Uncle Cheung happened to come upstairs and saw them. He explained.
It was a painting sent by their Second Uncle — he’d recently gotten into the calligraphy and painting business and had even organized an art exhibition.
Li Heng walked over to the painting.
Shen Kai Yiu had spent his life living under the shadow of his elders and his older brother — constantly trying to prove he was no worse than anyone else.
“Dinner is ready — please come downstairs to eat.” Uncle Cheung said. “Tonight’s dishes were all specially prepared by the master for you.”
…
It was the most stifling, oppressive meal Li Heng had ever had.
The table was laden with exquisite dishes. Shen Kai Yiu and Cen Pei Lan wore smiles.
The conversation revolved around her — a round of pleasantries that felt hollow.
Shen Chongnian sat at the head of the table, constantly piling food into her bowl until it was overflowing.
“Grandfather, that’s enough — I can help myself,” Li Heng said.
Only with his granddaughter did the harshness in Shen Chongnian’s eyes soften: “Investigations are exhausting — you look like you’ve lost weight again. Eat more.”
“I heard Zhining is a police officer now. That line of work is so hard, and the pay isn’t great,” Shen Kai Yiu said. “A girl shouldn’t have to work so hard — especially a child of the Shen family. Now that you’re home—”
Before he could finish, Shen Chongnian looked up, his gaze sweeping over him.
Just one look — but it carried immense pressure. Shen Kai Yiu’s words died in his throat.
He fell silent at once, awkwardly raising his wine glass to cover his embarrassment.
Cen Pei Lan quickly jumped in to smooth things over: “Young people are like that — they want to explore. If she wants to be an Inspector, she can have fun with it — she’s got the backing for it. If one day she finds police work too exhausting, she can just come home. Get your grandfather to arrange a cushy position in the company — settle down and live comfortably.”
“Zhining isn’t ‘playing around,’” Shen Chongnian put down his chopsticks, his tone authoritative. “She earned her position as Inspector through hard work — not by messing around.”
“That’s not what I meant — of course becoming an Inspector takes real skill.” Cen Pei Lan’s smile didn’t waver as she echoed, turning to Li Heng: “I’m just clumsy with words.”
For the rest of the meal, most of the conversation was initiated by the couple.
They brought up the Sham Shui Po stove-body case, mentioned the neighbors’ gossip, and smoothly steered the topic toward Shen Zhicheng.
“I have no head for business — your grandfather doesn’t trust me, so I’ve had to be a wealthy idler all my life,” Shen Kai Yiu said, after a few more drinks. “You’re different — maybe you’ve inherited your father’s shrewdness and vision. Zhicheng, if you could come back and help manage the family business, you’d take a lot of pressure off your grandfather. A few days ago, I ran into an old shareholder at a tea house in Central — apparently, everyone on the board is worried your grandfather is getting too old, that his health won’t hold up.”
Shen Zhicheng’s expression shifted slightly, but with his grandfather present, he held his tongue.
Li Heng’s gaze rested on Shen Kai Yiu’s face.
Their eyes met — he paused, then looked away.
“Say what you mean,” Shen Chongnian said, his expression darkening. “This is a rare family gathering. Don’t speak in riddles and make the children uncomfortable.”
After a few glasses of strong liquor, Shen Kai Yiu’s face flushed.
He said: “Dad, you know this is a rare gathering. But no matter what I say, you won’t listen. If you can’t stand me, then shut me out like you used to. There’s no need to humiliate me in front of the younger generation. I’m still their Second Uncle — do you have to embarrass me like this?”
Cen Pei Lan quickly tugged at him, whispering: “Today is about welcoming the children home — everyone’s happy — just keep it down.”
“Zhining coming home is a wonderful thing. But no one told me — her own uncle!” Shen Kai Yiu pressed on. “If I hadn’t happened to hear it from Wang Ma when I dropped off the tonics last time, I’d still be in the dark. I practically had to beg for this meeting. If word gets out, people will laugh at our family.”
The atmosphere grew even more strained.
Shen Chongnian was visibly angered, his chest rising and falling.
Li Heng reached out and gently patted her grandfather’s back.
“Haven’t you said enough?” Shen Zhicheng’s voice was cold.
Cen Pei Lan quickly tugged at her husband’s sleeve.
“I’ve had too much — I’m out of line.” Shen Kai Yiu let out a bitter laugh, lowered his head, and drank alone.
No one responded.
Li Heng stood up, filled a bowl of hot soup, and handed it to Shen Chongnian.
“This one’s good,” Li Heng said. “Try it.”
“If you like it, I’ll have someone send it to the station regularly.” Shen Chongnian took the soup, his tone softening.
