Chapter 202 The Case of the Missing Red Scarf
Mantou No. 2 was driving on the road. Xiaobai turned on the radio and was annoyed by the noisy crosstalk. He changed to a new channel and found it was a relationship advice program.
"Today we're going to talk about unrequited love," a gentle female voice on the radio began. "Unrequited love is a one-sided affection. The feeling of secretly loving someone can be considered both brave and timid. Thinking of them will make your lips curl into a smile, and seeing them will make your whole day joyful—"
Xiao Bai reached out and turned the radio. He noticed that although Chen Zhenzhu was focused on driving, her ears twitched slightly.
Even the smallest movements wouldn't escape the notice of a single, beautiful young woman. Remembering what Wu Zhongguo had said, she hesitated for a few seconds before turning the radio back on and whispering, "There's nothing good on the radio."
The gentle girl continued to express her feelings about having a crush on someone: "—When I can't see them, I feel empty inside. I'm afraid of being seen through, and even more afraid of never being seen by the person I like."
Xiao Bai squinted and glanced at her Pearl Sister out of the corner of her eye, only to see Chen Pearl nod slightly.
Xiao Bai understood; he probably couldn't be a stumbling block anymore.
So be it.
At least we knew each other well, and he was under Director Zhou's command.
The light ahead was red. Chen Zhenzhu stopped the car and saw Xiaobai spreading his fingers and grinning maliciously, as if he were staring at Sun Wukong in the palm of his hand.
"—Your eyes will automatically search for them, and you'll always spot them in an instant. When you get close to them, your heartbeat will be so loud that it feels like the whole world can hear it."
Xiao Bai looked at Chen Zhenzhu again, but Chen Zhenzhu remained expressionless, as if she didn't care about the voice on the radio.
As Steamed Bun No. 2 started up, the gentle female voice said again, "Then how do we determine if someone is secretly in love with us?"
Shen Zhenzhu pouted, thinking, what's the point of judging? The person who has a crush on someone isn't a suspect, why do we have to drag them out and expose them?
Feeling like she was about to reveal her true form, Chen Zhenzhu was a little unhappy. She carefully looked at the road sign and reached out with her left hand to switch radios.
Xiao Bai stopped Chen Zhenzhu's movements, leaned back in her seat, and said weakly, "Please listen to me."
Shen Zhenzhu glanced at her sideways, then widened her eyes: "Are you in love?"
Xiao Bai sneered: "Do I think I'm that desperate?"
Shen Zhenzhu felt that she was being sarcastic and unsettling.
At this moment, the female voice on the radio said gently, "Someone once told me that body language and eye contact are the most honest signals. Someone who has a crush on you will unconsciously look at you in a crowd, their first reaction when smiling will be to look at you, and even when talking to others, their body will be turned towards you."
As Shen Zhenzhu drove, she recalled that it seemed to be true. When she was with Gu Yanzheng, she would always sit very close to him, and they would eat and talk next to each other.
Of course, sometimes when Gu Yanzheng arrives late, he will take the initiative to sit next to me, hehe.
Secretly pleased, Section Chief Shen continued driving, planning his first stop to be the high-end shopping mall where Meng Wanjun bought the red scarf, and then investigating the route she would take.
Because Meng Wanjun's family members were not in China and their relationship with her seemed to be just so-so, after the investigation was completed, they went directly to her university classmates, who were also the two people who reported the case.
"—They will casually sit next to you, looking for opportunities to shorten the distance between you."
Shen Zhenzhu nodded, deeply agreeing, though feeling a little guilty. But not entirely guilty, since her brother Zheng would always sit next to her.
"—They will also give you treatment that others don't have, making you feel that you are special to them."
Shen Zhenzhu blinked. That's right, she always hid delicious food for Gu Yanzheng. Of course, her brother Zheng did the same. He took good care of her after she joined the company. In fact, he did even more.
"—They will always remember your tastes and preferences, and will be the first to notice and lend a helping hand when you encounter difficulties."
Um?
Cases related to starting work, the color TV at home, the renovation of the new house, the construction of new roads, and so on...
"Even in noisy environments, they will still care about your needs and be exceptionally attentive when talking to you."
Shen Zhenzhu recalled how she often whispered to Gu Yanzheng. He didn't seem to have done this with anyone else. Whenever he saw that she wanted to speak, he would always be the first to come closer and listen.
"—When you're having a pleasant conversation with someone of the opposite sex, they might have subtle emotional reactions, such as feeling down or deliberately interrupting you, and occasionally acting a little capricious. This is because they're jealous. At other times, they'll actively send signals of intimacy, like gently patting your back or ruffling your hair, frequently inviting you to meet, and happily spending time and energy on you and your family, while also giving you gifts and small surprises..."
