Chapter 553: Rumor Mill

Chen Shi turned on Ah Zhen’s computer. QQ logged in automatically, revealing numerous messages left since her death. The first was from Ah Qiang: “Death might not be the worst thing. The burdens you left behind will be borne by us, the living. I’m not the person you hoped for, and for that, I’m sorry. I hope in the next life, you find your ideal person.”

Next was Liu Qin’s message: “I’m a bastard. I should have noticed that day. It’s all my fault for being drunk. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… a thousand times sorry! I hope you find true happiness in the next world.”

There were also messages from other friends and classmates, indicating that news traveled fast.

One message caught Chen Shi’s attention. It was from someone with the username “Silent Bamboo,” who wrote: “Who killed you? Can you appear in my dreams and tell me? I will make them pay dearly!”

Liu Qin explained, “That’s her brother, Ai Guowei.”

“Is he in Long’an City?”

“He lives out of town.”

“Dongxue, take note of that. We’ll check him out later.”

Ah Zhen’s status had indeed been changed, and since status updates sync with moments, it showed the modification time was around 9 PM last night. Chen Shi said, “Get someone from the information department to check the last login location.”

Ah Zhen’s personal journal was filled with many entries, but they were all too subtle and vague to reveal any specific events. It seemed she was always immersed in melancholy and worries. Chen Shi thought her mental health was poor and perhaps she should have seen a psychologist. However, her brother’s rough decision to send her to an unregulated treatment center had made her fearful of seeking professional help.

Liu Qin directed Chen Shi to look at entries from four years ago, when Ah Zhen was still in school. One entry caught Chen Shi’s attention: “…Rumors are spreading among my classmates. I haven’t done anything, but even he is starting to doubt me. How can he question me so blatantly? Does he see me as that kind of girl? I gave him my first time…”

Liu Qin said, “The rumors might have been spread by that guy Sun Jun, but I’m not sure.”

Chen Shi asked, “You were close to Ah Zhen. How come you don’t know?”

“Sun Jun wasn’t in our department. I think Ah Qiang heard the rumors first and then came to question her. We didn’t hear anything.”

Chen Shi said, “Let’s go find other classmates.”

Soon, someone from the information department arrived. They found that the last login location was indeed from Ah Zhen’s place, indicating that the person was very close to her.

Chen Shi had the officer check the computer logs and concluded that the computer had not been used the previous night.

Glancing at the blinking modem next to the computer, Chen Shi said, “The person might have logged into her QQ from outside the door using Wi-Fi. This means they were familiar with Ah Zhen and had been here before.”

Lin Dongxue said, “Ah Zhen was such an introverted girl; she probably wouldn’t have shared her password with anyone. Her brother seems the most likely suspect.”

“I don’t think so. QQ is very private. Would she share her password with her brother? But let’s check anyway.”

As they left, Chen Shi asked the officer to check the community’s surveillance from the previous night. The officer replied, “I’m from the information department!” Chen Shi said, “I’m a cab driver, please help out!” The officer reluctantly agreed.

At lunch, hosted by Liu Qin, Chen Shi asked, “Is it okay for you to skip work?”

Liu Qin said, “With this happening, work is the last thing on my mind. I took some annual leave. I’m really scared of being killed. Staying with you is the safest… I’m not afraid of dying, just the process of dying is terrifying!” He shivered.

Chen Shi joked, “Ever thought about the possibility of ghostly revenge?”

“Impossible. I’m not an atheist, but I don’t believe ghosts kill people.”

“Haha, if ghosts could take revenge themselves, police work would be much easier.”

Lin Dongxue asked, “Chen, are you an atheist?”

“Not exactly. I don’t follow a religion, but the universe is vast, and there are many mysteries. I believe there are forces beyond our understanding.”

“As a police officer, I hope such mysterious forces never appear in our cases.”

“Haha, I would love to encounter such a case in my lifetime, to challenge the impossible.”

“What a desire for invincibility! Are human cases no longer a challenge for you?”

Liu Qin suddenly asked, “Is this Officer Chen really good at solving cases?”

Chen Shi, unusually immodest, replied, “Ninety-nine percent solve rate.”

“Oh…” Liu Qin’s expression turned contemplative.

In the afternoon, they visited one of Ah Zhen’s roommates. The roommate greeted Liu Qin warmly, chatting for a long time before getting to the point. When the conversation turned to Ah Zhen, the roommate said, “I was shocked by her suicide. I always thought she was cheerful and easygoing. I had no idea she would kill herself over a breakup.”

Liu Qin said, “You didn’t understand Ah Zhen. She always acted gentle and harmless in front of others.”

“What? We spent four years together, and I’m still an outsider?” The roommate was a bit jealous.

Chen Shi interrupted, “Let’s not dwell on that. Did you know about the rumors circulating at school about her?”

“Hmm… I have a friend in the foreign languages department who said Ah Zhen was close to a teacher and that they had a relationship.”

“Was it Sun Jun spreading these rumors?”

“I don’t know if it was Sun Jun, but everyone in the foreign languages department was talking about it. Since Ah Qiang was in that department, I remember one night Ah Zhen argued with Ah Qiang on the phone. Ah Zhen cried all night but wouldn’t tell us what happened.”

Liu Qin suddenly realized, “I get it now. That’s why Ah Zhen looked unwell and was on medication. Later, Sun Jun called Ah Qiang a cuckold at the farewell party. Everything connects!”

Chen Shi pondered and said, “So, during the height of the rumors, Ah Zhen was pregnant. Ah Qiang took her for an abortion. Because of the rumors, Ah Qiang suspected the baby might not be his but the teacher’s, leading to their quarrel.”

The roommate was horrified, “Ah Zhen wasn’t that kind of person!”

“Rumors can ruin reputations, especially for those in love. Ah Qiang’s suspicion is understandable. The doubt from her boyfriend must have deeply hurt Ah Zhen, creating a rift that affected them both.”

After saying goodbye to the roommate, Lin Dongxue asked, “Should we find this teacher? He works in Long’an.”

Liu Qin said, “The rumor can’t be true! Sun Jun was a notorious liar.”

Chen Shi said, “The killer might not think so. Give the teacher a call and see if we can arrange a meeting.”

Liu Qin got the teacher’s number from a friend. Lin Dongxue called and, after the conversation, looked worried. “A local police officer answered. The teacher has been attacked!”