Silent Testimony - Chapter 97

The patrol officers applied handcuffs, securing Shen Hao after he abandoned his resistance. Upon cross-referencing his identity, they discovered he was exactly the suspect the Criminal Investigation Brigade had requested assistance in capturing half an hour ago. The team leader immediately notified Xiao Zhou, who was in charge of the arrest operation.

As Shen Hao was taken away by colleagues, the patrol officer needed to register the report. He walked quickly toward Li Hewei and handed her a form. “Comrade, please fill this out.”

Li Hewei took the form. “Alright.”

“Your ID card, please.”

“One moment.” Li Hewei went to the car to retrieve her ID and handed it over, completing the registration according to protocol. After signing, she watched the two patrol cars drive away. Turning her head, she happened to see a figure darting out from the restroom.

“Sister, open the door quickly. I need to take my medicine.” Cheng Yingqiu waited for the locks to click and scrambled into the passenger seat.

Li Hewei walked over in a few quick steps, opening the door with a worried expression. “Are you still in pain?”

Cheng Yingqiu rummaged for Ibuprofen. “Mm.” After taking the pill, the usually boisterous girl leaned listlessly against the headrest. Noticing the car was heading back toward the Puchen downtown area, she asked curiously, “Wait, Sister, are we going back?”

“Yes. The case is wrapping up; they might need me.”

“Wrapping up?” Cheng Yingqiu was startled. Clutching her stomach, she asked, “Didn’t they say there was no progress?”

“The person stalking me was caught. It’s likely related to the case.”

“Great! I’ll call Old Cheng first.” During her four days at home, Cheng Yingqiu had managed to dodge her parents’ constant lecturing by staying busy with trivial matters. She had been worried that going to Muyang would force her to face family drama, but fortunately, she now had a legitimate reason to escape.

Li Hewei took the provincial highway, but a truck ahead was slowing them down. She listened as Cheng Yingqiu explained the situation to her parents in a few words. After the call ended, she asked about the girl’s condition: “Should we go to the hospital?”

Cheng Yingqiu’s brow was furrowed. Despite the temperature being around 10°C, a thin layer of sweat had broken out on her forehead. “I’ll just sleep for a bit.”

“No, we’re going to the hospital.” Li Hewei set the navigation for the nearest facility, Puchen People’s Hospital. “You said your stomach hurt last night and tried to suppress it with medicine. Now that the pain is persistent, we must find the cause.”

Cheng Yingqiu slumped her head and replied, “Oh.”

As the words left her lips, Li Hewei’s phone vibrated with a call from Qiu Wan. Upon answering, an urgent voice came through: “Are you two alright?”

“We’re fine.”

Qiu Wan took a deep breath. “I heard from Xiao Zhou that Shen Hao was stalking you. I don’t know the specifics yet.”

“Shen Hao?” Li Hewei was stunned. She knew Shen Ning, but she had no idea a “Shen Hao” existed.

“Come back first. Shen Ning has confessed to the murders and the framing. She wants to see you.”

“Alright.” Li Hewei’s brow tightened instantly. “Is it urgent? I need to take Yingqiu to the hospital.”

The weight that had just left Qiu Wan’s heart slammed back down. “Hospital? What happened to her? Is she injured?”

“Stomach pain. It might be acute gastroenteritis.”

“Sister, give it to me,” Cheng Yingqiu signaled. She took the phone and comforted her in a soft voice, “Don’t worry, I probably just ate something bad.”

“How can I not worry? You’ve had stomach issues frequently over the past two weeks.” Although Qiu Wan hadn’t been with her, Cheng Yingqiu wasn’t one to hide things; her habit of reporting everything as it happened allowed Qiu Wan to stay informed about her health.

“It’s all the heavy food during the New Year, plus the snacks you bought for me… I was greedy and ate too much…”

Hearing her voice—weak and strained from holding back pain—Qiu Wan’s throat tightened. She barely managed to squeeze out a complete sentence: “Be good. Rest for now. I’ll come to the hospital as soon as I’m finished here.”

By the time the call ended, Li Hewei noticed the pain hadn’t subsided despite the medication. She pressed the accelerator, pushing the speed limit, and arrived at the hospital parking lot within twenty minutes. She rushed her into the emergency room. After a physical exam and an abdominal ultrasound, the doctor diagnosed acute cholecystitis caused by gallstones. They recommended an IV drip to stabilize the condition before discussing further treatment.

In the evening, Tao Ling arrived at the hospital after work, carrying packed meals. Li Hewei was busy adjusting the flow rate of Cheng Yingqiu’s IV.

“Does your hand still hurt?”

Cheng Yingqiu shook her head. “No.” Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Tao Ling at the door. Her pressed lips finally curved into a smile, and she called out affectionately, “Sister-in-law.”

Li Hewei turned. Seeing the girl walking toward her, the smile in her eyes deepened as she reached out to take the bags of food.

Tao Ling naturally handed them over, her gaze shifting to focus on Cheng Yingqiu in the hospital bed. “What did the doctor say?”

