Chapter 7 She Bit Down on the End of Her Cigarette Instinctively

The night was hazy, with dim streetlights casting a yellowish glow.

Si Hang drove on the wide road, faint light filtering through the car window, outlining his handsome profile.

A soothing pop song played softly from the stereo, the gentle voice of a female singer clean and comforting, echoing the phrase: “If it’s you, of course it’s different.”

He was surprised. Moreover, considering the twist of fate that had preceded, her clarity of mind in this restless society was somewhat rare.

However, her proposal was not enough to make him change his decision.

Although she was calm and objective now, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t become emotionally extreme later on. Besides, he had already handed the case over to Xie Kui. He didn’t deny Zhuang Zi’s suggestion; perhaps his experience was slightly more extensive. But Xie Kui handling the case wouldn’t affect its progress. He treated everyone in his team equally, and each member had their strengths. There was no need for any further action.

…

Starlight adorned the tranquil night sky, a faint moonlight enveloping the police station’s open-air parking lot.

The thin moonlight streamed into the car window, casting shadows. Zhuang Zi lay in her coat on the seat, eyes open in the dimness.

In truth, Si Hang’s decision had been faintly anticipated by her.

Yet she still held a glimmer of hope, wishing he would change his mind and agree, despite the slim probability.

It wasn’t that she doubted Xie Kui’s abilities; it was mainly her current anxiety and fear, hoping to solve the case as soon as possible. Moreover, regarding the events from two years ago, each had their own stance. Since things were already set, why stubbornly persist and delay addressing the imminent danger?

However, she had already stated her position and attitude, but the outcome was not within her control.

She bit her lip tightly, exhaled deeply through her nose, closed her eyes, feeling a sharp pain in her temples.

How she hoped that everything would come to light after dawn.

…

The dawn was breaking, the faint blush of dawn lifting the veil of night, a crisp mist enveloping the entire city.

Next to the police station was an ecological park, where many colleagues from the police station came to jog and exercise in the morning.

Si Hang was no exception.

Since he often worked overtime at night, he could only come out for morning exercises every day, except when he had cases to handle, never missing a session.

He put on his headphones, facing the sunrise, jogging along the lakeside in the park.

Just as he completed half a lap, he encountered a subordinate from his department who had recently joined the police station, smiling and greeting him, “Captain Si!”

Xiao Zhang was wearing a black T-shirt, with his back and front soaked with sweat, clearly having already run for quite some time, surprisingly earlier than Si Hang.

Si Hang nodded slightly and asked, “What time did you come?”

Xiao Zhang quickened his pace to catch up with him and said, “I had the night shift yesterday, so I’ve been at the police station since before five.”

Si Hang glanced at him.

Xiao Zhang suddenly realized that the night shift didn’t end until five o’clock. Afraid that the leader might think he neglected his duties by leaving without permission, he explained, “I’ve been assigned to protect the safety of the victim these days. But Miss Zhuang is afraid and has nowhere else to go, so she parked her car in the police station parking lot and stayed in the car overnight. That’s why I’ve been at the police station the whole time.”

“Stayed overnight in the police station parking lot?”

“Yes,” Xiao Zhang said, “sleeping in the car.”

…

Upon learning that Zhuang Zi had spent the night in her car, Jiang Zhihao insisted on taking her to a downtown hotel to stay.

After Jiang Zhihao made the suggestion, Zhuang Zi considered it. Staying in the police station parking lot was not a long-term solution. Going to a hotel was an option, as the security and surveillance facilities in hotels were more comprehensive and relatively safer.

However, she didn’t want to go downtown and already had another plan in mind.

After work, Jiang Zhihao found her downstairs at her company. It was mealtime, so they had a simple meal at a nearby restaurant.

After finishing their meal and leaving the restaurant, Jiang Zhihao said, “That hotel is managed by a classmate from my university. The environment and security facilities are quite good. Let me take you there to check it out. If you’re satisfied, you can stay there first.”

