Chapter 32 "Fiancée——"
The day after my niece and uncle moved into their new home, a group of guests came to congratulate them on their housewarming.
Everyone prepared gifts and red envelopes, which they enthusiastically handed to Zhu Qing with beaming smiles, leaving her completely at a loss for words.
She had already pulled out her trump card and called the police, but the child was unmoved and showed no loyalty whatsoever.
Zhu Qing stood frozen in place, completely petrified.
What should she do now?
The air felt like it was freezing.
Zhu Qing glared at Sheng Fang with annoyance, almost glaring a hole through the back of the child's head.
It's unclear how much time passed before the uncle noticed the stern look in his niece's eyes, and he quietly turned around to glance at her again.
That day, when I went to the police station, Sheng Fang had invited a bunch of people to his house. It was a party! Could three or five people really make it lively? Besides his colleagues from the Major Crimes Unit B, he had also invited quite a few friends when he ate at the police station cafeteria that day. Some were people he had only met once, and some were people he had met once for a piece of candy. My uncle has a very good memory and remembers everything clearly.
There was another person, a police dog trainer. That guy was a really nice guy and was willing to arrange an interactive activity for him, letting him gently pet the police dog's head... Fangfang also warmly invited him, but unfortunately, the trainer was too busy, so she had to give up.
Everyone was so kind as to arrive so early.
Shengfang finally put down the game console and welcomed the guests.
"Since you're already here, why bring a gift?"
"I've prepared a lot of dishes today, so eat plenty!"
Some polite words, coming from Zhu Qing's mouth, sounded stiff, like reciting a textbook.
But when the child, with a sweet, childish voice, stands on tiptoe and waves his little hand in greeting, the atmosphere changes instantly. It's no longer awkward or restrained; even the air feels lighter.
Although some polite small talk is inevitable when visiting, this apartment is truly enviable. Its bright, north-south facing layout makes it warm in winter and cool in summer. The 1,500 square feet of space feels exceptionally spacious, especially with only the uncle and niece living there.
Guests not only raved about the exquisite decor, but were also captivated by the terrace connecting to the living room. As night fell, the terrace offered breathtaking panoramic views of the city lights. Combined with its prime location, this house was practically flawless. The only problem was the prohibitively high price.
"The high price is our problem, not theirs."
"Since I live here myself and am not investing, I don't need to worry about reselling it later..."
Everyone sat down on the sofa. There were too many people, so Uncle Li asked if we had prepared plastic stools. Aunt Ping really hadn't expected this, especially since her uncle and niece had no experience in entertaining guests.
Fortunately, everyone was easygoing. Several officers in the group took the lead, sitting on the floor with cushions from the sofa. The air conditioning was freezing, but the wooden floor neutralized the chill. Coupled with the sounds of chatting and laughing, this housewarming party organized by the children was set with a warm tone from the very beginning.
During their conversation, the doorbell rang; it was Inspector Mo and his family.
Mo Zhenbang's wife, Lü Qiyun, handed the housewarming gift she had prepared to Zhu Qing and said with a smile, "I've always heard that a brave female detective has joined our team, but this is the first time I've seen her."
Zhu Qing accepted the gift: "Thank you—"
“Just call her ‘sister-in-law’ like them,” Mo Zhenbang said.
"Thank you, sister-in-law!"
Lu Qiyun smiled slightly, turned her head and put her arm around Nannan's shoulder: "There are potato chips over there, ask your sister if you can have some."
Like her other colleagues, Zhu Qing often heard Mo Sir mention Nannan. He described her as a greedy little kitten, always wanting either red bean pastries or egg waffles. Zhu Qing had always thought Nannan was very lively, but she hadn't expected this seven-year-old girl to be so shy. She accepted the lychee soda with both hands, blushed, and whispered thank you before hiding behind Mo Zhenbang.
The little boy, with his hands behind his back, strolled through the crowd, and finally, he found his kind among them.
She's the one! We're all kids, let's play together!
Nannan, however, always followed Mo Sir, preferring to listen to the adults chat rather than interact with Shengfang.
They are not the same kind.
Nannan pinched her thumb and forefinger together and whispered to Mo Sir, "Daddy, he's only this small."
