Chapter 85 May Wealth Abound!
In the interrogation room of Yau Ma Tei Police Station, two experienced officers, Mok Chun-pong and Uncle Lai, were interrogating the suspect.
Meanwhile, other personnel continued their investigation intensively. Officers frequently rushed back with evidence or reported the latest developments via telephone.
Zhu Qing was standing in front of the bedside of the owner of Xiaguang Theater. Under the dim light, the old man looked particularly haggard.
Zeng Yongshan pushed open the door and came in, still holding the cell phone she had just hung up, and handed it to Zhu Qing.
“I’ve contacted Inspector Mo.” She lowered her voice. “I’ve already told him that Gu Niman has been frequenting the Xiaguang Theater since she was ten years old.”
The once-glorious theater has now fallen into decline, struggling to make ends meet. Some employees have been laid off, while others have resigned voluntarily. The few remaining employees appear to still be in their positions, but in reality, they are secretly looking for new opportunities.
"Everyone advised me to close down the theater, saying that the theater doesn't make money and I even have to pay my own wages every month."
“My children keep urging me not to do this unprofitable business.”
“But I can’t let it go,” the old man said. “You’re still young and haven’t seen the most glorious days of our Xiaguang Theater. Back then, every premiere was held here. Even those movie stars had to respectfully call me ‘Brother Yao’ when they saw me.”
The old man's eyes shone as he recalled the past.
He spoke at length about how he made his fortune, but the police were more concerned about the girl who had deep ties to the theater.
“That child…” The boss’s eyes became complicated. “I knew it the first time I saw her. Even her eyes were stubborn. If she were determined to pursue this path, she would succeed sooner or later. Who could have predicted—”
Zhu Qing noticed the newspapers and magazines scattered around the old man's bedside. For days, the front page headlines had mostly been about the decade-long feud between Zhou Yongsheng and Gu Niman.
The most glaring thing is Gu Niman's hideous scars under the sunlight. Even though she is covered by sunglasses, people can still see the fear and helplessness in her eyes hidden behind the lenses.
At that moment, the nurse pushed the door open and said, "Visiting hours are long over, the patient needs to rest."
Before being urged to leave, Zhu Qing asked one last question: "Do you still remember the name of the boss of that film company back then?"
"Unforgettable," the old man answered without hesitation. "Who doesn't know Mr. Jin from Tianwei Film Industry?"
...
Zhu Qing and Zeng Yongshan arrived at the Tianwei Film Industry Building.
A few lights were on, and the employees working overtime were unaware of the connection between the film company and Gu Niman.
After much effort, they finally got in touch with Jin Siheng, the current head of Tianwei Film Industry, who is also the daughter of that Mr. Jin.
Police drove to the Kim family's house.
As the car drove through the iron gate, Jin Siheng stood by the gate waiting. She was wearing a simple black suit, and glanced at her watch: "I have another meeting, so I can only give you half an hour at most."
The living room was furnished with expensive vintage furniture, and several posters hung on the wall, all of which were classic films produced by Tianwei Films.
In a corner photo, Mr. Kim is all smiles, holding a glass of champagne, posing with his artists.
That was the golden age of Jin Zhendong. Most of the actors whose names you can name today were made famous by him.
Jin Siheng rubbed his tense brows.
Now that she has taken over Tianwei Films, she has to clean up the mess left by her father, get caught up in various scandals involving illegitimate children, and fight openly and secretly with her "brothers and sisters" who are eyeing her covetously, leaving her with no time to spare.
“I know why you’re here,” Jin Siheng said. “These past few days, the media has been reporting on her death. I thought the paparazzi were incredibly infiltrative, but they’re nothing special. In the end, it was the police who discovered the entanglement between Gu Niman and my father first.”
“My father signed her contract. At that time, we owned several properties... I don’t know which one was used to hide her.”
Zeng Yongshan opened her notebook: "Ms. Jin, could you tell me more about the relationship between Gu Niman and your father?"
"Gu Niman lives near the Xiaguang Theater and dreams of becoming a star all day long," Jin Siheng said sarcastically.
