I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 78: Chapter 76: The Room Was Searched

After leaving Fengjiang Clubhouse, they went to Cao Hong’s place.

It was a rental. They found the landlord, who opened the door.

He was long gone and had even taken some of his things with him.

Only some useless items remained in the room.

Shao Dong was so rich, with properties and cars to his name.

But Cao Hong had nothing to his name.

It just went to show how extremely cautious he was.

You could tell from the way he cleaned up the scene.

"You know Jiang Junrui?" Kang Ting casually asked Su Miaoyi on the way back.

Su Miaoyi looked out the car window. "I’ve met him a few times."

Kang Ting glanced back at her.

Su Miaoyi didn’t want to mention that she was missing some of her memories, so she said, "My birth parents wanted to marry me into the Jiang family. I refused."

Zhuang Yanzheng frowned.

He had been busy this whole time and hadn’t gone home much.

So he didn’t know what had been happening in Jinghai.

Otherwise, if she found out, his mother would have been at home, cursing Ji Sheng for being a good-for-nothing.

Kang Ting had seen her file.

He knew she didn’t share a last name with her parents.

He didn’t know the specifics of her situation.

Now, hearing her say "birth parents," he could guess the gist of it and didn’t press further.

They arrived at the Jiangcheng City Bureau.

Su Miaoyi got out of the car. Before she had taken more than a few steps, she heard Song Yucheng’s voice. "What is your relationship with Jiang Junrui?"

Su Miaoyi turned her head to look at him.

Song Yucheng said, "When we came out of the Fengjiang Group building, he said he’d wait for you to get off work and treat you to dinner. You know him."

"What are you trying to say?" Su Miaoyi asked, looking at him.

"You’re the one who found the Jade Token, and you’re the one who provided the clue to the killer. You led us to the Fengjiang Clubhouse, only for us to come up empty-handed. Isn’t that Fengjiang Clubhouse’s standard tactic?" Song Yucheng said.

Su Miaoyi scoffed. "So these days, whoever provides a clue is automatically an accomplice? Is that how it works? Have you lost your mind? I have been putting up with you for a long time. You’re so indecisive and you never shut up."

"Who are you talking about?" Song Yucheng frowned.

"You." Just as Su Miaoyi started to walk forward, Zhuang Yanzheng suddenly pulled her behind him.

Su Miaoyi stumbled backward.

Zhuang Yanzheng said, "What the hell is wrong with your head?"

Song Yucheng was a little afraid of Zhuang Yanzheng.

Zhuang Yanzheng’s cold expression was terrifying. "So it was a mistake to help you with your case? She finds evidence, she finds the killer. She hasn’t slept for two nights, investigating and digging up clues, and for what? To get fucking attacked for it? Is this how the Jiangcheng City Bureau treats its guests?!"

His shouting drew everyone’s eyes.

Kang Ting immediately walked over.

Zhuang Yanzheng turned to him. "You really know how to manage your people, Captain Kang."

Kang Ting shot a glare at Song Yucheng.

Song Yucheng didn’t dare to speak.

"’If you’re going to use someone, trust them. If you doubt them, don’t use them.’ You understand that principle, don’t you, Captain Kang? You use her, and then you turn around and express suspicion." Zhuang Yanzheng scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What’s the matter? The City Bureau short-staffed? Is this the caliber of a deputy team leader? Did he pull some strings to get his job?"

Su Miaoyi might have her reservations, but Zhuang Yanzheng certainly didn’t.

When he was unhappy, he made sure no one else had an easy time of it.

"He wasn’t aiming that at you two," Kang Ting said.

"Are you the only one allowed to protect your own people, Captain Kang?" Zhuang Yanzheng retorted. "He bullies her like this while I’m standing right here. What does he do when I’m not around? Does he plan on drinking her blood?"

Su Miaoyi nodded from behind him.

She had the exact expression of someone whose family had shown up to back her up.

Kang Ting said nothing.

Zhuang Yanzheng continued, "Maintaining public order is our duty, and we’ll do what it takes. But what about her? She’s doing a police officer’s work, taking on a police officer’s worries, and working around the clock with you on this case. She gets no credit, no recognition, and on top of that, she gets berated and blamed. The Jiangcheng City Bureau really has a fine way of doing things."

