Han Yi looked up."What?"Qin Yue didn't answer immediately.She clicked once,then again."Another search just came through." Han Yi lowered his phone."Suo Ran?""Yes." She clicked the record open."This time they searched his current location."Han Yi stopped."Current location?"Qin Yue nodded."Not his address.His live location data."Han Yi's eyes narrowed behind his glasses.He walked back to the desk and placed his phone beside the keyboard. "Show me."Qin Yue shifted aside.
Han Yi leaned over the monitor and read the new entry himself.The search timestamp was only seconds old."When did this happen?" "Just now."Qin Yue checked the system log again."The request came through the same access point."Han Yi's expression changed."Same credentials?" "Same authorization layer."She looked up at him."Guo Sheng's."Han Yi straightened slowly.
For a moment,neither of them spoke.Qin Yue closed the old files and pulled up the location search details."They didn't just ask for a general location.""What did they get?" "A current device position."She enlarged the result."It updated less than a minute ago." Han Yi looked at the coordinates,then at the timestamp."Can you tell where he is?"Qin Yue typed quickly.The screen refreshed. "Yes."She stopped."He's still moving."Han Yi's jaw tightened."How far?""I can't tell yet."Qin Yue opened another window."The system is only giving me the latest position." Han Yi picked up his phone again."Call him." Qin Yue was already reaching for her own phone."I'm calling now."
Han Yi looked at the screen once more. "Don't mention the investigation."Qin Yue paused."What should I say?""Just get him to answer."She nodded and pressed the call button.As the phone began ringing,Han Yi grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. Qin Yue glanced at him."Where are you going?" "To find him.""You think something's about to happen?"Han Yi slipped his phone into his hand and pushed his glasses firmly into place."I think someone just found his location."
Qin Yue's phone continued ringing."He isn't answering."Han Yi looked at her."Again."She immediately redialed.The room seemed suddenly smaller with the ringing filling the silence.Qin Yue watched the screen while waiting.Han Yi's jaw tightened slightly.He took off his glasses,cleaned them once with the edge of his sleeve,and put them back on."Keep trying."Qin Yue glanced at him before pressing the call button again.Han Yi turned toward the computer and checked the location screen once more.The last recorded position remained unchanged. "He's not usually this difficult to reach,"Qin Yue said quietly.Han Yi didn't answer.His fingers tapped once against the desk before stopping."Try again."Qin Yue nodded and started another call.
Across the city,Suo Ran's phone suddenly began ringing inside the quiet café.The sound cut through the stillness.Suo Ran looked down at the screen and saw Han Yi's name."It's Han Yi."Lian Ziho turned toward him."Answer it."Suo Ran accepted the call."Hello?"Han Yi leaned back slightly in his chair,one hand resting against the desk while his eyes stayed fixed on the monitor. Qin Yue spun her chair around and leaned one elbow against the backrest,watching him with a sharp look.
Han Yi's voice remained calm,but there was a harder edge beneath it."Where are you?" Suo Ran glanced toward the dark hallway before answering."At a café with Lian Ziho." Han Yi's fingers tapped once against the desk before going still.He reached up and adjusted his glasses,his gaze narrowing at the information on the screen."Why weren't you answering?"Suo Ran frowned slightly."I didn't hear my phone."Han Yi exchanged a brief look with Qin Yue.She raised an eyebrow and silently pointed toward the location record.
Han Yi turned back to the monitor."Did anyone approach you?"Suo Ran's eyes moved toward Lian Ziho.Lian Ziho noticed the change in his expression and stepped closer."Why?"Han Yi slowly pushed his chair back and stood,still holding the phone to his ear."Because someone has been tracking you."Suo Ran straightened slowly."Who?""We don't know yet."Han Yi's voice remained controlled."Qin Yue is tracing the access point,but whoever did it knew where to look." Suo Ran lowered his voice."How long?" Han Yi glanced at the screen again.Qin Yue was still going through the records,her expression becoming more focused with every new entry."We don't know exactly," Han Yi said."But from what we've found,it seems to have started sometime after Jun Wei's kidnapping."
