Chapter 2: Missing

  With such a big case, Peng Sichen's interview can only be postponed. The police station is busy with the upcoming New Year, and Peng Sizhe asked several times, but his superiors gave vague answers saying it could only be handled after the New Year. Peng Sizhe had no choice but to comfort his brother to wait again.

  Peng Sichen doesn't seem to be in a hurry, and during the New Year's holiday, he even took Luo Jingjuan on a trip for a few days. After the New Year, under Peng Sizhe's urging, Peng Sichen's interview was put back on schedule. He told his brother about this news, but Peng Sichen seemed not to be happy at all, and suddenly said over the phone: "Sizhe... if... for example, when I'm not around, will you take good care of Jingjuan?"

  "What did you say?" Peng Siche didn't react for a moment.

  "I mean if... for example I leave for a while..." Peng Sichen said hesitantly.

  "What are you thinking about again? The interview is just around the corner..." Peng Siche said anxiously.

  "Nothing... I'm just worried, what if I don't adapt to life in the SWAT team..."

  "How could that be... Brother, don't think too much... Adapting takes time, as long as you get through it, it's fine..." Peng Si Zhe thought his brother hadn't adapted to society yet.

  "No big deal, I just mentioned it, Qian and I are having dinner tonight, are you coming or not?" Peng Sichen wanted to end the conversation.

  "I won't be able to take time off tonight."

  "Alright then......for now......"

  In the evening, Peng Sichen specially found a warm and romantic restaurant to have dinner with Luo Jingqiu. However, he seemed somewhat absent-minded during the meal. Luo Jingqiu also sensed that something was wrong with him and asked concernedly: "Sichen, what's wrong today?"

  "Nothing..."

  The atmosphere became heavy and after a while, Peng Si Cheng asked: "Xiao Ke, if I leave for a period of time, you must take good care of yourself."

  "Huh? What's wrong with you? What happened?" Luo Jingju felt strange, usually Peng Sichen would call his own name, calling himself a nickname meant it was definitely a serious matter.

  "I... I'm a bit worried, I may not be able to adapt to the life of a special police officer... If possible, I might go work elsewhere..." Peng Sichen said cautiously.

  "How could that be? The special police team is much more adaptable than the troops." Luo Jingjian, who was just tense, smiled and thought he had overthought.

  "I'm just saying if... people without long-term plans must have short-term worries..." Peng Sichen also covered up.

  "Sincerely, I don't ask for great wealth or high status, just want to live a stable and peaceful life, don't you think so?"

  Peng Sichen smiled awkwardly: "I... I..."

  After dinner, Peng Sixian sent Luo Jingqiu back home and gently hugged her: "Dear, no matter what, you must take good care of yourself."

  "Alright, you're so sentimental today..." Luo Jingjian kissed him lightly on the lips and said in a low, bashful tone: "Mom's not home tonight... you... don't go back, okay?"

  Peng Sichen glanced at his watch: "No... there's still something to take care of... go to bed early tonight... be good..."

  Peng Sixian's horseman had just left the community when he saw Lao Lao's Lexus LS parked by the side of the road. Lao Lao rolled down the window and waved at him, Peng Sixian understood what it meant, drove to follow the Lexus, all the way to Xianglong Club.

  "The time has come..." Mr. Lang said as he entered the office.

  "Huh? Then?" Peng Sichen seemed a bit distracted.

  The boss handed him a file bag: "Everything is in here... you know what to do."

  Peng Sicheng took over the opened file, looked at it silently and sealed the envelope again: "I understand."

  "If there's anything, you know how to get in touch." Old Lang said.

  "If... like Lao Jiu... what do you think I should do?" Peng Si Cheng said slowly.

  The boss was taken aback for a moment and smiled: "Don't worry, I absolutely won't let something like that happen..."

  "What do you have to guarantee?"

  "You are the biggest guarantee... I believe you can handle the most complicated situations, otherwise why would I choose you?" Boss Lang said with deep meaning and handed him a bank card: "It was done with a fake identity, the police won't be able to find any clues."

  Peng Sichen took the card: "Days with money are really fucking good."

  "Haha... young brother, you're still young, the road is still long." Boss Lang laughed loudly: "Enjoy life well, this is the most important thing."

