In the sweltering heat of July, under the blazing sun, the city of Quancheng was plunged into a state of unbearable torment. Even the air seemed to carry a restless, irritable energy.
A young man, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and black sportswear, appeared at the entrance of the city's Public Security Bureau.
He stood tall and straight, his gaze clear and sharp. The faint trace of a smile on his angular face exuded a refreshing and composed demeanor, as though he belonged to a world far removed from the sweat-drenched masses.
His name was Chen Yi, a Feng Shui master who had made a name for himself along Fortune-Telling Street.
Despite being only twenty years old, Chen Yi was not someone to be underestimated in his field. He had already earned a formidable reputation and a rather infamous nickname—"The Great Bluff."
Today, for reasons unknown, this young man had decided to step into the lion's den—the Public Security Bureau of Quancheng—to conduct his business, even planning to make a handsome profit.
Wasn't this akin to a mouse delivering itself to a cat, throwing caution—and life—to the wind?
…
Inside the conference room of the Public Security Bureau.
"In less than a month, four gold shops have been robbed, resulting in three deaths and nine injuries of varying severity. And you still have no leads? What exactly are you all doing?"
Director Liu Siming pressed his fingers hard against his temples, addressing the officers seated solemnly around the table. "It's not that the criminals are too clever; it's that we're too incompetent!"
The vast conference room fell into a deathly silence, the kind where even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard. Everyone instinctively bit their lips, making sure not to utter a single sound, lest they draw the ire of Director Liu.
"Report."
At that moment, the door to the conference room was pushed open, and a young officer entered nervously, saluting as he spoke.
"Can't you see I'm in a meeting?" Liu Siming's barely relaxed brows furrowed once more as he barked impatiently, "What is it?"
"S-someone has made a report!" The young officer stammered, trembling slightly. Everyone knew the director's temper, but this was something that couldn't be ignored.
"What now?" Liu Siming groaned, already overwhelmed by the current case. Now, more trouble seemed to be piling on.
"Someone claims to know the whereabouts of the masked criminals!"
"Alright, alright, I've heard you. You can leave now," Liu Siming waved his hand dismissively, intending to send the officer away. But suddenly, something clicked in his mind. "Wait, what did you just say? Someone knows where the criminals are hiding?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Liu Siming shot the young officer a glare that made him shudder. "What are you standing there for? Bring them in immediately!"
The young officer, feeling wronged, quickly stepped out and returned moments later with a young man in tow. It was none other than Chen Yi, who had come prepared for a big endeavor.
"Young man, do you know where the suspects are hiding?" Liu Siming's eyes lit up as he looked at Chen Yi.
From his appearance alone, Chen Yi seemed trustworthy—tall, upright, with an honest and sincere gaze that set him apart from the charlatans on Fortune-Telling Street who went to great lengths to feign wisdom.
All the leaders in the conference room turned their eyes toward him, seeing him as a beacon of hope.
Quancheng, as the capital of East China Province, was a place where even the smallest incident could quickly reach the ears of provincial leaders, let alone a series of high-profile robberies. If this case remained unsolved, disciplinary actions would soon follow, and no one present would escape unscathed.
And now, at this moment of desperation, someone had come forward with a lead.
If this wasn't a savior, then what was?
In an instant, Chen Yi became the center of attention, a coveted figure everyone wanted to cling to.
"Yes," Chen Yi replied crisply, showing no sign of nervousness despite being the focus of so many eyes.
"Where?" Liu Siming, abandoning all formalities, asked without hesitation.
"In the southwest outskirts of the city, in the demolition zone of Wang Dazhuang, next to the public restroom…"
"Good. Luoyan, take a team there immediately. Make sure the criminals are brought to justice!" Liu Siming wasted no time issuing the order as soon as Chen Yi finished speaking.
"Yes, sir." A female officer seated beside Liu Siming stood up, saluted, and briskly exited the room. She was composed, efficient, and exuded a heroic aura.
Chen Yi couldn't help but take a second look at the female officer. She was about 1.7 meters tall, with thick eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and an oval face—strikingly beautiful.
Her skin wasn't the pale complexion cultivated through meticulous care, but rather a healthy wheat-like tone, radiating a unique charm.
Even someone like Chen Yi, who had seen his fair share of beautiful women, couldn't resist giving her a few more glances. Particularly her long legs, though concealed by loose clothing, they were undeniably eye-catching.
"Young man, don't be nervous. Sit," Director Liu said after the female officer, named Luoyan, had left.
Chen Yi didn't stand on ceremony and found a seat near the end of the conference table.
"What's your name?"
"Chen Yi."
"Hmm? Haha, the same name as our founding marshal? Looks like you're destined for greatness," Director Liu joked.