Suo Ran's expression changed immediately. His grip on the phone tightened,and for a moment he said nothing."After Jun Wei's kidnapping?""That's what it looks like."Han Yi leaned one hand against the desk."The searches weren't made all at once.Some of the older records were accessed weeks ago,then there were more recent searches." Suo Ran lowered his eyes for a moment."So someone has been looking into the case again.""Yes."Han Yi's gaze remained fixed on the monitor."And now they're looking for you."
Suo Ran turned toward the café entrance, his expression becoming more serious."Do you think it's the same person?"Han Yi didn't answer immediately."We don't have enough to say that yet."Suo Ran's thumb moved once along the edge of his phone. "But you think there's a connection.""I think it's too close to ignore."Suo Ran took a slow breath and looked toward Lian Ziho.Lian Ziho had been watching him carefully,and the moment their eyes met,he understood that the call had become more serious. "What exactly did they search?" Suo Ran asked.
Han Yi looked toward Qin Yue.Qin Yue lifted one finger,signaling that she was still checking."The kidnapping case,the transfer records,and several files connected to you," Han Yi said."Someone was trying to rebuild the trail."Suo Ran's jaw tightened slightly. "And now my location.""Yes."Han Yi's voice lowered."Which means this may no longer be someone researching the past."Suo Ran went still for a moment."They may be watching what I'm doing now.""Exactly."Han Yi picked up a pen from the desk and turned it once between his fingers before setting it back down."So tell me something."
Suo Ran looked toward the dark hallway. "What?""Did you see anything unusual before we called?"Suo Ran frowned slightly. "Unusual?"Suo Ran's gaze moved across the café.The empty tables,the dark counter, the hallway they had already checked. Nothing seemed out of place then something caught his attention.He turned toward the glass door, there was small mark had been drawn near the edge of the glass. Suo Ran stepped closer,but stopped before touching the door.His eyes narrowed."Han Yi."
Han Yi was in the middle of checking another record when he heard his name.His fingers stopped above the keyboard,and he slowly looked toward the monitor as if waiting for Suo Ran to continue.Qin Yue noticed the sudden change in his expression and turned her chair slightly toward him."What?""There's a mark on the glass."Lian Ziho followed his gaze."What kind of mark?" Suo Ran studied it in silence for another second."A symbol.Han Yi looked toward Qin Yue.Qin Yue was already moving between the computer screens."Describe it."Suo Ran gave her the details slowly."A circle with two short lines through the center. One of them is broken near the edge."
Qin Yue's fingers stopped above the keyboard.She entered the description into the old case database and began searching through archived evidence.Han Yi looked at the screen beside her."Anything?""Wait."Qin Yue opened one file,then another.Her brows drew together."That's strange."Han Yi moved closer."What?""I've seen this before."She opened an old evidence photograph.The image showed a piece of evidence collected during the early investigation into Jun Wei's kidnapping.The same symbol was visible in one corner."This isn't from Suo Ran's case,"Qin Yue said quietly."It's from an unrelated piece of evidence."Han Yi's expression hardened. "From where?"Qin Yue enlarged the image. "Jun Wei's kidnapping investigation."
Lian Ziho looked at Suo Ran."So this isn't about my friend."Suo Ran slowly shook his head.His eyes remained fixed on the mark beyond the phone screen."No. It's connected to us." "I think staying there is a risk I'm not willing to take."He adjusted his glasses."Leave now."
Suo Ran ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.Lian Ziho watched him."What did he say?""We leave."Suo Ran picked up the photograph from the table and slid it carefully back into the envelope they had recovered earlier."Something from Jun Wei's kidnapping has the same symbol." Lian Ziho's expression changed."You're sure?""Qin Yue found it in the old evidence records."Lian Ziho reached for his coat. "Then let's go."They moved toward the entrance together.Suo Ran stopped briefly beside the glass door and looked at the symbol again.
Suo Ran pushed the door open,and they stepped outside.The street looked completely normal, few cars passed at the end of the road.A shop across the street was still open.A man walked past with his phone in his hand.Suo Ran stood still for a moment,taking in the street.Lian Ziho came to stand beside him."Nothing."Suo Ran's eyes moved across the road."That's what bothers me."Lian Ziho glanced at him."You think someone is still watching?""If they were careful enough to leave that mark without us noticing,they wouldn't stand around waiting for us to find them."
