Chapter 83 "How come you even know how to date!"
Last time, Aunt Ping waved her hand repeatedly, refusing the young master's suggestion to buy her a mobile phone without hesitation. The old woman and the little boy ran around Mong Kok, and finally the little darling gave up and turned around to pull her to buy a children's bicycle.
Unexpectedly, the clever little devil quickly went to get help, and finally succeeded in buying the machine. He shook his little head, humming a triumphant tune, his face full of pride.
Aunt Ping held the brand-new mobile phone, her fingers carefully tracing its smooth surface. Mobile phones were expensive; most people still used pagers for communication, and now she was suddenly ahead of many young people. She awkwardly gripped the phone, her face full of embarrassment.
Zhu Qing sat on the sofa and patiently taught her how to use it.
Those complicated functions were put aside for the time being. Aunt Ping only learned the most basic way of making and receiving phone calls—as simple as using a landline, and she could learn it in no time.
"Press this button to 'reject the call'," Zhu Qing said, pointing to the red button.
"How could I refuse your call and Miss's call?" Aunt Ping shook her head with a smile.
At this moment, Aunt Ping was like a little child, her reading glasses slipping down to the tip of her nose as she earnestly studied this novel gadget, her expression exactly the same as when she received the radio before. Aunt Ping always cherished every gift, and that radio was still kept in a dry place, not even allowed in the kitchen, for fear of it getting wet or greasy.
"These three little holes are for making sound, right?" Aunt Ping's fingers gently touched the earpiece holes. "That's great."
Zhu Qing recalled what Sheng Peirong had said: Aunt Ping had suffered a lot when she was young.
Fortunately, she always has a smile on her face now, and she is no longer alone.
Perhaps it was because she spent so much time with Fangfang that Zhu Qing's heart softened.
The sound of footsteps, sometimes far away, sometimes near, could be heard.
In the living room, the little one is wandering around with his hands behind his back.
This young master was naturally fond of freedom, but the weather was cold, so he could only shuffle around in his indoor slippers. Seeing Aunt Ping immersed in joy, he slowly moved closer and squeezed himself between the two of them.
Now the whole family has a mobile phone, except for Fangfang.
The little boy tried his best to charm Zhu Qing, his big, round eyes blinking almost until they were numb.
But his niece was determined not to budge, and no matter how many tricks he used, it was all in vain.
Fangfang, kicking her little slippers, ran angrily to the door of the children's room.
With a "bang," his foot swung, and his slipper flew into the air.
Fangfang immediately burrowed into the blankets, burying her face in the pillow and rolling around.
After waiting for quite a while, no one came to comfort them.
A mournful wail came from the Sheng family's young master's room—
Poor Fangfang.
...
Yesterday's rest was only temporary; the investigation will continue until the evidence is conclusive.
In the office, colleagues eagerly awaited the forensic report, hoping to bring the case to a close as soon as possible. Hao-zai rubbed his bloodshot eyes and said that he didn't sleep well last night. He dreamed of that lonely white house in Ping Chau. In his dream, the soft blankets swayed eerily in the sea breeze, which scared him awake.
“We can wake up from our nightmares,” Haozai said. “But when will Gu Niman be free from this nightmare?”
"First of all, she needs to come to her senses."
"If Gu Niman can't let go of Zhou Yongsheng, the impact he has had on her will probably last for more than just these past ten years."
Zhu Qing spread an old map on the table.
The Gu family moved several times. When Gu Niman was ten years old, she moved to Wenhua Road with her parents and younger brother, until her "suicide pact." This street has long since disappeared during the expansion, but according to calculations and Aunt Ping's recollections, it was only a short distance from Wenhua Road to the Xiaguang Theater on Ferry Street, just around the corner.
Zhu Qing drew a heavy circle around the three characters "Wenhua Road" with her pen: "Is this another coincidence?"
"It seems that Gu Niman has quite a connection with Xiaguang Theater."
