Chapter 33 Someone is flying in the sky
Sunlight streamed into the chess and card room through the old glass windows. Yu Hao stood before Uncle Zhang, his shadow slanting across the polished cement floor. Uncle Zhang's hands trembled slightly, spilling a few drops of water from the teapot onto the tabletop. "Were the fingerprints forged?" His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time. Yu Hao nodded. "The technical department has confirmed that the fingerprints on the dagger don't match the actual scene. Liu Feng did steal the money, but he didn't kill the person." Uncle Zhang's Adam's apple rolled up and down, and his cloudy eyes watered. He stared blankly down at the tea leaves floating in the teacup. Yu Hao's voice was soft. "Considering he confessed to the theft and promptly returned the stolen goods, and that he has a sick family member to care for, the procuratorate should recommend a lighter sentence." Uncle Zhang suddenly smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out like dry bark soaked by rain. "I knew... I knew that kid wouldn't commit murder." Yu Hao looked at the old man's trembling hands and said, "Also, Zhang Li accompanied Liu Feng's mother out of the hospital. The surgery was successful." "Good, good..." Uncle Zhang wiped his face, trembling slightly. "Today is full of happy things." "Thanks to the master for finding the key evidence so quickly," Yu Hao said, sitting down. Uncle Zhang's face also smiled at the mention of Qin Guoan. "That old guy is still so amazing." At this point, he walked to the shabby desk against the wall and pulled out a tin box from the drawer. Inside was a stack of yellowed photos. Uncle Zhang took out the top one and handed it to Yu Hao. It showed a young Uncle Zhang and Qin Guoan, wearing police academy uniforms, standing at the school gate, smiling brightly. Uncle Zhang's fingers stroked the photo, "Give it to your master for me someday. This is my most precious photo." In the photo, the sun shines on Uncle Zhang's face in his youth. The high-spirited young man is almost completely different from the hunched old man in front of him. What has Uncle Zhang been through over the years? The two chatted for a while about family matters, and Yu Hao got up to say goodbye. Uncle Zhang insisted on seeing him to the door. The winter wind blew the snow into the corridor. The old man suddenly grabbed Yu Hao's hand: "Xiaohao, thank you." Yu Hao shook his head: "It's my fault." Walking out of the unit door, the sun was so bright that he squinted his eyes. It's rare for Qindao to have such bright winters, just like his mood at the moment, a rare moment of relaxation... * The sunlight after the snow reflected glaringly on the wall of the rental building. Yu Hao squinted his eyes and realized that he had unknowingly walked to the downstairs of Sun Yong's house. The windows of Room 202 were wide open, the cordon had been removed, and the sound of an electric drill came from inside...
Sunlight shone into the chess and card room through the old glass windows. Yu Hao stood in front of Uncle Zhang, his shadow cast obliquely on the polished concrete floor.
Uncle Zhang's hands were shaking slightly, and a few drops of water from the teapot spilled onto the table. "Are the fingerprints forged?" His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
Yu Hao nodded. "The technical department confirmed that the fingerprints on the dagger do not match the actual scene. Liu Feng did steal the money, but he did not kill the person."
Uncle Zhang's Adam's apple rolled up and down, and his cloudy eyes were watery. He stared blankly at the tea leaves floating in the teacup.
Yu Hao's voice was very soft. "Considering that he voluntarily confessed to the theft and promptly returned the stolen goods, and that he has a patient at home who needs care, the procuratorate should recommend a lighter sentence."
Uncle Zhang suddenly smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out like dry bark moistened by rain. "I knew it... I knew that kid wouldn't kill anyone."
Yu Hao looked at the old man's trembling hands and said, "In addition, Zhang Li accompanied Liu Feng's mother out of the hospital. The operation was successful."
"Okay, okay..." Uncle Zhang wiped his face, his body trembling slightly, "Today is all about happy things."
"I have to thank Master for helping us find the key evidence so quickly." Yu Hao sat down and said with a smile.
When Qin Guoan was mentioned, a smile appeared on Uncle Zhang's face. "That old guy is still so powerful."
