Chapter 105: Friends Are Good Too

Xu Xiaodong said, “I saw him give you that necklace in the shop.”

Lin Dongxue was embarrassed. “Just because he gave me something doesn’t mean anything.”

“I know you. You rarely owe people favors. You always split the bill when eating out, and you wouldn’t accept my flowers, but you took his gift.”

Lin Dongxue blushed. “Stop saying that.”

“Saying what? That you like Brother Chen?”

“Still talking?” Lin Dongxue gave Xu Xiaodong a playful punch.

“Alright, alright. I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

“I need to go home. Be careful on your way.”

“Okay!”

As Lin Dongxue disappeared into the residential area, Xu Xiaodong felt a twinge of sadness. He recalled the first time he saw her at the police academy. She stood in her uniform, eyes bright, posture straight, radiating a goddess-like aura. Back then, she was the crush of almost everyone in their dorm.

Later, when they were assigned to the same team, Xu Xiaodong was overjoyed and started trying to win her over, doing everything he could to make her happy, but he was gently rejected every time.

While he felt a bit sad, he also felt a sense of relief. This unrequited crush had finally come to a peaceful end. From now on, he wouldn’t have to think about it anymore.

“Friends are good too, friends are good too,” he muttered as he started his car.

Even though he went to bed late, Chen Shi got up early. He made breakfast and woke up Tao Yuanyuan. Breakfast was egg and ham sandwiches with milk, but Tao Yuanyuan didn’t seem to have much appetite. She had recently complained about being tired of Chen Shi’s cooking.

After eating, Tao Yuanyuan stood up. “I’m going to my room to study.”

“You’re so motivated. Didn’t play games last night?”

“Who wants to play those boring games? My grades are so bad, I have to catch up.”

“You make my life easier.”

“I don’t like studying, but I don’t want to be the worst in class. The worst students are always discriminated against.” Hearing this from her childish voice made Chen Shi want to laugh.

He took out his wallet and placed 200 yuan on the table. “Here’s some pocket money. If you go out with friends on the weekend, you should have some money.”

Tao Yuanyuan took the money. “Thanks… but I don’t have friends.”

“You can make some.”

“They’re all childish. They still watch cartoons and play games.”

“You know, it’s easy to get isolated like that. You need to learn to blend in. I was smart as a kid, but I pretended to be ordinary.”

Tao Yuanyuan made a face. “I don’t believe you!”

Chen Shi’s phone rang. It was Lin Dongxue. “That woman from last night was found dead at her home. We just received a report. A neighbor smelled blood.”

“Give me the address, I’ll be right there.”

Tao Yuanyuan overheard. After Chen Shi hung up, she asked, “Why are there always murders?”

“Now you know how dangerous the world is! Stay home, and if you’re hungry, order takeout. I’ll be back tonight.”

“Buy me a kitten. I’m bored alone at home.”

“Only if you get into the top thirty of your class this semester.”

Tao Yuanyuan scoffed. “Adult tricks!”

“If you listen to me, I’ll give you money. Rights and obligations are equal, you know?”

At ten o’clock, Chen Shi arrived at the crime scene. Peng Sijue was already there, leading the investigation. Lin Dongxue and Xu Xiaodong were also present. The room was in disarray, as if there had been a struggle. In the living room, a woman lay face down on the floor, blood pooled around her, already coagulated.

Chen Shi put on the rubber gloves Lin Dongxue handed him. “Could it be revenge?”

“Hard to say.”

Peng Sijue said, “Time of death is about 20 hours ago. Cause of death is stab wounds to the chest and abdomen, leading to excessive blood loss and hypoxia. The victim’s clothes are intact, so there was likely no sexual assault. We found some bloody skin flakes under her nails.”

Chen Shi said, “Old Peng, your estimate might be off. Last night at seven, Wang Shilun called her, and she was still alive. Time of death should be about 15 hours ago.”

“I’m just going by the body. The air conditioner was on, the room temperature was 30 degrees, accelerating decomposition.”

Chen Shi crouched down and turned the body over with Peng Sijue. The victim’s sweater was soaked with blood. There was a slash wound above her left breast and three stab wounds to the abdomen. Chen Shi measured the wounds. “The weapon is about five centimeters wide, sharp.”

Peng Sijue added, “The stab wounds to the abdomen are about ten centimeters deep. There are marks from the weapon’s guard on the skin. The weapon is ten centimeters long.”

“So, a dagger,” Chen Shi said. He looked around, then went to check the door lock. “The lock is intact, and there’s a peephole. Must be someone she knew. The entry mat is moved thirty centimeters. Something fell from the shelf by the door. The first bloodstain is twenty centimeters from the door. The killer pushed her hard, causing her to lose balance, then slashed at her.”

Peng Sijue said, “The victim struggled, knocking over some vases from the TV stand. The killer grabbed her left shoulder and stabbed her in the abdomen. No valuables were taken. The killer attacked right after entering, likely revenge.”

Lin Dongxue laughed. “You two are quite the team.”

“Come here, you’re about the victim’s height. Stand here,” Chen Shi said, positioning Lin Dongxue. He mimicked the stabbing motion but shook his head. “The angle’s wrong. The killer must be taller.”

“I’ll do it!” Peng Sijue came over to replicate the killer’s actions. Lin Dongxue felt awkward being used as a model.

“The angle’s just right. So, the killer should be about 180… How are you so tall? Not wearing lifts, are you?”

Peng Sijue shot Chen Shi a cold look.

A police officer approached with test results. “Captain, the results are in.”

Peng Sijue glanced at them. “Are you sure?”

“Tested three times.”

Peng Sijue turned to Lin Dongxue and Chen Shi. “The victim wasn’t infected with HIV!”

“Not infected?” Lin Dongxue was shocked.

“Is it really her?” Chen Shi asked.

They found the victim’s phone on the sofa. It was dead, so they charged it. Once it powered up, they saw the same photos they had seen before. The chat records from the police’s “fishing” operation were also there. Comparing the face with the victim, even though the photos were edited, it was clearly Kong Tingting.

“I’ll inform the CDC expert to double-check,” Lin Dongxue said, calling the expert to report this.

Chen Shi felt thirsty, so he opened the fridge and took out an unopened drink. Lin Dongxue said, “Hey, be careful.”

“It’s not evidence.” Chen Shi took a sip and suddenly said, “Weird, why is the food in the fridge spoiled?”