Chapter 20

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"I'm only guessing, just saying it casually."

Guben didn't want to waste time, pulling her hand as they walked out: "You don't need to overthink it either. Knowing a person's face doesn't mean knowing their heart. Taking this opportunity to ferret out those with ill intentions might not be a bad thing."

"Hope so."

Lin Xiyu sighed helplessly, feeling very irritable.

The flirtatious little thoughts in the taxi were ruthlessly shattered by reality.

If it really was a neighbor who stole it, she dared not imagine how Guben would feel.

Would he think that those near vermilion are stained red and those near ink are stained black, and thus doubt her and her family's character?

——

The police station received the report and arrived quickly; the sharp wailing of the sirens startled many people, and almost everyone in the alley came out, standing at their own gateways, craning their necks to look toward the telephone booth.

Guben comforted Lin Xiyu, then calmed down to communicate with the police officers.

Lin Xiyu stood relatively close to them, pricking up her ears to listen to their conversation.

Guben analyzed rationally, with reason and evidence.

He said the thief might have come to buy noodles, or might have wanted to make a phone call; seeing no one at the telephone booth, when he came home to call someone, he saw the bicycle, developed greedy thoughts, and took the opportunity to steal it.

Lin Xiyu couldn't help but feel a surge of annoyance again.

She had just gone home to ask; Uncle had been busy with Huang Daye's burial and hadn't come back all along. At noon, his wife came home to cook, and indeed there was a period of time when no one was in the telephone booth.

The telephone booth was not far diagonally across from No. 9 Courtyard; people entering and leaving the courtyard could see it clearly.

If his wife had been there at the time, the thief would have had no chance to strike, and this matter probably wouldn't have happened.

——

The police officers and Guben were of the same mind, believing they should start screening immediately and search for suspects.

Going door to door required a large number of people; relying only on the two officers who responded was impossible.

One officer called the police station to request backup. Guben watched him grow increasingly anxious, his voice getting louder and louder, yet his momentum growing weaker instead, secretly guessing it probably wasn't going well.

The area under one police station's jurisdiction wasn't small; it was impossible to send all personnel here.

Although his mountain bike was valuable, compared to vicious incidents like fighting, brawling, injuring people, and taking lives, it was still far behind.

He was pondering when that officer hung up the phone and apologetically glanced at him.

He didn't need to ask to understand what that person meant. After a brief silence, he also picked up the public phone and dialed a familiar number.

——

Not long after he finished the call, a shocking scene occurred.

Sirens blared loudly in the alley; no fewer than ten police cars arrived. The officers who got out wore plain clothes, and their entire beings exuded a sharpness and efficiency completely different from the police station's officers.

This not only caused a commotion on Donghua Street, but also alarmed residents of the two connecting streets, Pan Gong Street and Lama Lane, who gathered from all directions following the sound.

"Xiao Bin, who is so blind as to dare steal your car?"

A young man carrying a briefcase, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a rather refined appearance, mixed among the plainclothes officers. After getting out of the car, he was the first to walk toward Guben.

"Secretary Li..."

Seeing the arrival, Guben rubbed his brow with a headache: "Didn't I tell you to just call the police station chief and have him pay some attention? You're making such a big show—isn't this overkill?"

"This is a direct order from the Bureau Chief of the Municipal Bureau."

Secretary Li didn't care: "Tell them they must fulfill their duties and catch the thief as soon as possible. We can't let Old Leader think public security is poor and embarrass the Municipal Bureau..."