Chapter 31
Hospital

Two cars left the Marriott Hotel one after the other.

Chai Yu observed the army-green City Hunter through the rearview mirror, “Old Tan, don’t you think the two sisters from the Xie family are very mysterious?”

Tan Yi gave him a deep look.

Chai Yu was dissatisfied, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Tan Yi said, “You finally got smart for once.”

“What do you mean by that?” Chai Yu playfully punched him twice, “Am I that dumb?”

Tan Yi remained unmoved, “Not only that, but the two sisters are also wary of each other. The clothes for the Xie family father and son were obviously sent by Xie Qing, but Xie Yun cleverly used the occasion when we were all present to suppress Xie Qing and achieve her goal. The call Xie Qing just received was from Xie Chen, and Xie Yun gave Xie Qing two choices. Xie Qing didn’t choose the buyout; she chose to share the profits.”

“Wow, wow, wow!” Chai Yu lost his composure, “Really? Do you have X-ray vision? Can you tell who sent the clothes just by looking?”

Tan Yi said, “I didn’t look at the clothes. I observed the expressions of the three Xie siblings. Xie Qing’s surprise, Xie Yun’s nervousness, and Xie Chen’s momentary shock were all clear and obvious.”

Chai Yu breathed a sigh of relief, “This is your specialty, I believe you. Alright, I understand what you mean, I give up.”

He took out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer, lit one, and held it in his hand, “Actually, when Xie Qing mentioned ‘backup,’ I decided to give up. I never thought that someone with our background could also encounter a setback in Anhai.”

Tan Yi said, “Stop being so shameless. Gu Ling is richer, taller, and more handsome than you. What do you have? The Xie family are business people, not in the same league as us. Don’t be fooled by your title of Secretary Chai.”

“Fine, I can’t argue with you. Isn’t it enough that I won’t pursue her anymore?” Chai Yu took a couple of puffs and suddenly remembered something else, “By the way, you gave Xie Qing a leather bag. Does that mean you like her?”

The car suddenly fell silent for a moment.

Chai Yu laughed, “I guessed right.”

Tan Yi said, “I just didn’t expect you to bring up this question again. What’s wrong with you lately? Are you in heat?”

“Get lost!” Chai Yu gestured with the cigarette butt on Tan Yi’s suit and then pressed it into the ashtray, “I just feel that you treat her very specially.”

Tan Yi said, “She’s a smart young woman, I respect her, that’s all.”

Chai Yu laughed again, “I want to argue, but I don’t know where to start, so you’re right.” He slapped his thigh, “So, my taste isn’t bad, it’s just that she doesn’t care for me.”

Tan Yi said earnestly, “One shouldn’t be too picky, Secretary Chai.”

The uncles and aunts in the government had introduced many potential matches to Chai Yu, but he didn’t like any of them.

Chai Yu nodded, “I understand, my family has already made arrangements, but I wanted to handle it myself.”

Tan Yi said, “What you find yourself may not be better, and what your family arranges may not be worse.”

Chai Yu said, “Preaching again, middle-aged greasy warning, haha…”

Tan Yi ignored him.

Chai Yu laughed dryly twice and then stopped, “Gu Ling wasn’t there, do you think Guan Yangzhi saw it?”

Tan Yi said, “Do you think I have three heads and six arms?”

Chai Yu was silent for a moment, “Although Xie Yun’s methods are not decent, she did give money and acted decisively. One banquet, two sets of clothes, enough to boost her small company’s reputation.”

“With such thick skin and such means, Guan Yangzhi would admire her, not fear her. I can only say, birds of a feather flock together.”

Tan Yi said, “You can be taught.”

Chai Yu got anxious, “Get lost, get lost, get lost…”

…

The Santana stopped in front of a small villa.

Tan Yi opened the door, changed his shoes and coat, washed up, and went into the study. His study had a modern heavy industrial style. In the nearly twenty-square-meter room, there was only a desk, a corner cabinet, and a 1.5-meter-long double-sided blackboard.

The walls and ceiling were smooth cement surfaces. The east wall was covered with neatly cut newspapers, large personnel files, case records, and chalk-written case analysis. The west wall clearly marked the Shen Yi case. Below are related paper media reports, Shen Moyan’s resume, Mao Jiayi’s life, and neighbors’ descriptions of Mao Jiayi’s accomplices.

He first methodically reread the information on the east wall, then looked at the west wall. Afterward, he sat in the chair, lit a cigarette, and played with the already blackened Saqing doll on the desk.

The Saqing doll in the style of an island country—an identical doll had appeared at the scene of his brother’s murder, just as clean and spotless.

The killer knew he was looking for them.

So, they were using this to show off.

They knew he was coming to Anhai and knew when he would report.

So, did they have many informants, or were they good at managing?

Now that he had settled in Anhai, would they stay or leave?

If they left, where did they go? If they stayed, where were they hiding?

This case involved drugs and the children of officials, and the provincial department attached great importance to it. Suspicious persons were being investigated everywhere, but no clues had been found as if they had vanished into thin air.

Tan Yi thought they must have scattered, living in small groups.

If he were the opponent, thinking from their perspective—even if they left Anhai, they would stay in nearby cities and counties.

Only in this way could they keep track of his movements, provoke his sensitive nerves, and find an opportunity to kill him once and for all.

Tan Yi leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on the name Shen Moyan.