Having said that, he walked to the shabby desk by the wall and took out an iron box from the drawer, which contained a stack of yellowed photos.
Uncle Zhang took out the top one and handed it to Yu Hao. It showed a young Uncle Zhang and Qin Guoan in their police academy uniforms, standing at the school gate with bright smiles on their faces.
Uncle Zhang stroked the photo with his fingers. "Please give it to your master someday. This is my most precious photo."
In the photo, the sun shines on Uncle Zhang's face when he was young. The high-spirited young man is almost completely different from the hunched old man in front of him.
What has Uncle Zhang experienced over the years?
The two chatted for a while longer, then Yu Hao stood up to say goodbye. Uncle Zhang insisted on seeing him off to the door. The winter wind blew the snow into the hallway, and the old man suddenly grabbed Yu Hao's hand and said, "Xiaohao, thank you."
Yu Hao shook his head: "I didn't do it well."
As he walked out of the apartment building, the sunlight made him squint. It was rare for Qindao to have such bright sunshine in winter, just like his mood at the moment, a rare moment of relaxation...
*
The sunlight after the snow reflected dazzlingly on the wall of the rental building. Yu Hao squinted his eyes and realized that he had unknowingly walked downstairs to Sun Yong's house.
The windows of Room 202 were wide open, the cordon had been removed, and from inside came the humming and hammering of electric drills. Several workers were moving in and out, carrying construction materials.
Yu Hao stood downstairs, looking up at the window where the body had been found. Sunlight filtered through the glass, illuminating the dust dancing inside.
Two days ago, he helped Sun Yong contact Gou Rong and handle the property transfer procedures. This taciturn man actually bought the house where the murder took place.
Thinking of this, he remembered the scene last night.
Am I overthinking this? Or...
However, his impression of Sun Yong was not bad. He had always had an instinctive curiosity about this man. He couldn't explain the reason, but he always wanted to try to solve the vague mystery about him.
"Captain Yu!" A hoarse voice came from behind.
Yu Hao turned around and saw Liu Bing walking towards him, rubbing his hands. The grocery store owner had a warm smile on his face, but his eyes flickered with anxiety.
"Why are you here?"
"Any progress on the case?" Liu Bing leaned in, his body emitting a mixture of low-quality tobacco and alcohol. "I've been helping you keep an eye out for suspicious people these past two days."
Liu Bing got straight to the point and asked Yu Hao about the case. This reminded him of Guo Zhong, "Why? You want to sell me clues too?"
"No, no, I was just saving myself." Liu Bing waved his hands quickly.
"Save yourself?"
"Yes, what else can I do? As a member of the village committee, I should do something. Two murders have already happened. Who knows who will be the next one? It could even be me."
"Your awareness is very good." Yu Hao smiled slightly.
"Captain Yu, let's not talk about anything else. How is the case going?" Obviously, this was the focus of Liu Bing's attention.
Yu Hao took a half step back calmly: "It's still under investigation." He walked towards the village entrance, but Liu Bing stuck to him like a piece of taffy.
"What? Is there something else?" Yu Hao did not stop.
"Report on the latest developments."
Yu Hao paused slightly, "What did you find?"
"I'm currently examining everyone in the village, and I've discovered something strange." Liu Bing lowered his voice.
"What?"
"Sun Yong," Liu Bing pointed to Room 201, which was under renovation, "this is very strange."
The sunlight shone on Liu Bing's greasy face, revealing the excitement that could not be concealed in his eyes.
Yu Hao had seen this expression too many times - after every murder, there were always some curious people who were as excited as flies smelling blood.
That was what Guo Zhong was like back then.
But Liu Bing is different. Some people, the more they fear darkness, the more they move towards darkness, as if only there they can hide their fear.
Liu Bing is such a person.
"Not only did he buy these two rooms," Liu Bing continued, his saliva flying, "but he also insisted on destroying the wall himself."
"Many people like to do their own renovations." Yu Hao said lightly and continued walking towards the village entrance.
