Chapter 19: Cheng Fei’s Plan

“Do you need something?” Fang Wenxuan turned to look at Lin Hui, who was standing behind him.

“Ah, no… nothing, I just came to use the restroom too!” Lin Hui stammered, letting out a dry laugh under Fang Wenxuan’s gaze.

Fang Wenxuan said nothing more and walked out.

“Hui, let’s take a break. I’m exhausted…” The chubby detective who’d been investigating the barbershops with Lin Hui sighed as he looked at him.

Lin Hui frowned, glancing at his watch. It was only half-past ten, not even lunchtime, yet this detective had already complained about being tired more than once.

Suddenly, Lin Hui thought back to when he’d been on a team with Fang Wenxuan. Although Fang Wenxuan was less experienced than other detectives and had a few quirks, like his mild obsession with cleanliness, he was remarkably hardworking and never complained.

“You go rest first, maybe grab something to eat. I’ll go check across the street,” Lin Hui said to the chubby detective.

“Alright!” As soon as food was mentioned, the detective went off at once.

Lin Hui shook his head. He thought about that young traffic cop, who was also quite the foodie but would always forget to eat while working.

Reflecting on it, Lin Hui wondered if he had been too harsh on that traffic cop. No wonder when they weren’t teamed together, the young cop seemed so much happier. He recalled that morning, seeing the young cop laughing and chatting with He Xiaopeng as they got into the car, and felt a pang of discomfort inside.

By afternoon, Lin Hui had finished checking every barbershop in the city that offered hair extensions, but had found nothing. He could only return to the Criminal Investigation Division to report and await Cheng Fei’s next instructions.

Upon his return, he saw that Fang Wenxuan and He Xiaopeng had also come back. He immediately walked over to ask, “Hey, did you find anything?”

Without looking up, Fang Wenxuan continued to review the documents in his hands. “We visited Luo Xi’s parents. What they told us matched what’s on file. We brought back hair samples from Luo Xi’s parents for forensic comparison to the remains in the old school restroom. The results should be out soon. They also confirmed that Su Qixing was Luo Xi’s girlfriend at the time and that they were quite close. That’s all.”

“What are you looking at now?” Lin Hui asked, leaning over Fang Wenxuan’s desk to glance at the documents.

“I’m reviewing Su Qixing’s household registration and marital status. The captain said our colleagues will bring her in for questioning soon.” Fang Wenxuan replied without looking up.

Lin Hui said no more and read the documents alongside Fang Wenxuan.

Unconsciously, as he read, Lin Hui found his attention drifting from the documents to Fang Wenxuan, who was sitting very close. He watched Fang Wenxuan’s profile.

Fang Wenxuan had an exceptionally handsome face—sharp brows, large, clear eyes, a high-bridged nose, and well-defined features. Even his side profile was flawless. The focused expression as he read made it impossible to look away.

“Wenxuan, Hui, go to the interrogation room. Su Qixing has arrived. You two handle the questioning.” At that moment, Cheng Fei emerged from his office and called to them.

Fang Wenxuan immediately closed the files and stood up, but didn’t realize how close Lin Hui was. He bumped right into him.

Lin Hui staggered back a step, but with a detective’s quick reflexes, he steadied himself and instinctively caught Fang Wenxuan to prevent him from falling.

A warm breath brushed Fang Wenxuan’s cheek. He opened his eyes to find Lin Hui’s face so close, and Lin Hui’s arms around him. He had never been held like this before.

Lin Hui looked at Fang Wenxuan as if discovering something new—was he blushing?

Fang Wenxuan’s fair cheeks were tinged with red, making his bright eyes even more striking...

“How much longer are you two going to dawdle? Get to the interrogation room!” Cheng Fei called from across the room.

Fang Wenxuan snapped back to his senses, quickly pushed Lin Hui away, grabbed his files and notebook, and hurried toward the interrogation room.

Lin Hui followed close behind.

“Did you bring me here because you suspect I killed Sheng Mingyi?” Before Fang Wenxuan or Lin Hui could begin questioning, Su Qixing looked at them and asked.

“This is just a routine inquiry,” Fang Wenxuan replied calmly.

“Then shouldn’t it be in a meeting room, not an interrogation room?” Su Qixing said coolly.

“Hey, why are you talking so much? Just answer our questions properly,” Lin Hui snapped.

“Alright, we’ll switch to the meeting room,” Fang Wenxuan said, standing and gathering his notebook.

