Cherish You as My Life - Chapter 21.1

Chapter 21.1

No one in his family and friends knew what Qiao Zhen went through during the six years he disappeared. 

But it was sure that he had experienced some dark and sinister things to change his personality upside down: violent personality, had constant nightmares, and even dared to kill people.

As Mother Qiao said, Zhang Zhixin and Qiao Zhen went to work together in a place called Xinqiao County, and that was where Qiao Zhen disappeared.

Xinqiao County was the farthest city below Nanquan City. In the past ten years, its economic development was better than that of several other cities, second only to Nanquan City.

Xinqiao County was also the place with the most complete social welfare institutions, such as nursing homes and orphanages, among most of the cities.

It was not surprising that Qiao Zhen and the others would choose to work there, given the early establishment of factories there.

Afterwards, the government started to take environmental development seriously and cleaned up numerous chemical and papermaking facilities that released significant amounts of pollution.

Ji Yao went back to the office, sat comfortably on his chair while resting his legs on the table, and gazed up at the ceiling. 

Once more, the case turned into a mystery. 

However, Qiao Jiang could not have been killed in this manner without a reason.

‘Is there a connection between Qiao Jiang’s death and Qiao Zhen’s disappearance? But Qiao Zhen left too little information.’ Ji Yao rubbed his temples with frustration. 

Zhao Jingjing came over, pulled up a chair, and sat down. “When you were interrogating Mother Qiao just now, you were very concerned about Qiao Zhen’s disappearance. Is it because of this time point nineteen years ago? Is this related to the disappearance of Officer Chen that year?”

Ji Yao threw the empty milk carton into the trash can next to the door. “It’s hard to say, and maybe I’m too sensitive to that fact.”

“Captain Ji, Director Ye called just now,” Zhou Li stated as she turned around. “She asked you to come to her office if you are free.”

Ji Yao stood up and asked with a doubt, “Did she tell you the reason?”

Zhou Li shook her head and replied, “No.”

Director Ye’s office was on the fifth floor, and the forensic room was on the fourth floor. So Ji Yao didn’t take the elevator to go to the director’s office.

When he was passing the forensic room, Han Xi was standing in front of a cupboard and pointing something at Zhu Han.

Ji Yao silently stood at their office door, leaning against it. Even if he didn’t say anything, as long as he silently gazed at her, his heart would be beating fast. 

When Han Xi looked sideways, she noticed Ji Yao. She sensed something unusual spreading from the bottom of her heart before she even spoke or even before their eyes met, and she had never felt anything like this before. ‘I don’t dare to think about it, and I can’t figure it out.’ 

Ji Yao went in and said, “The water in our office is out, so I come here to ask for a glass of water.”

Zhu Han responded, “Captain Ji, when did you become like Captain Yang?”

Ji Yao: “Yang Chunmian came to ask for water?”

“Well,” said Zhu Han. “He just left.” Saying that she moved aside and got to work.

Without glancing at the man, Han Xi handed him a glass of water, saying, “Here you go.” She then moved aside to finish her work.

He was ignored, so Ji Yao grabbed the water glass and headed to the fifth floor. “Director Ye, are you looking for me?” He asked as he knocked on the door of the office.

Ye Yanqing was nearly fifty years old. Although she worked as a front-line criminal policewoman in her youth and fought against the most brutal gangsters, her face looked very kind, especially those eyes that were very warm when she smiled.

“What’s the matter?” Ji Yao sat on the swivel chair and turned twice.

“You are a thirty-year-old man, but still playing with the chair,” Ye Yanqing said, glancing at him. “It’s no wonder you can’t find a wife.”

Ji Yao halted. “I can get a wife.” He curled his lips and stepped off the swivel chair. His eyes softened at the thought of her.

Ye Yanqing looked at Ji Yao and believed he was babbling. She said, “The City Bureau is going to shoot their mid-year promotional film. This time, just snap a few pictures and use them for the police monthly magazine’s cover and interior pages. Find a partner. Choose a policewoman who is photogenic. By the way, she should not just be beautiful, but she should also have a sense of professionalism as a police officer. It is best if she is calm and rigorous.”

“Sure enough, promotional videos and other things represent the appearance of the City Bureau,” Ji Yao stated with assurance. “To make up for it, they still need the flower from Investigation Team 1.”

“You are so stupid.” Taking the steel ruler from the table, Ye Yanqing struck the back of Ji Yao’s palm with it.

“Ouch!” Ji Yao screamed. “Director Cai is just using his mouth to curse, but you… You’re just beating.” 

Ye Yanqing looked at the back of Ji Yao’s hand, and her tone became gentle. “Does it really hurt?”

Ji Yao knew that Director Ye’s hard words and soft heart would hurt people, just like Han Xi in the forensic room on the fourth floor.

“Why are you thinner than last year?” Ye Yanqing asked Ji Yao as he was going to leave. She lifted up the man’s sweater that had been knitted and measured Ji Yao’s figure. 

Ji Yao turned around and said, “This is not called thin. This is transforming fat into muscles: eight-pack abs.”

Since Ji Yao was a young boy, Ye Yanqing had crocheted sweaters for him each winter.

In addition to knitting for him, Ye Yanqing also made something for girls. She used other girls’ heights as a guide when she couldn’t find her own kid.

What size should a girl over two years old wear, and what style should be suitable for crawling and walking? Girls over five years… What colours were suitable for 26-year-old girls…

There was even a special wardrobe in her home, in which a girl’s growth history was neatly stacked.

Remembering that, Ji Yao suddenly felt a little sour in his eyes. But he was unable to comfort Director Ye. 

He couldn’t imagine the pain and despair experienced by a mother who lost her child.

‘But as long as the child is still alive, I will definitely find her.’

End of chapter 21.1