From her distant memories, Chen Zhenzhu unearthed Gu Yanzheng's past attitude towards Professor Chen Jiale and the interns in Gangcheng.
Whenever he had time, Gu Yanzheng would help out at Sixth Sister's shop. He would help with the road in front of the shop, the renovation of her house, the large color TV she received... He would occasionally ruffle her hair, spend time alone with her, give her snacks and gifts... all sorts of actions that sparked his inspiration!
No, no way!
Shen Zhenzhu swallowed hard, feeling a little flustered!
She gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, staring ahead as she drove. When she finally arrived at her destination, she slammed on the brakes and took a deep breath of the cold air outside the window.
"Ouch! The brakes were too hard." Xiaobai jerked as the seatbelt tightened around him.
Chen Zhenzhu turned up the radio volume, and at the end of the program, a gentle female voice said, "If you also have feelings for them, why not do what I suggested? First, try some light physical contact—patting their back, rubbing their head, or even just touching their arm. If they don't object, then boldly invite them to meet alone. Here's another little trick: ask them for a small favor and see if they're willing to spend time and effort on you. Finally, I want to give a piece of advice to listeners who are secretly in love: If you're in this state of mind, regardless of the outcome, this pure feeling is already precious. Muster your courage and sincerely express your feelings!"
The car fell silent as the radio program ended.
"Is there a replay of this?" Chen Zhenzhu stammered as Xiaobai rolled her eyes, "How can I listen to it again?"
Xiao Bai sneered: "You don't need to listen anymore. You need emotional counseling. I can talk to you."
"...I don't understand what you're talking about." Chen Zhenzhu pursed her lips, pulled out the key, opened the car door, and said, "Solving the case is urgent, let's go!"
Xiao Bai scoffed, got off the bus, slung her cloth bag over her shoulder containing her sister Pearl's notebook, water bottle, folders, and so on, and jogged into the mall.
"Is this Mr. Zhou's shopping mall?" Xiao Bai entered and found the layout to be high-end and luxurious, with the scent of fashionable and expensive perfumes.
Chen Zhenzhu looked around for the escalator and said, "Hmm, it's also under the SANSAN Department Store. I didn't expect so many big brands. It seems that although Meng Wanjun's relationship with her family isn't very good, she still receives financial support."
Xiao Bai pointed to a sign on the second floor and said, "This is where she shopped the night she disappeared, and where she bought the red scarf. It's an international brand."
Chen Zhenzhu had never shopped at international brands before, and both she and Xiaobai wore simple, plain cotton-padded clothes for the convenience of handling cases.
Upon entering the store where Meng Wanjun made her purchase, the sales assistants initially ignored them.
Chen Zhenzhu didn't say anything at first, intending to look for a red scarf first. She walked around the store, casually picked out a suit jacket, exchanged a glance with Xiaobai, and thought it looked very nice.
The sales assistant followed closely behind Shen Zhenzhu, straightening the clothes rack and saying, "This is a main style from the ready-to-wear line, 8889 yuan."
Chen Zhenzhu was taken aback. She glanced at the price tag, and her finger accidentally touched the shirt in front of her. The sales assistant then adjusted the shirt and quoted a price: "5889 yuan."
Xiao Bai gently bumped Chen Zhenzhu's shoulder, sensing the saleswoman's impatience. She had deliberately quoted a price to make them realize how expensive it was and back out.
Chen Zhenzhu simply flipped over another piece of clothing.
Saleswoman: "Top order, 18,000 yuan."
Chen Zhenzhu clicked her tongue twice and turned over again.
Saleswoman: "3899 yuan."
Shen Zhenzhu put down the tag, nodded, and continued flipping through the pages.
"2199 yuan."
"6799 yuan."
"10099 yuan".
Chen Zhenzhu flipped through the pages and found a very stylish coat. Her gaze fell on the saleswoman's face.
The sales assistant paused, momentarily forgetting the price, and looked up to see Chen Zhenzhu's expectant and encouraging gaze!
"..." The saleswoman was a little confused.
Shen Zhenzhu held the tag tightly, not letting anyone see it, and said, "You got all the answers right just now. Don't rush this one, think about it slowly. I know you can do it!"
Xiao Bai knew that her sister Pearl was a capable person, but she didn't expect her to be this capable.
With ten yuan in his pocket, he sat in an international brand store and started taking a test with the sales assistant.
The saleswoman closed her eyes briefly: "..."