Zhuang Zi said, “I can handle where I stay myself. You don’t need to worry.”

Seeing her suddenly change her mind again, Jiang Zhihao frowned displeasedly, “We agreed on it earlier. Why are you changing your mind again? If you don’t go to the hotel, are you going to spend another night in your car?”

“The hotel across from the police station,” she said, “just in case something happens, it’s convenient to have the police nearby.”

…

The next day was Saturday, four days since Zhuang Zi’s incident early Tuesday morning.

Police work knows no holidays.

Xie Kui organized his team to gather at the station this morning for a summary and briefing.

Everyone worked efficiently, and within a day and a half, they had completed the investigation tasks as previously arranged by Xie Kui.

Regarding the residents on the same floor in Nanxin Community where Zhuang Zi lived, all their information had been thoroughly investigated.

However, they came up empty-handed.

Everyone had alibis, and since Zhuang Zi rarely interacted with others, her neighbors claimed not to know her. Therefore, the possibility of the culprit being someone from the same building was preliminarily ruled out.

“It seems that the culprit isn’t from the same floor. They managed to perfectly evade the surveillance cameras at the unit entrances. The only possibility is that the killer climbed up to the third floor from outside the Nanxin Community,” Xie Kui projected a photo of the community’s architecture onto the screen. “We’ve confirmed with the community security that there are no surveillance cameras on this part of the outer wall adjacent to the road, especially since the road is currently under BRT construction this year, and the monitoring facilities are still incomplete, making it a blind spot.”

Xiao Meng added, “If they really climbed over the wall, there are no traces of climbing tools on the wall, indicating they scaled up to the third floor using the anti-theft nets and air-conditioning units bare-handed. It was continuously raining that night, so windowsills, outer walls, and air-conditioning units didn’t leave any valuable evidence.”

Someone else remarked, “Since this person could climb up to the third floor bare-handed, they must have a hobby or participate frequently in outdoor climbing activities, and they’re quite skilled.”

Another person supplemented, “This person managed to sneak into the resident’s home several times, indicating they are very familiar with both the community environment and its surroundings. It’s likely someone from nearby residents or someone who frequents this area. But this scope is too wide, akin to finding a needle in a haystack.”

Xiao Meng continued, “Moreover, they were able to understand her home’s surveillance system and daily routines. They must have been tracking her for a long time or know her very well.”

Everyone chimed in with their thoughts and opinions, each contributing their ideas, though speculative.

Putting down his pen and notebook, Xie Kui spoke gravely, “Climbing from the first floor to the third, agile and professional, with anti-surveillance skills, it’s also possible the real murderer hired someone else to do the crime.”

As soon as this was said, everyone’s expressions turned serious.

Xie Kui decided to call Zhuang Zi back to the station for a more detailed discussion. If someone she knew well was indeed skilled in climbing, the case might soon be solved.

On Saturday, Zhuang Zi didn’t need to work and stayed in the hotel opposite the police station.

When she received the call, she was studying a book on criminal psychology that Detective Xiao Zhang had brought over last night while helping her pack.

Since it wasn’t far away, Zhuang Zi arrived at the station in five minutes.

In the small meeting room, Xie Kui briefed her on the investigation results and deductions. When Zhuang Zi heard the words “hired someone to do the crime,” a chill crept up from her feet, freezing her chest, making her body stiff.

Her face turned pale, her features worn and weary.

She couldn’t understand, couldn’t fathom who could hate her so deeply?

“Think back carefully,” Xie Kui’s tone was heavy. “It might not be someone you directly know but someone who indirectly came into contact with you through your acquaintances.”

Zhuang Zi furrowed her brow in thought for a moment, but her mind remained blank. The people she knew were few, and almost none were sports enthusiasts. Moreover, she didn’t have time for outdoor activities, let alone meet people in that circle.

Shaking her head slowly, she said, “The people I know are just ordinary office workers.”

