Chapter 86: Overtime

It was quite the coincidence—Ah Da hadn’t seen the person he was looking for in over twenty years, yet the System Panel map showed that she was right there in the plaza beneath this building, standing by the central musical fountain amidst the noisy crowd, waiting for the New Year.

“Master, are you serious? It’s really Wang Fang?” Ah Da shook his head and denied it himself. “Wang Fang is such a common name, lots of people are called that…”

Qin Qing walked to the outer edge of the observation elevator, leaned against the grinning Mumu, and pointed to a corner of the musical fountain. “See that little elephant sculpture? That’s the direction where fate brought you two together.”

Ah Da clenched his fists, staring at the white elephant statue, but it was too far away to see anything clearly.

He was holding himself back.

The elevator reached the top.

Ah Da led Qin Qing to Liu Simin’s private room.

After settling her in, just as he was about to leave and close the door, he couldn’t help but say, “Boss, I’d like to take a half-hour break. I promise I’ll be back in half an hour.”

The burly man’s eyes were tinged red, filled with a plea.

Liu Simin looked at him for a while, until Ah Da lowered his head under her gaze.

Liu Simin didn’t ask why. “Alright, you may.”

“Thank you, Boss!”

He stepped back two paces, then returned to add, “Thank you, Master.”

Liu Xingchen came to take Mumu off to play with the other children.

Liu Simin poured tea for Qin Qing. “So mysterious. What happened?”

Qin Qing thanked her for the tea and smiled faintly. “Client confidentiality.”

Liu Simin didn’t press.

She simply said, “Judging by your expression, it must be something good.”

The wind on the rooftop was especially strong. Their silly dog stood on a stool the kids had set up, facing the wind with them.

Its chest fur blew wildly, tongue lolling in a goofy grin.

The hands of the wall clock crept toward the hour—toward reunion.

On her notebook, Qin Qing saw the dot representing Ah Da moving steadily closer to the one for Wang Fang. Closer and closer.

The crowd in the plaza began counting down in unison.

Five… four… three… two… one…

New Year. Midnight.

The two little dots on the notebook met and stopped moving.

Downstairs, the musical fountain burst into song.

In the sky, fireworks bloomed.

Qin Qing faced the brilliant scene head-on.

“Happy New Year.”

Liu Simin came to stand beside her.

“Happy New Year.”

Liu Simin raised her glass to the fireworks. “To peace and smooth sailing.”

Qin Qing chuckled and raised her glass as well. “To a prosperous and peaceful nation.”

A snowflake drifted into her glass and vanished.

The New Year’s Eve celebration at the city plaza went viral on short video platforms.

Equally eye-catching was the news of a sudden escalator malfunction.

Many eyewitnesses shared their harrowing experiences.

There were two follow-up reports.

One: the mall manager posted a video apology, admitting to management negligence, thanking the on-duty police for their swift response, and promising a thorough inspection of all mall equipment. The mall also announced consequences—two security guards were fired for dereliction of duty.

Two: the young man who suffered multiple fractures filed a lawsuit against the mall, demanding compensation in the seven-figure range.

Qin Qing found it all rather dull.

This year, it was her family’s turn to host the New Year gathering.

Not wanting her parents to go through the trouble, she followed Second Aunt’s example from last time and booked a restaurant.

She now knew plenty of good places and could easily pick one.

At the table, Second Aunt announced that her daughter and Xiao Yuan were planning their wedding—and that her daughter was already expecting. She was overjoyed.

Then the eldest aunt announced that her son and daughter-in-law, married for years, were also expecting.

Second Aunt was unhappy and immediately started arguing with her. She said that “kings should not meet” and scolded her for showing up at the family gathering with a pregnant daughter-in-law unannounced.

No one indulged Second Aunt’s double standards. Everyone said a few words to her.

Fuming, she dragged her daughter away without even eating.

Without her stirring things up, the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Conversation turned to the cousin-in-law and the baby on the way.

The eldest aunt sighed. “The environment’s so bad now. Everything we eat is basically toxic. I can’t even find natural food in the nearby countryside. Ever since she got pregnant, I’ve been worried sick and can’t sleep at night, afraid the baby will end up like Qin Qing back then.”

Qin Qing, quietly eating, looked up. What about her?

“Me? What happened to me?”

Ms. Wang sighed. “You were such a difficult baby. You had to stay in an incubator for half a month. At one point, we almost lost you.”

The eldest aunt continued, “That’s right. The most dangerous moment—the doctor came to tell us you had no heartbeat. I even made up a comforting lie for your mother so she could get through her recovery peacefully. But then…”

Old Qin said, “Then when I went to pick you up, your cold little hands and feet suddenly moved, and you let out this huge cry. Scared the daylights out of me. You’ve been healthy ever since, easy to raise. But that moment scarred your mom and me. We shelved the idea of having a second child.”

Old Qin snorted, “And that perfect name we picked for your little brother—we ended up giving it to the dog.”

Qin Qing: “How come I’ve never heard this story? I always thought I was super healthy.”

Old Qin and Ms. Wang both said, “Nothing to talk about. It was so long ago. You’re fine now, that’s what matters.”

Qin Qing fled to Baiyun Temple, burying herself in the dining hall kitchen, peeling potatoes all afternoon.

Wuyong found her.

“You’re on holiday. Why hide in here?”

Wuyong’s eyes were clear, able to reflect all things.

Qin Qing couldn’t lie, and didn’t want to.

She tossed aside a badly peeled potato and admitted, “I think I’ve been emotionally off lately.”

Wuyong looked at her, listening intently.

