Silent Testimony - Chapter 104

On Valentine’s night, Tao Ling had said those exact words. She was afraid—afraid of Li Hewei getting hurt, or of an even worse outcome. But back then, Li Hewei would at least answer her questions; now, she was becoming tight-lipped and secretive.

“If we can’t find a breakthrough, why don’t we rest for a bit before trying again?”

“You’re too tired.”

Under Tao Ling’s persistent, soft persuasion, Li Hewei finally allowed her body to relax and let the girl lead her back to the bedroom.

“Set an alarm. Take an hour’s nap.” Tao Ling set the phone down and turned to wrap her arms around Li Hewei’s waist. Leaning against her shoulder, she said, “The recurrence of your anxiety has already affected your sleep. If this continues…”

“I understand.” Li Hewei was well aware of her physical condition. Being in a medical-related field herself, she knew she couldn’t hide anything from Tao Ling’s keen observation. She explained in a comforting tone, “At least there hasn’t been any severe somatization (physical symptoms), right?”

“Sister Wei…”

Last year, when Li Hewei nearly died of hypothermia after drowning, she developed moderate anxiety. Although she took medication to keep it under control and prevented it from worsening, the headaches, insomnia, palpitations, and chest tightness she suffered during treatment still haunted Tao Ling with fear.

Tao Ling couldn’t help but ask, “Is it because of the case?” She had noticed a pattern: Li Hewei’s investigation in February was orderly and her emotions were stable. But starting on a certain day in March, she began to lose emotional control, her sleep hours dwindled, and she started forgetting small details that required prompting.

“Yes,” Li Hewei responded with a half-truth.

March. March 8th. That was the day of Aunt Zhang’s 50th birthday party. Li Hewei hadn’t returned home until nearly 9:00 PM. Did the ‘original’ owner reveal critical information? Was Sister Wei so worried that it was bleeding into her daily life and work? Tao Ling pondered for a moment. Seeing that Li Hewei was still wide awake, she pressed further: “Did the original owner tell you something?”

Li Hewei looked away and lied. “No.”

“Sister Wei.” Tao Ling tightened her hold, pressing her head against Li Hewei’s chest. “I know the rhythm of your heartbeat. You can’t lie to me.”

Li Hewei’s breathing hitched.

Tao Ling’s voice was soft, but her resolve was unshakeable. “Tell me.”

“Tao Tao,” Li Hewei hesitated.

“I treat every day with you as if it were our last,” Tao Ling whispered. “I’m not afraid of being separated. I’m only worried that something will happen to you—that you won’t be able to get out of this safely.”

“If you leave safely, maybe I can keep living. But if you…”

Li Hewei reached up and covered the girl’s mouth.

Tao Ling gripped her wrist and slowly moved her hand away. Her voice was no longer steady. “We are both just ordinary people. You might be a few years older than me, but I’ve told you—you don’t have to carry this alone.”

“Tell me.”

Li Hewei had no room left to retreat. Since crossing into this book, she had long been shrouded in a sense of powerlessness. Other “transmigrators” had “gold fingers” or system guidance, but what about her? She hadn’t read the book, didn’t know her specific mission, and had to stumble through the dark, facing constant setbacks.

“Sister Wei.”

Tao Ling’s low call lingered in her ear. Li Hewei reached out to hold her back, staring up at the ceiling with a long sigh. “The original owner said… the final mission is related to Chu Xiaoyi’s case. If it fails, I might not be able to go back, and you probably…”

What would happen? Why wouldn’t she be able to go back? Tao Ling’s heart squeezed painfully. “What is the mission?”

Li Hewei shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve had to take every mission one step at a time.”

Tao Ling’s brow furrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“Is the mission considered complete if the case is solved?” Li Hewei stroked the girl’s back gently. “That’s why I didn’t want you to worry. I’ve been investigating like a headless fly, making very little progress.”

After baring her heart, she felt a sense of relief. She promised, “Tao Tao, I promise you: from now on, I will discuss things with you. I will prioritize my own safety.”

“Good. Don’t lie to me again.”

“When have I ever lied to you?” Li Hewei raised her free hand to smooth the worry lines on Tao Ling’s brow.

“On Valentine’s Day, what did you promise?”

“What?” That night, Li Hewei had been so sleepy after their “activities” that she had simply hummed in agreement to whatever Tao Ling whispered.

Tao Ling began settling the score: “You said you wouldn’t act alone, that you had to take me with you. But today, who was the one grabbing their keys and heading out the door?”

Li Hewei had no defense. She took a proper attitude of admitting fault. “I was wrong.”

Tao Ling finally smiled. “Good. Your punishment is to sleep, right now.”

