Chapter 10 "So pitiful..."

On the way back to the police station, the atmosphere in the car was lively.

Xu Jiale patted the back of the driver's seat and teased, "Boss, we've solved a ten-year cold case, shouldn't we treat everyone to a Wagyu beef feast to celebrate?"

"That'll have to wait until Ah Tou gets a promotion and a raise!" Zeng Yongshan laughed. "How about we go to the usual place, Rong Ji, for abalone rice?"

Zhu Qing was about to speak—

"The whole team together." Mo Zhenbang turned the steering wheel with one hand, and the car turned onto Nathan Road. "No matter how big the matter is, it's not as big as abalone rice."

After days of tension, the officers finally relaxed, and the pressure that had been weighing on their minds vanished.

"I didn't expect the case to be solved so quickly. Once the forensic department and the medical examiner's office release their reports, the case can be closed."

"Thinking back now, when Bobo died, Sheng Peishan insisted that we stay to investigate. For Chen Chaosheng, it was like being slowly cut with a dull knife. That was murder. He only broke down now. His mental fortitude is really strong."

"Wait, let me page my phone." Mo Zhenbang's pager went off. He turned on his turn signal and parked the car on the side of the road.

"Is it your wife checking up on you?"

"Sister-in-law, you don't have that kind of face. It must be the little girl!"

"I've got it. Next time I go to Mo Sir's house for hot pot, I'll complain to his wife!"

While Zeng Yongshan and Xu Jiale were bickering, Uncle Li took the opportunity to explain to them how "cheesy" Mo Zhenbang was when he was pursuing his sister-in-law.

When Mo Zhenbang returned, he had several bags of steaming hot egg waffles in his hands, and the aroma instantly filled the entire carriage.

“Aren’t you all in a hurry?” Mo Zhenbang said. “My daughter wants to eat egg waffles from Wah Wong Cafe.”

Apart from Uncle Li, the rest of Group B are young people. Mo Zhenbang isn't that old, but as the one who always covers for everyone, he habitually treats them like children.

Each person was given an egg waffle, which shut Zeng Yongshan and Xu Jiale up. Zhu Qing also took one and ate it in small bites, the aroma melting between her lips and teeth.

Mo Zhenbang lived in the back alley of Yau Ma Tei Police Station. As he carried egg waffles upstairs, Xu Jiale's mutterings drifted out of the car window.

"I was looking up old photos of Ho Ka-yee at Hong Kong University this afternoon when I got a phone call and had to come back. Who would have thought I'd get to eat abalone rice for free tonight?"

Xu Jiale took a photo out of the evidence bag.

That was a group photo posted in the school's journalism department's display window, with He Jiaer participating as an outstanding student representative.

"It's actually the Hong Kong News New Talent Program? It's quite a grand affair, even the souvenirs are gold-plated, they must have spent a lot of money... He Jia'er, her future was originally so bright." Zeng Yongshan sighed, "That bastard Chen Chaosheng, how could he have the nerve to promise to buy her a villa in the Mid-Levels? He himself is still living off the Sheng family, his food, clothing and daily necessities are all supported by Miss Sheng the Second!"

"He's a fake! He always wears a fake smile in front of Sheng Peishan... Of course, a rich heiress with hundreds of millions in assets has to be served."

"Zeng Yongshan, you're just a Monday morning quarterback!"

Zhu Qing's fingertips were still tracing the edge of the photo, her brows gradually furrowing: "Have you noticed that this person looks very familiar?"

Several heads crowded around.

“This man,” Zhu Qing pointed to the corner of the photo, “seems familiar.”

"A middle-aged man wearing glasses and a suit, with a refined and cultured demeanor... the HKU law school and journalism school have plenty of them!"

Zhu Qing looked out the window at the sunlight and repeatedly adjusted the angle of the photo: "Can I keep this photo for now?"

"Take it, we'll return it to He Jia'er's parents after the case is closed." Xu Jiale tossed the evidence bag over, "If the forensic department doesn't need to keep it on file."

...

The next morning, Mr. Weng appeared at the door of Team B's office on time.

He hummed a little tune as he pushed open the door, his leather shoes gleaming, his suit impeccably tailored, and his radiant smile a stark contrast to his appearance just days before.

"Well done. Solving this skeleton case in 48 hours is incredibly efficient."

"I heard you had a celebration party last night? Then I won't spend any more money."

Among the officers in Group B, the younger officers remained silent, while Uncle Li enthusiastically counted the floor tiles.

Mo Zhenbang could only force a smile and exchange a few polite words with Weng Sir.

Zeng Yongshan whispered in Zhu Qing's ear: "Weng Zhaolin is the stingiest. He saves all the money from the celebration banquet and puts it into his collection of luxury watches."

The case of the Sheng family's skeletal remains has gripped the entire police department. The forensic department and medical examiner were also under immense pressure, working overtime through the night to finally submit a complete report early in the morning.

The test results of the bottle and the poison extracted from the scene were completely consistent, and all the fingerprints pointed to Chen Chaosheng alone.

Now, this case is finally coming to an end.

When everyone had some free time, they would go to the tea room to chat in twos and threes, but Zhu Qing stayed at her workstation the whole time.

With so many documents piled up at her workstation, she meticulously organized them, aligning every corner of each report perfectly.

