Chapter 2: The Female Corpse in the School Building (2)

That one glance made Meng Siqi gasp in shock. Already feeling carsick, her stomach churned violently. With a retch, she covered her mouth and rushed toward the door.

In the hallway corner, she vomited until there was nothing left. In her previous world, she had never attended police school or studied medicine. To be honest, she was not accustomed to scenes like this. Despite mentally preparing herself, she still couldn’t hold it together.

After crouching for a while, Meng Siqi finally steadied herself. Backing down now was not in her nature. She leaned against the wall and slowly stood up, only to see a shadow flickering behind her. Startled, she nearly lost her balance and fell.

A strong arm grabbed her just in time. Turning around, she realized it was Zhao Leiting.

“You okay?” He handed her a bottle of mineral water. “Still holding up?”

Meng Siqi took the bottle, rinsed her mouth, and forced a smile. “I’m fine now.”

Back in the bedroom, she heard the forensic examiner say, “We can’t confirm yet whether the victim was sexually assaulted. Further examination is needed. The killer left no fingerprints at the scene. This case is not simple, Captain Han.”

Han Changlin responded, “Everyone, please search more carefully. I don’t believe the killer left no trace behind.”

“Understood.”

Inside the room, forensic specialists and evidence technicians were busy working. Han Changlin and the others carefully examined the surroundings. Meng Siqi took a few steps forward, making sure to avoid the victim, and approached Feng Shaomin. Just as she was about to ask if there was anything she could do, he turned to her with a cold tone.

“Xiao Meng, step outside. Don’t get in the way.”

Her enthusiasm was instantly crushed. Without lingering, she slowly backed out of the room.

However, her gaze accidentally landed on the victim’s face lying on the cold floor.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness and nausea overtook her. She froze in place as a shocking vision flashed before her eyes.

A powerful hand was gripping a woman’s throat. She struggled desperately but was too weak to resist, making painful, suffocated sounds.

In that vision, the killer’s sleeve had a silver-gray custom button, faintly glinting under the dim light.

The scene vanished as quickly as it appeared. Dazed, her fingers instinctively pressed against her forehead. The strange vision did not return.

“Meng Siqi?”

Hearing Zhao Leiting’s voice, she quickly gathered her emotions and forced a relaxed expression. “I’m fine,” she replied before heading toward the door.

Outside, a gentle breeze blew. It was already late autumn, and the weather was mild. Meng Siqi shoved her hands into the outer pockets of her uniform and gazed at the distant city, lost in thought.

The woman’s painful cries and the silver-gray button were now imprinted in her mind, impossible to forget.

Though she couldn’t explain it rationally, she gradually realized that this vision was a glimpse of the crime scene. What she saw might be a crucial clue in this case.

She didn’t know how long she stood there before turning around to see Han Changlin and the second unit member standing in the hallway. Han Changlin’s commanding voice echoed.

“Old Feng, you and Xiao Zhao head to Zhou Jieli’s home and investigate her husband’s situation.”

“Understood, Captain Han.”

The two men responded while walking toward the staircase.

Meng Siqi waited for Han Changlin to assign her a task, but by the time Feng Shaomin and Zhao Leiting disappeared down the stairs, Han Changlin finally turned to look at her. His expression was calm, almost as if he had forgotten her presence.

Meng Siqi lifted her chin slightly. She didn’t show her disappointment, but her eager eyes grew even more determined.

Han Changlin pressed his lips together before speaking slowly. “Xiao Meng, follow your mentor. If there are no specific assignments, listen to his instructions.”

“Got it, understood!” Meng Siqi’s heart leaped with joy, and a faint smile curled at her lips. His words made it clear—whenever she had no direct orders, she should stick with her mentor.

She immediately ran downstairs. In the schoolyard, Feng Shaomin and Zhao Leiting had already gotten into the car, which had just started.

Meng Siqi knocked on the front window, and Zhao Leiting rolled it down.