Gu Niman and Jin Zhendong met at the Xiaguang Theater.
Jin Siheng was also there at the time, and it was she who told her father that there was a timid girl standing in the corner.
"I only found out later that the 'timid' demeanor—" Jin Siheng chuckled, "was an act."
What happened later, Jin Zhendong never told his daughter a single thing.
In Jin Siheng's memory, when Gu Niman's name reappeared, they were already very close.
“The exchange of resources, where each party gets what they need, is a transaction, and she became my father’s canary.”
“She never wore heavy makeup and looked innocent, unlike other people. My father liked her and kept her at home, saying that she would become his trump card sooner or later.”
“He also took Gu Niman to high-society events. Do you really think she doesn’t know anything?” Jin Siheng raised his lips. “Her eyes were shining when she looked at those haute couture evening gowns.”
Do you know how Zhou Yongsheng met her?
“A famous director met her at a private banquet and was captivated, wanting to tailor a script specifically for her.” She paused for a moment, “It was that film, Eclipse.”
"She was juggling between your father and Zhou Yongsheng at the time?"
"My father and Gu Niman..." Jin Siheng's cold laugh was laced with mockery, "are simply inseparable. Even my mother said that this time is different. A girl who just graduated from school, yet her methods are quite clever."
“He used to go out and have a good time, and my mother would always make a fuss. She said they started from scratch and were a couple who had been through thick and thin together, and she would never pretend to be deaf and dumb like other rich wives.”
“But Gu Niman is different. My mother did more than just make a fuss. Because of her, the house was in chaos. My mother was in tears and wouldn’t let go of their wedding photo.”
"And then..." she shrugged, "I don't know."
Zeng Yongshan closed her notebook: "If I may ask, what are your parents doing now...?"
Jin Siheng's expression froze.
Her mother left for a foreign country ten years ago and never returned until her death. Her father suffered a cerebral hemorrhage three years ago and is now partially paralyzed. The once powerful and influential Mr. Jin is now lying in a hospital bed, his clothes soaked with saliva, unable to speak, and even his brain is beginning to degenerate. He can no longer even recognize his own daughter.
After leaving the Jin family, Zhu Qing and Zeng Yongshan remained silent for a long time, still immersed in their conversation.
Jin Siheng's description of Gu Niman is completely different, quite unlike the image the police had seen.
“I have good news,” Zeng Yongshan said. “Shu Yingying has left. I left her my pager number that day, and she left me a message before boarding the plane.”
"Shu Yingying said 'thank you.'" Her brow relaxed, and she whispered, "And 'take care.'"
It was past 11 o'clock when I got back to the Yau Ma Tei Police Station.
As soon as the two of them got downstairs, they saw Haozai, Xiaosun, and Xu Jiale getting out of a car.
"We're truly brothers in misfortune, sisters in misfortune," Xu Jiale laughed. "Looks like nobody's going home early today."
Xiao Sun patted the file folder in his hand: "It must have been her who did it, or at least she instigated it, no doubt about it."
As the group walked toward the police station, they suddenly heard footsteps behind them. Turning around, they saw Liang Qikai striding towards them, holding surveillance footage from several shops along the street.
The group exchanged smiles, their banter echoing through the empty Yau Ma Tei Police Station corridor.
"It's one of our own people again—"
"It's as if the nights at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station belong only to us."
"No, let's not." Xu Jiale slapped him on the back. "No need for such romance."
...
When the original storyline is overturned, Mo Zhenbang and Uncle Li begin to piece together the truth again.
Gu Niman sat quietly in the interrogation room, looking slightly tired.
This is a story about hermit crabs searching for a host.
She was initially Jin Zhendong from Tianwei Pictures, but later she met Zhou Yongsheng on set.
In terms of appearance, Zhou Yongsheng was indeed unremarkable, but compared to the fifty-something-year-old Boss Jin, he could at least be described as refined and considerate. However, he was far less wealthy than Jin Zhendong.
Zhou Yongsheng could have been another stepping stone for Gu Niman, but during their time together, she discovered that he was far inferior to Jin Zhendong in terms of social status, resources, and financial strength.
