Animal Detective

Chapter 155: Concern

The precinct’s Criminal Investigation Division office.

Shen Xin had one foot propped up on a chair.

"I’m telling you, that bullet... WHOOSH! It flew right past my face."

"I’m not kidding you guys. I heard it. First, it hit the wall—three, maybe four meters away from me, tops. Then it ricocheted, probably zipped right past me, and slammed into an electric scooter."

Shen Xin gestured dramatically.

His colleague, Old Xing, said, "Shen Xin, are you sure it didn’t just graze your scalp? In the movies, when you hear that ’whoosh,’ it’s always skimming right past their head."

"Old Xing."

Shen Xin glared at him. "I’m just stating the facts. If I said the bullet grazed my head, that would be bragging, wouldn’t it?"

Shen Xin didn’t like to brag.

But after going through something like that, being so scared you piss your pants, so shaken you can’t even speak straight or walk properly... well, that would be a little damaging to one’s pride.

So, a little bit of embellishment was a good way to ease his tension.

Just as he was speaking, someone came running in from behind him. THUMP THUMP THUMP.

Ding Yuwei.

She was still in her pajamas, bursting in breathlessly. It wasn’t until everyone in the room turned to stare at her, and especially after her eyes landed on Shen Xin, that her legs suddenly felt weak.

Leaning on a nearby desk, Ding Yuwei took a few ragged breaths before saying, "Um... I heard there was an incident?"

She stared at Shen Xin without blinking, one hand clutching her stomach. She’d run so hard she had a stitch in her side.

His colleague, Old Xu, said, "You can say that again. And it wasn’t a small one, either. Two drug dealers, BANG BANG BANG, fired nearly thirty shots. You tell me if that’s a big deal or not."

Ding Yuwei walked over, asking as she went, "So no one was hurt, right?"

Though she addressed the room, her eyes remained fixed on Shen Xin. As she drew closer, she asked softly, "Are you okay?"

Her gaze was a little intense.

Shen Xin, slightly embarrassed, pulled his foot off the chair. "Well, at least I didn’t piss my pants."

Ding Yuwei shot Shen Xin an exasperated glare.

’This is no time for jokes.’

"What are you doing here? Who told you? Does news travel that fast?" Shen Xin asked, puzzled. He’d only just gotten back.

’The area should still be cordoned off, right?’

"And why are you in your pajamas? I’m fine. You should probably head back. You have work tomorrow," Shen Xin said, subconsciously glancing at her a few more times.

’Pretty conservative.’

It was just a common two-piece pajama set—long-sleeved shirt and pants, with a small floral pattern.

’My mom wears the same kind.’

Ding Yuwei hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t move.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Li Dongsheng.

Shen Xin quickly stepped aside to answer it.

"Master."

Shen Xin greeted him.

On the other end of the line, there was a distinct sigh of relief before Li Dongsheng’s voice came through. "You kid, are you alright?"

"Master, I’m fine. I’m doing great," Shen Xin said.

Faintly, he could hear the voices of Song Liang and Zhang Jian in the background. It seemed they were all there.

"You kid... What am I supposed to say to you?" Li Dongsheng sighed.

When he got the news, his legs had gone weak from fear.

Nearly thirty shots fired at the scene! It was hard to even comprehend.

"Master, it was an accident. We were about to leave and call for SWAT when the drug dealers came out. We ran right into them." Shen Xin glanced over at Chen Chao and the others. "Don’t worry, Master. I’m fine. I promise, next time something like this happens, I’ll stay far, far away."

Another call came in. It was Zhang Qian.

Li Dongsheng said, "I’m not telling you to stay far away. When you have to act, you act."

Before he could finish, Song Liang cut in. "Xiaoshen, don’t listen to your master’s nonsense. Going in is one thing, but you have to use your head. You can’t just be reckless. Got it?"

"Yeah, you can’t be reckless." That was Yao Wensheng’s voice.

Li Dongsheng must have told them to be quiet, because he then added, "Shen Xin, do you understand? Use your brain. Don’t be foolish. You only get one life. Remember that."

"I will," Shen Xin quickly promised, a warmth spreading through his chest.

’This is a true master, and a great group of colleagues. They still care about me even after transferring away.’

"Master, I’ll come visit you soon. I have another call, so I’ve got to go."

After hanging up, Shen Xin answered Zhang Qian’s call.

"Hello?"

Zhang Qian’s urgent voice came through the phone.

"Calm down, I’m fine."

’For Zhang Qian to be calling at a time like this, she must have heard about it.’

