147: Chapter 147 Shen Yu: Sister!

"Li Li, come with me."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng dropped this sentence and turned to leave.

Li Li shoved the mineral water into Cheng Songyan's hand, followed for two steps, then turned back to glance at the 34th Floor.

Cheng Songyan, still strapped in with a harness, pointed at him.

"Don't mess around anymore."

Li Li nodded.

"Don't worry, I generally only mess around when the other party messes around."

Cheng Songyan froze.

The words sounded comforting.

But upon closer inspection, they were full of risk.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng led Li Li through the cordon to a black business van.

Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo sat in the passenger seat with a tablet spread on his lap.

"The mall surveillance is out. The suspect entered the third-floor restroom. Three minutes later, a masked male left the restroom and entered the mall through the staff passage. His height and gait had changed."

Li Li bent over and got into the car.

"Makeup, shoulder pads, different shoes, changing walking habits."

Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo turned around.

"You're this familiar with it?"

Li Li fastened his seatbelt.

"I used to deliver food. I've seen plenty of people who disguised themselves like spies just to steal takeout."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng closed the car door.

"I want you to disguise yourself. Hat, mask, change of clothes, don't get recognized."

"I think it's better not to disguise."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng's hand paused on the walkie-talkie.

"You have nearly a hundred million followers now. Walking through a mall is no different than being a mobile trending topic."

"Exactly."

"Exactly?"

Li Li leaned back in his seat.

"He set the trap earlier just to get me in there. He didn't kill me, so his mission failed. Now that he has to run, he won't be able to resist confirming the target's status."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng stared at him.

"You're using yourself as bait?"

"Don't put it so harshly."

Li Li rubbed his right shoulder.

"I'm a free tasting booth. Whether the other party reaches out depends on their quality."

Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo's pen stopped.

"That's even harsher than bait."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng didn't smile; he pressed the walkie-talkie.

"Go to MixC Mall. Divide the plainclothes officers into three groups: the basement, the staff passage, and the perimeter of the third-floor restroom. Notify mall security: no broadcasts, no clearing the area."

The car started. No police lights.

Li Li turned on his phone's front camera.

There was dust on his face. His hair was messy from the helmet. His training uniform had a black smudge on the right shoulder.

Perfect.

Maximum recognizability.

In a crowd, fans could instantly screenshot him into a meme.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng pulled a plain jacket from the back seat.

"Put it on."

Li Li took it and covered his legs with it.

"I won't."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng's temple throbbed.

"Follow orders."

"I am."

"Then put it on."

"I'm selectively listening."

Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo lowered his head and coughed.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng turned his head.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm not laughing, I got dust in my throat."

Li Li rolled down the window a bit.

"Captain Qiu Xiaofeng, professionals fear unplanned variables the most. Today, his variable is that I didn't die and can still go for a stroll in the mall."

Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo raised his pen.

"'Stroll' isn't appropriate for a report."

"Write it as 'target exposure inducement'."

"That works."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng took back the jacket.

"You walk in the open, we'll follow as the hidden line. Don't leave our line of sight."

"Fine."

"Don't be too impulsive."

"Depends on the situation."

"Don't 'depend on the situation'."

Li Li spread his hands.

"Then get someone else to be the bait."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng closed his eyes.

The suspect hadn't been caught yet, but his blood pressure had already been spiked by his teammate.

Twenty minutes later, the business van entered the mall's basement parking.

As soon as Li Li got out of the car, two young girls came out of the elevator.

One of them looked up and stopped in her tracks.

"Li, Li Li?"

Li Li raised a hand and made a "shh" gesture.

The girl immediately covered her mouth.

The other girl had already raised her phone.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng flashed his badge.

"Police business, please don't film for now."

The girl's hand shook, and she almost dropped her phone.

The girl nodded until she was dazed.

"O-okay!"

The elevator went up.

The mirrored wall reflected the dust on his body.

Li Li raised his hand and wiped away some of the dust.

Even worse.

Even better for the other party to confirm: How is he still alive?

They arrived at the third floor.

As the doors opened, the noise of the mall rushed toward them.

The bubble tea shop had a line. The restaurant entrances were full of people waiting.

Mother's Day bouquets were displayed in the atrium.

Li Li walked out.

First step, three people recognized him.

Second step, six people raised their phones.

Third step, a boy shouted half a "Holy—" before being covered by his girlfriend.

Li Li raised his hand and gestured for them to calm down.

"Don't crowd around, police business."

"Huh?"

"Really business?"

"It's you again?"

