Encountered at night

  Qiao Yan left the Public Security Bureau when it was already completely dark, she walked to the ferry terminal, took a boat to Zhouleng Island across the sea. In the deep autumn season, the night sea breeze brought a chill to her, she hugged her arms and quickened her pace towards home. The winding roads on the island were quiet and comfortable, at a certain three-way intersection, she did not take the road back home, but turned into a small path on the right side, as if there was some unknown magic attracting her, exploring the mysterious Misty Mountain Villa at night.

  The night fell, and the hustle and bustle of the island in the daytime returned to calmness. The road leading to the Misty Mountain Villa became increasingly quiet and dark. No pedestrians could be seen, and Qiao Yan only heard her own crisp footsteps, as well as a stray cat that suddenly appeared from somewhere, letting out a mournful cry.

  The Misty Mountain Villa was surrounded by no lights, but the moonlight was like water. Qiao Yan stood outside the filigree iron gate, staring blankly at the broken walls and ruins under the moonlight, those dark and gloomy shadows. Suddenly, she was greatly shocked, in a patch of broken wall and brick shadow, a black shadow was swaying back and forth.

  She hastily hid, thinking it was her own illusion, rubbed her eyes with her hands, and stared again. The shadow was very clear, a man who had stopped pacing back and forth, leaning against the tree by the wall, like a thin ghost. Qiao Yan hadn't recovered yet, when a faint rustling sound started, another black shadow appeared in the ruins, small and delicate body, it's a woman! The shadow moved quickly outwards, and soon merged with the previous shadow.

  Qiao Yan was shocked, could it be that the man and woman were here on a date? Why would they choose such a desolate place? Moreover, judging from their appearance, they clearly didn't enter through the main entrance, but rather sneaked in from the other side of the ruins. They seemed so secretive, as if they had some unspeakable secret.

  She was intently watching the movement in front of her, when suddenly a handkerchief covered her mouth and nose, and before she could struggle, she had lost consciousness.

  Qiao Yan woke up to find herself lying in a brightly lit room, with a man standing in front of the bed with his back to her. She was startled and sat up abruptly, asking loudly: "Who are you?"

  The man slowly turned around, and Qiao Yan was stunned. She suspected that there was something wrong with her eyes. That face was unmistakably her superior, the cold-faced detective Yu Zhihong, but why would he appear here?

  "You... who are you?" she asked uncertainly.

  "What, we just met at the Public Security Bureau in the daytime, and you don't recognize me now?" It was indeed Wei Chi Hong, wearing a black sportswear, without the police uniform, he looked less majestic, but his voice was still cold and clear.

  "Was it you who made me dizzy?" Qiao Yan asked bluntly.

  "What's wrong with you? Why would I do something so boring?" Seeing Qiao Yan's stunned expression, Wei Chi's lips tightened slightly at the corners, "I was running past there and saw you fainting outside, so I brought you back."

  Qiao Yan's eyes widened, "Didn't you see anyone else? I mean, the one who knocked me out, and those two sneaky people inside the ruins."

  Wei Chi Hong shook his head, "No. The person who knocked you out wouldn't be stupid enough to stay in the same place and get seen. As for the suspicious person you mentioned, lying outside like this, you must have scared them off long ago. With such poor vigilance, don't go running around at night, or else the police will lose all face because of you."

  "I'm telling you again, I am not a police officer!" Qiao Yan's face turned red with anger. "Isn't it your duty as police officers to investigate crimes? You don't ask about the situation at the time, catch the person who knocked me out, but instead turn around and say that I'm embarrassing you. It's really hard to understand how someone like you, who can't even tell right from wrong, became a branch leader. Is it because of your connections?"