Chapter 222 Suspicion Emerges
“Yes…” Chen Zhenzhu reacted for a moment: “Yes my foot!”
The next second, Gu Yanzheng saw her get up quickly, grab a key from the counter, and rush out.
"Where are you going? You're running off again before you've even had a chance to warm up." Shen Liuhe stood at the kitchen doorway, holding a plate of small yellow croakers, and said, "They're freshly fried!"
Shen Zhenzhu and Gu Yanzheng came back together without driving. Now, she was pushing her grocery shopping tricycle and shouted, "I'm going to the mall! Don't stop me!"
Gu Yanzheng grabbed the crossbar on the back of the tricycle to stop her from leaving: "What are you going to the mall for? You haven't had dinner yet."
Shen Zhenzhu, with her buttocks sticking out, pedaled the tricycle with all her might, then turned her head and angrily said, "Buy, buy, buy a safe! Don't waste my time!"
Gu Yanzheng knew she was being stubborn, so he simply jumped into the car and said, "Then I'll go with you."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "You, you, you must protect me."
Gu Yanzheng said with great joy, "Okay, I will definitely protect you. Please drive safely."
Chen Zhenzhu said, "Don't just laugh, give me a push, the chain is a bit rusty."
Yuan Jiangxue, knitting a sweater, stood at the shop entrance and shouted, "Hey, you just got back and you're leaving again?! You didn't even chat for a little while."
Shen Liuhe was also standing at the shop entrance, saying inexplicably, "I don't know what these young people are up to."
Uncle Lu was taking pictures of the snow scene, reaching out to fiddle with a wooden kitten covered in a layer of snow: "Isn't this all there is to dating? Let them do what they want, we'll leave it to them."
Yuan Jiangxue could knit a sweater quickly without looking at the needle and thread. She said to Yuan Juan, who was looking back, "Just like when we were young, when we first got together, we thought we could move the earth with just a fulcrum."
Yuan Juan smiled without saying a word, then turned around and went into the shop to curl the customer's hair.
Uncle Lu came over with a cocky grin and asked, "So, if you were dating now, could you still lift the earth?"
Yuan Jiangxue sneered, "Why would I pry up the Earth? Wouldn't it be better if I used your head as a ball?"
"Only I can stand your mouth." Uncle Lu left with a satisfied smile.
Shen Zhenzhu was pedaling her tricycle on the road. The shopping mall was more than ten stops away, and Shen Zhenzhu felt a little out of breath. She wanted to get to the driver's seat of her brother Zheng, but heard Gu Yanzheng greet her unhurriedly.
"Dongbao, come here, come here, pedal for your mother for a bit." Gu Yanzheng waved to Dongbao.
Dongbao helped Grandma Tong dry sweet potatoes during the day, so he arrived a little late today. Meeting Chen Zhenzhu on the road was a wonderful thing; he pointed at Gu Yanzheng and said, "Get out of the car, Dongbao isn't taking you."
Gu Yanzheng didn't expect that he would hold a grudge against Dongbao for punching him. He picked up his mobile phone and said in a pretentious manner, "Hey, I told you to get rid of the braised duck that you prepared for Dongbao."
"Braised duck?" Dongbao grabbed the handlebars and exclaimed excitedly, "Dongbao's here!"
Gu Yanzheng asked, "Will Dongbao take me with him?"
Dongbao patted his chest loudly, "Dongbao will take you."
Gu Yanzheng said to the mobile phone that he hadn't even pressed the button: "Hey, Dongbao's here. Get Dongbao some braised duck."
Shen Zhenzhu was pulled to sit in the back by Gu Yanzheng. She curled up and watched Dongbao pedal the tricycle hard, saying insincerely, "Why are you bullying him?"
"Mom, Dongbao got a good deal!" Dongbao shouted from the front. "Braised duck, Dongbao loves braised duck. Dongbao wants to eat the duck's butt."
Gu Yanzheng said with a smile, "The duck thighs are all yours."
Dongbao got even more excited, displaying an air of self-assurance and brimming with strength, as if he wanted to overtake the bus in the adjacent lane.
The passengers in the pedicabs that had been overtaken looked at them with envy.
Shrinking from the wind, Chen Zhenzhu covered her ears, which were about to freeze off, and asked in a low voice, "Can you have braised duck?"
Gu Yanzheng said, "There are too many, we can't sell them all. I used to buy a lot of food when there was nothing else to eat on the street."
Chen Zhenzhu was relieved.
After speeding along the road, Chen Zhenzhu, who had suddenly become rich, directed Gu Yanzheng and Dongbao to carry the safe home before she felt at ease.
