I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 32: Chapter 30: Not Much Help

"Cai Ke’s son is in the same class as Shi Tianyu."

Zhuang Yanzheng said, glancing at the autopsy report.

"Could it be Cai Xi?" Su Miaoyi asked.

Zhuang Yanzheng and Yan Cheng both looked at her.

"Cai Ke’s son?" Yan Cheng asked.

Su Miaoyi nodded.

Back when she first arrived at the Ji family’s home, Cai Xi had been living there.

He was still very young back then.

"When the police went to Cai Ke’s house, they asked about Cai Xi. His family said he was at school," Zhuang Yanzheng said.

Shi Tianyu and Cai Xi were in the same class.

It was natural for the police to ask about Cai Xi when they went to his house.

Zhuang Yanzheng took out his phone and called the officers who had gone to the school.

They had already left the school.

After a few words, Zhuang Yanzheng hung up. "They didn’t see Cai Xi at school. Said he had a stomachache this afternoon, went to the school nurse’s office, and then skipped class and ran off."

Su Miaoyi: "..."

’What a clumsy excuse for skipping class.’

"You can run, but you can’t hide." Zhuang Yanzheng pocketed his phone. "Whether he did it or not, he has to come home eventually."

Su Miaoyi nodded, understanding what he meant.

’If he didn’t do it, he’d have no reason not to come home.’

’And if he did do it, not coming home right now would mean he has a guilty conscience—a tacit admission of guilt.’

’Then everything Cai Ke has done would be for nothing.’

"Alright, you two can clock out." Zhuang Yanzheng stood up. "I’m taking some people to check on the Cais again."

"I still have work to finish," Yan Cheng said, looking at Su Miaoyi.

Su Miaoyi looked between the two of them. "Are you guys flaunting the fact that you still have work?"

Yan Cheng wanted to say no.

But Zhuang Yanzheng was faster. "Yep."

Su Miaoyi looked at him.

"Tsk tsk, to think you don’t have any work to do," Zhuang Yanzheng said, looking at her.

Su Miaoyi met his gaze for two seconds, then slowly raised her fist.

Zhuang Yanzheng pointed at her fist. "Assaulting an officer. Up to three years in prison, criminal detention, or public surveillance."

Su Miaoyi: "..."

"I... I was..." Su Miaoyi looked at her own fist, then, in a masterful display of adaptability, her expression changed in a flash. "I was just cheering you on! I hope Captain Zhuang cracks the case soon!"

Yan Cheng let out a soft laugh.

Zhuang Yanzheng also laughed. "I’ll take that as a good omen. I’m off."

Su Miaoyi looked at Yan Cheng. "Forensic Doctor Yan, I’m heading out."

Yan Cheng nodded.

Su Miaoyi followed Zhuang Yanzheng out of the forensic center.

"Tired?" Yan Zheng asked as he strode towards the office area.

Su Miaoyi looked up at him, then around her surroundings, to make sure he was talking to her. "No."

"Why so listless?" Zhuang Yanzheng glanced at her.

Zhuang Yanzheng walked so fast that Su Miaoyi had to take big strides just to keep up.

"I wasn’t much help," Su Miaoyi said with a frown.

’For some reason, the things I saw this time were very limited. I wasn’t much help.’

Zhuang Yanzheng glanced at her again. "What’s that supposed to mean? You think we couldn’t solve cases before you showed up? You think I got this position at my age for nothing? I got here on my own merit."

Su Miaoyi tilted her head and glanced at him.

"What’s with that look?"

Su Miaoyi glanced at him again and slowly uttered four words: "Late nights make you old."

Zhuang Yanzheng drew in a sharp breath.

Su Miaoyi immediately said, "You’re not allowed to beat up civilians."

Zhuang Yanzheng snorted with laughter, then paused. "Head home. It’s getting dark."

"Okay," Su Miaoyi acknowledged.

The words were barely out of her mouth when they saw Shen Yanzhou walking out of the investigation area.

"Perfect timing. You can give her a ride home," Zhuang Yanzheng called out to Shen Yanzhou.

Shen Yanzhou glanced at him.

Su Miaoyi said, "I can get back on my own."

"It’s on his way," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "I’m leaving."

