“Mrs. Huang, are you going out?” The caretaker smiled as he stood up, leaning on the small table to greet her warmly.
“Yes, with the incident next door, neither of us has much appetite. We’re just going out to buy some ready-made food to get by,” the old lady sighed, her eyes darting around as if she was worried about being followed.
“It’s such a pity, a nice apartment has now become a house of ill omen,” the caretaker sighed regretfully.
The old lady was not in the mood to engage in melancholic reflections with him, she nodded and hurried off.
Yi Jiayi clenched her fists, barely holding back the urge to rush out and confront her.
She didn’t have any evidence; she couldn’t just accuse someone of having a creepy laugh.
As long as the old lady didn’t suddenly start beating someone in the street, no one could just grab her. If the police couldn’t detain her and instead alerted the criminal, causing a desperate escape and possibly more harm, it would be terrible.
Yi Jiayi gritted her teeth, watched the old lady leave, then pretended to gossip, asking the caretaker:
“Is that the neighbor involved in the infant theft case? How tragic, living next to a house of ill omen. What do they do for a living? If they have money, they might as well sell the house and move.”
The caretaker loved to chat and took the bait easily:
“Yes, they live in 302, used to run a building materials shop. Later, as their son grew up and became filial, they moved here to enjoy their retirement leisurely.”
“But it’s sad, Old Huang had a serious illness a few years ago and has been in poor health since then, only expected to live another three to five years.”
“His son had a car accident last year, and now with the neighbor’s sudden death, his property value has plummeted. These days, people upstairs and downstairs say they often hear a woman crying for her child at night. His place is definitely cursed, truly bad luck.”
Yi Jiayi quietly noted this information, chatted a bit more with the caretaker, then unable to sit still any longer, she tidied up the takeout trash and made a move to leave.
The caretaker suddenly sighed again, “I heard that Old Huang’s son can’t have children after the car accident, truly tragic. He won’t be able to enjoy the blessing of grandchildren around his knees until death.”
He then earnestly advised Yi Jiayi, “You’re still young, you should find a good man to marry soon. Take advantage of your health to have sons and daughters, and enjoy a lively and happy family life. I advise you, don’t waste your time on worthless people, better to find a suitable match.”
Yi Jiayi stood at the door, her lips slightly parted, the caretaker’s words repeating in her mind: His son can’t have children, his son can’t have children…
The truth indeed lies among the people.
Yi Jiayi sincerely thanked the caretaker, then quickly ran off.
She jumped on her bicycle and pedaled furiously. Back at the police station, she anxiously pondered how to cleverly inform Team B’s investigators without arousing suspicion.
She made multiple trips downstairs, and finally, when passing by conference room B after 2 PM, she found an opportunity to peek inside.
Sir Fang and the others were not there, only Uncle Jiu was taking a chance to nap on the desk, snoring loudly like thunder.
She held her breath and scanned the huge whiteboard in front of the office, where amidst the chaotic and refined information, the words “Couple with the surname Huang, Room 302” were strikingly written.
Although this couple was not necessarily listed as suspects, it was clear that Sir Fang and his team had already questioned them and were treating them as important leads.
Her heart raced, and her ears burned with dryness as Yi Jiayi nervously looked around. Seeing no one in the corridor, she stepped into the office.
She picked up a red marker from the groove in the whiteboard and quickly circled “Couple with the surname Huang, Room 302.” Not daring to look further, she put down the pen and ran away.
The sound of Uncle Jiu’s snoring faded behind her, and Yi Jiayi could only hear her heartbeat pounding like a drum, as if about to burst her eardrums.
After stepping onto the staircase, her nerves slightly eased. She tried to take deep breaths to regulate her emotions when suddenly she heard footsteps tapping from above.
Looking up, she saw Fang Zhenyue leading the team downstairs, walking hurriedly, with Liu Jiaming not even in the mood to exchange a few words with little Jiayi.
As they passed by, Yi Jiayi turned her head at the escalator, silently praying as she watched Sir Fang’s retreating figure.
…
When Liu Jiaming returned to the office, he noticed Fang Zhenyue’s gloomy expression and promptly nudged the sleeping Lin Wangjiu.
Uncle Jiu, disturbed from his sleep, wiped the drool from his mouth, looked around blankly, and then propped his arm on the desk to wake up further.
Seeing Fang Zhenyue pull up a chair and sit pensively in front of the whiteboard, he exchanged a look with Liu Jiaming and quietly slipped out of the office to wash his face and use the restroom.
Fang Zhenyue caught a glimpse of Lin Wangjiu slipping out without a word.
Hoping the baby was still alive, he wanted to race against time to snatch life from the jaws of death. Everyone was exhausted.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, resisting the urge to sigh. No matter what, as the one in charge, he could not afford to show signs of despair or weakness.
The deceased’s husband, Zhang Zhao, vehemently claimed his wife was unfaithful, insisting that her lover must be the murderer.
However, after visiting neighbors, the doorman, market vendors, and local clinic that the deceased frequently interacted with, not a single clue suggested the presence of another suspicious man around her.
On the contrary, all pointed the finger at the deceased’s husband for being paranoid and unfaithful, accusing him of being a disgraceful scholar.
Visiting Zhang Zhao’s workplace and interviewing his suspected mistress also yielded nothing.