Just then, the mobile phone in Shen Zhicheng’s pocket rang.
He answered, listened for a moment, and said: “Got it.”
Hanging up, he looked at Shen Chongnian: “Grandfather — my sister and I have some things to do. We’re heading back.”
Shen Chongnian waved lightly: “Go on — be careful.”
The siblings rose, left the table, and quickly walked out of the villa’s front gate.
“Something at the station?” Li Heng asked.
“The station wouldn’t call me separately for a task.” Shen Zhicheng stepped onto the gravel path, tilting his chin outward. “Someone’s come to pick us up.”
The moonlight was still and clear, spilling over the courtyard — the clamor of the house finally left behind.
Outside the courtyard, a black SUV was parked by the roadside, its window halfway down. Shen Yong Xuan sat in the driver’s seat. Hearing the sound of footsteps, she turned her face toward them.
“Get in.”
Li Heng looked at Shen Yong Xuan’s profile — still impatient, as if annoyed they’d taken too long.
She and Shen Zhicheng could have made their own way home.
But in the middle of their frustration, to have someone waiting at the door, specifically there to pick them up —
That, perhaps, was what family meant.
Li Heng and Shen Zhicheng quickly got in the car.
Shen Yong Xuan started the engine and turned to the back seat: “I told you there was no point meeting them. That meal didn’t go well, did it?”
“We did eat some good food, though,” Shen Zhicheng said with a laugh.
Shen Yong Xuan gripped the steering wheel, her tone lazy: “Even if you ate it, you won’t digest it.”
She turned on the music in the car.
A soft, soothing melody flowed, washing away the oppressive, stifling tension.
The SUV drove smoothly out of Repulse Bay.
After a long moment, Shen Zhicheng suddenly realized: “I left my car behind!”
Li Heng offered a suggestion: “Then run back and get it.”
“Aunt.” Shen Zhicheng leaned toward the driver’s seat, pleading.
“I don’t double back,” Shen Yong Xuan said. “It’s only a few blocks — you can run it as exercise.”
“Perfect,” Li Heng’s lips curved. “Count it as your daily physical training.”
…
After that unpleasant family dinner, no one brought up the argument again.
Li Heng had gone specifically to see Shen Kai Yiu up close.
The car accident back then — Grandfather had investigated for a long time and concluded it was an accident. But Li Heng still had her doubts. Her uncle kept making moves behind the scenes — it was hard not to be suspicious.
Either way, she would gather clues piece by piece and uncover the truth of that day.
For herself — and to give their deceased parents some closure.
Work at the station had quieted down, but the previously planned celebration banquet kept getting postponed.
Sir Pan was busy, and everyone had to wait until he could free up some time — it ended up being delayed by half a month.
In early September, Hong Kong was slowly easing into autumn, but the days were still hot.
Pan Liqin hosted the gathering at his home.
Team A members arrived one by one, carrying paper-wrapped pastries and chilled fruits.
Li Heng and Shen Zhicheng each brought a bottle of wine, with Shen Yong Xuan following behind. The three entered together.
Pan Liqin was clearly delighted with the two bottles of wine, carefully storing them in his cabinet before warmly inviting everyone out to the public rooftop terrace.
“Yong Xuan — long time no see. You haven’t changed at all.”
Shen Yong Xuan gave him a sideways glance: “You, on the other hand, have aged quite a bit.”
Li Heng stood beside her aunt, silently observing.
Before they left, they’d asked about the relationship between their aunt and Sir Pan. Shen Yong Xuan had brushed it off lightly, saying they were about the same age, Hong Kong was small, it wasn’t surprising they knew each other — just acquaintances. When she thought back to her younger days, what she missed most was her flawless skin and her figure that never gained weight no matter what she ate.
The rooftop was bathed in direct sunlight, heat radiating from every direction.
Shen Yong Xuan raised a hand to shield her eyes: “It’s so hot — why did we have to have a BBQ? I shouldn’t have come.”
Without a word, Pan Liqin fetched a parasol to shield her from the sun.
“If you can’t stand the heat, go inside and sit down. I’ll bring you some when it’s ready,” he said.
Shen Yong Xuan ignored him, holding the umbrella and glancing at the ingredients.
Li Heng had never been to this kind of gathering before. She sat alone by the grill, flipping the food, sprinkling cumin and chili powder.
When the food was finally done, she took a bite first: “Looks like I’m the one with cooking talent.”
Shen Zhicheng wouldn’t have that — he stepped up immediately to show off his skills.
The siblings argued endlessly over who was the true chef.
A few officers nearby drank cold beer and chatted quietly.
