He paused, then smiled bitterly, "But I really want confirmation from you. After my report on that incident years ago, everyone in my old organization thought I had mental problems, and some even said behind my back that I was crazy. I felt incredibly resentful! Even after receiving psychological counseling for so many years, sometimes I even doubted myself: was I really crazy? Or were all those things just my own imagination? But now, at least I've met you, and you're a living example right in front of me! I can at least be sure of one thing: I'm not crazy!"
After saying that, he stared intently at Chen Xiao: "I don't have any mental problems, nor do I have any delusions. All of this is true...right?"
Chen Xiao looked into Officer Xu's eyes, which were bright but also pleading. Being kind-hearted, he finally nodded, "...That's right, you're not crazy. There are indeed things in this world that we can't understand. I can confirm that you're not crazy."
Officer Xu seemed to have finally let go of a burden he had carried for years. He let out a long sigh of relief, reached out and shook Chen Xiao's hand: "Thank you! You've put a weight off my heart for so many years. Also, those robbers from that day, you were the one who flipped the car, right? I don't know how you did it, but you did us a favor by doing that for the police."
Chen Xiao smiled wryly. It was clearly the woman named Hong Qi who did it, but Officer Xu was convinced that he was the one who did it. He thought about it and realized that explaining would be even more troublesome, so he decided to just leave it at that.
As Chen Xiao got out of the car and was leaving, Officer Xu called him back again.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing to tell you. In that case back then, the murderer used a thin piece of paper to slit the necks of the two people he was protecting... I remember it very clearly, it was a playing card."
Officer Xu smiled wryly: "An 8 of Hearts."
He spoke as if he were simply confiding—and indeed, he was confiding. These things had been bottled up inside him for years; if he told others, they would surely think he was making up a story. Now, he could finally tell Chen Xiao, and even get some confirmation from Chen Xiao…
"If you need anything in the future, you can call me directly," Officer Xu said before leaving.
Watching the police car drive away, Chen Xiao stood there for a while, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness Officer Xu didn't cause me any trouble!
But then I remembered what he said at the end...
A playing card, the 8 of hearts?
Red Eight...
etc!
Chen Xiao's eyes suddenly lit up!
Black 7, Red 7, Black 3... Red 8...
Could it be...?
If the eight of hearts can be called the red eight... then does the red seven represent the seven of hearts? And the black seven? Is it the seven of spades?
He then recalled the European man named Ray Fox he had met before. The man had introduced himself as "BLACKJACK," which, in playing cards, would be the Jack of Spades, right?
If that's the case, then the killer who caused Officer Xu to lose his job was most likely also a member of the service agency!
After standing quietly for a while, Chen Xiao felt his mind becoming increasingly chaotic.
My body is clearly experiencing some abnormalities... but I can't figure out what's going on.
I crashed into a car... Did I become Superman?
Could it be like that Red Seven, where you yell and flip a car over?
Is this a superpower?
Just as Chen Xiao was feeling extremely confused, her phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the number; it was a string of gibberish. After pressing the answer button, a dry but familiar old man's voice immediately came from the other end of the line.
"Chen Xiao, you brat!"
Huh? It's that old guy Edward? Uh, now he's practically my employer...
"Uh, what's wrong?" Chen Xiao stared blankly at the phone.
"Nothing much, just reminding you that tomorrow is Thursday! Remember me, no matter if it's windy or rainy tomorrow night, even if it's raining knives, you have to open for business!" Edward's voice was rude and unfriendly.
"I know." Chen Xiao sighed. Edward snorted, "It's good that you haven't forgotten!"
Chen Xiao suddenly realized something and quickly called out, "Wait a minute, don't hang up! I have something to ask you!"
"Speak quickly if you have something to say!" Edward's voice was very impatient.
“Uh… there’s no cash in the shop. If a customer comes in for coffee, there’s no change in the cash register. Also, the kitchen is empty; I don’t even have money to buy supplies… And, if you can’t come back this month, my salary…” Chen Xiao smiled bitterly, “the safe only contains gold and diamonds…”
"Do I have to teach you this?! Are you brain-dead?! Just take any piece and sell it yourself!"
Edward's answer was harsh.
"..." Chen Xiao was speechless—you just randomly picked one to sell? You really "trust" me that much!
"Is there anything else? Get to the point, or I'm hanging up! I'm really busy!"
"Wait a minute..." Chen Xiao thought for a moment: "Uh... After you left yesterday, a girl named Phoenix came to the store, it seemed like she was looking for you... Excuse me, do you know her?"
Chen Xiao's heart was pounding when she asked the question.
For no other reason than that the girl named Phoenix had left too many ripples in his heart. Every young man has his first stirrings of love...
The old man seemed to be silent for a while, then suddenly became angry.
"What phoenix or dragon? I don't know anything about them!"
After saying that, the other party hung up before Chen Xiao could reply.
What's going on... Chen Xiao was both amused and exasperated, he still had questions to ask!
He really didn't know who to ask about what had happened to him. After thinking it over, he thought he could ask Jenny (Black Three), who had been the kindest to him, but Jenny hadn't left her contact information when she left. So, he could only ask Edward, since Edward was also a member of the service, even though he was supposedly a retired member.
After staring blankly at the phone for a while, Chen Xiao suddenly had an idea. He walked to the side and saw a rockery in the community garden. He stood there, thought for a moment, then clenched his fist and tried to concentrate...