Chapter 793: A Million Times for You (155)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“I’m terrified…” said Shi Qingzhou, filled with fear and anxiety.
Tuoba Shuo held her hand in a bid to give her some support. “Chief Pan from the police station is here, go downstairs to take a look,” he said.
“What is he here for?”
“He’s here to look for Xiaoning.”
Shi Qingzhou headed downstairs together with him.
“I’m Xiaoning’s mother. May I ask why you’re looking for Xiaoning?” Shi Qingzhou asked.
Although it was Pan Zhenghui’s first time meeting Shi Qingzhou, he could tell right away that she was An Xiaoning’s mother from the striking similarities between their features. Pan Zhenghui decided to cut straight to the chase and said, “I tried to call Xiaoning but she didn’t answer at all. After learning that she was living here, I decided to make a trip here immediately. I have something urgent to discuss with her. May I see her?”
“Xiaoning isn’t exactly available right now. You may tell me about it directly, I’ll relay the message to her.”
Pan Zhenghui could no longer be bothered with keeping it confidential. “Two weeks ago, a major traffic incident occurred along the junction. Ever since then, there had been several accidents happening every now and then. Due to the sheer seriousness of the accidents, all the civilians are really terrified and worried. The media has been trying to keep these accidents under wraps and refraining from reporting about them. We’re very sorry for our incompetence, but we really haven’t got a single clue at all. So, we’re thinking of inviting Xiaoning back to the station to help out with the investigations. The Autumn Palace has already heard about this, and they’ve ordered us to hurry and resolve this issue. We’re under immense pressure, there really isn’t another viable solution.”
Shi Qingzhou did not expect for things to escalate so quickly and be blown out of proportion. Recalling what her daughter had said the other night, she said upfront, “Chief Pan, I can empathize with how you feel, but Xiaoning really isn’t available right now.”
“Why so? Could you tell me the reason? We wouldn’t have troubled Xiaoning if it weren’t because we’re at our wits’ end — I know she’s busy too,” said the anxious and frantic Pan Zhenghui.
“Xiaoning has slipped into a coma.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Pan Zhenghui asked in astonishment.
“She’s been possessed by an unholy spirit.”
That excuse worked all the time.
“Ah… of all times…” Pan Zhenghui lamented, patting his head.
At the thought of the various accidents that had been happening lately, Shi Qingzhou could not bear to turn him down. “If she were well and available, I reckon she wouldn’t bear to reject your request. After all, it concerns the lives of many.”
“When will she come to?”
“I don’t know. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, or perhaps several days later. There isn’t a certain time she would wake up. Xiaoning happened to have passed by the scene on the evening of the major accident at the junction that involved four cars. She said that she saw a spirit there and that the accident was a result of a supernatural cause. She was just too busy to inform you guys. We both thought that the spirit was just out to get her revenge and would stop after causing the accident. Yet, she actually went on a rampage,” Shi Qingzhou explained.
Pan Zhenghui was getting a major headache. “We’ve already guessed that it has a supernatural cause too. After all, we’ve already done all the investigations we could but there’s just no clue at all. We would’ve solved this case easily back in the day when Xiaoning was still working with us.”
“Although I’m psychic too, I can’t leave Xiaoning right now. In my opinion, what you should do now is to report to your superior and request for a temporary law to be passed, wherein all vehicles are prohibited from traveling on the roads for the time being, including public transport vehicles.”
“We’ve already controlled and limited the number of cars allowed on the roads. However, it’s of no help at all.”
“Chief Pan, what I meant is, prohibit all vehicles, not reduce the number.”
“I’ve thought of that too, but the superiors won’t approve of it. We can only restrict the numbers for now. I really don’t know what we should do,” Pan Zhenghui said with a frown on his forehead.
“If Xiaoning comes to, there might be a chance when she tries to persuade the president. However, she hasn’t come to yet, so…”
“Xiaoning used to hold a position at the police station, and she was later replaced with another psychic police officer, Yuan Mingzhu. However, Yuan Mingzhu died afterward, and though we’re trying to find another psychic officer from the police academy, there hasn’t been any progress so far. Once Xiaoning comes to, call me immediately. How does that sound?”
“Sure,” Shi Qingzhou agreed with a nod.
Just as Shi Qingzhou was about to go upstairs after Pan Zhenghui left, she heard a loud explosion coming from An Xiaoning’s room. Everyone turned pale with shock and frantically rushed upstairs.
They opened the door of An Xiaoning’s bedroom to see that she was standing up, appearing rather energized and refreshed with a huge smile on her face. To the bewilderment of everyone, there was a huge hole in the wall of the bathroom.
Upon seeing that An Xiaoning had come to, Shi Qingzhou immediately dismissed the bodyguards while she entered the room with Tuoba Shuo. “Xiaoning, did the wall explode?” she asked softly.
An Xiaoning chuckled and said, “I gave it a pat and it exploded.”
Shi Qingzhou widened her eyes in shock and said, “Try again.”
An Xiaoning gave the wall a slight push, after which a hole was made in the wall immediately.
The three of them retreated while Shi Qingzhou and Tuoba Shuo were shell-shocked.
“Have you acquired the skills completely?”
“Yes. Just like what you said, it only took a short amount of time.”
Overwhelmed with agitation, Shi Qingzhou hugged An Xiaoning tightly and shrieked in joy and surprise, “I love you so much!”
An Xiaoning could not help but chuckle in amusement and said, “This wall got ruined by me though. I only tried my skill casually and this happened. It didn’t take much effort at all.”
“The wall will be fine after we get a repairman to come and fix it. By the way, it almost slipped my mind but Chief Pan came by just now to look for you. He just left a few minutes ago. Hurry and give him a call.”
“I’ll call him after I take a shower. I’m sticky and sweaty all over.”
“Alright, go to the bathroom first, I’ll get you your clothes.” Shi Qingzhou then nudged Tuoba Shuo and said, “What are you waiting for? Go out.”
“Okay.” Tuoba Shuo guffawed and exited immediately.
Shi Qingzhou locked the door from the inside and picked out a casual attire for An Xiaoning from the closet.
The temperatures had gotten much warmer.
Although she had already chosen a set of clothes made of thinner fabric, An Xiaoning still felt that it was too thick and said, “Mother, I won’t feel cold even if you let me wear short-sleeved clothing. I feel so warm.”
An Xiaoning picked out a thin sweater, which she paired with track pants and a pair of trainers.
“You’re wearing too little…” Shi Qingzhou handed her a coat and said, “Put this on too.”
“Mother, I’m really not feeling cold at all. These are enough to keep me warm.”
Being a concerned mother, Shi Qingzhou handed her another thin cardigan and said, “Just put it on, it won’t make a difference.”
An Xiaoning conceded and listened to her mother’s brief explanation before calling Pan Zhenghui again.
Pan Zhenghui felt that it would be hard to explain over the phone and decided to drive back to Sanqiao Estate again with three of his subordinates, despite having just arrived back at the police station.
An Xiaoning happened to be downstairs after having her meal when Pan Zhenghui arrived.
Pan Zhenghui was filled with agitation upon the sight of An Xiaoning. “Oh dear, you’ve finally come to. You have no idea how hopeless I felt when I left your place just now. The higher-ups have been giving us so much pressure, but we really don’t have a viable solution.”