“Have you noticed — whether it’s work or off-duty, Madam always leaves with the young master?”
“And that bottle of wine — it looks expensive — not really something Madam would buy…”
“I mean, an Inspector’s salary is decent, but not that generous!”
There was plenty of entertainment for the group.
They watched Li Heng and Shen Zhicheng, then shifted their attention to Sir Pan and Aunt Shen.
“Yong Xuan — your favorite grilled chicken wings — perfect timing.”
“There’s aged tangerine and red bean soup at home — I’ll go down and get you a bowl.”
Shen Zhicheng leaned in and whispered to Li Heng: “What’s going on?”
Li Heng lowered her voice too: “Definitely not just acquaintances.”
Shen Zhicheng stared at Pan Liqin, who was being unusually attentive to their aunt, and declared: “There’s definitely something going on with him.”
“According to you, there’s something going on with everyone.”
Throughout the entire BBQ, Shen Zhicheng remained on high alert, quietly keeping an eye on Sir Pan.
The lively, relaxed gathering wound to a close under his full surveillance.
The officers had already started planning their next meal.
“Next time, can we go to Sai Kung for seafood?”
“Ooh — and we can get some sea breeze…”
Li Heng had eaten and drunk her fill. She turned to see the person beside her still diligently keeping watch.
“Nephew,” Li Heng patted his shoulder. “Party’s over.”
…
These days, the station had been calm.
The most talked-about topic among Team A officers remained Li Heng and Shen Zhicheng.
Li Heng was still tough on her subordinate.
She came out of her office and looked at the idle Shen Zhicheng.
From a very young age, Li Heng had wanted to become a police officer.
Becoming an officer who pursued justice and truth had always been a dream hidden in her heart.
If Shen Zhicheng felt the same way, Li Heng believed he wouldn’t want to remain just an auxiliary officer.
They should both go further.
Thump— Li Heng dropped a stack of case files in front of him: “Read these and write me a report.”
“Another report?”
“Just a short one.”
Shen Zhicheng looked up immediately: “Last time you said ‘just a short one’ too — I submitted it, and you sent it back for a rewrite!”
Li Heng looked at him: “Three hundred words of sloppy writing — do you think that’s enough?”
Shen Zhicheng protested: “Three thousand words for a rewrite — do you think that’s too little?”
In the CID room, all the officers pretended to organize their work, but they were really eavesdropping on the bickering.
Until suddenly, a phone call broke the stalemate — and the prolonged calm of Team A.
Wen Jie answered, her expression turning serious: “A murder at a detached house on Kowloon Tong — all units, roll out immediately.”
Several police cars sped out.
Inside the cars, the officers discussed the case in low voices.
“It was the domestic helper who called — she was incoherent. We still don’t know the exact situation at the scene.”
“Whatever it is, we’re definitely pulling an all-nighter tonight.”
“Not just tonight — probably the next ten days to two weeks.”
“Don’t jinx it — maybe it’s a simple case and we’ll close it quickly.”
The cars drove up the mountain road. Shen Zhicheng gazed out the window at the passing scenery of Kowloon Tong.
Until the police car stopped outside a detached house.
“Get out,” Lin Jiacong teased him. “Even if you don’t want to, you can’t escape the overtime.”
A cordon had already been set up at the entrance, uniformed officers standing guard.
Li Heng put on her badge and walked quickly into the crime scene.
An officer came forward to report: “Madam — the deceased is male, around fifty. He spent the whole day alone in his study, the door locked from the inside. The maid heard no sound all day and couldn’t reach him on his mobile. Feeling uneasy, she used the master key to open the door — and found the homeowner dead.”
“This is the first person who discovered the body — Auntie Lin.” The officer pointed to the trembling maid, then continued: “The study is up ahead.”
“Has Forensic Examiner Chen been notified?” Li Heng followed the officer toward the study.
“On his way.”
The footsteps of the officers behind her didn’t stop, echoing through the spacious corridor.
The study door was already open.
The man sat slumped in the study chair, his body stiff and rigid.
Li Heng stepped forward slowly, reached out, and turned the leather office chair.
The victim’s face was pale, his lips bluish-purple, flecked with white foam.
“Secure and seal the scene immediately.” She paused briefly, then turned to Old You: “Report to the higher-ups. I’m requesting case recusal for myself and Shen Zhicheng — assign other personnel to investigate.”
Everyone froze, stunned.
Shen Zhicheng stepped forward from the crowd and stopped at the study door.
Li Heng’s expression was steady as she spoke slowly: “The deceased is my and Shen Zhicheng’s Second Uncle — Shen Kai Yiu.”
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