In the morning, the underground archive of the municipal library welcomed its visitor once again.
The professor still looked like his usual mountain of flesh. When Ai Qing arrived, he seemed to be reading something amusing, chuckling from time to time.
"You're here early." Seeing Ai Qing, he closed his book. "Didn't sleep? Looks like last night's business at the warehouse really was troublesome. I thought you'd come in the afternoon."
"Too many trivial matters."
After a sleepless night, Ai Qing looked even paler, but her expression remained calm. "The sooner it's resolved, the better."
"Coffee? Tea?"
"Coffee. Double sugar, no milk."
"What a coincidence. I just got some good beans yesterday." The professor cheerfully took out his equipment. Before long, the rich, burnt aroma of coffee drifted from the drip pot.
Soon, a cup of coffee was placed before Ai Qing.
"Please."
After Ai Qing finished her coffee, her complexion seemed somewhat better. She set down the cup, still streaked with sugar, let out a long breath, and forced herself to perk up.
Then she waited for the results of the investigation.
Before long, a thick stack of documents was placed on the table.
"Everything you asked me to investigate is here."
The professor clapped his hands and sorted the cumbersome papers before her—copies of contracts, property transaction records, and the like. "Starting twelve years ago, Qi Wen had already established certain connections with the Savior Society. The two sides cooperated to some extent, but they always maintained certain boundaries.
"Unfortunately, there's no direct, conclusive evidence.
"But... as far as I know, the party that mainly cooperated with Qi Wen these past few years—no, the party that supported him—should have been the Yin Family, shouldn't it?"
As he spoke, he placed another thick dossier before Ai Qing and asked