “tsk”ed: “Look at the surveillance footage properly. You’re worrying about so many things, do you think you’re the Secretaries -General of the United Nations?”

Meng Changqing asked seriously: “Who else is the Secretaries -General of the United Nations?”

“I’m telling you to watch the surveillance footage!” Guan Yao knocked Meng Changqing on the head with a flick of his finger. “Rewind that part and watch it again.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Meng Changqing replied meekly.

At this time, faint sounds of arguing came from the Research and Evaluation room. Guan Yao looked up and saw Na Fei standing in front of Han Chen through a layer of glass, holding a stack of documents in her hand, seemingly arguing with him about something.

“These two aren’t getting along either.” Guan Yao said to himself.

Meng Changqing leaned forward to inquire: “Who’s not getting along with whom?”

Guan Yao glared at him. The kid immediately turned around,lie over the computer, and stared intently at the screen. But a sound of slapping the table rang out from next door, and the next moment, Han Chen walked out angrily.

Meng Changqing couldn’t help but ask in a low voice: “Master, are they fighting?”

Guan Yao took out a White Rabbit Candy and stuffed it into Meng Changqing’s mouth: “You talk too much.”

Meng Changqing puffed out his cheeks and winked at Guan Yao like a thief: “Master, how about I go ask that police officer for you?”

Guan Yao narrowed his eyes: “Are you trying to listen to gossip, or are you trying to talk to that female police officer?”

Meng Changqing immediately sat up straight: “Master, I’m definitely not doing it for myself. I saw that the police officer seemed very interested in you, Master, so I said that.”

When Guan Yao heard this, his temples tightened: “That police officer is interested in me?”

“That’s right,” Meng Changqing replied with a simple expression. “It was when I was helping you sort out the materials in the Research and Evaluation room at noon. That police officer was asking me about you.”

“What did she ask me about?” Guan Yao was surprised. “Does that police officer know me?”

“This…” Meng Changqing couldn’t explain it either. He guessed randomly: “Maybe it was when you went to the local bureau to receive an award before, she, she took a liking to you, Master.”

“You kid!” Guan Yao glared. “Stop projecting your own thoughts onto me.”

Meng Changqing blushed and stopped talking.

Guan Yao also retracted his gaze and began to concentrate on checking the new surveillance videos.

But–

Na Fei has nothing better to do than to ask about him?

The task force worked overtime until late at night as usual. When Guan Yao changed shifts and left the police station, the streets of Za Mu Er were already empty. He rubbed his hands, wrapped his police cotton uniform tightly, and bent down to get into the frozen red car.

This car made a lot of noise when it was driven, and the shock absorption was poor. Guan Ning had to complain every time she sat in the passenger seat that her uncle was too stingy to even change the car, but Guan Yao was happy and claimed that this car could go off-road even if it wasn’t on the mountain.

Tonight, just as this car was about to turn left at the T-junction in front of the police station, Guan Yao stopped for no reason. Looking at the silent street in front of him, he suddenly turned the steering wheel and turned to the other side.

Za Mu Er, District 11, Number 35 was on the other side.

From the moment Yu Chunming said this address, these words had been hovering in Guan Yao’s mind.

Za Mu Er, District 11, Number 35…

What kind of place was that? Guan Yao felt his mouth was a little dry.

The location of the Linchang (Forest Farm) Police Station was Za Mu Er, District 8, Number 19, which was not far from District 11, Number 35, only a fifteen-minute drive, but these fifteen minutes made Guan Yao feel extremely long. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, as if he would slip into the abyss on the side if he was not careful.

Why was this happening? Guan Yao closed his eyes. He knew too well why this was happening to him.

Because Za Mu Er, District 11, Number 35 was the source of the fire thirty-three years ago.

Squeak–

In the middle of the night, Guan Yao stepped on the brakes.

In the distance stood a factory building with its outer walls scorched black. Behind the factory building were several rows of gray buildings of varying heights. Underneath the buildings were several abandoned trailer trucks–the former No. 2 Timber Factory area had now become a desolate place rarely visited.

Guan Yao rarely came here, so naturally he didn’t know what this place was used for now. He wandered around blankly, then came to the factory building with the scorched black walls.

And just then, a familiar voice sounded behind Guan Yao: “Why did you come?”

[Author’s Words]

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