After returning to the Municipal Bureau, Chang Bin saw the two of them walk into the office and immediately beckoned to He Shu with a mysterious look. When she approached him suspiciously, he lowered his voice and said:
“Captain He, I heard that the Cold Case Unit and the Technical Division may have uncovered a major lead together. Did you two find anything? Don’t let them beat you to it!”
Zeng Yongjia caught part of the conversation and rushed over in a single stride. “What? What lead?”
Scratching his head, Chang Bin replied, “I only heard about it in the break room. I just took some time to stop by the Technical Division, thinking I might be able to get something out of Ding Qi. But the cold case team was there too, so I came back.” He paused before urging them again. “Come on, tell me. How did today’s trip go?”
“We dug up a truckload of juicy scandals involving the director of Aimani Medical Cosmetic Hospital. His chaotic private life has made me lose a little faith in humanity…” Zeng Yongjia replied dramatically, acting like a stage performer. Halfway through his exaggerated display, he happened to glance at He Shu’s expressionless face beside him. Startled, he immediately withdrew his theatrics and stood up straight like a well-behaved student.
“We learned some key information about Xin Li. Our next step should be to contact Gu Weiwei, the woman who introduced her to Aiman for cosmetic surgery. According to Director Wang Wenping, both of them were involved in the flesh trade.”
“We also need to contact Wang Wenping’s wife,” He Shu added after he finished speaking. “As soon as possible.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
At around two o’clock that afternoon, He Shu had just stepped out of the elevator when she saw two people standing in the corridor outside the interrogation rooms. They appeared to be members of the Cold Case Task Force. Their discussion could be heard clearly even from a distance.
“Hey… is the person inside the important witness the special task force just brought in?”
“I think so. I ran into them downstairs when they were coming up. No idea what they’ll manage to get out of that person…”
“Maybe we can ask around later and find out…” One of them had just finished speaking when he noticed the woman approaching. He quickly tugged hard on his companion’s sleeve, and the two hurried off in the opposite direction.
He Shu could not help finding the situation both amusing and exasperating. It seemed that the competition between the special task force and the Cold Case Team had truly reached a fever pitch. Everyone was afraid of falling even a single step behind and having others snatch away an important lead first.
She walked to the interrogation room door and glanced inside through the glass. Then she opened the door to the small adjoining observation room. From there, she could clearly see and hear everything taking place in the interrogation room next door.
Inside, Chang Bin and Xie Zihao were questioning a woman dressed rather provocatively and wearing immaculate makeup. She was undeniably beautiful, yet something about her appearance looked unnatural. Perhaps she had undergone too many cosmetic procedures. The muscles in her face barely seemed to move along with her expressions.
“I remember Xin Li.”
After He Shu pressed a button, the woman’s somewhat puzzled voice came through the monitoring equipment.
“But I haven’t seen her for a long time. The last time we met was last year, I think.” Gu Weiwei was not entirely sure. She frowned and thought for quite a while before finally giving a vague timeframe.
“Weren’t you two pretty close? When Xin Li went to get cosmetic surgery, wasn’t it you who introduced her to the clinic?” Chang Bin asked. “Does Miss Gu usually do this? Not contact her friends for an entire year?”
“No wonder.” Gu Weiwei let out a cold laugh. “I was wondering why you’d come to me while investigating Xin Li. So you went to ‘Aimani,’ huh? What, since you already know about our relationship, do you not know that she slept with my man? Why would I stay in touch with a friend who wanted to steal my boyfriend?”
“According to Wang Wenping, both you and Xin Li worked under someone called ‘Brother Shan.’ In his words… it was a case of ‘goods delivered, payment made’…” Xie Zihao deliberately phrased it vaguely, his tone full of implication.
As expected, Gu Weiwei’s expression changed instantly. She slammed a hand on the table and glared angrily.
“That bastard actually said that about me? Fine, it’s true. I used to be in that line of work. So what? After I got together with him, I quit for good. I stayed by his side for almost two years without complaints, without regrets, never asking for any status or recognition. And in the end, he can dump me whenever he wants and slander me whenever he wants? How does he get all the benefits?”
“‘Goods delivered, payment made’? How dare he say that? Do you know how much money it would have cost to keep me for two years?” the woman cursed. “Damn it. I should’ve sued him for rape back then and ruined his reputation. I never should have gone soft on him!”
“And that bitch, what happened to her this time that made her drag me into it again? Let me make this clear first: I have absolutely nothing to do with Brother Shan and his people anymore. If they got swept up in some vice crackdown, don’t come looking for me.”
