Case Files Chapter 108: Still Waters and Bitter Cold (1)

Translated by Vivian of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Addis

 

The Special Cases Unit hadn’t had any cases since returning from the holiday break, and they once again became extremely bored and disliked by the other departments.

“Ah, it’s not like we don’t want to work, the world is just too peaceful and no one is committing any crimes,” lamented Ding Ding.

Recently, Guan Jin became obsessed with Plants vs. Zombies, and he stared at his computer in concentration. Soon afterwards, Lu YunYang called him, asking him what he wanted to eat for dinner.

“Anything’s fine, just stop bothering me, I’m trying to play a game.” Guan Jin was annoyed.

On the other end, Lu YunYang regretted introducing this game to him; now he had to compete with a game for Guan Jin’s attention. “You can play the game whenever, but it’s not like I have time everyday to make dinner. I——”

Suddenly, “The zombies have eaten your brain” sounded from the other side, and Guan Jin hung up angrily.

“…” Lu YunYang helplessly went about the matter of figuring out dinner by himself.

“Ah, Guan Jin, what’s so interesting about single-player games?” Lin Bai watched as he restarted, and moved his chair closer. “Online multiplayer games are a lot more fun, and I can show you how to play.”

Guan Jin glanced at him. “Can you get into the Pentagon?”

“…Let’s not attract unwanted attention.”

Guan Jin turned back to his computer.

“But I can get into our national security system.” Lin Bai raised his eyebrows.

“Is that so?” Guan JIn suddenly thought about the gossip regarding Wen JingHan before; this could be interesting. “Show me some national secrets then.”

“…That won’t do. I can look, but they’ll also be able to see that I looked.”

“Then why did you bring it up in the first place?”

“Wahh, I’m just too bored, I want someone to play with me.”

Guan JIn rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you say last time that Wen JingHan used to be in national security? Do you have proof?”

Lin Bai leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “Last time, I got authorization to access some data, and accidentally saw some things. Moreover, I’ve heard some insiders bring it up before, so it’s probably not wrong.”

“What was he doing in national security?” Guan Jin was curious.

“I don’t know, but you better not tell anyone this. It’s top secret!”

“Hmph, you’ve said that to everyone.” Without their noticing, the others had crowded behind them.

“…Ahaha, we’re all the same team, I meant that you shouldn’t tell outsiders.”

“Enough, it’s not like this is a very important secret. A bunch of people have already heard that his background is quite impressive. Anyway, it’s not like we’ve told anyone.” Chen QiaoYu crossed her legs. “However, I also want to know what the boss used to do.” 

“I heard that the Ministry of Security is split into seven branches with different functions. Let’s guess which one the boss was in?” Ding Ding seemed to be about to take bets.

“Can you check what the different branches are?” Zheng Fei asked Lin Bai.

Lin Bai had already turned on his laptop, and everyone leaned in closer to see: Confidentiality Bureau, International Intelligence Agency, Political and Economical Intelligence Bureau…

Guan Jin scanned the ten lines and immediately saw a name: Current Minister——Wen RuChu.

Wen RuChu? Wen… Guan Jin pointed at the name and asked, “This last name… is just a coincidence, right?”

Everyone frowned, lost in thought.

“I’ve heard that the leader has really good connections. Otherwise, how could the higher-ups tolerate him so much?” Gu Xiang analyzed carefully.

“The son of the minister of national security?” Ding Ding’s eyes lit up.

“He could also be a nephew,” suggested Chen QiaoYu.

“The specifics don’t matter, I can’t believe we have such a low-profile guanerdai ¹ near us,” Zheng Fei said disbelievingly.

“What are you guys doing?” asked Wen JingHan, who had come back in to see his team huddled around the computer, whispering among themselves.

Everyone froze and turned to look at Wen JingHan, laughing nervously. Guan Jin, however, casually said, “We’re looking at guanerdai.”

“Guanerdai?” Wen JingHan also curiously looked at the computer, and when he saw the content, his eyes widened slightly.

“Hmph,” Wen JingHan scoffed, “my team is indeed extraordinary, as exploratory as ever.”

