Chương 22: The Locksmith King Should Just Live in the Police Station

"The lock-picking king should just live in the police station."

Lin Zhou opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.

The toolbox was placed on my lap, and the seatbelt was pulled over and fastened.

He looked out the windshield.

"These past few days," He spoke up, "I've been to the police station more often than I've gone home."

Old Zhou started the car.

"You've eaten at the police station before, haven't you?"

Lin Zhou remained silent.

Comments flooded in.

"Brother Zhou: You've eaten at the police station before. Lin Zhou:... (unable to refute)"

"The lock-picking king was shut down by Brother Zhou's one sentence."

"Old Zhou: You were just praising the braised pork in the cafeteria, saying it was better than what you get outside. Don't you want to go today?"

"The Three-Second King didn't not want to go; he just didn't expect to have to go again."

"When he left the police station this morning, he probably thought he wouldn't be going back today."

"And then they went back in the afternoon."

"The bond between the locksmith and the police station is deeper than his bond with the crescent moon."

The car turned at an intersection.

"How long has your live stream been running today?" he began.

Lin Zhou glanced down at his phone.

"From 7: 30 this morning until now."

"Keep it on all the time?"

"It's on."

Old Zhou nodded.

The car drove through another intersection.

He turned the steering wheel slightly to the left and overtook a slow-moving electric car.

"When you handed the business card to the guy locking the car just now..."

Old Zhou said, "I kept my eyes focused straight ahead, and I managed to get it in the shot."

It is not a question.

Lin Zhou looked at the windshield.

"It's in the shot."

Old Zhou nodded again.

He didn't say anything more.

The comments section started analyzing.

"When Brother Zhou asked if the live stream was on, he was confirming the chain of evidence."

"The man locking the car, the QR code on the lock, the handwritten number, Lao Zhou taking out his ID, Lin Zhou handing over his business card—the whole process was live-streamed and recorded."

"The lock-picking king's live stream is the police station's cloud backup."

"Brother Zhou: You got it in, right? Lin Zhou: Yes. Old Zhou: Okay. The conversation shouldn't exceed ten words."

"Their understanding and chemistry speak for itself."

The car drove into the municipal bureau compound.

Old Zhou parked the car in the usual spot.

He turned off the engine, took the enamel mug out of the cup holder, and opened the car door.

Lin Zhou also got out of the car.

With his tool bag slung over his shoulder, he stood next to the car and glanced up at the municipal bureau's office building.

The building is gray, the police badge is blue, and the steps at the entrance are worn shiny by countless shoes.

I came yesterday, I came this morning, and I'm here again now.

Old Zhou walked ahead, carrying an enamel mug.

Lin Zhou followed behind.

The young policeman was still at the front desk in the lobby.

He saw Lao Zhou and nodded.

Then I saw Lin Zhou behind Lao Zhou.

His expression changed slightly.

His mouth was slightly open, and the pen in his hand was hovering above the registration form.

As Lin Zhou walked past the front desk, he nodded to him.

The young policeman closed his mouth.

He lowered his head and wrote a few words on the registration form.

The pen tip pressed too hard on the paper, leaving a mark.

The comments section was filled with laughter.

"The receptionist's expression"

"He recognized me."

"I left here at 4 PM yesterday, left here again at 8 AM this morning, and now I'm back at 2 PM."

Receptionist: Does this person work at the police station?

"He always carried a tool bag when he came in and out, and the camera on his chest was always on, like he was coming to work."

"The 'Three-Second King' is an unofficial staff member of the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"The kind where you don't get paid."

Old Zhou pushed open the door to the interrogation room.

The fluorescent lights were on, and the table and chairs were placed in the middle.

He placed the enamel mug on the table and sat down in the chair.

Lin Zhou sat down opposite him. His toolbox was placed at his feet.

The door to the interrogation room was not closed.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Su Wan passed by the door.

She was holding a folder, and her short hair was tucked behind her ears.

The tiny mole on my earlobe was almost invisible under fluorescent light.

As she walked past the door, she turned her head slightly and saw Lin Zhou sitting in the interrogation room.

My steps stopped.

She stood at the door, her gaze shifting from Lin Zhou to Lao Zhou, and then back to Lin Zhou.

"He's here again?"

she says.

Old Zhou picked up his enamel mug.

"Witness. The case involving locking the car."

Su Wan nodded.

She looked at Lin Zhou, and the natural curve of her lips slightly curved.

It wasn't a laugh, but a knowing "I knew it" kind of understanding.

Then she left.

Comments flooded in.

"Officer Su: He's here again?"

"Again. The word 'again' is very evocative."

"Su Wan just took his statement about drug use this morning, and then saw him again in the interrogation room this afternoon."

"She must be thinking: Is this person coming to the police station more often than I am?"

"She understood from the curve of Su Wan's lips."

"What did she understand?"

"She understood that the bond between the locksmith and the police station was irreversible."

The door to the interrogation room was closed.

The fluorescent light hummed with electricity.

Old Zhou took out a notebook from the drawer and turned to a blank page.

Take off the pen cap and put it on the end of the pen.

"Name."

Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair.

"You already asked yesterday."

Old Zhou raised his eyelids and glanced at him.

"Lin Zhou".

Old Zhou lowered his head and wrote three words in the notebook. The pen tip scratched on the paper.

"Profession."

"The locksmith."

The rustling sound lasted for two seconds, then stopped.

Old Zhou put down his pen and picked up his enamel mug.

He took a sip of tea, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

He looked at Lin Zhou.

Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair.

The fluorescent light shone on him.

The toolbox was at his feet, and the camera on his chest was pointed at Lao Zhou.

He thought for a moment, then leaned forward.

"Brother Zhou, I livestreamed the whole thing, and I have video footage. Can we skip taking a statement?"

Old Zhou picked up his enamel mug.

I took a sip of tea.

Then he raised his eyelids and looked at Lin Zhou.

"Please cooperate with the investigation."

Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair.

He looked at Old Zhou.

Old Zhou sat opposite him, his notebook turned to a blank page, the pen cap on the end of the pen.

Lin Zhou had something on his mind, but he didn't say it.

You weren't absent from the scene.

The comments section helped him figure it out.

"The expression on the Three-Second King's face," he thought to himself.

"Locksmith King: You were there, you saw it even more clearly than I did, why are you asking me?"

"But he didn't say it."

"Because Brother Zhou would say: Please cooperate with the investigation."