The next morning, in the meeting room of the Major Crimes Unit, all the documents were prepared and laid out in front of Lu Junchi.

Forensic autopsy reports, detailed records from the forensic team, and crime scene investigation reports were all presented.

Qiao Ze voluntarily reported, his curly hair bouncing as he continuously pressed down on a strand of unruly hair.

“We conducted investigations based on the recent list of missing young males, and we have now confirmed the identity of the second victim found in the barrel…”

As he spoke, Qiao Ze revealed the victim’s identification and information on the projection screen.

“The victim’s name is Guo Chengfeng, a native of Huadu. He was unmarried and 38 years old, running a well-reputed private restaurant called Guo’s Homestyle Cuisine. The restaurant had a thriving business. His sister reported his disappearance a month ago.”

The photo showed a slightly chubby man with a ruddy face, looking honest and simple, making it difficult to connect him with the charred yellow corpse from yesterday.

“I checked review websites and gathered information from Baidu. Guo Chengfeng used to work in a five-star hotel, specializing in Huaiyang cuisine. Later, he studied Western cuisine and started creating innovative fusion dishes combining Chinese and Western elements. His dishes have received awards at some food festivals, and he gained quite a reputation. Guo’s Homestyle Restaurant requires reservations and only serves regular customers, and it has a great reputation. The restaurant has earned a considerable amount of money in recent years.”

“What about the identity of the first victim? Did you find any relevant information?” Lu Junchi asked.

“We haven’t found the identity of the first victim yet. However, during yesterday’s examination at the crime scene, we made a discovery…” Qiao Ze pressed a button on the projection, showing several fingerprint comparisons with red crosses indicating matches. “These are several clear fingerprints extracted from the iron barrel where the first victim was found. They perfectly match Guo Chengfeng’s fingerprints.”

In other words, the fingerprints of the second victim, who died a month later, appeared on the abandoned barrel of the first victim who died two months ago.

Qiao Ze provided further explanation, “Some of these fingerprints were found on the body of the barrel, while others were on the upper part. I believe they were caused during the process of moving the iron barrel. And Guo Chengfeng is strong enough to fit the first victim inside.”

Qu Ming frowned, trying to piece together these clues in his mind. “Is it possible that the first victim was killed and disposed of by the second victim?” He paused and continued, “Then who killed the second victim? Did someone seek revenge for the first victim? Or is there another reason? What about the woman who disposed of the bodies?”

Professor Su lowered his head, silently looking at the printed information of Guo Chengfeng.

The current clues were still insufficient to answer these questions.

“Confirming the identity of one victim is a significant breakthrough, and there is finally a connection between these two iron barrels. It’s a big step forward,” Lu Junchi organized his thoughts and said, “Let’s call in Guo Chengfeng’s sister to gather more information. Qiao Ze, get a search warrant ready. Professor Su, let’s go together and lead the team to visit the restaurant. The rest of you continue investigating the identity of the first victim and look into Guo Chengfeng’s social connections. We’ll stay in touch.”

Qiao Ze agreed, and Lu Junchi added, “By the way, is Guo Chengfeng’s private restaurant still open or closed?”

Qiao Ze paused for a moment and replied, “It seems to be open, with his sister managing it.”

Lu Junchi’s gaze returned to the autopsy report of the first victim. “According to the examination, there were traces of peanuts, diced radishes, wood ear mushrooms, and pickled snails clearly visible in the victim’s stomach. It looks like an appetizer. If the killer is Guo Chengfeng, then the private restaurant might be the crime scene.”

He raised his head and said, “Xia Mingxi, apply for a search warrant. Qiao Ze, Professor Su, let’s go and take a look. The others can continue investigating the identity of the first victim and check Guo Chengfeng’s social connections. We’ll stay in touch.”

Guo’s Homestyle Restaurant is not very far, located in a lane in the south of Huadu City. The entire restaurant was transformed from an old house, exuding an antique charm but decorated in a Western style. The protruding eaves could be seen from afar.

In addition to Su Hui and Qiao Ze, Lu Junchi brought along several assistant police officers and forensic experts.

After Guo Chengfeng went missing, his two apprentices became the main chefs of the private kitchen. There were not many people in the restaurant, with only a few kitchen helpers and waiters.

Guo Chengfeng’s sister, Guo Jinqiu, had temporarily suspended customer service. When she saw the police team approaching, she came out to greet them, checked their search warrant, and allowed them to enter.

Guo Jinqiu, twenty-eight years old, was not tall and had a slender figure. She carried herself with grace and elegance, her hair neatly styled. She wore a dark blue embroidered cheongsam and led them into the front hall.

The restaurant had a transparent layout, with the front and back courtyards connected. Through the intricately carved window frames, large transparent glass windows revealed the scenery outside at a glance.

