Surveying the cliff-top slope was extremely difficult, as if lives were at risk with every job.
After searching the entire slope and having the police dogs run a big loop along the road, and the lab technicians completed their survey of the areas where evidence was collected, it was almost over 4 hours later.
Although it was cold in the early morning mountains, many people’s foreheads were sweaty.
It was all from exhaustion.
Jiayi, along with Ah Wei, collected many details nearby. Whether these clues pointed to useful information for the case, they had to wait for the lab results and a comparison analysis of numerous clues to be sure.
Senior lab technician Teresa confirmed the end of the survey, stretched lazily, and turned to Fang Zhenyue:
“Based on the existing footprints and the splatter and trails of blood, it appears that the victim was injured before getting out of the car.
“The marks captured by Officer Yi and Ah Wei at the turn indicate that the victim likely jumped out of the car while it was slowing down to turn, and then the car braked sharply— from this sequence, the driver was the aggressor, and the one who jumped out was the victim.”
“OK,” nodded Fang Zhenyue.
Jiayi stood by, recording everything Teresa said.
“Judging from the tire tracks, the car was a medium to small model, typical of family cars, TAXIs, and our four-seater police cars. To determine the exact model, we need to go back for more tests and analysis, but there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to figure it out,” Teresa said, massaging her temples and resisting the urge to yawn.
“Understood,” said Fang Zhenyue.
“Based on the amount of blood found, if the tests confirm it belongs to the same person, then that person is most likely dead. But we can only be sure after testing back at the police station. Sir Fang, let’s call it a night and start the tests first thing tomorrow morning at the station, how about that?” Teresa gestured for Ah Wei and Man to pack up and leave.
Fang Zhenyue nodded earnestly, “Thank you, Madam-T.”
“You’re welcome, colleagues from CID have also worked hard,” Teresa politely smiled and then turned to walk to the car they came in.
“That’s it for today, everyone has worked hard,” Fang Zhenyue walked towards Uncle Jiu and others, “Uncle Jiu, be careful on the way back.”
“Ai, sounds like another homicide case,” Uncle Jiu scratched his head, massaging himself to stay alert. There was still a drive ahead, and he needed to stay sharp.
“Hopefully the victim isn’t dead yet, but if not taken to a hospital, as Teresa said, they’re probably not alive,” said Fang Zhenyue, waving his hand, “Let’s not think about it now, go rest. Tomorrow morning I’ll arrange for everyone to visit hospitals and check the residences along the sections of Shixun Road and Central District’s missing person reports, and also identify the victim based on the forensic report.”
“Yes, sir,” Liu Jiaming responded loudly, then bade Fang Zhenyue and Jiayi goodnight before returning to Uncle Jiu’s car side.
In a car, four detectives, after securely closing the doors, turned the vehicle around to head downhill. As they passed by Fang Zhenyue and Jiayi, they each popped their heads out of the car windows to say goodbye.
Fang Zhenyue and Jiayi stood shoulder to shoulder, waving goodbye with their right hands, their movements almost identical.
Liu Jiaming retracted his head, and just before he closed his eyes to doze off, he blinked and turned to ask Gary:
“Do you think Eleven has a chance with Brother Yue?”
“Asking that now, don’t you feel ashamed as a detective?” Gary yawned, clearly exhausted but still spirited enough to tease Liu Jiaming.
The need for sleep was there, but of course, teasing a brother was even more crucial.
“Really?” Liu Jiaming scratched his head.
“But, you know, tonight all the Yi family are staying at Brother Yue’s big villa,” Gary said, tilting his head enviously.
“Yeah, Brother Yue gets headaches when he’s home alone, doesn’t he? He definitely won’t tonight. Even if he can’t sleep, it won’t hurt anymore, right? A house full of people brings good vibes.” Uncle Jiu was multitasking—steering, accelerating, and looking around, but still managed to join in on the gossip.
“Sometimes I think, if I were a woman, would chasing Brother Yue land me a spot in his big villa too?” Gary couldn’t help fantasizing.
“What do you mean? Is that related to my question? I mean, about Eleven and Brother Yue, is there something there?” Liu Jiaming was agitatedly rubbing his hands.
“What are you talking about?” Gary raised an eyebrow and chuckled. And it was obviously you, Liu Jiaming, who steered the conversation off course.
“What what?” Sanfu also laughed out loud.
“What what what?” Uncle Jiu turned the steering wheel through a curve and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Do you all know something?” Liu Jiaming was driven to comical fury by the three, shouting loudly.
“Want to know?” Gary asked.
“Yeah, tell me!” Liu Jiaming grabbed onto Sanfu’s seat, eagerly pressing for gossip. He wasn’t sleepy anymore when it came to juicy news.
“See for yourself with your own eyes,” Uncle Jiu said, laughing as he spoke for Gary.
“Whatever!” Liu Jiaming waved dismissively, leaned back in his seat, crossed his arms, and turned his head. His eyes shifted as a sudden inspiration struck: these guys all rely on sight, what’s that count for, can they interrogate, huh?
The eyewitness Jiaru definitely couldn’t be asked, her answers might whimsically run off to the Atlantic…
Jiayi, being such an honest person, definitely wouldn’t lie.
He decided he would ask Jiayi directly later.