After a moment’s thought, she added, “Maybe they go to the gym frequently, but I’m not sure what activities they practice.”

Xie Kui had already considered this, so for now, they would start investigating her colleagues at work.

Since it was the weekend and no one from the company was at work, Xie Kui asked her to leave her colleagues’ phone numbers with him and go back first. If she remembered any key information, she must call him immediately.

On her way back to the hotel, Zhuang Zi meticulously recalled all the acquaintances she knew, but she couldn’t think of anyone with whom she had any grievances.

She furrowed her brows, looking up at the grey sky covered in thick clouds, feeling a sense of oppression.

…

After Zhuang Zi left, Xie Kui took another officer and visited each colleague who had left their phone number.

However, by the end of the morning, there was still no progress.

There were a few regular gym-goers among them, but they all did indoor sports, a fact verified by the gym’s instructors.

Back in the office, Xie Kui planned to grab a meal and then continue his research. As he left the meeting room, he noticed that only Si Hang’s office door was open, and the large office was deserted. Today, everyone was on vacation except for a few workaholics who never took weekends off unless on special assignments.

He approached Si Hang’s office to see if he wanted to go out together; the police station cafeteria was closed today, so they could grab a meal outside on the way.

Next to the police station was a Cantonese restaurant that had been open for nearly ten years, offering reasonably priced dishes. Many colleagues frequented it, and the owner was well-known to them.

As they entered, they bumped into Xiao Zhao, another officer from their team, already dining there. He greeted them cheerfully, “Si Hang, Xie Ge.”

The three of them ended up sharing a table.

“Are you two working overtime again today?” Xiao Zhao asked.

“Yeah, there’s been no progress on Zhuang Zi’s case; we can’t afford to delay,” Xie Kui sighed, then changed the subject, asking, “Was Zhuang Zi still at the police station last night?”

Xiao Zhang and Xiao Zhao took turns ensuring Zhuang Zi’s safety 24 hours a day. Xie Kui thought Xiao Zhao was here because Zhuang Zi was still at the station.

“She stayed at the hotel across the street last night,” Xiao Zhao chuckled. “She’s the first woman I’ve met who’s both timid and stubborn.”

Xie Kui chuckled too, “Indeed. Scared yet refuses to stay with relatives for fear of burdening them; that’s quite rare.”

Si Hang listened quietly to their conversation, lighting a cigarette he pulled from his pocket.

Xiao Zhao teased, “It’s not convenient for her to stay at her sister-in-law’s place.”

Xie Kui joined in the laughter.

Xiao Zhao continued, “But her brother-in-law really cares about her. It seems like he cares a bit too much.”

Interested in this gossip, Xie Kui asked, “What do you mean?”

Xiao Zhao recounted how Jiang Zhihao had wanted to book a hotel for Zhuang Zi the previous night. “Zhuang Zi wanted to stay at the budget hotel across from the station, and he was deeply concerned she might not find it comfortable. In my view, this brother-in-law’s feelings toward his sister-in-law aren’t entirely straightforward. If you didn’t know better, you’d think they were real siblings, the way he’s always taking care of her. Zhuang Zi, on the other hand, always keeps her distance, and you can’t tell if anything’s amiss.”

Si Hang quietly smoked, showing no expression.

Xie Kui teased him, “You must be enjoying this, getting a real-life free melodrama.”

Xiao Zhao smirked and nodded towards a window in another corner of the restaurant. “Look who’s here again today.”

The three glanced over.

Zhuang Zi and Jiang Zhihao were seated by the window, quite far away. From their angle, Jiang Zhihao was partially obscured by a sofa chair, so they could only see Zhuang Zi’s profile.

Above them hung a warm-colored pendant light, casting a halo over her head.

Today, she wore a gray hooded coat with a white fleece collar, accentuating her light makeup, making her look more delicate and fresh, with an air of refinement.

She picked at her food without much appetite.

Si Hang withdrew his gaze expressionlessly and unconsciously bit down on his cigarette butt.