Chapter 130: Life in Captivity

Chen Shi’s colleagues desperately urged Peng Siyue to remedy his reckless actions, but he remained silent. Lin Dongxue was also shocked by Peng Siyue’s determination. Tears welled up in her eyes, knowing the consequences she and Peng Siyue would face once this case was over.

But she had no regrets.

She shouted, “Quiet!”

Everyone fell silent. Lin Dongxue declared, “I approved Captain Peng’s actions. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Dongxue, think this through,” someone advised.

“I have thought it through. This is the only way…” She pointed to the man sitting in the interrogation chair, “…to make him work for us!”

Ah Meng, staring at the dead mouse, trembled like a leaf, muttering, “You’re ruthless! Really ruthless! I’ll sue you!”

“If you think you can find a lawyer, file a case, gather evidence, and win a lawsuit within 48 hours, be my guest!” Peng Siyue said with a cold smile.

Finally, Ah Meng’s arrogance faded. He lowered his head and said, “I’ll cooperate. Does the deal to clear my past offenses still stand?”

“No, you’ve lost that chance.”

“Please, give me the antidote. I’ll help you. I’ll tell Brother Yang that Chen isn’t a cop. Is that enough?”

“You’re not trustworthy.”

“I’ll stake my life on it.”

“Aren’t you doing that already?”

“No, I’ll stake my mother’s life. If I lie, let her be…well, let her suffer the worst!”

“What a filial son!”

“Please, give me a chance! I want to be a good person now!” Ah Meng cried.

Xu Xiaodong said, “Give him a chance.” He had seen through Ah Meng’s nature and knew someone needed to play the good cop.

Lin Dongxue said, “If you contribute to solving the case, your punishment will be lenient.”

“How lenient?”

“Obstructing justice, three months in detention.”

This time, Ah Meng cried tears of joy. “Thank you! I’ll turn my life around, cut ties with those people!”

“Let him go.”

Ah Meng ran out crying. Watching him leave, Xu Xiaodong remembered how arrogant he was in school and how he cried after his first arrest, swearing to be a good person.

People are like stones; they can’t change. Xu Xiaodong sighed deeply.

Lin Dongxue asked Peng Siyue, “What kind of virus was that?”

Peng Siyue smiled, and his subordinate explained, “It was human blood. The mouse had a clotting reaction and died. Humans are fine, especially with type O blood, the safest.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. “Captain Peng, that was brilliant!” “You scared us all.” “I knew you wouldn’t actually do it!”

Someone asked, “But the forensics lab isn’t a hospital. Where did you get the blood?”

Peng Siyue rolled up his sleeve, showing a fresh needle mark. “I have type O blood. This trick was taught to me by an old friend. I was terrified when I first saw it.”

“That friend, was it your former partner Song Lang?” Old Zhang asked.

“Yes, he taught me this trick. I never thought I’d use it to save…others!”

Chen Shi was sweating profusely, occasionally groaning. He was doing push-ups, shirtless, using one hand.

Forty with the left hand, forty with the right. Sweat rolled off his bulging back muscles, dripping onto the floor.

After finishing, he squatted to catch his breath, glancing at the tally marks scratched on the wall. It had been seven days. Those bastards were wearing him down daily. What were they up to?

The door clicked, and Chen Shi rushed over. It was the thin guy bringing food. It was the usual takeout, the kind that cost ten yuan a box.

But Chen Shi wasn’t waiting for the food; he was waiting for something else. He smiled and said, “Brother Thin, you’re here again.”

“You’re something else!”

“Quick, I’m bored out of my mind.”

The thin guy handed the box through the door slot, then pulled out his phone. “Listen, a beauty got into a taxi, and boom, she farted loudly. Embarrassed, she said nothing. The driver said, ‘Farts are just the defiant cries of defeated food.’ The beauty laughed and said, ‘You’re so poetic!’ The driver replied, ‘But the cry was too loud; I thought we had a flat tire!’ Hahaha!”

Chen Shi laughed heartily. “I’ve heard that one. Tell me another.”

“You laughed hard for someone who’s heard it.”

“One more, one more.”

“No way, save it for tomorrow!”

The thin guy closed the door. Chen Shi sank back into boredom. If it weren’t for his daily jokes, he might have gone mad by now.

Chen Shi grew angry. What was going on? He threw the untouched food against the wall.

He sat down against the wall, counting the rice grains sticking to it. When he reached 140, the door opened again. Chen Shi stood up eagerly. Even if they came to beat him, it was better than rotting here.

It was the thin guy again. “Extra show today?”

“No show. Boss Yang wants you out. Get dressed!”

“Did I hear that right?”

“You did. Hurry up.”

Chen Shi almost cheered. He quickly took a cold shower, dried off, dressed, and followed the thin guy.

This time they didn’t go to the office but to an elevator. King Kong was standing there. He nodded and said, “I am King Kong.”

“I know!” Chen Shi replied.

The elevator started to ascend. Chen Shi realized he had been underground. The thin guy said, “King Kong was a special forces soldier in Southeast Asia. A bullet hit him here…” He pointed to his temple. “Since then, he only says one phrase.”

“Any other functions affected?”

“Of course. Singing, swearing, calling—everything.”

“I am King Kong!!!”

The thin guy glanced back. “Okay, okay, I’ll take you there soon.”

It seemed King Kong could express different meanings with the same phrase.

“Tell a few more jokes!” Chen Shi said.

“No more. You’ve had a rough time. Boss Yang trusts you now and is taking you to a fun place!” The thin guy patted Chen Shi’s shoulder.

“Women there?”

“Yes!” The thin guy drew out the word, raising his eyebrows. “You’ll have a blast!”

Chen Shi thought, why the sudden trust? He quickly realized they must have been gathering intel about him outside…