She held her arms across her chest.
If you don't want to play, then don't play. It's no big deal!
...
Aunt Ping cooked a table full of dishes.
She hadn't had a chance to showcase her skills in a long time, but upon arriving at this new turf, she quickly got into the swing of things. Her culinary skills were still sharp, and she controlled the heat perfectly. Every dish she served was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
Aunt Ping had said long ago that Grandpa Sheng had always admired her cooking skills. Even if a top chef applied for the job, he wouldn't want to replace her. And now, the young people at the police station couldn't stop eating and couldn't stop praising her, so they just gave her a thumbs up.
Aunt Ping had been busy in the kitchen all afternoon, the aroma of slow-cooked soup filling the air. She ladled the lotus root and pork rib soup, which had been simmering for hours, into small bowls and served them to the guests one by one. In the past, the Sheng family would have taken such attentive service for granted, but these young people were clearly not used to this treatment.
They immediately stood up and reached out with both hands to take the soup bowl.
"Aunt Ping, I can do it myself."
"Oh, really, it's not necessary."
The child is holding a fried chicken leg in his left hand and another fried chicken leg in his right hand.
He tilted his head, recalling what Qingzai had once told him... Aunt Ping earned her high salary with her hardworking hands; she put in the effort. Even though he was a small business owner who paid her, they each got what they needed, and it was always equal. At the time, Zaizai didn't understand, but now he seemed to grasp some of it.
"Aunt Ping, don't bother with that," Zhu Qing said. "Let's eat first."
"You guys eat first, I'll be right there." Aunt Ping smiled, wiping her palms and the backs of her hands on her apron. "The kitchen is full of grease and smoke, I won't feel at ease eating if it's not cleaned properly."
The children waved their greasy little hands, saying, "Hurry up!"
Zhu Qing looked for a tissue on the dining table but couldn't find one. Looking at his hand, she stepped back defensively and said, "Go wash your hands."
"I don't want to."
"handwashing!"
The uncle, who was easily swayed by gentle persuasion but not by force, puffed out his cheeks and waved his two little hands in front of Zhu Qing.
It's something I dare not say aloud, but it's as if four words are written all over my forehead—
I'll wipe it on you!
This scene overlaps with the previous footage of the hillside villa.
That day, the little one blew his nose and pretended to throw the handkerchief at her, his defiant little face exactly the same as now.
"Why don't you give it a try?" Zhu Qing raised an eyebrow.
Shengfang turned her head away: "I'm not trying!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he added, "Dream on."
Zhu Qing: ...
With a "pfft," Zeng Yongshan couldn't help but laugh so hard she almost cried.
Xu Jiale teased, "Zeng Yongshan, don't 'pfft,' we're all eating."
Several people burst into laughter.
Zhu Qing's lips curled into a smile, her gaze lingering on the timid yet arrogant Sheng Fang, her smile deepening. The meal dragged on for a long time, and she didn't know when it started, but her tense nerves gradually relaxed. It wasn't that she was afraid of interacting with them; she could easily have remained indifferent to her colleagues as she had at the beginning. However, as more and more people showed kindness, Zhu Qing could no longer keep them at arm's length.
She just didn't know how to do it; she was still figuring it out.
After dinner, the colleagues, eager to get to work, casually carried the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen. Aunt Ping, like an elder in the family, quickly stopped them.
"Let me do it!"
"You can sit in the living room."
Then, she went to the kitchen to wash and chop for a long time, then turned around and came out of the kitchen: "Qingqing, come here for a moment."
"I cut some fruit and sent it over to my friends," Aunt Ping said with a smile.
Zhu Qing responded and put a grape in her mouth.
Aunt Ping whispered words of heartfelt advice in his ear.
"Qingqing, don't blame Aunt Ping for being nosy."
"Smile more, and tell everyone to relax—"
There is clearly another three-and-a-half-year-old child in the family, but Aunt Ping's words make it sound like she is the child.
Zhu Qing hadn't finished eating the grapes in her mouth when she nodded in agreement. As soon as she turned around, she saw Dr. Cheng watching the show.
Zhu Qing puffed out one cheek and ate the grapes without changing her expression.