When Mo Zhenbang called her to his office to discuss the dormitory application, Zhu Qing's thoughts were still on the case.

"Inspector Mo, isn't this case... progressing too smoothly?"

Mo Zhenbang chuckled upon hearing this.

Newcomers are always like this, overthinking things, unaware that some cases are just that easy to solve.

"Where do so many high-IQ criminals come from? In reality, there are plenty of dumb thieves."

"I used to overthink things when I was young," he said, drawing on his own experience. "But suicide notes, fingerprints, witness testimonies—"

“But yesterday, when we were leaving, the Sheng family’s children said that Chen Chaosheng’s suitcase was in the bedroom, as if he was preparing for a trip.”

"Children speak without thinking. Besides, shouldn't Chen Chaosheng be allowed to waver between fleeing from justice and committing suicide?"

Zhu Qing frowned slightly.

She had met Chen Chaosheng a few times. Would that calculating man easily end his own life?

"Mr. Mo, I'd like to go back to the scene and take another look," Zhu Qing said.

Just then, Inspector Ong called from outside the door, "Hey, new policewoman! Are you free? Go get me—"

Zhu Qing looked at Mo Shazhan, a rare pleading look appearing in her eyes.

Although she couldn't make the cute gesture of putting her hands together, her slightly pursed lips were clearly saying "Help!"

Mo Sir came to her rescue: "Zhu Qing needs to help me with an urgent matter."

Zhu Qing felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and almost bumped into the door frame as she hurried away.

Mo Zhenbang shook his head.

They've all learned to play the victim and act pitiful; they're all hard to manage, each one more difficult than the last.

...

Zhu Qing still wanted to find an answer.

Ten years have passed, and He Jiaer's former classmates have now stayed on to work at the school.

The three gold-embossed characters "Zhong Rujun" on the office doorplate gleamed under the corridor lights.

"Madam, please have a seat." After learning why Zhu Qing had come, Zhong Rujun pushed the newspaper on her desk in front of her.

The Hong Kong Evening Post published the identities of the victims in the Sheng family skeletal remains case, and the headline on the front page remained eye-catching.

A top student from a prestigious university ended up on Portland Street, his remains a testament to his injustice.

“Jia’er is very cheerful. Back then, I came from the mainland alone. I couldn’t speak the language and was too embarrassed to speak... It was she who always made me happy with her broken Mandarin.”

"She's so outstanding, she won the principal's scholarship twice... If it weren't for—"

When talking about her student days, Zhong Rujun lowered her eyes.

She and He Jiaer were roommates, but because she was introverted and not good at socializing, the two always maintained a polite distance.

"Dating? Never heard of that."

"Jia'er... she even takes notes and analyzes the plot structure when watching romance movies, it's hard to imagine that she would be involved in topics related to love."

"Oh, right." Zhu Qing placed the faded commemorative photo on her desk.

In the photo, a spirited female college student is wearing a crisp white shirt with a pen clipped to her breast pocket. Facing the camera, she flashes a vibrant smile.

Ho Ka-yee's father said that nightclubs made money too quickly, and his daughter couldn't resist the temptation of designer handbags. Chan Chiu-sing stated in his suicide note that she received many gifts, which made her increasingly greedy, forcing him to give her a proper status.

However, at this moment, Zhong Rujun's eyes were red-rimmed—

"Her dream was to become a war correspondent and let the world hear the voices of the vulnerable."

Zhu Qing pointed to a silhouette in the corner: "Do you know this person?"

"Professor Cheng?"

"He passed away from illness three years ago. Before he died, he was still asking around about his daughter's whereabouts. It's so pitiful..."

Once the fragments of memory were pieced together, Zhu Qing finally understood why the figure seemed familiar.

He is Cheng Zhaoqian, the eldest son-in-law of the Sheng family, who appeared in a family photo taken when the villa on the hillside was completed.

Mr. Lin, the property manager, is spreading rumors again.

Professor Cheng has passed away, so how did he move to Shek O with Sheng Peirong?

"Do He Jia'er and Professor Cheng have any connection?"

"Professor Cheng isn't a teacher at our school, but he did give a lecture here once. His connection with Jia'er? Probably not."

...

When Zhu Qing arrived at the Sheng family's house again, it was already evening.

Butler Cui: "Madam, there are still some details that need to be added to the case—"

"No," Zhu Qing said without changing her expression, "Your young master's toys are with me."

A few minutes later, Zhu Qing appeared at the door of the children's room on the third floor and gently knocked on the slightly ajar door.

The young master was playing with building blocks on the carpet when he saw her come in and narrowed his eyes warily.

Do you know where your eldest sister lives?

The young master's face was like a small steamed bun, and when he arrogantly raised his eyebrows, it looked like the bun had wrinkled up: "You can't find it?"

The eldest daughter of the Sheng family is keeping her whereabouts secret, and the address registered in the police file has long been changed.

Zhu Qing sighed deliberately: "I forgot you're just a child, it's pointless to ask."

"Who said that? I know!" Sheng Fang almost exploded, then, mimicking an adult, put his hands behind his back and negotiated, "Unless you take me with you."

Zhu Qing stared at him for two seconds, then said decisively, "Let's go."

Shengfang's eyes lit up, and she skipped after him, asking, "Where did you park your car?"

Zhu Qing: ...

Young Master: ?

She! No!