“You’re juggling two people at the same time,” Mo Zhenbang said slowly. “You hesitated because you thought the famous director could be a stepping stone for you to reach the next level. But you found out that he’s nothing special.”
Gu Niman's expression shifted slightly, but the police could not glean any further information from her face.
After all, she has excellent acting skills.
Mo Zhenbang was not impatient; he had time to wait and see. He simply reminded Gu Niman that things had come to this point, and there was no suspense regarding Zhou Yongsheng's murder case.
The evidence was clear and irrefutable, so she had no choice but to confess and accept leniency.
Uncle Li flipped through the case files.
He said calmly, "The sulfuric acid incident has nothing to do with Zhou Yongsheng. It was done by Boss Jin's people, wasn't it?"
Gu Niman closed her eyes.
Ten years have passed, but those scars remain a pain she cannot let go of, a knot in her heart she cannot overcome.
After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
The police then realized that when Gu Niman no longer needed to feign weakness to gain their sympathy, she didn't even need to strain her head to speak. She could speak at their level.
"When I first joined the film crew, Zhou Yongsheng and I got together."
Zhou Yongsheng had a family, yet he claimed he would abandon everything and elope with her. He had always been like this, his mind filled with ethereal fantasies, where love was everything. At that time, Gu Niman was unaware that his meticulously crafted and beautiful "plan" already included a substitute.
"He knows about you and Jin Zhendong..."
“He knows.”
At that time, Gu Niman was in complete control and had everything under her sway. The rumors about her and Zhou Yongsheng reached Jin Zhendong. At the same time, she realized that Zhou Yongsheng was not a better choice, but for the sake of the perfect presentation of the film, she still dealt with him perfunctorily.
After all, it was because of her relationship with Zhou Yongsheng that he unconditionally and meticulously crafted the photos to capture her most beautiful appearance.
As a newcomer, she desperately needed this opportunity.
“No matter how you weigh the options, I will not choose Zhou Yongsheng.” Gu Niman said calmly, “So I broke up with him before the film wrapped up.”
The breakup was real. When Gu Niman said these words, Zhou Yongsheng knelt down in front of her, begging and pleading to stay.
What happened next became her nightmare.
"Do you still remember Mrs. Jin?" Mo Zhenbang flipped through the transcript that his subordinate had just brought him.
"Was it because of you that she suddenly went abroad ten years ago?"
Hatred ignited in Gu Niman's eyes. She would never forget that woman, nor that bottle of scalding hot, highly concentrated sulfuric acid.
That was after filming wrapped up; the crazed Mrs. Kim ambushed her on her way home. A searing pain spread from her cheek to her shoulder, and Mrs. Kim's screams were even more piercing than hers.
In the chaos, it was Zhou Yongsheng's appearance that saved her.
The woman ran away.
She was taken to a dimly lit little clinic where the doctor was old and gray, his hands trembling as he held the syringe.
The wound was very painful, and it was festering and getting infected every day. The high fever made her dizzy, and several times she thought she was going to die.
She even felt that dying like this wouldn't be so bad.
“I told him I didn’t want to live anymore.”
"He stayed by my side and helped me write my will."
This is the truth behind that "double suicide case" from back then.
Zhou Yongsheng lured a stunt double onto his yacht under the pretense of an audition for a new play. The girl, overjoyed, changed into Gu Niman's costume, thrilled with the opportunity. Little did she know that minutes later, she would fall into the sea.
Mo Zhenbang's gaze darkened: "You know that girl died in your place."
“I was living a life worse than death back then,” Gu Niman retorted. “Why would I care about the life or death of a body double?”
Her eyes were pure and bright, seemingly harmless, but her words sent chills down one's spine.
Just as Mo Zhenbang was about to press further, Gu Niman leaned back.
Clearly, these accusations displeased her.
“I’m sorry, I’m tired,” Gu Niman said. “According to the regulations, I have the right to request rest during the late night hours.”
...
In the office, Haozai said irritably, "How can she sleep? I can't sleep."