"Have some fruit." She placed the fruit platter that Aunt Ping had carefully prepared on the coffee table.
The fruit was quickly snatched up; the guys in Mo Sir's team were practically starving. Xu Jiale and Haozai were still muttering complaints, saying that since Mo Sir wouldn't let them drink alcohol, they could only eat fruit.
This was Mo Sir's first time visiting Zhu Qing's house, and he knew, of course, that the person who invited them was a child; Zhu Qing had been practically forced into the situation. Therefore, he had laid down some ground rules with his team beforehand: no drinking in someone else's new house. It was one thing if they got drunk and acted out, but if they vomited all over the place, who would clean it up for them?
Everyone was quite obedient; instead of drinking, they found other ways to have fun. Aunt Ping bought a few decks of cards when she came, and everyone was scrambling to get them. The game console that Sheng Fang specifically requested was also very popular, but there were only two controllers available, so you had to wait in line to play.
The first child to call out Cheng Xinglang's name was Shengfang.
They failed to win a Tetris game on their first meeting, so now it's time for a real showdown.
The reason Dr. Cheng was invited to the housewarming party was that Sheng Fang happened to overhear the forensic medicine department chatting in the cafeteria that day.
They said that normally, forensic doctor Cheng would submit autopsy reports on time and would never participate in the major crime unit's arrest operations... But on that day, the serial killer, in the midst of a strong wind and heavy rain, actually took the initiative to drive Madam to the Zeng family home.
Unexpectedly, this Tetris player was very generous, and the uncle, feeling sorry for him, invited him over as well.
Right now, Shengfang is sitting in front of the television.
Again, the little body leans forward, preparing to be "sucked in" by the game screen.
"Isn't this too close?"
"You'll become nearsighted and turn into a four-eye."
The two ears that were held in place automatically blocked out the sounds of the guests.
Don't meddle in the young master's business; his niece hasn't even spoken yet.
As the child was thinking this, he suddenly noticed out of the corner of his eye that Dr. Cheng hadn't followed.
He turned around and saw that Dr. Cheng had sat down on the sofa.
Dr. Cheng: "A skilled person can aim even from a distance."
Cheng Xinglang leaned lazily against the sofa, his upper body slightly forward, his long, slender fingers gripping the game controller. As he adjusted the controller, he leaned back slightly, the cable dangling from his wrist. His relaxed demeanor made it seem as if he wasn't even putting in his full effort, just casually playing around.
Shengfang stood up, her chubby face showing deep thought, and remained silent for a long time.
That pose looks cool, he wants to learn it too.
Shengfang trotted over on her short legs and sat down next to Dr. Cheng.
"The match begins!" Cheng Xinglang pressed the start button.
"Hello, hello, hello—"
"I'm not ready yet!"
The children stood by, fuming, glaring at him.
"You're cheating!"
"You scoundrel!"
Cheng Xinglang stared at the television, his eyes fixed straight ahead: "If you keep talking nonsense, we'll really lose."
The young master was so angry he was practically fuming.
Niece, someone is bullying your uncle!
...
A night breeze swept across the terrace, ruffling her hair.
Zeng Yongshan held a soft drink in her hand, leaned on the railing with both hands, and looked up at the starlight in the sky.
She turned to Zhu Qing and said, "Your uncle is almost brought to tears by Dr. Cheng, isn't he?"
"Little sullen girl," Zhu Qing chuckled.
Zeng Yongshan rarely heard Zhu Qing speak in such a gentle tone.
A relative who appeared out of nowhere offered her companionship and quietly warmed her heart in an unintentional way.
“I haven’t properly thanked you for what happened last time,” Zeng Yongshan said. “If it weren’t for you, even if reinforcements arrived, it would have been too late—”
"To put it bluntly," she paused, then shook her head with lingering fear, "I'd better not say anything harsh!"
Zeng Yongshan was referring to the incident where Zhu Qing saved her parents and older brother.
Yu Jinkang, the perpetrator of the serial murders on a rainy night, was, after all, a former judo runner-up. Even though her brother was tall and strong, he was no match for him. Afterwards, Zeng Yongxuan said more than once that he almost couldn't hold on. If he had fallen, Yu Jinkang would have swung his knife at Zeng's father and mother. The siblings didn't even dare to think about what would have happened.