“I think you should be open and honest with us. Otherwise, if something happens in the future, we’ll be caught off guard,” Guan Jin said matter-of-factly.

“What could happen? Would you be interrogated just because I’m the minister’s son?” Wen JingHan sat down on the edge of the table.

“Boss, that’s really your dad?!” Ding Ding’s eyes were wide.

“Yeah, he would be mad if I denied it.” Wen JingHan smiled.

“Then were you also in national security before?” Chen QiaoYu continued to ask, though she quickly added, “But never mind if you’re not supposed to say anything.”

Wen JingHan shook his head. “I just can’t say what my work was about, but I indeed used to work as an agent, and I was later transferred.”

“Wasn’t it a breeze for you in national security, considering how your father is the minister?” asked Guan Jin.

“Not really, since it’s practically taboo to work under one’s father. Besides, the job was very dangerous, and my dad wanted me out as early as possible,” Wen JingHan replied casually.

Given the opportunity to inquire about their boss’s secrets, as a group of elite police officers, how could they pass this by?

“Boss, have you gone undercover before? Being an agent must be really cool, with a lot of equipment and going on a lot of chases,” Ding Ding sighed longingly.

“You’ve watched too much James Bond. There was indeed a lot of equipment, but most of the work was meticulous and done in teams. People who operate alone have a lot of burden weighing on them. They don’t just go undercover for one or two days, they struggle on the verge of death everyday. We also have people like this in the police system, and it’s not like it’s your first day as the police, so I’m sure you understand.”

“Then have you gone undercover before?” asked Guan Jin.

Wen JingHan was silent for a while before nodding.

“How long?”

“Three years.”

“How old were you?” Lin Bai was counting on his fingers; Wen JingHan had already been in the Special Cases Unit for nearly four years now.

Wen JIngHan looked up, and the corner of his mouth curved a little. “19 years old.”

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Guan Jin raised an eyebrow. “It’s a surprise your dad would let you do that.”

“If he had known, he definitely wouldn’t have let me go, which is why he’s still extremely regretful.” Wen JingHan shrugged.

What does he regret? Everyone wanted to ask this, but in the end, no one said anything.

*****

“I heard the anti-drug team has been investigating a case related to some pop stars, and someone even died,” said Chen QiaoYu when everyone came in the next morning.

“Which artists?” Ding Ding quickly asked.

“Four Seasons something.”

“Four Seasons in the Wind?”

“That’s it, they’re a group or something.”

Ding Ding frowned. “They debuted recently, and they’re still pretty popular right now. Tsk tsk, it looks like my Yan Qing’s still the best.”

“He’s already someone else’s…” Chen QiaoYu sighed.

“What are you guys hanging around here for? There’s a meeting this morning, didn’t you get the notice yesterday? Hurry up!” prodded Wen JingHan. “If you’re any later, you’ll anger the director and he’ll end up in a hospital.”

“I heard the director reprimanding someone really loudly yesterday, it won’t be that easy to get him in a hospital.” Lin Bai grinned. The others laughed as they leisurely walked towards the meeting room on the top floor.

Wen JingHan could already foresee that the director would rebuke him for leading his team astray… 

“How’s that case of yours going?” Wen JingHan quietly asked Zhang Can, the leader of the anti-drug team who was sitting next to him.

Zhang Can smiled bitterly. “It’s really troublesome with these pop stars involved. From my experience, I’d say that they probably just went to some special party and wanted to gain some connections, which is why they accidentally got dragged into this. They seem too stupid to be behind all of it… Moreover, a management director from their company came and brought two lawyers with him. If we don’t borrow your Ding Ding and QiaoYu, I’m afraid we really won’t have enough people to handle them.”

“Sure, they’re well-suited for this task.” Wen JingHan smiled.

After the meeting, everyone headed back to their offices, and some people stopped in the corridors and lobby to chat.

Wen JingHan was holding a folder as he walked and talked with a group of people about a case.

Zhang Can was walking at the front, and he suddenly quickened his pace and walked up to a group of people. “Mr. Yu, we’ve already gone through bail procedures with them, so you can just wait at home.”

