Сhaptеr 15: Оnе Вig, Оne Small.
Bоth thе poliсewomаn аnd thе skеtсh аrtist werе vеrу gеntle, cоmforting her not to bе nеrvous аnd tо sау whаtevеr саme to mind, rеаssuring her thаt it was okaу if she сouldn’t remembеr.
A fаint rustle оf сelloрhane, and а рiесe of саndу wаs offerеd to Jing Gе.
It was from Li Мusi.
Jing Ge frozе.
Li Musi movеd the candу сlоser, his intеntiоn clear withоut words.
Оnlу then did Jing Ge rеact, rеleаsing hеr griр on thе hem of his shirt аnd taking the саndу into her palm.
Li Musi frowned. “Eаt it.”
Нe didn’t give it to her tо hоld.
Jing Ge blinked dumbly. “Оh.”
Shе unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth.
It was chestnut-flavored.
Li Musi stretched the hem of his shirt back toward her hand.
Letting her continue holding it.
Jing Ge had been so nervous earlier that her brain refused to cooperate, completely unaware of what she was doing. Now that she had regained her senses, how could she dare touch his clothes again?
The sketch artist, with his refined demeanor, gently guided her. “You don’t need to be too specific; even a rough outline is fine. Any information you provide can help us solve the case faster.”
“…Let me think again,” Jing Ge said, the sweet chestnut flavor filling her mouth. “He was wearing a black cotton jacket, black jeans, and a black scarf that covered up to his eyes…”
She had seen his eyes.
She had made eye contact with the murderer.
But she couldn’t remember, no matter how hard she tried.
Whenever she tried to recall specific details, everything became blurry.
Jing Ge racked her brain. “…I’m sorry, I was frozen at the time, I was too scared…”
“No need to apologize,” the sketch artist reassured her. “It’s not your fault. About how tall was he? You can try to find a reference point.”
Jing Ge thought carefully. “He was about half a head taller than the shopkeeper. When she was helping me pick sugarcane, I stood next to her. I’m about 5 centimeters taller than her…”
Jing Ge was 166 cm tall, so the shopkeeper was around 160 cm.
The sketch artist looked down to take notes. “Approximately 175 cm.”
As for the rest, Jing Ge truly couldn’t remember.
“Let’s stop here for now,” the policewoman said kindly. “If you remember anything else, feel free to contact us anytime.”
Jing Ge nodded.
As she stood up, Li Musi seemed to pat her head, but Jing Ge was lost in thought and didn’t notice.
Before taking a step, Jing Ge suddenly said, “There was fresh mud and sand on both of his pant legs, but none on his old black cotton shoes.”
The policewoman and the sketch artist exchanged a glance.
It hadn’t rained in Haishi recently, and the only place where both mud and sand could be found at the same time was one specific location.
The policewoman’s eyes lit up. “That detail is crucial! Thank you for your help!”
After leaving the police station, the sky outside was pitch black. As the two walked to the entrance, Li Musi abruptly stopped.
Jing Ge, who was ahead of him, turned back. “Uncle, what’s wrong?”
“……” Li Musi fell silent for a moment, then took off his overcoat and draped it over her shoulders without a word.
The coat hung all the way down to her ankles.
Jing Ge was bewildered. “I’m not cold.”
Li Musi said, “Wear it.”
Jing Ge insisted, “I’m not cold.”
Besides, under his overcoat, he was only wearing a shirt and a suit jacket, both of which were thin. He was the one who needed it more.
Li Musi turned his face away, looking into the distance, and calmly asked, “Is it your period?”
“……”
Jing Ge suddenly panicked, instinctively reaching a hand toward her backside, but of course, she couldn’t feel anything there—only the exquisite fabric of the man’s overcoat.
Jing Ge asked, “Did it get on my pants?”
Li Musi replied, “Yes.”
Jing Ge was mortified, wishing she could disappear. She had prepared for it, but as the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes. It hadn’t come all day when she was prepared, only to arrive right here at the police station.She was wearing a short down jacket with white fleece-lined pants underneath, and the red stain naturally stood out.
“Oh no!” Jing Ge panicked. “Did I get it on their sofa?”
Li Musi: “…”
Jing Ge: “Should I go back and wipe it off?”
Li Musi: “It’s fine…”
Jing Ge couldn’t hear anything: “This is so embarrassing. They’ll have to clean it up. Will I cause trouble for them? I should go back…”
Li Musi sighed helplessly: “Jing Ge.”
“Uncle, wait for me a few minutes.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to leave.
But she couldn’t take a step—her wrist was caught by Li Musi.
The man’s palm was broad and warm, gripping her wrist as easily as holding a rope.
“It’s fine,” Li Musi said, looking into her flustered eyes. “This is just a small matter. Don’t be nervous, and don’t overthink it.”
Jing Ge stammered: “It’s dirty… I’m afraid I’ll trouble them…”
Li Musi: “People who deal with corpses every day won’t care about a little menstrual blood.”
“……”
“Do you have a sanitary pad?” Li Musi glanced at the time. “Go inside and use the restroom.”
Jing Ge’s mind was blank, only able to answer whatever he asked.
Li Musi’s tone was gentle: “Go ahead. I’ll wait here for you.”
Jing Ge turned mechanically, mechanically climbed the steps, and mechanically walked a few paces. Only when she was fully under the light did her steps gradually speed up, and she almost sprinted into the restroom.
Li Musi’s overcoat draped over her looked like a child wearing an adult’s clothes—loose and oversized.
Jing Ge carefully hung the coat on the hook behind the door, then took off her pants entirely and rinsed them under the faucet.
She kept rinsing until the bloodstains were completely gone.
Then she put them back on and changed her sanitary pad.
When she returned the coat to Li Musi, the man’s gaze sharpened: “You washed your pants?”
“…Yeah.”
“What’s the temperature today?”
“…Five degrees below zero.”
Li Musi’s already stern face instantly turned colder. Jing Ge couldn’t understand why.
She only knew the atmosphere was tense, and she was scared.
“Get in the car,” Li Musi said no more. “Let’s eat.”
Jing Ge: “Aren’t we going home?”
Li Musi: “I didn’t know when we’d be back, so I didn’t ask Zhang Ma to leave food for us.”
“Oh.”
“What do you want to eat?”
“You decide, Uncle.”
She wasn’t picky.
Very easy to take care of.
The car’s air conditioning was turned to the highest setting, so hot that Jing Ge took off her down jacket.
Her damp pants clung to the seat and her skin, making her shift uncomfortably several times. She felt like she’d get a rash if this went on for too long. Fortunately, the temperature inside the car was high enough, and by the time they reached the restaurant, the washed parts of her pants had dried completely.
Staring at the cheerful dining spot before her, Jing Ge’s expression shattered.
“Uncle… you like Pizza Hut?”
“No.”
“…You like eating things you don’t like?”
“No.”
“…”
There was no way to continue the conversation.
Even though Jing Ge was naturally talkative.
She had a strange feeling that Li Musi was angry.
“Uncle,” Jing Ge tried her best to appease the young elder before her, “let’s go to that Western restaurant next door. It’s classy, elegant, and they serve red wine. I heard they even have a violinist. It suits your status.”
Li Musi stepped through the door of Pizza Hut.
Jing Ge hurried after him: “Uncle…”
The waiter greeted them warmly: “How many in your party, sir?”
Li Musi: “One adult, one child.”
“Alright,” the waiter said. “Right this way, please.”Jing Ge: “”
After finding seats and sitting down, Li Musi began ordering: “One Set B, and one kids’ meal, the one with the toy.”
Jing Ge: “”