Fortunately, Zhu Qing arrived first and prevented the tragedy from happening.
"So thank you so much."
Zhu Qing has studied this question before, so she knows how to answer it.
"We're all family, no need to stand on ceremony."
Zeng Yongshan laughed out loud again.
If I remember correctly, that's what I said when I helped her move in the police academy dormitory that day. But who would say "we're all on the same side" in such a cold and calm tone?
The night view of Hong Kong is beautiful, and the breeze is gentle and soft.
Zhu Qing recalled everything from the original storyline.
The first two plot twists have already passed. The cannon fodder female supporting character did not sacrifice herself, and the original female lead did not lose her family... The "little villain" is still on his way to growing up, but Zhu Qing believes that this time he will not be spoiled again.
The original storyline has come to an end, and their lives will no longer be dictated by the so-called plot.
"Zhu Qing." Zeng Yongshan gripped the soda bottle tightly, hesitated for a long time, and then mustered her courage. "I have something I want to tell you."
"What?"
“Actually, actually—” Zeng Yongshan took a deep breath and mustered her courage, “There’s nothing between me and Inspector Liang. If you… I mean, if you like him, I can…”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
That's a really strange way of putting it; it's like they're handing over Inspector Leung to someone else.
“If you want to—” Zeng Yongshan stammered, looking annoyed. She had clearly prepared her lines, but now she couldn’t speak them clearly.
"?" Zhu Qing said, "I don't want to."
Zeng Yongshan was stunned.
Inspector Leung is a very good person—gentle, kind, upright, and principled. Of course, we won't even mention his physical advantages… She had her own selfish thoughts, secretly wondering if Inspector Leung treated Zhu Qing differently, and even tried to deliberately create opportunities to investigate cases together. However, Zhu Qing saved her family, and Zeng Yongshan was willing to nip the budding seeds in her heart in the bud, letting everything start afresh.
However, who could have imagined that at this moment, Zhu Qing's tone would be so decisive, even to the point of avoiding the issue altogether.
She said, she doesn't want to!
Just then, Shengfang, who had been defeated by Dr. Cheng in the game, ran over.
"I don't want it either!"
What is Yung-shan saying? Their son, Ching-jai, is still young and should focus on his career.
"Qingzai," Sheng Fang called to Zhu Qing, "Go and defeat him!"
He looked indignant, pointing his short finger at the arrogant Dr. Cheng.
Zhu Qing could only keep up with the children.
Zeng Yongshan remained alone, and the problem that had been troubling her for many days suddenly came to a solution.
She suddenly understood and quickened her pace.
"Oh, by the way, my mom said last time that you could come over for dinner!"
"Some other time!" Sheng Fang turned around. "I'm too busy right now!"
...
Around nine o'clock, the guests gradually left.
This was a "housewarming party" planned and organized by the children. Only after it was over did the children belatedly realize that the party didn't feel like a party at all.
Zhu Qing: "What's the party like?"
Shengfang couldn't answer.
At the very least, we should put on some music and have someone dance!
From the moment she stepped into the house in the afternoon, Aunt Ping hadn't had a moment to rest. Although the young people at the police station were relatively restrained, with so many people, there was bound to be some trash. She washed dishes, wiped the kitchen, and tidied up non-stop, carrying bags of trash out the door every now and then.
Zhu Qing took a broom and cleaned up with Aunt Ping.
While my niece was sweeping the floor, she didn't forget to assign a task to her uncle. Even a three-year-old can't lie on the sofa watching TV and eating potato chips while adults are doing housework.
Aunt Ping whispered, "Wouldn't this be too strict with the young master?"
Zhu Qing couldn't explain it.
She didn't want to either, but what could she do when her little one was destined to be a villain? As he grew up, in addition to the warmth of family, she also had to devise a military-style growth strategy for him!
Around nine o'clock, Zhu Qing told Aunt Ping to go home first.
Aunt Ping went downstairs once, then came back and knocked on their door: "Qingqing, I haven't taken out the kitchen trash yet."
