Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

He Feng then looked up at Ma Xin. A few bloodshot veins from staying up all night lingered in her eyes, like smudges of cinnabar that hadn't been wiped away. A thin mist of fatigue veiled her pupils, softening her usually sharp eyes. He nodded, his voice slightly hoarse, like sandpaper gently rubbing against wood: "Yes, the main culprit has been apprehended, and most of the stolen money has been recovered. Once the remaining approval procedures are completed, the case is completely closed. You don't need to follow up anymore; just organize and file the materials you have."

"Understood, Director He." Ma Xin nodded again, reaching for the signed case closure document on the corner of the table. Her fingertips touched the rough edges of the paper, causing her to pause slightly before turning to leave. Her mind was racing—how to get the message from Xiao Liu out before leaving get off work. That kid had secretly sent a message this morning, saying he'd found a cellar covered with a stone slab under the old locust tree in Jiang Hu's backyard, securely locked. It might be hiding something, and she needed to get someone to investigate immediately.

“By the way,” He Feng suddenly called out to her, his fingertips tapping lightly on the smooth mahogany table, making a soft “tap-tap” sound, the rhythm neither too fast nor too slow, as if he were carefully considering his words, “Do you have time tonight?”

Ma Xin abruptly stopped, as if nailed to the spot. She hadn't expected He Feng to ask this so suddenly. Her mind was still preoccupied with sending the message, and she didn't know how to respond for a moment. Her face paled, and the document in her hand almost slipped from her fingers, but fortunately she managed to grip the edge tightly in time.

Seeing her like this, He Feng smiled faintly, with a hint of self-deprecation: "Don't you have time? If you're busy, then forget it. It's nothing serious, I was just asking casually."

Ma Xin finally snapped out of her daze, realizing she couldn't refuse. He Feng was her superior, and more importantly, she needed to use this "closeness" to continue her undercover work and gather more clues. If she declined now, it would inevitably arouse suspicion, and all her previous efforts would be wasted. She took a deep breath, trying to make her smile look natural, and even softened her voice: "I have time. Captain He asked me to come, and I have to make time no matter how busy I am. I just don't know what you need?"

He Feng's gaze fell on her face, carrying a rare frankness, lacking the sharpness he usually displayed during investigations: "These days, cases are piling up, from Jiang Hu to Zhang Jie, one after another, it's really weighing on my mind. You know, although there are many people in the team, there aren't many I can truly confide in. You're someone I know inside and out, one of the few friends I can truly open up to. I was thinking of finding a place to get together tonight, have a few drinks, vent my frustrations, and relax a bit."

Ma Xin nodded, but her mind was racing – she had originally wanted to suggest the small restaurant near the liaison point on the street corner, where there would be many people around, making it easier to find an excuse to slip away and pass on a message. But before she could speak, He Feng smiled and said, "I've already found a restaurant, it's the 'Old Place' restaurant near the Municipal Bureau. It's close by, the food is to my liking, and it's all home-style cooking. We can go there together after get off work."

"The usual place?" Ma Xin's heart sank slightly. She knew that restaurant; it was located in an alley, in a secluded spot surrounded by residential buildings. It was quiet at night, and it wouldn't be easy to sneak out, let alone pass a message. But she didn't show any sign of distress on her face, simply nodding obediently and replying, "Okay, whatever you say." Anyway, Xiao Liu's matter wasn't urgent this night. He couldn't escape to the cellar; she could deal with it after tonight. She didn't want to risk losing more than she gained.

The day flew by in a flurry of activity. Reviewing interrogation records, finalizing the chain of evidence, and handling the transfer procedures for several brawls and other public order cases—He Feng was so busy he didn't even have time to drink water; the ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts. Only when the setting sun cast long shadows through the blinds onto the table did he rub his throbbing temples and lean back in his chair to catch his breath.

Although Jiang Hu's case has made some progress—the murderer and the mysterious beggar are both dead, and the crime scene investigation is complete—the forces involved are clearly not simple. This morning, people from the Municipal Public Security Bureau came, saying they had formed a special task force to take over the case, ostensibly to "assist in the investigation," but in reality, they were removing him from the picture. He Feng knew in his heart that this case was too complex; as the bureau chief, he couldn't get involved for the time being and could only wait for news from above.

But what's giving him an even bigger headache right now is the mole within the team. Jiang Hu was murdered in the detention center, a place with tight security and comprehensive surveillance. Not only did the killer manage to commit the crime, but he also managed to sneak in with a dagger—it would be impossible without inside help and connections. If this mole, planted right next to him, isn't brought out, future cases will only become more difficult, and it could even endanger the safety of his men.

He picked up the internal personnel list on the table, his fingertips repeatedly tracing the names, his brows furrowing. Ma Xin's name was among them; he hesitated for a moment, then moved his fingertips away. He had asked Ma Xin out tonight not only because he genuinely wanted to talk to someone and relieve his pent-up frustration, but also because he hoped to use the casual conversation to see if he could glean any clues from her—after all, she was in charge of paperwork and came into contact with many people; she might be able to uncover details he had overlooked, such as who in the team had been behaving strangely lately or who had been frequently contacting outsiders.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the streetlights lit up one after another, casting a warm, orange glow through the glass, giving the bustling city a warm, yellowish tint. He Feng packed his things, locked the list in the drawer, and got up to walk towards Ma Xin's desk: "Let's go, to the 'usual place,' I'll treat you to their signature braised pork."

Ma Xin nodded in agreement: "Okay, I have been a bit tired lately, I should take some time to recover."

He Feng and Ma Xin arrived at the restaurant, where the dishes were already prepared. After all, He Feng had just called, so the dishes were ready in no time.

He Feng looked at the boss and said, "Thank you for your trouble. I'll settle the bill with you after I've finished eating."

The boss nodded, then looked at He Feng and said, "Director He, please eat first. I won't bother you any longer."

After saying that, he closed the door and left. After all, it wasn't appropriate for him to be there while they were discussing business.

After the boss left, He Feng didn't rush to talk about business, since it wasn't urgent: "Let's eat first. The food here is really good. We'll have to enjoy it properly later."

Ma Xin had been busy all day and was naturally hungry, so she didn't stand on ceremony and started eating. He Feng didn't drink any alcohol either, since drinking could really cause problems.