Beijing Prefecture, China
End of flashback
" She wasn't joking that day. She was saying goodbye. If I had known at that very moment what she was planning on doing, I would have dissuaded her. Please, officer!"
"What is it?" the officer asked.
" Find her?" He inquired like a request.
" Don't worry! It's what I'm here for" the officer said to the shop manager reassuring him.
Shanghai Prefecture, China
" Excuse me, everyone! May I have your attention for a minute? I know you're all very busy, but I need a bit of your time. I'm looking for a young boy. He went missing two days ago. His family is extremely worried about him. I have some pictures in my possession that I'm going to distribute among you, citizens. Look at it carefully and tell me if you've seen him somewhere" I said, gathering everyone's attention.
" I saw him two days ago. I remember seeing that boy. He's Prince Li Wei of the Li Imperial Kingdom". The Jewelry Owner was the first one to answer Ying Yue's question.
" Where have you seen him?" I asked the jewelry owner in a questionable tone.
" Two days ago, as I went shopping, I saw him heading to the train station".
" The train station! What time was it?" I asked.
" It was 7:30 a.m.!" He responded.
" He must have taken the first train, but where was the train heading to. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. Thank you very much for your help!" I said thankfully.
" You're very welcome!"
" If you don't mind me asking, how did you recognize Prince Li Wei from the Li Imperial Kingdom?" I asked the jewelry owner.
" It's because of the resemblance. He resembles his majesty very much. The first time I saw him, he was still a baby. It was around five years ago". He said informatively.
" Thank you all for your collaboration today. You were of great help. You may get back to your occupations!" I said, thanking everyone for their help.
" Excuse me, miss!" The Jewelry Owner interpellated her all of a sudden.
" Yes?" I respond.
" May I know your name, please?" He inquired.
I was surprised and stayed silent for a moment.
" It's okay if you don't want to give me your name". He said recklessly.
" Ying Yue!!!" I respond.
" Thank you!" He said thankfully.
Beijing Prefecture, China
" I'll get going! Thanks for your help today!" Ying Jie said thanking everyone for their help.
" Wait! I remembered something just now". The Shop Owner interpellated Ying Jie once more.
" What have you remembered?" the officer asked the shop manager.
" Two days ago, I saw her enter the train station. It was dark, but I'm certain it was her". He gave further information to Ying Jie.
" What time was it?" the officer asked the shop manager.
" It was 7:20 a.m.!" He responded assertively.
"Thank you very much!" the officer said thankfully.
" There's no need to thank me, officer! I'm glad I could be of help to you. May I ask a small favor out of you?"
" Of course!" I said.
" May I have your contact information? This may sound selfish of me, but I want to get notified as soon as she's found". The Shop Owner asked like a request.
Ying Jie was surprised for a moment and stayed silent for a second.
"It's not selfish at all! Here are my contact details!" Ying Jie said handing his business card to the shop manager.
" Thanks!" He took the business card.
A few minutes later!!!
Perez Residence
" Is the food to your liking?" Mrs.Perez asked the officer.
" It's very delicious, thank you," the officer said smiling.
" I'm glad you found it to your liking!" Mrs.Perez said in satisfaction.
" Thanks for the food! It was mostly delicious!" the officer said smiling.
" Come with me! I'll show you to your room!" Mrs.Perez said.
" I'm right behind you!" Ying Jie said following her.
[It's best if I don't tell her the result of my investigations for the time being].
" This is your room! It's not big, but-------------------------------------------------"
" I'll be fine! This is a nice room. Thanks for your hospitality!" Ying Jie said thankfully.
"It's nothing! Good night, officer!��� Mrs.Perez said leaving the room.
"Good night!" Ying Jie replied.
Shanghai Prefecture, China
Ying Household
What the jewelry owner told me stunned me. Where have you gone to, Wei? What I don't understand is, where has he found the money to go on a trip? I should stop stressing myself over it. I'll get all the information I'm missing tomorrow. Before going to sleep, I'll call Jie to know how his investigations went? I thought to myself.
At night
Beijing Prefecture, China
Guest Room
[Ring! Ring! Ring!]
" Who's bothering me in the middle of the night?" Ying Jie said, grabbing his phone.
<" Incoming call": Yue>
Oh, it's my sister.
Ying Jie
"Yue? Hello!"
Ying Yue
"Hello, brother! Have I awakened you?"
Ying Jie
"No, not at all! I wasn't asleep!"
Ying Yue
"What a relief? If I had slightly disturbed your sleep, I would have felt pretty bad about it".
Ying Jie
"I was just about to sleep when you called".
Ying Yue
"Sorry about that! I won't take up much of your time, I promise. The reason for my call is to know how your investigations went?"
