Chapter 25: The Undisciplined Younger Brother

Night fell.

Qin Zhixia parked the car in a parking space of an old residential complex, turned off the engine, but did not get out immediately.

She leaned against the seat back, closed her eyes, and massaged her swollen temples.

The high‑intensity work of recent days, and that Weird case that could overturn one's worldview, had stretched her whole being into a string about to snap.

Outside the car window, every household's windows glowed with warm lights, and the air carried the scent of food.

This realm of everyday life, filled with the breath of humanity, stood in stark contrast to the cold, Weird, mad world she faced by day.

Here, she was not the decisive Captain Qin, but merely a daughter who gets tired and goes home to eat.

Qin Zhixia pushed open the car door and walked into the hallway; every weekend was the same.

Just as she pulled out the key, the door opened from inside.

"You're back!" Mother Wang Xiulan, apron tied, took her bag with a look of concern, "Look at how pale you are, your dark circles are about to fall off! Wash your hands quickly, the meal will be ready soon!"

The familiar nagging finally relaxed Qin Zhixia's tense nerves.

At the dining table, Wang Xiulan kept scooping dishes into her bowl, never stopping talking.

"By the way, Xiaoxia, how's that Dr. Chu your aunt introduced last time?"

"He's quite nice," Qin Zhixia replied vaguely while shoveling rice.

"You have to hold onto him!" Wang Xiuxiu slapped her thigh, "I heard from your aunt that the young man is a pillar of their hospital's cardiac surgery department, handsome and good‑tempered; a nurse chasing him could be transferred from the outpatient clinic to the Inpatient Department! You better be careful!"

In Qin Zhixia's mind, Chu Che's warm, smiling face floated up.

In the concert hall, he was like an elegant spectator detached from the scene, flawless to the point that not a single flaw could be found.

On the night Li Zhenhu died, he had the perfect alibi.

And the newly emerged "Ghost‑Wall" falling‑off‑building cases these past days, the victims were all linked to the Han De Development Company in Xicheng District, seemingly having no connection to him either.

Could it be... that I really misjudged?

It seems I truly should find a chance to apologize to him.

"Mom, I understand," she said without rebuttal for once, "When I have time... I will contact him."

"That's right!" Wang Xiulan smiled contentedly.

At that moment, the study door opened, and a middle‑aged man wearing glasses, with an imposing face, walked out, still holding a cup of hot tea.

"You're back," he said lightly after glancing at Qin Zhixia.

"Dad," Qin Zhixia nodded.

The man was the superior who had just tossed the hot‑potato "Ghost‑Wall" case to her in the meeting: Jiang Hai City Public Security Bureau Director Qin Yongchang.

At the dining table, the atmosphere was a bit heavy.

Qin Yongchang spoke seemingly casually, "Any leads on the 'Ghost‑Wall' over in Xicheng?"

Qin Zhixia set down her chopsticks, her expression turning serious again.

"Not yet. Based on the experience of the 'Jian Xie' case, the 'Ghost‑Wall' series seems also to be revenge for someone."

"But... to investigate this 'victim' thoroughly, we have to look into Han De's illegal demolition back then. Here, we have encountered numerous obstacles."

"Even some of those obstacles come from within the City Bureau itself."

Qin Zhixia's hand tightened slightly.

Qin Yongchang took a sip of tea, his gaze behind the lenses deep.

"Zhixia," he called her name suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"I guess you might have some questions..." Qin Yongchang paused briefly, "Handing the 'Jian Xie' and 'Ghost‑Wall' series of cases to you, I do have a personal motive."

Qin Zhixia lifted her head, staring directly at her father, eyes blazing.

"I am your father, so naturally I want your résumé to look better," Qin Yongchang said without averting his gaze, his tone frank, "But personal gain isn't the main reason."

He paused, then continued, "The 'Jian Xie' case made everyone see what we're dealing with. When conventional methods fail and everyone begins to doubt their own beliefs, I need someone absolutely unshakable at the forefront."

"And you are that person."

Qin Yongchang looked at his daughter, his eyes holding expectation and a barely perceptible pride.

"In Jiang Hai City's great cauldron, after so many storms you have remained clear. Just on that alone, this burden belongs to no one but you."

Qin Zhixia fell silent.

"Not like that beast..." Qin Yongchang's tone shifted, becoming suddenly cold as he slammed the tea cup onto the table.

Wang Xiulan's complexion turned pale, "Old Qin, we're eating, don't mention him."

"How can I not bring him up!" Qin Yongchang's anger surged, "He fought at school yesterday! And today he doesn't even come home! Who knows where he's off mixing with those riff‑raff friends! My face, Qin Yongchang's face, will sooner or later be ruined by this prodigal scoundrel!"

Qin Zhixia silently lowered her head and ate, saying nothing.

Only her chop‑holding hand's knuckles whitened from the pressure.

Disappointment, helplessness, and a faint sense of powerlessness.

She could protect a city's peace, yet she couldn't manage her own headache‑inducing brother.

……

Meanwhile.

In a KTV private room in Jiang Hai City, lights red and wine green.

The music blared deafeningly, the air thick with strong alcohol and perfume.

A group of fashionably dressed men and women surrounded a teen with a band‑aid on his face, constantly urging him to drink.

"Yu bro! Stop being angry! It's not worth it for a poor kid!"

"Exactly! Who does he think he is, daring to lay a hand on you, Yu!"

The teen was Qin Zhixia's brother, Qin Yu.

He was all flushed, not knowing whether it was from anger or drinking, and smashed the wine glass in his hand onto the table.

"Damn! That bastard Lin Fan dares to embarrass me in front of the whole class! This isn't over!"

Huang Mao, the henchman with dyed yellow hair, immediately stepped up, flattering with a smile: "Brother Qin, not easy to deal with him? Tell us where his home is, the brothers will go break his legs for you!"

"I damn well need to know where his home is, why should I ask you!" Qin Yu said irritably.

"Hehe, Brother Qin, can't handle him, can't handle his girl either?" another rich kid in a floral shirt squinted and said, "That Ling Xinyu, I know exactly where her house is—it's that old rundown place in South City."

"If we can't find Lin Fan, we'll go after his girlfriend! We'll block her at her doorstep, scare her, make her know the consequence of crossing Brother Qin!"

"Then we'll record a video and send it to Lin Fan; he won't be able to do anything about us. Look at him get so angry he might spit blood!"

Under the henchmen's goading, a vicious thought quickly formed in Qin Yu's alcohol‑numb brain.

He sprang up violently, and the force knocked over a stack of wine bottles.

"Exactly!" his eyes were fierce, a twisted sense of pleasure on his face, "If I can't deal with him, I can't even deal with a little girl?"

"Let's go! Right now!"

Qin Yu grabbed the car keys from the table; his right arm, injured from a fight, throbbed from the motion, but the pain only made him more excited.

"Today, I'm going to make that Lin Fan know that crossing me, Qin Yu, is the biggest mistake of his life!"

He kicked open the private‑room door, leading a raucous group of rich kids and goons, and stormed out in a grand rush.

The night was deep.

Several pricey sports cars roared, tearing through the quiet street toward the south of the city at high speed.

A malicious plot against an innocent girl, born of youthful arrogance and class contempt, was quietly unfolding in the darkness.