Shen Liuhe, holding the fried yellow croaker again, said, "You've got guts."
Shen Zhenzhu didn't want to boast, lest she upset the old lady, so she said softly, "You don't know what's good for you."
Shen Liuhe reached out and tapped her forehead: "Don't I know you, you little rascal? Hurry up and eat, or it'll get cold again."
Chen Zhenzhu sat by the window, blowing on the crispy and fragrant yellow croaker, and saw a lot of people queuing up to take pictures: "It's already this late, why are there still so many people?"
Shen Liuhe pointed to a row of various small cats covered in snow by the wall and said, "The wooden cat carvings are popular, and many people come here specifically to take pictures. The streets are much more lively now. This year's Spring Festival is even more prosperous."
"I think it's on fire." Gu Yanzheng casually put the dead mobile phone on the counter and went to the back to wash his hands.
After squatting behind the counter and finishing a whole braised duck, Dongbao secretly picked up his cell phone. Without even pressing any buttons, he mimicked Gu Yanzheng and said into the microphone, "Hello, do you have a braised pork knuckle? Dongbao wants a braised pork knuckle. Do you have a braised pork knuckle for Dongbao?...
......
The following day.
The weather was clear, and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. Golden rays of light appeared in patches across the azure sky, like shimmering golden wings.
After finishing her run, Shen Zhenzhu practiced two sets of boxing in the yard. She preferred getting up early to exercise rather than sleeping in.
"That feels so good." After taking a shower, his head was still warm as he stood in the yard, dusting his hair.
It's the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. Chen Zhenzhu, who rarely stays at home, first opened the safe and took a look at the jade bracelet.
"Big sister, what are you so happy about?" Shen Yuyuan, who had woken up at ten o'clock, entered Chen Zhenzhu's room and saw the safe hidden in the wardrobe: "So it was here."
Chen Zhenzhu closed the safe and said mysteriously, "Our family's property certificate is in there too. The password is a combination of our three birthdays, you know that."
Shen Yuyuan said, "We use a unified password throughout the house. To be honest, while it prevents us from forgetting it, it's not actually that secure. Where are you going later? Are you going to a press conference?"
Chen Zhenzhu stood up, her hair wrapped up, and asked, "What press conference?"
Shen Yuyuan leaned against the door, looking listless, and said, "Gong Qi, aren't you handling her case recently? How come you didn't know about something this big?"
Shen Zhenzhu genuinely had no idea and asked curiously, "She held a press conference... because of Chen Bufan?"
Shen Yuyuan said, "Anyway, recently all the news, big and small, is about her family. All sorts of old news have been dug up, and everyone is talking behind her back. Logically speaking, she is also a victim, so why is everyone targeting her?"
Shen Zhenzhu ran to the living room, turned on the TV, and then, as if remembering something, took two steps back and gestured to indicate the size of the TV in the house.
Shen Yuyuan carried the toothbrush holder to the side and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Chen Zhenzhu said, "This size is about the same as the missing piece in Brother Zheng's living room."
Shen Yuyuan, with an expression of "I just found out," said, "I was wondering how he could suddenly get his hands on such a large color TV and deliver it so promptly. How far have you two gotten? I heard it from Sixth Sister."
Shen Zhenzhu's face suddenly turned red: "You're just a child, don't ask about adult matters."
"Huh? You're not that much older than me." Shen Yuyuan glanced at Chen Zhenzhu from head to toe. "Holding hands?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "I guess so."
Shen Yuyuan chuckled: "Did you kiss?"
Shen Zhenzhu stared wide-eyed and said, "It can't be that fast."
Shen Yuyuan pouted: "Dating? It's not like everyone's never been in one."
Shen Zhenzhu was taken aback. Forget about the large color TV, she hurriedly asked Shen Yuyuan, "Tell me the truth."
Shen Yuyuan said, "When I first started college, I dated someone in the same year, but we broke up later."
Shen Zhenzhu angrily said, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Shen Yuyuan said, "Let me tell you, you have to sneakily beat them up."
"You can't say that—" Chen Zhenzhu suddenly realized, "He's the one who wronged you?"
Shen Yuyuan covered her mouth: "Keep your voice down. It's not like he wronged me, we both have responsibility. At that time, I was busy with my studies and taking care of the shop's business, so I didn't have time to date him. Later, he told me honestly that he had fallen for another female classmate, so it was a peaceful breakup."
"Peace my ass." Chen Zhenzhu walked around to the coffee table, took out a letter and a ballpoint pen: "Write down his name and address for me, and I'll find out exactly when he found his next one."
