Chapter 262 162: Zhang Niu: Chao Zi, You'll Live in the Capital City from Now On. Big Bro Has Arranged Everything for You

"Tsk, the Special Fifth Bureau is a real talent magnet."

"Brutish leaders, petty minds, work-injury claimants... they've all got their quirks."

Zhao Wei let out a wistful sigh. Thinking back on the various "talents" within the Special Fifth Bureau, he figured the fish rots from the head down.

Still, he was in a pretty good mood.

After all, through this whole affair... he'd practically gotten a top-tier criminal investigator for free!

'What a shame...'

'He's an external consultant, not a full-time employee. *Sigh*... Hmm... I seem to recall he's Xiao Chu's adopted son?'

Zhao Wei mused.

'I'll ask about it some other day.'

...

...

「In a hotel in the Capital City.」

"Boss, when are you going to reimburse me for my work injury?"

"Boss, it's a work injury! A real one! Look, that old lady beat my arm until it swelled up..."

"Boss, that club was a real den of filth. The smell made my lungs ache. I think I might have pneumonia. Does that count as a work injury?"

"Reimburse me, Boss."

Meanwhile, inside the hotel, a ceaseless chatter buzzed in Zhang Liang's ear like a persistent fly.

His expression darkened as he looked at Zhao Gang beside him.

"Shut up!"

Zhao Gang's face immediately took on a pained expression, his eyes filled with misery.

He was indeed not a pretty sight. His face was covered in scratches, and his body had scrapes.

The killer hadn't done this to him. It was Lin Miao's neighbor, the old lady.

The old man had been detained for a few days. When he returned home, the old lady went on another destructive rampage.

Zhao Gang, who was next door at Lin Miao's house for a second inspection to preserve evidence for the archives, had no choice but to go and break up the fight. But damn, that old lady was strong...

After stewing in silence for a good while, Zhao Gang suddenly spoke up again.

"Boss, I got my face all scratched up at the victim's residence *before* I went to that club to gather evidence."

"Do you think I could've caught AIDS?"

"Is that covered?"

Zhang Liang froze. He turned his head and stared at Zhao Gang, his face devoid of expression.

Zhao Gang braced himself for a tongue-lashing, but Zhang Liang just thought for a moment before saying gravely:

"It's a possibility."

"I remember a doctor saying that AIDS is transmitted through blood contact. The infection rate is very high with an open wound."

"Yep. You might be screwed, kid."

Zhao Gang froze, then a shiver ran down his spine. He stared at his boss, completely dumbfounded.

He was met with an even graver expression.

"Hey, Boss, don't scare me like that..."

"Then shut your mouth!" Zhang Liang's expression darkened, and he went back to ignoring him.

Nearby, Xu Huo, who had been watching this whole exchange, looked on in exasperation.

"Seriously, what's the deal with you two?"

"The case is closed. Why are you still hanging around me?"

Xu Huo sat on a sofa in the hotel's common area, looking resignedly at the two plainclothes Special Fifth Bureau agents before him.

They had shown up out of the blue that afternoon.

And they didn't just come over—they even booked a room!

That's right. Their room was right near Xu Huo's, close to the stairs, positioned so they could clearly see anyone who approached through their peephole.

'As for their talk about getting infected with AIDS...'

'It's possible, sure, but definitely not from simple contact with the air.'

'Some people do spread viruses like that intentionally. They're usually patients themselves, their minds twisted with a desire for revenge on society.'

'Their usual method is...'

'...to dip a needle in their own blood, then walk down the street and prick any passerby who looks like they're doing well or is good-looking.'

'Is that all?'

'No. These types also go after bike-share bicycles.'

'They hide the needle in the bike seat. If you sit down and feel a sharp pain in your butt, you might find a needle...'

'...in which case, you'd better get to a hospital for a course of PEP shots.'

"It's nothing. Just keeping an eye out for some shady bastards."

Zhang Liang said casually.

Who were these "shady bastards"?

Wang Tao hadn't spelled it out for him.

But from the way he'd cursed out the police force from top to bottom, Zhang Liang could guess who he meant.

"You're staying here? For how long?"

"Until you go home."

"You two aren't going home for the New Year?"

"Hah. The last time I went home for the New Year was four years ago," Zhang Liang said flatly.

"Alright, you're a real pro. Have fun hanging around."

Xu Huo feigned admiration, then got up and walked toward his room.

The hotel room wasn't just a single bedroom.

It was laid out like a suite, more like a small rental apartment.

Inside the suite's living room, Chu Xi and Niuniu were staring at each other.

Chu Xi looked down at the little girl on the floor.

The little girl on the floor looked up, silently gazing at Chu Xi.

After a long moment...

Niuniu began to crawl. She moved across the floor, came up to Xu Huo, and began circling his legs.

"Hm?"

"She can move her legs!?"

Xu Huo paused, his face lighting up with pleasant surprise.

"She can. The Special Fifth Bureau arranged it. A top specialist from the Capital City."

"The issue with her lower body wasn't too serious. It's mainly muscle atrophy, and since she's never walked before, she has to learn from scratch now."

Just then, a figure appeared in the doorway. He walked in, letting out a yawn.

It was Li Jianye.

Li Jianye had just had several days of good, solid sleep.

To be honest, today—December 31st, nearly four months after Chu Linhai had approved his vacation—

—he was finally getting a taste of what a real vacation felt like!

He wasn't needed for the wrap-up work in the Capital City. There were more than enough people here, so he didn't have to pull any all-nighters.

Right up to the moment he was told to come back and rest, Li Jianye had been in a state of utter disbelief.

He was panicked!

He was nervous and couldn't adjust!

After finally getting a good night's sleep...

...Li Jianye shamefully shed a few tears.

'Ever since he arrived in the Capital City, he'd been either babysitting or investigating. He'd even become panicked at the prospect of sleeping...'

'He was one hell of a criminal investigation captain.'