Heroine’s here
Yu Song immediately snapped to attention when she heard that Zhou Xiaoheng was a drug dealer.
This was her old specialty.
However, her current identity was too awkward.
Forget assisting with the case—just asking a few more questions would arouse suspicion.
Mrs. Zhou and Zhou Xiaoheng began biting at each other, exposing plenty of dirt on the other side.
Mrs. Zhou once bribed officials to win company bids and even specially held a modeling contest just to pick suitable beauties to send to the bribed officials as mistresses.
Zhou Xiaoheng had indeed attended a prestigious school, but unfortunately, he developed a drug addiction abroad.
Zhou Yaohui had already given up on him and told him to stay overseas for life and never come back.
But he only gave Zhou Xiaoheng a small apartment and a fixed monthly living allowance.
Zhou Xiaoheng, who had been extravagant since childhood, could not stand such a tight life.
He made up his mind, went to a rehab center for half a year, then returned claiming he had completely reformed.
Since he was his own biological son, Zhou Yaohui still arranged for him to join the company and no longer restricted his money.
But as soon as Zhou Xiaoheng had money, he resumed using drugs.
Since it was hard to buy drugs domestically, he found a well-connected drug dealer.
Seeing Zhou Xiaoheng’s wealth, status, and extensive connections—perfect for cover—the dealer simply dragged him into the business.
In Zhou Xiaoheng’s residence, they even found used drug paraphernalia, and in the study’s hidden compartment, unused drugs.
The evidence was conclusive.
Yet Zhou Xiaoheng kept denying everything stubbornly, refusing to name accomplices, claiming Mrs. Zhou framed him.
“I don’t use drugs, I don’t deal drugs, and I haven’t killed anyone. I don’t even know how these things ended up in my house—someone must be out to get me.”
Gu Zhiye frowned.
“Zhou Xiaoheng, do you really take the judicial process as a joke? Do you think denying your guilt will get you off scot-free?”
Zhou Xiaoheng went silent like a mute, refusing to say another word.
Soon his lawyer arrived, and Gu Zhiye had no choice but to pause the interrogation.
Yu Song saw Gu Zhiye coming out of the interrogation room and chuckled twice.
“You guys really know your tricks when dealing with me, huh? No one’s willing to get me a lawyer.”
Gu Zhiye sighed helplessly.
“Why haven’t you left yet? Little Yu, you’re no longer needed here. We’re holding on for now, you should go home first.”
Yu Song snorted.
“Officer Gu, you really are the type to discard someone once they’ve served their purpose. Let alone the cooperation I just gave you, did you even investigate Guangtou Qiang? Does that count as reporting merit? Any rewards?”
Gu Zhiye thought of the bath center incident and couldn’t help but smile.
“You want a bonus?”
“Isn’t there one?” Yu Song knew even if there was a bonus, it wouldn’t be much.
But every little bit counts.
Besides, reporting merit would help solidify her image and keep her far from the villain’s curse.
Gu Zhiye misunderstood her intentions, thinking Yu Song was eager to become an Informer.
But being an Old Madam in Sunshine Neighborhood wasn’t a role anyone could take on.
“I’ll help you apply. The process is complicated, and Guangtou Qiang is just a small fish. Even if approved, the money won’t be much.”
“No problem, I’m not picky. I’ll keep going strong. Officer Gu, do you really not need my help on Zhou Xiaoheng’s case? I suspect his cousin, Meng Dawei, has some secret dealings. Maybe it’s lust, maybe it’s money.”
“Lust? Zhou Xiaoheng isn’t homosexual!”
“Don’t think so rigidly. Straight men can be even more attracted to other men. And addicts have no bottom line. Zhou Xiaoheng must have fallen out with Zhou Yaohui and is using Meng Dawei to take him down. Besides seduction, what else could make Meng Dawei risk everything for him?”
Gu Zhiye listened to her analysis and was impressed, thinking, “Little Yu, you’re so passionate about investigating—why didn’t you take the Public Security University entrance exam? No worries, once you graduate, you can start as Auxiliary Police.”
Yu Song frowned.
“Are you mocking me? You’ve already checked my background and know my parents’ situation. Why bother taking the exam? Can I pass the political review? I just happen to be unlucky to run into these things and have to deal with you all. Might as well make some money while I’m at it, got it?”
Gu Zhiye, hearing this, became even more convinced she really wanted to be an Informer.
He laughed and earnestly advised, “Little Yu, I’m not mocking you, just didn’t expect it. Also, don’t expect too much from the bonuses, and don’t get lost along the way. Things like being an Informer or Reward Hunter are just online jokes. Even real jobs like that aren’t so easy. Besides, you’re only a sophomore, school is about to start—focus on your studies. You need to understand what’s most important for you right now.”
Yu Song was stunned by his serious words.
Who did he think he was?
A counselor?
Her cheap dad?
Gu Zhiye thought she had listened and continued, “You see, many university students can’t find suitable jobs. You need to learn from this. You should use school time to think more, get certificates, do social practice and industry research. Don’t slack off. Be mentally prepared, so it’s easier to get a job later.”
Yu Song’s ears buzzed—she had never met someone so lecturing yet so familiar.
“Officer Gu, do you know my mom? Her name is Song Wenya, and she’s pretty.”
Gu Zhiye was taken aback.
He usually minded his own business and only looked into Yu Song’s family situation because he felt sorry she couldn’t do the job she liked.
Had she really listened or not?
Why ask if he knew her mom?
Did she think he only cared because he knew her mother?
Gu Zhiye was about to deny it when Yu Song shook her head in confusion.
“No, you don’t look over thirty; you definitely couldn’t have had a child my age.”
