Chapter 85: Scene Reconstruction

Chen Shi said he wanted Lin Dongxue to try something new, so he took her to a roadside stand selling kebabs. Despite the cold weather, there were still plenty of customers.

After placing their order, Chen Shi opened two bottles of soda and said, “You look down. Is it another tough case?”

“Sigh, things aren’t progressing well.”

“Tell me about it.”

Lin Dongxue recounted the case, and Chen Shi nodded as he listened. When she finished, she asked, “So, Detective Chen, what’s your insight?”

“Without seeing it firsthand, my perspective might be skewed.”

“Hmph! So, you’re stuck too?”

Chen Shi chuckled, “Here come the kebabs.”

The owner brought over their kebabs: grilled lamb, crunchy cartilage, fish tofu, and eggplant. But there was something Lin Dongxue had never seen before. She picked it up and looked at it in shock. “What’s this?”

“Grilled silkworm pupae. They’re the best in Long’an. Try one.”

“Insects?” Lin Dongxue shivered.

Chen Shi grabbed one and popped it into his mouth. “Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and it bursts with juice! Try it!”

Lin Dongxue politely declined and set it down.

She said, “Don’t you think Jiang Mei’s parents are too much?”

“Not really.”

“Are you that cynical too?”

“Marriages with huge economic disparities rarely lead to real happiness. Love seems noble and sacred, but it also has a material foundation. While material wealth isn’t everything, you can’t do without it. Parents just want their daughter to be happy. Your parents would think the same.”

“I don’t have parents…” Lin Dongxue said sadly.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine… But I still think being with someone you don’t love can’t make you happy.”

“True. I believe perceptive parents look at a person’s potential, their ambition. But those things are intangible, unlike material wealth, which is visible and tangible. That’s why most parents are practical. They see that feelings can develop but fail to see that material wealth can change too.”

Chen Shi reached for the last skewer of pupae, but Lin Dongxue grabbed it first. She bit into one with a grimace. Despite the odd texture, the seasoning and grilling made it surprisingly palatable.

Waving the skewer, she said, “Interfering in someone’s love life is wrong. Even if Jiang Mei regrets it later, it’s her own business.”

Chen Shi laughed. “You’re right. Chinese parents often treat their children as private property, interfering as they see fit. That’s the root of many family tragedies… By the way, I own a car and a house.”

Lin Dongxue made a face. “As if I’d consider you… You have a car, but what about the house?”

“Want to see it?”

“Sure!”

After eating, Chen Shi drove Lin Dongxue to his place. He unlocked the door, and instead of the messy bachelor pad she expected, the apartment was surprisingly tidy.

The place was larger than she had imagined and modestly furnished. Chen Shi said, “A bachelor’s home, cold and empty.”

“You actually have such a big place?” Lin Dongxue was surprised.

“What’s so strange about that? Want some tea?”

“No, water’s fine.”

While Chen Shi fetched water, Lin Dongxue peeked into the bedroom. It was the most telling part of a person’s lifestyle. Chen Shi’s bedroom had only a bed, a cabinet, and a desk with a computer and some crime books.

Opening the closet, she found neatly arranged clothes, suggesting he had ordinary living habits.

As she closed the closet door, Chen Shi appeared with a teacup, startling her. He laughed, “Enjoying your snooping?”

“Occupational habit.”

“‘The homeowner is a single middle-aged man with regular habits and no bad habits.’ If I were killed, the police would likely conclude that.”

“Don’t say such things! You’re so superstitious.”

Back in the living room, which lacked a TV and felt a bit cold, Lin Dongxue asked, “Do you have any ideas about the case?”

“Lovers’ suicide is key. Even if it was a spur-of-the-moment murder, why arrange the bodies as if it were a lovers’ suicide? The killer knew this wouldn’t fool the police, so why do it?”

Lin Dongxue chewed her nail, unable to figure it out.

“Also, your theory seems reasonable, but have you tested it?”

“Test it? How?”

“By reconstructing the crime scene.”

“Let’s try…” Lin Dongxue blushed. “But we need three people.”

“No worries, you can play both the victim and the killer.”

Lin Dongxue hesitated, but thinking it was for the case, she stood up. “Where do we start?”

Chen Shi pushed the coffee table aside and pointed to the space between the table and sofa. “Let’s say this is the cave. When the two entered, no one else was present.”

Lin Dongxue nodded.

Chen Shi extended his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Dongxue took it. They moved into the “cave,” feeling awkward but Chen Shi remained serious.

“Dear, your parents won’t let us be together. It seems this is the only way.”

Lin Dongxue thought for a moment and said, “I hope we can be together in the next life.”

Chen Shi mimed pulling something out and looked at her. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Chen Shi returned to his normal demeanor. “How do you think Cheng Chao administered the injection?”

“The needle mark was on Jiang Mei’s back, so he must have… hugged her to do it?”

“Do you mind?” Chen Shi asked.

Understanding his meaning, Lin Dongxue blushed but shook her head.

Chen Shi embraced her. The sensation of being held made Lin Dongxue’s heart race. She hadn’t been held like this in a long time, and Chen Shi’s embrace felt reassuring.

She wasn’t sure if she was Lin Dongxue or Jiang Mei anymore. It felt like they were a pair of tragic lovers. As Chen Shi mimed the injection on her back, a wave of sadness overwhelmed her.

Driven by this emotion, she lifted her head and kissed Chen Shi on the cheek.

Chen Shi was taken aback. Lin Dongxue quickly pulled away, stammering, “I… didn’t mean to…”

“Exactly, a kiss!”

“What?” Lin Dongxue thought she’d misheard. “You want to…?”

“I mean, if they were committing suicide together, they’d likely kiss in their final moments, right?”

Lin Dongxue’s scattered thoughts returned to the case. Following Chen Shi’s logic, she said, “If they kissed, there’d be DNA in the victim’s mouth. But how does that help the case?”

“Not necessarily!”