"This old theater witnessed the rise and fall of a female star."
After a murmur of discussion, Mo Zhenbang closed the case file.
"Since no suspicious points have been found in the cases of Gu Guodong, Yu Dancui, and Gu Hongbo after multiple investigations, we can consider re-filing them."
Zhu Qing didn't look up, still staring at the disappeared place names on the map.
Why are there so many coincidences?
The office returned to tranquility in the early morning, with the aroma of coffee and breakfast wafting through the air.
Mo Zhenbang tapped the table to remind his colleagues who hadn't eaten breakfast to hurry up.
"If Inspector Ong arrives later, I won't be able to protect you."
The officers hurriedly wolfed down their breakfast, none of them wanting to run into Weng Zhaolin's gun.
After all, Inspector Ong wasn't as forgiving of them as he was of his close female friends.
In a corner, Liang Qikai, taking a break from his busy schedule, was holding a psychology book. Xu Jiale and Haozai curiously approached him.
"Why are you still watching?!"
"I've heard that many people are now specifically pursuing psychology courses."
"The most important thing is to learn how to analyze criminal motives; now even interrogation techniques need to incorporate psychology..."
Hearing the discussion, Zhu Qing looked up.
Xu Jiale and Haozai glanced at the technical terms in the book and immediately yawned.
Working is tiring enough; I'd rather watch TV than read a book!
The two of them slid back to their workstations in their swivel chairs.
Zeng Yongshan's gaze, however, lingered on Liang Qikai's focused profile.
"Do you feel..." she asked softly, "that you are somewhat similar to Zhou Yongsheng?"
This wasn't the first time Zeng Yongshan had this idea.
Whenever she saw his furrowed brows and serious expression, or the unconscious revelation of it when discussing cases, this thought would come to mind. Sometimes they were like ordinary colleagues, and sometimes they were even closer than colleagues. Zeng Yongshan swallowed her words several times, but in the end, she couldn't help but ask.
Liang Qikai's fingers froze on a corner of the page.
That vague sense of similarity made him uneasy, but he never revealed it to anyone.
“It’s different. You haven’t hurt anyone.”
“And…” Zeng Yongshan’s voice became even more determined, “You won’t.”
...
The police station has a relatively flexible work atmosphere. Zhu Qing couldn't let go of Gu Jia's case. Although she had only been in the CID for a few months, she had completely shed the naivety of a rookie officer. This time, she didn't even report to Mo Sir before dragging Zeng Yongshan to the relevant scene to continue the investigation.
By the time Mo Zhenbang discovered that the two had acted without permission, they were already gone from the office.
"They're all so opinionated." Mo Sir slapped his desk and laughed in exasperation. "From now on, we might as well let everyone take on their own tasks."
At this moment, Zhu Qing and Zeng Yongshan were sitting in the reception area of an office building.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the afternoon sun shone warmly. As footsteps approached, Zhu Qing turned around. Several days had passed, and Gu Hongbo's girlfriend was in better condition than she had been in the apartment a few days earlier. Although she was thinner, at least her eyes were no longer red and swollen.
"Are you the police officers from last time?" Tang Tingting asked.
She sat down on the sofa in the reception area.
When the topic turned to Gu Hongbo's case, Tang Tingting went through her memories again.
“He’s not a heavy drinker, but maybe he was under too much pressure during that period. I could tell he was feeling very down.”
"But in any case, it's wrong to drink so much and drive. He just got his driver's license not long ago, and driving that fast is extremely dangerous."
The accident report shows that Gu Hongbo lost control of his car late at night. Not only was his blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit, but the skid marks at the scene also indicated that his speed far exceeded the speed limit.
When asked about the suspicious points in the case, Tang Tingting simply shook her head.
“What are you referring to as suspicious points? Isn’t it an accident?” she said. “Hongbo has a very good temper, he’s always kind to everyone, and he’s never made enemies with anyone.”