"Don't get into your professional habits, my dear sister." Shen Yuyuan said, half-laughing and half-crying, "I'm not sad at all, didn't you even notice? Actually, I've figured it out. Back then, when I first entered university, I had a longing for the future, a need to release pressure, and an anxiety about the unfamiliar environment. I wanted to feel secure through dating. Later, I realized that I'm not someone who needs to be taken care of. I prefer to create my own life, so breaking up was only natural. We both saved face, and we can still smile and nod when we meet."
Chen Zhenzhu sighed, hugged her knees, and sat on the sofa, saying, "I've been too busy with work and neglected you."
Shen Yuyuan sat down next to Shen Zhenzhu and kissed her cheek, coaxing her, "Don't say that. I have the best older sister in the universe and the best mother in the universe. You are both my idols. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today. I love you, big sister."
Shen Zhenzhu suddenly looked up: "So, where are you at in the process?"
Shen Yuyuan said, "It's just holding hands and strolling around campus. But it's more outgoing than you and Captain Gu. You're both adults, why are you taking so long?"
Shen Zhenzhu said shyly, "I haven't really felt it yet. I feel especially uncomfortable at work."
Shen Yuyuan said, "You'll get used to it. How could something like this stump my older sister? Tell me, how did you two suddenly get together?"
Chen Zhenzhu scratched her cheek and said softly, "The emotions were there."
The two sisters used the television as background noise, chatting about their respective love lives.
After hearing a lot about Gu Yanzheng, Shen Yuyuan sighed and said, "Time will tell. He is sincere towards you. You feel that your life hasn't changed much, which may be exactly what Captain Gu wants. He doesn't want your feelings to affect your work and state of mind. He doesn't rush things, but only wants to keep talking."
"Now that you mention it, I think I was right. I've long been used to Zheng-ge's devotion to me, so I don't feel any different." Chen Zhenzhu cupped her face, her cheeks flushed, and said with a sudden realization, "I never thought that in the end we would discuss matters of the heart with you."
Shen Yuyuan leaned on Shen Zhenzhu's shoulder: "This is good. I also want to help you share some of the burden, even if it's just about emotional issues."
Shen Zhenzhu sensed Shen Yuyuan's undisguised sisterly affection and pinched Shen Yuyuan's cheek: "Remember to tell me next time you're in a relationship."
"Okay."
"Teacher Gong Qi has appeared!!" came the excited voice of the live reporter on TV.
Liancheng Wutai, Entertainment Channel.
The press conference featuring Gong Qi is currently being broadcast.
Chen Zhenzhu sat up straight and raised her voice: "Listen to what she has to say."
Behind the reporter was a hotel auditorium, with reporters sitting in layers in front of the stage.
With the help of her staff, Gong Qi weakly walked to the front of the stage and bowed to the reporters present.
Her voice was hoarse, her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked exhausted, making it hard to criticize her.
But the reporters, driven by a thirst for entertainment, showed little sympathy and bombarded her with sharp, incisive questions.
What Gong Qi said was all that Shen Zhenzhu already knew.
Finally, facing the aggressive reporters, Gong Qi cried out in anguish, "I had no idea he indirectly caused Chen Bufan's death! Our relationship was despicable. I did have affairs with other people, but aren't there plenty of actors who become couples on set? Jiang Luchao could betray me, cheat me out of my money, take advantage of me, and ruin my life, so why can't I betray him?!"
...I'm sorry to Chen Bufan. I always thought he deceived my feelings and shirked responsibility. I didn't protect his image in front of the public and media. As his ex-girlfriend, since he has no parents, I'm willing to help with his funeral arrangements. I will properly handle his remains and belongings so he can rest in peace.
Gong Qi's assistant handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears and said into the microphone, "Ms. Gong filed for divorce yesterday. Her health is too poor, and as her longtime friends, we plan to accompany her abroad for recuperation, after which she will retire from the entertainment industry. Please do not follow and film her in the future, and respect Ms. Gong's privacy."
Gong Qi was completely captivated by "Avanti" and no longer cared about being photographed. She wept bitterly, a sight that saddened all who witnessed it and brought tears to their eyes.
Before leaving, Gong Qi held the microphone and said softly, "It wasn't until two days ago that I learned from the police that Chen Bufan had been protecting me all along. He was determined to clear my name even on his deathbed. Please help him clear his name and let him leave this world with a clean conscience."
The atmosphere at the scene was heavy, considering the criticism Chen Bufan had received. Chen Bufan's ordeal was outrageous, far more tragic and innocent than imagined.