Shen Zhenzhu coughed.
The sales assistant said, "7899!"
Chen Zhenzhu clapped her hands enthusiastically: "Great job! I knew you could answer all the questions correctly!"
Despite her heavy makeup, the sales assistant showed a hint of shyness: "Thank you."
Shen Zhenzhu took out her police ID and smiled brightly: "You're welcome. Thank you in advance. Please cooperate."
Sitting on the soft leather sofa, Chen Zhenzhu held a cup of blooming flower tea, listening to the sales assistant recall Meng Wanjun's photo: "I think I served her three or four days ago. She was a regular customer of another sales assistant. I happened to pick up Ms. Meng that night when I was working overtime. She came alone, without anyone else. I think she had come shopping with other ladies before."
Chen Zhenzhu glanced at Xiaobai's notes and asked, "Do you remember the approximate time?"
The saleswoman closed her eyes and tried hard to remember: "It was around seven o'clock. I remember she came not long after I finished eating."
Chen Zhenzhu asked, "Did she buy anything?"
The sales assistant went behind the counter, took out two packs of red scarves, rolled her eyes, and said, "After serving you for half a day, you only bought one red scarf exactly like this one. You wanted to buy two more, but we only had two in stock. The other one was bought by a very handsome man, who probably gave it to his girlfriend. Ms. Meng paid for three scarves and asked us to get two from another store so she could give one to each of her best friends. And look, they've arrived! I tried calling her this morning but couldn't reach her."
Chen Zhenzhu took the red scarf and examined it carefully before handing it to Xiaobai. Xiaobai muttered, "I don't see anything special about it. The only obvious thing is the brand name. It's selling for 999! I can only afford one with three months' salary."
The sales assistant sighed and said, "Even wealthy people would find this price unacceptable as a gift. We stand behind the counter all day and our earnings don't even cover their breakfast."
Continuing the conversation would sound like resentment towards the rich, so Chen Zhenzhu changed the subject: "Did you notice any suspicious people nearby at the time?"
The sales assistant frowned and said, "We sales assistants have good eyesight. Sometimes we can tell whether someone is coming to our store just by looking at them. I remember I only served her when there was no one else around, and there was no one else coming into the store."
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Do you remember what she was wearing that day?"
The sales assistant said, "I remember, she's wearing designer brands from head to toe, and she's incredibly beautiful. I heard she's an actress. By the way, she's wearing one of our fur coats, which costs over 20,000 yuan. I'll find you a promotional picture; you can tell at a glance it's high-end."
After waiting for a while, the sales assistant enthusiastically took out a magazine from the counter drawer, turned to the page with the model, and saw a yellow-brown fitted mink coat with a wide belt that looked very vintage.
"That's so stylish," Xiaobai said.
The sales assistant said, "She's so stylish, yet she still wears a red scarf, saying her neck is cold." She paused when she mentioned the red scarf and said, "Has something happened to Ms. Meng? Ah... could it be the rumor that her red scarf went missing?"
“We are handling this case. If you think of any other clues or suspects, please call me anytime.” Chen Zhenzhu handed a business card to the saleswoman and returned the red scarf to her.
Leaving the mall, Chen Zhenzhu opened the back door of the car and glanced at the red scarf that was crumpled up in a ball. The brand on it was the same as the one from the shop they had just left.
Xiao Bai came over and took a look, then clicked his tongue and said, "This spendthrift... well, it's better if he's more generous."
Shen Zhenzhu pretended not to hear and picked up a red scarf, draping it over the driver's seat. Just then, the cell phone rang, and Xiaobai answered it for her.
“Sister Pearl, a female comrade reported that she was followed last night. She was wearing a red scarf last night.”
Shen Zhenzhu drove to the police station where she reported the incident, located in the jurisdiction next to Tie Si. Inside the police station, a woman was pacing anxiously, accompanied by a male officer.
When the police officers saw Shen Zhenzhu arrive, they said to the woman who reported the case, "This is Section Chief Shen from the special task force. You can explain anything to her."
Shen Zhenzhu shook hands with the woman who reported the incident, sizing her up. She was about 165 cm tall and weighed about 120 kg. She had a noticeable black birthmark on her left cheek and looked to be around 40 years old.
"Hello Section Chief Shen, my name is Fang Zhongfan, and I am a teacher in charge of admissions for the art class. I worked overtime until after 8 p.m. last night. I've been so busy lately that I haven't been paying attention to the news reports. I'm walking home wearing a red scarf."
Ms. Fang glanced at her husband fearfully. He took a step closer and patted her shoulder encouragingly: "Tell the police what you said at home. It's better to explain clearly so they can catch the criminal sooner."