It's just a bag of trash. Even a little kid like Fangfang knows how to throw it away properly, let alone Zhu Qing.
But Aunt Ping was always worried about the two of them.
As Aunt Ping took away the last bag of trash, she found herself holding a house key.
She carefully put it away; it represented the young master and young lady's trust, and she couldn't betray it!
After Aunt Ping left, Zhu Qing started mopping the floor.
Since it was a new home, Qingzai cherished it immensely and insisted on making it spotless, even making the floor shine brightly.
She swept the mop back and forth: "Shengfang, go get a dry mop, it'll be faster that way."
My niece mops the floor with a wet mop, and then my uncle finishes it off with a dry mop, so that water stains are not easily left.
The arrangement was reasonable, but the child was unwilling to cooperate, and no one knew what to do.
When Zhu Qing turned around, she paused for three seconds and then asked, "Shengfang, what are you doing?"
The child was lying on the living room floor, with his two chubby little hands clasped to his chest.
He rolled around and around, his highly absorbent clothes turning into a dry mop.
Zai Zai, who was a mop-wielding person, took a moment to look up from the ground and said, "Qing Zai, this is faster."
Zhu Qing: ...
After finishing the cleaning work, Shengfang squatted down in a corner.
It was obvious that he was soaking wet, but he wanted to pretend that nothing had happened so as not to have to wash his clothes and pants too much.
Zhu Qing neither urged him nor exposed his true intentions.
It wasn't until much later that the child's pitiful voice rang out.
"Qingzai, my legs are dizzy again."
Do you need me to help you up?
Sheng Hua's lips curled down, and she looked pitifully at her niece, nodding emphatically.
The "foot dizziness" that children talk about means that their little feet go numb from squatting.
The niece discovered that she seemed to be getting to know her uncle better and better.
At the same time, I realized that it wouldn't hurt to let him have his way a little.
My niece was exceptionally lenient and told me not to hand wash the dirty clothes.
Let the washing machine do it.
"Long live Qingzai!" Sheng Fang jumped up suddenly, then froze in mid-air, her face contorted in pain.
"My legs are still so dizzy, Qingzai."
"I'll support you, and you'll slowly feel better..."
"Still dizzy!"
"I told you to take it slow."
A large figure, supporting a small figure, walked towards the children's room.
In the not-so-small new house, there were only the two of them, and every corner was quiet.
But Qingzai and Fangfang's uncle didn't feel lonely at all.
"Qingzai, I feel like something's missing at home."
"What?"
“Strange, I can’t remember, but it must be important.”
...
The international kindergarten in Kowloon City had an incredibly low acceptance rate, and some children were rejected in the first round of interviews. But since the little villain was a genius in the original story, he didn't hold anyone back in real life either. The next morning, Sheng Fang received her acceptance letter.
With top marks, the little one proudly raised his chin.
"Qingzai, it's your turn now!"
Are you sure you can do it?
Next week is the parent interview stage, which Zhu Qing only found out yesterday. She even asked the policewoman for advice on possible interview questions. Years ago, Inspector Mo and his wife accompanied their daughter to the interview, but her memory of what kind of questions would be asked was hazy, and besides, several years had passed, and the question bank had long been updated. Fortunately, the policewoman's colleague was also preparing for kindergarten enrollment for her child, and she promised to ask her colleague for some information for Inspector Mo to take to the police station.
The uncle was feeling quite pleased with himself, and the niece suddenly felt a sense of urgency.
If the child passes the interview but she doesn't, will he use that as leverage to laugh at her for a long time?
The little flower in front of me is looking up, a tiny little bundle.
Zhu Qing was not fooled by his innocent little expression and was determined to start studying properly from now on.
After the case of the skeleton found in the fireplace in Mid-Levels, Mo Zhenbang said he would give Zhu Qing a few more days off. Who knew that the case had only just been closed when another body was found in Sham Shui Po. Finally, the case was solved, and since Zhu Qing happened to be moving, Mo Sir generously gave her three days off.
This is the third day of the holiday. Shengfang is even happier than my niece. She moved a small stool to stand in front of the refrigerator and thought about what to eat for lunch.
Zhu Qing: "Want me a bowl of noodles?"