Gong Qi's assistant took the microphone and politely said to the reporters, "This concludes today's press conference. These are all the answers Ms. Gong has given. Please do not bother Ms. Gong with similar questions in the future, and please allow her to rest and recuperate."
"It's over so quickly? We haven't finished asking questions yet." The reporters present were still eager for more; they couldn't let go of such a bombshell news story that only comes around once every few years in the entertainment industry.
They all stood up, rushed onto the stage, and raised cameras and microphones, demanding, "Professor Gong, do you have any suspects regarding the murderer of Chen Bufan...?"
"I heard you're planning to go to the US for recuperation. Are you able to adapt to the climate there?"
"Since your relationship is so open, have you had any 'interactions' with multiple people?"
The increasingly outrageous questions prompted Gong Qi, who had walked to the edge of the stage, to glare at them angrily: "What did you say? Don't make wild guesses."
Her angry expression was captured by the camera again. Her assistant blocked the camera with her body and whispered, "We haven't finished packing yet. Let's go. Don't try to reason with them."
Gong Qi was ushered out, pinched her nose with a folded handkerchief, and said uncomfortably, "I have an allergic reaction again. I don't do this at home."
She placed her index finger in the middle of the handkerchief, folded it with one hand, and then skillfully stuffed it into her coat pocket.
"Avanti" put his arm around her and squeezed through the crowd, saying a few words, but the camera didn't capture it, and the live stream ended there.
Shen Yuyuan stir-fried egg noodles, chewing on Grandma Tong's dried sweet potato, and brought over the bowl: "Why aren't you eating yet? I learned this from Sixth Sister."
Shen Zhenzhu stared intently at the color TV, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
The phone rang on the coffee table.
Ring ring,
Ring ring.
Shen Zhenzhu answered the phone, and Zhao Qiqi on the other end said, "Sister Zhenzhu, sorry to disturb your rest. Gong Qi's client wants to come and collect Chen Bufan's belongings. Do you have any questions about that?"
Shen Zhenzhu hurriedly said, "Don't give it to her yet. Try to stall for time. Also, find someone to follow Gong Qi."
Zhao Qiqi covered the microphone and said, "Something's up?...I understand."
Chen Zhenzhu didn't even have time to eat. She rushed to her bedroom, found a map, and returned to the living room to call Zhou Chuanxi: "Brother Xizi, can you help me find out where all the TV dramas Gong Qi has acted in were filmed? Quickly, it's very urgent."
Zhou Chuanxi was still eating when he heard the news. He put down his lunchbox, started typing on his keyboard, and said indistinctly, "The information on the internet is incomplete. I will reply to you as soon as possible."
After finishing her phone call, Shen Zhenzhu paced restlessly in the living room. Shen Yuyuan brought her a bowl of rice: "Have some, what's wrong now?"
Shen Zhenzhu put down the bowl and went into the bedroom. After a short while, she dressed in civilian clothes and said, "I need to go back to the team."
Knowing that Shen Zhenzhu was working day and night on the case, Shen Yuyuan stuffed a handful of dried sweet potatoes into her pocket and told Shen Zhenzhu as she saw her off, "Big sister, be careful."
The taxi windows were completely fogged up. I couldn't see the pedestrians coming and going on the street.
The driver had the traffic radio on, which broadcast information about traffic congestion on some sections of the road.
Ring ring,
Ring ring.
Shen Zhenzhu's cell phone rang; it was a call from Zhao Qiqi.
“Our people discovered that Gong Qi was leaving with several suitcases. The makeup artist, assistant, and cameraman from the crew were also with her. In addition, the comrade who wanted to collect his belongings went to the second-floor meeting room. I asked him to write an application or something, which should buy us some time.”
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Liancheng Criminal Investigation Brigade, the taxi stopped in front of the Tiesi Police Station.
The woman, always eager to find something to say, asked, "Did your boyfriend get into a fight?"
After paying, Shen Zhenzhu smiled wryly and said, "It's much more serious now."
The mechanic snapped the dial indicator back and said decisively, "Let's split it as soon as possible."
Chen Zhenzhu ran through the parking lot toward the office building.
By the time I reached the fifth floor, I wasn't out of breath, but I was sweating quite a bit.
Zhao Qiqi stood blocking the doorway to the reception room, waved to Shen Zhenzhu, and then said to the man inside, "Comrade, this is Captain Shen, who is in charge of Chen Bufan's case. She was on leave, but came here specifically to get approval from her superiors regarding the belongings. You'll have to wait a while."
"Captain Chen, it's a pity you had to come all this way on your leave." The middle-aged man inside quickly glanced at Chen Zhenzhu. There was a faint scar on the corner of her lip, which made her face easily recognizable among the general public.