“Captain Han asked me to go with you,” Meng Siqi said with a smile.

Zhao Leiting responded with a slight smile and nodded.

Meng Siqi climbed into the backseat and raised her voice to the front. “Master, Captain Han said that if he doesn’t assign me tasks, I should follow you.”

Amid the roar of the engine, Meng Siqi thought she heard him mutter a faint “Oh.”

Zhou Jieli’s home was not far from the school. After a twenty-minute drive, the car entered an old residential area and stopped in front of a row of garage-like houses.

The yard was quite empty, with only a few flower pots, a washing sink, and a clothes-drying rack. One of these houses was Zhou Jieli’s home. A large “Fu” character was pasted on the aluminum door, but a corner of it was missing.

Zhao Leiting stepped forward and knocked on the door. “Is anyone home?” he called out.

There was no response. He knocked again, but the house remained silent. Exchanging glances, Zhao Leiting and Feng Shaomin hesitated, unsure whether someone was inside or if there was something unusual happening.

After all, Zhou Jieli had not returned home the previous night and had been murdered. Her husband was the prime suspect. If he had fled out of guilt, it would not be surprising.

The suspicion grew stronger, and both men’s expressions turned solemn.

At that moment, a middle-aged woman from the neighboring house opened her door and shouted, “He’s a taxi driver. If he’s not out working during the day, then he’s probably sleeping.”

Zhao Leiting and Feng Shaomin immediately scanned the yard. There was no sign of a taxi.

Zhao Leiting turned to Feng Shaomin. “Brother Feng, should we report this to Captain Han? Could Zhao Guanghui have driven off to escape?”

“Let’s knock again. If there’s still no response, we’ll force the door open.”

Understanding the urgency, Zhao Leiting knocked once more. This time, he pounded on the aluminum door with his fist, causing a loud noise. Dust shook loose from the edges of the doorframe.

Still, there was no answer.

Sharing a look with Feng Shaomin, Zhao Leiting prepared to break the door down.

Just as he braced himself to ram into the door, it creaked open a crack.

From the dim gap, a man’s face appeared. His unshaven beard and messy hair gave him a disheveled look. His eyes, still drowsy, reflected the half-lit, half-shadowed doorway with a hint of sluggishness and heaviness.

“Are you Zhao Guanghui?” Zhao Leiting asked.

The man seemed to be processing something. After a moment, he finally replied, “Yes.”

Zhao Leiting immediately displayed his police badge. “We are officers from Jinyang City Public Security Bureau. Your wife, Zhou Jieli, was involved in an incident. We need to speak with you.”

Zhao Guanghui’s dazed expression shifted slightly as he furrowed his brow. “An incident?”

“Let’s go inside and talk,” Zhao Leiting suggested.

Zhao Guanghui hesitated briefly before opening the door fully and turning to walk inside.

Meng Siqi followed him into the house. The curtains were drawn, making the room dim, and the furnishings were hard to make out. A strong smell of alcohol filled the air, causing her to instinctively cover her nose.

As Zhao Leiting made his way to the living room, he accidentally kicked a few empty beer bottles, sending them clattering across the floor.

With a sharp pull, he opened the curtains. Sunlight poured in, illuminating the cramped living space.

Meng Siqi’s first impression was distaste. The house was a mess. The dining table, sofa, and coffee table were squeezed tightly together in the small space, and chairs were scattered haphazardly.

The sofa was draped with an old, unkempt blanket, suggesting that Zhao Guanghui often slept there.

The overpowering stench of alcohol came from the numerous beer bottles littering the floor and tabletops.

Meng Siqi couldn’t count them all at a glance, nor could she understand why a man would drink this much in one sitting.

Zhao Guanghui lazily sank into the sofa, half his body slouching into the cushions as if it were his personal nest.

Meng Siqi pulled a chair over to the front of the sofa and gestured for her mentor to sit.

Feng Shaomin gave her a brief glance before taking a seat.