That last "again" was very telling.

Li Li looked in the direction of the voice.

A middle-aged man in a white shirt, carrying shopping bags, took a half-step back.

Not the suspect.

Ordinary people's first reaction to seeing his constitution is to stay away from trouble.

Professionals would take a second look.

Li Li continued forward.

He passed by the restroom first, then circled to the children's area, and then returned to the dining floor.

Every time he turned a corner, he looked behind him in the glass shop windows.

There were fans.

There were plainclothes officers.

There was mall security, too.

The earpiece wire was exposed at his collar, nearly sticking a "I am security" sign on his face.

But that person was not there.

Half an hour.

One hour.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng's voice came through the earpiece.

"Third floor is clear."

Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo followed up.

"Checked the basement exits twice, no matching gait."

Li Li stopped in front of a cookware store and picked up a non-stick pan.

A shop assistant trotted over.

"Sir, this model is part of our Mother's Day promotion today, buy one get the second half off."

Li Li put the pan down.

"I don't have a mother."

The assistant crashed on the spot.

A nearby plainclothes officer choked on his own saliva.

Li Li added a sentence.

"But the pan is nice."

The assistant held back for a long time.

"Then... wish you a happy life?"

"Thank you, I'm already working on it."

He turned and left.

In the earpiece, Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo couldn't help it.

"That line you said was too lethal."

"Just telling the truth."

"The assistant might have to rethink her professional script tonight."

"Then I helped her grow."

Another forty minutes passed.

Li Li walked to the railing of the atrium and looked down at the flow of people on the first floor.

A cleaner pushed a cart past.

Narrow shoulders, short steps, the left foot landed lightly.

Li Li shifted two steps to the side.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng's voice lowered.

"Which one?"

"Second floor, by the escalator on the east side, the cleaning cart."

"Received."

Two plainclothes officers moved in.

Thirty seconds later, the feedback came in.

"Ruled out. Female, official mall employee, sprained ankle."

Li Li raised his hand and rubbed his brow.

The other party didn't take the bait.

Or they had already left.

Or perhaps, the goal wasn't to keep observing him at all.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng came out of the emergency exit.

"It's been two hours."

"Yeah."

"Pack up. We'll take the surveillance footage back to check frame by frame, you head back to the station."

Li Li checked his phone.

6:07 PM.

After eating lunch, he had climbed stairs, fought fires, dodged explosions, failed to catch a suspect, and then acted as a mobile bait in a mall.

His body began to protest.

The protest was very simple.

Hungry.

Hungry in a very specific way.

Hungry enough to eat a standard Fire Station dinner, plus an extra bowl of rice.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng stared at him.

"We'll notify you if there are results, but don't investigate on your own."

"I am very law-abiding."

Deputy Captain Chen Zhuo just walked over and stopped.

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng also stopped.

Both of them were silent at the same time.

Li Li looked at them.

"Your silence is very hurtful."

Captain Qiu Xiaofeng turned around.

"Send him back to the Fire Station."

When he returned to the Luohu Fire Rescue Station, the sky had already darkened.

As soon as Li Li entered the building, he smelled the food.

Chili.

Cured meat.

Sichuan peppercorn.

This smell was very Southwestern, and it woke his stomach right up.

He went to wash his face first.

The water washed away the dust, but the spot on his right shoulder where he was hit still hurt.

His left wrist hurt too.

Before entering the cafeteria, Li Li paused.

Today, the cafeteria had several large cameras set up.

There was also a projector screen on the side.

Production Team staff were standing against the wall, and Director Pei Zhao was there too.

Good grief.

They had almost turned the show into an anti-terrorism documentary during the day.

And now they were setting up a big scene at night.

These people from Byte Group really weren't afraid of workplace injuries.

Shen Jue rushed over with a tray.

"Brother! Are you okay?"

"I'm not okay."

Shen Jue froze.

"Where are you hurt?"

"Hurt by hunger."

Shen Jue opened his mouth, then closed it.

"Brother, your act is too stiff."

Ji Shen poked his head out from behind.

"Stiff? I think it's pretty realistic."

Tao Qianzhi walked over with a thermos.

"Eat first, talk after you're done."

Gu Zeyan stood in front of the serving window with a tray in his hand.

He glanced at Li Li, then quickly lowered his head to scoop food.

Li Li walked to the window.

Twice-cooked pork.

Stir-fried cured meat with fish mint.

Guizhou spicy chicken.

Cold rabbit meat.

Sour soup vegetables.

He picked up his tray.

