“What does defective mean? What were Wu Cuilan’s final words?” Xu Jiu told Jiang Yanzhi what she had heard. He shared his thoughts. Qin Shuo gasped. “So the killer was training her to become a murderer?”
Jiang Yanzhi kept his focus. “Jean Baudrillard wrote about the perfect crime. That is what this was. He wanted to carry out a flawless murder through her.”
“Baudrillard? That sounds like dangerous ideas.”
Xu Jiu fell quiet. If that were true, and Wu Cuilan had failed, would there be another? Would someone else be groomed in her place?
The Xu household was busy preparing for Xu Yongcheng’s birthday. To impress him, Fang Xue had booked the entire International Hotel and sent out invitations. Xu Zhen came to her asking for invitations. “Little sister do you want to invite friends too?”
“I would love to.”
Fang Xue handed her ten cards. “Invite whoever you like. I will make sure they are well looked after.”
Xu Zhen pouted. “You spoil her so much.”
“Your sister is precious. Do not be petty.” Fang Xue stroked Xu Jiu’s hair. “Pay no attention to her.”
Xu Jiu smiled inwardly. The hypocrisy was obvious. The real show would begin at the banquet.
In her room she searched for news. Official reports were brief — suspect Wu died before apprehension, case ongoing. Online speculation was fierce. People called the police incompetent and blamed Su Changshan. He had given interviews claiming two cases solved in three days without mentioning Wu Cuilan’s death.
Jiang Yanzhi and his team kept working but leads stalled. The van had been stolen; the driver’s face could not be seen. The phone number Zhao Xiaofang had given traced to a public booth with no surveillance. Fingerprints matched nothing in the database. The killer had vanished.
Jiang Yanzhi and Qin Shuo visited repair shops; Xu Jiu had shattered the van’s window and they hoped it would surface. She wondered how he had disappeared so cleanly. Why return after nine years? Why remove organs? What did each organ mean?
The fourteenth arrived. Xu Yongcheng was in high spirits. He gave her money and asked about school. Relations were warm. At breakfast Xu Zhen glared as he served her food. Xu Jiu saw it clearly now — the disdain was obvious. How had she missed it before?
A knock came. The maid slipped in nervously. “Madam was speaking privately with a server yesterday. I could not hear everything.”
“Thank you. You may go.”
The maid hesitated. “Please be careful. There is much pretense here.”
At the hotel Fang Xue slipped away. Xu Zhen fawned over their father. Xu Jiu followed Fang Xue to a corridor where she met a server. He handed her something. She passed money. “Keep quiet.”
“It works perfectly — strong enough to bring down an ox.”
Xu Jiu approached holding a mop. “Selling veterinary products now? Does your employer know?”
The server paled. “It was her idea!”
“Then tell the truth.”
“I cannot — she is Xu Yongcheng’s wife.”
“Not if she falls from grace.” She smiled. “You will know what to do later.”
Inside the banquet two women gossiped nearby. “She would be nothing if the first wife had not died.” “Her daughter is marrying into the wealthy Jian family.” “That boy has a bad reputation — he hurt a girl once and paid to hush it up.”
Xu Zhen found her. “Why are you sitting alone?” She introduced the boy who leered at Xu Jiu. “This is my sister.”
Xu Jiu ignored his hand. “Who are those boys you called friends?” Three young men with dyed hair waved. They were exactly the sort Xu Zhen wanted her to be corrupted by.
They sat together. “You do not go out anymore.”
“Studies keep me busy.”
“Your family is rich — what does it matter?”
Then Liu Shuran and Jiang Jun arrived. Xu Jiu’s eyes filled. She ran to them. “Aunt Shuran I missed you so much.”
Liu Shuran embraced her. “Why are you crying? Who has upset you?”
Xu Zhen interrupted and steered everyone back. The boys pressed a drink on her. “You must be thirsty.”
“I am fine,” Xu Jiu said. “Sister has been busy — let her have it.”
