Everyone gathered, and Ouyang Wen was even summoned by a phone call. Hu Jia had actually brought back a string of Morse code, which was unexpected by everyone.
"So, you were held captive by this 'Sixth Master' for the entire seven days last week?" Ouyang Wen asked.
"I should have been," Hu Jia himself was not entirely sure.
Ouyang Wen picked up the three pieces of orange peel again and examined them closely, noting the imprints made by Hu Jia's fingernails: "Shooting, Sixth Master, Tong Meng, Blade Man, Two Nine Six, Key."
There were only six words, clearly not enough orange peel, but this did not affect everyone's judgment on the matter. The preceding words were easy to understand, but why were "Two Nine Six" and "Key" written on the same piece of peel?
Speaking of the key, everyone in the room knew about it, as they had already interrogated Wang Yangang.
However, Wang Yangang had not clearly explained what the key was at the time.
"Do you know what the key is?" Lü Qingqing asked.
Hu Jia shook his head.
The others were also at a loss.
"You didn't find out either?" Hu Jia looked at Ouyang Wen.
Ouyang Wen shook his head with a guilty conscience. He had only learned about the key last week.
"Seven years, it's been seven years, and my dad's case is still not solved? You don't even know what the key is?" Hu Jia roared.
"Xiao Jia, I..." Ouyang Wen couldn't continue.
"Don't tell me you've been looking after me for these seven years, and that's why the investigation was delayed." Hu Jia's emotions grew more agitated. "I actually became the captain of the Special Operations Team. Haha, a case that's dragged on for a decade, and I became the captain of the Special Operations Team."
"Boss, it's not like that," Yu Yue pushed Ouyang Wen behind him. "Brother Wen has been investigating the case all these years, and we also know about Sixth Master and Blade Man."
"Who is Sixth Master? I want to find him," Hu Jia asked.
"Well..." everyone looked embarrassed.
"What? You haven't even figured out Sixth Master's real identity?" Hu Jia's emotions flared up again.
"Hu Jia, we did just find out the name Sixth Master, but don't rush, we are gathering more and more clues now." Lü Qingqing finally understood why everyone had previously lied to Hu Jia, claiming the shooting case was solved. Such scenes were indeed detrimental to their interactions.
Hu Jia glared at them, but seeing Lü Qingqing standing before him, his anger subsided slightly.
"More and more clues?" Hu Jia turned to Ouyang Wen. "You didn't want me to be a police officer; I know you meant well. But what about you? Seven years have passed, and you only have more and more clues?"
Hu Jia was already annoyed with Ouyang Wen, and now his anger intensified.
"Boss, please don't be like this. Brother Wen has never given up on this case over the years." Li Yang knew that Hu Jia's memory had returned to when he was 22, a time when the resentment between the two brothers was at its deepest.
He wanted to smooth things over.
"Never given up? Since you know about Sixth Master, why haven't you found him yet?" Hu Jia questioned Ouyang Wen.
"Xiao Jia, I'm sorry, we only heard this name last week." Ouyang Wen felt terrible. He had always wanted to protect Xiao Jia and hoped to genuinely solve the case one day, so he wouldn't have to make up lies and provoke him anymore.
But after so many years, he still hadn't succeeded.
Ouyang Wen's attempt to tell the truth only ignited Hu Jia's explosive temper. "Sixth Master and Blade Man were only discovered last week? You call this 'never giving up'?" Hu Jia's heart was filled with pain and anger. He couldn't believe that after seven full years, there was still no progress on his father's case.
Seven years!
His father's bones had turned to dust, and he didn't even have the chance to avenge him.
At that moment, he was furious with Ouyang Wen, extremely furious.
This was his brother, the person he trusted the most.
And yet, he hadn't taken any effective action.
"Xiao Jia!" Ouyang Wen wanted to reach out and touch Hu Jia, but Hu Jia took a step back. "Have you really put your heart into investigating this case? Seven years, have you really put your heart into it? Hahaha... Well, after all, it was my dad who died; if you're not invested, no one can blame you."
"Slap!" Ouyang Wen raised his hand and slapped him. His eyes were red, and he asked Hu Jia word by word, "What are you implying? That he wasn't my dad?"
The sudden slap stunned everyone. Li Yang quickly stepped forward to restrain Ouyang Wen, while Lü Qingqing moved to Hu Jia's side.
The slap mark on his face was clearly visible.
She reached out to touch his cheek, but a tear from Hu Jia fell onto her hand.
Hu Jia's emotions instantly calmed down. Although he didn't say it, he knew his words had gone too far.
Silently, Hu Jia squatted down.
He buried his head in his arms. He felt unbearable pain and sorrow!
Lü Qingqing gently put her arm around his shoulder and could still feel his shoulders shaking. "Everyone standing here is family. I know you're hurting, and you can't believe the current outcome. But no one here is at ease. Believe me, we'll find that Sixth Master soon."
Hu Jia blamed himself. He had no reason to blame Ouyang Wen. Ouyang Wen, at least, had been working on his father's case for these seven years, while he himself had forgotten everything.
"Xiao Jia. I'm sorry, it's my fault as an older brother for not doing a good job." Hearing Ouyang Wen's voice, Hu Jia looked up. Ouyang Wen was squatting in front of him. His face had matured considerably; the smooth corners of his eyes now had two faint wrinkles, and there seemed to be a white hair at his temples.
Only the two brothers were left in the office. Lü Qingqing had left the entire space to them.
"Xiao Jia, we've always been a family, and that has never changed. Trust me."
"Brother..." Hu Jia broke down in tears.
From the moment he woke up, he had been bearing all sorts of pressure: amnesia, seven years lost in vain, that sense of dread, that forced calmness.
Finally, with the words "we've always been a family," he found release.
...
The door opened again, and Hu Jia had regained his composed demeanor, earning endless eye-rolls from Lü Qingqing. However, seeing his self-possessed expression, she felt a sense of peace.
"Alright, let's organize all the clues," Lü Qingqing said.
"Yes! Let's go one by one and figure out what that key is and where it is now?" Hu Jia scanned everyone in the room and finally his gaze landed on Li Yang. "You start."
Lü Qingqing glared impatiently at Hu Jia. "Could you please drop the act? There are no outsiders here, so who are you trying to impress?"
Seeing Lü Qingqing come to his rescue, Li Yang seized the opportunity. "Exactly, Boss. You're usually not like this."
"Then how should I be? I'm 27 now, shouldn't I have the air of a mature man?" Hu Jia's pretense crumbled.
"Be yourself! That's how you should be!" Lü Qingqing crossed her legs. "I hate people who put on an act!"
...
Because of Hu Jia's situation, Lü Qingqing completely forgot about attending class at the seminary. However, Tong Hua didn't say anything this time. It didn't matter to her whether that woman came or not, as long as her absence was recorded.
Tong Meng looked at Lü Qingqing's empty seat, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
She must have seen him, right? She wondered what he was doing now. Tong Meng couldn't help but touch her lips: she wondered if he had seen the mark she left for him.