The young master did not answer.
They moved, and their house now has all the pots, pans, and utensils they used to have, so they can no longer eat instant noodles like before!
“It’s not instant noodles,” Zhu Qing said. “It’s fresh noodles; Aunt Ping bought it yesterday.”
"You need to eat meat to build muscle." The young master shook his head vigorously. "I'll make you a steak."
The uncle had made his boastful promise, but once in the kitchen, he was at a loss. Zhu Qing stood beside him, staring at the steak that Aunt Ping had prepared in advance in the refrigerator, also unsure how to begin.
"I've never handled this kind of 'high-end' ingredient before," Zhu Qing said matter-of-factly.
The little one said the same thing: "I've never been in the kitchen."
As their new life began, the uncle and nephew were first stumped by the problem of food.
It was at this moment that Zhu Qing's pager went off.
The little one sat on a stool in front of the refrigerator, patting his short legs: "I've figured out what we're missing at home!"
The house is still missing a telephone.
Zhu Qing received a message on her pager, so she had to go downstairs to use a public phone booth to call back. She took her keys and walked towards the door, but before she even reached the entrance, she turned back.
My uncle is still young, and they live in a high-rise building. They're afraid his curiosity will get the better of him, and he might stick his little head out the window to look for his niece in the red phone booth.
It's something he's capable of doing.
"You have to come with me."
Shengfang reluctantly followed her niece.
Seriously, do you need someone to accompany you even when you're on the phone?
...
When his niece stood in the phone booth and dialed back the number from Ah Tou, the uncle knew that his last day off was ruined.
Asking Aunt Ping to come over now would take up a lot of time, so Zhu Qing asked Mo Sir for his opinion on the phone.
“Bring him over,” Mo Zhenbang said. “My wife is going to pick up our daughter from nearby, so let her take care of her for now.”
Shengfang waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need any care.
Another murder has occurred, and as a police officer's family member, he is aware that he should not interfere with the police investigation. As for PC8888, the officers will also need to accumulate experience in field investigations in the future.
Sitting in the taxi, Sheng Fang asked with a serious expression.
Where was the murder discovered? Who reported it to the police?
What was the cause of death?
"on site--"
Zhu Qing: "Stop."
The young master frowned.
Why should we stop?
Before he could speak, following Qingzai's gaze, he looked at the rearview mirror inside the taxi.
The driver was discreetly observing them.
"Shh." Zhu Qing put her finger to her lips.
Fangfang nodded thoughtfully.
It seems we can't be so high-profile anymore, otherwise it will seem very strange.
Shengfang said in a low voice, "I'll be an undercover police officer from now on."
Driver: ? Oh.
"..." Zhu Qing was speechless. "There's no undercover agent with such a loose tongue."
...
While the car was driving through the streets of Wan Chai, Zhu Qing was still chatting and laughing with the children in the back seat.
However, as the car turned past the corner restaurant and slowly approached its destination, her smile suddenly froze.
On the phone, Mo Sir gave the address of a restaurant, but now, the location marked with bright yellow police tape is a music store.
Ya Yun Qin Hang (雅韵琴行)
That's where she reunited with her older sister, Xin Xin.
After returning home yesterday, Zhu Qing recalled the scene of their reunion countless times.
Xin Xin, the older sister in the orphanage, is a big sister. The first time the TV series "Ding Dong" was broadcast was thirteen years ago, when Xin Xin was already fourteen years old.
A fourteen-year-old girl's features have matured, and the contours of her eyebrows and eyes are already set. Logically speaking, she shouldn't change much as she grows up.
Therefore, Zhu Qing can confirm that she is indeed Sister Xin Xin.
Perhaps after many years, Sister Xin Xin has her own life and no longer wants to associate with her former friends, or perhaps she simply didn't recognize them.
Zhu Qing has no intention of acknowledging her again; knowing that she is doing well is enough for her.
But now, the music store is cordoned off, and several colleagues are shaking their heads as they hold the invitations.
"Dr. Cheng said that the deceased had been stabbed multiple times, with the most fatal stab wound piercing his chest. He ultimately died from excessive blood loss."
"I'm getting married next week, and this happens."