  ……

  Tomorrow is the day of Peng Sixian's interview. In the evening, Peng Sizhe made a special phone call to remind him. On the phone, Peng Sixian did not show any abnormality. The next day at noon, Liu Dajin and Dehui returned to the Special Police Team, and Peng Sizhe came up with full of hope: "Branch Chief, Political Commissar, how is the situation?"

  Liu Dajin looked up and down at Peng Sizhe with a strange gaze, without saying a word. De Shu said: "Come to the office for a moment."

  Entering the office, Liu Da panted and took off his hat, casually throwing it onto the desk. This action made Peng Si's heart jump up, and he carefully asked: "Brother..."

  "Peng Sizhe, I know you care about your brother's work, the special police team needs talent, but first and foremost, they need discipline! What does this mean?" Liu Dajin was indignant.

  "What...what's going on?" Peng Si Zhe guessed that perhaps his brother had said something unpleasant, which made the leader angry.

  De Shu seemed to see through Peng Si Zhe's thoughts and said, "If speaking is not good enough, it's okay, being a soldier doesn't mean you're good at talking. But not showing up for an interview and making several city leaders wait for half a day, and the phone can't even get through? Peng Si Zhe, your brother is really too much, how can the special police team tolerate such an undisciplined person?"

  As soon as he heard this, Peng Sizhe's head exploded. He had communicated with him well last night, but how could he suddenly disappear today? Peng Sizhe was still making his final efforts: "Branch Captain, Political Commissar, there must be some misunderstanding. My brother is not that kind of person. I'll ask clearly..."

  Peng Sizhe continuously dialed his brother's phone number, but the phone kept repeating in a monotonous tone: The number you are calling is currently out of service.

  Peng Sizhe was a bit flustered, had something unexpected happened to his brother? He quickly called his parents, and they told him that Peng Sixian hadn't come back since he went out last night, saying he was going to meet up with a fellow soldier.

  Did Brother Peng really have an accident? Peng Siche was anxious like an ant on a hot pot, and after a while, the phone suddenly rang. Peng Siche reflexively picked it up without even looking: "Brother! Where are you now?"

  "Si Zhe, it's me. What's wrong with your brother? I couldn't get through on the phone." It was Luo Jingqian's voice on the phone.

  "I don't know either... I'm also looking for him, he didn't go to the interview today..." Peng Sizhe said over the phone.

  Luo Jingjuan sobbed uncontrollably: "He won't have an accident, will he?"

  "It won't happen, he has such a strong sense of self-protection, there won't be any accidents." Peng Sizhe can basically rule out this possibility, but now it seems that only this possibility makes sense.

  "What to do, what to do......" Luo Jingjuan was already at her wit's end.

  "Sound the alarm!" Peng Sizhe gritted his teeth, he couldn't care about that much now, the most important thing was to find the person first.

  "Call the police?!" Commander Gao, who was listening in, jumped in fright: "Peng Sizhe, you're a policeman yourself!"

  "What can be done?" asked Peng Sizhe.

  "How are you going to report this? He's been missing for less than 4 hours." Commander Gao reminded.

  Peng Sizhe felt like a deflated balloon. Yeah, if someone goes missing for less than 4 hours, no case will be filed. But what if something unexpected really happened to his brother? A lot of things could happen in those 4 hours, and Peng Sizhe couldn't help but think of the worst-case scenario.

  "Will your brother deliberately hide and not want to come to the Special Police Team?" Captain Gao raised another possibility.

  "But... we all said it was okay, and he hasn't been acting strangely recently either." Peng Si Zhe racked his brains, trying to figure out what had happened: "Right, the other day he suddenly told me that if something were to happen to him, would I be able to take good care of Luo Jing Yuan? But it was just a casual mention, and his tone wasn't unusual either."

  "Let you take care of Luo Jingjuan?!" Commander Gao was also unclear about the meaning behind this sentence, and after thinking for a long time, he said: "Did your brother know that something was going to happen? For example..."

  "It's impossible." Peng Sizhe interrupted Commander Gao: "My brother had some dealings with those so-called big bosses a while back, but recently they've basically all cut ties."

  "Si Zhe, I'm not saying your brother is... uh... You think about it, maybe it's because of some... ah... internal conflicts..." Commander Gao chose his words carefully, trying not to provoke Peng Si Zhe.

  It's not impossible, but everything is speculation now. Whatever happened, only Peng Si Cheng knows the truth, and as long as he can be found, everything will be clear. But the problem is, how to find him? Where did he go? Who did he contact? None of this is known...