The front hall had about four tables, while the other rooms were scattered, providing options for guests. The private rooms on the top floor, as well as the pavilion in the backyard and next to the bamboo grove, were also available for dining.

The forensic experts began their work in the front hall and back courtyard, while Lu Junchi questioned Guo Jinqiu, with Qiao Ze recording the conversation.

Su Hui did not sit down. He noticed the unique scenery of the private kitchen and saw a large hazy green area in the backyard. He followed the forensic experts and walked deeper. However, his cane hit empty space, unable to find the path…

Lu Junchi and Guo Jinqiu were engaged in conversation when they noticed Su Hui’s thin figure walking towards the back. Lu Junchi called out from a distance, “Professor Su, be careful, there’s a lake over there.”

Su Hui stopped and squatted down. It was only then that he saw a small artificial lake beneath his feet, its water shimmering green, seamlessly blending with the grass.

There were fish in the pond, evidently used to being fed. Upon seeing people, some koi fish swam over, their mouths opening and closing in the water.

Seeing that Su Hui didn’t continue forward, Lu Junchi sighed in relief and turned to ask Guo Jinqiu, “Regarding your brother’s disappearance, did you report it?”

Guo Jinqiu nodded and said, “Yes, have you found him?”

Lu Junchi replied, “Miss Guo, we have discovered Mr. Guo’s body. Currently, the forensic team is conducting examinations. You will be notified to come to the police station for identification…”

Tears welled up in Guo Jinqiu’s eyes as she wiped them with a tissue. “I’m sorry… Although I had a feeling in my heart, hearing this news still…”

Lu Junchi nodded in understanding. “It’s alright. Please accept our condolences.”

After Guo Jinqiu cried for a few minutes and stabilized her emotions, Lu Junchi continued, “I would like to ask if your brother had any conflicts with anyone before his passing?”

“Conflicts? No… My brother was an honest and straightforward person. He never had any arguments with others…” Guo Jinqiu wiped away her tears.

The hidden bloodstains in the courtyard made everyone tense.

Upon hearing the words of the forensic team, Guo Jinqiu’s face visibly turned pale.

Following the case, Lu Junchi asked again, “Two months ago, did Guo Chengfeng have a fierce conflict with someone here?”

Guo Jinqiu lowered her head and recalled for a moment before tremblingly saying, “There was one night when my brother said he had a guest to entertain and didn’t ask us to work.”

“Who was the other party?” Lu Junchi continued to inquire.

“I’m not sure, I wasn’t here that day…” After uttering these words, she lowered her head again.

Lu Junchi assessed her statement and felt that she was lying. He turned his head to look at Su Hui, who had finally left the artificial lake and was using his cane to explore the path towards the rockery.

After a while, the forensic team reported again, “Captain Lu, we found some shards of glass in the courtyard.”

The courtyard had many rockeries, and the ground was covered in pebbles that were difficult to clean. Even after a long time had passed since the fight, there were still many traces left behind.

Lu Junchi asked, “Are they fragments of glasses?”

“No, the thickness is different.” He Wei carefully examined the shattered glass and said, “It looks like a camera lens.”

Guo Jinqiu’s pale complexion turned even bluer. She continued to feign composure and casually said, “It’s probably because a guest in the courtyard accidentally dropped and broke the lens while taking photos. We have a beautiful scenery here, and it’s common for guests to sit in the courtyard and have meals while taking wedding photos…”

As she spoke, her fingers anxiously twisted her clothes.

“Captain Lu! We found a piece of glass stained with blood! It was hidden under a rock in the rockery and hasn’t been contaminated by rainwater.” He Wei was delighted with the new discovery.

Guo Jinqiu’s lies were continuously exposed, and she could barely hold herself together. “Maybe someone scratched their hand and accidentally dropped it there,” she said.

Lu Junchi said, “We can determine whose blood it is through testing.” Then he looked at Guo Jinqiu. “Miss Guo, I think it’s best for us to save time.”

At the same time, he was trying to assess whether the woman in front of him could be the person who disposed of the body. In previous cases, it was not uncommon for someone to kill a family member and then report them missing.

In the end, Lu Junchi concluded that it was unlikely to be Guo Jinqiu. She was too frail and didn’t match the height requirement. With her physical strength, she wouldn’t have been able to cooperate with someone to place the tall and strong Guo Chengfeng in that oil drum.

However, this woman in front of him must know something.

Guo Jinqiu sobbed for a while, wiped the tears from her face with a tissue, and finally forced out a sentence, “My brother had a slight conflict with a photography client. They had a scuffle, and the camera was dropped and shattered. I wasn’t present at the scene that day. It was my brother who told me about it afterwards…”

Guo Jinqiu was not good at lying, and the more she emphasized that she wasn’t present, the more Lu Junchi confirmed that she was there.

In a deep voice, Lu Junchi said, “Your brother didn’t let any other staff members come that day. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was premeditated.

