Chapter 7: The Strange Man

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At noon, Zi Jin and Wang Jinjun were just leaving the patrol station. Shortly after they had reported the incident, a large number of staff arrived to handle the matter, and the two of them were brought back to the station for routine documentation.

“I really don’t know what kind of trouble we’ve gotten ourselves into this time,” Zi Jin sighed softly, glancing sideways at Wang Jinjun. She seemed not yet recovered from the morning’s sudden incident, her expression still startled.

Zi Jin immediately softened his tone, saying, “Jinjun, don’t overthink it. This has little to do with us. I’m sure the patrol officers will gather enough evidence to catch the culprit—nothing will happen, trust me.”

Yet Wang Jinjun turned to him, her face still lined with worry, and whispered, “Even if the patrol officers won’t trouble us anymore, what if the one who killed Brother Hao comes back? I’ve heard that many deranged killers like to return to the scene of their crime to admire their ‘work.’ What if we run into him and he decides to hurt us? What then?”

Zi Jin said nothing. He knew that running into such strange events two days in a row was more than coincidence, and he could feel deep down that things were far from simple. Still, he didn’t show it, instead forcing a confident, sunny smile. “Even if you can’t trust anyone else, surely you trust me? We’ve made it through so much together over the years—seen it all. With me here, I believe this too will pass. I’ll protect you, no matter what.”

Wang Jinjun froze for a moment, then relaxed, a bright smile breaking through as her worries faded with Zi Jin’s reassurance. Playfully, she said, “Well, as a reward, you owe me milk tea. And let’s race home—whoever loses does the dishes tonight!”

She dashed off as she spoke, already pulling ahead of Zi Jin.

“Hey! That’s cheating!” Zi Jin broke into a run, calling after her. He laughed too, delighted to see his girlfriend’s spirits restored.

“Catch me if you can! Hah, you always underestimate me… Ow!” Wang Jinjun, glancing back as she rounded the corner at the intersection, suddenly collided with something hard and tumbled to the ground.

Zi Jin rushed to her side, carefully helping her up, and only then noticed whom she had run into—a man of imposing stature.

The man stood over six feet tall, clad in a leather trench coat, a moss-green beret perched atop his head, and heavy black combat boots on his feet. His square face was covered in a thick beard, and a pair of dark sunglasses hid his eyes. He lowered his head to look at them, a wild and intimidating aura radiating in the air around them.

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The man sized up Zi Jin for a moment before speaking. “Is the young lady all right? I apologize for the collision—if you’re hurt, I’ll cover the medical expenses. I’m truly sorry.” His deep, magnetic voice eased the tension, making him seem less like a threat.

“Thank you for your concern, I’m quite all right. In fact, I should apologize—I ran into you and made you apologize. I’m very sorry. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way. Goodbye.” Wang Jinjun responded politely, then pulled Zi Jin away.

The man glanced back at Zi Jin, frowning thoughtfully before calling out, “Wait a moment, young man.” The pair turned around, and Zi Jin asked, “Is there something else, sir?”

“Are you the young man named Zi Jin?”

Zi Jin was filled with confusion—how did this man know his name? He replied cautiously, “No, you have the wrong person.”

“I mean you no harm. There are just some things I’d like to discuss with you,” the man said again.

“Sorry, I’m really not Zi Jin.” With that, Zi Jin took Wang Jinjun’s hand and started to leave.

“The car accident the day before yesterday—”

Zi Jin froze in his tracks as the man continued, “I doubt you’ve forgotten. The victim at the scene was named Zi Jin, and you look almost identical to the young man I’m seeking.”

“What do you want?” Zi Jin placed himself protectively in front of Wang Jinjun, wary.

“Don’t worry, as I said, I mean no harm. I simply wish to talk.” Though the man’s voice remained calm and magnetic, to Zi Jin it sounded like the whisper of a devil. In that moment, a thousand gruesome scenarios flashed through his mind: abduction, torture, being used as a test subject, someone having discovered his secret—cold sweat broke out all over him.

Yet he forced himself to stay calm and said, “This has nothing to do with her. Let her go home, and I’ll go with you.”

“Zi Jin!” Wang Jinjun grew anxious. Facing such a strange man, she too was frightened.

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“All right, let’s talk at the café across the street,” the man said, making no move to force Zi Jin. He merely suggested the nearby café as their meeting place.

“Jinjun, you head home first. I’ll be fine, don’t worry! I’ll bring you back your milk tea!” Without waiting for her reply, Zi Jin followed the man into the café.

Zi Jin’s guard remained up, his eyes constantly assessing the man across from him.

“Who… are you? How do you know these things?” Zi Jin was silent for a while before finally speaking.

“To be precise, I’m not a patrol officer, but I have the authority to mobilize even the highest ranks among them. You could say I work in the underground sector.” Zhu Daqing lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag. The ember glowed red, sparks flickering, and only a few wisps of smoke escaped his nostrils. “My name is Zhu Daqing. If you don’t mind, would you like one? It’s a rare vintage.” He offered a cigarette to Zi Jin.

Zi Jin shook his head. Tobacco had fallen out of favor in recent years—hardly anyone smoked anymore.

Unbothered, Zhu Daqing flicked his ash and said, “Then I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Regarding your car accident and the case today, I want you to tell me everything you know—without holding anything back.” His tone was calm, but his expression grew grave, like a slumbering lion opening its eyes.

With a voice that brooked no argument, he continued, “From this moment on, you cannot miss a single word I say, nor can you speak a single word in error. This concerns both your lives, and—” The red ember was snuffed out on the table, and the man’s gaze grew dark as night.

“Our fate.”