Lian Ziho opened the passenger door.Suo Ran got into the car.The doors closed,and the outside noise became muffled.Lian Ziho started the engine and pulled away from the curb.After they had gone several blocks,he finally spoke."Should we go to the bureau?" Suo Ran looked through the window at the passing streets."No."Lian Ziho glanced at him."Why not?""If someone is watching us,they'll know the moment we do."Lian Ziho considered that before returning his attention to the road."Then where?" "Somewhere quiet first."Lian Ziho nodded and continued driving.
Suo Ran took out the photograph.The image of the old building looked different now that he knew the symbol was connected to Jun Wei's kidnapping.He held it closer to the fading light from the window and examined every part of the background.The old storage structures behind it.Then his eyes stopped.He leaned forward slightly."Wait." Lian Ziho glanced at him."What?"Suo Ran pointed at the photograph."That sign."Lian Ziho slowed slightly."You recognize it?"
Suo Ran stared at the small building sign in the distance.It was partly hidden behind a row of trees,but the lettering was still visible. "Yes." His voice became quieter."I've seen that place before.""Where?"Suo Ran's fingers tightened around the edge of the photograph. "It was one of the first locations connected to Jun Wei's kidnapping."Lian Ziho's expression changed."The same location from the old investigation?""Not exactly."Suo Ran looked at the photograph again."But it was mentioned in one of the earliest leads."
Lian Ziho slowed the car slightly as they passed the row of trees.He looked toward the building,then back at the road."What happened there?""Nothing."Suo Ran gave a small shake of his head."That's the problem."Lian Ziho glanced at him. "Nothing?""The investigators went there,but they couldn't find anything useful.No witnesses.No records.No connection to Jun Wei."Suo Ran turned the photograph over in his hands."After that,the lead was dropped." "And nobody went back?""Not that I know of."Lian Ziho frowned."Then why photograph it now?"Suo Ran looked through the windshield again.The building was already disappearing behind them."I don't know."
Suo Ran lowered the photograph to his lap."If they wanted us to find the building, they could have left a message.They didn't. They only took a picture.""Maybe the picture wasn't meant for you."Suo Ran looked at him."Then who was it meant for?"Lian Ziho didn't answer.He tapped his thumb once against the steering wheel."That's what bothers me."Suo Ran leaned back and looked at the dark road ahead."Tonight was supposed to be simple."Lian Ziho glanced at him."And how did that work out?"Suo Ran gave him a flat look."Don't start."
Lian ziho smiled."I'm not starting anything. I'm just pointing out that You and simple don't get along well."Suo Ran scoffed. "That's ridiculous.""Oh,is it?" Lian Ziho asked,one hand resting loosely on the steering wheel.His eyes stayed on the road. "Yes."Suo Ran leaned back,folding his arms."Hmm."Lian Ziho hummed softly and changed lanes without hurry.Suo Ran turned his head toward him."What?""Nothing."Lian Ziho shrugged, his thumb brushing once over the steering wheel."That 'hmm' sounded like something." "Did it?"Lian Ziho's smile grew a little as he glanced at him."You don't need to know." Suo Ran stared at him for a second,then let out a quiet scoff and turned toward the window. "Fine.Keep your secrets."
The car moved through a quieter stretch of road.Suo Ran shifted in his seat,trying to ease the ache in his leg,but the movement sent a sharp pain through it.He caught his breath and quickly settled back.Lian Ziho noticed the change from the corner of his eye.He didn't ask anything at first.He simply reached down and adjusted the air conditioning,then lowered the speed slightly. "Still hurting?"Suo Ran looked at him."A little."Lian Ziho nodded and kept driving.Suo Ran tried to stretch his leg again,but stopped when the pain returned.
Lian Ziho saw it in the mirror.This time he reached toward the passenger-side compartment and pulled out a folded jacket, holding it out without taking his eyes from the road."Put that under your leg."Suo Ran looked at the jacket."I'm fine."Lian Ziho gave him a brief look."I know."Suo Ran hesitated, then took it and folded it beneath his leg.The pressure eased almost immediately.He leaned back and let out a quiet breath. "Better?"Lian Ziho asked."Yeah."That was all.Lian Ziho nodded and returned his attention to the road.