“Xin Li has been confirmed dead,” Chang Bin said flatly, watching with satisfaction as the woman’s mouth fell open in shock. He continued, “According to the medical examiner, she died nearly a year ago. In other words, right after she slept with your man.”
“It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” Gu Weiwei practically screamed. “You can hardly find a three-legged toad in this world, but three-legged men are everywhere. Do you really think I’d kill someone over Wang Wenping?!”
Chang Bin leaned back leisurely in his chair. “That’s not what you were saying a moment ago.”
“That was just something I said in anger. Xin Li never followed the rules of the trade. Sure, we were in that line of work back then, but that doesn’t mean you can go around stealing other people’s clients!” The woman looked aggrieved. At this point, she pouted and continued, “Later on, I realized she had no intention of sticking with Wang Wenping long-term. She was new to the business then and didn’t have much money, so I let it go. It was just that I found her annoying whenever I saw her. After that, I left that circle completely and cut ties with all those people!”
“Really!” she repeated several times, trying to convince the two men across from her. “I thought if I could hang on to Wang Wenping, maybe I’d get lucky and end up as a wealthy wife someday, spending my days buying handbags and drinking tea. Who could have known that this bastard was all show? He was terrified of his wife…”
Gu Weiwei suddenly stopped speaking. Then her eyes gradually widened.
“I’m telling you, there’s a good chance Xin Li was killed by Wang Wenping’s wife! That woman is incredibly formidable. Maybe she found out about the relationship between Wang Wenping and Xin Li and, in a fit of rage…” She raised a hand and drew it across her throat in a throat-slitting gesture.
Chang Bin stared at her for a long moment before speaking. “You were with Wang Wenping for two years. Shouldn’t his wife have hated you the most? You’re still perfectly fine. How is it that Xin Li only slept with him twice and ended up getting targeted?”
“How would I know?” Gu Weiwei spread her hands, rolled her eyes, and shook her head. “Maybe she was too careless. Or maybe she got too full of herself. After climbing into his bed a couple of times, she started thinking she was something special and deliberately provoked the wife.”
“…”
He Shu had been standing there the entire time with her arms crossed, observing the situation in the interrogation room and carefully analyzing the woman’s micro-expressions through the surveillance monitor. Just then, the phone in her hand vibrated.
She answered and listened as someone on the other end spoke rapidly for a few moments. Then she responded, “Bring her over.”
A few minutes later, seeing that Chang Bin and the others showed no sign of wrapping up the questioning, she stepped out.
Outside the interrogation room at the end of the hallway, she tilted her head and glanced at a young man sitting on a nearby waiting bench. Her gaze lingered only briefly before moving on. She then reached out, pushed open the door, and slipped into the interrogation room.
Inside, Zeng Yongjia had already arrived and was organizing some documents. Sitting across from him was a middle-aged society matron dressed in unmistakable luxury. She wore a neat ear-length bob haircut and a pair of sunglasses perched on her nose. Her designer skirt suit was from an internationally renowned luxury brand, and on her feet were red-soled high heels. Even a conservative estimate would put the handbag beside her in the six-figure range.
“Captain He,” Zeng Yongjia greeted her, straightening up.
Hearing the commotion, the elegant woman lowered her head slightly and looked at He Shu through the gap above her sunglasses. Then, unhurriedly, she raised a hand and removed them. With a faint smile, she said, “Whatever you need to ask, let’s get started quickly. I’m in a hurry.”
After receiving a nod from He Shu, Zeng Yongjia began the routine questioning.
“Name?”
“Cao Mingqing.”
“Age?”
“Forty-two.”
After that, the woman patiently answered several routine, inconsequential questions. Then she suddenly rested her arms on the interrogation table and curved her red lips into a slight smile.
“I’m sure the police value their time as much as I value mine. I know exactly why you brought me here today, so we can skip straight to the point.”
He Shu smiled. “Mrs. Wang…”
“No…” Cao Mingqing interrupted her. “Although I’m married, I don’t like that form of address. Just call me by my name.”
He Shu readily obliged. “How do you happen to know what our purpose is, Ms. Cao?”
“Strictly speaking, Aimani Medical Aesthetics belongs to me. Whatever happens on my turf, I know about it.” The woman curled her lips into a cool smile. “Isn’t it just that one of the women who used to be involved with Wang Wenping died?”
