116. Lying in Wait (Third Update! Please Vote for a Monthly Ticket!)

"What do you suggest?" Zeng Ping asked, following up.

"Zhou Tianrong used his mother's address for his registration, and the mobile number he registered in his own name is also being used by her. Don't you think that’s a bit too coincidental?" Han Bin analyzed.

"Do you think he did it on purpose?"

"If Zhou Tianrong is involved in criminal activity, the police would inevitably find his mother whether they checked the phone records or the address. It’s effectively a warning system for him. Of course, this is just my speculation." Han Bin pulled out a pack of cigarettes and handed them around. Smoking wasn't allowed in the office, but there were no such restrictions outside.

"If that's the case, Zhou Tianrong has a strong sense of counter-surveillance. He won't be easy to catch," Li Hui muttered.

Zeng Ping took a drag of his cigarette. "If Zhou Lixia is indeed acting as a lookout, then we'll keep an eye on her. As soon as she contacts Zhou Tianrong, we'll be able to follow the trail and find him."

"How should we stake it out?"

"There are only two ways she could contact him: either by phone or by meeting him in person. We just need to watch her house tonight and check her call records at the telecommunications company tomorrow. We'll find their method of communication eventually," Han Bin said.

Zeng Ping glanced at his watch. "It’s past seven in the evening. Han Bin, you take the first half of the night. Tian Li and Zhao Ming will take the second half. Does a handover at two o'clock work for everyone?"

"Team Leader Zeng, can we get something to eat before we start the stakeout?" Li Hui took a few puffs of his cigarette, feeling even hungrier.

"You two stay put. From now on, the Zhou residence cannot be left unattended. I'll have Zhao Ming go buy some food."

"No problem, I'm on it," Zhao Ming replied, turning to leave immediately.

"Hey, you kid don't even ask what I want to eat before taking off!" Li Hui shouted. He considered himself quite particular when it came to food.

Zhao Ming looked back and said, "Roast chicken."

Li Hui rubbed his nose, thinking to himself, *Is it really that obvious?*

...

Twenty minutes later, not far from Zhou Lixia's house, Han Bin and Li Hui were squatting on the ground, gnawing on roast chicken.

"Damn it, why is this chicken so small?" Li Hui complained.

"Chickens these days are ready for market in a month or two. What kind of size were you expecting?" Han Bin took a bite of a drumstick; it tasted decent enough.

"Back home, we used to raise free-range chickens. They’d run around the yard, eating grains and vegetable leaves. In the summer, we’d feed them crickets and grasshoppers. After raising them for a year or two like that, the meat was incredibly flavorful," Li Hui said, his mouth full.

"Be grateful for what you've got. Contentment is a virtue."

"Bin, why do you think Zhou Tianrong has the same surname as his mother?"

"He took his mother's surname, obviously."

Li Hui shook his head. "I don't think it's that simple."

"Then what do you think is going on?" Han Bin countered.

Li Hui habitually reached up to touch his chin with his right hand, only to smear grease all over his face. "Ouch."

Han Bin couldn't help but laugh. He handed him a tissue.

Li Hui wiped his chin, still feeling uncomfortable, and rolled his neck. "Bin, do you think this Zhou Lixia is actually in contact with her son?"

"Sigh..."

Han Bin let out a breath. Everything up to this point had been his speculation; he had no real way of knowing if Zhou Lixia had been lying.

Ever since he had been deceived by Tang Yu's acting, Han Bin had gained a new understanding of micro-expression analysis. The introductory stage of micro-expression analysis involves judging whether someone is lying based on their body language—things like touching the nose, resting a hand on the forehead, or repeating questions. These are personal habits or physical cues, but not everyone exhibits them. Some people are naturally good at spotting these signs, but those without such habits might not betray their lies even if they are being dishonest.

Han Bin had just begun studying advanced micro-expression analysis. Micro-expressions are extremely brief and difficult to capture; they are instinctive physical reactions that cannot be controlled by thought, making them a much more accurate tool for judgment. However, micro-expressions can only reveal a person's emotions—joy, surprise, anger, fear, regret, and so on—and cannot directly confirm whether someone is lying.

Just like today with Zhou Lixia, she had remained calm throughout. She showed no surprise or anger, as if she were unfazed by the police showing up at her door, which perfectly corroborated what Yang Hongyi had said earlier.

"It's only eight o'clock. We still have six hours of stakeout left. This is going to be a long night," Li Hui sighed.

"Stop complaining. Taking the first half of the night is better than the second." Han Bin tore off a chicken wing and began to chew it slowly. Just as Li Hui said, the night was long, and they had to find something to do.

"Bin, we work overtime so often, and whenever there's a case, we work day and night. Do you think our future girlfriends will be able to understand that?" Li Hui looked concerned, his pace of eating slowing down significantly.

"You, don't overthink it. That’s a 'happy problem'—you need to find a girlfriend first," Han Bin reached out, intending to pat Li Hui on the shoulder.

"Don't touch me, I'm greasy!" Li Hui quickly dodged. "Whatever, look who's talking. You're a bachelor just like me."

"That actually reminds me, I do have a girl I could talk to." Han Bin still had the number of a girl he’d been set up with on a blind date saved in his phone.

"Seriously?" Li Hui cast a skeptical glance at him.

Han Bin didn't answer; he just gestured with his chin.

Li Hui caught the hint and looked ahead. He saw the door to Zhou Lixia's house open. She peered out, scanned the area, and then stepped out of the house, walking stealthily.

Han Bin and Li Hui were hidden in a dark corner, and Zhou Lixia didn't spot them.

"It's so late. Where is she going?" Li Hui muttered.

Han Bin popped the remaining drumstick into his mouth, pulled the bone out cleanly while keeping the meat in his mouth, and mumbled, "Let's go. Follow her."

Li Hui followed suit, swallowing a drumstick in one go. "Damn, eating meat like this is satisfying."

The two dared not follow too closely, but they were afraid of losing her, so they proceeded with extreme caution. Fortunately, it was dark, and the lighting was dim, so they weren't discovered along the way.

Zhou Lixia turned left and right, entering a small alleyway. She walked up to a house with a lantern hanging outside and pushed the door open.

"Where are we?" Li Hui frowned. He wasn't familiar with this area, and in the dark, he probably wouldn't even be able to find his way back to Zhou Lixia's house.

Han Bin took out his phone and snapped a photo of the gate, then another of the surrounding environment, before finding a dark spot to hunker down and continue the stakeout.

"Bin, why do you think Zhou Lixia came here?" Li Hui tore off a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth.

"Given how sneaky she’s being, she might be here to notify Zhou Tianrong."

"Could Zhou Tianrong be living here?" Li Hui guessed boldly.

"Living here? That would be way too close, wouldn't it?"

Li Hui put on a knowing expression. "Ever heard the saying, 'The most dangerous place is the safest'?"

Just as Han Bin was about to speak, a creaking sound rang out, and a shadow emerged from the door next to them.