Zhu Qing suddenly asked, "I heard that your parents were against you two being together. Can I ask why?"
Tang Tingting lowered her eyes and sighed softly, "His salary is not high, and his job is not stable."
"Living off the savings left by my parents..."
"My parents are worried that I will have a hard life in the future."
"This time, he had a car accident because of drunk driving, which makes them feel even more that they did the right thing to stop him back then."
After leaving the office building, the two went straight to the film company that produced "Lunar Eclipse" years ago.
This is the umpteenth time the police have visited.
Tang Tingting mentioned that Mr. and Mrs. Gu left their son a sum of money.
Given the meager income of this couple working as ordinary factory workers, could this money have sustained them for more than a decade if it were truly Gu Niman's film salary from back then?
The production manager of the film company provided the answer.
Although "Lunar Eclipse" was a box office hit, the family members could only inherit the estate and could not share in the subsequent profits.
Was Gu Niman's salary high when she filmed "Lunar Eclipse"?
"How much do you think a newcomer can be paid?" the manager retorted. "The company isn't a charity. The market response to a newcomer's first film is unknown, so how can we possibly ask for a high price?"
"Lunar Eclipse" is Gu Niman's first and only work.
The payment for the film was settled long ago and was not substantial.
So, where did the Gu family's money come from?
How did Gu Niman get into this industry?
The manager pondered for a long time: "I can't quite remember, it was probably an internal company recommendation. It's not written in the file who recommended me."
"Didn't Gu Niman sign the contract directly with Zhou Yongsheng?"
Zhu Qing remembered that Gu Niman mentioned that Zhou Yongsheng decided to tailor a script for her the moment he saw her.
"Director Zhou?" The production manager scoffed. "Back then, Zhou Yongsheng himself wasn't doing very well, yet he signed new talent? This industry is very realistic; without achievements, you're nothing."
Finally, the manager escorted them to the elevator.
“Madam!” he asked, “Is the person the paparazzi photographed really Gu Niman?”
"That woman wearing sunglasses... how did her face get so disfigured?"
"And what about the body double you asked about last time? What does that have to do with this case?"
The elevator doors slowly closed, shutting out his questions.
As the investigation deepened and the truth behind the "love suicide" was revealed, Zeng Yongshan would always think of that frail figure in the small house in Ping Chau.
"Is Gu Niman's inheritance really enough for her family to live on for ten years?" Zeng Yongshan pondered. "Could it be that for the past ten years, she has been secretly using Zhou Yongsheng's money to support them? If she wanted to hide her identity and quietly help her parents and brother, it wouldn't be difficult, would it?"
“It’s even possible that… Zhou Yongsheng was aware of it and tacitly approved of taking care of her family.”
"On the other hand, Zhou Yongsheng outwardly went along with her, but secretly... he took care of them."
...
In the block corner of the kindergarten's toddler class, Fangfang and several other children are sitting on a soft mat, intently building their "skyscraper".
When he first enrolled, the young master of the Sheng family complained that the kindergarten was "just as its name suggested," and that it was incredibly childish. But now, his round eyes are fixed intently on the ever-growing stack of blocks, more absorbed than anyone else.
Today's construction team consists of Mr. Shengfang, Mr. Jinbao, and Ms. Yesi.
The teamwork of this trio was as seamless as ever. Jinbao was wearing an adorable knitted hat today, just like a hard hat, so he was exceptionally allowed to enter their "construction site." He held the building blocks in his little hands, slowly stacking them up layer by layer. Every time a new colorful little block was placed, he would hold his breath and concentrate intently.
Shengfang and Xiaoyesi covered their mouths and shrank their necks, not wanting their breath to affect this crumbling "building". Even when the teacher walked in a corner of the classroom, they received a "keep quiet" look from them.
"Splash—"
With the last block falling, their masterpiece collapsed with a crash.
The three children sighed at the same time and collapsed onto the wooden floor in unison. They were determined to give up neatly and without the slightest hesitation.
