Chapter 7: The First Scene Is Discovered

Although Xia Wuyou had given the director her utmost assurance, promising to restore the company’s reputation in the shortest possible time and to sell Uncle Tian’s old house at the highest price, the corpulent director still subjected her to the most severe punishment and personal attacks in the most ruthless manner.

Her portrait was placed in the company’s public bulletin board, where her deeds were criticized with the sharpest language. And, to make matters worse, right beside her photo was the honor roll, with a bright red flower beneath each name. Yet under Xia Wuyou’s picture, there was a conspicuously large green flower.

“Ha! That director really knows how to humiliate people. This is truly psychological torment!”

Everyone passing by in the company cast sympathetic glances at Xia Wuyou, as though if even one of them withheld their sympathy, she would sink into a deep abyss.

This “big sister,” I’ve already said I’ll do my best to make amends and ensure the company suffers no loss, yet he still drives me to the brink! He’d better watch out for stray dogs when walking at night!

Cursing the director in her heart, Xia Wuyou began to plan how she could help Su Tianmu solve the case as quickly as possible.

Right, I should visit the old house again, meet that female ghost, and see how she reacts to her boyfriend!

Just then, coincidentally, Uncle Tian called.

“Hello, Uncle, what’s the matter?”

Xia Wuyou hurriedly picked up the phone, barely having time to arrange a visit before Uncle Tian impatiently urged her to come over immediately.

“Xia, please come and take a look! There are so many strange people lurking around my house! When I ask what they’re doing, they refuse to answer, and when they see me, it’s as if they’ve seen a ghost!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.”

Grabbing her bag, Xia Wuyou rushed out.

It turned out these people were drawn by the horror rumors spread by the previous house-viewer, coming for the spectacle. Of course, they only dared to come in broad daylight; few would have the courage to explore at night.

When Xia Wuyou arrived at the old house, the crowd had already dispersed.

Seeing Uncle Tian sitting alone in the house, lonely and sorrowful, Xia Wuyou felt a deep pang of compassion.

“Uncle, it’s nothing! Just a bunch of idle people with nothing better to do. You don’t need to pay them any mind.”

“Xia, do you think my wife is really back? Why do they say my house is haunted?”

Uncle Tian asked her in bewilderment.

“And these days, I haven’t felt her presence at all. Is she angry with me, refusing to see me?”

“Of course not! How could she bear to be angry with you? Perhaps she also wants you to sell the house sooner so you can be cared for in a nursing home.”

While comforting Uncle Tian, Xia Wuyou looked around for the female ghost.

Yet, just as Uncle Tian had said, she sensed nothing of the ghost’s presence.

After calming Uncle Tian, Xia Wuyou hurried to the police station to find Su Tianmu.

Wang had just called, telling her there was some progress in questioning Chen Gang.

To save time, Xia Wuyou uncharacteristically hailed a taxi.

“Wang, tell me quickly, what did you discover?”

She burst into the station, out of breath, and grabbed Wang, eager for answers.

“Sister Xia, don’t be anxious! Have some water, catch your breath.”

Wang handed her his water cup, but before he could say more, Su Tianmu snatched it away.

“You’re awfully generous with your own cup.”

Su Tianmu handed Xia Wuyou a new bottle of mineral water and smoothly pulled Wang away from her grasp.

Xia Wuyou took the bottle without a second thought, and as she twisted open the cap, she realized it was already open.

Gulping down the water, she paid no mind to her image, tilting her head back to drink. A thin stream trickled down her lips, sliding over her pale neck, mingling with the beads of sweat from her hurried rush in the scorching heat. In the sunlight, the sweat glistened like scattered stars, shining brilliantly.

Su Tianmu watched her, his Adam’s apple moving unconsciously. Startled, he quickly turned his head away.

He was startled by his own reaction.

Did I just swallow because of her?

Su Tianmu felt confused and, to cover his embarrassment, spoke coldly, “Wang, go ahead and tell her.”

No one noticed his change, especially Xia Wuyou, who was desperately awaiting Wang’s news, never taking her eyes off him.

“That Chen Gang panicked the moment he saw us. Before we could even properly interrogate him, he confessed everything.”

Wang explained slowly.

It turned out Chen Gang really had been demanding money from Li Cui Rong to pay off his gambling debts. He pressured her to hand over all her savings, even threatening to kill her if she refused.

A review of Li Cui Rong’s financial records confirmed she had withdrawn a large sum. Yet Chen Gang claimed he never received the money, and certainly refused to admit to murder.

“So you let him go?”

Xia Wuyou asked anxiously.

“He must be the killer! He said if she didn’t give him money, he’d kill her. The motive couldn’t be clearer!”

“Solving a case isn’t just about reasoning; it’s about evidence! Right now, we have no direct evidence linking Chen Gang to the murder. No matter how suspicious he seems, we need proof to arrest him.”

Seeing her genuine worry, Su Tianmu explained.

“Captain Su, the tech department just called.”

Miao hurried in.

“They found human tissue under the victim’s fingernails. After comparison, it matches Chen Gang’s.”

Miao’s brief words reignited the atmosphere that had just grown silent.

“Wang, organize the arrest of Chen Gang immediately!”

Su Tianmu commanded with grave authority.

“Roger, executing the arrest now!”

Finally, there was tangible progress in the case. While this clue didn’t directly convict Chen Gang of murder, it was sufficient to detain him as a suspect.

After Chen Gang’s arrest, Su Tianmu and his team launched round-the-clock interrogations.

Although he admitted to extorting money from the victim and frequent domestic violence, he steadfastly denied committing murder. The police, however, did not abandon their suspicions and conducted thorough searches of his movements and residences.

At last, the rented apartment where Chen Gang lived drew their attention.

It was discovered that, though two men shared the lease, only Chen Gang regularly stayed there; the other male tenant only occasionally spent the night. The apartment had recently been repainted, increasing the likelihood that this was the primary crime scene.

“Captain Su, we found it! The tech team discovered blood stains at the junction of the living room wall and floor. DNA comparison confirmed it belonged to the victim!”

Miao was always the bearer of good news.

Finally, the primary crime scene had been found.