“You know your husband has been unfaithful?” Zeng Yongjia was genuinely surprised. Earlier that morning, Wang Wenping had been so timid that Zeng had assumed he had a jealous tigress waiting for him at home. Now it seemed that was not the case at all. Wang Wenping’s fear appeared completely pointless. He had practically been scared into wetting his pants.
“Unfaithful?” Cao Mingqing said with a look of disdain. “Which affair are you talking about? Over the years there have been at least eight, if not ten. If you aren’t more specific, I honestly can’t remember which one you mean.”
She paused, then added: “Oh, and you must have already brought in that little temptress who was with my husband for two years, right? I saw her car downstairs just now. Though I think they’ve broken it off recently. After all, her face looks more and more fake these days. She’s completely lost that tender, youthful charm she used to have. Wang Wenping probably isn’t interested anymore.”
“From the way you describe things, Ms. Cao, it sounds as if Director Wang only achieved his current success because of you,” He Shu said, raising an eyebrow. “Given that he has been sneaking around behind your back with other women, aren’t you angry at all?”
The woman looked as though she had just heard something particularly amusing. Unhurriedly, she crossed her right leg over her left and settled into a very relaxed posture.
“Officer He, you still look quite young. Once you reach my age, you’ll understand that a woman can have more in life than just her family. I’m a businesswoman, pure and simple. Wang Wenping has a top-tier reputation in the cosmetic surgery field. As long as he stays at the hospital, he creates greater value for me. Why would I divorce him when things are going so well?”
“In other words, the business, the cars, the houses, they’re all mine. He’s just the old workhorse who keeps his head down and makes money. His little hobby of fooling around with women only costs him some pocket money to spend on them. After all these years, even if he hasn’t done anything exceptional, he’s at least worked hard. I’m very generous.”
After listening to this, He Shu nodded. “So you didn’t know Xin Li.”
“Why would I know her?” Cao Mingqing casually lifted her eyelids. “I also know what your police department is thinking. You suspect I had something to do with this woman’s death. I didn’t care about Gu Weiwei, who was with him for two years. Why would I care about someone who only checked into a hotel with him a few times? Take a good look. If Wang Wenping and that woman sitting outside were standing in front of you together, which one would be more pleasing to the eye?”
“Director Wang has a refined, scholarly appearance. He looks well-educated and is quite presentable,” He Shu replied.
“Surely you’re joking, Officer He.” Cao Mingqing laughed. “Wang Wenping is a middle-aged man who’s put on weight and spends all day slicking his hair back with styling gel. He’s the very picture of a greasy middle-aged uncle. How could he possibly compare to a young stud? That one outside is young, energetic, and even has an eight-pack. I’ve had plenty of men like that over the years. When I get tired of one, I simply move on to the next. Tell me, why would I care about my husband’s private life? Are young men not enough to make me happy?”
She put her sunglasses back on, picked up her handbag, and stood. “I really do have something important to take care of today. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, feel free to call me anytime. I’ll cooperate fully with the investigation. My apologies.”
With that, she swayed her hips, pulled open the door, and walked out.
After gathering up the documents, Zeng Yongjia hurried to the doorway and peeked out. Watching the woman walk away arm in arm with the young man, he couldn’t help clicking his tongue in amazement.
“Captain He, don’t you think she’s living every woman’s dream? I have to admit, I admire her.”
He Shu didn’t respond. She picked up the case file and headed toward the elevators.
“Huh? Wait for me!” Zeng Yongjia jogged a couple of steps to catch up, falling into stride beside her. “Honestly, that husband-and-wife pair is really something. Somehow I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Wang Wenping now…”
…
Night fell. The streetlights outside had already come on, and the number of cars on the road had begun to thin.
It was the same small conference room as before. The Special Case Unit members sat across from the Cold Case Team. Ji Chen sat frowning, silently flipping through the case documents.
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the room, making it hard to breathe.
After a long while, Ji Chen finally spoke. His deep, resonant voice broke the silence.
“Over the past two days, we’ve started with the physical evidence currently available in both cases. After an exhaustive investigation, we’ve finally found a piece of evidence that can connect the two victims.”
After Ji Chen finished speaking, Hou Zibo distributed the documents to everyone on the task force and then explained: “In the woven bags that contained the bodies at both crime scenes, aside from the clothing that had already decomposed, we also found another substance: polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.”
As he spoke, he picked up two photographs of the evidence and placed them side by side for comparison.
