Warmth
By the time Shen Yin and Wang Sheng finished cleaning the autopsy table, it was already time to knock off.
Throughout the day of intense work, Shen Yin had not even had the time to drink a sip of water. She was already starving.
She checked her phone. Li Zi had sent a voice message asking to meet her after work to pick out a gift at a nearby mall.
Wang Sheng was sitting at his desk and overheard their conversation. He stuck his head out from behind his computer screen. “Boss, I’ll help you write the autopsy report. Don’t worry. Go and have fun with your friends.”
She looked at the report she had just started and suddenly asked, “How’s the investigation going over on Team Three’s side? Any progress on her interpersonal relationships?”
“This… Team Three isn’t back yet. Even if they conducted an interrogation, they probably won’t be back until very late.” Wang Sheng paused and added, “Boss, the deceased was more than one month pregnant. Do you think that’s why she specially instructed her mother not allow an autopsy?”
“Probably.” Shen Yin nodded. “From her mother’s point of view, the victim was an obedient, quiet girl who wouldn’t do anything out of line. She probably just didn’t want her mother to know the truth.”
Wang Sheng shook his head regretfully. “Sigh, there are too many young girls nowadays who get pregnant before they’re married. Some of them can’t bear to abort the child. They would rather raise the child alone. What do you suppose they’re thinking?”
Shen Yin rolled her eyes behind the computer, picked up her satchel from her table, and said abruptly, “I’ll leave the report to you.” Then she left.
Li Zi was waiting outside the station.
“This way.” She stuck her head out of the car window and waved at Shen Yin, who was standing at the police station entrance and looking around.
Shen Yin smiled as she got into the car. She fastened her seatbelt and asked her, “How did you get here so quickly? Is your prosecutor’s office right next to the police station?”
“Yup.” Li Zi waved the card in her hand. “New gift card from the Yard today. Come on, I’ll take you shopping!”
The two of them first went to the mall to choose a smart watch that was affordable but convenient for children to wear. Then, they went to the supermarket to buy enough snacks and daily necessities to fill four bags. They swiped the gift card that Li Zi had just obtained, until there was not a single cent left.
“Nian Nian! We’re back!” Li Zi went to the kitchen to put down the shopping bag that was making her shoulder ache. Then she pulled the watch box out of her bag and hid it behind her back. She said excitedly, “Guess what Godmother bought you?”
“Godmother, you don’t have to buy me gifts. I’m not a child anymore.” Shen Nian poured warm water for the two of them and took the initiative to help put away the things she had bought.
“Nian Nian, it’s a little token from your godmother. Look at her crestfallen expression.” Shen Yin twitched her mouth in Li Zi’s direction and said teasingly, “Just go along with her.”
Shen Nian nodded obediently and pretended to be innocent. He made his eyes wide and round and asked curiously, “Could it be a toy?”
“Something like that.” Li Zi stroked his head. She took the box out and stuffed it into his hand. “Quick, open it. Do you like it?”
Shen Nian happily held the box above her head and twirled gleefully around the living room. “Yay! Thank you, Godmother!”
Li Zi could not help but burst out laughing. “That’s enough, Nian Nian. Enough with the dramatics. But children should act like children. I wonder how your mother usually treats you. You’re only six years old, but you’re already so mature.”
“I’m not a child anymore. I know that Mom works hard, so I have to grow up quickly.” Shen Nian looked at the puddle at Li Zi’s feet and resignedly went to the bathroom to get a mop. “Besides, now I have to take care of Godmother too!”
“That’s really hard you, Nian Nian!” Shen Yin was drinking her warm water while she read the messages from three chat groups. Suddenly, a message jumped to the top of her screen, causing her to almost spit out her water.
“Lian Jing requests to add you as a friend.”
Shen Yin silently swiped the message away and continued to observe the progress of the case in the group chat, as if nothing had happened.
“Lian Jing requests to add you as a friend. Note: My grandfather wants to see you.”
“Shen Yin has rejected your friend request. Note: No.”
Lian Jing put away his cell phone and looked at his grandfather, who was lying on the hospital bed, looking hopeful. He sighed helplessly. “She said no.”
“If she doesn’t want to see you, then you have to think of something!” Old Master was so frantic he hit the hospital bed. Then he issued an ultimatum. “The bodyguards told me how you treated her. She saved my life and you were so unjust to her. I don’t care. You have to find her. I want to apologize to this young lady in person.”