Chapter 36: Chasing the Fugitive

After sitting for a while, Lin Dongxue suddenly heard an exclamation from behind: “Oh my God!”

She turned around to see Xu Xiaodong, who pointed at them in surprise, “You two came together? Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

Lin Dongxue responded, “I just said I wouldn’t come with you, not that I wouldn’t come at all.”

Xu Xiaodong clutched his chest, feigning injury, “That’s too heartbreaking!”

“Aren’t you with someone?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“What? That’s just Xiao Li from our unit.”

Lin Dongxue glanced over and saw Officer Xiao Li waving. Realizing she had misunderstood, she said to Xu Xiaodong, “Congratulations then!”

“Congratulations my foot!” Xu Xiaodong patted his clothes, revealing a hidden gun. He lowered his voice, “There’s a fugitive on the run here at the concert. Captain Lin sent us to keep an eye on him. See that guy in the hat over there?”

Lin Dongxue looked and asked, “Really? That guy is the fugitive?”

“Of course! We’re here just to watch him. The request for assistance came too late to buy tickets, so I said I had two, and Captain Lin sent me. We’ve coordinated with the venue; they want us to keep it low-key. Did you see a black car when you came in? That’s from our station. Right after the concert, on my signal, they’ll swoop in.”

“Give a signal?” Lin Dongxue scoffed, “You’re just here on duty!”

“Are you two on a date or something?”

“No!” Lin Dongxue and Chen Shi answered in unison.

Chen Shi added, “We just came to enjoy the concert. Nothing more, don’t get it twisted.”

“I haven’t,” Xu Xiaodong said, glancing at their casual outfits and drinks.

“Go back to your surveillance!” Lin Dongxue urged.

“If you need help, call us,” Chen Shi said, pulling out his phone. “Here, save my number.”

After exchanging contact information, Xu Xiaodong casually remarked, “Don’t worry, we’ve got this!”

Just then, the fugitive glanced back. Chen Shi eyed him closely, and the man looked away after a few tense seconds.

Chen Shi took a sip of his drink, “This guy’s pretty alert. Better remind Xiaodong to keep a close watch.”

“Why are you so calm about this?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Catching a fugitive at a Jacky Cheung concert? Happens all the time,” Chen Shi joked.

“Nonsense!” Lin Dongxue laughed.

Just as the concert began with a burst of fireworks and the audience rose to cheer, Chen Shi noticed Xu Xiaodong and Officer Xiao Li cheering along. He then spotted the fugitive standing up and quickly weaving through the crowd toward the exit.

“Not good!” Chen Shi muttered, but Lin Dongxue couldn’t hear him over the noise.

Chen Shi shook Lin Dongxue and pointed towards the front. Upon seeing the empty seat, Lin Dongxue gasped and yelled Xu Xiaodong’s name, but he didn’t hear her.

Without a second thought, Chen Shi grabbed Lin Dongxue’s hand and headed out. Caught off guard, Lin Dongxue didn’t resist until they were in the aisle, where she suddenly blushed and pulled away from Chen Shi’s grasp.

The man in the cap was disappearing through an emergency exit. Chen Shi quickly followed, calling Xu Xiaodong’s phone, but there was no answer.

Outside, Lin Dongxue remarked, “Xu Xiaodong is definitely in for a reprimand when he gets back.”

“Let’s catch this guy first!” Chen Shi looked around outside the venue and spotted the fugitive crossing a garden, “There!”

They chased him to the underground parking garage, where a car’s headlights flashed menacingly as it charged toward them. Chen Shi yelled, “Fire a warning shot!”

“I didn’t bring a gun!”

As the car bore down on them, Chen Shi pulled Lin Dongxue aside just in time, avoiding the speeding vehicle which passed by with the fugitive cursing, “Damn cops!”

Holding Lin Dongxue close, Chen Shi noticed her flush but pressed on, grabbing his own car and blocking the parking exit. As the car barely stopped, Lin Dongxue rushed to get in, exclaiming as she did.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Shi asked, focused on the road.

“I lost my shoe, my new Daphne!” Lin Dongxue lamented.

Passing the police car, Chen Shi shouted, “He’s getting away, follow him!”

The police in the car, unsure who was shouting at them and unable to act, called Xu Xiaodong, whose phone wasbusy and displayed a busy signal.

Realizing the fugitive had escaped, Xu Xiaodong returned Chen Shi’s call. The background noise of Jacky Cheung singing live underscored Xu Xiaodong’s frustrated tone.

“Chen, how did he get away? Did you see him?”

“We’re in pursuit now! His license plate number is…” Chen Shi relayed the details as they sped after the fugitive.

“Got it!”

“Don’t come here; go to the underground parking entrance. There’s a Daphne shoe there—very important, pick it up,” Chen Shi instructed briskly before hanging up.

Lin Dongxue looked at Chen Shi in astonishment. He smiled, “Don’t worry, we’ll catch him and you won’t lose your shoe… buckle up!”

After she fastened her seatbelt, Chen Shi suddenly accelerated, chasing the bright tail lights ahead. The fugitive had run several red lights, and Chen Shi matched his reckless driving. Soon, their cars were side by side. The fugitive, sweating profusely, shouted, “Get lost, copper, or I swear I’ll end you!”

Ignoring him, Chen Shi dialed Lin QiuPu, activating the speakerphone. Lin Dongxue asked, “Why are you contacting him?”

“To let him know we’re chasing the concert fugitive!”

“What!? Where’s Xu Xiaodong?”

“Behind us. I’m right beside the fugitive now.”

“Why are you there…?”

“Not the time for that now. I’m about to ram his car. Will the department cover the repair costs?”

“Are you crazy? Where are you? I’m sending backup.”

“Will they reimburse me? Answer quick!”

As Lin QiuPu hesitated, Lin Dongxue shouted, panicked, “Brother, the fugitive’s getting away; no time to think!”

“Fine, full reimbursement! Just get him back… wait, why are you two together?”

“Thanks!” Chen Shi ended the call.

“Brace yourself,” he warned, then deliberately steered his car into the fugitive’s, forcing it into a spin. The loud crash was followed by the fugitive’s car hitting a roadside tree. The fugitive kicked his door open and limped away.

Chen Shi slammed the brakes, jumped out, and chased. The fugitive, desperate, ran across the road and was struck by an oncoming car, flipping through the air in a horrifying arc.

Lin Dongxue, nearly covering her eyes in shock, watched as the fugitive lay motionless on the ground. Chen Shi approached cautiously, confirming the fugitive was incapacitated but alive.

Returning to Lin Dongxue, he said, “See, I told you we’d catch him.”

Lin Dongxue, her heart still racing, managed a weak smile. “And my shoe?”

“We’ll pick it up now. That’s Xu Xiaodong’s job.”

As they waited for police reinforcements, Chen Shi couldn’t help but add, “See, everything worked out—minus one shoe, maybe.”

Lin Dongxue, finally allowing the adrenaline to ebb, laughed despite herself, relieved yet still exhilarated by the night’s unexpected adventure.