Everyone's been reborn, so who would bother finding a wife on their own?

Chapter 211 Master Criminal

That day, local news was being broadcast on television.

Song Huan leaned back on the sofa, holding the remote control in her hand. She changed the channel, but after watching for a while, she felt a little bored and changed it back.

Song Wentao sat down next to him, held his teacup, blew on it, and took a sip.

The scene suddenly cut off.

A host appeared on the screen, looking serious and speaking very quickly.

"Breaking news from our station: the highly publicized series of disappearances has been solved today."

Song Huan's hand stopped on the remote control.

Song Wentao's teacup was suspended in mid-air.

"The suspect, Zhang, male, 41 years old, is a licensed dentist at a dental clinic in this city. Police seized a large amount of physical evidence at his clinic, and the suspect confessed to his crimes. It is understood that Zhang used his profession to control the victims by anesthesia before committing the crimes. The bodies of all three missing persons have been found."

The camera cuts to the press conference.

Xiao Haifeng stood on the platform, wearing a police uniform, the stars on his epaulets flashing under the spotlight.

A row of microphones sat in front of him; his expression was serious, and his voice was steady.

"The successful resolution of this case is thanks to the valuable clues provided by the general public and the tireless efforts of all officers in the special task force. The public security organs will continue to intensify their efforts to combat crime and ensure the safety of people's lives and property."

The reporter raised his hand. "Director Xiao, what crucial clue led to the breakthrough in the case?"

Xiao Haifeng paused for a moment, "A high school student provided an important idea that pointed the way for solving the case."

When the reporter pressed for further details, Xiao Haifeng waved his hand, saying that the case was still under further investigation and he could not disclose more information.

Song Wentao was stunned. He put his teacup on the coffee table, stood up, and took his phone to the balcony.

The door wasn't closed properly, and the sound leaked out from the crack, intermittently.

"Old Liu, that serial case has been solved... Yes, today... Get it done quickly, write the news tonight as an emergency..."

Zhang Xuejuan came out of the room with the remote control in her hand, and turned the TV volume up a little.

She stood in front of the television, watched the news report, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"This case has finally been solved."

Song Huan watched TV without saying a word.

The landline rang at that moment.

Song Huan walked over and answered the call.

"Feed?"

"Did you see the news?" Xiao Yunqing's voice came through the microphone, sharp and bright, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"I saw it."

"You're really amazing!" she said, her voice a little softer. "You guessed it right without even trying."

Song Huan leaned against the wall, holding the microphone. "I was lucky."

Xiao Yunqing laughed on the other end of the phone; her laughter was crisp and clear.

"My dad's inviting you to dinner tomorrow, you have to come."

Song Huan thought for a moment.

"OK."

……

The next day, Song Huan stood at the door of Xiao Yunqing's house.

The door opened before I even knocked.

Xiao Yunqing stood at the door, wearing that white dress, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, her face full of smiles, her eyes curved into crescents, and her dimples shallow.

She stepped aside, and Song Huan went inside.

Xiao Haifeng and Xu Wan were both standing in the living room.

Xiao Haifeng wasn't wearing his police uniform today, but a dark polo shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had a rare smile on his face, and the wrinkles around his eyes were deeper than usual.

Xu Wan stood next to him, her apron tied around her waist, wiping her hands on it.

"Little Song is here, please sit down, you've been a great help to your Uncle Xiao."

Song Huan quickly waved her hand, "Uncle Xiao, Aunt Xu, it was just a coincidence."

Xiao Haifeng walked up and patted his shoulder, not with much force, but with great force.

"Whether it was a coincidence or not, you deserve the most credit for solving this case, and I thank you on behalf of the police department."

Song Huan was flattered and took half a step back.

Xiao Yunqing stood beside him, watching his helpless expression, and the corners of her mouth curled up even higher.

The table was laden with dishes: braised pork ribs, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, and a pot of chicken soup.

Xu Wan brought out the last dish, sat down, and looked at Song Huan with a smile.

"Auntie didn't know what you liked to eat, and I was going to call you to ask. Little Cloud said no need, she said she knew, and insisted that she would make the dishes you like herself."

