Chapter 165: Setting the Trap

Lu Qixing was handcuffed and escorted away by the police. His gaze was filled with a tragic resolve as he looked at Chen Shi and said, “Aside from Song Lang, no one has ever treated me like this! We have no ties anymore. If you dare enter my place again, I’ll charge you with trespassing!”

“Have a safe trip. This time, even your lawyer won’t save you,” Chen Shi replied.

As they watched Grandpa Lu being taken away, Lin Dongxue said, “My brother told me that Song Lang is upright and incorruptible. When he investigated the kidnapping of Lu’s second son, he also uncovered some misdeeds by Lu’s group and summoned Grandpa Lu for questioning five times.”

“Five times?” Chen Shi feigned surprise. “Looks like I need to work harder.”

“Enough, you!” Lin Dongxue laughed. “This incident alone is enough to keep him busy.”

Chen Shi gestured, “Let’s check out Sun Shenyong’s place.”

They returned to Lu Zhendong’s residential complex and found Sun Shenyong’s apartment. Using a key hidden in the power box, they entered. The place was a mess, with used condoms and tissues in the trash and women’s underwear on the sofa.

The room smelled bad from lack of ventilation. Chen Shi covered his nose and said, “Mr. Sun seems to be quite the ladies’ man!”

“What a scumbag! Cheating on his wife,” Lin Dongxue said disdainfully.

After searching the place, they found nothing noteworthy apart from the mess. Chen Shi questioned the neighbors, but they all minded their own business and knew nothing.

Sitting on the sofa, Chen Shi lit a cigarette and said, “I have a theory. The killer murdered Sun Shenyong and hid the body along with the guitar, making it seem like Sun Shenyong committed the murder and fled.”

Lin Dongxue suggested, “Isn’t it also possible that Sun Shenyong himself is the killer? I saw in the task force group chat that he bought several tickets to different cities after the incident.”

“That’s just a diversion. I confirmed that his ID hasn’t been used at any airport, train station, or bus station recently. Besides, there’s another clue…” Chen Shi stood up, opened the wardrobe, and took out a worn belt, wrapping it around his waist. The belt hole used by the owner was much larger than his waist.

Lin Dongxue understood immediately, “He’s fat, but the person in the surveillance footage is skinny.”

“Exactly. Also, the fridge has recently bought alcohol and food, and the computer and bed are new. The calendar on the wall stops at February 2nd, showing he liked his current lifestyle and wouldn’t willingly disrupt it. The guitar is worth forty million, but selling it would be a problem. Would he really be so foolish as to kill for it, ruining his future? Without sufficient reason, people don’t kill!”

Chen Shi stood up, “There’s nothing more to see here. Let’s go back to Lu Zhendong’s place.”

Lin Dongxue said, “I’ve never been there.”

Lu Zhendong’s home had already undergone a thorough forensic investigation. The place was dusted for fingerprints, and many items were taken, leaving it emptier than before.

The half-box of cigars was still there. Chen Shi took one, sat at the table on the first floor, and said, “Jia Xingyun knew about the woman Lu Zhendong had hidden. Maybe he saw her that day.”

“Who do you think the woman is?”

“Most likely Cheng Yan, whom Lu Zhendong was pursuing. Unable to win her over, he imprisoned her. I believe he’s capable of such a thing. With a rich dad, he probably thought the world revolved around him.”

Lin Dongxue checked the task force group chat on her phone, “They found out that Cheng Yan’s friends couldn’t reach her for a while, and she later claimed she was traveling. Also, Cheng Yan’s phone hasn’t made any calls in the past two weeks. She switched her SIM card on February 3rd, claiming she lost her phone.”

“The killer is either her or someone who came to rescue her. This person is close to Cheng Yan, likely a man who is smart, meticulous, and bold. After killing, he staged Sun Shenyong’s disappearance to mislead the police while dumping Lu Zhendong’s body in a high-profile manner, stabbing it multiple times.”

“Those stab wounds were inflicted postmortem? Captain Peng didn’t say…”

“If they were pre-mortem, the guard would have smelled the strong blood scent when the car passed through the gate. The wounds were inflicted after leaving the complex, using a hot towel to fake fresh injuries. This tactic misleads the police into thinking the killer had a deep hatred for Lu Zhendong.”

Lin Dongxue’s mouth fell open in surprise, “Lu Zhendong imprisoned Cheng Yan. The person who came to rescue her wouldn’t get a heavy sentence even if they accidentally killed him. But to kill another person to cover up the crime adds a heavier burden.”

“He must really love Cheng Yan, willing to do anything for her.”

“Cheng Yan shouldn’t have a boyfriend, right?”

“Even if she did, she wouldn’t tell us. After committing murder, they wouldn’t contact each other to avoid suspicion. That’s the usual response.” Chen Shi pondered with the cigar in his mouth, “No, they must have contacted each other. Cheng Yan isn’t strong enough to handle such psychological pressure alone…”

Chen Shi immediately called Old Zhang, instructing him on what to do.

After making arrangements, Lin Dongxue smiled, “You’re full of ideas. Will this one work?”

“Even if it doesn’t, there’s no loss,” Chen Shi smiled. “Let’s call it a day and see if we catch a big fish tomorrow.”

Chen Shi’s smile suddenly froze. The task force group chat had a new lead: an employee at Lu Zhendong’s company had bought anti-inflammatory and painkillers recently, confirmed by a nearby pharmacy’s surveillance footage.

“It’s him?” Chen Shi was slightly surprised to see Zhuo Xuan’s name.

Chen Shi sent a group message instructing everyone to meet at a specific address the next morning instead of going to the office.

The next morning at 7 AM, the task force members, dressed in plain clothes, gathered near an internet café by a residential area. This café was close to Cheng Yan’s place. Chen Shi’s plan was simple: rent the café, have the admin disable the restore system, and wait for Cheng Yan to use a computer. This way, they could see which forum she logged into.

As for how to get Cheng Yan there, Chen Shi planned to send an experienced officer to question her and create psychological pressure. After the police left, she would likely come to the café to contact her accomplice.

Lin Dongxue said, “Honestly, I feel a bit sorry for the girl, using her weakness to draw out her boyfriend.”

Chen Shi replied coldly, “You do the crime, you face the consequences. That’s the adult world’s rule.”