Chapter 859: Old Zhang’s Dilemma

Seeing the paper, Chen Shi was shocked. “Zhang Jianjun? Old Zhang? This car was left here for us to find on purpose!”

“What does ‘deeply impactful decision’ mean?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Call Old Zhang and have him check on his family immediately.” Lin Qiupu had just taken out his phone when it rang. It was a call from the bureau. As he answered, his expression grew grave. “We need to get back right away!”

The three rushed back to the station. In the conference room, almost all the members of the second team were there. Old Zhang sat there looking terrified and haggard, holding an old Nokia phone sealed in a plastic evidence bag.

“What happened?” Lin Qiupu asked as he walked in.

Old Zhang’s throat moved, but he couldn’t speak. An officer answered for him, “This was sent to the station this afternoon. The phone contains a recording saying they have kidnapped Old Zhang’s wife and daughter. He has to choose—press 1 to save his wife, press 2 to save his daughter. He has 24 hours, or both will die.”

Another officer added, “This is likely not a prank. Neither of them can be reached, and their colleagues, classmates, and acquaintances haven’t seen them since 2 PM.”

“Let’s hear the recording,” Chen Shi said.

Old Zhang was reluctant to hand over the phone, so he played the voice message himself with trembling fingers. The voice was unmistakably Ling Shuang’s, repeating what the officer had said, with some background noise indicating it was recorded outdoors.

After listening, the room fell silent. Lin Dongxue, despite feeling reluctant, shared their earlier discovery. She took out the “diagnosis report” from her pocket. “We tracked the surveillance footage this afternoon and found the suspect’s abandoned car. This was inside.”

Old Zhang snatched the paper eagerly, gripping it tightly as if he might tear it apart. His eyes scanned the text repeatedly, and he suddenly broke into tears. “I haven’t been a good father. If I had taken more responsibility, our family wouldn’t be so strained, and they wouldn’t be in this mess!”

Lin Qiupu placed a hand on Old Zhang’s shoulder. “This isn’t your fault. We’re all here with you…” He looked up and addressed everyone. “Start investigating the phone, the recording, and the document. We have 24 hours, and we can make it!”

The team responded enthusiastically. Just then, Peng Si-Jue spoke up, “There’s another clue.”

He stood at the door holding a forensic report. “I found traces of flour and lime at the scene where the first victim was discovered.”

“A flour mill?” Lin Qiupu said. “Check how many flour mills are in Long’an and if any could be used as a hideout.”

Lin Qiupu asked for Old Zhang’s phone. Reluctantly, Old Zhang handed it over, saying, “If it comes to it, let Tingting live. She’s still so young…”

“What are you thinking? We’ve just started; don’t give up now. We’ll put all our efforts into finding them. Don’t think about failure.”

“But if we fail…”

“Old Zhang!!!”

Old Zhang swallowed his words. Xiao Li, who understood his pain, said, “Old Zhang, take a break. Don’t overthink.”

Old Zhang sighed and left with his cigarette pack.

Lin Qiupu instructed everyone to start the investigation immediately. Chen Shi said, “I’ll check Old Zhang’s house.”

“I’ll go too,” Lin Dongxue added.

Leaving the station, Chen Shi looked at the night sky. “This is too reactive!”

“What do you mean?”

“The phone and ‘diagnosis report’ were prepared hours ago, meaning they were already missing by then. Zhou Xiao set this up for us to find so he could choose his next victim at his leisure. We’re completely being led by the nose!”

“I understand, but Xiao Li’s father has been killed. He will go after all our families. How can we ignore Old Zhang’s situation?”

“He’s hitting our weakest spots!”

“Let’s find clues first!”

They checked Old Zhang’s wife’s residence and his daughter’s dormitory but found no direct clues. They gathered some surveillance footage, photos, hair, and footprints, hoping to find something useful.

After the investigation, Chen Shi checked the time and saw it was already 10 PM. He called Tao Yueyue, but her phone was off, making him anxious. “I need to go get Yueyue.”

“Let’s go together.”

At Wei Zhenmary’s house, her friend, Wei Zhenmary, said that Tao Yueyue didn’t come over today. She had gone home alone after school, saying she had something to do.

Hearing this, Chen Shi grew more anxious. On the way home, his mind raced with worries.

He drove straight to his building, nearly hitting the flowerbed, and rushed inside, shouting, “Yueyue! Yueyue!”

He opened the door to find the lights off. His heart sank until Tao Yueyue came out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes. “Uncle Chen, you’re home?”

“You scared me to death! Why couldn’t I reach you?” Chen Shi scolded with a mix of relief and frustration.

“Sorry, my phone was charging.”

“Come here!”

Chen Shi hugged her tightly. Though it felt selfish, he couldn’t bear the thought of Xiao Li and Old Zhang’s fate happening to him. If something happened to Tao Yueyue, he would be devastated.

“Yueyue, it’s dangerous outside these days. Stay home from tomorrow, don’t go to school.”

“But the exams are coming…”

“I’ll talk to your teacher and say you’re not feeling well.”

Lin Dongxue said, “Old Chen, isn’t school safer?”

Chen Shi frowned. In some ways, Zhou Xiao had already succeeded. The sense of threat was like a knife to the heart, making it hard to breathe. Only someone truly depraved could think of such a revenge tactic.

Chen Shi corrected himself, “I’ll take you to school in the morning and pick you up afterward. Never be alone at any time.”

“Uncle Chen,” Tao Yueyue pushed him away with a bitter smile, “How many times have you said that, only to fail to pick me up? I know you’re busy with cases. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“This time, I promise…”

“You don’t need to promise. You’ve said we’re not related by blood, just two independent people living together. I like that. When you worry and fear for me like a real dad, I don’t hate it, but it’s a lot of pressure.”

Chen Shi smiled and gently tapped her nose. “Be careful.”

He stood up to leave. Tao Yueyue asked, “Are you still working?”

“Something urgent came up. I won’t be back tonight.”

“Oh…”

As he was about to close the door, Tao Yueyue called out, “Uncle Chen!”

“What is it?”

“Nothing…” She hesitated, then said, “Be careful.”