Chapter Eighty-One: Cat and Mouse

Some things are destined, like cats and mice being natural enemies.

In the alley behind the hospital, a rat had barely poked its head out from a pile of garbage when it came face to face with the stray tabby that prowled the streets and alleys.

The tabby narrowed its eyes, fur bristling, and moved its limbs lightly, advancing step by step.

The little mouse bared its teeth, curled up in a tight ball, dragging its body backward in stiff, jerky motions, retreating again and again.

Some cats catch mice, while others end up toyed with by them. Besides innate qualities, there are learned skills and strength. And sometimes, luck is crucial.

“Meow!”

A theatrical yowl broke the stalemate, and the tabby leapt forward.

“Squeak! Squeak!”

Two defiant squeaks expressed its unwillingness to yield—the white mouse nimbly dodged the tabby’s attack, swiped its paw, leaving three thin bloody scratches on the tabby’s face, then darted back and hid inside a battered bookcase.

The tabby felt the burn of pain on its face, eyes wide, viciously clawing at the bookcase door. No matter how hard it tried, it couldn’t open or pierce the old door, so it circled the cabinet in frustration.

Only when the old woman who liked to scavenge in the hospital alleys at night arrived, tossing it a string of fish bones she’d picked up from some garbage pile, did the tabby, clutching the fish bones, depart with repeated glances, sullen and reluctant.

Unlucky to have its face scratched, the tabby was nonetheless fortunate to earn a string of fish bones with bits of meat still clinging—a small reward, after all.

He Wei, with the cooperation of all the officers, was lucky enough to apprehend a man dressed almost identically to the perpetrator, and even managed to rip the mask from his face. Unfortunately, the man was not the suspect but Dr. Wang from the emergency room—a fruitless endeavor.

The young Dr. Wang pulled out his glasses, calmly slid them onto his face, tilted his head toward He Wei, glanced at the circle of officers surrounding him, and wore a contemptuous smile. “Captain He, what’s the meaning of this?”

He Wei felt as if a punch he’d saved up for ages had landed on cotton—frustrated, just like the tabby. He squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth, “Where did you get those clothes?”

“They’re spares I keep in my office. Most emergency doctors do the same. Treating patients can soil your clothes—can’t always wear something covered in blood stains...” Dr. Wang adjusted his glasses. “Is there a problem?”

“No problem!” He Wei tightened his fist. “Just one more question: You’re an ER doctor—what are you doing in the obstetrics ward so late?”

“That’s thanks to you. I’d normally be resting at home by now, but with the hospital locked down—no one in, no one out...” Dr. Wang shrugged, sighing. “I got bored, and since the OB doctor’s a college mate of mine, I thought I’d chat for a bit. Is that an issue?”

He Wei’s clenched fist loosened helplessly. He took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Of course not...” He waved at the surrounding officers. “Pack up! Take your posts, keep your eyes peeled. Not even a fly gets out before dawn, understood?”

The officers responded in unison, “Yes!”

Just then, Zhang Xiaoman’s exhausted voice crackled through the radio. “He Wei, I found the mouse—come quickly...”

He Wei’s eyes lit up again. “Where are you? I’m coming now...” He hurriedly called several officers, brushing past Dr. Wang, shooting a triumphant glance at Wang’s gloomy expression. “See? No mouse escapes a cat’s grasp—it’s nature’s law.”

“Not necessarily,” Dr. Wang replied in a sinister tone. “Birth, old age, sickness, death—those are nature’s laws too. Who’s to say an old cat, its teeth nearly gone, can still catch mice?”

He Wei paused, casting a deep look at Dr. Wang before urging the officers to quicken their pace toward Zhang Xiaoman.

After more than ten minutes, He Wei finally found Zhang Xiaoman slumped at a corner in the first-floor corridor. Seeing him sitting limp, head hanging, He Wei was startled, rushing over to check Zhang’s body and anxiously asking, “Uncle Man, what happened?”

Zhang Xiaoman exhaled twice. “Don’t worry, nothing serious... Just a bit of exhaustion. I’ll be fine after some rest... That bastard had me running circles in the hospital,” he pointed at the ceiling above. “He was up there, I was down here. I had the advantage of terrain, but age got the better of me... Whether we catch him now is up to fate.”

He Wei breathed a sigh of relief. “As long as you’re alright. If not this time, we’ll get him next. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself...” Suddenly, he caught the meaning in Zhang’s words and brightened. “You mean there’s still a chance?”