"Fangfang, did your niece go to the movies?" Little Coconut asked, turning her head to the side.
"No, she's very busy right now."
"What will we do then?"
Despite being in a lying position, the three children's conversation sounded like they were having an important meeting.
Fangfang suddenly sat up and swung her chubby little arms.
"What does this mean?" Little Coconut asked, puzzled.
Teacher Ji couldn't help but stop and wonder what new tricks the children had learned this time.
“This is a ‘stick’.” Fang Fang held the short arm with his other hand in a serious manner.
"I want to—" Sheng Fang said, enunciating each word clearly, "to break up this loving couple!"
"Pfft."
Teacher Ji burst out laughing.
Now, no matter how profound the words she hears from the young master of the Sheng family, she is no longer surprised.
Jinbao and Yesi listened intently, stretching out their short arms at the same time.
Breaking up couples is so much fun, can we bring them along next time?
...
At 2 p.m. sharp, the newly issued test report from the forensic department was slammed heavily onto the interrogation table.
The data clearly shows that the steel cable used to strangle Zhou Yongsheng is made of the same material as the steel wire used in the theater stage curtain.
“Officer, I really didn’t kill anyone!” Ho Lap-yan leaned forward, his hands on the interrogation table. “That day…that day I saw Chow Wing-sing buying tickets at the theater and recognized him immediately. I hid in the distance and observed, thinking that after more than ten years, he definitely wouldn’t recognize me.”
His speech became faster and faster.
"But before the movie started, he stopped in his tracks as he passed by me after using the restroom. It turned out he still remembered the Xiaguang Theater and the promotional event he was forced to attend more than ten years ago. He said he was wondering if the usher from back then was still there when he arrived."
Yesterday, Ho Lap-yan remained silent in the interrogation room, keeping his head down and not uttering a word no matter how the police officers questioned him.
Today, with evidence against him laid bare before him, he finally lost his composure. He Liren fidgeted, explaining the events of the day in question, afraid of omitting any detail that might prove his innocence.
"It's not what you think... There's no deep-seated hatred between us. How could I kill him just because of something that happened more than ten years ago?"
"Officer, I'm truly innocent."
"So he recognized you too." Uncle Li interrupted coldly. "Zhou Yongsheng said to you—'You're doing even worse now,' and that's what brought back the humiliating memories from over a decade ago. Isn't that right?"
“You know the entrances and exits of the movie theater better than anyone else, you know that the other employees were slacking off and would definitely not stick to their posts, and you also know that this dilapidated theater doesn’t even have a surveillance camera.”
"At the premiere of 'Hong Kong Island Storm' more than ten years ago, the film had absolutely nothing to do with Chow Wing-sing. He was just a guest invited to the event. It was so long ago that as long as no one mentions it, it will all be forgotten..."
“Zhou Yongsheng’s arrogant attitude hasn’t changed at all. You couldn’t stand it, so you rummaged through the prop room for some leftover steel wire, sneaked into the screening room, and just like that—” Uncle Li stood up and made a tightening motion, “and that’s how you ended his life, wasn’t it?!”
"No! I didn't kill anyone!" He Liren's voice trembled as he shouted.
His shirt was soaked with sweat, and he was drenched in sweat, looking greasy and disheveled under the glaring lights.
“I did go in that day. Didn’t the newspaper say it was a ‘love suicide’? I just… just wanted to see what was going on.”
Manager He said that in retrospect, Zhou Yongsheng was far too arrogant.
“If the ‘fake death’ story published in the newspaper is true, isn’t he afraid I’ll expose him?” He Liren gave a bitter smile. “Maybe in the eyes of a big director, a nobody like me is not worth mentioning. Even if I expose him, I won’t cause much of a stir. It was like that more than ten years ago, and it’s still the same more than ten years later. He looks down on me from the bottom of his heart.”
He Liren took a deep breath.
