May 25, 1994, Wednesday. Heavy rain.
I feel compelled to remind my future self of today’s events. I don’t know when the heavy rain started, nor when it will stop. I’m sitting in a sewer pipe, with murky water flowing just a few meters away. Judging by the flow rate, the rain seems to be easing or has stopped. I can’t be certain, as it’s happening several meters above my head.
This is a unique diary entry. I’m unsure of its significance, but if someone reads it in the future, they’ll know what happened to me. Whether I’m alive or dead then doesn’t matter much. I’m surprised I even have the presence of mind to write. But what else can I do? From today, everything might be different. Yet this damned habit still controls me.
It all began three days ago. It reminds me of rushing to finish homework before the end of a holiday.
I knew Ma Na wouldn’t let me off easily. I slapped her in front of everyone, especially Yang Le. She wouldn’t swallow that insult. While writing in my diary during geography class, I said I’d do anything for that moment of satisfaction. In reality, my right hand hadn’t even stopped swelling before I started worrying if I’d make it home safely tonight.
So, I packed my bag early. As soon as the bell rang, I grabbed those shoes that had caused such a stir and bolted from the classroom.
Running out of the school, I noticed the bus stop across the street was already crowded. I also heard Song Shuang’s shrill voice behind me: “Stop running! Stand still!”
I pretended not to hear, acting as if I was eager to get home. This allowed me to deceive myself slightly: I wasn’t afraid of them.
In truth, my legs were shaking. After a brief hesitation, I abandoned the idea of taking the bus. After all, being surrounded and beaten at a bus stop wouldn’t be dignified.
I pushed through the bustling crowd and started running along the sidewalk. Normally, I could easily outrun them. But I hadn’t eaten all day. Plus, I hadn’t dared to use the bathroom in the afternoon. Now, my lower abdomen felt like it was carrying a huge water balloon, ready to burst at any moment.
Consequently, after running just a few dozen meters, I was already dizzy and my lower abdomen ached. But I dared not stop. I feared pain and humiliation—the joy I’d felt all afternoon had completely vanished.
I could only keep running. Across the road, across the tram tracks, through the bustling vegetable market, through narrow, quiet alleys.
However, the shouting behind me grew closer.
I oriented myself and realized a residential area was not far ahead. Even at this moment, I was clear-headed enough to know I couldn’t go home. What use would that be? Ma Na and the others wouldn’t stop chasing me until I reached home. Worse, I might get another beating from my parents. I’d caused this trouble; I had to solve it myself.
The residential area was sparsely populated, which gave me some comfort. Reaching the side of a building, I could run no further. I bent over, leaning against the wall, gasping for breath. Ma Na and the others were in no better shape, stopping a few meters away from me, panting and cursing intermittently.
Fighting was out of the question; it was now a test of endurance. I stuffed the white sneakers into my backpack, took a deep breath, and prepared to run again. But just as I rounded the corner of the building, I felt someone grab my hair from behind.
Immediately, I was dragged backward and fell to the ground. Almost simultaneously, several feet began kicking me. Amidst loud cursing, I could only curl up, take off my backpack, and swing it wildly in defense.
Then I heard a crash—my pencil case had been flung out, nearly splitting in two as it hit the wall, scattering stationery across the grass. I crawled over, picked up my compass, and swung it behind me a few times.
Zhao Lingling let out a sharp scream. I saw her crouch down and pull up her uniform pants—a scratch on her calf was starting to bleed.
The situation had escalated. But I wouldn’t worry about that now. I stood up, opened the compass wide, and gripped it tightly.
“Stay back, all of you!”
I knew I must look a mess—hair disheveled, covered in dust, screaming at the top of my lungs. But none of that mattered. As long as I could scare them off and avoid further physical harm, who cared about appearances?
Ma Na’s face contorted, her elegant princess demeanor completely gone.
“F*ck you, you dare to use a weapon!”
She opened her backpack, took out a paper cutter, and extended the blade with a sharp click.
“Na Na.” Song Shuang suddenly grabbed her arm, nodding towards the entrance of the residential area.
I instinctively looked over. A girl wearing the same school uniform as us was slowly walking towards us, carrying a backpack.