“The chase and the escape—a game of probing each other's minds...” Zhang Xiaoman forced his eyes open, struggling against the wave of fatigue. “I’ve roughly guessed which vent he plans to use to exit...”

He Wei’s eyes shone even brighter, glancing toward the emergency exit on the right. “Is it nearby?”

“No...” Zhang Xiaoman slowly shook his head. “Starting from Dr. Wang’s emergency room office, there are sixteen possible vent routes—the longest is 1560 meters, the shortest 350. During the pursuit, he crawled through eleven, always doubling back halfway... He deliberately avoided five...”

He Wei pressed, “Which five?”

Zhang had just raised his arm when it fell back down, mumbling, “All over there...” Then he closed his eyes and fell into deep sleep.

He Wei’s face froze, stunned. “Uncle, don’t sleep! This damn hospital is huge—how am I supposed to know where ‘over there’ is?” No matter how he shook him, Zhang Xiaoman said nothing more, leaning peacefully against the wall, breathing ever more evenly. Soon, he was snoring like a blower.

Helpless, He Wei stood up, chest tight with frustration, stamping his feet. He instructed the officers, “Leave someone to find Professor Zhang a room to rest... The rest, follow me—search all vent exits in the hospital...” He glanced at Zhang Xiaoman on the floor, his face as black as soot. “Just like a TV drama—rambled on forever, but when it comes to the crucial info, he drops off. Is he toying with me?”

“I'm not toying with you...”

An old woman in a floral cotton jacket sat on a tricycle, earnestly telling a traffic officer assisting with the hospital search, “I really am heading to Erxian Bridge...”

The officer pursed his lips and coughed, pointing at the motor lane beneath his feet, forcing a bitter smile. “I meant, which lane should you take?”

The old woman blinked, answering with certainty, “Chenghua Avenue.”

“No...” The officer grew confused. “I mean, where are you supposed to go?”

“Erxian Bridge,” the old woman said, annoyed. “You’re so strange—I’ve told you five times, I’m going to Erxian Bridge...”

The officer pursed his lips, pointing at her tricycle loaded with a battered bookcase. “This vehicle...”

“Tricycle,” the old woman replied disdainfully. “Don’t tell me you don’t recognize a tricycle?”

“Of course I know it’s a tricycle...” The officer scratched his head. “I mean, which lane should it use?”

“Chenghua Avenue, to Erxian Bridge.” The old woman answered impatiently. “Can you ask something else? You keep repeating yourself—it’s annoying.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll ask another question.” The officer bit his lip, pointing at the ramshackle tricycle lane. “Is your vehicle still able to haul?”

“A little bit.”

“What do you mean, 'a little bit'? Is it able to haul or not?”

“It can, but not much—just a little bit.”

The officer took a deep breath. “I mean, your vehicle’s so battered, carrying a bookcase, and using the motor lane—it’s dangerous, you know?”

The old woman waved her hands. “Not dangerous—not dangerous. I only come out at this hour, when there are fewer people, and no one tries to rob me.”

“I’m not worried about you getting robbed...” The officer sighed, pointing at the bookcase. “This bookcase is so broken—where did you get it?”

The old woman pointed behind her. “Picked it up in the hospital alley—do you want it?”

The officer’s eyes flickered—maybe, if he unloaded the bookcase, she’d be safer pushing her tricycle. He rubbed his nose. “Yes, are you offering it to me?”

“What are you thinking?” The old woman spat lightly. “I worked hard to get this. I planned to give it to my grandson. If you want it, it’s a hundred yuan.”

The officer rummaged through his pockets, producing a handful of small bills, counting only thirteen yuan. He asked awkwardly, “I only have this much, and your bookcase is so broken—thirteen yuan, deal?”

The old woman shook her head quickly. “No way. Must be a hundred, so I can buy my grandson a little desk.”

“Forget it... I wasn’t here for your bookcase anyway...”

“You’re not here for my bookcase,” the old woman eyed him warily, “so are you here for me?”

The officer opened his mouth. “Not here for you either...”

“If you’re not here for me,” the old woman pushed her tricycle forward, “then I’ll be on my way.”

The officer watched her recede into the distance. For some reason, at that moment, he felt an unexpected sadness—especially when a little mouse darted out from the bookcase. His nose stung. Some people don’t care if their Ford sedan gets towed, while some, late at night, have to push a tricycle scavenging for scraps.

He sniffed; just as he planned to catch up and escort her home, the radio crackled with orders from headquarters: “Attention all units, the suspect has escaped from the hospital. Closely monitor pedestrians and vehicles near the hospital. Set up checkpoints on all main roads for immediate search...”

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