“Reduce the inflammation and pain first, then see if we need to remove the stones.” Li Hewei wiped her hands with a wet wipe and began arranging the food containers on the bedside locker.

“Do Auntie Cheng and the others know?”

“I haven’t told them yet. We’ll see if surgery is necessary.” Li Hewei opened a lid, her face lighting up with a smile. “Braised beef with potatoes, steamed eggs with minced meat, and dry-fried cowpeas. The food is quite good.”

“It’s still the holiday period, after all. The cafeteria ladies are earning triple wages, so they’re in a good mood.”

“Come, let’s eat.” Li Hewei held a disposable bowl and gestured for Tao Ling to sit on the accompanying stool, placing food into her bowl.

Cheng Yingqiu couldn’t bear to watch. She pouted her lips crossly. “Enough, you two are mistreating the patient.”

Li Hewei scooped some steamed egg with a spoon, deliberately teasing her. “This is your punishment for not knowing when to stop eating.”

“You!” Because of her acute inflammation, Cheng Yingqiu had to fast. She grabbed her phone to complain to Qiu Wan: 【They are eating and drinking all the good stuff while I can only have an IV.】

【Photo of the IV drip.】

【It hurts.】

【I know you’re busy, but I miss you so much.】

【Crying cat emoji.】

Qiu Wan was in a meeting and didn’t reply. Cheng Yingqiu exited the chat only to find an unread message from Shang Lan. She clicked it.

【Xiao Qiu, I heard from Xiao Wan that you’re hospitalized for cholecystitis?】

Cheng Yingqiu was surprised; Qiu Wan had actually contacted Shang Lan on her behalf.

【Yes, Auntie. I had stones before, but they were small, so I ignored them.】

【She already sent me your check-up report. You’re in the acute phase of inflammation now. Once it’s controlled, I’m afraid you’ll need surgery.】

Cheng Yingqiu felt a softness in her heart. Her fingers flew across the screen: 【I’ll do whatever you suggest.】

【If the pain subsides, handle the transfer paperwork tomorrow. I’ll arrange your admission.】 Shang Lan was an expert in hepatobiliary surgery. As one of the first pioneers of gallbladder preservation in the country, she had long been dedicated to minimally invasive research. Knowing that Cheng Yingqiu might need surgery, Qiu Wan had struggled for a long time before finally dialing her mother’s number for the first time in years.

【Okay, thank you, Auntie.】

【I should also thank you for being the mediator between us.】

After some pleasantries, Cheng Yingqiu looked up to see Li Hewei already packing away the food containers.

“I need to go to the police station. I’ll leave Yingqiu in your care,” Li Hewei said to Tao Ling.

Tao Ling wiped the oil stains off the locker surface. “Don’t worry.”

“Oh please, Sister-in-law, hurry up and walk her downstairs. I can’t take it anymore.”

Tao Ling threw away the tissue, her ears turning a faint, imperceptible red. She looked up at the IV bag and answered softly, “You’re still on your drip.”

Cheng Yingqiu turned her back to them. “There are at least twenty minutes left until it hits the bottom.”

No sooner had the words been said than Li Hewei took Tao Ling’s hand and led her out, giving instructions to the girl in the ward: “Fine. Get some sleep. If you feel unwell, call me or press the bell for the nurse.”

“Hmph, typical… choosing romance over your sister.”

As Cheng Yingqiu’s muttering drifted into her ears, Tao Ling’s cheeks grew even hotter. She followed Li Hewei into the elevator, out of the inpatient building, and hurried toward the parking lot. Feeling the warmth of their interlaced fingers, her heart raced as if it were about to leap from her chest.

“I have to get there quickly. Sit with me for a moment.” Li Hewei opened the car door and tucked Tao Ling into the back seat. While Tao Ling was still in a daze, the woman—carrying the chill of the outside air—embraced her.

“Five minutes.”

Li Hewei’s overly tender tone was a spell. Tao Ling couldn’t look away; she stared back as if entranced, their breaths falling into the same rhythm.

“Tao Tao, I missed you.” During their brief meeting outside the department at noon, Li Hewei had exercised extreme restraint. Now, her rationality was completely demolished by days of longing. She leaned in and kissed Tao Ling’s crimson lips.

No wonder Li Hewei had handed her a piece of gum after dinner. Tao Ling didn’t pull away, a low murmur escaping her: “Sister Wei…”

“It’s fine. The windows have privacy film.”

Tao Ling hummed an affirmation. She tilted her head back, accepting a kiss that was as gentle and moistening as the spring rain.

The spring rain nourished her lips…

The cartilage of her ear…

Her collarbone…

She responded with a restless, incredibly alluring soft breath, finally raising a hand to cover her mouth and stifle the sound, allowing the “spring rain” to wander along the side of her neck.

“Sister Wei…”

“Mm?”

“Be gentle… don’t leave a mark…”

Li Hewei promised in a husky voice, “Alright. I know where the line is.”