It took about twenty-five minutes before the train reached the station where Shanquan had to get off to change trains. After getting off the train, Shanquan immediately checked the arrival schedule for the train he would ride after this. It turned out that the train would come ten minutes later. Shanquan went out of the platform to look for the restroom. While urinating, Shanquan wondered if his frequent urination was still within normal limits. Next time, when he had a chance to see a doctor, he should not forget to ask this.

When he came out of the restroom, Shanquan rushed over for fear of missing the train. That's when he heard someone calling him.

"Mister Duanmu!" There was a baritone voice.

Shanquan turned his head. The person who called out to him was in a backward position. Apparently, they just passed each other without being noticed by Shanquan.

"Mr. Linghu?" Shanquan still recognized that face. He spun around and walked over to the person.

"Right, Sir! I am Linghu Weideng." The face of the person who greeted Shanquan brightened. Perhaps he was glad that Shanquan recognized him instantly.

Just like Shanquan, Linghu Weideng was one of Songfei's friends. Linghu Weideng was also not a member of the detective and mystery club. Shanquan remembered well that Songfei had said that just like Shanquan and his friends, Songfei had also invited Linghu Weideng to participate in the activities he organized. But unlike Shanquan and his friends who had a lot of free time, Linghu Weideng had a job he couldn't just leave, so he only occasionally accepted Songfei's invitations. Previously, Shanquan had only met Linghu Weideng twice.

"How are you, Sir?" Although Linghu smiled, Shanquan caught something different.

"I'm fine," said Linghu Weideng. "But …"

This time Shanquan could clearly catch the look of worry on Linghu Weideng's face.

"What's the matter, Sir?" A gentle voice escaped from Shanquan's lips. Linghu looked like someone who was hesitant to say what he was thinking.

"Can we talk for a minute?" Linghu Weideng's voice sounded like the sound of a sheep crying for help.

Shanquan looked at his watch. He couldn't bear to see the look on that person's face, but he had urgent business to attend to.

"Just a moment, Sir," said Linghu Weideng. "It's about Songfei."

Shanquan was surprised. "What's wrong with Songfei?" He was worried that what happened to Songfei might be worse than he thought.

"We'd better find a place to talk, Sir." Linghu Weideng looked on with hopeful eyes.

The two of them then went to the food court at the subway station complex. There Linghu Weideng said that he was worried about Songfei. After that, he told the chronology of events that he knew. Even though Linghu looked a little panicked, the man could still tell all these things in precise words and well-ordered sentences.

About a week ago, Songfei called Linghu. He said that three weeks earlier, one of his friends had disappeared. At first, Songfei only thought that his friend was just on some kind of vacation. However, after a week of no news, Songfei started an investigation. After several days of investigating the matter, Songfei discovered that the events of his friend's disappearance led him to some surprising facts.

"What did Songfei find?" Shanquan was very curious.

"He didn't tell me. He didn't even say the name of his missing friend either."

"Then why did Songfei call you if he didn't want to explain what he found?"

"It's regarding Songfei's important item." Linghu Weideng lowered his voice.

"Did Songfei ask you to go to Dafeisi Tower?"

"No. He asked me to tighten the guard on his belongings which I had kept."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Linghu Weideng's last sentence was quite confusing to Shanquan. "So you have kept that Songfei's belongings for a long time?"

"About four months ago, Songfei left me a wooden box. He didn't say what was in the box and neither did I ask. He said that he had entrusted the box to me for the time being. One week ago, he told me I should move the box to another storage area. Songfei was worried that someone would steal the box."

"Do many people know where you keep the wooden box?"

"Do you mean the original place where I kept the item?"

"Yes. That's what I mean."

"The only ones who know are Songfei and I. I told no one. So if someone else found out, then it's likely that Songfei himself accidentally said that to someone else."

"So, have you moved the box to another storage place?"

"That's the problem! When I was about to take the box, it turned out that the wooden box was no longer there. Someone had already taken it out."

"Doesn't the storage case have a key?"

"Of course there is a key. I don't know how anyone can take it from there."

"That storage case wasn't forcibly opened?"