Zeng Yongshan noticed the footsteps, looked up and saw Zhu Qing: "You're here."
Zhu Qing stepped forward: "What invitation?"
Zeng Yongshan handed over the invitation: "It's a wedding invitation. There's still a stack at the music store's front desk. The invitations were just printed when the person died..."
The bottom right corner of the invitation features hand-drawn portraits of the bride and groom, a popular style for wedding photos these days. The bride's portrait has simple lines, but her distinctive features, such as her almond-shaped eyes, hairstyle, and fashionable attire, are clearly visible.
The bride is Xin Xin, whom she met yesterday.
Zhu Qing stared at the names of the newlyweds on the invitation.
After being adopted, Xin Xin was renamed Li Ziyao.
Shengfang tugged at her niece's sleeve.
She seemed a little nervous.
"Qingzai..."
Zhu Qing's heart leaped into her throat.
Yesterday afternoon at the entrance of the music store, she overheard Xin Xin telling that man that she would take care of the music store...
"Was it the man or the woman who got into trouble?" Zhu Qing asked.
Haozai spoke up at just the right moment: "Getting married at such an old age is like an old house catching fire—"
Uncle Li stopped him: "Watch your words."
Haozai immediately shut his mouth and made a shushing gesture.
Zhu Qing could almost hear her own heartbeat clearly.
At that moment, my heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
The deceased was not Xin Xin's sister.
It was the one who pinched her cheek yesterday—
A man around sixty years old.
"My wife should be here soon." Mr. Mo came out of the music store, glanced at his watch, and looked up to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure in the distance. "She's right there."
No matter how agile a flower is, it could never sneak into a crime scene unnoticed by a group of CID agents.
Mo Zhenbang's wife, Lü Qiyun, picked up her daughter from a nearby dance class and is now helping Zhu Qing look after the child.
“I’ll take them back first,” Lu Qiyun said. “You can come pick up the children later. Anyway, they’re all in Yau Ma Tei, it’s very close.”
Zhu Qing handed her uncle over to Lü Qiyun and thanked her.
Sending the child to kindergarten is now a top priority and can't be delayed any longer.
But for now, investigating the case is still the most important thing.
...
Despite the music store being sealed off, Dr. Cheng remained professional, conducting a very thorough investigation during the initial phase.
The victim died between 5 and 6 a.m. this morning. He suffered multiple stab wounds, the fatal one being a stab wound to the left chest that pierced his heart. There were obvious purplish-red bruises around the victim's mouth, but no other signs of struggle. Preliminary inference suggests that he shouted for help when he was attacked, and the assailant, in a moment of panic, covered his mouth with his hand before delivering a fatal stab, rendering him unable to resist.
Dr. Cheng used tweezers to extract a small amount of skin tissue from the deceased's mouth: "Skin contact may leave fingerprints."
Zeng Yongshan: "If the murderer was a regular customer of the music store, could we compare his fingerprints with the archives?"
"Miss, do you mean going through the archives, flipping through each page one by one?" Xu Jiale asked. "When will we be able to compare them?"
Dr. Cheng: "The success rate of extracting fingerprints from the skin is extremely low."
Liang Qikai shrugged: "We can only prepare ourselves mentally for now."
With the current technology available to Hong Kong police, extracting biological traces or identifying DNA is not so easy.
The forensic and identification departments completed their preliminary investigation and handed the scene over to the Major Crimes Unit.
Today is Wednesday. The music school is closed every Wednesday, but one student can only spare time on Wednesday mornings, so the music school made an exception and opened for her.
Teacher Amy would arrive every Wednesday morning to open the door, but today she stumbled upon a murder scene. The door to the number six practice room was wide open, and dark red bloodstains were left in the corridor.
“Mr. Mo, this is Teacher Amy.” Xu Jiale brought the witness to Inspector Mo.
The music store should have been empty from 10 p.m. last night until Amy opened it this morning.
After the teacher called the police, they arrived. She had forgotten to notify the students who had made the appointment, and when they arrived, they were stopped outside.
“Our music school has been doing well lately. Yesterday we collected a total of 9,000 yuan in tuition fees from three students. Since the bank is closed, we put it in the front desk drawer.”
