"Qiao Huali is here too? And Tong Meng, why didn't I see them?" After listening to the group's chatter, Luo Wenwu finally understood.
Something was wrong. He had been at the scene for most of the first half and hadn't seen Qiao Huali or Tong Meng.
Hearing Luo Wenwu's comment, no one paid much attention. "They must have gone after you returned to shore," Li Yang, who had personally seen Tong Meng appear, saw no issue with Luo Wenwu's doubt.
Since Luo Wenwu hadn't seen Tong Meng, it was perfectly normal for him not to have seen Qiao Huali.
Luo Wenwu pondered, it made sense.
However, he also recalled the gesture he had made to Hu Jia when he was leaving yesterday. Now that Hu Jia had amnesia, he wasn't sure if Hu Jia had seen his gesture.
When he brought up the question, everyone became very interested.
"Why do you think that Sixth Master wasn't the real Sixth Master?" Ouyang Wen asked.
"His back, his shoulders didn't seem that broad, and his neck seemed a bit shorter," Luo Wenwu said. He had been trapped in the warehouse when Sixth Master had squatted down to talk to him. They were very close, and he remembered that the long gown only covered half of his neck.
The Sixth Master from yesterday clearly had a shorter neck.
Also, the way they spoke was different. The former had a sense of superiority, while the latter seemed dull.
"The collar was at different heights, and he deliberately altered his voice. Plus, the other person was sitting the whole time, didn't move around, and didn't make eye contact up close. So I was a bit unsure if they were the same person," Luo Wenwu said. He just felt there were some differences between the two, but couldn't pinpoint exactly what they were.
Hearing Luo Wenwu's hesitant explanation, which lacked any concrete evidence, the group simply stopped thinking about it.
...
And so, they chatted until dawn, and then the group went to work together in a large procession.
Just as they reached the entrance of the Municipal Bureau, they saw Qiao Huali arriving for work.
What was wrong with his nose? Had he been beaten up?
Everyone looked at his nose bridge with odd expressions. Qiao Huali saw them, and his gaze finally landed on Hu Jia.
He had seen Hu Jia and Li Yang meet last night and knew that Hu Jia had lost his memory at a critical moment. But seeing him again today, he was still uneasy.
However, seeing the expressions of the group, he knew that nothing had been revealed.
Qiao Huali later secretly sighed, lucky Li Yang was. Yesterday, he had already raised his pistol, but at the crucial moment, Hu Jia had lost his memory.
If Hu Jia had revealed his identity then, Li Yang would surely have died.
As for Hu Jia, he could have been tied up and locked away for a week, and after seven days, he would be a blank slate again.
"Little Jia," Qiao Huali stepped forward enthusiastically to greet him.
"Uncle Qiao," Hu Jia had forgotten everything from before. Although he had heard from others that Qiao Huali was also under Dao Ren's command, he still habitually called him "Uncle" due to the lack of accumulated original anger.
Qiao Huali's expression shifted. He hadn't heard the other call him Uncle in a long time.
Li Yang subtly tugged Hu Jia's sleeve. Hu Jia then reacted, "Deputy Director Qiao, is there something you need?"
"Look at you, I took a punch for you last night, and you don't even call me Uncle anymore," Qiao Huali said with a smile, the movement making his nose hurt.
Seeing him wince, it seemed the injury was not light.
Qiao Huali took a punch for Hu Jia?
The crowd exchanged glances.
His words sounded hard to believe, but considering Qiao Huali and Hu Jia's relationship, it was possible such a situation could have occurred.
It was difficult to determine the truth of his words.
"So you were at the scene yesterday?" Hu Jia was now certain. No wonder Li Yang said he had called out Qiao Huali's name. He must have been calling for Li Yang to save him after Qiao Huali took the punch.
"Shall we uncles and nephews have a chat?" Qiao Huali looked at the crowd and requested a private meeting.
"Sure, I'll join," Ouyang Wen stepped forward. Hu Jia was rather naive now, and he was afraid Qiao Huali might mislead him.
Qiao Huali smiled and didn't refuse.
"You've forgotten about last night, haven't you?" Qiao Huali asked knowingly.
"Are you trying to review things with me?" Hu Jia asked.
"Not exactly a review. After all, I'm just an intermediary. I'm just repaying a favor to Dao Ren, and you are my kin," Qiao Huali said.
"Director Qiao, what message are you bringing from Dao Ren this time?" Ouyang Wen was clearly much more alert. Qiao Huali's words were a mixture of truth and falsehood, making it hard to discern. It was best to hear less from him.
"I'm not bringing any messages this time. After all, I'm just an external personnel there. If it weren't for my channel of contact with you two, they wouldn't have sought me out," Qiao Huali said.
"So yesterday's matter is over?" Hu Jia was a little anxious. He hadn't remembered anything yet.
"It's over. You gave them the box and didn't get the key back. You even told them to look for the Xingxing Domestic Animal House from now on and stop bothering you. With all that said, how could it be over?" Qiao Huali acted as if it was obvious.
Huh? Xingxing Domestic Animal House?
What was that?
Hu Jia turned to look at Ouyang Wen, who also turned to look at him. They thought the other knew, but from their mutual glances, they realized their minds were blank.
"No way? After losing your memory, you forgot even the Xingxing Domestic Animal House?" Qiao Huali sounded surprised. "Your memory really gives me a headache."
Looking at Qiao Huali's expression, Hu Jia became even more confused.
Xingxing Domestic Animal House?
"Never mind, if you've forgotten, you've forgotten. Besides, these are probably things you wouldn't want to remember."
Qiao Huali's words directly piqued the brothers' interest.
"Hold on, what exactly happened?"
"Forget it, since you've forgotten, just forget it. You're still so young, and you should start your new life. You can't live in past memories forever."
The vaguer Qiao Huali spoke, the more suspicious it seemed. From his words, it sounded as if it was related to past cases. "Could this be related to the shooting case?"
"Is it related to the shooting case? That's not right. Yesterday you clearly said that Shīlóng went to this Xingxing Domestic Animal House."
"My father?"
...
Back in the office, Qiao Huali wore a sneering expression. Many people didn't understand why he had staged the scene at Coral Dam last night.
In fact, his purpose was very simple: to force Hu Jia to find the Xingxing Domestic Animal House.
According to his deductions.
Hu Jia should have known about the Xingxing Domestic Animal House between five and seven years ago. That is to say, during those two years, Hu Jia must have investigated something, which led him to assert that the treasure was in the Xingxing Domestic Animal House.
However, all these past events had been forgotten by Hu Jia.
Since he had forgotten, he would be forced to investigate again.
Meanwhile, Hu Jia and Ouyang Wen frowned, thoroughly confused by Qiao Huali's revelation.
What was this Xingxing Domestic Animal House? What was its connection to their father?