Xu Zhen recoiled. “I am not thirsty!”
“So eager?” Xu Jiu feigned innocence. “Let me pour you a fresh one.”
Xu Zhen signaled frantically. The boy opened another bottle. “Let us drink together,” Xu Jiu suggested. “A toast!”
The boys cheered. The boy from the wealthy family took the cue. “Let’s drink Zhenzhen.” He had no real affection but his father insisted on the alliance. Xu Zhen drank fully. In her past life Xu Jiu had only sipped; this time she watched as the effects took hold.
She handed Xu Zhen a keycard. “Go rest. Father will call us later.”
Xu Zhen stumbled. The boy supported her toward a room. Xu Jiu hid and watched them enter. The three boys followed.
Upstairs Xu Yongcheng and Fang Xue spoke on stage. When Xu Zhen and Xu Jiu could not be found, Fang Xue suggested searching the rooms. “I fear she may have fallen in with bad company.”
Liu Shuran and Jiang Jun hurried ahead. “Yanzhi is coming — she will be safe.”
Xu Jiu waited until they reached the third floor. The server unlocked the door. Only the three boys were there playing cards. “Where is she?”
“She never came up.”
“Liar!”
Arguments broke out. Then sounds from the next room — unmistakable. Fang Xue demanded entry. Xu Yongcheng protested. “This is private.”
“I will not have her harmed!”
The door opened. Everyone froze. It was not Xu Jiu. It was Xu Zhen with the boy. She pulled the sheet up. “Why did you come in?”
Fang Xue stared. “Why are you here? Where is Xu Jiu?”
Xu Jiu stepped forward from the hallway. “Looking for me?” She nodded at the server. He broke. “She paid me! It was meant for her — I do not know how it went to the other one!”
Gasps spread. “Drugging her own stepdaughter?” “What kind of family is this?”
Fang Xue lunged. “You did this!”
Liu Shuran shielded her. Xu Yongcheng struck Fang Xue hard across the face. “How dare you harm my child?”
He turned to the guests. “Please return downstairs. We will handle this privately.”
Jiang Yanzhi arrived. “Fang Xue is involved in an attempted assault. She must come in for questioning.”
Fang Xue appealed. “Think of the family name!”
Liu Shuran stepped forward. “What about her reputation? You have let this go too far.”
Xu Jiu wiped tears. “Father I have always tried to belong. But you are their family. I am only ever a guest. Why will they not let me be?”
Xu Yongcheng’s eyes filled. “You are my daughter. Always.”
Jiang Yanzhi asked her directly. “What do you want?”
“If they are not punished they will try again. Will you protect me then?”
Silence fell. “Attempted crime is still a crime,” Jiang Yanzhi said. “Everyone involved must come.”
Xu Zhen screamed. “She is lying! That little fox!”
Liu Shuran slapped her. “Apologize.”
Xu Zhen sobbed. “She hates me — I can feel it.”
The whole group — Fang Xue, Xu Zhen, the three boys, and the server — were taken to the station. Shouting and fighting broke out in the waiting room. Accusations flew. The boys confessed everything — how they had been recruited, given instructions, and handed the keycard.
Xu Yongcheng was devastated. “How could you do this?”
“She has everything!” Xu Zhen screamed. “Why is she loved more?”
The server described Fang Xue’s instructions and payment. Fang Xue and Xu Zhen were sentenced to fifteen days’ detention and fined. The boys received seven days. The server was held one day.
Outside Xu Yongcheng promised. “I will cut all funds. They will return to the old house.”
Jiang Yanzhi watched him. “Words are easy. What of protection?”
Xu Jiu looked at him. “When they come back — will they hurt me again?”
“I will buy you a home of your own. Guards. Whatever you need.” He wept. “I failed you.”
She let him embrace her. Through his shoulder she saw Fang Xue and Xu Zhen being led away, shouting and humiliated. For once they could not hide. They would not rise above this. Not while she was there.