Chapter 59

Tan Yanqing hurried down the stairs, but just as she was about to exit the main lobby, her footsteps slowed.

Her reason, which had vanished in an instant, began to flow back into her mind amidst her ragged, breathless gasps.

What was she doing?

Although she had confirmed the payment notification three times—169 yuan was indeed a charge for a hotel room—booking a room didn’t necessarily mean that was happening. With the New Year approaching, it was common for friends to get a room together just to hang out.

Besides, even if they were doing that… she couldn’t finish the thought.

Walking toward the parking lot, Tan Yanqing picked up her phone and dialed Jian You.

The moment the call connected, Jian You said, “What’s up? It haven’t even been a minute since we hung up. Miss me already? Don’t tell me you can’t make it tonight.”

“Where’s Xiao Hao?” Tan Yanqing cut straight to the point.

Jian You was momentarily confused. “Huh? She went out to play this afternoon and isn’t back yet. Why?”

“Who did she go out with? Tingting?”

“I think so… I didn’t ask. What’s wrong? Did something happen to Xiao Hao?”

Tan Yanqing’s tone and attitude felt off, causing Jian You’s heart to leap into her throat. She immediately stood up from the sofa, heading toward the entryway to change her shoes.

Then, she heard Tan Yanqing say calmly over the phone, “Nothing. I just wanted to take her out to buy some things for the New Year.”

Jian You froze in place. After two breaths, she shouted into the phone, “…Tan Yanqing, you’re insane!”

She clutched her chest, trying to steady her heartbeat. “I’m telling you, have you developed an occupational hazard from being a cop? Everything you do is like catching a criminal or finding a missing person. I thought something had happened to Jian Hao again… you scared me half to death… And besides, we have everything we need at home. You don’t need to buy a thing. I don’t know why you’re being so formal with me; save your money, especially with that meager salary of yours—”

Over the years, Jian You effectively had two children. One was Jian Hao, obviously, and the other was Tan Yanqing.

Of course, Tan Yanqing didn’t know this. But Jian You, knowing Tan Yanqing’s past, naturally felt a maternal concern for her. Whether it was about daily life or how to conduct herself, she was constantly lecturing Tan Yanqing.

And Tan Yanqing? She responded like a typical adult who had long since learned to let lectures go in one ear and out the other.

“Mhm. I’m driving now. Bye.”

Hanging up, Tan Yanqing reached her car. She sat inside, hesitating on where to go next.

Go to the hotel to find Jian Hao? Why?

If Jian Hao was just hanging out with friends, her showing up would be completely inexplicable. But would Jian Hao’s friend be Guan Xinting? Or that Classmate Tao? She should call Guan Xinting to ask. But if Jian Hao stolen contentwas actually with Guan Xinting and found out she called, would she overthink it? Why not just ask Jian Hao directly? Oh, because she was a clever little thing; if she really was with Classmate Tao, she wouldn’t necessarily tell the truth. But if that were the case, Guan Xinting might have been “recruited” to her side anyway; calling to confirm would be useless.

Despite these thoughts, Tan Yanqing still picked up her phone. She did have Guan Xinting’s WeChat, added because of Jian Hao.

She tapped into the chat window.

Tap, tap. Two knocks on the glass drew her attention. She glanced sideways to see a colleague bending down by the window. Tan Yanqing rolled it down.

“Chief Tan, do you mind giving me a lift?” the colleague asked with a smile.

They lived in the same general direction. Tan Yanqing had given her rides a few times, and likewise, before Tan Yanqing bought her car, the colleague had often driven her. Tan Yanqing nodded.

She didn’t refuse, and the colleague got in. As she did, Tan Yanqing turned off her phone screen and tucked it into her pocket.

The colleague noticed and asked, “I’m not bothering you, am I?”

Tan Yanqing’s eyes remained still. She replied flatly, “No.”

“That’s good. I saw you were about to message someone and thought I’d interrupted.”

Tan Yanqing pulled up the corners of her mouth in a polite smile, buckled her seatbelt, and drove out of the police compound.

Knowing Tan Yanqing was a woman of few words, the [read the original at bailiantales.com]colleague didn’t keep pestering her. However, to break the dry silence while waiting for a green light at an intersection, she said, “Do you have a shift tomorrow?”

“No.”

“That’s good. It’s New Year’s Day; you can spend it with family.”

“Mhm.”

Ten seconds later, the light turned green. As the car began to move, the colleague heard Tan Yanqing say, “Sister Zhou, I just remembered I have something to take care of. Can I drop you off at the subway entrance up ahead?”

Sister Zhou was stunned. If it were anyone else, she might have thought it was a deliberate move to get her out of the car, but she knew Tan Yanqing’s character. She nodded understandingly. “Sure thing.” Then she added out of concern, “What is it? Do you need help?”

Tan Yanqing shook her head, only offering an apology as Sister Zhou got out.

Sister Zhou stood at the subway entrance, watching Tan Yanqing’s car turn at the intersection and drive in the opposite direction of her home.

The car stopped in front of the Lulu Home Hotel. Tan Yanqing stroded into the hotel. Just as she was about to ask the front desk a question, she simply held up her police ID without a word.