I wanted to call out for help, but my voice caught in my throat. She saw us too, her expression a mix of fear and surprise as she stopped in her tracks.
Ma Na waved her paper cutter at me: “You, go over there. Let’s talk.”
Zhao Lingling shouted at the girl: “This doesn’t concern you!”
The girl lowered her head and hurried past.
The word “talk” gave me a glimmer of hope. Gripping the compass, I backed away step by step towards the other side of the residential area.
The sky was gloomy. The low-hanging dark clouds seemed within reach. I gradually regained my composure. Retreating to the edge of the wall, I stopped and collected myself.
“About today’s incident—”
Before I could finish, I realized Ma Na’s “talk” was just a ruse. All three of them lunged at me, Ma Na’s blade glinting menacingly.
“Wait!” I waved the compass again. “About today—”
I hung my backpack on my shoulder, raised my left hand, and slapped myself hard twice in the face. Then, taking advantage of the numbness before it faded, I quickly bent down, pulled up my pant leg, and stabbed my calf with the compass.
Blood quickly flowed out.
“Can we call it even now?”
Zhao Lingling and Song Shuang were stunned, looking to Ma Na for direction.
I stood straight, silently watching them.
Self-harm was my last resort to maintain some dignity. Even if I escaped today, I’d have to face them at school tomorrow. Only by satisfying them could I continue my studies in peace. But I didn’t want them to hurt me themselves.
“You think it’s over just because you say so?” Ma Na stepped forward. “You dared to slap my face?”
I bit my lip: “I’ve paid you back double.”
“Bullshit! Is your face worth as much as mine?”
Zhao Lingling and Song Shuang became eager again: “Na Na, what should we do?”
Ma Na narrowed her eyes, looking me up and down, her lips tightly pressed. Suddenly, she kicked me in the stomach. Compared to the earlier beating, this kick wasn’t particularly hard. But I immediately knew I was in trouble.
A hot stream gushed from my lower abdomen, flowing down my thighs.
Song Shuang stared at my blue pants, watching the light blue turn dark blue, and burst into shrill laughter: “She peed herself, hahaha!”
I crouched down, clutching my stomach, feeling the rising heat from below. I tried desperately to hold it in, but once that floodgate opened…
They laughed hysterically.
Fine. Fine. Are you satisfied now?
But no, they weren’t.
Ma Na stopped laughing and pointed at me again: “Strip her clothes off!”
Several hands grabbed my clothes, pulling forcefully. My mind went blank. I knew that after publicly wetting myself, an even greater humiliation awaited me.
I instinctively struggled. Standing up, being pushed down. Rolling in my urine and dust, being kicked and beaten. Trying to support myself on the ground, but missing.
At the roadside, there was an open manhole. No one had noticed it.
I fell in. After hitting the edge and walls a few times, I landed at the bottom.
For a moment, I thought I had died, feeling both joy and comfort. Death would be enough, right? But I woke up. Then, covered in filth, I scrambled to my feet, disoriented.
They stood at the manhole opening, looking down at me.
I looked around and grabbed the iron ladder on the wall. Is this enough? I want to go home. Even if I get beaten for coming home late and filthy, I want to go home.
At that moment, a large clump of muddy grass hit me on the head. Ma Na’s voice rang out.
“Don’t you dare come up. Stay in the sewer! You piece of trash!”
I seemed numb to the pain. I brushed the mud from my head and stepped onto the ladder.
Another clump of mud fell.
Fine, fine. There must be other exits in the sewer.
I stepped down from the ladder and turned to walk into the pipe, with only one thought in my mind: I want to go home.
Dear diary, I’m afraid I can’t write anymore because this candle is about to burn out. Soon, it will be pitch black here. The kind of darkness where you can’t see your hand in front of your face. Also, there’s something I need to figure out.
Why are there candles in the sewer?
Jiang Yushu filled in the last number, closed the hardcover ledger with a snap, and walked towards the finance office.
“I haven’t checked it. Can you take a look?”
As she spoke, Jiang Yushu went to take her coat from the hanger, her handbag already on her arm.
Cashier Xiao Han took the ledger: “In a hurry?”