Xiao Yunqing blushed, starting from her neck and spreading to the tips of her ears.

"He's a very picky eater, I was just worried he wouldn't like what you made."

Xu Wan smiled as she looked at Xiao Yunqing, then at Song Huan. Song Huan smiled back.

Xiao Haifeng picked up a piece of pork rib and placed it in Song Huan's bowl.

"There's a press conference about the case in a few days; you'll come with me."

Song Huan was stunned for a moment.

The chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

Xiao Haifeng's inner thoughts drifted over, heavy and deep, like a stone thrown into water.

[This child is the key to breaking the deadlock; the credit shouldn't be taken for him.]

Xu Wan's thoughts drifted over, gently, like the wind blowing through the treetops.

[Although this would benefit Haifeng's promotion to bureau chief, the credit shouldn't be taken from the child.]

Xiao Yunqing's innermost thoughts were the simplest, like the chirping of a little bird.

[Song Huan is going to be on TV! A huge credit to her!]

Song Huan was both amused and exasperated.

He picked up the rib, took a bite, chewed it twice, and swallowed it.

"Uncle Xiao, I'm not going."

Xiao Haifeng was stunned for a moment.

Why?

Song Huan put down her chopsticks. "It's not appropriate for me, a high school student, to go. You can take the credit."

Xiao Haifeng panicked, "How can that be? You provided the clues, this case can be solved..."

Song Huan interrupted him.

"Uncle Xiao, you need this credit more than I do in your position."

Xiao Haifeng was stunned.

Xu Wan was also stunned.

The two people looked at Song Huan, who was picking up food with his head down, speaking in a nonchalant tone as if he were talking about something trivial.

"Also, don't tell my parents about this. I don't want them asking me all sorts of questions."

Xiao Haifeng stared at him for several seconds.

He recalled standing on the stage at yesterday's press conference, with flashbulbs and microphones pointed at him, and saying, "A high school student provided an important idea."

Now Song Huan says that the credit belongs to you.

Xiao Haifeng couldn't help but ask, "Then you..."

Song Huan waved her hand and joked, "Uncle Xiao, I don't want anything. If I had to say something..."

"That means if I make a mistake in the future, just don't arrest me."

Song Huan laughed and said, "I just said it casually, I didn't take it to heart at the time..."

"You little brat..."

Xiao Haifeng couldn't help but smile to himself.

I felt both grateful and helpless.

He looked up at Xu Wan and said, "Go get my bottle of baijiu. I'm going to have a good drink with Song today."

Xu Wan was about to get up.

Xiao Yunqing slammed his hand on the table.

"Dad, Song Huan can't drink alcohol!"

The sound was crisp and loud, and it bounced once in the restaurant.

Xiao Haifeng was stunned.

Xu Wan was also stunned.

The two of them looked at Xiao Yunqing's angry face and then laughed at the same time.

Xiao Yunqing's face turned even redder. She lowered her head, stared at the rice in her bowl, poked it twice with her chopsticks, but didn't eat.

……

After dinner, Xiao Yunqing escorted Song Huan downstairs.

The lights in the hallway were on, casting a dim, yellowish glow. Two shadows were projected onto the wall, one tall and one short.

How did you guess which doctor it was?

Xiao Yunqing asked.

Song Huan walked slowly with his hands in his pockets.

"If you watch a thousand mystery movies, you too can become a master criminal."

Xiao Yunqing was stunned for a moment, then looked at him, her eyes widening. "So, are you a master criminal now?"

Song Huan stopped and turned around to look at her.

The light in the hallway shone on his face, making his eyes very bright.

"Yes, I am a thief."

Xiao Yunqing was stunned. "Huh? What did you steal?"

Song Huan looked at her and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

"I stole your heart."

The hallway was quiet.

The voice-activated light went out, dimmed briefly, and then came back on.

Xiao Yunqing's face turned from white to red.

She kicked him and ran away.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and a ponytail swung behind her.

Song Huan stood there watching her run up, touched her shin that had been kicked, smiled, and turned to go downstairs.