Chapter 102: Target Locked (Third Update)
Everyone’s attention turned to Chen Shi as he spoke, “I believe the police’s duty, broadly speaking, is to maintain stability and ensure the safety of the people. Although this isn’t a criminal case, let me give you an analogy. If you saw a pickpocket on the street, wouldn’t you intervene? The harm caused by this patient is much greater than murder and has far-reaching impacts. I think we should get involved.”
Many nodded in agreement. The expert gratefully said, “Thank you for your support and understanding.”
Lin Qiupu said, “Tell us about your findings.”
“I’ve prepared a PPT. Please, let’s display it.” The expert took out a USB drive.
A screenshot of a social networking app appeared on the projector. The app was called “Handsome Help,” essentially a sugar dating app. Female users posted their wishes, such as wanting a designer bag or a meal at a fancy restaurant, and male users fulfilled these wishes.
Naturally, everyone using this app knew the unspoken rules: male users didn’t help for free; they expected sexual favors in return.
The screenshot showed a user named “Love Like Tides,” with a cute profile picture. The expert said, “This is the app the patient used. It shows she’s met with at least ten people, and at least two have been infected. The transmission rate of HIV from female to male is relatively low.”
Lin Qiupu said, “I don’t care about probabilities. Either it transmits, or it doesn’t—100% or 0%.”
Xu Xiaodong agreed, “Right, it’s a 50-50 chance.”
The expert awkwardly smiled and continued, “She hasn’t used this app for a week, likely moved to another platform. By the way, there are some of her photos you might want to look at for reference.”
The expert showed the photos. The girl looked very cute, but in this era of edited images, no one believed it was really her.
“The photos are definitely edited. The flower branch next to her in the third one is bent. Can we restore it?” Lin Qiupu asked.
A network department officer said, “We can try, but the extent of the restoration is uncertain.”
Chen Shi crossed his arms, “No need to bother.”
“What did you say?” Lin Qiupu turned around.
“Even if we restore the photo, there are so many people in Long’an City. Are we going to search for her one by one? If she’s switched to another app, she might still use these photos. There are only a dozen popular social apps. We can search for her in the local area on those apps.”
“Good idea!” Lin Qiupu praised.
Chen Shi added, “If we can contact the developers and get her personal information, it would be faster.”
The expert said, “Modern social apps only require a phone number to register, no personal information. Most profiles are fake.”
“A phone number is good enough. Also, we should contact the men who met her.”
“Who’s the team leader?” Lin Qiupu asked.
“You are! You are!”
Lin Qiupu coughed and assigned tasks: one team would contact the developers to get the patient’s phone number; another team would visit the men she met to inform them and prevent further infections; the rest would register on other apps to find the woman.
The expert said, “Our center staff will join you to test her immediately once she’s found.”
“Is the testing process complicated?”
“We use the internationally recognized ‘gold standard’ method, just need test strips.”
“Then we don’t need an extra person. Give the test strips to our forensic doctor.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to him.”
Chen Shi quietly laughed, “Captain Lin doesn’t seem to pity Lao Peng.”
The expert said, “Thank you all for your efforts. I want to remind you that an HIV patient is not the same as HIV itself. She did this because she lacked sympathy and care. Please don’t discriminate against her.”
“Rest assured,” Lin Qiupu nodded.
Throughout the meeting, Lin Dongxue didn’t say a word. After the meeting, Chen Shi asked, “What’s wrong, Miss Lin? Not feeling well today?”
“Annoyed.”
“Who annoyed you?”
“You did!”
“What did I do?”
“These men who seek sugar relationships, they deserve it. Why save them? Why are you getting involved? I even wondered if you’re into this, being so proactive.”
“We’re not saving them; we’re saving their families and children.”
“Boring. I want to continue my insurance case.”
“Hey!” Chen Shi stopped Lin Dongxue from leaving, “Do you know what day it is today?”
“The 24th, why?”
“Let’s have dinner tonight.”
Lin Dongxue burst into laughter, “Are you asking me out?”
“Sort of,” Chen Shi shrugged.
“What about the girl at your place?”
“First, I’m not her father; second, she can take care of herself… Besides, I’ll be back early.”
“I’ll think about it. I might be busy tonight, thanks to a certain good-hearted citizen who took on this task.”
The next day, everyone was busy registering on various social apps, comparing photos: “Do you think this one looks like her?” “Ugh, they all look the same, too low resolution.”
Xu Xiaodong suddenly stood up, “Guys, I found her!”
Everyone crowded around. As Chen Shi predicted, she was using the same photos. They all praised Xu Xiaodong, calling him lucky.
“What next?” Xu Xiaodong asked, bewildered.
“Chat her up!”
“Never done this before… Lao Zhang, you try?”
“I have no experience either.”
Everyone looked at Chen Shi, who was reading a newspaper. “Why are you looking at me?”
Xu Xiaodong smiled, “Brother Chen, you’re suave. You must have lots of experience, right?”
“Are you insulting me?”
“No, help us out, please?”
Chen Shi sighed, took the phone. The app was called “Fake Couple.” The girl was online. Chen Shi thought for a moment, took a selfie, looked at it, and said, “Not photogenic, Xiaodong, let me take your picture.”
Xu Xiaodong immediately straightened his collar, smiling. Chen Shi said, “No, not appealing enough. Go to my car, hold the steering wheel, and wear sunglasses.”
After some effort, they finally got the profile picture right. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Chen Shi sent a message, “Hi, beauty.”
After a long wait, she replied with an emoji. Everyone was excited. Xu Xiaodong said, “Brother Chen, keep going, ask her out.”
“It’s not that straightforward. Do you know how to chat?”
Chen Shi thought about what to say. Although he was usually talkative, he was at a loss for words in front of the cold chat interface. So, he flipped through Xu Xiaodong’s album, found a picture of a cat, and sent it.
Then he typed, “I just spent 10,000 yuan on a Persian cat. Is it cute?”
“You’re lying, old man. Have you even seen a Persian cat?”
“Old man? Am I that old? How old are you?”
“19.”
At this point, she sent a video request…