"But when the officer asked me to check just now, I discovered that the money was missing."
"Also... I remember that Teacher Fang usually wears a watch, but when I saw him lying in the music room, his wrist was bare. I don't know if he forgot to wear the watch or if someone took it off."
The police took a detailed statement from Amy, the teacher who discovered the body.
Zhu Qing then realized that the man she had seen yesterday, who looked to be around sixty years old, was actually a well-known piano teacher.
Piano teacher Fang Songsheng, whose name is quite elegant, was once the star attraction of this music school.
"The deceased's fiancée—" Liang Qikai glanced at the name on the invitation, "that is, Li Ziyao, have you contacted her?"
“She’ll be there in about an hour,” said Teacher Amy. “And Teacher Fang’s daughter, I just called her too, but I couldn’t get through.”
There was a phone book in the drawer at the front desk of the music store.
Teacher Amy handed the phone book to the police.
The police picked up the phone and called again and again. After what seemed like an eternity, the deceased's daughter finally called back.
...
Fang Songsheng's fiancée, Li Ziyao, had not yet arrived, and the police officers were already hungry.
Zeng Yongshan volunteered and dragged Zhu Qing along to the tea restaurant across the street to buy boxed lunches.
“Actually, I had heard of Mr. Fang before. He is indeed a very famous piano teacher. When I was little, my mother even wanted me to take lessons with him,” Zeng Yongshan said.
Did you enroll in any classes later?
"No, I don't like playing the piano. I cry every time I go for a trial lesson, and my mom really can't do anything with me." Zeng Yongshan smiled playfully, "I escaped a disaster."
Yi Dongmei is determined to raise her daughter to be a musician, or perhaps a painter.
Unexpectedly, she grew up to become a gun-wielding detective.
"Oh, right."
Zeng Yongshan had just gone to give statements at a few shops next door when she suddenly wondered, "What was the deceased's daughter's reaction?"
Ya Yun Music Store is named after Fang Songsheng's daughter, Fang Ya Yun.
According to Amy, Fang Yayun, under her father's guidance and cultivation, became an outstanding pianist, frequently performing on stage and gaining great fame.
She was rehearsing when her pager kept ringing.
"Wait! Where's the note? I forgot what Uncle Li wanted to eat!" Zeng Yongshan hurriedly rummaged through her pockets at the entrance of the tea restaurant.
"Noodles with luncheon meat and egg, milk tea with less ice." Zhu Qing took out a note from her pocket. "It's with me."
Pushing open the glass door, a fragrant aroma wafts out, and the restaurant is filled with the clattering of bowls and chopsticks.
The owner and staff of Xiangjiang Tea Restaurant prioritized efficiency, and they started urging her after just a few words. Zhu Qing quickly handed over the note.
"Pack."
The boss called out the orders to the kitchen staff, his fingers flying across the calculator.
Perhaps because she had just taken on the case of the piano teacher's murder, looking at her boss's nimble hands, she associated the oily calculator keys with the black and white keys of a piano.
Zhu Qing continued the previous topic: "The deceased's daughter thought we were playing a prank and started cursing on the other end of the phone."
As she spoke, she glanced out the window out of the corner of her eye.
Sister Xin Xin is here.
That is, the deceased's fiancée, now known as Li Ziyao.
"Really? I've read the reports about Fang Yayun, and I thought she was as elegant as her name suggests!" Zeng Yongshan pressed, "What did she say?"
Zhu Qing recalled: "Obsessive, despicable, scum..."
Fang Yayun used very offensive language on the phone.
This is only natural; when told that her loved one had been murdered, she thought it was just a cruel joke.
Zeng Yongshan was speechless and asked in surprise, "What else did she say?"
"Fang Yayun also said—" Zhu Qing tiptoed to look at Sister Xinxin walking into the music store across the street.
She frowned, and continued absentmindedly, "Eat shit..."
"Oh!" A childish and shocked voice rang out from behind her, startling her.
The younger generation having lunch with their sister-in-law and daughter at a tea restaurant.
They suddenly appeared and grabbed his niece.
Fangfang Baby squinted her eyes: "Qingzai, are you swearing?"
Using foul language is rude.
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