Yu Mo stuck a hand into his pocket and smiled coldly. “I’m worried the public police are too busy and that the process would be too long, which is why I came to inquire about the progress. My artists have already been greatly affected by this, so I want to get them out as soon as possible.”

“Hey, isn’t that the director of Galaxy Entertainment? He’s even more handsome than his artists, it’s a shame he didn’t become an actor,” Ding Ding whispered to Chen QiaoYu.

Chen QiaoYu humphed in response.

Zhang Can frowned and seemed to want to say something else, but the expression of the person in front of him suddenly changed drastically, as if he had seen a ghost. Zhang Can followed his gaze and looked behind himself in confusion.

At the same time, Wen JingHan happened to look up and see him. His step faltered, and the same surprise appeared in his expression.

Zhang Can turned back around. Yu Mo shouted, “Wen JinHan ²?!”

Yu Mo blinked and was a little in shock. “How come you’re here——” As he said this, he saw the folder in Wen JingHan’s hand as well as how the name tag on his coat was the same as the other policemen’s.

Yu Mo’s expression immediately twisted, and his voice shook. He hissed through gritted teeth, “You’re—a—police—officer?!”

Wen JingHan also blinked and then laughed. “You never knew?! Were you really that oblivious?”

Yu Mo was already so angry he was practically shaking; his posture made him seem like he was practically going to start a fight with Wen JingHan. Zhang Can and the two officers behind him looked on alertly, ready to step in.

Unexpectedly, Yu Mo calmed himself down and resumed his haughtiness and indifference.

Wen JingHan smiled. “You seem to have grown quite a lot throughout all these years. Since some people under you have gotten themselves into a mess, I hope you can cooperate with our investigation so we can clear it up.”

“They only went to the party and accidentally got dragged into it. From start to finish, they have been victims,” Yu Mo said coolly.

“If they could’ve been a little smarter and not have gone to such a wild party, or if you, their manager, wasn’t such a pimp, then they would still be admired by thousands out there right now.” Wen JingHan crossed his arms.

“Haha, Officer Wen, you can’t say that. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be famous, and it’s fortunate for them that they have the ability to climb into rich people’s beds. It’s just that they’re still a bit lacking, which is why they have to look for opportunities everywhere. How could they compare with Officer Wen’s ability to beguile Brother Chen so much that he still misses that taste of ecstasy of you in his bed. You’ve been played by people yourself, so how could you start to despise people who voluntarily go on this path?”

It was silent in the hall.

Wen JingHan’s expression didn’t change, and he merely gazed at Yu Mo for a while before saying, “Mo Ran ³, Ou Chen has never contacted you since, and you have no idea how he’s doing right now, do you?”

Yu Mo’s expression suddenly changed, and he became frustrated again, like a cat who had its tail trampled on. “Wen JinHan, you’re just projecting! How do you think Brother Chen let you live peacefully to this day?!”

Wen JingHan’s gaze suddenly became icy. “Mo Ran, think about your position before you say things. Do you really think you’re still standing here today, alive and well, because of yourself?”

Yu Mo was taken aback, and he swallowed back his next words. He looked down and bit his lip for a bit before suddenly turning around and walking away. After a few steps, he paused and turned back. “JinHan, my people are just some inexperienced kids, and they let their dreams of fame get in the way of their safety. Perhaps they’re not very moral or virtuous, but they definitely don’t have the guts to commit a crime. Even if they weren’t afraid of being arrested, they would’ve been afraid of my wrath.”

Wen JingHan resumed his mildness and nodded. “I believe that, though I don’t believe that you’re completely ignorant about this case.”

“If you want to know something, you can come and ask me.” Yu Mo then left without looking back.

Wen JingHan ignored the others’ searching gazes and walked to the bewildered Zhang Can, patting him on the back. “Let’s go and have a chat with the director. It’s best if we work together on this case.”

Ding Ding slowly turned around to look at the rest of the team. “What happened just now… Was I imagining it…?”

Everyone was just as confused.

Guan Jin closed his eyes; Wen JingHan’s past seemed to be very interesting… He would have to go home and gossip about it with that sham of a psychic.