"No. Everything seems normal. It's just that Songfei's wooden box isn't there anymore."

"Where do you keep the wooden box?"

"In the columbarium where I keep my grandfather's ashes."

After hearing Linghu Weideng's words, Shanquan realized that Songfei was in serious trouble this time. He must be on to something hazardous. Not just avoiding the pursuit of debt collectors, as has happened before.

"Have you told Songfei this already?" Because of thinking about many things, Shanquan lost focus when he asked Linghu.

"After finding out that Songfei's box was gone, I can't contact Songfei. When he called me a week ago, after asking me to move his thing, he told me not to tell anyone about this. At that time, I thought Songfei might be hiding because he was being chased by some bad people. Previously, he had also faced situations that required him to hide himself for some time."

"Then what makes you now tell me this?" Shanquan asked.

"Although Songfei forbade me to tell other people about this, he also said that if anything dangerous happened, then I could ask what to do from two people who he thought were worthy of trust."

"Who are those two people?"

“The first is Duanmu Shanquan.”

This was something Shanquan had guessed.

“The second one is Zhonghang Qiuzhen!”

"Qiuzhen?" Shanquan raised his eyebrows. Among the friends who lived in the same house as Shanquan, Songfei was the least familiar with Qiuzhen. The two of them rarely interacted. It would be a bit strange if it turned out that Songfei actually put his trust in Qiuzhen.

"When Songfei said that, I didn't ask him why he trusts you and Mr. Zhonghang. After the wooden box disappeared, I tried to investigate it myself. But I found nothing. Maybe it's because I really don't have the ability to investigate things at all."

"Why didn't you look for me?" Shanquan asked.

"I don't know where you and Mr. Zhonghang live."

"Did Songfei never give you my address or home phone number?"

"He did give it to me. In fact, it's been a long time. As I recall, long before four months ago. But I was clumsy. I forgot where I put the note containing your address and telephone number."

Shanquan considered whether he needed to tell him the call he had received from Songfei earlier. And even right now, he was heading to Dafeisi Tower to fulfill Songfei's request. But after thinking for a while, Shanquan decided to postpone telling Linghu Weideng about this. In his letter, Songfei said not to tell anyone about it. Songfei didn't write anyone's name as an exception. So, for now, Shanquan couldn't inform Linghu Weideng of everything he had done and would do.

"This is not a simple matter. What if I asked you to give me three days to think about what steps we should take?"

Linghu looked a bit dubious. Shanquan understood that person was anxious about Songfei's safety.

"I know that in these three days, the situation could become more and more unfavorable for Songfei. But I believe that kid is much smarter than we imagined."

Linghu finally nodded.

"This is my phone number and home address," Shanquan said. He handed Linghu Weideng a business card. The business card was the rest of the business cards he had. At home, maybe only four or five pieces are left.

Linghu looked at the business card. It seemed he had something to say. Shanquan waited for the person to ask any question, but he said nothing else.

"But soon I will be moving. I don't know where to move yet. Later, I will contact you again when I have found a definite place to live."

Linghu Weideng nodded at Shanquan's statement. He took his wallet out of his trouser pocket. From the billfold, he took out a light green business card. He held out the business card to Shanquan.

"Thank you, Sir," said Shanquan. He took a good look at the business card. The size is slightly larger than the size of a business card in general. "May I ask for one more, Sir? Just like you, sometimes I am also careless in keeping business cards."

Linghu took out another business card from his wallet. After that, he returned to pocket the billfold that looked a little shabby. "Thank you, Sir, for listening to me," said Linghu Weideng. "Even though I have asked you for help, I will continue to try to find out about Songfei's whereabouts."

"Thank you, Sir. Even though I asked for three days, but during these three days I also will not stand still." Shanquan tried to make his voice sound full of conviction. He didn't want to discourage the person sitting in front of him. He was determined to do his best.

"Okay, Sir! Please continue your journey." Linghu Weideng stood up and nodded respectfully to Shanquan.

Shanquan left the food court straight away. He had missed the train. Luckily, the next train arrived less than five minutes later. It's almost rush hour, so the frequency of train arrivals was getting closer.