Thinking this, Liu Jiaming disdainfully glanced at the other three in the car. Being a detective, just observing isn’t enough, right? You need to visit, screen, and seek eyewitnesses to inquire. And most directly, of course, ask the person involved themselves.
It was he, Liu Jiaming, who was the smartest, huh.
….
….
Fang Zhenyue and Jiayi bid farewell to the detectives of Team B and greeted the K-9 unit.
The dog handler approached and saluted Fang Zhenyue first, then reported:
“The police dogs have searched the area, and there are no additional scents from the victim or the perpetrator nearby. The main crime scene should be around here.”
Pointing out an area to Fang Zhenyue, the handler continued:
“We haven’t found a body or any other clues. Is it possible that after the victim and perpetrator left the car and had a confrontation, they got back into the car?”
“It’s very possible. Thanks for everyone’s hard work tonight,” Fang Zhenyue patted the dog handler on the shoulder.
Jiayi crouched down and, with the handler’s nod, petted the proud German Shepherd, Eleven, sitting at the handler’s feet.
The usually serious Eleven couldn’t help but stick out his tongue and wag his tail against the ground after just a couple of pats.
After a friendly interaction, the dog handlers and their K-9s also said goodbye and descended the mountain.
At a sharp turn at the mountain top, only Fang Zhenyue and Jiayi were left. They watched the vehicles drive away, exchanged glances, and simultaneously let out a big yawn.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
They then walked leisurely, following the winding road uphill.
Jiayi still held the baseball bat Fang Zhenyue had given her for self-defense and couldn’t help but imagine that if someone drove by now, seeing her with the robust Brother Yue, they would probably think they were highway robbers.
The already quiet mountaintop was eerily silent in the early hours. The mountain wind rustled the trees, amplifying every sound. In the sparsely lit sections of the road, the surrounding trees cast menacing shadows, and all natural sounds seemed like eerie noises.
Memories of horror films she had seen suddenly came flooding back. Jiayi looked around nervously, feeling as though monsters were lurking in every dark spot, waiting to pounce.
At such a moment, she was glad to have Fang Zhenyue by her side. Otherwise, even with a baseball bat, Jiayi would likely be running scared of ghosts and darkness instead of leisurely strolling and occasionally turning to admire the distant night sea and the stars overhead.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll drive. I’ll drop you at the police station first, then head to Sham Shui Po to drop Brother Jiadong at Yi Ji, and take the little ones to school,” Fang Zhenyue spoke after a long silence, planning the timing and sequence of dropping everyone off at work and school.
“Thanks, Brother Yue,” Jiayi stamped her feet and turned to ask, “How about we run back?”
“A race?”
“No, the air is so fresh on the mountaintop, and there are no pedestrians or vehicles. It would be a waste not to run and exercise a bit.”
“It’s the middle of the night, and running after staying up late doesn’t sound very healthy.”
“Uh… seems like it.” Could this be considered cyber healthcare? Staying up all night and using the most expensive facial masks…
Both of them then fell silent again, probably too exhausted to start another conversation.
They walked quietly as if to the ends of the earth. Jiayi was beginning to feel sleepy by the time they finally reached Brother Yue’s grand villa.
“Take advantage of this sleepiness to take a bath and get a good night’s sleep. There’s more to be busy with tomorrow.” Fang Zhenyue led Jiayi to the bathroom door, prepared a new towel for her, and left after giving her instructions.
Jiayi nodded groggily, locked the door, and started to undress and shower.
She put on a new T-shirt provided by Fang Zhenyue that he had never worn before, and looking down, it was so long it almost reached her knees. Despite being a relatively tall woman, wearing Yue’s T-shirt still had such an effect.
Avoiding the abrasions on the palms and insides of her fingers, she held the new towel to dry her hair while pushing the bathroom door open to leave the room.
She found a cup of warm water placed at the door, shook it, and it was filled with warm water.
She felt very thirsty after the shower.
There was also a tube of ointment for external injuries and a pair of gloves to prevent accidental touches during sleep that might hurt her wounds.
Jiayi stood at the bathroom door, breathed in the moist and warm air, gently closed her eyes, and silently savored the sudden feeling of tipsiness.
It was as if she could still feel the warm water cascading over her body, hot and comfortable.
But this time, what baptized her entire body was not hot water and steam, but Fang Zhenyue’s silent tenderness.
When she opened her eyes again, these silent inanimate objects seemed to say:
“I will support what you want to do, and then prepare warm water and medicine for you.”
Jiayi felt the rarest kind of respect one can have in relationships. When she decided to descend the steep slope, he did not nag about the potential injuries to her palms, arms, and shins.
But he kept these concerns in his mind, took care of the follow-up matters for her, and then chose to support her.
Brother Yue always respected her choices, supporting her through every transformation required on this broad avenue, every difficult path she needed to navigate.
Whether it was a sudden whim she wanted to try, or a desire to prove herself.
But as she strived to strengthen her chest and build her strength, he also prepared a safe and warm haven for her when she was tired and hurt.
This is the best kind of relationship, and it is the care Jiayi never dared to expect when she embarked on this special ‘career.’
No wonder everyone willing to follow him would charge into any battle with Yue.
Jiayi pursed her lips, hugged these items, looked toward the master bedroom for a while, then turned and walked to the guest bedroom that Brother Yue had arranged for her.