"Can you guarantee she’s innocent, then?" Song Yucheng retorted, annoyed that he kept dragging the Jiangcheng City Bureau into it.

"Shut up!" Kang Ting roared at him.

"I guarantee it," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "I’d stake my uniform on it."

Song Yucheng fell silent.

Zhuang Yanzheng looked at Kang Ting. "Get your man under control."

Kang Ting still said nothing.

Zhuang Yanzheng then looked at Su Miaoyi. "Let’s go."

Su Miaoyi followed him out. As she passed Song Yucheng, she gave him a small, triumphant smile and a raised eyebrow.

Song Yucheng looked like he was about to grind his molars to dust.

"Go back and write a self-criticism report," Kang Ting ordered.

Song Yucheng left without a sound.

Su Miaoyi and Zhuang Yanzheng left.

The case had now reached the apprehension phase.

Cao Hong’s whereabouts were unknown. He had likely left Jiangcheng long ago.

All they could do was conduct a slow, methodical search.

There was no telling how long it would take.

This was a matter for Jiangcheng now.

Their job of assisting with the investigation was complete.

"Look at you, all smug," Zhuang Yanzheng said as he drove.

"I’m happy, so what’s wrong with being a little smug?" Su Miaoyi said with a laugh. "It really makes a difference when you have someone in your corner."

Zhuang Yanzheng glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

Su Miaoyi said, "That Song Yucheng... he’s a decent investigator and very dedicated, but it’s like his brain got left behind when society moved on. He’s a complete, old-fashioned chauvinist. What’s wrong with being a woman? Can’t women solve cases? In all these years, have I ever dragged you down?"

Zhuang Yanzheng’s gaze flickered. He kept his eyes on the road, paused for a moment, and said, "No."

Su Miaoyi smiled, then looked outside. "Where are we going?"

"The hospital," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "Aren’t you going to get your feet checked out?"

"It’s just a couple of blisters," Su Miaoyi said.

"So? How do you plan to deal with those couple of blisters?" Zhuang Yanzheng asked.

Su Miaoyi weighed the options of treating them herself versus going to the hospital. "The hospital."

’There’s nothing else to do now, anyway. Might as well not make my feet suffer.’

...

「The next day.」

With nothing left for them in Jiangcheng, Su Miaoyi and Cheng Jue took the high-speed train back to Jinghai.

Zhuang Yanzheng stayed for one more day before heading back as well.

Lu Zhishen planned to return to Jinghai after the Lunar New Year.

Back in Jinghai.

Su Miaoyi didn’t go to her own apartment, instead heading to the old town with Cheng Jue.

After staying home for two days, Su Miaoyi accompanied Cheng Jue to Luo City for his art school entrance exams.

Then they returned to the old town.

The art exams were over, and now it was a matter of waiting for the results. Next up were his general academic courses.

There were still a few days left before the school holiday.

Cheng Jue was supposed to be in school.

After a family discussion, Su Miaoyi found a private tutor from an agency to give him one-on-one lessons for his academic courses at home.

Su Miaoyi stayed at home for another two days.

During those two days, a curious Cheng Jue asked Su Miaoyi a few things about the Jiangcheng case.

Su Miaoyi just told him to focus on his studies and not worry about other matters.

When he couldn’t get any answers out of her, Cheng Jue stopped asking.

After staying for two days, Su Miaoyi returned to her own apartment.

When she reached her door, just as her hand was about to rest on the handle, she suddenly noticed scratches on the side of the lock.

There were marks on both sides, as if something had been inserted into the lock mechanism.

Su Miaoyi stood at the door for a few seconds, then went to grab the fire extinguisher from beside the elevator.

Carrying the fire extinguisher, she opened the door and entered the apartment.

She first checked every room, looking in all the places a person could hide.

There was no one there.

After putting down the fire extinguisher, she looked around again.

The apartment had been tossed.

Her wardrobe, vanity, bathroom, and even her books had all been rummaged through.

But it had been done very carefully. Everything was put back in its place afterward; if you didn’t look closely, you would never have noticed.

Without touching anything else, Su Miaoyi took out her phone and sent a message to Zhuang Yanzheng.

Then she left the apartment and went to the building management office to review the surveillance footage.

...

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