 The photographer came with a camera, probably using some pretext for a photoshoot. The victim ate some small dishes, indicating that your brother had a conversation with him beforehand. The photographer’s camera shattered in the courtyard because someone had murderous intentions. Naturally, he couldn’t leave behind his camera while trying to escape. They had a fight in the courtyard, which is why there are fragments of the camera lens and bloodstains there…”

Speaking of this, Lu Junchi narrowed his eyes and looked at Guo Jinqiu. He said, “Miss Guo, we have discovered the body of a victim who was stabbed 27 times. We suspect it is related to your restaurant. I understand that you want to keep it a secret and not affect the business of the restaurant, but withholding information hinders the police investigation. You will also have to go to court. Are you still unwilling to tell the truth?”

Upon hearing Lu Junchi’s words, Guo Jinqiu’s tears fell even faster. Her shoulders trembled, and she cried harder than when she heard about Guo Chengfeng’s death.

Lu Junchi locked his gaze on Guo Jinqiu and continued to question, “We conducted some investigations before coming here. Your brother had a good social circle and no financial disputes. What exactly happened between him and the photographer? Why did he stab the photographer 27 times?”

This case didn’t seem like a revenge killing or a murder for money. Lu Junchi deduced that it was most likely a crime of passion.

Upon hearing this, Guo Jinqiu’s face turned green, and she cursed fiercely, “It’s all because of that woman!”

Lu Junchi saw that she finally spoke up and pointed to a nearby table and chairs, saying, “Miss Guo, please have a seat. We need you to tell us everything you know.”

In the courtyard, Su Hui finished his round but couldn’t see much. He turned his head in the direction of the conversation and made his way towards the central courtyard. Just as he entered, Guo Jinqiu began to describe what she knew.

Guo Jinqiu composed herself and said, “Six months ago, my brother met a very attractive woman by chance. She wanted to learn some dishes from my brother. As a chef, the cooking techniques and secret recipes are not passed on to others, and many of the ingredients are only known by my brother and me. I thought that woman would be turned away, but I don’t know what method she used to convince my brother. He actually agreed to teach her.”

Qiao Ze, who was recording everything, asked, “What’s the woman’s name?”

Guo Jinqiu, with red eyes, said, “Her name is Chen Shanshan.”

She continued, “After that, the woman started coming here often to learn cooking from my brother. Sometimes she even helped in the private kitchen. My brother taught her sincerely and shared many of his skills with her. Later, I don’t know what happened, but their relationship grew closer. My brother even asked me if it would be good if she became my sister-in-law. At that time, I thought that my brother was already in his thirties and hadn’t found a partner. If he could find a woman to spend his life with and help us run the private kitchen, it would be a good thing. So, I bought a gift for her and tried to build a good relationship with her…”

At this point, Guo Jinqiu clenched her teeth tightly and continued, “But who would have known that woman was promiscuous. She introduced a photographer named Wu to my brother for a photoshoot, but it turned out that she had an ambiguous relationship with that man too.”

Qiao Ze reminded her, “What’s the man’s name?”

“He is called Wu Chenguang.”

Qiao Ze quickly recorded the name, which was likely that of the first victim.

Guo Jinqiu wiped her tears and said, “My brother found out later. He genuinely wanted to marry that woman. He never expected to be betrayed like that… Any man would have a hard time tolerating such a thing.”

“On that night, my brother intended to confront both Chen Shanshan and Wu in the restaurant. He didn’t let the other staff come, only me, to cook and serve in the kitchen. I could hear them arguing up front. When I went out, I saw Wu lying on the ground, covered in blood… It was the first time I encountered a dead body. The corpse fell behind the artificial rock in the courtyard and stained a large area with blood. I was terrified.”

As Guo Jinqiu recalled that scene, she still felt scared. Her expression became frightened, and she covered her face with her hand.

It sounded like Guo Chengfeng committed the murder and disposed of the body. Lu Junchi furrowed his brows and asked, “Was Chen Shanshan present at the crime scene? What did she do?”

Guo Jinqiu sobbed, “She was standing there the whole time, crying. My brother later said it had nothing to do with her and that she wouldn’t report it, so he let her go.”

“What about the things at the crime scene, like the murder weapon and the camera?”

Guo Jinqiu shook her head and said, “I don’t know. My brother took care of the murder weapon and the body. I only helped clean the rooms and the courtyard.” She paused for a moment and added, “That camera was probably taken by that woman.”

Guo Jinqiu wiped her tears and said, “To be honest, I never thought that my honest brother would commit murder. I never imagined that after that incident, he would still protect that woman. She’s just a cheater, playing with multiple men. I also didn’t expect that my brother didn’t sever ties with that woman after what happened… In the end, he went missing too…”

Lu Junchi asked her, “Why didn’t you report it to the police?”