Jiang Yushu put on her coat: “Going to pick up my child.”
Xiao Han’s eyes widened: “Tingting is in high school now, does she still need to be picked up?”
Jiang Yushu didn’t reply and rushed out of the office like a whirlwind.
After her ex-husband’s sudden visit, Jiang Yushu developed a sense of crisis. Especially after her daughter’s inexplicable comment about “if I suddenly disappear,” the peaceful life of the mother and daughter seemed to have been disrupted. What she needed to do now was ensure that her daughter was always in her sight, except when at school.
It was as if some unknown force might take her daughter away.
As soon as she got off the bus, Jiang Yushu knew her worries weren’t unfounded. Sun Weiming’s black Jetta was parked conspicuously at the school gate, standing out among the waiting parents. Her ex-husband leaned against the car, arms folded, smoking, with that irritating self-satisfied look on his face.
Jiang Yushu’s heart sank. After the divorce, Sun Weiming had never picked up Tingting from school. His sudden appearance now meant this bastard was surely up to no good.
In the distance, she heard the end-of-school bell ring from the campus. Jiang Yushu panicked and hurried towards the school gate, taking two steps at a time. Carelessly, she tripped on a stone by the roadside, losing her balance and falling sideways onto the road, her handbag flying from her grasp.
Jiang Yushu got up clumsily, brushing the dust off herself while looking around for her handbag. Just then, a hand extended her handbag to her. Jiang Yushu quickly took it, looked up, and said, “Thank you.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly realized the old man in front of her looked familiar. With no time to dwell on it, she walked around him and hurried towards the school gate.
Students were already streaming out. Jiang Yushu deliberately avoided Sun Weiming, squeezing into the school gate and craning her neck to look inside the campus.
True to her habitually slow nature, Jiang Ting was among the last to come out. She was holding her backpack strap, head lowered, still looking preoccupied. Jiang Yushu didn’t dare call out loudly, only waving her hand slightly. Jiang Ting only noticed her mother when she was almost at the gate. Her face broke into a smile as she quickened her pace.
“Why are you picking me up again?” She hugged Jiang Yushu’s arm, resting her head on her mother’s shoulder. “Are you taking me out for something delicious?”
But Jiang Yushu wasn’t in the mood for playful banter. She pulled her daughter along, saying, “Let’s go home.”
Seeing her mother’s serious expression, Jiang Ting felt confused but didn’t dare ask questions. She could only follow, half-running to keep up. Just as they crossed the road, they heard Sun Weiming’s voice from behind.
“Tingting!”
Jiang Ting instinctively turned her head to see her father walking quickly towards them. She was puzzled and about to greet him when she felt her mother’s grip tighten, almost dragging her forward.
Sun Weiming caught up in a few strides, his face plastered with an awkward smile. “Where are you two rushing off to?”
Jiang Yushu didn’t turn around, stubbornly looking ahead, one hand firmly gripping her daughter.
Jiang Ting grew even more confused. She looked at her father, then at her mother, and stammered, “We… we’re going home.”
“Haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“No.”
“Come on.” Sun Weiming reached for Jiang Ting’s schoolbag. “Dad will take you both out for a meal.”
Jiang Yushu exploded. She turned around, pushing Sun Weiming away. “No one’s going out with you!”
She then pulled Jiang Ting again. “Let’s go home.”
Sun Weiming grew anxious too, stepping forward to block their path. “Jiang Yushu, be reasonable! We may be divorced, but I’m still Ting Ting’s father, aren’t I?”
Jiang Yushu glared at him. “Get lost. I have nothing to say to you.”
“As a father, having a meal with my daughter is only natural, isn’t it?” Sun Weiming’s eyes widened. “Do you think our daughter is your private property?”
“Don’t pretend I don’t know what you’re up to!”
“What am I up to? Tell me, go on!”
As her parents argued in the street, Jiang Ting stood between them, feeling both confused and embarrassed. At that moment, an old man slowly approached and stood beside them, motionless.
Sun Weiming was still shouting, but the sudden appearance of a silent observer distracted him, making him feel both awkward and annoyed.
“Can I help you?” Sun Weiming waved at him. “If not, don’t stand here gawking.”
