Chapter 342: A Snowfall

Jiang Tianyi had just sent away his last patient and was sitting at his desk just opening a literature website when his door was suddenly knocked on.

He glanced at his calendar; there were no new visitors marked on it.

With some confusion, he opened the door, and Zhong Xiaoyu appeared at his door.

"Xiaoyu? What wind blew you here?" Jiang Tianyi said, welcoming her into the room.

"I remember you like drinking white tea. I happen to have some good aged white tea here." Jiang Tianyi said, his hands not stopping, already skillfully taking out tea leaves to brew.

"Senior brother, no need." Zhong Xiaoyu didn't appreciate it. "I'll just say a few words and leave." As she spoke, she took out a USB drive and handed it to Jiang Tianyi.

"This is?" Jiang Tianyi asked suspiciously.

"It has a password, I can't tell you for now. Please be sure to keep it safe. When the time comes, I will tell you. Senior brother, my family is all dead. If there is really anyone in this world I can trust, you are one of them." Zhong Xiaoyu's solemn tone made Jiang Tianyi worried.

"Xiaoyu, we've known each other for so many years, I know you always have your own ideas, but it's hard to see you recover. I hope you can live well, this is more important than anything else," Jiang Tianyi said earnestly.

"Yeah," Zhong Xiaoyu responded softly, without saying another word, and turned to leave.

Jiang Tianyi stood by the window, watching Zhong Xiaoyu leave.

Nancheng welcomed the first snow of the year, and Zhong Xiaoyu's lonely and determined figure disappeared into the swirling snow.

"Qi Fei, Shanqiu, come over here." Liu Tong walked to the office of the Criminal Police Brigade, his expression rarely serious.

Qi Fei and Wu Shanqiu looked at each other, not knowing what had happened, and followed Liu Tong toward his office like two students called by a teacher for a talk.

As soon as the three of them walked into the office, with a "click," Liu Tong locked the door.

"Captain Liu, we haven't caused any trouble recently, have we?" Qi Fei asked cautiously, observing Liu Tong's expression.

Liu Tong didn't answer, walked behind his desk, bent down, and took out a large bag of things, a mischievous smile appearing on his face: "What are you stunned for? Come over and unpack it together."

"Hmm?" Wu Shanqiu saw the trademark on the bag at a glance. "Isn't this that internet-famous hot pot restaurant?"

"You foodie, if you had this sensitivity when handling cases, it would be great," Liu Tong laughed.

"Hot pot restaurant?" Qi Fei said while obediently walking up to unpack, "Captain Liu, we aren't going to eat hot pot in your office, are we?"

"Eh? You guessed it. You have to have hot pot on the first snowfall. I have a meeting in the afternoon and don't have time to go out to eat, so I ordered takeout from this place, and they even sent a pot. Come, come, come, you can't tell others. If logistics finds out, they'll slap me with a charge of not paying attention to fire safety." Liu Tong skillfully arranged various ingredients, making Qi Fei suspect that this wasn't his first time doing this.

"By the way, how is it going with Lao Qian?" Liu Tong asked, as if casually caring about the case.

"Considering his relationship with Xi He, we have increased manpower to watch him 24 hours a day to prevent him from doing anything extreme. The case materials have been organized and handed over to the prosecution. Currently, Lao Qian has confessed to all his crimes, and we are just waiting for the trial situation," Qi Fei replied.

The pot was soon set up. Outside, it was snowing heavily, and the three people in the office were eating hot pot, which was quite interesting.

"That place, Nancheng Investment, is quite strange." Wu Shanqiu picked up a piece of mutton and said while eating, "There have been two murders in a row, both related to their distorted workplace culture. I thought there would be changes after Lao Qian's incident. As a result, when I went for a follow-up visit that day, I found that these people were like they had amnesia. Those presidents and supervisors were still high and mighty, and the people working below were still complaining while being submissive when facing their superiors, sigh."

"Otherwise, what can they do? If everyone picked up a butcher knife to kill like Lao Qian, we'd be exhausted. You have to make a living," Liu Tong said, picking up an egg dumpling for Wu Shanqiu.

"Ouch, thank you, leader," Wu Shanqiu said cheekily. "Look, if that Tian Mi had half the care for her subordinates as Captain Liu, no, even one-tenth, Lao Qian wouldn't have reached this step."

"Right, Lao Qian would be just like you, having no sense of propriety," Liu Tong said, pretending to be angry.

Qi Fei didn't seem to have much mood to eat hot pot. He looked at the heavy snow outside the window from time to time, as if he had something on his mind.

This didn't escape Liu Tong's eyes. He coughed twice, pulling back Qi Fei's attention.

"Who are you thinking about?" Liu Tong said.

"That goes without saying, Zhong Kui, oh no, recently it's Zhong Xiaoyu. Sigh, they keep changing back and forth, I'm dizzy," Wu Shanqiu said before Qi Fei.

"I used to think Zhong Kui was an extreme personality created by Zhong Xiaoyu, but after spending a long time with Zhong Xiaoyu recently, I suddenly have a feeling that Zhong Kui is the more normal one. I feel there is something very unsettling about Zhong Xiaoyu..." Qi Fei looked at the boiling soup, appearing worried.

"About this matter, I have to remind you." Liu Tong looked at Qi Fei, as if speaking casually, "When we invited Zhong Kui to be a consultant, it was to attract Xi He. I advise you, don't be too obsessed with her. I don't want to end up not catching the big fish and catching a little loach instead."

Liu Tong's words really stimulated Qi Fei. He dropped his chopsticks and almost jumped out of his seat: "What? You guys used Zhong Kui as bait? Also, little loach? Who is the little loach?!"

"Zhong Kui knows about this. No one wants to catch Xi He more than she does. Letting her cooperate with us is not only for pursuing Xi He but also to protect Zhong Kui," Liu Tong deliberately emphasized the word "protect."

"But..." Qi Fei still wanted to argue, but was interrupted by Liu Tong.

"Let's not talk about this while eating hot pot." Liu Tong was as relaxed as ever. "The world won't end if you worry half an hour less. Everything will be discussed after noon today."

The snow was getting heavier and heavier, with no intention of stopping at all. The labyrinth in Nanling had already been covered with a thick layer of snow, making the winding paths even harder to see.

Zhong Xiaoyu stood at the entrance, hesitating. The long, narrow passage, with wind and snow passing through, rushed toward her.

In a trance, she seemed to see Xi He, dressed in white, standing in the snow, walking toward her step by step.

"Do you miss me? Are you lonely? Returning to this long-lost human world. Is it still as tiresome to you as before?" Xi He's voice echoed in the labyrinth. "Here, there is only you and me. Say you love me, my Dr. Zhong." ===== CHAPTER 343 =====