"The food today is very Southwestern."

The cook smiled.

"Eat more."

Li Li scooped the twice-cooked pork, then scooped the cold rabbit meat.

"'More' is for sure, today my stomach belongs to a post-disaster reconstruction project."

Qin Xiaoshan was already sitting at the long table.

The rice in his bowl was piled very high, the cured meat was mixed in with the rice, and his chopsticks were moving fast.

Li Li sat across from him.

"Xiaoshan, the food today is to your taste, right?"

Qin Xiaoshan looked up.

His mouth was stuffed with cured meat, and he didn't make a sound, but tears fell first.

Li Li's chopsticks stopped.

Qin Xiaoshan hurriedly lowered his head to shovel rice, trying to hold back the tears, but couldn't.

"This is my mom's taste."

The cafeteria went quiet.

Qin Xiaoshan wiped his face with his sleeve, the more he wiped, the messier it got.

"Stir-fried cured meat with fish mint, she always fried it like this. The cured meat cut thick, the chili burnt a bit. She always said I ate too fast."

Zhong Ji pushed the tissue box over.

"Eat slowly, no one is snatching it from you."

Qin Xiaoshan took the tissue.

"I'm afraid it'll be gone later."

Zhong Ji looked at the rice on his tray.

"Don't worry, this amount can last until morning exercises tomorrow."

Li Li looked toward the Production Team's side.

Cameras.

Projector.

Director Pei Zhao.

The eve of Mother's Day.

He had probably guessed it, but didn't expose it.

Some things, if you say them too early, lose their charm.

Li Li lowered his head to eat.

When the twice-cooked pork entered his mouth, he paused.

This taste was a bit familiar.

Not his own feeling.

Before the transmigration, he was busy working to pay off debts, and food was only divided into two categories.

Cheap.

Cheaper.

But this body remembered.

When he got to the cold rabbit meat, that familiarity was even stronger.

Spicy, numbing, the dried meat was fragrant.

A few fragmented images surfaced in his mind.

The old kitchen of the welfare institute.

An old apron.

Stainless steel basin.

Mother Zhang put the rabbit meat into a lunch box and called the children to have an extra meal.

The image cut off.

Only the body was still keeping accounts.

Li Li put the rabbit meat into his mouth.

Very spicy.

He drank some water.

Shen Jue leaned over and spoke in a low voice.

"Brother, crying from the spice?"

Li Li put down his water cup.

"No, it's the steam."

Ji Shen looked at the cafeteria's air conditioning.

"Where would there be steam indoors?"

"You don't understand, masters bring their own weather system when eating spicy food."

As the laughter died down, Director Pei Zhao stood up.

He held the microphone and looked at the Firefighters and guests.

"Sorry to interrupt everyone's meal for a few minutes."

Qin Xiaoshan immediately protected his bowl.

Director Pei Zhao quickly added a sentence.

"Not taking the food."

Qin Xiaoshan breathed a sigh of relief.

The cafeteria laughed again.

Director Pei Zhao also smiled.

"Today is Mother's Day. Many soldiers in the station are on duty as usual and can't go home. After communicating with the Fire Station, the Production Team contacted some family members and recorded some videos."

The chopsticks in Qin Xiaoshan's hand stopped.

Director Pei Zhao looked at him.

"Family members who were able to, also brought food over. Today's meal wasn't entirely made by the kitchen staff."

The projector lit up.

Zhang Yu's mother appeared first.

The old lady was sitting at home, with a calendar hanging behind her.

"Yu, smoke less. Eat even if you're busy. Your dad mailed you two pairs of socks, they're not expensive, don't mind them."

Zhang Yu stood by the wall, originally tense, but when he heard about the socks, he raised his hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Several Firefighters nearby started to heckle.

"Fire Chief Zhang, socks!"

"Smoke less!"

Zhang Yu kicked the person nearest to him.

"Shut up."

Han Su's mother was wearing factory overalls, sitting on the bottom bunk of a dormitory.

"Han Su, don't always think about fighting for first place. Mom isn't stopping you from working hard, Mom is just afraid you'll get hurt. Don't just eat meat when you eat, eat vegetables too."

Han Su lowered his head and looked at his own tray.

It was full of meat.

Zhong Ji reached out with his chopsticks and put a piece of green vegetable on his plate.

"I'm enforcing the law for your aunt."

Han Su didn't retort, put the vegetable in his mouth, and chewed very seriously.

Zhong Ji's mother appeared on screen, the background was the family kitchen.

