As I hung up the phone, I decided to bring Zhao Simeng along to the school. Her keen observational skills and expertise as a forensic scientist would make it easier to find Xuan Xingchang at the Gaogang City Police Academy.
However, it was surprising that Xuan Xingchang's daughter was also studying at the academy. It made me wonder how she could have such different ideals from her father and how they got along.
When we arrived at the Gaogang City Police Academy, I noticed a girl standing in the distance. I didn't intend to approach her, but as I walked closer, she suddenly turned her head.
She was an adorable young woman with big, dark, sparkling eyes, a rosy complexion, and long, wavy hair cascading naturally over her shoulders. Her expression turned peculiar when she saw me, and I felt as if I recognized her as well.
After about two minutes of stunned silence, she finally stammered, "Are you He Sheng?"
When she said my name, I immediately realized who she was—it was Liu Keying! Over the years, she had grown into a charming and delightful young woman.
I hadn't expected her to already be waiting outside. Smiling, I confirmed, "Yes, it's me, He Sheng. Long time no see."
"It's been about ten years, Brother He Sheng," she said, visibly excited. Ignoring Zhao Simeng, she rushed over and hugged me tightly, even pounding on my chest repeatedly.
Her enthusiastic display left Zhao Simeng both stunned and blushing.
"Don't get so worked up," I tried to calm her, but Liu Keying wouldn't relent. After a while, she finally let go and noticed Zhao Simeng behind me. Curious, she asked, "Brother He Sheng, who is this icy woman?"
"Oh, she's my colleague, a forensic scientist named Zhao Simeng," I replied with a laugh.
Hearing the introduction, Zhao Simeng cleared her throat and said, "Young lady, are you always this blunt?"
"Not really. So, what case are you investigating at our school today?" Liu Keying asked excitedly.
I replied, "I'm not sure yet. We're just here to look around."
Together, we walked into the academy's campus. As we passed by the soccer field, we saw many students playing soccer. To my surprise, Zhao Simeng suddenly asked, "Do you play soccer?"
"Heh, the ball has always kicked me; I've never kicked it," I said with a wry smile.
"Haha, then let me show you what I can do today."
I hadn't expected the usually aloof Zhao Simeng to get so excited at the sight of a soccer match. She immediately joined the students on the field, kicking the ball a few times with remarkable precision. Her flashy footwork and skilled shooting left the male students in awe.
"She's amazing! Way better than us guys!"
"Yeah, totally incredible!"
Meanwhile, Liu Keying pouted and said, "It's just kicking a ball. What's so impressive about that?"
After scoring a few goals that completely ignored the goalie, Zhao Simeng walked back to me and asked, "So, how's my technique?"
"Impressive!" I replied earnestly, genuinely admiring her skills. She smiled—a rare sight. However, Liu Keying coughed and said, "Brother He Sheng, let's not waste any more time. Aren't we here to investigate a case?"
"Alright, let's go," I said, asking Liu Keying to guide us through the nearby teaching buildings. Zhao Simeng quickly followed.
As we walked, we passed by classrooms where students were reciting lessons about being a police officer. Near one classroom, I noticed something unusual at the base of the professor's podium. The sound beneath his feet seemed different, as if the floor had been tampered with.
I became suspicious. After the class ended, I asked Zhao Simeng to test the spot with her high heels. The sharp tapping sounds confirmed my suspicion. "This area has been dug up before," she said.
Ordinary shoes wouldn't have revealed the difference, but high heels did the trick. Having seen her wear them often, I knew she was the right person for this job.
I nodded and told Liu Keying, "There's something wrong under the podium." She asked what we should do. I replied, "We need to dig it up."
"But if we get caught, we'll be punished!" she protested.
"Don't worry. We're the police," I reassured her. As I prepared to start digging with a shovel, a janitor entered and stopped us. "Hey! What are you doing?"
I quickly showed my badge and explained, "There's a situation. We suspect someone is under here."
"A dead body?" the janitor stammered in fear.
"Not necessarily. Gather a few people to help us," I instructed. The janitor soon returned with several people to assist with digging.
As we dug, a hand suddenly emerged from the soil, startling everyone. Shouts of "A corpse! A corpse!" echoed around us. I calmed them down, explaining that the person was still alive, and we continued digging despite the stench of decay rising from below.
We eventually uncovered Xuan Xingchang. His body was curled up like a fetus in a womb. He had been buried under the podium, his body mostly dried out, and the area reeked of his excrement.
It was hard to imagine how he had survived this ordeal. His daughter was just in a nearby classroom, and he must have endured the torment of hearing her voice every day without being able to see her.
We carefully lifted him out. He seemed dazed and would likely suffer some psychological trauma even after recovery.
At Xuan Xingchang's company, his absence and Huo Hong's death had prompted the shareholders to begin selecting a new president, showing no regard for him. His life had taken a dramatic turn. If he could recover, perhaps he could regain his former position.
Soon after, we received news that Xuan Xingchang had recovered well and had been reinstated as president of Dragon Ascend Pharmaceuticals. For him, this was a significant turnaround.
After reconnecting with Liu Keying during this case, she insisted on treating me to a meal once it was over. To my surprise, Zhao Simeng decided to join us, leaving me speechless. Fortunately, Liu Keying didn't mind.
We met at the academy and headed to a Hunan restaurant that Liu Keying recommended. "Let's eat at this Hunan cuisine place near the school," she suggested.
"I love spicy food. Sounds good," Zhao Simeng replied, surprising me with her enthusiasm.
It was a relief that they quickly reached an agreement. Otherwise, their differing tastes might have caused a dispute.
The restaurant had an elegant design, featuring red oval lanterns and traditional architectural elements like wooden screens, giving it a distinctly Hunan flair. No wonder Liu Keying chose this place.
Inside, we chose a table near the kitchen. Without waiting for a server, Liu Keying immediately called out her order to the chef. Clearly, she was a regular here.