Chapter 20: A Mouthful of Dreams

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Bai Chu’s eyelid twitched; he felt something was off about the whole situation. “Tell me the whole story from beginning to end!”

Jiang Jing sighed helplessly and recounted everything once more. After all, the person involved had already been caught, and the State Security had tracked the matter from start to finish. There was nothing to hide on the surface.

“That’s the whole story! After Qian Neng learned my identity, he feared exposure, so he contacted another informant to prepare to escape together. But who would have thought that this other informant was the boyfriend of that apprentice we met at the state-run restaurant! However—the so-called boyfriend was actually a man disguised as a woman!”

Thinking of Lin Hua, who had just been brought in by Officer Xiao Liu for questioning, Jiang Jing felt a pang of sympathy. “I’m afraid that young man still doesn’t realize his boyfriend is a man! But according to the State Security comrades, they found some suspicious items in that man’s room, preliminarily suspected to be used for poisoning.”

Bai Chu frowned. “Where were they planning to use the poison?”

“I don’t know the specifics, but Qian Neng’s side seems worth digging into deeper. During the pursuit, after I shot him, I originally intended to chase him down directly. Unexpectedly, he hid behind an abandoned warehouse, and by the time I caught him, he was already unconscious.”

His tone faltered slightly as he recalled the candy in Xia Xia’s hand. After a brief hesitation, he confided in Bai Chu, “Earlier, Xia Xia saw him and, for some unknown reason, gave him a piece of candy. None of us paid much attention at the time. Who knew the candy was laced with a sedative! After being shot, Qian Neng ate the candy to replenish his strength, then fell into a coma! Otherwise, he probably planned to lure more police forces to surround him, then detonate himself and take us all down together.”

Bai Chu fell silent again. After a long pause, he asked, “What’s the deal with that candy?”

“I don’t know either! I personally saw a junior officer give it to her, but the candy she handed out was definitely laced with sedative.”

Jiang Jing shifted his stance, blocking others’ view, and tapped a secret code into the microphone: Commander, I suspect Xia Xia was taken by spies for human experiments during those years. There’s something strange about her.

Bai Chu was startled and quickly tapped back: Are you sure?

Jiang Jing thought of the little girl’s frightened expression and tapped back with some sympathy: I asked her. She said she’s human and doesn’t want to be studied, so I didn’t press further.

After sending the message, Jiang Jing resumed speaking: I guess she doesn’t even know what’s abnormal about her. We probably need to keep an eye on her and re-teach her some things.

Bai Chu recalled the files he had seen over the years. Thinking of such a small child used for experiments, his eyes reddened. Clenching his fists, he slammed them hard on the table. “Those damned spies—if only they all died like that, it would be too good for them!”

They were all nothing but beasts!

Jiang Jing responded softly.

After a moment of silence, Bai Chu spoke again. “I’ve already ordered Wang Lianjun to find you and escort you home. Since you’re on sick leave, it’s not good for you to be too conspicuous. Have him handle things openly if anything happens.”

“Yes!”

Jiang Jing ended the call and sat in the police station, waiting for the final outcome of the interrogation.

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After Jiang Xiaxia and Jiang Hua arrived at the guesthouse, her spirits were low. After a quick wash, she nestled into Jiang Hua’s embrace and fell asleep.

Perhaps because of Jiang Jing’s ‘pressing’ earlier, in her dream, Jiang Jing’s expression was colder.

She saw her usually taciturn uncle standing at the bow of a boat, his eyes icy as he escorted a group of people to the shipyard.

At noon, her uncle arrived at the state-run restaurant with some middle-aged men in black coats.

Lin Hua, once an apprentice, was now the new head chef. Following instructions, he immediately prepared meals for them.

But the usually cheerful Lin Hua looked dark and exhausted, his face shadows deep and weary.

The waitress serving her uncle and the others wasn’t Sister Xiaofang but another pale-skinned woman.

When the woman called Lin Hua, his gaze was filled with disgust.

Then—

Though her uncle seemed a little scary, Jiang Xiaxia cautiously clung to his pants.

Jiang Jing, cold and indifferent, seemed to sense something. He glanced down at his side, saw nothing, and withdrew his puzzled look.

Opposite Jiang Jing, Qian Neng smiled and asked, “Comrade Jiang, how old are you this year? Do you have a girlfriend? Our shipyard has many outstanding young women still single! If you’re single, you could consider—”

“Sorry, not interested,” Jiang Jing’s cold voice cut him off.

The atmosphere turned awkward. Nearby, a man chuckled, “These things depend on fate; it’s not always about introductions. Take our Qian Gong, who just happened to eat here once and caught Sister Xiaofang’s eye. Now they’re the envy of everyone!”

Jiang Xiaxia was shocked and gripped her uncle’s pants tighter.

Sister Xiaofang is involved with that spy Qian Neng?

Then the one downstairs—could that be Lin Hua’s spy boyfriend?

Why hasn’t anyone arrested them here?

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Jiang Xiaxia knew clearly it was a dream, but she didn’t understand its purpose.

Why was it so different from what she had seen?

The Qian Neng before her seemed much older than in her memory, and so did Lin Hua downstairs.

While she pondered this, suddenly a hand appeared above her head. Instinctively, she rubbed against her uncle’s palm, then stiffened and timidly looked up.

Her uncle seemed confused, staring blankly at his palm.

“Dinner’s here!”

Just as Jiang Xiaxia wondered if Jiang Jing had noticed her, the pale woman appeared carrying dishes with a smile. “Braised pork, pickled fish—these are my husband’s specialties. Leaders, please enjoy!”

No one in the private room spoke. Only after the woman left did Qian Neng break the silence: “Leaders have come all the way from the capital. Taste these dishes and compare them to those in the capital—see which flavors better!”

While speaking, Qian Neng invited the usually quiet Jiang Jing, “Comrade Jiang, please try some! You’ve worked hard protecting us these days. Now the experiments are over, you can relax a bit!”

Jiang Xiaxia heard her uncle, who spoke sparingly, say two words: “Thank you!”

Then he picked up his chopsticks and reached for the fish, which smelled distinctly foul.

Though she knew it was a dream, watching Jiang Jing reach out, Jiang Xiaxia jumped up without hesitation and bit his wrist hard.

Outside the dream—

Just as Jiang Jing came in intending to lift the little girl, who was lying sideways asleep, to put her down properly, she suddenly opened her eyes and bit his wrist fiercely.

Jiang Jing: ...