The alleged affair seemed to be just for show, with charm but no real affection. Moreover, at the time of the deceased’s death, Zhang Zhao was at this third party’s house, with alibis like the community gatekeeper proving his absence, quickly clearing him of suspicion.
The deceased couple were ordinary people, without enemies or particularly close friends. Most of their relatives lived in the countryside, with little contact.
The deceased was a person of gentle and timid nature, having had no conflicts with anyone over the years.
At this point in the investigation, all leads were tied off, unrelated, and directionless.
Fang Zhenyue’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed. At only 28, a permanent vertical crease had already formed between his brows.
Unlike Liu Jiaming and the others, who slumped in their chairs like salted fish, he did not give up. He stared at the whiteboard as if trying to penetrate it, fixating on every word.
Who would kill a pregnant woman?
And why steal the baby?
Was it to end the Zhang family line? To trace back to long-standing grudges against Zhang Zhao and his ancestors?
Or what use could a baby have?
Acts of a cult?
No, if that were the case, why would only one baby be harmed?
Fang Zhenyue’s gaze suddenly darted to Gary, who slumped in his chair like sludge, leaning on the back of it: “Check if there have been any unsolved cases involving missing infants or children in the city in the last six months, and look into the grievances between Zhang Zhao and his ancestors.”
“Yes,” Gary immediately responded.
Fang Zhenyue’s gaze returned, then suddenly, he noticed the words “302 Huang Couple” encircled in an unusually thick and large red circle.
His eyebrows raised. Wasn’t this red circle here before he left?
Staring for a while, he began to recall details about this neighbor couple. What was so special about them that they needed to be highlighted?
After a few seconds, a question suddenly came to his mind: Who would need a baby?
His eyes slightly narrowed, he turned and asked Liu Jiaming, “Does that elderly couple in 302 have children?”
“Yes, they have a son in his twenties, who has been married for three to four years,” Liu Jiaming recalled confidently.
Fang Zhenyue frowned and fell silent again.
A few minutes later, he pinched his nose and asked further, “Does their son have any children?”
“…” Liu Jiaming was at a loss for an answer.
“Check immediately.” Fang Zhenyue stood up, issued the command, and walked to the whiteboard, facing the red circle. Before Liu Jiaming left the room, he added, “Also check if there are any other childless neighbors in the building, or those who are infertile.”
“Yes, sir,” Liu Jiaming acknowledged and swiftly left like the wind.
About fifteen minutes later, Fang Zhenyue received a call from Liu Jiaming:
“Brother Yue, the elderly couple in room 302 only have one son, who was involved in a car accident last year and lost his ability to have children. They’ve been trying to adopt a child this year, but because the accident led them to develop a drinking problem, their application has been continuously rejected.”
Fang Zhenyue abruptly stood up and said to Lin Wangjiu, “Go apply for a search warrant.”
Lin Wangjiu looked puzzled, forcing Fang Zhenyue to briefly explain the reason for pursuing the Huang couple.
On the other end of the phone, Liu Jiaming continued reporting:
“Brother Yue, the elderly couple said they live next to a haunted house and can’t sleep well at night. They want to stay at their son’s place for a few days. The old lady has already gone downstairs to the bus station—”
“Stop her!” Fang Zhenyue quickly issued the command, “We’re coming over now. Keep an eye on those two elders and don’t let them have a chance to dispose of the baby.”
After that, Fang Zhenyue snapped the phone shut and ran out.
Lin Wangjiu was just walking in from outside. “Sir Fang, the application for the search warrant has been submitted, it will take approximately—”
“Let Sanfu hurry the search warrant, you come with me.” Fang Zhenyue said as he was already several meters away.
Lin Wangjiu hurriedly instructed Sanfu and then quickly caught up to Fang Zhenyue, whispering, “I’ve got a fake search warrant on me, just in case—”
For the sake of convenience, their team had secretly kept several fake items.
“It’s fine, just submit the real search warrant when we report the case.” Fang Zhenyue’s face was stern, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.
In the face of life, nothing else mattered.
Lin Wangjiu fell silent.
The police car was taken by others, so Fang Zhenyue decisively headed straight for his Jeep.
Lin Wangjiu got into the car, and the moment the door closed, the Jeep shot out like an arrow from a bow. The intense force slammed him back into his seat, his hands, steady enough not to tremble even when firing a gun, silently gripped the seatbelt across his chest.
Vulnerable, pitiable, helpless.
Another ride in ‘Master Fang’s’ plane, too thrilling.
…
As Fang Zhenyue’s Jeep pulled out of the garage and recklessly hit the road, Yi Jiayi stood behind the window in the small office above the police station, staring at the Jeep that roared into the distance, disappearing from view in the blink of an eye, her fists clenched at her chest.
Biting her lower lip, she invoked all the gods and Buddhas, both domestic and foreign: They must catch the culprit! Absolutely must!
Sister Yin, who always drinks tea on time, pricked up her ears, faintly hearing Yi Jiayi mutter:
“… If only I could summon Ultraman Tiga, none of this would be necessary. Without Batman’s wealth, getting bitten by a genetically modified spider would do; just watching can’t capture, it’s so frustrating…”
I don’t think these chapters got updated on novelupdates.
Thanks for the chapters!
It’s added now, thank you! 💗
wonderful translations! Very enjoyable to read thank you:)