Chapter 674: The Shocking Transformation

Chen Shi used his phone’s flashlight. Kneeling with a bloody knife was Chang Juan, covered head to toe in blood, with an indescribable expression of bewilderment, as if awakened from a dream.

On the ground lay a man, soaked in blood. 22 gasped and stepped back, exclaiming, “That’s my ex-husband!”

“Chang Juan, put down the weapon!” Lin Dongxue commanded.

Chang Juan didn’t move, as if she didn’t hear. 22 repeated, “Put down the weapon.”

With a clatter, Chang Juan finally dropped the knife.

Lin Dongxue cautiously approached, handcuffed Chang Juan, who did not resist, and led her outside. Ai Ying, seeing this, covered his mouth and cried, repeatedly asking why, but no one could answer him.

Chen Shi surveyed the scene. The windows were sealed with tape, the room was filled with old furniture, and an old carpet covered the floor, now stained red with blood where 39 lay.

He walked to the window and peered out. In the darkness, he vaguely saw something moving.

Chen Shi quickly called Ai Ying to follow and chased in that direction, but found nothing. He looked around and suddenly told Ai Ying, “Don’t move!”

There was a fresh footprint in the mud near Ai Ying’s foot. Chen Shi carefully took a photo of it.

Lin Dongxue called the town police. Given the late hour, it took nearly an hour for them to arrive, and Peng Siqiao wouldn’t be able to come until the next day. Lin Dongxue felt overwhelmed by the inconvenience, knowing they couldn’t guard the large, empty place all night. They could only seal the entrance with police tape as a warning.

Chang Juan’s bloodstained clothes and the knife were taken as evidence. She was brought to the interrogation room but remained silent during questioning. Chen Shi had to bring in 22 to relay every question.

“Chang Juan, did you kill 39?” 22 asked.

“As you saw,” Chang Juan replied calmly.

“We need your answer. Did you kill him?” Chen Shi insisted.

When 22 relayed the question, Chang Juan said, “No comment.”

“Chang Juan, do you understand what your silence means? You could be charged with murder and spend your life in prison. Your life would be ruined,” 22 said earnestly. “Listen to me, cooperate with the police!”

Staring at 22 for a long time, Chang Juan finally replied, “Since my parents were murdered, I vowed never to make any choices about my life again. I let things happen as they will.”

Chen Shi sensed the case was more complex. The footprint at the scene didn’t match either Chang Juan’s or 39’s. He asked, “Did someone else order you to stage this for us?”

“No comment.”

Chang Juan wouldn’t reveal anything, leaving Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue frustrated. She was detained, and as she was taken away, 22 urged her to rest and reassured her that the shareholders would help. Chang Juan silently nodded.

It was clear 22 genuinely cared for Chang Juan, despite the fact her ex-husband had been murdered.

Chen Shi and 22 had a conversation afterward. Her real name was Shu Shifang, a high-ranking executive at a design company. 39’s real name was Ma Xiang. Shu Shifang explained that Ma Xiang had no proper job; he had made money from stocks and real estate and now lived off his investments, making his main “career” being Chang Juan’s shareholder.

Chen Shi asked, “How did Ma Xiang know the details of this case?”

“I asked him privately. He said he deduced it, but was afraid of being wrong, so he relayed it through Chang Juan.”

“In reality, his details were very accurate and matched the facts. This case was never made public, so he couldn’t have deduced it from any available information.”

“Looks like he lied to me,” Shu Shifang said indifferently.

“What did Ma Xiang do before?”

“His past is mysterious. When we met, he claimed to be a rich second generation, saying his father owned a coal mine. He was always extravagant when we went out. I was young and fell for this ‘rich kid’… Later, I found out he lied. His parents were just ordinary workers. But he did have a lot of money in his account. When I asked, he said he made it from real estate. I asked where he got the initial capital, and he said nothing.”

Shu Shifang continued, “Even I suspect he did something illegal. He’s very short-tempered and can’t take any criticism. We fought constantly after marriage, driving me crazy! He often went on unexplained trips. I suspected he had an affair…

“Then he bought shares in Chang Juan’s life. He was obsessed, like those men who follow internet celebrities. It drove me mad. He didn’t care about me but fixated on another girl. I was furious, so I bought shares too, to see what this ‘little vixen’ was doing to seduce him.

“But I discovered something different. Chang Juan was a peculiar girl, like a living doll, her life controlled by others. It fascinated me and stirred my maternal instincts! Our fights turned into battles for control over Chang Juan. He wanted one thing, I wanted another. We fought in the group over every little thing. It seemed we were just incompatible in everything. Once he used the shareholder meeting to arrange a private date with Chang Juan, I intervened. Not out of jealousy, but concern for Chang Juan. She was like a daughter to me, more important than that bastard. She became my emotional support.”

“Fascinating,” Lin Dongxue said, engrossed.

“Have you ever played a nurturing game? Deciding Chang Juan’s life was like that. I may look like a middle-aged woman, but I have a young girl’s heart,” Shu Shifang smiled.

Chen Shi redirected the conversation. “Did Ma Xiang have any special friends?”

“He had almost no friends, just stayed home all the time. Oh, he had one old classmate who visited once. That was rare for him.”

“Did that person have an injured right thumb?”

“Why are you asking that? Didn’t you notice? Ma Xiang himself had a thumb injury. His right thumb was a transplant.”