"I pushed the door open and went in, just as a strong light from the movie screen shone on Zhou Yongsheng's face."
"His eyes were closed, and that position meant he couldn't possibly be asleep. I was so scared that I turned and ran away."
"Later, when I heard from you that he was strangled by a steel cable, I remembered that the prop room had this thing."
“I went into the prop room and touched the wire rope. At the time, I didn’t know how much was left or if anyone had taken it. But thinking that I had touched it and might have left fingerprints, I cleaned it all up.”
"Officer! It's not my fault. The prop room door is never locked; anyone can go in!"
He Liren gripped the edge of the table: "I clean the prop room and posters because I'm afraid—I'm afraid that if you're like this now, I won't be able to clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River."
In the observation room next door, several police officers stared at the anxious and fearful expression on Manager He's face.
"Is this evidence enough to prosecute him?"
"Motive for murder, eyewitness testimony, physical evidence... but all of these are circumstantial evidence..."
Just as they were discussing, a flurry of footsteps and noises suddenly came from the corridor.
"Gu Niman was cornered by reporters downstairs."
"How do these paparazzi have such a keen sense of smell? They can find out everything!"
Not only the officers from Major Crimes Unit B, but also their colleagues from other departments crowded around the windows, peering down at the commotion below.
"Gu Niman? Is it really Miss Gu Niman?"
"Can you explain how you got the scars on your face? Could you take off your sunglasses so we can see them?"
"Where have you been hiding for the past ten years? How did you plan that double suicide incident ten years ago? I heard that Director Zhou had a wife and children at that time, did you know that?"
"Miss Gu Niman, what are your plans next?"
Under the flash of the lights, Gu Niman's thin figure appeared even more frail. She kept shrinking back, adjusting her sunglasses with her hand, the gruesome scars on the back of her hand becoming even more clearly visible under the flash.
Zeng Yongshan and Xu Jiale went downstairs, pushed through the crowd, and helped her into the police station.
"Miss Gu! How have you been living these past ten years?"
"Your fans are very concerned about you! Would you be willing to grant us an exclusive interview?"
"What happened between you and Director Zhou later..."
The sounds of the paparazzi relentlessly pursuing them faded into the distance.
Inside the police station, the officers closed the windows.
"Have a glass of water first," Zeng Yongshan said, handing her a glass of warm water.
The office was immediately abuzz with discussion.
"No wonder the whole city is paying attention to this news. Even my mother's mahjong partner asked her to inquire about it with me. Gu Niman's legal identity was revoked, and the whole world thought she was dead. All these years, she's been living under the false identity of 'Huang Jiewen.' In the blink of an eye, the dead have come back to life, and she's the same person who caused a sensation back then..."
"Actually, if it had just been a director who committed suicide for love, it wouldn't have caused such a big stir. Most people felt sorry for Gu Niman."
"It's truly pitiful. Even if her identity information can be restored, it will probably be difficult for her to face this identity again. Her parents are gone, her younger brother is gone, 'Gu Niman's' most prized feature, her appearance, is ruined, and her acting career is impossible to restart... It's better for her to stay on her island and continue being 'Huang Jiewen,' at least she can live freely."
"For her, being 'Huang Jiewen' must be easier than being 'Gu Niman'... Those paparazzi went too far; they almost pressed the microphone and camera against her face just now."
“It wasn’t just that the camera and microphone were right in her face!” Xu Jiale said. “When Yongshan and I arrived, a paparazzo reached out and grabbed her sunglasses. They’re such unscrupulous media!”
The officers in the office spoke in hushed tones, glancing out from time to time.
At this moment, Gu Niman was still sitting on the bench in the corridor, tugging at Zeng Yongshan's clothes, repeatedly asking softly.
"Have you found the murderer who killed Yongsheng?"
"Will Yongsheng's wife...take care of his funeral arrangements?"
"For the past ten years, Yifan has been the one he's been thinking about the most. Is Yifan willing to forgive him?"