Gu Zhiye was speechless.
“Yu, what nonsense are you talking about? I… I can’t possibly be…”
Yu Song slung her small bag over her shoulder and flicked her hair.
“Then stop going around acting like my dad!”
Liu Jingjia, who had just come over to call Gu Zhiye to a meeting, overheard everything and burst out laughing.
“Captain Gu, just by looking at her hair, you can tell she’s a little delinquent, living day to day. Why waste your breath talking to her?”
Gu Zhiye smiled wryly.
Yeah, with her family background, how could she have it easy?
As he thought this, Yu Song’s bright, clear eyes flashed in his mind.
He sighed, “I think she’s not a bad kid. With proper guidance, maybe it’s not too late.”
Yu Song had no idea her green hair made people mistake her for a delinquent.
If she knew, she wouldn’t have cared.
By now, she was used to it, even a little fond of her lively green hair.
As she went downstairs, she nearly bumped into a bustling young woman.
“Sorry, little sister, didn’t bump into you, did I?”
Yu Song shook her head and helped pick up the fallen file folders.
“It’s okay, I was just walking too fast.”
The woman was carrying a pile of folders, probably from the archives.
In this age of paperless offices, such old-fashioned folders were rare.
Yu Song raised an eyebrow—could this be the female lead?
She remembered the detailed description when the female lead appeared: needing to handle an old case, she went to the archives and grabbed a pile of files, just as she bumped into the male lead and the files scattered everywhere.
Could it be that her butterfly wings just flapped away this classic, old-school scene?
What a pity.
Yu Song sized up the woman—indeed a tall, cool, beautiful woman who instantly inspired goodwill.
Huo Anran was also appraising Yu Song.
At just one glance, she frowned, “Your hair color is pretty nice. Did you dye it?”
Yu Song, an expert in identifying drug users, immediately understood what she was implying.
She didn’t deny it and said naively, “Yeah, it’s dyed. Everyone else assumes I’m a gangster, but the police lady actually likes it? How about I introduce my Tony to you?”
Huo Anran looked at Yu Song’s innocent face and the way she cheerfully called her “Miss,” feeling a little guilty.
How did she just get on the job and already develop occupational disease, seeing no one as good?
“No need, we can’t dye our hair. Are you here to see someone in the Criminal Investigation Team? Need help?”
Yu Song sighed, “Neither. They said I was a suspect and just brought me here. There was a ride coming in, but when leaving, they said I was no longer involved and let me go. Miss, can I ask where the nearest bus stop is?”
Huo Anran scrutinized her and smiled, “Where are you headed? The nearest bus stop might not be very close. I’m just off work, want me to give you a ride?”
“Ah? That would be embarrassing.”
“No problem, it’s public service. The Criminal Investigation Team’s location is indeed a bit remote, not easy to get a taxi.”
Huo Anran put the folders back in the office, grabbed her car keys, and introduced herself, “Everyone calls me Xiao Ho. You?”
“Xiao Ho Miss, just call me Little Yu.”
Yu Song hadn’t decided whether to keep her distance from the leads.
But the first encounter, the female lead already noticed her green hair and even suspected she dyed it because of drugs.
Looks like hiding is futile—better to build a good relationship first and let them handle anything in the future.
They get the credit, she gets safety—a win-win.
Huo Anran was new on the job, and the team captain Ji Jiang had also just arrived not long ago.
She was busy and hadn’t assigned anyone to mentor her, just told her to get familiar with the environment.
She was proactive, following the case closely.
Hearing there was an unsolved cold case, she went to the archives herself.
While flipping through the files, she overheard the manager chatting that they had arrested a drug dealer instead of a murderer.
Then she ran into the green-haired suspect upstairs and naturally grew suspicious.
So she casually offered to drive Yu Song home, thinking she would refuse, but Yu Song just stood there waiting for her to get the keys.
During the ride, Huo Anran asked a lot, and Yu Song had nothing to hide, complaining the whole way.
“I know they thought I was stealing, but I wasn’t. I was looking for a job and was too embarrassed to ask, so I was just walking around to see if the hotel service was any good. Didn’t expect to trespass and find a corpse. I immediately called the police, but that Officer Gu suspected me and interrogated me all day! Today, those two crazies from the Zhou family tricked me out to the west suburbs, almost killing me.”
Yu Song was truly wronged.
“I was even helping them trick Zhou Xiaoheng, and Officer Gu still said I was a suspect. Sigh, I’m really unjustly treated.”
Curious all day, Huo Anran finally learned the case details from Yu Song.
She discreetly asked about Yu Song’s family background, and Yu Song laid it all out.
Yu Song had a clear self-image: she was an outsider; no matter how bad her family was, the shame wasn’t hers.
Huo Anran was stunned.
Her parents had multiple criminal records.
Her mother had been to rehab.
She had even reported her eighty-year-old grandfather for hoarding banned drugs.
Now this barely twenty-year-old girl was a suspect in a murder case.
She claimed to have been cleared, but all these things happening—was it coincidence?
Basically, no one in the family was normal.
Yu Song had already digested this complicated situation yesterday but still felt unlucky.
Now that she had someone to vent to, by the time they finished talking, they had arrived at Sunshine Neighborhood.
“Anran sister, my home is on the top floor. Come up and sit for a while!”
Huo Anran felt like she had been making small talk all the way, which went smoothly, and now realized they had become quite close.
She recalled her original purpose for coming—to check out this family.
Just as she got out of the car, she saw an old man with white hair trembling as he raised his cane and swung it toward Yu Song.
“You brat, you should have been thrown into the trash bin long ago!”
Yu Song gave Huo Anran an awkward smile.
“This is my surprisingly decent grandfather.”