Liu Bing hurried after him. "But he kicked all the workers out and went in alone to smash things up!" His voice was shrill with excitement. "I saw it with my own eyes. The way he swung the sledgehammer, it was like he had some deep grudge against me."
Yu Hao stopped in his tracks. The sunlight suddenly became glaring, blinding him.
"Captain Yu?" Liu Bing's voice brought him back to reality. "Do you think this is a problem?"
Yu Hao didn't answer. He looked over Liu Bing's shoulder and toward the window of Room 201.
"I have something else to do." Yu Hao turned and walked towards the police car, leaving Liu Bing standing there, the expression on his face changed from expectation to disappointment.
After sitting in the driver's seat, Yu Hao did not start the car immediately.
Is there any clue here? If it is a clue, then Sun Yong?
He shook his head. It made no sense to suspect a seemingly unrelated person based on just one thing Liu Bing said.
In the rearview mirror, Liu Bing was still standing there, squinting his eyes and looking towards Sun Yong's house, as if he was staring at him...
*
Xiao Yan put down his knife and fork, and the silver cutlery made a crisp sound on the bone china plate.
He looked around. The three-star Michelin restaurant was full of Qindao's upper class people. The men were dressed in suits and the women were adorned with jewels.
He sneered and shook his head. This was where he should be, not entangled with a KTV hostess and her daughter of unknown origin.
"Sir, would you like some dessert?" The waiter bowed slightly, his voice just the right amount of respect.
"No thanks." Xiao Yan waved his hand, took out a napkin and wiped the corner of his mouth elegantly.
He glanced at his watch. The Patek Philippe dial shone with a low-key luxury under the light. The hour hand pointed to one o'clock in the afternoon.
By this time tomorrow, he would be on a flight to New York, and the city that had brought him bad luck would be a thing of the past forever.
He pulled out his wallet and casually pulled out a few hundred-dollar bills, placing them on the table. He did this movement with a smooth flow, as if he had practiced it a thousand times.
Money was never a problem for him. The problem was how to use money to buy what he wanted - status, respect, and those young and beautiful women.
Thinking of this, he once again felt ridiculous for his impulsiveness a few days ago.
Luo Xin? A woman in her thirties, with a child, working in a place like that, and he actually wanted to claim her as his relative?
Walking out of the restaurant, the winter sun made him squint.
There is little traffic on Donghai Road, and the wide road glows coldly in the sunlight.
Xiao Yan stood in front of the zebra crossing, staring at the ridiculously short green light timer opposite.
He complained about this problem the last time he came to Qindao, and the municipal department promised to make adjustments, but apparently no one took his words seriously.
A Porsche 911 roared past, and the wind it created lifted the hem of his Burberry coat.
"Being rich is not a big deal!" Xiao Yan spat, and the nameless anger in his heart rose up again.
Ever since he met Luo Xin and her daughter, he hadn't had a smooth life. First, he was beaten by that rude vendor, then he was nearly hit by a flower pot, and now even the traffic lights were against him.
The green light finally came on and he quickly walked onto the zebra crossing.
The Italian handmade leather shoes made a rapid tapping sound on the zebra crossing, like some kind of countdown.
Just as he jogged to the middle of the road, suddenly, a dazzling light shot out from a window of the opposite building and pierced his pupils.
"Fuck!" Xiao Yan suddenly covered his eyes, tears flowing uncontrollably.
The light seemed to shine directly into his brain, burning his nerves. He felt like an ant under a magnifying glass in the sun.
Just as he was about to raise his hand, the strong light hit him again. Xiao Yan staggered and his eyes were blood red.
He vaguely saw the street light ahead of him turn from green to red, and heard the roar of an engine in the distance, getting closer and closer. At this moment, he was standing in the middle of the road.
"Damn..." He stumbled forward, only to hear the screeching of tires rubbing against the ground.
A car seemed to stop beside him, a car seemed to pass by him from behind, and a car seemed to give him the power to fly...
The world suddenly tilted, and he saw the sky spinning and the clouds like torn cotton wool.
Strangely, he didn't feel any pain, but just a feeling of lightness, as if he had turned into a bird and finally broke free from the constraints of the ground.