“This is a case of interrogation due to fatigue… According to regulations, the person should be allowed to rest.” Xu Jiale slumped in his swivel chair. “This Zhou Yongsheng has gone from being a thoroughly evil person to a thoroughly stupid idiot.”
"So many people have been hurt for the sake of so-called love..."
"There really are such rescuer personalities? They take care of Gu Niman with all their heart, and they've become addicted to it, becoming more and more obsessed."
"Psychology is, after all, a discipline—"
"Unfortunately, Gu Niman didn't fall for that. It wasn't that she didn't want to get rid of him, but that she didn't have the ability to do so at the time."
Zhu Qing meticulously completed the formalities according to the procedure, arranged for Gu Niman to rest in a detention room, and was sent home directly by Mo Sir when she submitted the forms.
"That's a wrap for everyone," Mo Zhenbang said without room for argument. "Go home and get some sleep. We'll talk about it tomorrow."
A response rang out in the office, and the officers quickly organized the case files and stood up efficiently.
It was late at night when Zhu Qing arrived home, and she quietly opened the door.
Before she could even hang up her coat, she immediately headed to the children's room. Normally, the small room was left ajar; Fangfang was still too young to close the door completely, preferring to fall asleep to the sounds of the house.
Zhu Qing was stunned for a moment when she pushed open the door.
Late at night, her uncle was nowhere to be found, and only the image of her teddy bear remained in her bed.
She then turned to check the shoe rack, where Fang Fang's slippers were neatly arranged.
After a busy day, the most anticipated part—customer customization—was missed.
Feeling even more exhausted, Zhu Qing dragged her feet back to her room and lay down in a dejected manner.
The next day, just as dawn broke, she dialed Aunt Ping's number.
On the other end of the phone, I heard Fangfang's proud, childlike voice.
I'm going to see your mommy!
Zhu Qing laughed.
He always tries to act like a precocious little adult, even when he's watching the eldest sister.
Over there, Fangfang said to Aunt Ping—
"Qingzai misses me so much."
Zhu Qing raised an eyebrow: "Who said that?"
“I said it,” Fangfang said matter-of-factly. “You’re too embarrassed to admit it.”
Even on weekdays, when the children come home from their extracurricular classes, Qingzai is still nowhere to be seen.
Now, Zhu Qing is the one waiting for him at home.
The call ended.
"It's been such a long, long time since I've seen Qingzai..."
"Young master, it's only been one day."
On the back seat of the taxi, a small, short leg dangles in the air.
Outside the window, the sky was clear and blue, and he was still holding a small umbrella in his arms, a symbol of his "unused talents."
"Umbrella, you've got guts!" Shengfang said to it.
...
The interrogation continued until the early morning of the following day.
After the previous night's confrontation, it was clear that the suspect had shed his disguise.
Faced with irrefutable evidence, this tough nut was finally cracked. Gu Niman simply stopped trying to hide it, her words revealing a resigned indifference; since she had made a wrong move, there was no point in arguing.
She leaned back and calmly closed her eyes. Finally, she no longer had to exert herself to play that flawless role, which made her feel uneasy, but everything had come to an end, and she could breathe a sigh of relief.
"Here is a newly compiled list of the Gu family's assets," Mo Zhenbang said, pushing a document towards them.
Once her identity is restored, the Gu family's real estate and vehicles should automatically be transferred to Gu Niman's name.
This is also an important reason why she chose to show up.
Zhou Yongsheng and the Gu family's inheritance and savings are enough to support her.
“That’s what I deserve.” Gu Niman’s expression remained calm. “Everything was originally mine.”
In 1984, Gu Niman met Mr. Jin by chance. The wealthy businessman fell in love with her at first sight, and soon she moved into the magnificent villa in Jardine's Lookout. Even after the film wrapped up, when Zhou Yongsheng came to her door asking her to reconcile, it was on a path outside that mansion that he accidentally bumped into Mrs. Jin and saved her from being splashed with sulfuric acid.
Mo Zhenbang and Uncle Li exchanged a knowing glance.
When Gu Niman personally confirmed this past event, the police's deduction was confirmed: her relationship with her parents was extremely distant.
