Chapter 216: Team Belief Crisis (Third Update)

The three of them found a table and started looking through the files. When they saw a photo of Yin Lin, the young monk excitedly picked it up, tears in his eyes. “This is my aunt! Thirteen years, and I finally see a photo of my relative!”

Chen Shi let him be emotional for a moment and continued to look through the files with Lin Dongxue. The files mentioned that in March 2005, a neighbor reported Yin Lin missing. The discovery was due to a dog she had. After several days of her absence, the dog went crazy from hunger, chewing through electrical wires and howling miserably.

Looking at a photo of a Tibetan Mastiff, Chen Shi remarked, “Someone who had a Tibetan Mastiff ten years ago must have been quite wealthy.”

Yin Lin was indeed wealthy. The files noted that she was a small business owner in the clothing industry, described as a versatile and charming person. However, the photo showed a petite, sweet-looking woman, not at all like a typical strong businesswoman.

Yin Lin’s parents had died early, and her other relatives were in Henan province. She had only one sister, Yin Wen, in Long’an City. After the incident, no contact was made with Yin Wen.

The investigation ended a year later due to a lack of leads, and the case was shelved.

At that moment, Xu Xiaodong called, sounding excited, “Chen, I found Yin Wen!”

The young monk eagerly leaned in to listen.

Chen Shi asked, “Where is she?”

“She’s missing. I have a file on her. Should I bring it back?”

“Yes, bring it back.”

After hanging up, Lin Dongxue sighed, “When one door closes, another one gets welded shut.”

Chen Shi wasn’t ready to give up. Pointing to the files, he said, “It mentions some of Yin Lin’s friends. Should we start by talking to them?”

“Forget it,” Lin Dongxue shook her head. “This investigation is straying further from our original purpose. We are just four people. At this rate, we won’t get anywhere by next year.”

Chen Shi suddenly stood up, grabbed a policeman, and asked, “Officer, who was in charge of this case?”

The policeman looked at the signatures on the files and said, “These three officers. They’re all veterans. Only Officer Zhang is still here.”

“I’d like to meet him.”

Meeting Officer Zhang, he said the case was too old to remember clearly. The main investigator was his colleague, Liu Baiqin. “Old Liu was stubborn. He was so fixated on this case that he neglected his other duties and received several reprimands. Eventually…”

“What happened?”

“The chief scolded him, told him to drop the case, and in a fit of anger, he quit. The time he quit coincides with when the investigation was halted because no one else had the patience to continue.”

“Can I meet him?”

“He works at a security company now. I’ll write down his contact information for you.”

The three of them went to find Liu Baiqin but were unsuccessful. As it got late, Chen Shi, exhausted from running around all day, said, “Let’s continue the investigation tomorrow.”

The young monk, though reluctant, nodded, “I want to join you tomorrow.”

“Okay, but on one condition.”

“Please, tell me.”

“You must eat dinner tonight. Punishing yourself is pointless.”

The young monk was silent for a moment, then clasped his hands together and said, “I understand.”

Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue returned to their place. Chen Shi collapsed on the sofa, exhausted, while Lin Dongxue went to her room to rest. After a while, Chen Shi dozed off but then struggled to get up and ordered takeout for dinner.

Just then, Lin Dongxue sent a message, “Chen, my shoulders are killing me. Could you… never mind if it’s inconvenient.”

Chen Shi, looking helpless, walked into Lin Dongxue’s room. “Sit up!”

“Why?” Lin Dongxue asked, confused, as she sat up.

Chen Shi started massaging her shoulders. Lin Dongxue let out a small yelp, whether from surprise or pain, and Chen Shi eased up a bit. “Is this better?”

“Yes, very nice,” Lin Dongxue’s cheeks turned red. “Why are you suddenly giving me a massage?”

“It’s not… where’s your phone?”

“Taoyue borrowed it to play a game.”

Chen Shi clenched his fist at the air, that darn kid. He could only say, “I was afraid you’d be too tired to investigate tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

They sat quietly for a moment. Lin Dongxue suddenly said, “I’ll move out in a few days. If my brother finds out…”

“Alright,” Chen Shi, though reluctant, didn’t let it show. “I’ll help you move after this case is over.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. We’ve known each other long enough.”

“Are we really good friends?”

“I suppose…”

“Oh,” Lin Dongxue felt a bit disappointed but understood he couldn’t have said otherwise.

The next morning, Chen Shi was awakened by a message notification. Peng Si Jue posted in the group, “Found suspected human tissue at the scene!”

Chen Shi jumped up, got dressed quickly, and went to wake Lin Dongxue. They bumped heads at the door, and Lin Dongxue laughed, holding her forehead, “You saw it too?”

“Yes, let’s go!”

They picked up the young monk and hurried to the crime scene. The room was dark, and Peng Si Jue sat on the bed with his arms crossed. Chen Shi walked in and said, “You didn’t sleep all night?”

“I’m used to it. It’s not your concern.”

“Where’s the thing you found?”

Peng Si Jue raised his hand, holding a test tube with a small piece of tissue. Lin Dongxue noticed that the wallpaper had been stripped off and the plaster scraped away, which Peng Si Jue had meticulously done inch by inch.

“It needs testing, but without a sample for comparison, it’s meaningless,” Peng Si Jue said.

“We have a comparison sample right here,” Chen Shi pointed at the young monk.

The young monk said, “Yes, that’s definitely my father’s!”

“I need to say upfront, this small amount of human tissue can’t be used as murder evidence… I’ll go rest for a bit and continue in the afternoon.”

“Peng, don’t drive after staying up all night. I’ll drive you… if you pay for the ride.”

Peng Si Jue gave him a disdainful look, “No thanks. I’ll take a cab! You guys take this to the lab for testing. And tell them not to come over. This small place, I can handle it alone.”

The three returned to the station and handed the sample to the technical team. Lin Dongxue said, “It’s been four days, and we’ve only just found the victim’s DNA? Isn’t this progress too slow?”

“Quantity leads to quality. I believe we’ll have a breakthrough soon.”

“Are you comforting yourself or me?”

“I think our team’s belief is lacking. Why does everyone doubt we can solve this case?” Chen Shi suddenly looked alarmed, “Oh no!”

“What happened?”

“I forgot to have breakfast. Let’s go to Yong’an Soy Milk!”

“You idiot, you scared me!” Lin Dongxue laughed, punching him lightly.