Zhu Qing stood not far away, glanced at her with a complicated look in her eyes, and then looked down and opened the case file that had been turned upside down.
All investigations now point to Ho Lap-yan, the manager of the Xia Guang Theatre.
But these clues are like scattered puzzle pieces.
Her thoughts were in disarray, and she couldn't piece together the complete truth.
...
The investigation is progressing steadily.
Just like yesterday, as Xu Jiale wished, everyone was able to leave work on time and go home for a hot home-cooked meal.
Zhu Qing had Aunt Ping's number saved in her mobile phone contacts.
Starting at 4:30 PM, the phone rang incessantly, with "Aunt Ping's" caller ID constantly appearing on the screen. But each time she answered, Fang Fang's soft, sweet voice would come from the other end, instantly dispelling her fatigue from the entire day. It seemed that from the moment Sheng Fang got off the school bus, Aunt Ping's cell phone had been requisitioned by Officer Fang.
"Aunt Ping! Qingzai finished work on time and is going home for dinner tonight!"
Shengfang hung up the phone and ran into the kitchen with a "da da da" sound.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ping immediately took off her apron, grabbed the young master, and ran towards the market.
The food at home wasn't plentiful enough, so Aunt Ping wanted to give Zhu Qing an extra meal, but she was worried about not having enough time, so she left quickly.
Fangfang, who was following behind her, was struggling to keep up.
He was panting heavily.
She always says she's old and frail, even though she's clearly very strong!
"Young master, hurry up, or there won't be any food left!"
Fangfang's short legs moved slowly as she took her first steps.
"I can wait for you at home!"
"No, what if you fall out of the window?"
"I'm not a stupid child." Fangfang held up four fingers. "I'm almost four years old!"
Regardless of whether the young master would complain, Aunt Ping remained steadfast in her opinion on this matter.
Let alone four-year-olds, there are even news reports of eight- or nine-year-old children falling from buildings. Taking care of young children requires constant vigilance; danger can be everywhere. Therefore, she had to keep a close eye on them.
Shengfang and Aunt Ping discussed and bargained for a long time, but in the end, Shengfang looked dissatisfied.
He had originally planned to ride his bicycle to help Aunt Ping buy groceries next time, but now it seems that the plan has completely fallen through.
But when I got home, there was an unexpected surprise.
They met Zhu Qing at their doorstep.
"Qingzai, Qingzai!"
What brings you here?
Zhu Qing: ...
Shengfang was overjoyed; it had been a long time since she had seen her niece at home during the day!
The sound of stir-frying came from the kitchen. Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang were in the children's room. Recently, Fang Fang's schoolbag has been filled with many things, such as paintings she drew in kindergarten and handmade crafts. The children brought them home and presented their works one by one as if they were treasures.
"What is this?" Zhu Qing asked, pointing to a small, colorful bottle.
"This is even more amazing!" Sheng Fang exclaimed proudly and enthusiastically, "It's a pen holder!"
This is a pen holder made from a beverage bottle. After washing it, colorful paper strips are pasted all over the outside.
The process of making the pen holder wasn't entirely based on the teacher's instructions; the children could also use their own creativity. For example, the tendrils cut out of black colored paper that's currently pasted on top are one of his ideas.
"This is a cockroach-shaped pen holder, isn't it cool?"
Just as Fang Fang was solemnly introducing the name of the pen holder, Zhu Qing happened to place it on her desk.
It was also filled with pens.
"..." Zhu Qing said, "Tell me earlier next time."
"Qingzai, are you afraid of cockroaches?"
The niece shook her head.
It's not that I'm scared, but nobody wants to put a cockroach decoration in their room.
After dinner, at the strong request of the children, Zhu Qing picked up the car keys from the entryway cabinet.
It's been a long time since I took Fangfang out to play.
"Aunt Ping, we're going out for a bit," Zhu Qing said.
