The next day, Shi Nian met Wang Chengbing for the first time.

He looked so young and kind of refreshing. His hair was cut short and neat unlike uncle detective who liked to comb his hair up until it showed his forehead. The chubby man smiled so bright that he showed his row of pearly white teeth. Shi Nian had the notion that this was what was called a sunshine boy.

“H—Hello!” His greeting was especially loud and energetic which made Shi Nian flinch in shock.

Xu Binchen slapped him on the back of his head lightly. “Speak properly.”

As if realizing that he was indeed too loud, he laughed sheepishly and scratched his head. His demeanor was shy and courteous. Shi Nian wondered internally. Did all detectives in this city look nothing like a detective? First it was Xu Binchen who looked like a debt collector, meanwhile here was Wang Chengbing who looked like a young master from a wealthy household who went out to get some real experience of how society worked…

“I have heard so much about you, Miss Shi!” He talked with enthusiasm, which was a marvelous experience for Shi Nian. “You don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to meet you! Ah, look at me!” He slapped his forehead and hissed peevishly. “I forgot to introduce myself. I am Wang Chengbing, you can call me fatty or Chengbing or whatever you want.”

Wang Chengbing was so talkative that Shi Nian couldn’t find any chance to reply.

In the end, she waited for Wang Chengbing to describe the length he had gone through from the first time the SCI Unit received news about her until today when he was finally standing in front of her.

After more or less fifteen minutes, Shi Nian finally raised her board and smiled. [Nice to meet you, Brother Detective Wang.]

“Aiyoh!” Wang Chengbing clutched his chest, his face scrunched up in pain. “See, Binchen. See how sweet she is!” He turned to Shi Nian, his eyes shining brilliantly. “Can I call you Shi Nian instead?”

Xu Binchen: “…” I don’t know this person at all.

His eyes zeroed on the word ‘brother’ and he averted his gaze like nothing happened.

In the next subsequent moment, Wang Chengbing and Shi Nian correlated as if they were long lost sisters. Wang Chengbing was originally a passionate man, coupled with his talkative habit, he found endless topics to talk about with Shi Nian.

Shi Nian too. Her life these few weeks revolved around the elderly amicable Doctor Chun, the gentle but strict Nurse Zhang, and the sour-faced Detective Xu who looked like he would die if he spoke more. She had been dying to find someone to talk to, and the arrival of Wang Chengbing had somehow fulfilled her wish.

Wang Chengbing inquired about her situation as if he was the girl’s mother.

Xu Binchen was left in the dust in the corner, forgotten and abandoned.

“You can’t imagine how chaotic our situation is right now! That criminal is such a bastard. On one hand, we have to chase after his steps and capture him, and on the other hand, we have to make sure that no one will fall victim again—”

Shi Nian listened with enthusiasm because with Xu Binchen, he would always just skim over the surface and didn’t tell her the details that she was curious about, for example how much clue had the police gathered, or if the victims had some kind of similarity or relation with each other…

At that exact moment, Xu Binchen cleared his throat and Wang Chengbing instantly shut his mouth.

Shi Nian: “…”

“Apologies.” He deadpanned, not even an ounce of apology found on his face and voice. “We can’t disclose confidential information to civilians.”

[But I am one of the victims!] She protested.

Xu Binchen didn’t relent. “Why are you wanting to know so much? Kids should just be kids. Just focus on recuperating and leave the rest to the police. The less you know the better.”

Wang Chengbing: “Damn, what you’ve just said is kind of cool!”

Xu Binchen’s lips twitched and he went back to his desolate corner, no longer paying any attention to them. Even though little fatty could be blabbermouth sometimes, he still knew his boundaries. Grinning sheepishly, he changed the topic toward life as a police officer.

They chatted until it was time for Shi Nian’s physiotherapy session.

Wang Chengbing asked with hope. “Can I go with you? I mean, I will just observe and not disturb you at all!”

Shi Nian darted her glance toward Nurse Zhang.

The nurse gave her signature smile and said mercilessly. “No. We have confidential information about the patients that we can’t disclose to the public.”

Wang Chengbing: “…”

Xu Binchen: “…”

Shi Nian: “…” Why did that sound so familiar?

Wang Chengbing flushed up to his ears, his face boiled like crab. He thought that Nurse Zhang had overheard their previous conversation, but judging from her gentle and smiling face, Wang Chengbing felt that he had been thinking too much.

Maybe, sometimes karma did arrive sooner than expected.

Shi Nian waved him goodbye and followed Nurse Zhang to the elevator. She pressed the button to the eighth floor and shook her head. Nurse Zhang understood her meaning at one glance.

“Okay. I see that you have almost fully recovered. Even Doctor Chun praised your body’s ability to heal. I won’t send you there then.”

Shi Nian beamed and nodded.

Nurse Zhang patted her head. “See you in the afternoon.”

***

In the afternoon, Shi Nian managed to run ten more minutes and received plenty of compliments from the therapist. She was in a rare good mood as it showed that the time she was able to be discharged was getting closer. She couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital as soon as possible.

Sweat trickled down her face and fortunately this time, she knew to bring a handkerchief so that she could wipe her sweaty face and neck.

When she came back to her room, there was only Xu Binchen there.

[Where’s Brother Wang?]

Xu Binchen stared at her board for a while longer than usual and spat out.. “He is stationed outside.”