A few minutes passed before Suo Ran noticed Lian Ziho's eyes in the rearview mirror again.At first,he ignored it.Then it happened a second time.Suo Ran turned his head."What?"Lian Ziho immediately looked back at the road."Nothing."Suo Ran watched him for a moment."You've been looking at me.""Have I?""Twice."Lian Ziho's mouth curved slightly."You were counting?" Suo Ran narrowed his eyes."Yes."Lian Ziho shook his head and changed lanes smoothly."Then I should be more careful." "You could also just tell me what you're thinking."Lian Ziho didn't answer.He drove for another few seconds,his thumb resting loosely against the steering wheel.Then he glanced at Suo Ran again before returning his attention to the road."Thank you."Suo Ran blinked."For what?"Lian Ziho kept his eyes ahead."For coming with me."
Suo Ran stared at him."That's what you were looking at me for?"Lian Ziho smiled,his fingers resting loosely against the steering wheel."Otherwise,what do you think? I like to see your face."Suo Ran blinked and stared at him for a second."My face?"Lian Ziho glanced at him with smile. "Yeah."Suo Ran looked away,trying to hide the smile pulling at his lips."You're strange.""Maybe." Lian Ziho turned his attention back to the road.Suo Ran shook his head."Just drive." "I'm driving.""Then stop talking."Lian Ziho gave a quiet laugh."Yes,Master."
Suo Ran immediately turned toward him. "Don't call me that."Lian Ziho's smile widened as he kept his eyes on the road. "Why not,Master?""Lian Ziho."Lian Ziho laughed and lifted his free hand slightly in surrender."Okay,okay.I'll stop teasing you." Suo Ran watched him for a moment,then settled back into his seat."Good."Lian Ziho nodded,his smile still lingering as he focused on the road."Good."A few seconds passed in silence before Suo Ran glanced at him again."You're still smiling."Lian Ziho kept his eyes ahead."Sorry, Master!"Suo Ran shook his head and turned back toward the window.
Back at the Bureau,Han Yi pushed open the investigation room door with his shoulder, one hand holding the printed photograph Lian Ziho had sent.Qin Yue was already there.She sat forward in her chair,her attention fixed on the files spread across the desk.Han Yi placed the photograph beside the keyboard."This came from Lian Ziho." Qin Yue immediately reached for it and studied the image without speaking.Han Yi pulled the chair beside her and sat down. "Anything familiar?"Qin Yue enlarged the photograph on the monitor,her eyes moving carefully over the building in the background. "Wait."She zoomed in again. Her expression tightened."I've seen this place before."
Han Yi leaned closer."Where?""Jun Wei's kidnapping case."She opened the archived investigation files and brought up an older photograph.The building appeared from a different angle,but the structure was unmistakable.Han Yi's gaze moved between the two images."Same building.""Yes."Qin Yue opened the original report."It was one of the locations investigated during the early stages of the case.""What did they find?" "Nothing conclusive."She scrolled through the report."A vehicle was reportedly seen nearby,but there were no usable recordings, no confirmed witnesses,and no evidence linking the property to Jun Wei's disappearance."
Han Yi's expression darkened."So the lead was abandoned.""It was marked inconclusive."Qin Yue placed the old report beside the recent photograph."But this changes things."Han Yi looked at the photograph again."Because someone photographed it.""Because someone photographed it recently."Qin Yue turned toward the monitor and opened the file information."The building is old,but the photograph isn't."Han Yi leaned closer."How recent?""A few weeks at most."He was silent for a moment."Someone went back there."Qin Yue nodded.
Han Yi's eyes remained on the photograph. "Then the question isn't only who took it." Qin Yue looked at him."It's where they went after."Han Yi slowly turned the photograph over,as if expecting something to be written on the back.There was nothing."Lian Ziho didn't mention seeing anyone there.""Maybe he didn't."Qin Yue closed the old case file. "Or maybe whoever took the photograph didn't want to be seen."Han Yi's expression sharpened."Pull everything connected to that building again.Not just Jun Wei's case.I want property records,old complaints,traffic reports.Anything."
Qin Yue was already reaching for the keyboard."I'll check the surrounding area too."Han Yi stood and picked up the photograph."And find out when this picture was taken.""You think the timestamp matters?""I think nothing about this picture is accidental."Qin Yue looked at him for a moment,then nodded."I'll call you if I find something."Han Yi slipped the photograph into the file.He turned and walked out before she could answer.Qin Yue watched him leave,then looked back at the photograph.