“Even the most ignorant and foolish parents, driven by the instinct of love, would not stand by and watch their daughter go down this path,” Mo Zhenbang said.
“Back then…” Gu Niman paused for a moment, “when I was in the most pain, it was Yongsheng who was busy taking care of me.”
That evening, Gu Niman's parents rushed to the clinic, having been notified by Zhou Yongsheng.
They stood by the hospital bed, sobbing uncontrollably, their faces filled with heartache and sorrow.
“But in the end they still entrusted me to Yongsheng’s care.” Gu Niman smiled, “because they had to rush back. Hongbo will go to school the next day, and if no one makes breakfast, he will go hungry.”
The interrogation room was silent except for the sound of a pen scratching across paper.
“I’m already like that,” Gu Niman said, emphasizing each word. “He’s just missing this one breakfast.”
She was completely disappointed in them.
Uncle Li: "But that's not enough to make you want to kill them."
"Mrs. Jin disfigured me with sulfuric acid." Gu Niman sneered, gently touching her cheek. "I was going to call the police, but my parents took their money."
In the observation room, everyone stared at Gu Niman behind the one-way glass.
This was the first time the police had seen her with such an expression.
The surveillance footage recorded her changes in expression, every breath was amplified, and every statement was crystal clear.
“Not to mention 1985, even ten years later, that’s still a huge sum of money.” Gu Niman’s hands gripped the edge of the interrogation table, as if trying to grasp something, but then she let go. “This money is enough for them to beg their disfigured daughter to settle out of court and let that ‘poor, deeply affectionate wife’ go.”
Her eyes turned cold as she repeated the hurtful words she had heard ten years ago.
“My face is ruined. I could never earn this much money in my lifetime with this face.”
"What's the point of sending her to jail? It'll only give you temporary relief."
"It would be better to use this hush money to let the whole family live a comfortable life, even if it means sacrificing just me."
Mo Zhenbang opened the autopsy report of the "double suicide case" from ten years ago: "They took the money, settled the matter, and from then on, everything about the Jin family disappeared from your world."
Predictably, Mr. Kim never appeared again, nor is it possible for him to appear again.
Gu Niman accepted Zhou Yongsheng's proposal to die in his place and commit suicide for love.
“I had a high fever at the time and couldn’t do anything,” she said. “Yongsheng had already spent more than half a year training his stunt double to ensure that everything would go perfectly.”
"His only worry was that my parents would bring up the sulfuric acid disfigurement when identifying the body. If that happened, all his efforts would be in vain."
Gu Niman chuckled: "But no, they dare not mention it. They agreed not to 'betray' Mrs. Jin. What if that money is taken back?"
“In cases of 'giant sightings,' where the body is highly decomposed, arrangements will not be made unless the family insists on identifying the body,” Mo Zhenbang said.
The police never mentioned "disfigurement," and Gu Niman's parents dared not ask further.
They even thought it was really their daughter who had committed suicide with the famous director.
“Their daughter is dead.” Gu Niman said as if she were telling someone else’s story. “Without me, the family of three is even happier.”
The subsequent statements perfectly matched the direction of the police investigation.
Her pain brought peace to the Gu family, but why should they feel at ease?
Gu Niman decided to rewrite the ending herself; she wanted them to disappear forever.
Zhou Yongsheng was a knife she had carefully honed.
Whenever Gu Niman sat trembling by the window, letting the sea breeze blow, tears streaming down her face... he was willing to do anything for her smile.
The first one is Gu's mother, Yu Dancui.
Zhou Yongsheng's appearance was not striking. He had short hair and took off his glasses, so he could approach her without being noticed.
“Dead men don’t kill,” Gu Niman said calmly. “No one could suspect him.”
Things progressed much more smoothly than she had expected. As Zhou Yongsheng pressed closer, Yu Dancui looked back in panic, inadvertently leaned against the rusty railing, and fell from the high-rise building.
“That day when Yongsheng came home,” Gu Niman said with a smile, “I specially made soup for him.”