“I’m fine,” the old man said calmly, smoking a cigarette. “What are you doing?”
“How is this any of your business?” Sun Weiming flared up. “Do I know you?”
“It’s not my business,” the old man said, pointing at Jiang Yushu and her daughter with his cigarette. “And it doesn’t seem to be much of theirs either—they don’t want to deal with you.”
“This is my daughter, and this is my…” Sun Weiming pointed at Jiang Yushu, stammered for a moment, and then waved his hand impatiently. “Just leave, this is a family matter!”
“I’m not sure if it’s a family matter, but the police can certainly figure it out,” the old man said calmly. “Why don’t we call them?”
“Go ahead,” Sun Weiming was thoroughly enraged. “You think I’m afraid of you?”
Jiang Yushu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: “Sun Weiming, your official position is secure now, isn’t it?”
Sun Weiming froze, staring at Jiang Yushu for a few seconds before deflating.
“Fine, you two go home then,” he said, turning his face away. “Tingting, Dad will come to see you another day.”
Without waiting for his daughter’s response, Sun Weiming strode away.
Jiang Yushu watched him leave, then turned her gaze to the old man who had intervened. She now recognized him as the person who had helped pick up her handbag earlier, and realized why he looked familiar—she had seen him at the school gate a few days ago.
Meeting him three times in such a short period didn’t feel like a coincidence to Jiang Yushu; instead, it made her wary. So when she sensed the old man was about to speak, she pre-empted him: “Thank you. But this is a family matter.”
“I know,” the old man smiled, pointing at Jiang Ting. “I’d like to ask the young lady something if that’s alright?”
Jiang Yushu was surprised and instinctively looked at Jiang Ting. Her daughter seemed equally puzzled: “What would you like to ask?”
“What year are you in school?”
“Second year of high school.”
“I see.” The old man nodded thoughtfully. “How many classes are there in your year?”
“Five classes.”
“Among the classmates you know,” the old man seemed to choose his words carefully, “have any of them… transferred, dropped out, or… disappeared without explanation in the past few days?”
Jiang Ting paused for a few seconds, then shook her head. “No. I don’t know of any.”
Jiang Yushu looked at her daughter, feeling her grip suddenly tighten.
Jiang Ting bowed slightly to the old man and turned away, pulling her mother along. “Mom, let’s go home.”
The city’s rainwater drainage network spans 27 kilometers, with complex branch lines, making it extremely difficult to search systematically. The Municipal Public Security Bureau proposed a joint inspection with the Urban Construction Bureau and the City Management Bureau but has yet to receive a response from either department.
“Damn it,” Deputy Director Hu rubbed his face. “No need to wait for them. Those bastards won’t help us.”
“The problem is, if we don’t enter the drainage network, we can’t determine if there are more victims,” Wang Xianjiang’s cheeks had sunken after days of work, “and we can’t gather more clues.”
“Aren’t three dead bodies enough for you to work with?” Deputy Director Hu glared. “Besides, after the flood, all traces are gone. What’s the use of going into the drainage system now?”
Wang Xianjiang lowered his eyes and fell silent.
“By the way, you went down into the drainage system once and found nothing?”
Wang Xianjiang shook his head. Tai Wei nodded. Deputy Director Hu looked confused and grew more irritated. “What does that mean?”
Tai Wei glanced cautiously at Wang Xianjiang and said, “We can’t say we found nothing at all…”
Wang Xianjiang sighed heavily. “Here we go again. I’ve already told you.”
Deputy Director Hu frowned. “Stop being mysterious. What did you find?”
“A school badge,” Tai Wei said timidly. “From No. 4 High School…”
Deputy Director Hu paused. “What are you suspecting? That a student fell into the sewer?”
Tai Wei stammered, “I think…”
“You think what?” Deputy Director Hu exploded. “If a child went missing, wouldn’t their parents report it immediately? Have you checked the police records?”
“We did,” Tai Wei’s voice grew even softer. “There’s nothing…”
“So you’re trying to fool me with a broken school badge?” Deputy Director Hu slammed the table. “Old Wang, is your apprentice stupid? If he can’t do the job, replace him!”