My consciousness is a little confused, and I feel a little hazy...
"Someone is flying in the sky..."
"Fly, call an ambulance!"
Noisy voices came from far away. Xiao Yan wanted to laugh. He wanted to tell those people that he was fine and that he was flying.
But as soon as he opened his mouth, warm liquid gushed out, flowing down his cheeks and into his ears.
The sound of sirens came from far away, but Xiao Yan could no longer hear them.
A crowd has surrounded the scene of the accident.
Some people were talking loudly on their phones, some were taking photos and posting them on WeChat Moments, and some were discussing how expensive the deceased's suit looked.
Are you going to die? ...
*
The morning sun streamed into the kitchen through the gauze curtains. Luo Xin gently slid the fried egg onto the plate. She wiped her hands and glanced at the wall clockâseven twenty.
"Xiaoxue, it's time for dinner." Luo Xin shouted towards the bedroom, keeping his voice deliberately calm.
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of millet porridge, and wisps of white mist were emitted from the exhaust vents of the rice cooker. Luo Xin opened the refrigerator and took out the pickled vegetables.
She had changed her shift today specifically to spend more time with her daughter. Furthermore, he was worried about running into that person again on the road.
"Mom, good morning." Luo Xue rubbed her eyes and walked into the kitchen. She sat down at the dining table obediently and took the bowl of porridge handed to her by her mother.
Luo Xin turned on the TV. The morning news anchor was reporting the weather in standard Mandarin. She lowered the volume and pushed the fried egg toward her daughter. "Eat it while it's hot."
"There was a traffic accident on Donghai Road yesterday..." The female anchor's voice suddenly became serious, and the screen switched to a blurry dashcam video. "A foreign man was hit by a sports car and is currently in critical condition..."
Luo Xin's hand froze in mid-air, and the pickled vegetables on his chopsticks fell back onto the plate. The news footage switched to the hospital entrance, where a reporter was interviewing the attending physician.
In the background, a stretcher was hurriedly pushed past. Although the man on the stretcher had blood on his face, the profile of his face was still...
"The police are investigating the specific cause of the accident..." the female anchor continued, "We remind all residents to be careful when going out..."
Luo Xue clenched the chopsticks tightly in her hand, stared at the TV screen, and pursed her lips into a thin line.
Even though the man's face was covered in blood, she recognized it immediately. He was the stranger who stopped her outside the library that day, the weirdo who asked her, "Who is your father?"
Luo Xin stared at the TV with a similar expression. Her throat felt tight, as if it were being strangled. She mechanically picked up a handful of pickled vegetables with her chopsticks and put them in her mouth, but she couldn't taste anything.
The TV screen had already switched to the next news item, but the bloody face was still flashing before her eyes.
Xiao Yan, a name she thought would never appear in her life again, suddenly appeared in her life again without warning.
"...Be careful when you go out." Luo Xin heard his own dry voice, as if it came from far away.
"Yeah." Luo Xue lowered her head to drink porridge, and the loose hair on her forehead hung down, covering her eyes.
The mother and daughter ate breakfast in silence, the spoon occasionally hitting the wall of the bowl, making a crisp sound.
The sun is still warm and the porridge is still sweet, but the air seems to be frozen.
Luo Xin glanced at his daughter out of the corner of his eye and found that Luo Xue was staring at her bowl of porridge in a daze.
She wanted to say something, but all the words got stuck in her throat.
What could she say? Tell her daughter that the man who was hit was her biological father? Or just pretend nothing happened?
Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of the bowl, feeling the cool touch of the porcelain.
Luo Xue suddenly raised her head and a smile appeared on her lips: "Mom, I'm done eating." Her eyes were bright, "I still have to go to the library today."
"Okay." Luo Xin nodded, "I'll take you there later."
"Yeah." Luo Xue put away the dishes and turned back to the bedroom.
Luo Xin looked at her daughter's back as she turned around, and suddenly a pain surged in her heart. This pain was not because of Xiao Yan, but because of her daughter.
She is old now, and sooner or later I have to tell her the truth...
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