The second was Gu Guodong. Gu Niman knew his fishing habits. It was easy; she found out his fishing location in advance, altered the water warning signs, making the water level appear calm but actually drop sharply.
He drowned in the middle of the night.
"The third one is my younger brother."
Mo Zhenbang interjected: "He wasn't the one who accepted the hush money; Gu Hongbo was only twelve years old back then."
Gu Niman asked in surprise, "He didn't spend any money?"
The police were momentarily speechless.
“Almost all of that money was spent on him,” she said.
Gu Niman wasn't in a hurry to kill Gu Hongbo.
She wants to wait until her younger brother grows up, use the money from her disfigurement to get a driver's license and buy a luxury car, and die when she is at her most loving and intimate with her girlfriend—at that time, he will be even more attached to the world.
"Because only in this way will the pain of loss be the greatest."
Under Gu Niman's arrangement, Zhou Yongsheng met with Gu Hongbo that night, and they talked for a long time.
Zhou Yongsheng was reciting the lines she had prepared: her sister was not dead, she wanted to reunite with him, her sister was now much richer, and she was waiting for him that very night…
“If he weren’t greedy—” she suddenly paused.
“But of course he was greedy,” Gu Niman continued. “My brother couldn’t wait and drove fast to find me while his blood alcohol level was extremely high. He got into a car accident and died on the spot.”
She expressed regret when talking about Mr. Kim and his wife.
His wife fled the country, so she couldn't possibly find out where he was. And Mr. Jin, being a wealthy man, always had bodyguards everywhere he went, so she couldn't do anything about it.
"Finally, it's Zhou Yongsheng's turn."
“I admit that he has been incredibly attentive to me for the past ten years.”
“But I need a chance to reclaim my identity. Only by becoming a victim of imprisonment can I escape this desolate island.”
After dealing with Gu Hongbo, Zhou Yongsheng heard about the new regulations issued by the Immigration Bureau.
He suggested starting over somewhere else. At the entrance of the travel agency, he cautiously asked a passerby to buy a ticket for Gu Niman.
“He swore that fake passports from the black market were foolproof.” Gu Niman smoothed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Such arrogant assurances are the most foolish.”
"For ten years, he has been living in the fantasy of being a great director. He spends all day criticizing those so-called classic films and insists that I analyze them with him. He really thinks he is some kind of art master."
"I'm already tired of this entanglement of ten years. As long as he's alive, I'll never see the light of day. Yongsheng... it's time for him to make the most of his last bit of value."
To Gu Niman's surprise, Zhou Yongsheng went to see his son before leaving. She thought he had long forgotten that he had such a "precious son".
She said coldly, "In ten years, I've never heard him mention that son. In the end, he actually became a loving father."
This was a little incident that Gu Niman hadn't expected.
However, it doesn't matter, even if Jiang Yifan tells Jiang Xiaowei, it doesn't matter.
"If Jiang Xiaowei had any sense, she wouldn't be indulging in ridiculous fantasies of happiness when her bank account is almost empty," Gu Niman said with disdain.
"The first movie we ever watched was 'Coco'."
"When a classic is re-released, I ask him to watch it again, and he's really looking forward to this date."
"Why did you choose the Xiaguang Theater?" Mo Zhenbang asked.
From the age of ten, Gu Niman often sneaked into the Xiaguang Theater; no one knew this place better than Gu Niman.
She knew every back door and side door like the back of her hand.
“Yongsheng always liked to brag about how he threw the bad script back at the facilitator’s face back then, and he seemed very proud of it.”
"Indeed, after ten years of silence, he misses the glory days of being a great director even more."
“He’s just wallowing in the past; he’s really getting old,” Gu Niman added coldly. “He’s useless.”
During her site visit, she discovered that He Liren, the former facilitator, had been promoted to manager.
The steel cable in the tool shed was a ready-made murder weapon, and He Liren was the most suitable scapegoat.
This constitutes what should have been a perfect murder.
“What about your contact lenses?” Mo Zhenbang interrupted her. “If you’re removing your contact lenses to evade police tracking, that contradicts your initial motive.”