Ying Jie
"What can I say? The case I'm in charge of is a very strange one".
Ying Yue
"What do you mean by strange?"
Ying Jie
"Do you remember Prince Li Wei's case?"
Ying Yue
"Of course I do!"
Ying Jie
"This case is very similar to the previous one. Just like Prince Li Wei disappeared, my client's daughter also disappeared on the same day. According to one of the citizens, she may have left the city by train. I'm going to head to the train station tomorrow morning to continue my investigation. How about you? Where are you with your investigations?"
Ying Yue
"I'm not investigating!"
Ying Jie
" It's no use! Who can tell when you're lying if not your big brother? You're investigating on your own. Don't try to deny it!"
Ying Yue
" Fine, you got me! I'm investigating Prince Li Wei's case. How did you know I was investigating?"
Ying Jie
" You could say it was a detective instinct. What made you change your mind?"
Ying Yue
"I haven't changed my mind. It's just that I----------------------------"
Ying Jie
" I understand! Now, tell me how your investigation went?"
Ying Yue
" I'll also go to the train station early tomorrow".
Ying Jie
" Why? Has Li Wei also left the city by train?"
Ying Yue
"Yes!"
Ying Jie
" Good luck on your investigation!"
Ying Yue
" Good luck to you too, brother! I'll talk to you later!"
The following day
Beijing Prefecture, China
" I'll get going!" officer Ying Jie said waving goodbye to Mrs.Perez.
" Good luck!" Mrs.Perez said.
"Thanks!" officer Ying Jie said thankfully.
Beijing Train Station, China
" Excuse me, I have some questions to ask you. Here's my card!" officer Ying Jie said, showing his business card to the train driver.
Train Driver: What would you like to know, officer?
" Have you seen this girl?" officer Ying Jie said handing Estrella's picture to the train driver.
Train Driver(Look attentively) I've seen her! She was waiting for the train. When the train entered the station, she went in.
" Where was the train heading to?" officer Ying Jie asked the train driver.
Train Driver: She took line G-107 departing to Wuxie.
" Wuxie? Thank you very much for your collaboration!" officer Ying Jie said thankfully.
Train Driver: You're very welcome!
How did she know what line to take? Ying Jie thought to himself.
Shanghai Prefecture, China
Shanghai Train Station
" Sorry to disturb you, but I would like to ask some questions of you if that's okay!" I said.
" How may I be of help to you, beautiful young lady?" Inquired the train driver.
" Have you seen this boy?" I said handing out Wei's picture to him.
" Of course I have! He took the line G-7004 departing to Wuxie". He stared at the picture as he answered the question.
" How do you know he went to Wuxie? How can you be certain of that?" I asked the train driver.
" I am certain of what I'm telling you because I was the one who drove him there". He said in affirmation.
" Oh, yeah?" I said furiously.
" Why are you looking at me like that?"
" Do you have any idea of what you've done?" I said furiously.
" What have I done?" The train driver was rather confused.
" The boy you drove to Wuxie is none other than Prince Li Wei, the crown prince of the Li Imperial Kingdom". I said furiously.
" I didn't know! I'm innocent!" He started to panic.
" How could you not know?" I asked.
" I've never seen him before. I didn't know he was the crown prince. Please, believe me!" He said sincerely.
" I'll believe you, but you'll have to do something for me first," I said.
" Tell me what you want! I'll do anything you ask of me!"
" You'll do anything?" I asked.
" Yes!"
" Good! Give me your contact information!" I asked him.
" Here!" The train driver did as he was told.
He handed me his contact information without hesitation, which convinced me of his goodwill towards me.
" Thanks! I'll get in touch with you later!" I said to the train driver.
" You won't tell his majesty, right?" He inquired worriedly.
" If you do what I tell you to, there won't be a need for me to notify his majesty" I replied.
" Thank you!"
Beijing Prefecture, China
Perez Residence
"Reporter:" A few days ago, we talked about child traffic. We have more information regarding that topic".
" Officer! Officer! Come quickly!" Mrs.Perez called out to me shouting.
" Madame, you called?" Ying Jie came out to the living room.
" Watch this!" Mrs.Perez showed me the news.
"Reporter:" These traffickers have been seen around the city of Wuxie lately. More information is to be gathered. ``
I hope Yue didn't see this! I thought to myself.
" My daughter, where are you?" Mrs.Perez fell on the ground crying.
" Madame, calm down!" I tried calming her down.
" What are you hiding from me?" Mrs.Perez grabbed my collar firmly.
Shanghai Prefecture, China
" It's decided! I'll go to Wuxie and retrieve Wei before it's too late" I said affirmatively.