He strode away.

Su Miaoyi looked at Shen Yanzhou. "The amusement park case?"

Shen Yanzhou nodded. "I was just cooperating with the investigation. It’s all sorted out. Where do you live?"

"You don’t have to. I can get home by myself. It’s not even that far."

Shen Yanzhou looked at her without speaking.

Su Miaoyi paused for a moment and said, "Wangshu New Garden."

Shen Yanzhou nodded. "Let’s go."

"Thank you. Sorry for the trouble."

The Shen family’s driver was there to pick them up.

Su Miaoyi and Shen Yanzhou sat in the back.

Shen Yanzhou’s assistant was sitting in the passenger seat.

As soon as Shen Yanzhou and Su Miaoyi got in the car, the assistant looked at Su Miaoyi.

Sensing his gaze, Su Miaoyi looked back at him.

They stared at each other for a moment.

Then the assistant suddenly blurted, "The young missus?"

Su Miaoyi’s eyes shot wide open. She glanced at Shen Yanzhou and quickly denied it, "I’m not!"

The assistant looked at Shen Yanzhou.

A faint smile played on Shen Yanzhou’s lips—the kind that said he was considering murder to silence a witness.

The assistant immediately apologized. "I’m so sorry, I’ve never seen the young boss with a lady by his side before, so I assumed... I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

"It’s fine," Su Miaoyi said.

"Since you love being a smart aleck so much, how about you show off your resignation letter to HR tomorrow," Shen Yanzhou said softly.

Su Miaoyi watched, wide-eyed, as the young assistant looked ready to burst into tears. He then wailed, "Young Boss, you know I’ve followed you ever since I graduated! I started with zero experience, and now I have five years under my belt! I went from a total rookie to a young professional! I can’t live without you, Young Boss!"

"Shut up. One more useless word and you’re getting out," Shen Yanzhou said.

Su Miaoyi turned to look out the window and suppressed a smile.

Shen Yanzhou looked at the back of Su Miaoyi’s head and said, "Sorry about that. He’s a bit of an embarrassment."

Su Miaoyi looked at him and shook her head. "He’s very entertaining."

Shen Yanzhou offered a gentle smile, then looked at his assistant. "Your work."

The assistant immediately began his work report.

He detailed the current online chatter about the abandoned amusement park, the general sentiment, and their proposed PR strategy.

Su Miaoyi sat quietly to the side, listening to them discuss work.

’For some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of peace.’

’It was the kind of groundedness that comes from finally touching solid earth after drifting for a very long time.’

’She wasn’t sure why she was feeling this way.’

’After all, she didn’t normally feel adrift or insecure.’

’But now, she let herself sink into the feeling.’

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the car stopped. Su Miaoyi snapped out of her daze and looked outside.

They had arrived at Wangshu New Garden.

"Thanks for the ride, Mr. Shen," Su Miaoyi said.

Shen Yanzhou shook his head. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"No." Su Miaoyi didn’t know why he was asking, but she answered anyway.

"Let me take you to see An’an," Shen Yanzhou said.

"Huh?" Su Miaoyi looked at him.

’Are we really going?’

"An’an has a check-up tomorrow," Shen Yanzhou said. "I’ll send the vet’s address to your phone. Or I can come pick you up tomorrow."

"I can get there myself," Su Miaoyi said.

Shen Yanzhou nodded. "See you tomorrow, then."

"Okay." Su Miaoyi got out of the car, watched Shen Yanzhou leave, then walked towards her apartment complex in a bit of a daze.

’How did I end up with plans for tomorrow just like that?’

Meanwhile, Shen Yanzhou sat in the car, toying with the two beads on his wrist.

After the last case was closed, Zhuang Yanzheng had given him the two beads that had been used as evidence.

The name "Qin Leyan" was carved on both beads.

Shen Yanzhou’s fingers caressed them.

His thoughts turned to Su Miaoyi again.

The Ji Family had done quite well for themselves after they went into business.

The scandal involving the Ji family’s eldest daughter caused a huge uproar back in the day.

Later, word was that the girl had been sent away.

In the decade or so that followed, it was as if Su Miaoyi had vanished, becoming invisible.

’So why has she suddenly reappeared in the public eye?’

...

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