"What do you mean, evading tracking?" Gu Niman pondered for a long time before suddenly remembering, "You mean contact lenses? His eyes were bothering him, so he took them out. Before he could put them back in, I crushed them in my palm. And then—"
She made a strangulation motion.
As she recalled this, Gu Niman's tone softened, as if she were telling a love story.
In those few short seconds, he was shocked, incredulous, and his eyes were glistening with tears.
In the final moments of his life, she wore rubber gloves and lovingly stroked his face.
“I finally told him,” Gu Niman wrapped her heavy coat tighter, a slight smile playing on her lips, “that I have never loved him.”
...
The case has finally been settled.
"The contact lens incident was purely coincidental, but it did inadvertently confirm the deceased's identity," Haozai joked. "Luckily, we managed to find out that he was Zhou Yongsheng before the media exposed it, otherwise we would have gotten a scolding from the higher-ups."
"When a person with severe myopia takes off their contact lenses, their vision becomes blurry. Dying in this hazy state is quite in line with the pursuit of this great director of art films; even death is beautiful and romantic."
"Even with glasses, what could he have seen clearly? Zhou Yongsheng could never have imagined that his seemingly weak lover had been controlling him all along. In his final moments, he probably died with his eyes wide open in disbelief."
“In the past ten years, she really had no better choice than Zhou Yongsheng. But... when his resources were completely exhausted and all his value was squeezed out, what was left to use? It would be better to die and find peace.”
Inside the office, whispers rose and fell, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhou Yongsheng abandoned his wife and children, and he deserved this fate."
"Gu Niman was disfigured, and she was indeed a victim in this matter, but she was by no means innocent in the subsequent series of murders she planned."
"Mrs. Jin and Mr. Jin are either dead or paralyzed; Jiang Xiaowei and Jiang Yifan return to a peaceful life; Liu Wei reunites with his idol; He Liren is cleared of suspicion..."
"In the whole case, the stand-in was the most pitiful, suffering an undeserved misfortune."
"What did the stand-in girl do to deserve this? She died for no reason."
“She’s not a stand-in.” Zhu Qing looked up from the final documents and corrected softly, “Her name is Ruan Wenjing.”
Her name is Ruan Wenjing, but she has remained anonymous for ten years.
In the end, the most heartbreaking thing about this case is her.
And then there's the father who posts missing person notices everywhere, begging his daughter to come home.
The atmosphere in the office suddenly became heavy.
Haozai clapped his hands to break the silence: "Where should we eat tonight?"
"I'm not going," Zhu Qing said, tidying up her desk. "I'm going to pick up Fangfang."
“I’m not participating either.” Zeng Yongshan stretched. “I’m going home to have dinner with Daddy and Mommy.”
"Don't count me in either." Mo Zhenbang came out of the break room and passed his subordinates' workstations. "Let's do it another day."
Everyone immediately realized that Inspector Mok would be taking the Inspector's exam in a few days, and their faces immediately turned serious.
"I'm not nervous at all, so why are you all nervous?" he said. "Just take it easy."
"This can't be normal; it's about the whole group's big meal."
Mo Zhenbang shook his head and chuckled, then quickly returned to his office to study.
As he turned around, he saw Mr. Ong walking towards him from the other end of the corridor with a beaming smile.
Weng Zhaolin pushed open the door and bumped into Zhu Qing, who was trying to slip away.
The two men stood facing each other at the entrance of the CID office, frozen for a few seconds.
Zhu Qing waved her hand.
Weng Zhaolin: ...
They say nephews resemble uncles; even their hand-waving gestures are identical, the only difference being that they say "Goodbye, John."
...
Zhu Qing stopped the car and ran towards the school bus stop at the kindergarten gate.
Just as Fangfang, a little boy with short legs, was about to board the school bus, he was stopped.
Shengfang's eyes lit up: "Qingzai!"
My niece, who was working tirelessly at the police station until dawn last night, suddenly brought me the good news that the case was closed.
The tasks written in Fangfang's notebook should be put on the agenda and accomplished one by one.
Their first stop was the familiar real estate agency on Nathan Road.
