Chapter 667: Kindred Spirits

January 26th, Long’an City University of Science and Technology.

After class, Professor Zhuge called a student over. “Go check if that man is still waiting at the door.”

The student returned, confirming no one was there. Only then did Professor Zhuge feel relieved enough to leave the classroom.

Recently, a man claiming to be a police consultant had been pestering him with a thick stack of files. Despite being a top aerospace expert in the country, Professor Zhuge felt no obligation to help solve police cases, especially when he was swamped with year-end tasks, from setting exams to writing papers.

Carrying his textbooks, Professor Zhuge headed to the staff cafeteria, ordered his favorite dishes, and opened a bottle of his preferred liquor, savoring the meal. Just as he was about to enjoy his food, Chen Shi suddenly appeared in front of him. Startled, Professor Zhuge stood up with his tray, ready to leave, but Chen Shi grabbed his wrist.

“Professor, why do you keep avoiding me? Am I that scary?” Chen Shi asked.

“You’re not scary, you’re annoying! I’m very busy. Can you please stop bothering me?” Professor Zhuge said with a pained expression.

“This is a matter of life and death. Please look at this design plan,” Chen Shi pleaded.

“Life and death? Which police case isn’t about life and death? Should I drop everything just because of those words? I have exams to prepare and papers to write. Please, stop bothering me… Even if I had the time, it’s my choice whether to help or not. Now, leave and let me eat in peace!”

Despite his pleas, Chen Shi refused to relent. Professor Zhuge, having never encountered someone so persistently shameless, finally conceded and asked one of his graduate students to help. Only then did he manage to get rid of the “plague god.”

Chen Shi had sought expert validation because he noticed an inconsistency. Dong Xiao claimed to weigh 300 pounds, but his private doctor revealed that Dong Xiao had been “modest.” His latest check-up showed he weighed over 500 pounds.

The rocket’s payload capacity was about 300 kilograms. Chen Shi wondered if Dong Xiao’s body was even put inside. Even if it could carry the weight, could it physically fit? Or was part of him left on Earth?

The rocket’s launch had already removed direct evidence. Lin Qiupu had visited the observatory, but they couldn’t find a body among the vast stars. All they could investigate were the earthly aspects.

Clinging to this slim hope, Chen Shi continued to work hard. This case had become a mental burden for him, one he needed to solve to find peace.

Lin Dongxue was also making efforts. Over the past few days, she had met privately with Su Chan several times and learned more about her background. Su Chan was an orphan, adopted by a businessman. Due to her exceptional beauty, she had been kept at home by her adoptive father until she was eighteen, even receiving education from private tutors.

“One day, my adoptive father asked me to seduce a CEO to obtain stock information. All my education until then had been in music, etiquette, dance, and media relations. I had no idea how to do it. My adoptive father handed me a mirror and told me I possessed the most powerful weapon in the world,” Su Chan said, touching her face and smiling bitterly. “I successfully got the information but lost my virginity. That old man who took it from me soon went bankrupt under my adoptive father’s pressure, shouldering billions in debt. What’s a piece of virginity compared to that? My adoptive father praised me and rewarded me generously, but I couldn’t be happy. From that moment on, I became a tool, a weapon.”

This was their third meeting. Su Chan now considered Lin Dongxue a friend. They had many similarities: both were women and orphans. Su Chan envied Lin Dongxue for being able to live an ordinary life, to love and hate freely, without having to act all the time.

“If I help you get that corporate secret, will you provide evidence to convict Lü Qi?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Yes, that evidence will definitely put him away for life.”

“Do you have no feelings for Lü Qi at all?”

Su Chan sneered. “I know how to make men fall in love with me, but I’ve never loved anyone. Lü Qi is nothing. He’s just a naive, arrogant boy.”

“Listening to you, I almost feel jealous,” Lin Dongxue said with a smile.

“I could teach you. You have potential, you just don’t know how to use it.”

“I’ll pass,” Lin Dongxue replied.

Su Chan winked. “Tell your captain to arrange a search. Find that document and quietly give it to me. I’ll hand over the evidence against Lü Qi. But hurry!”

“By the way, since you’re still looking for that secret document, what was on the USB drive you found in Dong Xiao’s office?”

“Guess.”

“You won’t hand it over, so it still has value. Could it be evidence of Lü Qi’s past crimes collected by Dong Xiao?”

“Officer Lin, you’re very smart. The content is explosive. I hope you get to see it soon.”

With that, Su Chan left gracefully, attracting the attention of several men as she got into her car outside the café.

Although Lin Dongxue wanted to believe Su Chan, Lin Qiupu had a completely different attitude. He firmly stated, “We don’t make deals. How can you be sure she has the evidence? What if she’s playing you?”

“I believe her!”

“You believe her? Do you know what kind of woman she is? Lying and deceiving are second nature to her,” Lin Qiupu said, sounding very certain, which annoyed Lin Dongxue.

“It’s been so long with no progress. We’re going in circles. Why can’t we try a different approach? Is principle more important than solving the case?” Lin Dongxue argued.

Lin Qiupu had heard something similar recently. He said, “I think you’ve been influenced by someone. Principles are above all. I’d rather die than use illegal means to solve a case!”

“How is this illegal?”

“You’re helping a corporate spy steal information. Understand?”

“I have other plans. Once Lü Qi’s case is over, we’ll investigate Su Chan and her backers. Tolerating her for now might be worth it.”

She thought, Su Chan’s adoptive father didn’t seem like a good person either. This way, Su Chan wouldn’t have to do such things anymore. It could be a win-win situation.

But Lin Qiupu insisted, “We don’t make deals with criminals, any criminals, period!”

A potential shortcut to solving the case was easily dismissed, leaving Lin Dongxue fuming.

Meanwhile, Chen Shi had made some progress. Professor Zhuge’s graduate students discussed it and concluded that the private rocket couldn’t carry a 500-pound payload. A body that heavy would destabilize the rocket and cause it to crash. They repeatedly watched the launch video and analyzed the data, coming to a bold hypothesis: the rocket might have been empty.

This meant Dong Xiao’s body was likely still hidden somewhere on Earth!