Сhарtеr 1: Witnessing the Сrimе Sсеnе
“Hurry up аnd gеt in the cаr! Remembеr tо mеssаgе mе when уоu аrrivе! And cаll me if anything haррens…”
“Аlright, аlright! Rеmеmbеr to сhесk in on the grоuр chаt when you gеt homе too!”
Jiang Zhеngzheng, slightlу tipsу, сut off her rоommate Li Yuе’s rеmindеrs аnd slumped intо thе bасk seat, finding а cоmfortablе positiоn.
Tonight wаs Jiang Zhengzheng аnd hеr rоommаtеs’ end-of-semеster fаrеwell dinner bеfore summеr breаk. Sinсе theу all attеnded universitу lосally, after their meal and hеаrtfelt conversаtiоns, each оf thеm grabbed their suitcases and hailed separate cabs home.
As her roommate’s car sped off in the opposite direction at the school gate, Jiang Zhengzheng withdrew her gaze and leaned her head against the window. Listening to melancholic music about parting through her earphones, she tried to squeeze out a few sentimental tears.
Noticing the driver’s gaze, Jiang Zhengzheng curled her lips into what she thought was her most charming, wistful smile.
Tsk, go ahead and look! This fragile, sorrowful damsel act of mine is bound to captivate you!
“Kid, you’re so young, why are your facial muscles twitching?”
To her surprise, the driver spoke with earnest concern:
“Kid, you look about the same age as my daughter. I feel I should advise you—young ladies really should avoid catching cold drafts! Let me tell you…”
“Ahaha, Uncle! You’re absolutely right! I’ll remember that! My brain and my heart both say I’ll remember!”
Jiang Zhengzheng hurriedly responded, fearing the driver might launch into a lengthy lecture.
No wonder they say northerners are warm-hearted—even a cab driver can chat with you all night!
Jiang Zhengzheng sighed inwardly.
Late at night, the car stopped in front of an old residential complex in the suburbs.
Jiang Zhengzheng struggled to haul her luggage out of the trunk, took a deep breath, and wiped away the nonexistent sweat from her forehead.
The driver, eager to pick up his next fare, sped away as soon as Jiang Zhengzheng retrieved her suitcase.
The sound of the car faded into the distance, leaving only silence in its wake.
Jiang Zhengzheng looked at the slightly dilapidated old apartment building before her, then checked the location on her phone.
Yep, this is the place!
Dragging her suitcase along the bumpy cement path, Jiang Zhengzheng headed to the first floor to collect her room key from the landlord.
In the dimly lit stairwell, Jiang Zhengzheng struggled to carry her suitcase up the stairs, muttering complaints under her breath.
“Seriously, no elevator is one thing, but this flickering light belongs in a nightclub!”
The overhead light flickered on and off, swaying precariously with creaking sounds as if it might fall and hit someone at any moment.
“Why is the wall plaster crumbling in patches?”
The peeling, mottled plaster emitted a musty odor that assaulted Jiang Zhengzheng’s senses.
Thanks a lot—my nose feels offended!
“Ouch!”
Her foot accidentally stepped on a glass beer bottle. In a split second, she swiftly set down her suitcase, using its weight to steady herself.
“That scared me! Good thing I’m lucky! Lucky means prosperity! Lucky means prosperity!”
After catching her breath, Jiang Zhengzheng glanced at the steps.
Cigarette butts and bottles were scattered carelessly, with chewed gum stuck everywhere. As she climbed higher, she noticed several spit stains on the ground.
“Ugh—what is this? So inconsiderate!”
Jiang Zhengzheng suppressed her disgust and grumbled angrily.
What could she do? She was broke as hell. After weighing her options online for days, she’d finally settled on renting in the suburbs.
Sure, the rent was low, but… shouldn’t a place at least look clean enough for someone to dare live in? No way! I have to find a part-time job with accommodation included in the next couple of days!
Jiang Zhengzheng resolved firmly to herself.After finally hauling her luggage up to the fifth floor, Jiang Zhengzheng collapsed onto her suitcase, panting heavily from exhaustion.
“Ugh! I’m dead tired. I definitely need to order some takeout to treat my stomach.”
With that, she pulled out her phone.
Guided by the principle that she could suffer but not her stomach, Jiang Zhengzheng opened the food delivery app, only to find the signal so poor that the page kept loading endlessly.
She stood up and shook her phone, then paced back and forth, holding it up to search for a signal.
How strange—still no signal.
What kind of godforsaken place is this, with no signal at all!
“Help! Waaah—! Save me! Save me!”
A woman’s desperate, tearful cry pierced the air.
Startled by the sudden scream, Jiang Zhengzheng nearly dropped her phone.
“Run! Keep running! Hahahaha!”
A rough male voice echoed from around the corner of the staircase, his sinister, triumphant laughter sending chills down her spine.
Cautiously, Jiang Zhengzheng peeked in the direction of the voices. Her eyes fell upon a dimly lit hallway, where a young woman lay crumpled on the floor, her face streaked with tears!
Behind her stood a tall, burly man with a thick beard, holding a coarse rope and a sharp dagger in his hands!
Terror instantly seized Jiang Zhengzheng’s heart.
Oh my god! I’ve always been a good person—how could I end up in a situation like this!
Forcing herself to stay calm, she quickly turned her phone volume to the lowest setting and, with trembling hands, dialed the police.
“Hello? This is the police station. Are you in trouble?”
A reassuring voice came through the phone, and Jiang Zhengzheng’s eyes welled up as she whispered urgently:
“Officer, at the fifth floor of Tianxia Residential Building in Baxia Suburb, someone is holding a knife and trying to kill someone!”
Fortunately, even though the signal was terrible, emergency calls could still go through.
Jiang Zhengzheng’s anxious heart eased slightly. She peeked out again at the scene in the hallway and carefully raised her phone to record.
“Oh~ you can run pretty fast, huh? Run again!” As he spoke, the bearded man wrapped the rope around the woman’s neck and tightened it. The woman’s eyes rolled back as she struggled in agony.