The deal made a few months ago left a lasting impression on Wang, the agent, regarding this unusual uncle-nephew duo.
He stood at the door and immediately recognized Sheng Fang—the young master who had come to see the apartment with a black card.
"Mr. Sheng!" He greeted them with a smile, then turned to Zhu Qing, clearly pausing, and coughed lightly. "What kind of unit would you two like to see today? Please come in."
The little girl stood on tiptoe and said, "He forgot your name."
Manager Wang's face flushed red as he led them into the reception room: "Excuse me, excuse me, this way please."
In the reception room, tea was laid out in front of Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang.
“The Ho Man Tin villa area is within a ten-minute drive from the Yau Ma Tei Police Station.” The real estate agent flipped through the brochure. “Kadoorie Hill is also very nice, about three to four kilometers from Yau Ma Tei. Many celebrities live there.”
Agent Wang carefully selected three high-quality properties for them: "Why don't you take a look tomorrow when you have some free time?"
The uncle and nephew were both very decisive, and the arrangements for viewing the house were finalized.
As they were seeing them off, Manager Wang suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "By the way, what about Kowloon Tong? I just heard that the kindergarten for the kids is right here, which is the heart of Kowloon."
"I'm not going to kindergarten forever."
Manager Wang chuckled twice.
It seems that smaller customers are not interested in prestigious school districts.
He stood there, watching the customers, both big and small, leave.
"It needs to be close to our police station so it will be convenient for me to get to work," Fangfang said in a childish voice.
“You might not be assigned to the Yau Ma Tei Police Station in the future,” Zhu Qing said.
The children had no idea about this.
"I don't care, I want to be Qingzai's colleague."
"Wow...you're still cheating?"
Manager Wang stood there, listening to the laughter and commotion fading into the distance.
Several months have passed, and the uncle and nephew have changed.
He couldn't pinpoint the exact differences.
He rubbed his hands together, then turned back with great enthusiasm to organize the properties.
This is incredibly lucky; money is flowing in!
...
Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang had dinner at Sheng Peirong's place.
It was already late when we left the sanatorium.
Sheng Peirong sat by the window, watching their backs as a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
In her eyes, these were clearly two children who needed care. One was holding the other's hand, and they were even seriously looking at houses—it was truly exhausting.
When Zhu Qinghe returned home, the pale yellow umbrella was still hanging on the entryway cabinet by the door.
Aunt Ping was sitting in the living room watching TV, the weather forecaster's voice echoing in the room.
"This is the weather forecast issued by the Observatory. The next three days will continue to be sunny and dry, with a maximum temperature of..."
Little Fangfang, holding an umbrella, looked out the window and said wistfully, "Let it rain soon!"
“Shengfang—” Zhu Qing’s voice came from the bathroom, “Come here for a moment.”
Fangfang immediately transformed into a little old man, one hand supporting his waist, the other using a small umbrella as a cane, tapping the floor with a "tap tap tap" sound as he slowly moved over.
This is his favorite game lately: pretending to be an old person.
"Are you ready?" Zhu Qing gripped the umbrella handle.
Shengfang blinked her round eyes, still not quite understanding—
With a "snap," the umbrella suddenly opened.
At the same time, the shower head started, and water droplets splashed onto the umbrella surface, making a crisp and cheerful sound.
It was like a torrential downpour.
Fangfang excitedly grabbed the umbrella handle, poked her little head out of the umbrella, and then quickly pulled it back in.
This is a rain scene that belongs exclusively to the children in full bloom.
Aunt Ping leaned against the door frame, smiling as she watched the heartwarming scene unfold before her.
She said not to spoil the young master, but she's the one who spoils the kids the most.
Wow—let it snow tomorrow!
"I also want to see rainbows...and the aurora borealis!"
The sound of rain mingled with the laughter of children.
Zhu Qing bent down, looked at the baby under the umbrella who was smiling so hard his eyes were almost closed, and gently pinched his little nose.
"no problem."
"Qingzai, Qingzai." Fangfang looked up with her chubby, adoring face. "Are you a magician?"
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