Ms. Fang's husband encouraged her, and she breathed a sigh of relief, regaining her composure, and said, "I live at No. 3 Beiping Road, in a scattered residential area, the kind without a gate. To get home earlier, I have to get off at Zayuan Lane, walk through the lane, and then walk more than 200 meters along the road. I usually don't take that route because I think the Zayuan Lane has a rotten smell that's unpleasant. Yesterday, I inexplicably got on that bus. The bus was very crowded, and as soon as I got on, I felt something was wrong; I kept feeling like someone was watching me."
Shen Zhenzhu did not interrupt her train of thought, and nodded to indicate that she was listening.
Teacher Fang continued, "When I got off at Huanghe Road, I walked into the alley of the courtyard. As I walked, I felt that gaze fixed on me. I looked back a few times but didn't see anyone. As I quickened my pace, I heard footsteps behind me. This wasn't just me being paranoid; you all know the environment of the courtyard—dirty, smelly, and full of all sorts of people. I thought someone was trying to snatch my bag. I quickened my pace, and suddenly a gust of wind blew by, whipping up the newspapers on the ground. Just then, I heard clashing footsteps! I quickly looked back, and guess what I saw?"
Thinking of what happened last night, her face turned pale. Ignoring whether it was appropriate or not, she leaned against her husband's chest, their fingers intertwined.
Chen Zhenzhu said, "Did you see the person following you?"
Teacher Fang said fearfully, "It wasn't the person following me! No, I should say that person never intended to follow me; he wanted to kill me!"
These words shocked Xiaobai, and she hurriedly asked, "How are you sure the other person wants to kill you? What are the characteristics of a man or a woman?"
Ms. Fang shuddered in fear and said, "There's absolutely no mistake, I saw a very strong man, and he... he was holding such a big axe! He followed me, staring intently at me, that piercing gaze almost made me faint. I quickened my pace, and he quickened his pace too, even raising the axe and charging straight at me! Ah—I was so scared, I ran for my life. Luckily, I ran fast, and when I turned around, he was still standing on the side of the road, staring intently at me. I'm so afraid he'll come to my house! Officers, please help me, my husband and my child can't be in danger!"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "What other features do you remember? For example, his hairstyle, teeth, eyes, or body language and accent?"
Teacher Fang waved her hands repeatedly, pointed to her glasses, and said, "I was blinded by the fog when I got off the bus, so that's all I could see. Later, I was in a hurry to escape and didn't have time to wipe my glasses. I only know that he was very strong, you could say he was burly. But he didn't say a word. He followed me all night without uttering a sound!"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Did you smell any odor on him? Like alcohol, perfume, or blood?"
With a sob in her voice, Teacher Fang said, "I can't smell anything, there's a stench all around, I can't smell anything at all... I'm so scared. Later I found out that several women wearing red scarves have disappeared. I can't disappear! Officers, please, please save me."
Ms. Fang's husband, still shaken, said, "We didn't sleep a wink last night, we propped the door shut with the sofa. This morning we didn't dare go out, we waited until there were more people outside and it felt safe before we dared to go out and report the incident. That man was carrying an axe, he could have easily chopped off her head if we weren't careful. My wife's experience is what other victims have experienced, maybe they, they've all become ghosts."
“The truth hasn’t been confirmed yet, so don’t let your imagination run wild.” Shen Zhenzhu understood their emotions and reassured them, “I will send people to monitor and control the area around you, and I will absolutely guarantee your safety. We can discuss a few more questions on the way. Now, please take me to the place where the suspect was found yesterday.”
Ms. Fang glanced back at her husband; clearly, he was her pillar of support at that moment. He nodded, and Ms. Fang, feeling lost, said, "Alright then, let's go. Please take the gun with you; it's an axe, a very sharp axe."
Chen Zhenzhu patted her waist and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely protect you."
After leaving the police station, Shen Zhenzhu drove to the Huanghe Road bus stop.
When they arrived at the bus stop, Ms. Fang looked around before getting off the bus. As soon as she got off, she stood hand in hand with her husband and urged Chen Zhenzhu to get off as well.
After parking her car, Chen Zhenzhu arrived at the bus stop. Teacher Fang pointed to the No. 316 bus and said, "This is the bus, from Beigang to Huanghe Road. I boarded at the middle of Tiyu Road. There were quite a few people on the bus when I got on, but not many were left later."
She took a few steps and recounted the details: "When I got off the bus here, I looked back and saw two women and a man getting off at the back door. They seemed to know each other and were chatting and laughing. I didn't see anyone strange, so I continued walking forward."