Chen Yi smiled shyly and replied, "My name uses the character 'Yi' from the Book of Changes, not the same as the marshal's."
Director Liu studied the young man and was quite impressed. He carried himself with ease and confidence, neither arrogant nor overly submissive. Speaking calmly in front of so many high-ranking officers without a hint of fear was rare indeed.
At this moment, Liu Siming's earlier frustration seemed to dissipate, and the tension in his brow eased.
"How did you come to know the suspects' hiding place?" he asked.
"Well…" Chen Yi hesitated.
"Relax. Everyone here is a leader from the city bureau. Your identity will remain confidential. Speak freely, and if you have any concerns, feel free to share them," Liu Siming assured him.
After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yi asked, "If they're caught, is there really a reward of ten thousand yuan?"
"Hmm?"
Liu Siming was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt shift in topic, but he quickly recovered. Nowadays, most citizen reports were indeed motivated by monetary rewards.
"Yes, if your information proves accurate, the ten thousand yuan reward will be yours in full."
"Good to know."
Chen Yi glanced at the insignia on Liu Siming's shoulder—two bars and three stars, indicating a senior superintendent rank. Judging by his prominent position at the table, Chen Yi deduced that he was a high-ranking leader in the city bureau and felt reassured.
Realizing his earlier statement might have been too blunt, Liu Siming added, "Young man, money is important, but it shouldn't be the sole motivation. Eliminating criminals and maintaining social stability is what truly matters. The reward is just a way to strengthen the bond between citizens and law enforcement—it's not meant to compensate effort alone."
"You're absolutely right, Director. My priorities were misplaced," Chen Yi replied with a guilty expression, humbly accepting the criticism and offering a sincere self-reflection. Deep down, however, he thought as long as he got the money, there was no need to nitpick over words.
Though not part of the officialdom, Chen Yi had dealt with enough government officials to understand their way of speaking—always indirect, as if taking a detour made them appear more cultured.
"Haha, improving your civic awareness is always a good thing," Director Liu said, clearly pleased with Chen Yi's attitude. Leaders loved subordinates who were obedient, and Chen Yi's response was both compliant and clever, subtly flattering without seeming sycophantic. It was a pity this young man wasn't part of the Public Security Bureau.
Still, Liu Siming couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for him. "Chen Yi, what do you do for a living?"
"For a living?" Chen Yi hesitated, slightly embarrassed. "I tell fortunes and read Feng Shui. I have a stall on Fortune-Telling Street, though I'm often chased away by your officers."
"Hahaha."
The other officials in the room burst into laughter. Fortune-telling and Feng Shui indeed fell under their crackdown on superstitions during annual anti-fraud campaigns.
"Do you live in the southwest demolition zone?" someone asked.
"No, I live in the far east, in Shuanglong Village," Chen Yi replied, puzzled.
"Shuanglong Village?" The officer who had asked furrowed his brow. "You work on Fortune-Telling Street and live in Shuanglong Village. How did you come to know about suspects in Wang Dazhuang in the southwest outskirts?"
The officer's question echoed everyone's thoughts. They had been wondering how Chen Yi knew the suspects' location.
"Did you see them in Wang Dazhuang?" the officer pressed.
"No, I didn't," Chen Yi replied, confused. "Who said I saw the suspects?"
"You didn't? Then why are you reporting this?" The officer slammed the table, standing up angrily. Was this young man an idiot, filing a false report at such a critical time?
"Not seeing them doesn't mean I can't report it. I know they're hiding there—does that not count? Your job is to apprehend them, not question how I know. If they're caught, does it matter if I say I sniffed them out?" Chen Yi retorted with a sneer, looking at the officer as if he were a fool.
"You little punk, are you asking for a beating?" The officer's face turned red with anger, humiliated by Chen Yi's sharp words, especially in front of his superiors.
"Alright, enough," Liu Siming intervened, breaking up the argument. He, too, was curious about how Chen Yi knew the suspects' whereabouts, given their own fruitless efforts after twenty days of investigation.
"Chen Yi, explain yourself. How do you know? Did you really sniff them out?" Liu Siming asked with a chuckle, finding himself increasingly fond of the young man's audacity.
"Of course not, Director. That was just a joke," Chen Yi replied humbly, his deference pleasing Liu Siming.
"I calculated it."
"Calculated? How?"
"I'm a fortune teller. Naturally, I used divination," Chen Yi said, his words as shocking as a thunderclap.
"You're a fortune teller? And you used divination to figure this out?"
Liu Siming nearly bit his tongue in disbelief.
And it wasn't just him. Everyone in the room froze, their mouths agape and eyes wide, as if they had all turned into lifeless fish.
"This punk is asking for trouble!" The officer who had clashed with Chen Yi was the first to recover, pointing at him and cursing loudly.