Chapter 125: A Born Rebel

Chen Shi returned home at nine o’clock and was pleasantly surprised to find Tao Yueyue watching “Story of Yanxi Palace” on the computer. Finally, this kid was acting a bit normal.

He sighed as he sat down, “Being a cop is really dangerous. Just now, a police officer was viciously… given a terrible haircut by a criminal.”

“What’s so vicious about that?” Tao Yueyue scoffed.

“So you should never become a cop.”

“Being a cop is exhausting. I wouldn’t want to be one!”

Chen Shi noticed the takeout boxes on the table and asked, “Ordered takeout? I told you before…”

“I know, I know. Before opening the door, I should shout ‘Dad’ a few times to make strangers think there’s an adult at home.”

“Good girl! What are you watching?”

“A palace drama recommended by Sister Lin.”

“A kid watching a palace drama?”

“This one is very positive and full of good values!”

Chen Shi had never watched this show, but the scene on the screen showed the heroine scolding someone. It didn’t seem very positive to him.

Oh well, it’s good she’s watching TV. Ever since Tao Yueyue plotted revenge on her classmate, he’d been worried she might become a future Hannibal Lecter.

“Uncle Chen, can you buy me some classic literature?”

“This change is sudden. Sure, I’ll get you some tomorrow.”

“Thanks!”

Not wanting to disturb her, Chen Shi carefully closed the door and went to the living room. He sent a WeChat message to Lin Dongxue: “Thanks to Teacher Lin’s home visit, Tao Yueyue’s interest in studying has plummeted. She’s now engrossed in a palace drama. Thanks a lot.”

Five minutes later, Lin Dongxue replied, “Stop being sarcastic. We’ll talk tomorrow morning.”

Back at the station, everyone was still discussing the case. Lin Dongxue remembered that on their way to find Xu Xiaodong, almost everyone had been secretly photographed. She hypothesized that the opposition was using Xu Xiaodong as bait to draw out the entire task force and gather intel on them.

This theory was widely accepted, and the team developed a newfound respect for their opponent. This wasn’t an ordinary insurance fraud gang; they had nearly outsmarted the police with their intricate schemes. They were dealing with true criminal masterminds.

Officer Lao Zhang asked, “How did Xu Xiaodong’s identity get exposed? Could it be that informant betrayed him?”

Xu Xiaodong defended his friend, “Impossible, A Meng would never sell me out.”

Peng Sijue said, “When he rushed into the station and collapsed, it seemed a bit staged. If he really wanted to call the police, he could have just phoned in.”

Lin Dongxue suddenly remembered, “There are cameras at our entrance. Let’s check the footage and see how he got here.”

They pulled up the footage and saw a car speeding past the station. A Meng jumped out of the car, clutching his hand, and the car drove off. The license plate was covered in mud, making it unreadable.

Xu Xiaodong said, “See, I told you he wouldn’t betray me.”

They replayed the footage several times. Peng Sijue noticed something, “He landed face down. From his landing, it looks like he was prepared, as if he jumped himself rather than being pushed.”

Xu Xiaodong said, “Maybe he was forced to jump.”

Officer Lao Zhang said, “The car slowed down significantly when it passed the station, as if they were worried he might get hurt.”

Lin Dongxue said, “Let’s go ask him directly. Come on!”

Lin Dongxue, Xu Xiaodong, and Xiao Li went to the hospital. When they entered the room, they found A Meng suspiciously hiding something. Lin Dongxue rushed over and grabbed a phone from under his pillow, immediately disconnecting the call. She sternly asked, “Who were you warning?”

A Meng forced a smile, “Just telling my girlfriend I’m safe… Xu Xiaodong, you’re okay!”

Xu Xiaodong’s trust had already eroded. He coldly asked, “Did you betray me?”

“No, why would I? Look at my hand!”

Lin Dongxue was calling the station to check the phone number. The results came back quickly: the registered user was Yang Min.

Hearing this name, Lin Dongxue’s pupils contracted. This person had finally appeared.

Xu Xiaodong was trembling with anger, “We’ve known each other for so many years, and you sold me out!”

A Meng’s face twisted into a sinister smile, “When we were kids, I used to beat you up. After you became a cop, I had to act all submissive. I’ve tolerated you for so long. Who do you think you are, just because you wear that uniform?”

“Fine, I’ll take off this uniform, and we’ll settle this outside! If you can still beat me, I’ll let you go.”

“You said it!”

Lin Dongxue immediately stopped the foolish fight, “I’m the team leader, and I forbid this! Xu Xiaodong, get out.”

A Meng taunted, “Coward, hiding behind a woman. Xu Xiaodong, you’ll always be a loser!”

A crisp slap echoed through the room, stunning everyone. Xiao Li couldn’t stand it anymore and slapped him hard. A Meng’s face bore the mark of her hand, and he turned with a sinister look, grinding his teeth.

Xiao Li bit her lip, “I’ll accept the punishment. I just couldn’t stand it.”

As a fellow woman, Lin Dongxue understood Xiao Li’s feelings. She said, “Take this guy into custody and cut off all his contact with the outside world.”

As he was taken away, A Meng shouted, “Xu Xiaodong, you coward, hiding behind a woman! Ha ha ha!”

Xu Xiaodong stood there, dejected. “I never thought my own classmate would betray me. I treated him so well when he got out of prison.”

Lin Dongxue patted his shoulder, “Don’t be upset. It’s not your fault.”

At ten o’clock that night, no one in the task force had gone home. Lin Dongxue asked, “We’re out of leads. What do we do now?”

Someone suggested, “We could re-investigate all the insurance fraud cases we have. There must be a clue somewhere.”

Lin Dongxue shook her head, “I tried that before, with little to no results. The perpetrators are benefitting too much to expose the masterminds.”

Xu Xiaodong said, “Even though my undercover mission failed, I think we should try it again. They wouldn’t expect us to send another undercover agent so soon.”

“No way!” Peng Sijue immediately opposed, “When we went to find you, they already took photos of everyone on the team. Sending another undercover agent would be instantly recognized.”

Xiao Li said, “Wait, we have one person they didn’t photograph, and he’s not a cop.”

Xu Xiaodong was puzzled, “Who?”

“Brother Chen!”

“Yes, he’s perfect. Brother Chen’s background is full of questionable activities. They wouldn’t suspect him.”

Lin Dongxue immediately slammed the table, “No way, I don’t agree!”