They didn’t kill Shen Yi for no reason; there must have been other motives, so Shen Moyan’s background and past must have been investigated further.

Xie Chen was driving, and Xie Yun was sitting in the passenger seat. The soothing nocturne was playing softly, but it couldn’t dissolve the psychological barrier that had already formed.

Xie Yun asked, “Brother, are you angry?”

Xie Chen didn’t respond.

Xie Yun continued, “I know I shouldn’t have taken Qing Qing’s designs without her permission, but I had no choice. Today was the best opportunity to make a name for my company, and I had to use whatever I could.”

Xie Chen said, “I don’t understand why you’re in such a hurry. Isn’t the money and love from our parents enough for you?”

Xie Yun’s face turned red. Their parents did give her money, but she didn’t want to become a pawn in a marriage alliance, nor did she want to rely on her looks and figure for the rest of her life—a dancer sounds nice, but do some men really understand art?

Although Xie Qing was just a small forensic doctor, she earned recognition from her leaders and brothers through her knowledge and work. This kind of recognition was something Xie Yun also desperately wanted. But she couldn’t say that. Growing up with her parents, she almost always got what she wanted. If she said it, it would almost be equivalent to greed.

She turned off the tape recorder and said seriously, “Brother, I was wrong. I won’t shortchange Qing Qing’s share.”

Xie Chen said, “That’s for the best. Yun Yun, don’t think you’re the only smart one, understand?”

Xie Yun was taken aback, “Brother, did someone say something to you?”

Xie Chen said, “Let’s not talk about Chai Yu. Who is Tan Yi? A 28-year-old captain of the criminal investigation team, not someone who climbed up through family connections. I’m not trying to scare you, but if he couldn’t see through it, I’d write my name backward.”

Xie Yun rubbed her hand on her thigh, “Brother, did they notice something, so they left early?”

Xie Chen said, “Not necessarily. They just don’t value the connections in Anhai that much.”

“Oh…” Xie Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Chen gave her a stern look, “If you like Gu Ling, then be sincere with him. Guan Yangzhi is not a good person, you should avoid him.”

Xie Yun said, “Brother, he’s the one who keeps approaching me. What can I do? Why don’t you help me deal with him?”

“This…” Xie Chen was a bit troubled, “Did he say anything to you?”

Xie Yun said, “He asked me out for a meal once but didn’t say much during it.”

Xie Chen was helpless, “Then why did you agree?”

Xie Yun said, “Brother, his family is in real estate. I wanted to see the house types. If I can get a lower price for two houses in the future, it’s better than paying a high price.”

“Foolish!” Xie Chen was angry, “Do you not understand why he would give you a lower price?”

Xie Yun started to cry, “Brother, I was wrong. I thought that since our family runs an advertising company and his family has a brewery and real estate, we could benefit from each other. I didn’t think of this.”

Xie Chen couldn’t stand seeing girls cry, so he patiently said, “Sister, there are generally three reasons why a man would sacrifice his interests to help a woman. One, he’s a close relative and has no choice; two, he’s doing charity for a good reputation; three, he sees some benefit. Besides yourself, what else do you have that he might want? If he wanted mutual benefits, wouldn’t he come to me or our dad? Be more mindful.”

Xie Yun nodded, “Brother, I understand.”

…

Xie Yun’s thick skin didn’t affect Xie Qing much. At the police station, she dealt with conspiracy, ugliness, and violence every day. As a forensic doctor, she had become indifferent to life and death and had seen through human nature.

Everyone has a scale in their heart. When it comes to interests, people will weigh the pros and cons.

The more shrewd Xie Yun was, the more wary Xie Chen became of her.

She firmly believed in a saying from a certain social media platform: Adults should make choices about their circles and friends rather than trying to educate others to become part of their circles and friends.

Xie Yun was not part of her circle. She didn’t need to educate her, nor did she need to make everyone uncomfortable in that situation.

Besides, the suit design was copied. If Xie Yun hadn’t made a fuss, she wouldn’t have thought about selling the copyright and sharing the profits.

Whether she was a pushover or not, she still got the benefits.

Once the money comes in, she plans to buy two houses in Beijing, making her life as a forensic doctor even more comfortable. She didn’t think about anything else, returned to her dormitory, took a shower, removed her makeup, and went to sleep peacefully.

Until the phone rang in the middle of the night, waking her from her dream of being a landlady.

“Hello?”

“Xiao Xie, it’s me. There’s been a murder on the fifth floor of the city hospital’s inpatient department. The police car is waiting for you at the gate.”

“Li Ji?”

“Yes, I’m at the hospital taking care of my grandfather. I’m the one who reported it.”

“Okay, I’ll be right down.”

…

Five or six minutes later, Xie Qing got into the police car, where Li Ke and a few forensic personnel were already present.

Li Ke asked, “Qing Qing, do you know what’s going on?”

Xie Qing put down her investigation kit, “I only know that Li Ji reported the case.”

Li Ke was puzzled, “Didn’t he go home last night?”

Xie Qing said, “His grandfather might have a chronic illness and is often hospitalized.”

Li Ke nodded.

The road was empty at four in the morning, and the police car sped all the way to the city hospital, arriving in about ten minutes.

The group took the elevator to the fifth floor. As soon as the door opened, a panicked security guard greeted them, “Please follow me.”

The crime scene was in room 524.

Li Ji was standing outside the door. He said, “Captain Tan is still on the way. He told us to follow the normal procedures.”