Gene Fusion System: Crime Hunter

"Yeah, Uncle, you're right. We should definitely go. It's a good chance to bring Tang Aunty some good news."

As soon as Yang Mei finished speaking, Zhao Donglai quickly interjected, "No, don't tell her!"

"Why, Uncle? You said the chances are high that it's her child. Why not tell Tang Aunty early? It would cheer her up a bit..."

Luo Fei spoke helplessly from the side, "Yang Mei, even though Team Zhao is confident that this is Tang Aunty's missing child, we don't know the child's whereabouts. Whether alive or dead, no one knows. If you tell Tang Aunty too soon, what if..."

"The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Can you be sure if Tang Aunty can handle another loss of a loved one?"

Zhao Donglai nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Luo Fei, you're smart! You got it right away!"

Yang Mei: "... Uncle, what do you mean? Are you saying I'm not smart enough?"

"What do you think?"

"Uncle!" Yang Mei stomped her foot in frustration.

After throwing a small tantrum, Yang Mei returned to being serious, "Uncle, when we go for lunch later, I'll go with Luo Fei."

"Alright, just remember to be cautious with your words and don't let anything slip."

"Don't worry, I know."

...

Yang Mei was very committed to this matter, so at noon, she immediately grabbed Luo Fei and headed straight to New Street.

After parking the car in front of Tang Cuifang's shop, they walked inside only to find quite a few customers sitting in there.

Tang Cuifang was carrying a bowl of pork rib porridge ordered by a customer from the kitchen. She looked up and was a bit surprised to see the two of them, "Yang Mei, Luo Fei, why are you here at this time?"

They usually ate at the police team's canteen at noon.

"Tang Aunty, Luo Fei hasn't been here for a while. He managed to wrap up his work and wanted to come by to try your cooking," Yang Mei casually made up an excuse.

Tang Cuifang placed the porridge in front of the customer at table three, wiped her hands with an apron, and smiled as she walked over, "Oh, I see. What would you like to eat? I'll go make it for you!"

"A large portion of century egg and lean meat porridge, two servings of braised dishes, and baked eggplant cake."

At this moment, a customer at the neighboring table was also urging, "Boss, is my porridge ready?"

"Coming, coming." Tang Cuifang replied and then turned to the two, "You just sit tight and wait, I'll get right to it."

With that, she hurried to the kitchen, and Yang Mei hastily followed, "Tang Aunty, let me help you."

Tang Cuifang managed the porridge shop alone, usually calm but terribly busy during mealtimes.

When Yang Mei had nothing to do, she'd come by to help with errands, becoming quite proficient over time.

Though Tang Cuifang kept telling her to sit and relax, Yang Mei quickly helped deliver the porridge to the customers.

Luo Fei wasn't idle either, helping by clearing the dishes from the tables of customers who had left and taking them to the kitchen...

With their help, Tang Cuifang indeed found tasks much lighter.

Once their porridge and dishes were served, she even had time to sit and chat with them.

"Luo Fei, Yang Mei told me you've been really busy lately; are you done now?"

Luo Fei sipped his porridge and nodded, "Yeah, mostly, just a bit of wrap-up work left."

Knowing her husband, also a police officer, Tang Cuifang was aware of certain regulations, so she didn't probe further, just changed the subject.

"Do come by more often when you're less busy. Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you!"

"Definitely, as long as Tang Aunty doesn't find us bothersome!"

"Haha, you child, I'd be happy for you to come often; never find it bothersome," Tang Cuifang said amusedly.

Yang Mei hugged her arm playfully, "Tang Aunty, you're so kind; I want to be your daughter."

"If I had a daughter like you, I'd be overjoyed," Tang Cuifang patted her hand and smiled, albeit with a slight bitterness, her gaze tainted with a trace of sorrow.

Clearly, Yang Mei's words reminded her of her own daughter.

Her child was only a few years younger than Yang Mei; if not missing, she would be seventeen now...

Yang Mei had brought it up deliberately, feeling guilty but recalling the task Zhao Donglai had assigned her, she had to feign ignorance.

"Tang Aunty, are you remembering the child with my mentor?"

With a sigh, Tang Cuifang replied, "Yes, when Huanhuan went missing, she was only eight. Who knows where someone might have taken her..."

She and Zheng Bei's daughter had a single name, Huan.

Thinking of the daughter whose whereabouts were unknown, Tang Cuifang's eyes reddened as if tears might fall.

"Tang Aunty, don't be sad. Maybe you can tell us about how Huanhuan went missing, her appearance, and such?"

Yang Mei pointed to Luo Fei, proudly saying, "Luo Fei is an expert detective; who knows, he might help get Huanhuan back one day!"

Tang Aunty wiped her moist eyes and chuckled at the suggestion, tapping Yang Mei's forehead, "You silly girl, it's not that easy."

Not that she doubted Luo Fei's capabilities; whenever Yang Mei came by, she'd excitedly tell how Luo Fei had solved cases, achieved success...

Over time, she recognized Luo Fei's excellence.

But abduction cases aren't like ordinary homicide cases, where there are clues to follow; in abduction, you don't even know who took your child, where to start?

Moreover, in a vast sea of people, finding a child missing for nine years is no easy task.

"Tang Aunty, are you doubting Luo Fei's abilities?" Yang Mei pouted unhappily.

Seeing her misunderstanding, Tang Cuifang shook her head repeatedly, "No, no, how could I doubt Luo Fei's abilities."

"Then that's settled. Tang Aunty, quickly tell us; maybe Luo Fei will actually surprise you!"

Yang Mei shook Tang Cuifang's arm persistently.

Tang Cuifang couldn't resist her antics, half laughing, half crying, "Yang Mei, I know you mean well, but this case isn't as simple as you think."

"Back then, both your mentor and Team Zhao tried hard but found nothing. Now, nine years later, it's even more unlikely. Don't trouble Luo Fei."

"You're both young with bright futures ahead; don't let him waste time on meaningless things, understand?"

Tang Cuifang spoke earnestly, sincerely considering for them.

Her thoughtful concern deeply moved Yang Mei, strengthening her resolve to help find the child.

"Tang Aunty, this isn't meaningless! And even if much time has passed, who says there's no hope? You never know..."

She gestured at Luo Fei, signaling him to chime in.

Receiving the message, Luo Fei didn't disappoint her.

"Indeed, Tang Aunty, Yang Mei is right; there's no absolute in anything. You telling us won't harm anything, and I might notice some detail while investigating other cases."

Tang Cuifang hesitated mainly due to reluctance to trouble Luo Fei.

But now that he stated it like this, there wasn't a need to insist.

After all, she didn't want to give up looking for her daughter, willing to try even for a one-in-a-million chance.

"On the day of Huanhuan's disappearance, it was Tuesday; she said she wanted to eat my eggplant cake after school. Who knew..."

Tang Cuifang immediately immersed in reminiscence, recounting in detail the circumstances of her daughter's disappearance day.

These past years, she hadn't ceased yearning for her daughter, so even nine years later, the events remained vivid in her memory.

Once she finished, she was overwhelmed with emotion, sobbing uncontrollably.

Yang Mei continuously comforted her, patting her back, while Luo Fei documented all the information.

Then he asked, "Tang Aunty, please detail Huanhuan's appearance, blood type, and such."

"Huanhuan has a small mole in her eyebrow, a scar on her forehead from a tumble at five, and type B blood."