Chapter 181: A Perfect Match?

Just as Chen Shi was about to leave, Jia Xingyun and a glamorous female secretary emerged from the elevator, laughing and chatting. Chen Shi glanced at the receptionist, who looked embarrassed and said, “That’s what Mr. Jia instructed.”

“Long time no see, Mr. Jia,” Chen Shi greeted.

“Officer Chen, what brings you here?” Jia Xingyun instructed his secretary, “Xiaohua, wait for me in the car.”

“Can we have a chat?” Chen Shi asked.

“This way, please.”

Inside the company’s lounge, which looked like a high-end coffee shop, Jia Xingyun poured three cups of coffee from a machine and brought them over. He smiled warmly at Lin Dongxue, “Miss Lin, you’ve changed your hairpin today? You look even more beautiful.”

Lin Dongxue shyly brushed her hair back.

Chen Shi got straight to the point, “What do you know about the kidnapping of the Lu family’s second son five years ago?”

Jia Xingyun spread his hands, “I was just an outsider then. I probably don’t know more than you do.”

“Do you know someone named Shi Sijin?”

Jia Xingyun tapped his temple as if trying to recall, “I do. He was an employee at my company who was fired for embezzling funds to speculate in stocks. I didn’t press charges; I just told him to pack up and leave… How does this relate to the case from five years ago?”

Chen Shi stared into his eyes, “Can you repeat the last sentence?”

“How does this relate to the case from five years ago?”

Chen Shi didn’t detect anything unusual. Jia Xingyun smiled, “I have a wide range of interests, including psychology. When people lie, they pay extra attention to their words, using the left logical side of their brain, which controls the right side of their body to make involuntary movements… Officer Chen, do you suspect I’m lying?”

“You know quite a lot.”

“Am I lying?”

Chen Shi smiled, “Seems like you’re clean, Mr. Jia.”

“Can you share what case you’re working on?” Jia Xingyun glanced at Lin Dongxue.

Chen Shi said, “Sure, but keep it confidential… We might soon catch the killer of Lu Zhenjie and the mastermind behind it!”

This last sentence was a bombshell, even surprising Lin Dongxue. Jia Xingyun remained calm, though his pupils constricted slightly before he smiled, “I wish you success in solving the case and bringing justice for Zhenjie.”

As they left, Lin Dongxue couldn’t wait to ask, “What did you mean by ‘mastermind’? Did you just make that up?”

Chen Shi paused on the steps, “I deduced it. Why has Ji Chunma been able to live comfortably for the past five years with plenty of money? Someone has been ‘supporting’ him. This person was involved in the kidnapping five years ago but was unknown to the police. This person must be wealthy. Why didn’t they eliminate Ji Chunma to cover their tracks? I think Ji Chunma has something on them, something that could bring them both down!”

“Evidence?”

“Ji Chunma was frantically depositing and withdrawing money before the murder. I think he was looking for a marked bill. Killing was his last resort after failing to retrieve it. Now that Ji Chunma has exposed himself, without the evidence to threaten the mastermind, what do you think he’ll do?”

“Go for broke!”

Chen Shi shook his head with a smile, “That’s your omniscient perspective. The mastermind doesn’t know Ji Chunma has lost the evidence. Ji Chunma might gamble on approaching them for protection and help. But he needs to act fast. If the evidence reaches the police, he’s out of options.”

Lin Dongxue pondered, “I don’t understand how a bill can implicate the mastermind.”

“There must be something on the bill that reveals the mastermind’s identity!”

“So, you suspect Jia Xingyun?”

“Jia Xingyun is our prime suspect for now. It’s a gamble.”

Instead of leaving immediately, Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue hid in an alley near Jia Xingyun’s company. Five minutes later, Jia Xingyun drove off, dropping his secretary at a corner before continuing alone.

“Suspicious!” Lin Dongxue remarked.

“Yeah, definitely suspicious.”

As it grew late, Chen Shi took Lin Dongxue home. Lin Dongxue suggested, “Let’s check on Granny Liu.”

“Sure.”

Lin Dongxue called Xu Xiaodong to ask about the task force’s progress. Xu Xiaodong said, “Don’t mention it. The bank said the manager had left, and the vault couldn’t be opened. We have to wait until tomorrow. Oh, and the wanted notice just came out. I’ll send it to you.”

Both their phones chimed simultaneously. Chen Shi looked at his, “Why does Ji Chunma look so immature?”

Xu Xiaodong’s voice came through the phone, “The face captured by surveillance was too blurry. We had to use his old ID photo for the wanted notice.”

Chen Shi murmured thoughtfully.

“How’s it going on your end?” Xu Xiaodong asked.

Chen Shi motioned for Lin Dongxue’s phone, “Tell Captain Lin to put Jia Xingyun under surveillance. We need to know everywhere he goes and everyone he meets.”

After hanging up, Lin Dongxue said, “We just met him, and now you want to surveil him?”

“This is about catching a wanted fugitive. We need to be thorough!”

When they returned home, Granny Liu had already prepared dinner and tidied the place. Chen Shi was pleasantly surprised. Granny Liu, rubbing her hands, smiled, “Thanks to you, Master Chen, for taking us in. I made some home-cooked food. I hope you like it.”

Looking at the table full of dishes, Chen Shi said, “It looks delicious.”

“Let’s eat then. You must be hungry!”

Goudan was in the bedroom, loudly smashing his keyboard while shouting, “Kill you! Kill you!” He was totally absorbed in his game.

Chen Shi whispered to Tao Yueyue, “How are you getting along?”

“He’s just an ordinary boy,” Tao Yueyue said, pointing to herself. “But I’m doing a great job as his big sister.”

“Has he spoken?”

“Nope.”

Granny Liu had to coax Goudan for a long time to get him to come eat. He sat on her lap while she spoon-fed him. Noticing everyone’s gaze, he finally used his own chopsticks.

Granny Liu explained, “Goudan’s parents work far away. He’s with me all year round. I spoil him.”

Goudan kicked Granny Liu’s foot, annoyed at her revealing his shortcomings. She soothed, “Okay, Grandma won’t say anymore.”

“Boys should be more independent,” Chen Shi commented.

“True, but he’s our only precious grandson. How can we not cherish him?” Granny Liu said, giving Goudan another helping of food.

She then asked, “Are you two dating?”

Both Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue immediately denied, “No, no.”

“I think you two make a good match. I’ve seen many couples in my life. I’m never wrong.”

Lin Dongxue instinctively glanced at Chen Shi, thinking, “How do we match?”