“What, just because she says so? Sit down!” Lin Hui barked at Fang Wenxuan, his irritation flaring. What kind of detective lets a suspect lead them around? This junior cop was too soft. “Su Qixing, let me tell you why you’re being questioned in the interrogation room. First, Sheng Mingyi came to your factory to learn from you and was set to become general manager. If she hadn’t come, that position would’ve been yours. That’s your first motive. Second, you didn’t get along with Sheng Mingyi—she had incriminating photos of you. That’s your second motive. Third, you had the opportunity and the ability to destroy surveillance footage. Now, isn’t it reasonable we question you here?”

“Photos?” Su Qixing looked at Lin Hui, visibly shocked.

“You think you’re in the clear because you destroyed them? Our techs can restore deleted files,” Lin Hui said, staring right at Su Qixing. “So, you have nothing left to say, do you?”

“Heh… you think that's enough for murder? And I’d do it so brazenly in the office?” Su Qixing chuckled. “Sure, before she arrived, everyone—including me—thought I’d be the next general manager. But then she came. She’s the boss’s daughter, his princess. Besides, when I agreed to teach her, my condition was a stake in Shengmao Machinery’s parent company. The boss agreed—an equity stake is more valuable than a manager’s title. As for the photos, do you think such a childish trick would trip me up? A child’s prank only needs a child’s solution. Sheng Mingyi destroyed those photos herself, right in front of me.”

“How did you get her to destroy them?” Fang Wenxuan asked.

“She’s a 23-year-old girl who never wanted to learn from me. She spent all day playing games and scrolling on her phone in the office. I’d long wanted to teach her a lesson. She didn’t want to stay at the factory, since it’s in the suburbs—not lively like the city.

She tried to use those photos she’d taken of me to threaten me, demanded I call her parents and say I couldn’t teach her so she could go home. I could tell she was actually afraid of her parents. So, I put a mosaic on the photos and sent them to her parents, telling them she wasn't learning anything, just looking at things like that and going to adult parties at night. Then, I persuaded her parents to freeze all her cards. I cut off her internet access. With no money, no internet, and no car, she gave up in less than three days and agreed to delete the photos herself—so long as I’d say good things about her to her parents and give her some spending money. She destroyed the photos voluntarily.” Su Qixing looked from Fang Wenxuan to Lin Hui.

Lin Hui glanced at Fang Wenxuan, who continued to watch Su Qixing intently.

Outside, Cheng Fei stroked his chin thoughtfully as he watched the interrogation room’s display.

“Cheng Fei, do you think Su Qixing is telling the truth?” the chief asked.

“We can verify it, but if she’s telling the truth, then she’s really not the killer. Su Qixing is very clever—she has plenty of ways to handle Sheng Mingyi. She wouldn’t be so foolish as to commit murder, especially in the office where it’s so conspicuous,” Cheng Fei analyzed.

After observing Su Qixing for a moment, Fang Wenxuan asked, “Su Qixing, do you know Luo Xi?”

At the mention of that name, Su Qixing’s face noticeably paled.

“Did you find her?” Su Qixing asked, a trace of excitement in her voice.

“We’re not certain yet,” Fang Wenxuan replied, glancing at his watch. In half an hour, the forensic results would be out and they’d know if the body in the old school restroom was Luo Xi.

“If you want to know, wait half an hour. How about that?” Fang Wenxuan offered.

Su Qixing nodded her agreement.

Half an hour later, there was a knock at the door of the interrogation room.

Fang Wenxuan knew the results must be in. He started to stand, but Lin Hui stopped him, signaling that he would get the door.

Fang Wenxuan gave Lin Hui a curious look. When had this man become so considerate?

Lin Hui left and returned shortly, leaning down to whisper in Fang Wenxuan’s ear, “The report is in—the body in the old school restroom is Luo Xi.”

Fang Wenxuan nodded.

“Cheng Fei, look at those two—seems they’re getting along well now. I’d heard they didn’t get along when they were on the same team before,” the chief said, watching the screen.

“Those two each have their strengths and weaknesses, and they complement each other perfectly. It’s a pity some misunderstandings made them clash at first. I thought a period apart might help. Once they’re teamed together again, their combined abilities will crack cases even faster,” Cheng Fei said with a smile.

“You really are a master strategist,” the chief laughed heartily.

“Su Qixing, we’ve just received a definitive report. Luo Xi has been found,” Fang Wenxuan said in the interrogation room.