“Police. May I see the surveillance footage from 6:10?”

The reason she had suddenly changed her mind and come to the hotel was that when Sister Zhou mentioned “family,” it reminded Tan Yanqing of the dinner at Jian You’s house a few days ago.

The purpose of that dinner was for Jian You and Zhu Xinsui to officially announce ​bailiantales.com​their relationship to her and Jian Hao. Although everyone already knew, they lacked a formal introduction, so they decided on a home-cooked meal.

It was on that day that Tan Yanqing saw something on the sofa at Jian You’s house.

—A finger cot.

At first, she didn’t realize what it was, assuming it was a cosmetic sample from Jian You’s shop or something else left on the sofa. But when she walked over and picked it up to put it on the coffee table, the texture felt wrong, and she realized what it was with delayed shock.

At the time, she glanced at the kitchen where Jian You and Zhu Xinsui were. Then she turned back and expressionlessly put the item into the coffee table drawer.

She didn’t think much of it then, assuming the two of them had simply forgotten to put it away.

But just now, it occurred to her: a few minutes after she hid the item, Jian Hao had come out of her room—appearing in a “whoosh,” running out in a flustered hurry. Seeing her on the sofa, Jian Hao immediately reverted to a natural state, walked to the coffee table, and poured a glass of water. However, after drinking, she didn’t return to her room. Instead, she paced around the sofa several times with a very odd expression.

Tan Yanqing had thought Jian Hao was just feeling awkward around her. Since she was also on the phone with her team at the time, she didn’t ask or pay much attention. Jian Hao eventually went back to her room after a few laps.

Thinking back now, the awkwardness and embarrassment in Jian Hao’s retreating figure looked exactly like someone who had failed to find something they were looking for.

And what kind of object would make someone so shy and humiliated that they’d want to crawl into a hole?

A finger cot.

A finger cot she used herself.

A finger cot she had accidentally dropped in a public area.

Tan Yanqing’s gaze fell on the computer screen’s surveillance footage, watching Jian Hao stand at the front desk, somewhat practiced in handing over her ID.

She asked, “Minors can book rooms?”

The front desk clerk stood trembling. “She’s over sixteen and has an ID, so it’s allowed.”

Tan Yanqing gave an “Mhm” and asked, “Just her?”

There was no one else near Jian Hao.

“Yes, she booked a twin room. There’s no ID information for a second person.” The clerk had already checked the records.

“How many times has she been here?”

“That… I’m not sure.”

On the screen, Jian Hao had already entered the elevator. Tan Yanqing sped up the footage and found that one minute after Jian Hao went upstairs, someone wearing a black baseball cap, a blue mask, a long black down jacket, and brown snow boots entered the hotel. They bypassed the front desk and walked straight to the elevator.

The screen of the phone in her hand was lit. Though the bailiantales.comimage was blurry, it was clear she was messaging someone.

—Room booked. Confirming room number.

While retrieving the footage for the floor Jian Hao was on, Tan Yanqing asked the clerk, “Do your elevators require a key card?”

“No.”

The next second, Tan Yanqing saw the person in the baseball cap exit the elevator on Jian Hao’s floor. They looked left and right to confirm the room number, eventually stopping at Jian Hao’s door.

Knock. Door opened.

In the gap, Tan Yanqing saw Jian Hao’s face.

The manager, who had rushed over after receiving a call, immediately felt the low pressure at the front desk—so heavy it was hard to breathe. The manager braced themselves and introduced themselves to the silhouette closing the surveillance window, asking cautiously, “Officer, has something happened? We will certainly cooperate.”

Tan Yanqing, who had been bent over checking the footage, straightened up and turned her gaze toward them. Both were startled by the coldness in her eyes. Seeing her dark, clouded expression—as if she were struggling to suppress an immense rage—their suspicions grew.

…They hadn’t heard of anything happening nearby. Why was the police checking surveillance? And judging by the look of it, the matter seemed severe.

Tan Yanqing lowered her lashes, hiding the emotions in her eyes. After taking a breath, she gave them a slight nod. “It’s nothing. Thank you for your cooperation.”

With that, she strode past the front desk with heavy steps and walked out of the hotel.

The manager and clerk watched her leave, wanting to see which direction she’d take to determine where the trouble was, only to see her stop right outside the hotel entrance. Her straight figure looked even more stern than the freezing wind outside. They watched her take her phone from her coat pocket and dial a number.

What on earth was going on?

It was much colder outside than in. Tan Yanqing’s hand was trembling as she made the call. It rang three times before connecting.

“Auntie?”

Jian Hao’s slightly trembling voice sounded on the other end. That tremor wasn’t from wondering why Tan Yanqing was calling; it was the panic Jian Hao had felt since childhood whenever she was caught red-handed doing something wrong. No matter how well she hid it, Tan Yanqing could see right through her.

“Auntie, what’s wrong? Why are you calling?” Jian Hao asked when Tan Yanqing didn’t speak for three seconds.

The next second, Tan Yanqing’s cold, low voice rang in her ear:

“Are you coming down, or am I coming up?”