Chen Xiao stepped out of the room with his phone in hand.
Just as he was about to make a call, Lin Xi opened the door and came in.
Seeing so many people in the room, Lin Xi had the same reaction as Chen Xiao. First startled, then with a face full of surprise, she exclaimed:
"Dad, little sister, why are you all here?"
Lin Yao quickly stepped forward, took Lin Xi's hand, and happily said, "Sis, you finally got off work. I thought you'd be back very late."
Although Lin Yao often spoke harshly to Chen Xiao, it couldn't be denied that Lin Xi and Lin Yao had an exceptionally good sisterly relationship.
For a long time, almost all of Lin Yao's thoughts were centered around Lin Xi.
She believed her sister was a great police officer, but her life skills were practically zero.
She couldn't cook, let alone take care of her health.
And when it came to managing relationships and family, in Lin Yao's heart, Lin Xi was extremely lacking.
At this moment, as she looked at Lin Xi, Lin Yao glared hatefully at Chen Xiao, "Sis, why are you still so thin? How many times have I told you to take care of yourself? The body is the only thing you truly own, understand?"
Although Lin Xi was the elder sister, at home she could handle their parents, but she had no way with her younger sister Lin Yao.
"Ah, people who know us know you're my younger sister, but those who don't might think you're my older sister."
"You two sisters, stop arguing about this. Xiaoxi, go wash your hands, it's time to eat." Han Meixiang said, and only then did Lin Xi put down her bag and head to the bathroom to wash her hands.
But as she headed to the bathroom, Lin Xi suddenly glanced at Chen Xiao.
That look left Chen Xiao puzzled, as if there was a touch of smugness.
But, what could there be to gloat about today?
He thought perhaps it was because the Zhao Xiaohong murder case had been solved, and Lin Xi received praise from Liang Yan and even the branch leadership!
Caught up in his thoughts, Chen Xiao didn't pay much mind to that look, and waited for Lin Xi to finish washing her hands and sit down, as the family gathered around the table to eat and chat.
Initially, he thought the dinner wouldn't go smoothly, but neither Lin Shanhu nor Lin Yao brought up any unpleasant topics at the table.
It wasn't until Han Meixiang cleaned up the dishes that Lin Xi, while massaging her father's shoulders, asked:
"Dad, little sister, didn't we agree that only mom would come this time? Why are you all here, and not even together?"
As clever as Lin Xi was, it was impossible for her not to know the purpose of her father and sister's visit.
But precisely because Lin Xi guessed it, she wanted to take the initiative.
Otherwise, if she waited for Lin Shanhu or Lin Yao to bring it up, she would be more passive.
Lin Shanhu took a deep breath, ready to speak, but Lin Yao beat him to it:
"Sis, you really don't know why dad and I came?"
Lin Xi glanced at Lin Yao and nodded, "I've guessed a bit, you're here for the same reason as mom, aren't you?"
"I just knew, someone suddenly became so insightful, turns out there was someone advising them."
Lin Yao said this while looking at Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao pursed his lips, not intending to explain, but Lin Xi curiously asked, "Who's advising? Have you talked before?"
As she spoke, Lin Xi looked at Chen Xiao with some tension and worry.
"Nothing happened, I only talked with dad," responded Chen Xiao, with Lin Xi breathing a sigh of relief and frowning at Lin Yao:
"Did you say something again?"
Lin Yao: "Sis, even if I did say something, it's all for your good. Yes, it's your relationship, I have no right to interfere, but as your biological sister, I can't just sit by and watch you getting nowhere."
Lin Xi chuckled bitterly, "And how did you conclude I'm stuck in a nowhere place?"
"Isn't that so? How long have you been married? Two years, right? In these two years, has Chen Xiao ever found a decent job? Yes, even if he doesn't work, you support him. But you're a police officer, and he, as your spouse, constantly drinks and causes trouble, having been in the detention center no less than three times!"
"A man who burdens his wife like that, if it's not a nowhere place, then what is it?"
Lin Yao's words were harsh, yet they were true statements.
Chen Xiao, sitting on the side, was embarrassed to hear it.
He never expected, however, that Lin Xi would say seriously, "You've all misunderstood him."
As she said this, Lin Xi also looked to Han Meixiang.
Lin Yao sneered, "Misunderstanding? If it was a misunderstanding, once in the detention center might be forgivable, but who keeps testing others' limits over and over again?"
"Chen Xiao did explain this problem to me, he said it was to better help you, big sister. Drinking and mingling with those social delinquents was mostly to find criminal clues from them, to help you earn merit."
As Lin Xi wished, Han Meixiang said these words.
Lin Yao laughed aloud after hearing this, "No way, Chen Xiao? Now you're not only a mess but also that good at spinning tales?"
Lin Xi was a little upset, "Xiaoyao, he's your brother-in-law!"
Lin Yao rolled her eyes, "Sis, you're hopeless."
"I'm not hopeless, just like you, at the start, when Chen Xiao told me this, I also found it laughable. But now I believe him, because in our branch we also have a remarkable member, who once spent two years in prison just to crack a case!"
Lin Yao stared in disbelief, and even Lin Shanhu couldn't help but say, "Who's that ruthless, to put themselves in prison for two years to solve a case?"
"Our Hongshan Branch's criminal investigation team captain — Zhang Xian! Back when he was just a young detective, to understand those criminals better, he always had a thought of going to prison to live with them. Later, when a case arose in the city, to solve it, Captain Zhang went undercover as a criminal in prison for two years."
"When he came out after two years, he was a completely different person. Since then, many cases have been solved in the shortest time by him; without those two years in prison, he wouldn't have understood criminals so well, nor become the 'Police King' of our entire Dongzhou city!"
Lin Xi spoke with a solemn face, not at all joking.
Lin Yao also listened in amazement, but when she turned to look at Chen Xiao, she was left speechless again, "So you're saying, Chen Xiao is doing the same thing as Captain Zhang? Just… him?"
"Putting it that way, Captain Zhang is indeed amazing, but Chen Xiao… are you really the same as that Captain Zhang, is that why you're always causing trouble?" Lin Shanhu questioned verbally, but his head couldn't help shaking.
Clearly, he thought the reason was absurd, without any sense.
However, just as he started shaking his head, Lin Xi couldn't sit still anymore, suddenly pulling out a bank card from her bag and slamming it on the table.
"Bang!"
This scene gave Chen Xiao a sense of déjà vu.
If he remembered correctly, back when the branch sent a letter of thanks to Chen Xiao, Lin Xi had revealed it the same way, hadn't she?
But, where on earth did this bank card in her hand come from?