"Zhong Ji, don't be lazy in the team. Your dad says you know how to dodge work, I don't believe it, but I don't dare to completely disbelieve it either. If you dare to let your teammates be tired for you, I'll stop your card."

The cafeteria burst into laughter.

Zhong Ji immediately sat up straight.

"Received!"

The fourth video was Qin Xiaoshan's mother.

The woman was sitting by the stove, her hair pinned with a clip, her apron stained with chili oil.

She was a little nervous facing the camera.

"Shanwa."

The bowl in Qin Xiaoshan's hand was set down.

The woman rubbed her apron.

"You have to listen to your leaders outside. Eat until you're full, don't be lazy in training. Don't keep sending money home, your younger brother and sister have me and your dad."

Qin Xiaoshan lowered his head, his shoulders heaved twice.

The woman picked up a plate of cured meat.

"Mom fried you some stir-fried cured meat with fish mint, you loved to eat it when you were little. You said no food outside was as fragrant as home. Now you're in the national team, Mom doesn't have any skills, so I just fried this for you."

Qin Xiaoshan suddenly stood up and shouted at the projector.

"Mom!"

No one laughed.

Shen Jue put the gummy candy back in his pocket, not opening it.

Qin Xiaoshan wiped his face.

"I ate it! It's especially fragrant!"

The video, of course, couldn't hear.

The woman was still talking.

"Don't be reluctant to spend money. Buy shoes for yourself too. Mom saw you on TV, you're a bit darker, stronger. Good."

Qin Xiaoshan sat back down and shoved the cured meat into his mouth.

One mouthful after another.

This time, no one urged him to slow down.

Li Li scooped half of the stir-fried cured meat with fish mint from his own plate and put it next to Qin Xiaoshan.

Qin Xiaoshan looked up.

Li Li knocked on the tray.

"I'm eating the cold rabbit meat, you're responsible for finishing this."

Qin Xiaoshan still had rice in his mouth and nodded vigorously.

The video continued to play.

Ji Shen's mother praised his championship first, then scolded him for throwing socks around.

Ji Shen immediately applied to withdraw from Mother's Day.

Tao Qianzhi's wife recorded a segment with their child, the child shouted "Dad don't get hurt," Tao Qianzhi drank three sips of wolfberry tea before suppressing it.

Su Nianzhi's video was recorded by her mother, all about "don't be too thin" and "don't push yourself."

She wiped her tears in front of the camera, finding the angle very accurately.

Li Li glanced at the camera.

Professional.

In Gu Zeyan's video, his mother was sitting in the living room, with trophies displayed behind her.

"Zeyan, don't always think about the camera. Mom wants to see you safe."

Gu Zeyan's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

He slowly put down his chopsticks and lowered his head to eat a mouthful of plain rice.

He didn't look for the camera angle.

Li Li gave him half a point extra.

At least he was still savable.

Qi Wanyin's video was played last.

Not her mother.

It was an old fan.

The old person sat in a nursing home, holding her early albums in hand.

"Wanyin, your singing has accompanied me for many years. You have to eat well, sleep well. Don't always sing sad songs, the people listening will also hurt."

Qi Wanyin pushed her cup a little further away.

She didn't cry.

She just put her right hand under the table and paused for a long time.

The videos played one by one.

The cafeteria was full of the sounds of tissues, sniffing, and pretending to drink soup.

Director Pei Zhao held the microphone and coughed lightly.

"There is one more guest, we don't have a video from his mother."

Everyone looked at Li Li.

Li Li was scooping cold rabbit meat, his movements didn't stop.

Growing up in an orphanage wasn't a secret.

He wasn't afraid of this either.

It was just being filmed by the camera, a bit awkward.

Not sad.

It was awkward.

The whole country watching someone "without Mother's Day material."

This operation, if Director Pei Zhao didn't handle it well, tomorrow's trending topic would be—

Production Team Stabs Li Li in Public》

《Orphanage Dean Backstabbed by Mother's Day》

《Byte Variety Show, Listens to Advice but Not Much》

Director Pei Zhao was clearly afraid too, and immediately added a sentence.

"So, we changed the method."

Li Li's chopsticks stopped.

Footsteps came from the kitchen direction.

Not the boots of the kitchen staff.

Lighter.

The staff at the cafeteria entrance moved aside at the same time.

A figure walked out from the kitchen.

She wore a light-colored apron, her hair tied up, holding a plate of freshly cooked cold rabbit meat.

Shen Jue froze first.

The next second, he sprang up from his chair, his knee hitting the table edge, causing his tray to shake.

"Sister!"