Qin Qing said quietly, “I’ve punished some people, saved some people. Witnessed birth, aging, sickness, death… joys and sorrows. But somehow, it feels like part of me is excluded from all of it, like I don’t belong. I’m detached. I observe… I don’t know. Maybe I’ve just had it too easy until now, and these recent difficult cases are finally getting to me.”

She suddenly lost all desire to speak—or to hear anyone else.

Qin Qing shooed Wuyong away, then peeled a large basin of carrots and lotus roots in the kitchen until Master Wuwang stopped her from wasting any more vegetables and kicked her out.

No time to wallow.

Lin Feng called.

“Qin Qing, come to the sub-bureau. The Bureau Chief wants to see you.”

All those messy emotions vanished instantly.

She had only one thought now.

Overtime?

She still had to work overtime? She was just a part-time consultant!

But it wasn’t the Bureau Chief looking for her—someone else.

Lin Feng whispered, “Someone from higher up, specifically requesting you.”

“City bureau? Provincial?”

Lin Feng shook his head and pointed upward. “Higher.”

In the Bureau Chief’s office, Qin Qing met the person who had come for her.

He wasn’t from the police system—he was from the military.

“Comrade Qin, hello.”

Qin Qing nodded.

Judging by his rank, the leading officer was a lieutenant colonel.

He got straight to the point. “Comrade Qin, we’ve reviewed your file. You’re an outstanding individual who’s made many significant contributions. Now, the organization needs your help.”

Qin Qing didn’t respond. She looked to the Bureau Chief, who gave a slight shake of his head.

“I may not be of much help.”

The lieutenant colonel said, “Comrade Qin, you’re being modest. According to our data, you’re far stronger than you think.”

“Let’s hear it.”

Just as the lieutenant colonel was about to explain, the man beside him stopped him and said to Qin Qing, “Why don’t you try guessing first?”

The Bureau Chief’s face dropped. “Come on, is that any way to ask someone for help?”

The man replied seriously, “Sir, don’t be angry. This is a necessary procedure. To ensure the operation’s absolute success, we must confirm that Comrade Qin matches the records exactly.”

The Bureau Chief huffed but didn’t block it further.

The man gestured for Qin Qing to begin.

Qin Qing pulled up a chair and sat down, looking them in the eyes, and said with certainty, “Southwest of the southwest, looking for someone, saving someone.”

The two officers exchanged a glance, both seeing the joy in each other’s eyes.

“That’s right, Comrade Qin truly lives up to her reputation.”

Qin Qing said, “Alright, finding people is my specialty. As long as they’re still alive, I can pinpoint the location. Since you’ve investigated me, you should know what I need to do that. Did you bring it?”

The lieutenant colonel nodded. “Finding someone depends on a bond of blood or emotion, with a compass as the medium.”

“Good. Let me meet someone related to the target, and I’ll give you the compass right away.”

The lieutenant colonel said, “We didn’t bring the target’s family members.”

“Even the cleverest housewife can’t cook without rice. In that case, there’s nothing I can do.”

“We’ve come to ask you to go in person,” the lieutenant colonel said.

Hiss…

“No way.” The bureau chief slammed the table. “I don’t agree. Did you even think before saying that? Do you know what kind of place that is? Lawless, chaotic, inhumane. Xiao Qin isn’t a soldier, not even a police officer—just a consultant, an ordinary citizen with a bit of ability. She has no obligation to risk her life for your mission!”

“Please calm down, comrade.”

“Don’t bother calling me anything. When your superiors contacted me, they never said you were planning to take her away. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let her come see you at all. Xiao Qin is only in her twenties. She hasn’t yet enjoyed the benefits and rights funded by taxpayers, so she has every right to refuse.”

“Comrade!” the officer who had stopped the lieutenant colonel earlier said, “This mission is no ordinary one. We cannot fail. The compass alone is too rigid. On-site conditions change constantly. If there’s even the slightest error, our comrades at the frontlines will be facing certain death—or worse, no return.

“I understand your care for your subordinate, just as I care for my soldiers.

“I assure you, having Comrade Qin go in person is purely for flexibility in response. She will never be sent to the frontlines. Once there, she only needs to stay in the command base. I’ll personally ensure she returns safe and sound.

“Even if—worst-case scenario—a one-in-a-billion accident happens, not a single hair on her head will be touched before all our fighters fall.”

The bureau chief still wanted to argue, but faced with the officer’s sincere eyes and promise, he couldn’t say anything more.

He turned to the silent Qin Qing. “Xiao Qin, what do you think?”

Qin Qing had already reviewed the general situation of their mission. She understood their determination and the mission’s significance.

She replied, “Since this comrade said I’ll be the safest one, and since helping others brings happiness, I don’t seem to have a reason to refuse.”

The atmosphere in the office was a bit heavy, so she half-joked, “I’ve never been abroad before. This is perfect—an all-expenses-paid trip. With the national army as bodyguards, what could be safer? Honestly, with the current international situation these years, I wouldn’t dare travel abroad alone.”

The lieutenant colonel said, “Comrade Qin, your sense of duty is commendable. Rest assured, the organization won’t forget your contribution.”

The other officer burst into hearty laughter, full of energy. “Great attitude, young comrade. Just saying—if you think of that place as a tourist destination, there’s a lot of fun to be had. There’s a kind of poisonous mosquito in the rainforest, about the size of a thumb. Its mouthparts carry an anesthetic toxin. You don’t feel a thing when it bites, and it’ll suck out a whole bag of blood with one bite.”

Qin Qing: “…”

Good thing this guy handed himself over to the state ahead of time—if he went into tourism promotion, he’d definitely starve to death.