  "Could it be Boss Lang?" Peng Siche suddenly said, recently the only person his brother had been in close contact with was him: "I'll go find him!"

  "Ah... Peng Sizhe, think carefully, don't be impulsive... damn it! Wait for me, I'll go with you." Before Commander Gao could finish speaking, Peng Sizhe rushed out to ask for leave. He was afraid that Peng Sizhe would act impulsively and hastily followed him out.

  The two arrived at Xianglong Club, and the waiter politely told them that Mr. Lang had gone to Changchun for business two days ago.

  How could there be such a coincidence in the world?! Peng Sixhe naturally didn't believe it, and his tone became urgent. Commander Gao was pulled away by several security guards who had gathered around after seeing someone causing trouble. Commander Gao showed his police badge and explained that he was handling a case, and a self-proclaimed secretary of Mr. Lang came down to receive them, leading them into the office.

  "Director Lang indeed went to Changchun two days ago. Recently, we have been cooperating with Tianlong Company on a biotechnology project, and Director Lang went to Changchun with the boss of Tianlong Company to purchase equipment."

  "What device requires Mr. Lang to take action personally?" Peng Siche's tone was sarcastic.

  "Officer, biotechnology is a high-tech industry. Equipment can cost tens of millions. For such large purchases, it's usually the boss who goes to negotiate in person." The secretary, although detecting Peng Siche's dissatisfaction, replied politely and turned his laptop around: "Take a look, I booked the ticket myself. This is the order receipt."

  Peng Sizhe glanced at the computer screen and firmly remembered the name "Lang Qun".

  "Officer, is there anything else I can help you with?" the secretary asked.

  "No more, thank you." Captain Gao knew that they wouldn't find any clues here: "We need to take a photo, do you mind?"

  "Of course not, cooperating with the police is our duty." The secretary said very generously.

  The high commander took out his mobile phone and snapped a photo of the screen, then took several photos of the office, pulling Peng Sizhe away from the Xianglong Club.

  "When Lang Qun comes back, have him notify me." Peng Sizhe suddenly said to his secretary as he was leaving.

  "Huh? Excuse me, how can I get in touch with you?" The secretary was taken aback, directly addressing the boss by his surname. This was still the first time she had heard it.

  "He knows how to find me." Peng Sizhe replied with a cold smile.

  Leaving Xianglong Villa, nothing was found. Commander Gao asked: "What should we do now?"

  "Go to the information gathering center!" Peng Sizhe said.

  "What's with the information gathering center?" Commander Gao glared at him and said.

  "I don't believe that ticket stub, I think my brother's disappearance must have something to do with Lang Qun."

  "Si Zhe, we need evidence... can't just feel it." Commander Gao didn't want Peng Si Zhe to lose his rationality.

  Peng Sizhe didn't say a word and drove straight to the Information Collection Center, where all accommodation and transportation information was gathered.

  Peng Sizhe had no proof, and it was usually impossible to retrieve the information. However, this didn't deter him. When he took the police exam, there was a female who had a crazy crush on him, and she happened to work at the information collection center. Peng Sizhe called her out for a meeting, and after hearing what he wanted to do, her eyes widened bigger than copper bells: "Peng Sizhe, you're crazy! This is against the rules!"

  "I just want to know if this person really went to Changchun, my brother is now missing and has a great relationship with him." Peng Sizhe was concise and couldn't refuse.

  "Alright, wait for my call, I'll try." Although it was against the rules, after all, this was someone she had secretly admired before. Retrieving some information wouldn't harm national security, so she agreed.

  More than half an hour later, she called Peng Sizhe: "Lang Qun indeed took that flight and is still in Changchun, staying at the X Hotel, using his own ID for registration, and prepaid a week's room fee."

  "Is there anyone else traveling with you?" Peng Sizhe still didn't give up.

  "The only information I have about the other person you gave me is that they are on the same flight, sitting together, and even staying at the same hotel... As for your brother's information, I really can't find it here."

  "Alright, thank you." Peng Sizhe was very disappointed.

  "What now?" The only clue was cut off, and Commander Gao also felt a bit disheartened.

  Peng Sizhe thought for a moment and then remembered that there was one more person who might be able to provide some clues: "Let's go back to the Xianglong Club."