When asked this question, tears streamed down Guo Jinqiu’s cheeks. She said, “My parents died early, and my brother has been supporting our family. He supported me through school and raised me… I couldn’t bring myself to report him… Besides, I was too scared at the time… I kept urging him to surrender, but my brother said he would surrender only if he could teach me and the two apprentices the secret recipes. I thought about it and found it reasonable, so I hesitated for a moment. But I never expected that my brother would go out one day and never come back… I suspect that my brother was killed by that woman and her other lovers…”

“Which private room did the incident occur in?” asked Lu Junchi.

“It happened in the small hall with the best view in the west. Later, I helped clean it with bleach. My brother gave the staff two days off and turned the sand in the courtyard upside down.”

But there’s always a loophole, and no matter how well a place where a murder took place is disguised, there will be some traces left behind.

Lu Junchi instructed the forensics team to collect evidence from the crime scene and then turned to Guo Jinqiu. He asked, “Did anyone else know about this?”

Guo Jinqiu shook her head and said, “No one else probably knew, except for me and that woman…”

Now they finally knew the identity of the first victim and the source of the conflict.

Su Huining focused her thoughts. This story sounded like a typical crime of passion, but how did Guo Chengfeng end up dead outside? And why was the same method used to dispose of the body? Who killed him, and does it have anything to do with that woman?

He touched the cat head on his cane and looked at the small courtyard in front of him. On a night two months ago, a bloodbath occurred here. Three people were in the house: two men and a woman. They suddenly started arguing and then a murder occurred in this courtyard.

Twenty-seven stab wounds. It must have been a frenzy of killing that lasted several minutes. He could feel the killer’s anger from it.

And that mysterious woman… Was she just standing by, crying and watching everything unfold?

Qiao Ze recorded for a while, then opened his computer and began searching for information. Soon, he found information about Wu Chenguang, a 28-year-old photographer who appeared young and handsome, matching the description of the first victim.

Then Qiao Ze entered the name Chen Shanshan and made a puzzled sound, pushing the screen towards Lu Junchi. “No matches found.”

Chen Shanshan is a common name, and Qiao Ze performed a fuzzy search, which means related names or similar-sounding names would also be displayed. But even so, there were no young women of the appropriate age.

Lu Junchi asked, “Are you sure the woman’s name is Chen Shanshan?”

Guo Jinqiu nodded and said, “Yes, my brother called her Shanshan.”

Lu Junchi asked, “Do you have her ID number or any other information?”

Guo Jinqiu searched her phone and reported a mobile phone number.

Qiao Ze searched it and said, “The registered owner is a man in his fifties, not her.”

Guo Jinqiu was stunned for a moment, sniffed, and muttered to herself, “The name and the phone number are both fake… Why? Why?…”

At this point, her expression changed, and she said, “You don’t think I made up that woman, do you? She was really here for a long time. You can ask the other

 staff members if you don’t believe me…”

A living person coming in and out of a private kitchen would naturally be seen by many people.

Lu Junchi said, “This woman may have some connection to this case. Can you verbally describe her?”

Guo Jinqiu hesitated and recalled, “She was about thirty years old, very beautiful, gentle, and elegant. Especially her eyes, they were slightly upturned, and when she looked at you, it made you… How should I describe it? A bit fox-like, she… She was like a vixen, seducing men with her gaze…”

Qiao Ze asked, “What about her height?”

“She was around 1.6 meters tall, much taller than me. She was particularly hypocritical, helping with tea and water, assisting with chores, and chatting with anyone… I was also deceived by her at first and took her as a friend!”

As she spoke, Guo Jinqiu clenched her teeth and said, “It’s all because of her! If it weren’t for her, none of this would have happened! This woman ruined my brother’s life! It’s possible that she personally killed my brother!”

At the end, her face twisted with anger.

Su Huining reminded them, “You mentioned that Wu Chenguang took some photos of her?” If they could find where the photos were, they could further identify who this woman was.

“Oh, right, the photos!” Guo Jinqiu suddenly remembered. “I don’t know where Wu Chenguang’s photos are, but I have a group photo of us here.” She flipped through her album and enlarged a picture, pointing to a woman in the back row.

Lu Junchi took the phone and saw a beautiful woman who stood out from the crowd at first glance.

Lu Junchi asked, “Do you have anything left behind by that woman? Like fingerprints or hair?”

Guo Jinqiu shook her head in confusion, but then nodded and ran to the nearby room to retrieve a mirror. “She used this mirror for dressing up. Check if there are any fingerprints on it.”

In the courtyard, the forensics team had collected enough evidence. Lu Junchi asked a few more questions about the events leading up to Guo Chengfeng’s disappearance and then said, “Miss Guo, as this involves a criminal case, please don’t leave the city for now. If we need your cooperation, we will contact you again.”