Aunt Ping poked her head out from the kitchen.
"I'm going to take Qingzai out for a walk to clear her head." Fangfang waved her hand.
When Shengfang goes out with Zhu Qing, she never cares about where they are going.
He tiptoed into the back seat of the car, and before the car even started, he reached out his chubby little hand and gently massaged his niece's temples.
"Brain massage," Fangfang said in a childish voice, "After the massage, you'll become smarter!"
“Not killing is also a smart move,” Zhu Qing said smugly.
"Did you know that I secretly ate half a box of chocolates this afternoon?"
"Now I know."
How can a child eat so many sweets?
"Next time I'm going to lock the refrigerator."
Fangfang covered her little mouth; oh no, she let it slip.
But how do you lock the refrigerator? Don't try to fool kids like that, Qingzai.
"Really?" Fangfang grinned. "I'm so scared."
Zhu Qing glanced at the chubby, mischievous child in the rearview mirror.
This is getting more and more infuriating; it seems like he wants to get beaten up.
The bustling night view flashed by, and this was a leisurely drive for the uncle and nephew.
Nowadays, children's TV time is strictly limited. When passing by the Mong Kok Bookstore, Zhu Qing took the opportunity to park the car, lead the child inside, and pick out a few books for him.
As she stepped into the bookstore, she turned around and looked at the empty storefront across the street.
That shop used to be Ya Yun Piano Store, but now the store has been transferred, and the grand piano is no longer visible in the window.
Time always passes silently.
Zhu Qing looked away.
During the day, while listening to her colleagues at the police station discuss the topic of psychology aiding in solving cases, she unconsciously walked over to the psychology bookshelf.
Fangfang, a little boy in the children's section, was also wandering among the bookshelves. He strolled around leisurely, as if he were just taking a casual stroll, his hands in his pockets, relaxed and carefree, but his gaze never lingered on any of the books, and he didn't even want to glance at them for more than a second.
Zhu Qing grabbed a few books and went to pay the bill.
“That’s such a pity,” she said. “I was planning to spend the weekend with you on the terrace, having snacks and reading together.”
Sunshine, desserts, and books... instantly create a pleasant scene.
Upon hearing this, the children immediately stood on tiptoe, grabbed several children's picture books from the nearby display shelf, and stuffed them into their shopping basket.
Stepping out of the bookstore, one finds oneself amidst the bustling crowds of Mong Kok.
The uncle and nephew took a walk aimlessly.
Fangfang gripped Zhu Qing's clothes tightly.
Then, his little hand was held tightly.
Holding hands, big hands lead little hands, walking and stopping leisurely.
The children, their faces beaming with smiles, moved with increasingly light steps.
At the entrance of the cinema, the re-release poster for "Coco" was particularly eye-catching.
This was the last movie Zhou Yongsheng watched before his death. According to the theater ticket seller, he specifically mentioned that he was "very much looking forward to it."
Unlike the old-fashioned Xiaguang Theater, this cinema seems to be more adept at promotion. The melodious and gentle soundtrack of the movie echoes in the ticket hall, and exquisite props such as folding fans and handkerchiefs that appeared in the movie are displayed on the platform, creating an atmosphere of "11th Anniversary Re-release of the Movie".
Zhu Qing stood in front of the huge poster, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Shengfang, a child, had already wandered over to the animation exhibition area next door and stood in front of the posters, looking like a little salesperson.
Fangfang stretched out her little hand and pointed to the poster: "Qingzai, look at this lion, isn't it super majestic?"
The children's eyes, blinking excitedly, sparkled with anticipation; they were clearly shouting—
I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!
...
In the end, Zhu Qing promised Sheng Fang that once the case was over, she would definitely bring him to the cinema to see the majestic lion.
"Wow!"
My niece keeps her word, and Shengfang never doubts that.
He jumped up and cheered, patting the lion on the poster with his little hand: "Wait for me."