Shen Zhenzhu had no memory of this person. Following Zhao Qiqi's words, she said, "The case hasn't been sent for trial yet, and we need to apply for the identification of the remains on-site. I called my supervisor, and he won't be back until after dinner. Are you in a hurry?"
The middle-aged man rubbed his hat, chuckled, and said, "No rush, take your time."
The cold sweat on Shen Zhenzhu's body subsided, and she smiled as she asked, "If I had known, I wouldn't have come all this way. I would have done it for you tomorrow."
The middle-aged man then changed the subject, took off his hat, and said honestly, "It's because Teacher Gong wants to help with Chen Bufan's funeral arrangements and wants to keep Chen Bufan's belongings as a memento. After all these years, I feel both guilty and sentimental."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "I understand. I'll take care of it for you today. Just wait a moment."
"Oh, thank you, Captain Chen." The middle-aged man sat back down, clasped his hands between his knees, and seemed to have no other intentions.
This relatively "balanced" sitting posture is an unnatural, deliberately relaxed physical expression.
Shen Zhenzhu gave Zhao Qiqi a wink, then went to the evidence room to retrieve all of Chen Bufan's belongings and carried them back to the office.
“Tissues, letter paper, envelopes... none of these are a problem.” Shen Zhenzhu looked them over and then focused her gaze on the “Confession of Guilt” and the diary.
Compared to other items, if there is information that needs to be hidden, Chen Bufan's best choice is to "keep it dark under the lamp."
Thinking back to the timeline of events, he remembered Chen Bufan deliberately throwing away the Liberation Pack. Did he already sense something was wrong back then?
And... on the ship where the quack doctor performed autopsies, Shen Zhenzhu remembered Huang Dan and another "customer's" every move.
Huang Dan was quick and agile, catching the metal frame so that half of her fingerprint was left in a hidden location, which led to her identity being confirmed.
The other person never showed any intention to communicate, hiding behind Huang Dan. The only out-of-place action was pinching his nose.
At the press conference, Gong Qi pinched her nose at the last minute.
The movements were similar, and a handkerchief was used. Furthermore, when putting the handkerchief away, the person habitually folded it with their knuckles and stuffed it into their pocket.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhenzhu's face darkened further. Until yesterday, Shen Zhenzhu still thought the other party was the snakehead Sun Jianyuan. What if it really was Gong Qi...? Then she was far too cunning and terrifying.
If the speculation is true, there are hidden reasons behind Chen Bufan's death!
However, this alone cannot stop Gong Qi from going abroad.
Shen Zhenzhu carefully read through Chen Bufan's writing, but as time ticked by, she still found no clues.
Is it really just a coincidence?
Shen Zhenzhu wrote down her speculations with Gu Yanzheng yesterday on a piece of paper.
First, Chen Bufan once submitted a "letter of apology," which was criticized by his superiors. At the time, Shen Zhenzhu thought the superiors were afraid of taking responsibility and didn't think much of it considering the historical context.
Secondly, the diary entry reads, "Xiao Qi... my beloved girl. Please stay away from other men."
Shen Zhenzhu naturally interpreted this passage as meaning that Gong Qi had many suitors, and Chen Bufan might be jealous.
Third, he mentioned video recorders multiple times in his diary.
The video recorder contained two pieces of information: one was “CBFDCYY”, which was deciphered as “Chen Bufan was here”, and the other was “LLH0229”, which, according to Huang Dan, belonged to one of the overseas bank accounts of the Van Gogh organization.
Fourth, Chen Bufan dialed the leader's number "5458-611", but no one answered.
Shen Zhenzhu did not verify the authenticity of this information with the leaders of the troupe where Chen Bufan was at the time.
Of the four points mentioned above, this phone call is the only one that can be verified right now.
Chen Zhenzhu picked up the landline and tried to dial, but the other end kept making a "beep beep beep beep beep" sound, indicating that the number was not in service.
"Hello, I'd like to check this number." Chen Zhenzhu dialed 114 again to inquire about the history.
The female operator at the 114 directory assistance center said gently, "Hello, there is no record of this phone number. The troupe's office number you mentioned is 5328777, and it hasn't changed since then."
After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhenzhu fell into deep thought.
What exactly does this string of numbers represent?
"What's wrong?" Gu Yanzheng's voice came from the doorway. He had worked overtime last night, and his voice was hoarse. "Is there a problem with the paperwork?"
Shen Zhenzhu said with a grim expression, "I suspect that Gong Qi and Huang Dan are accomplices."
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Author's Note: There's a red envelope! See you tomorrow! [Let me see]
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