She led Chen Zhenzhu to the back of Huanghe Road, pointed to the messy shacks and piles of garbage, and said, "This is the path I walked through."
Seeing the hesitation on her face, Chen Zhenzhu said, "Teacher Fang, please take me inside. I want to see where the suspect was found. The sooner we find clues, the sooner we can ensure your safety."
Teacher Fang thought that what Shen Zhenzhu said made sense. With a police officer with a gun by her side, she felt a little better. She took her husband's hand and walked a few steps, then stopped and called to Shen Zhenzhu, "You come with me, and let that police officer accompany my husband."
It seemed that she was still afraid of what happened last night, so Shen Zhenzhu walked hand in hand with her in front, while Xiaobai and her husband followed closely behind.
"They're still using a public toilet here." Xiaobai pinched her nose as she passed by, carefully avoiding the trash on the ground.
She had never been to a tenement courtyard before, and as she walked through the alley, she looked around.
Around 3 PM, sounds of people playing cards and drinking could still be heard in the courtyard. Occasionally, an elderly man who collects garbage would return, watching the group warily. The faint meowing of a stray cat could be heard from somewhere behind him.
"Everyone in the tenement is waiting for relocation. Several hundred people are crammed into it. Some would rather sleep in during the day than go out to find work." Teacher Fang lowered her voice, her tone hostile towards the people in the tenement.
Her husband tried to smooth things over, saying, "That's not entirely true. Some people work outside but have heavy family burdens. Houses are getting more and more expensive, and renting isn't a solution. It's better to stay here and bear with it."
Teacher Fang wrapped her long cotton-padded coat tightly and passed by a garbage dump she had passed the night before. Suddenly she shouted "Ah!" and a rat on the ground scurried past her, startling her so much that she almost fell.
Shen Zhenzhu lifted her arm to help her up and asked, "What's wrong?"
Teacher Fang pointed to her right and shouted, "Something's grabbing me! It's coming to grab me!"
Shen Zhenzhu drew her gun and cautiously approached. Xiao Bai surrounded them from the other side, also armed.
"It shouldn't be a person." Hearing a noise, Shen Zhenzhu lifted the plastic sheet covering the area, revealing a tattered canvas underneath. As she lifted the canvas, a small cat's paw flashed past.
There was a cat cage that was about the height of a person. The cat cage was divided into upper, middle and lower levels. On each level, three or four stray cats were huddled together, close to the wooden board behind them for warmth and to keep out the wind.
Cat hairs from the fight still floated in the air. The cats themselves were relatively clean, but their food bowls were filthy, and their water bowls were frozen. They were piled on top of a mess of clothes, which smelled terrible from eating, drinking, and defecating.
After examining the clothes, Chen Zhenzhu put away her gun and picked up Teacher Fang's sleeve to look at it. There was a tiny scratch on it: "It must have been scratched by a cat."
Teacher Fang covered her sleeve and said, "I thought someone was going to cut off my arm."
Xiao Bai took out a bottle of mineral water from the cloth bag and poured it into the basin through the iron cage. A kitten licking the ice quickly drank it up.
"They seem used to people coming, and they don't make much noise." Xiaobai looked at them again and again, but still didn't dare to reach out and touch them.
Teacher Fang pointed ahead and said, "I didn't see that person here. I have to go further ahead and walk all the way to the intersection."
Chen Zhenzhu glanced at the cat cage again, put down the canvas with holes everywhere, and then put down the plastic sheet.
"It doesn't look like it needs to be properly cared for," Teacher Fang said, frowning. "What a tragedy."
Her husband suddenly remembered and said, "My colleague said that cat abuse often happens here, and recently there have been dead cats scattered everywhere. I don't think this is a good place. Let's leave quickly."
Halfway there, the courtyard next door became lively. Shen Zhenzhu heard people shouting and a group of people talking. Their voices were very low, and Shen Zhenzhu couldn't make out what they were saying.
As she passed by, Chen Zhenzhu peeked into the courtyard from the entrance and saw a small pile of cardboard boxes inside, suggesting that scavengers lived there.
"Section Chief Shen, we're still ahead." Teacher Fang urged Shen Zhenzhu to hurry up: "It's another ten minutes or so. Be careful, it feels like there are viruses everywhere."
Following the direction she pointed, Chen Zhenzhu didn't see an intersection. The courtyard was more complex than she had imagined, with its winding layout. "Okay."
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Author's note: See you tomorrow, there are 100 red envelopes waiting for you! [Let me see]
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