(1) Body Parts

Shen Wanwan’s words seemed completely disconnected, and Cui Luo couldn’t make sense of the sudden shift in topic.

While she was still trying hard to recall which one of them was Wu Yaoming’s driver, Yang Chunling’s expression had already turned to stone.

She even had a noodle dangling from her mouth as she froze.

Shen Wanwan considerately moved the bowl aside and said, “If he doesn’t like braised chicken legs, we can ask Brother Zhao if he does.”

Even Cui Luo couldn’t help nudging Shen Wanwan’s arm at that bizarre and out-of-nowhere comment, but she still played along and put her hands on her hips, saying, “Which ‘brother’ do you want to ask? I’ll go ask him for you!”

Yang Chunling: “……”

How do they know??

Under Cui Luo’s stunned gaze, Yang Chunling spat out her noodle and grabbed tightly onto Shen Wanwan’s hand.

Whether from fear or shock, her pretty face was twisted, “How do you know?!”

Cui Luo: “?”

Know? Know what?

Cui Luo leaned over, inserting herself between them. “There really is a Brother Zhao? Where is he—want me to drag him over?”

Shen Wanwan smiled brightly. “Ms. Yang, I don’t know anything. I really don’t understand what you’re talking about. But I could know something—it’s all up to you.”

Of course, Yang Chunling understood Shen Wanwan’s threat. She pushed aside her noodle bowl, stared at her for a while, then stood up with her wallet. “Let’s talk upstairs.”

Although Shen Wanwan had only stayed at Yang Chunling’s place for one night, coming back again felt oddly like returning home.

Whatever kind of person Yang Chunling was, she was clearly good to her little Pekingese, Huahua. Last night she even carried Shen Wanwan to bed. Shen Wanwan had rolled around so much she pushed Yang Chunling off the pillow, but the woman didn’t even get mad.

The moment Shen Wanwan stepped inside, Huahua rushed over.

This time, though, it didn’t bark or fight with her—it kept a bit of distance, eyeing her cautiously.

Shen Wanwan thought Huahua probably remembered what happened last night and had developed some affection for her, so it didn’t want to act fierce anymore.

Dogs really are humans’ best friends.

She beamed and patted Huahua gently on the head.

Yesterday she’d walked around with Huahua’s furry paws all day, and had touched everything there was to touch—so now, she wasn’t afraid of it at all.

Huahua let out a soft whimper and hid behind Yang Chunling.

Huahua (thinking): Idiot! My chin still hurts—pain, pain, pain!

A living person is worse than a dog! Who even trips while walking?!

My big bro is the smart one!

Huahua clung tightly to Yang Chunling’s calf, swearing never to leave her side.

It had once tried to cling to her thigh—tried and failed. Even when it stood up and reached out with its paws, it could barely get to her knee. So eventually, it just settled for hugging her calf instead.

Shen Wanwan was still feeling touched, thinking that her bond with Huahua had grown even stronger!

In the near future, she was sure she could live in harmony with all animals!

Yang Chunling, unusually, poured tea for both Shen Wanwan and Cui Luo. “What exactly do you want to ask?”

Shen Wanwan didn’t bother beating around the bush. “Do you or do you not know about the body parts?”

“I really don’t know,” Yang Chunling glanced out the window, bent down to scoop Huahua into her arms, and avoided eye contact as soon as she met Shen Wanwan’s gaze. “If I knew, would I dare not tell?”

Cui Luo said, “Yang Chunling, I think you still don’t want to cooperate with the investigation.”

“I… I wasn’t home that night. I really don’t know how that thing ended up tied to the clothesline,” Yang Chunling said, glaring reluctantly at Shen Wanwan. “I went to see Wu Yaoming, okay? He won’t let me go public with our relationship—how could I just go around talking about it?”

“So what you’re saying is, someone tied body parts to your clothesline while you weren’t home. They broke into your place? And you don’t know whether the dog barked or not?”

Yang Chunling looked nervously around. “The killer’s been in my house? I didn’t notice anything strange. Don’t scare me like that.”

Her reaction was half genuine, half an act—it was hard for Cui Luo to tell.

Shen Wanwan looked calmly at Yang Chunling. “Tell us about you and Cheng Liang.”

Yang Chunling smoothed her long hair. “We broke up a long time ago.”

“You got together with Wu Yaoming after you broke up with Cheng Liang?”

“Of course. I… I’m not that kind of casual woman.”

Cui Luo: “? What about the driver? Brother Zhao?”

Yang Chunling: “……”

“I’m telling the truth. Think about it—how could I act recklessly with Wu Yaoming in the picture? If he found out, I’d be finished.”

Shen Wanwan frowned slightly.

Shen Wanwan: “You were with Brother Zhao yesterday?”

Yang Chunling: “…I’m really not lying. Cheng Liang and I broke up three months ago—Wu Yaoming knows about it too. If you don’t believe me, go ask him. Oh right, Cheng Liang was the one who dumped me. I was anxious and went looking for him. At the time, he was having dinner with Wu Yaoming and a few others. That’s where I met Wu Yaoming. You can verify all of this.”

This time, Yang Chunling didn’t make any extra moves.

Shen Wanwan looked over at Cui Luo.

Cui Luo stood up and said, “If you find any new leads, contact us immediately. Also, you’re not allowed to leave Xuzhou during this time.”

Yang Chunling nodded reluctantly.

Shen Wanwan carefully reached out and stroked Huahua’s head—its fluffy fur felt wonderful.

Shen Wanwan was overjoyed.

Huahua: “…Woof woof woof!”

While Shen Wanwan and Cui Luo were talking to Yang Chunling, the other detectives weren’t idle—they had already sorted out all the suspects.

The suspects in Cheng Liang’s case had already been listed. Most of his trouble came from messy romantic entanglements. Besides his wife Qi Xia, he was also having improper relationships with three or four other women at the same time.

As for Cheng Li, the suspect pool was made up of people from the construction site—grudges, rivalries, and former victims or their families.

But Tao Jiang had already investigated the families of those victims—they had no idea Cheng Li had secretly returned to Xuzhou.

When Shen Wanwan returned to the station, Cheng Li’s autopsy report had just come out.

“This man didn’t die an ordinary death. Although we haven’t found his internal organs yet, there are clear signs of poisoning. He was poisoned to death.”