Zhu Qing then turned to the newsstand next to the cinema.
The magazines the boss displayed had had their covers changed time and again, and now the pages related to Zhou Yongsheng had been replaced by old photos of Gu Niman.
Zhu Qing casually picked up the latest issue of "Hong Kong Star Weekly". The newsstand was dimly lit, but Gu Niman on the cover was stunningly beautiful.
She was a bright and charming girl from a young age, who could sing and dance, as if she was born to stand in the spotlight.
Two passersby flipped through a magazine and bought an evening newspaper.
The news about Gu Niman has left everyone sighing. But it's not exactly breaking news anymore, and it can't compare to the frenzy of her magazine selling out just two days ago. Fewer and fewer readers will be willing to buy her magazine, and gradually, Gu Niman's life will return to normal.
"So beautiful..." one of them shook his head and sighed, "Which of today's popular actresses is as beautiful as her? Just dating, and she's turned out like this. I was too young back then, actually believing the director's nonsense."
The murmurs subsided, and the footsteps faded into the distance.
Zhu Qing's fingertips were still lingering on Gu Niman's smiling face in the magazine.
Ten years ago, Gu Niman was disfigured by sulfuric acid. Zhou Yongsheng told him that it was done by the actress who was competing with her for a role.
Did she really believe his story so naively?
When the overwhelming voices expressed sympathy and heartache for Gu Niman, Zhu Qing suddenly remembered the words of Zhou Yongsheng's son, Jiang Yifan.
Why does everyone feel sorry for Gu Niman?
"Does being eighteen mean you know nothing?"
Eighteen is indeed young.
But to say that he was a completely naive child would be a stretch.
"Qingzai, look at them!" Fangfang suddenly tugged at Zhu Qing's clothes.
Shengfang pointed to a couple at the theater entrance—
They are Brother Gao from the police station and Sister Rachel from the traffic department who rides a bicycle.
Of the hundred or so people at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station, Zhu Qing hadn't recognized them all yet, but Sheng Fang remembered them more clearly than she did.
"Xiao Gao!" Fangfang waved on tiptoe, "Sister Rachel!"
"I even bumped into someone I know at the movie theater entrance!" Sheng Fang said happily. "What a coincidence!"
Just then, a thought suddenly flashed through Zhu Qing's mind.
Liu Wei, who claimed to have lost track of Zhou Yongsheng, was both a huge fan of Gu Niman and her high school classmate.
That day, he followed the cemetery to Fu Nian Ice Room, and just at the last stop, did he really lose track of them?
Or perhaps Liu Wei saw someone he wanted to protect at the crime scene, and therefore chose to conceal it.
Gu Niman's lingering presence raises questions: Is it because she truly doesn't want to leave, or...?
Is it impossible to leave?
Zhou Yongsheng used the false identity of "Qin Wen" to obtain a new photo ID, but Gu Niman did not. Huang Jiewen's old passport had already left the country, and Gu Niman's old, text-only ID card was incapable of obtaining a new passport like "Qin Wen." Their original plan is unknown; perhaps buying outbound tickets was simply a risky move, and they were at risk of being stopped at customs…
Gu Niman needs to restore her true identity.
At this moment, Zhu Qing looked at the poster for "Seeking Dreams" at the cinema entrance and finally understood.
The old movie from eleven years ago may have carried shared memories for Zhou Yongsheng and Gu Niman. For Zhou Yongsheng, it was a sweet reunion across time, but little did he know it would be his last movie viewing.
"Coming on a date?" Fangfang slipped up to the couple of colleagues and asked with a smile.
The female traffic policewoman's ears instantly burned, and she blushed as she slapped away her male colleague's hand that was on her shoulder.
Everyone says not to come to Mong Kok, and now look what happened, I got caught red-handed.
Zhu Qing didn't have time to cover Fang Fang's mouth: "How do you even know how to date!"
"Qingzai, you're the only one who doesn't understand."
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