“After repeated testing by the Technical Division, the conclusion is that the material was most likely colored PVC ribbon. You can tell from the photos that, because of the underwater environment and various other external factors, both pieces of evidence were severely damaged and had lost their original shape. However, the technicians worked hard to reconstruct them. The reconstruction results indicate that they were two ribbons made from the same material, each approximately half a meter long.”
“The material itself isn’t unusual. At present, we still can’t determine the source of these ribbons, and further investigation is needed,” Ji Chen concluded. Then he looked up at the people sitting across from him. “How is your side progressing?”
He Shu responded candidly, presenting the day’s discoveries in a clear, organized manner. As she spoke, she also incorporated the task force’s subsequent analysis of the evidence.
Everyone present listened attentively.
The members of the Cold Case Unit focused on committing every key point to memory, while no one from the task force showed any dissatisfaction or attempted to interrupt.
At least at this moment, the objectives of the two teams were completely aligned. Solving the case and catching the killer was what mattered most. As for who would ultimately win or lose, that could be discussed afterward.
“Brother Shan…” Ji Chen tapped the table twice with his pen. “I’ll get in touch with some colleagues from the vice squad later and see whether they’re familiar with this person. But what about Gu Weiwei? She can’t get in contact with Brother Shan?”
“Gu Weiwei claims that when she left that line of work, she had a falling-out with Brother Shan. Later, because she wanted to make a clean break from everyone connected to that life, she deleted all their contact information,” He Shu replied, shaking her head.
Ji Chen did not comment further. Instead, the discussion shifted to other matters.
About an hour later, a knock sounded at the door. A delivery driver, his face flushed red, walked in carrying four large bags of food.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Let’s eat first,” Ji Chen said after seeing that both teams had more or less finished exchanging updates on their investigations.
Many of them were already starving, so no one stood on ceremony. Within seconds, the conference room was filled with the aroma of food, and the atmosphere became noticeably lighter and more relaxed.
The Special Case Unit and the Cold Case Unit rarely had the opportunity to sit down and eat face-to-face like this. Yet the mood was surprisingly harmonious.
Most importantly, both team leaders were present, so nobody dared get too rowdy.
“After everything that happened today, I’ve honestly started to feel a little hopeless about married life. It’s completely shattered any fantasies I had about it,” Zeng Yongjia lamented. He then stuffed a huge mouthful of shredded potatoes into his mouth and mumbled to the person beside him, “Old Chang, tell me, does a marriage like that even mean anything?”
Chang Bin let out a snort.
“Try finding a girlfriend before you start talking about that. You haven’t even learned to walk and you’re already thinking about running. You’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“If you ask me,” Hou Zibo chimed in, “Wang Wenping and Cao Mingqing were a mismatched couple from the start. Who knows how they even ended up together? If you’re going to get married, you should marry someone you actually like.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Ji Chen, who was quietly eating at the front of the room. His eyes darted around, making it obvious he was plotting something. After swallowing his food, he finally asked: “Chief Ji, have you ever been in a relationship before?”
“Pffft…” Zeng Yongjia nearly sprayed rice from his mouth. Hastily jumping into the conversation, he said, “Who doesn’t know that Chief Ji is a famous workaholic? All kinds of criminal cases are basically his girlfriends.”
Unexpectedly, just as Ji Chen was reaching out with his chopsticks to pick up some food, they paused in midair. Then he replied: “I have.”
Holy shit?!
For a moment, everyone was so shocked that no one noticed the subtle, somewhat unusual reaction on He Shu’s face.
Hou Zibo hadn’t expected that a casual question would uncover such a juicy revelation. He hurriedly pressed on: “Seriously? Really? What kind of extraordinary person was she? Chief Ji, now I’m really curious. What kind of woman do you like? The glamorous type? Curvy and stunningly beautiful?”
“Vulgar.” Chang Bin laughed and scolded him. “I think Chief Ji likes the innocent, pure type.”
Everyone began offering their own opinions, and the discussion grew more and more ridiculous.
Finally, Ji Chen sat there without even lifting his head and replied: “What kind? A living one. Female.”
“…”
The corners of He Shu’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
“There had to be something special about her, right?” Hou Zibo was clearly dissatisfied with that answer and immediately followed up.
Ji Chen appeared to think seriously for quite a while before answering: “Does being able to eat count?”
Crack. The disposable chopsticks in He Shu’s hand snapped cleanly in two. Faced with the strange look Zeng Yongjia shot her from beside her, she could only force an awkward smile. “Poor quality.”
Then she reached into the bag and pulled out a brand-new pair of wooden chopsticks. In the course of doing so, she completely ignored the gaze that had been resting on her for quite some time.