Lin Chengfeng frowned and said, “He just killed someone the day before yesterday, and less than a day later, he comes to teach as if nothing happened. If he really is the murderer, his mental state is truly extraordinary.”
Ye Xuan nodded in agreement, responding, “Exactly. People like him are among the most terrifying in the world!”
Lin Chengfeng asked curiously, “Among them? What other kinds of people are there?”
“For example, gamblers who treat human lives as chips, desperate outlaws with unknown backgrounds, psychological abusers who take pleasure in manipulating people’s minds, and perfectionist criminals who see killing as an art form. This murderer might belong to the last category.”
Lin Chengfeng nodded solemnly, agreeing with Ye Xuan’s assessment.
Afterward, the two of them headed straight into the locker room and changed into shorts and tank tops.
“Old Lin, how did you build such hard muscles?” Ye Xuan pinched Lin Chengfeng’s biceps and then touched his chest muscles, his eyes filled with envy.
Lin Chengfeng pushed Ye Xuan away, exasperated. “Don’t get handsy.”
Ye Xuan pouted and retorted, “So stingy!”
The two then made their way to the fitness area and began their workout.
Lin Chengfeng kept glancing toward the entrance from time to time, worried that the murderer might slip away unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Ye Xuan observed the fitness equipment with great interest, switching between different machines as he exercised.
After about half an hour of working out, a voice from the front desk caught their attention.
“Hello, is Coach Lu not here yet?”
Two women stood at the front desk. One was exceptionally beautiful, with a slender yet curvaceous figure, while the other was petite, sweet, and adorable.
The front desk staff smiled and replied, “Ms. Shan, Ms. Lan, Coach Lu will probably arrive in about half an hour. Would you like to wait inside?”
The sweet-looking girl nodded and said, “That works. Let’s wait then. My boyfriend hasn’t arrived yet either.” With that, the two of them headed toward the fitness area.
As soon as they entered, the exceptionally beautiful woman was immediately captivated by Lin Chengfeng’s presence.
Noticing this, her sweet-looking companion teased, “Interested? That guy is really handsome, and those muscles… they look so solid!”
The beautiful woman suppressed her admiration and tugged at her friend, saying, “Let’s go! Stop talking nonsense!”
She led her companion to sit not far from Lin Chengfeng and Ye Xuan, occasionally stealing glances in Lin Chengfeng’s direction.
Ye Xuan nudged Lin Chengfeng playfully and joked, “Old Lin, that woman seems to have taken a liking to you!”
Lin Chengfeng glanced over silently before returning to his weightlifting.
“Old Lin, why don’t you go and gather some information?”
Lin Chengfeng frowned in confusion. “What information?”
“About the murderer. Didn’t you hear the conversation those two women had with the front desk just now? They’re looking for the suspect!”
Lin Chengfeng put down his equipment and asked, puzzled, “But aren’t we already waiting for the murderer?”
Ye Xuan explained, “Old Lin, he’s only a suspect for now. We still need to investigate the evidence of his crime. Without evidence, the police can only detain him for up to 24 hours. If we let him slip away after finally catching him, it would be a huge loss.”
“So, we need to start investigating the people around the suspect, focusing on whether he has an alibi or not.”
Lin Chengfeng nodded in understanding, then asked, “Then why don’t you go?”
Ye Xuan shrugged and replied, “They’re interested in you, not me.”
Lin Chengfeng said nonchalantly, “What’s the big deal? You’re just going to investigate clues, not to date. Hurry up and go.”
“…”
Ye Xuan opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off by Lin Chengfeng.
“Don’t forget, I paid for this membership card. I can cancel it anytime.”
Hearing this, Ye Xuan immediately panicked and hurriedly said, “No, no, no, I’ll go. I’ll go, alright?”
Ye Xuan shot Lin Chengfeng a resentful glare before walking over to the two women.
“Hey there, ladies?”
The two women were slightly taken aback, then replied in unison, “Hello!”
Leaning against a piece of gym equipment, Ye Xuan asked, “What are your names, ladies?”
The exceptionally beautiful woman said, “My surname is Lan, Lan Xinning. This is my best friend, Shan Linna.”
“Your names are really lovely. I’m Ye Xuan.”
Lan Xinning nodded with a smile and said, “Thank you. Your name is nice too.”
Then, Lan Xinning subtly glanced over at Lin Chengfeng, who was focused on lifting weights without a care in the world, and asked, “What about your friend?”
Ye Xuan glanced at Lin Chengfeng and said, “Him? Just call him Er Gou.”
Hearing this, Lin Chengfeng’s expression immediately darkened, and he shot Ye Xuan a fierce glare.
Lan Xinning gave Ye Xuan a puzzled look and asked, “Why didn’t your friend come over with you?”
“He’s a bit shy and too embarrassed to come over.” Ye Xuan then asked, “Are you two waiting for someone?”
Shan Linna nodded and replied, “Yes, we’ve arranged to meet a fitness trainer. We’re still waiting for him.”
“Which fitness trainer is it?”
“Lu Xiao.”
Ye Xuan pretended to have a sudden realization and responded, “Oh, him.”
“Do you know him?” Shan Linna asked curiously.
Ye Xuan replied, “Not exactly. I’ve heard of him. Are you two close with him?”
Lan Xinning shook her head and said, “No, we haven’t met him yet, but my best friend’s boyfriend knows him.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then turned to Shan Linna and asked, “Is your boyfriend close with him?”
Shan Linna shook her head and replied, “Not very close. I think my boyfriend only met him last week.”
Ye Xuan glanced around and asked, “Is your boyfriend here?”
Just as Shan Linna was about to answer, a muscular man in a white tank top walked in through the entrance.
Seeing him, Shan Linna quickly waved and called out, “A-Chao! I’m over here!”
The man smiled and waved back before striding over to the three of them.
Shan Linna stepped forward, took his arm, and introduced, “This is my boyfriend, Zhao Chao.”
Then, pointing at Ye Xuan, she said to Zhao Chao, “We just met him. His name is Ye Xuan.”
Though somewhat confused, Zhao Chao smiled and nodded at Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan observed Zhao Chao carefully before saying with a smile, “Bro, you’ve got some nice muscles.”
Hearing this, Zhao Chao shyly rubbed the back of his head and replied, “Thanks, I just train casually.”
Ye Xuan then asked, “I heard you know Lu Xiao?”
“Yes, we only met last week.”
“Mind telling me how you met?”
Zhao Chao nodded, then said with admiration, “Right here. I was doing bench presses at the time, and he came over to give me a couple of pointers. When I followed his method, it suddenly became much easier. He’s truly amazing!”
Ye Xuan pondered for a moment, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth, and turned his gaze toward the two women beside him.
“So that was his intention.”