“Sleeping.” Li Hewei closed her eyes, trying to coax sleep to come. They chatted idly. “You were born on November 6, 1990, and I was born on August 8, 1992. Technically, I should be calling you ‘Sister’.”

Tao Ling was speechless. “…”

“You have a steady personality and handle things so well. You really are more like the ‘older sister’.”

“You can’t calculate it like that,” Tao Ling said, lying on her side and hooking her arm through Li Hewei’s. “You said you’ve lived for 32 years, while I’ve only lived 25. You’re efficient, experienced, and even though you seem to play outside the rules, you’re actually very reliable.”

“Is this a mutual praise session? Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder?”

“The ‘previous’ Sister Wei was a genius at composite sketching. You’ve only been learning for two or three months, and at the very least, you haven’t been caught,” Tao Ling continued. “And you often give me pointers.”

“Pointers?”

“The details I need to watch for during autopsies—has Teacher Li forgotten?” Tao Ling rarely expressed her deep love so overtly, but now, her heart was overflowing. “I can say with certainty… the one I love is you—Li Hewei from the parallel world, from Shenzhen.”

Li Hewei froze for several seconds, a flood of emotion washing over her.

“I love the you who plays Candy Crush before bed, the you who comes up with new ways to make me happy, the you who is rigorous at work, and the you who is free-spirited in life…” As if sensing an impending separation, Tao Ling couldn’t suppress her urge to confess. “You said you love freedom and don’t like being bound by rules. If… I mean if… one day the case is solved, whatever you want to do, I will go with you.”

Li Hewei’s eyes grew hot. “Tao Tao.”

“Sister Wei, I don’t know why I’m saying all this so suddenly. Maybe I just want you to know that I love you.”

“I know. I know everything.” Li Hewei guessed that the incident with the car earlier had left a shadow of fear; expressing these emotions was a way to soothe that unease. Feeling guilty, she leaned over to kiss the tears at the corners of Tao Ling’s eyes. “I love you too.”

“So much. So very much.”

Tao Ling was woken by the pitter-patter of rain outside. She reached for her phone to check her unread WeChat messages.

Cheng Yingqiu: 【What’s going on? You okay?】

Tao Ling glanced at Li Hewei’s peaceful sleeping face—a rare sight lately. She typed: 【We’re okay. She’s sleeping.】

【Neither of you ate lunch. I ordered takeout for you.】

【Thanks. (Sticker: System-default hug)】

【Don’t mention it.】

【I won’t. (Sticker: Smile)】

Cheng Yingqiu worried: 【Hey, is her anxiety recurring?】

【Yes. Fortunately, it’s not too severe, but we need to adjust things quickly.】

Cheng Yingqiu warned: 【If you two are investigating secretly, don’t cross the line. Don’t do anything illegal.】

【I know.】

Cheng Yingqiu voiced a doubt she’d been holding: 【Do you not trust her (Qiu Wan)?】

【It’s not that. Sister Qiu is busy; Wei wants to wait until she has a solid lead.】 Tao Ling knew Li Hewei’s plan—she wasn’t hiding it maliciously; as soon as the sketch was finished, she would tell Qiu Wan.

【Alright then. Stay safe.】

【We will.】

Tao Ling exited WeChat. Li Hewei, who had woken up at some point, sat up and slipped into her slippers. “I have to hurry.”

“Mm. Yingqiu ordered food. Eat first, then draw.”

Li Hewei didn’t refuse. After they had filled their stomachs, they left the study door open and sat on opposite sides of the room—one drawing, the other signing.

The first printing of Tao Ling’s physical book had sold out, and the publisher was printing another 20,000 copies. They had recently sent over the signature sheets.

With 20,000 copies and her royalty rate increased to 9% (at a price of 42.8 yuan per book), Tao Ling would earn over 70,000 yuan—roughly equivalent to her annual salary.

The clock ticked away. The afterglow of the setting sun climbed across the windowsill. Li Hewei organized three versions of the composite sketch, took photos, and sent them to Qiu Wan.

【Sister Qiu, check this. Who is he?】 Li Hewei didn’t have the clearance; she needed Qiu Wan’s help.

Half an hour later, Qiu Wan replied: 【Hao Peng. Assistant to President Huang of the Rongke Group.】

【Rongke Group?】 Li Hewei recalled having dealt with them before.

【The case from last July. Sun Luying of Rongke Group covered for her son Sun Hao and coerced witnesses into perjury. She was sentenced to three years and four months.】

【Also, the Special Investigation Task Force was officially formed on February 16, 2016. I am now formally inviting you and Tao Ling to join.】