Suo Ran stood beside the counter while the restaurant staff packed their dinner into separate containers.Lian Ziho checked the order on his phone,then looked at the bags as they were placed in front of him."That's everything?"Suo Ran asked."Almost."Lian Ziho picked up one of the containers and checked the label."Jun Wei's food is still coming."Suo Ran glanced toward the counter."He'll complain if you forget his favorite.""I didn't forget.""You remembered?""I remember more than you think."Suo Ran gave him a small look. "That's becoming a problem."
Lian Ziho smiled and reached for the last bag."You're the one who keeps testing me.""I wasn't testing you.""You asked me three times whether I remembered what he likes.""Because Jun Wei will make it everyone's problem if you get it wrong.""Fair enough."The staff handed them another bag,and Lian Ziho took it with his free hand.He checked the receipt again,then counted the containers inside the larger bag."One,two,three..."He paused."There should be four."Suo Ran looked over."The noodles."Lian Ziho turned toward the counter."Right."A staff member returned with the missing container and handed it to him."Sorry about that.""No problem."Lian Ziho placed it with the others and folded the receipt before slipping it into his pocket.Suo Ran picked up the drinks from the counter and held them in one hand."Ready?"Lian Ziho gathered the bags.They headed toward the entrance together.
The two of them walked toward the car with the food between them,and Suo Ran unlocked his phone as they reached it."Jun Wei probably thinks we've been gone for hours.""He has been calling.""How many times?""Seven."Suo Ran stopped beside the car."Seven?"Suo Ran looked at his phone and several missed calls."He really has no patience.""He's a child.""He's your child now,apparently."Lian Ziho opened the car door and placed the food inside."Don't say that too loudly.He'll hear you and start making demands."Suo Ran Laughed.
Suo Ran's phone rang.He looked at the screen and saw Jun Wei's name."It's Wei Wei."He answered the call,and Jun Wei's face immediately appeared on the screen. Suo Ran paused.Jun Wei was standing in the kitchen with flour covering one side of his face and dusting his clothes.His hair was messy,and a little streak of flour sat across the tip of his nose.Jun Wei noticed it on the screen and quickly rubbed his cheek with his hand,only smearing the flour across his face and leaving an even bigger white mark."Ge-ge..."he said softly,looking at the screen as if expecting Suo Ran to fix the problem from there.
Suo Ran stared at the screen for a second. "What happened to you?"Jun Wei looked down at himself."Nothing.""Why is there flour all over your face?""I was hungry."Suo Ran glanced at Lian Ziho,who was loading the last bag into the trunk."So you decided to cook?""I was waiting for you."Jun Wei rubbed his cheek,leaving another streak across it."Then I got hungry.""And this happened?"Jun Wei nodded.
Lian Ziho leaned closer to look at the phone. "What are you doing in that kitchen?"Jun Wei immediately looked at him through the screen."Waiting for my food.""Your food is in the car."Lian Ziho pointed toward the bags behind him."Good."Jun Wei's expression brightened."Bring it quickly."Suo Ran smiled."We are.""How long?""Not long." "You said that before.""This time I'm serious."Jun Wei crossed his arms,but the flour on his shirt made the gesture less intimidating than he intended."I'm hungry.""I know.""Really hungry.""I heard you."
Jun Wei looked toward the food he had tried to prepare,then back at the phone."Can you come faster?"Suo Ran's expression softened."We're leaving now.Just stay away from the kitchen until we get back."Jun Wei glanced around at the mess."Okay.""And don't touch the flour.""I wasn't going to."Suo Ran raised an eyebrow."Your face says otherwise."Jun Wei quickly wiped his cheek again."It's not that bad."Lian Ziho laughed. "It is."Jun Wei frowned at the screen."You drive faster.""Yes,sir."Lian Ziho gave a small salute toward the phone."Good."Jun Wei ended the call.
Suo Ran lowered his phone and looked at Lian Ziho."You just got ordered around by a child.""He has impressive authority."They looked at each other and laughed then they got into the car,but neither started moving immediately.Lian Ziho adjusted the rearview mirror while Suo Ran settled into the passenger seat.He glanced at the bags in the back."At least dinner is still warm."Lian Ziho started the car and pulled away from the curb.