Zhang Qian also let out a sigh of relief on her end, then said urgently, "Shen Xin, you scared me to death! I saw on my Moments that something big happened over there. The police got into a fight with some bad guys, and tons and tons of shots were fired. Then they mentioned something about police dogs, and I immediately thought of you."

Zhang Qian knew Shen Xin helped train police dogs for the precinct. That, combined with how he’d left in the middle of their late-night snack to take a call, made her terrified he was at the scene.

She had asked Zhang Jian, but he wouldn’t say anything.

The less he said, the more she worried.

"Don’t worry, I’ve got good luck. I’m fine," Shen Xin comforted her, then frowned. "Zhang Qian, you said you saw this on your Moments? It’s already spreading?"

Zhang Qian said, "Yeah, everyone’s sharing news about it on their Moments. People are saying all sorts of things, and there are even videos from the scene."

"Videos?"

Shen Xin froze. ’Don’t tell me I’m in them.’

It wasn’t that he was afraid of looking pathetic for hiding instead of charging out. Shen Xin was afraid that if a video of him got out, it would find its way to his mom and dad.

His mom had never wanted him to be a police officer, always saying it was too dangerous.

And now this—a real-life hail of bullets. It would definitely scare her half to death.

At that thought, Shen Xin said quickly, "Zhang Qian, I’m really fine, so don’t overthink it. I’ve got something to do, so I’m hanging up now."

With that, he hung up before Zhang Qian could even say "Hello? Hello?".

When he turned around again, he saw that Ding Yuwei was standing right behind him, though he wasn’t sure when she’d gotten there.

She startled him.

"Why haven’t you gone back yet?"

"When are you going back?"

Ding Yuwei asked in return.

Shen Xin glanced at Sun Zhao’s office, where he was talking with Chen Chao. "In a bit. I’ll probably have to write a report or something."

Ding Yuwei said, "You can write it tomorrow."

Shen Xin waved his hand dismissively. "You should go back first. You just ran out here in your pajamas. Don’t catch a cold."

As he spoke, he dialed his older sister’s number.

’I need to give my sister a heads-up so she can run interference for me later.’

Seeing Shen Xin make a call, Ding Yuwei hesitated for a moment, told him to go home soon, and then finally left.

She didn’t pick up.

He called again, and this time it connected.

"Hello? Who is this, calling in the middle of the night?" Shen Shuang’s grumpy voice came from the phone.

"Who do you think?"

Shen Xin retorted irritably before briefly explaining the situation.

He told her that a major incident had occurred, and no matter how the news reported it, she had to stay calm. Most importantly, she needed to run interference for him to keep their parents from worrying.

"What major incident? Does it have something to do with you?" Shen Shuang’s voice was still groggy with sleep.

Shen Xin figured the news would be all over Moments soon enough, so he told her the truth. "It’s a situation where the police got into a firefight with some bad guys. Dozens of shots were fired. And your little brother was right there at the scene."

An abrupt silence fell over the phone.

"Dozens of shots?"

"Holy shit, Shen Xin! Do you have a death wish?!"

The next moment, Shen Shuang’s ear-piercing shriek erupted from the phone.

Shen Xin quickly pulled the phone away from his ear.

"Hey!"

On the other end, Shen Shuang cursed him out before yelling urgently for him.

"Shen Xin, you’re really something else, huh? Dozens of shots? Who do you think you are, Schwarzenegger? The Terminator?"

The more she spoke, the angrier Shen Shuang became. "Shen Xin," she said sternly, "I used to support you, but this changes things. Right now, this instant, you’re going to write your resignation letter. We’re done with this."

"Unbelievable. A shootout, really. If Mom finds out about this, you’ll give her a heart attack."

"Don’t be ridiculous."

Shen Xin immediately protested.

’Write a resignation letter? As if.’

"Sis, what’s done is done, and I’m fine. Anyway, just cover for me with Mom, alright?"

Shen Xin saw Sun Zhao come out and wave him over. He said he had to go, ignored Shen Shuang’s incessant screaming, and hung up the phone.

"What is it, Captain Sun?"

Shen Xin asked as he walked over.

His phone rang again. It was Shen Shuang.

He rejected the call.

Sun Zhao glanced at Shen Xin’s phone. "It’s nothing important. You, on the other hand, should get home and rest. Talk to your family. Nobody wanted this to happen, but it did. So don’t dwell on it. And don’t come in to work tomorrow. Take a couple of days off to readjust."

Shen Xin subconsciously wanted to say he was fine and didn’t need the time off.

But then he had another thought. ’Why turn down a vacation when you’re offered one?’