“I’ll reprimand him,” Wang Xianjiang quickly raised his hand to mediate. “He’s young and inexperienced.”
Deputy Director Hu grunted and left the conference room.
Only Wang Xianjiang and Tai Wei remained at the long table. Wang Xianjiang sat with his arms crossed, hunched over, staring motionlessly at the table. Tai Wei looked at him nervously. “Master, I…”
“Do you think there will be such technology in the future?” Wang Xianjiang didn’t seem to blame him, looking thoughtful. “Cameras all over the city, no one escaping our eyes.”
Tai Wei was taken aback. “Maybe.”
Back in the office, Tai Wei was surprised to see Gu Hao sitting at his desk.
“Uncle Gu, why are you here?”
He dropped the file in his hand and busied himself with offering cigarettes and making tea. Gu Hao waved him off. “Don’t bother, I have something to discuss with you.”
Tai Wei sat down. “What is it?”
Gu Hao didn’t rush. “Have you been busy lately?”
“How should I put it?” Tai Wei smiled bitterly. “You could say I’m busy, but there’s not much I can do.”
He was telling the truth. With three murder cases on the table, inaction was impossible. But given the limited clues the police had, they didn’t know where to start.
Gu Hao frowned. “What kind of talk is that?”
“It’s nothing,” Tai Wei patted his knee, forcing a smile. “Go ahead, Uncle Gu.”
“Can you help me…” Gu Hao hesitated, “find a child?”
“A child?” Tai Wei was even more confused. “How old?”
“Sixteen or seventeen, a girl,” Gu Hao thought for a moment. “She should be in her second year of high school now.”
Tai Wei pondered for a moment, a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Uncle Gu, it seems you’ve been busy too.”
Gu Hao was stunned for a moment, then kicked him. “You little rascal, what are you implying?”
Tai Wei still grinned. “Is she your secret daughter?”
Gu Hao grabbed the file from the desk. “Say that again and I’ll hit you.”
“Alright, alright, I won’t ask,” Tai Wei took out a notebook and pen. “What’s her name?”
“I don’t know,” Gu Hao hesitated. “It should be Su Lin or Su something Lin.”
Tai Wei looked up at him. “You don’t even know her name?”
Gu Hao sighed. “She’s my neighbor. Her father’s surname is Su, and they usually call the girl Lin Lin—that’s my guess.”
Tai Wei was even more surprised. “If she’s not related to you, what’s the situation?” Then he started winking again. “A neighbor, huh… hehe.”
Gu Hao was both annoyed and helpless. He briefly explained his connection to the girl to prevent the young man from making any more unsavory assumptions.
“It’s just a girl you barely know, why go to such lengths?” Tai Wei frowned. “Besides, it’s reasonable for her parents to send her to another place for the college entrance exam.”
It’s not that simple.
The girl disappeared without reason. Her brother, who always stayed at home, went to school. The Su family’s evasive attitude.
Moreover, he was certain that the high school girl he met at the school gate wasn’t telling the truth.
“You can think this retired old man has too much time on his hands,” Gu Hao lowered his eyes. “But the question is, will you help or not?”
“I’ll help,” Tai Wei quickly agreed, seeing the old man’s serious expression. “How do you want me to help?”
“If the child transferred schools, there should be some paperwork from her original school,” Gu Hao paused. “Come up with whatever reason you like, go to the school and investigate for me, see if this is the case.”
Tai Wei looked at him. “And then?”
“If it’s true, then I’m just being paranoid. If not…” Gu Hao fell silent, quietly looking at Tai Wei.
“Alright,” Tai Wei shrugged, picking up his pen again. “Which school?”
“No. 4 High School.”
The ballpoint pen paused on the notebook for a few seconds.
Tai Wei looked up, staring at him. “No. 4 High School?”
“Yes,” Gu Hao was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
Tai Wei opened a drawer, took out a small evidence bag, and placed it in front of Gu Hao.
It was a school badge. No. 4 High School.
“What’s this?”
“Uncle Gu, I think we’re both paranoid,” Tai Wei put a hand on Gu Hao’s shoulder, his expression serious. “But between two paranoid people, some things are easier to discuss.”