She and Zhao Leiting followed suit. Taking out her notepad and pen, she prepared to record their conversation.

“You drink a lot,” Zhao Leiting remarked, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval.

Zhao Guanghui ignored the comment and instead asked, “What happened to my wife?”

Zhao Leiting exchanged a look with Feng Shaomin, who got straight to the point.

“Zhou Jieli was murdered at the school last night.”

“Murdered?”

Zhao Guanghui’s expression froze. His previously indifferent face darkened instantly.

Meng Siqi noticed his right hand trembling.

Her gaze naturally drifted to his cuffs.

That fleeting vision from before was etched deeply into her mind. She stared at Zhao Guanghui’s sleeve for a long moment.

His sleeves were loose, and there were two gray buttons on them.

Meng Siqi tensed slightly but took a closer look. The button in her vision had been silver-gray with a metallic sheen, while Zhao Guanghui’s buttons were ordinary plastic ones.

Still, she did not rule him out as a suspect. If he had changed clothes after committing the crime, then the buttons on this outfit meant nothing.

“Who would want to kill her?” Zhao Guanghui’s voice grew agitated. His lips trembled slightly, turning a shade paler.

“We are still investigating,” Zhao Leiting replied. “Zhao Guanghui, to find the killer as soon as possible, we need your cooperation.”

“Can I see her?” Zhao Guanghui started to get up.

Feng Shaomin firmly pressed him back down with a gesture. “The forensic team is examining her body. We will arrange for you to see her later.”

“No, I need to see her now!”

This time, Zhao Guanghui pushed himself halfway up. His face darkened, and his eyes carried a hint of hostility.

“Calm down!” Feng Shaomin raised his voice. “If you don’t cooperate, the murderer might escape!”

His words struck a nerve.

Zhao Guanghui’s reddened eyes filled with sorrow. Slowly, he sank back onto the sofa.

After a brief moment, Zhao Leiting eased the tension by reassuring him before proceeding with the questioning.

“Zhou Jieli didn’t come home last night. Why were you completely unaware of it?”

“It’s not the first time. I’m used to it,” Zhao Guanghui replied, his tone sluggish once again.

“You mean she often stayed out overnight?”

“Not exactly. Sometimes she had work at the school and didn’t come home. The school has a staff lounge.”

“Do you have children?”

“No.”

“How was your relationship with your wife?”

Zhao Guanghui hesitated before finally answering, “It was okay, I guess.”

“Have you two argued recently or had any unpleasant incidents?”

“No,” Zhao Guanghui lifted his eyes slightly and answered decisively.

“How was her relationship with others? Did she have any conflicts with anyone recently?”

“No.”

“Where were you around ten o’clock last night?” Feng Shaomin asked directly.

Zhao Guanghui didn’t look up immediately. Instead, he seemed to be thinking for a moment before replying, “I was driving my taxi. I should have been in the downtown area at that time, but I don’t remember exactly where.”

“Do you recall picking up any passengers during that period? Can you describe them?”

“No. It was thundering and raining last night. I drove around with an empty car for a long time. There were barely any people on the streets, and later in the night, I just went home.”

Meng Siqi remembered that there was indeed thunder and some light rain last night, but it did not last long. When she stepped outside in the morning, she noticed that the ground was not particularly wet.

At this time, surveillance cameras were not widespread. Without eyewitnesses, there was no way to verify whether Zhao Guanghui was telling the truth.

After asking more questions, they still did not find anything suspicious.

Originally, Meng Siqi wanted to request a search of Zhao Guanghui’s wardrobe, but since he was not officially identified as a murder suspect, making such a request might be inappropriate.

She had an idea. “Mr. Zhao, is there a restroom here?”

Zhao Guanghui lifted his gaze and looked at her directly for the first time. “Yes,” he said, pointing casually.

Meng Siqi got up and walked toward the restroom. It was small, with the toilet and shower in the same space. Next to the toilet was a pile of dirty clothes.

Her purpose was simple—to check the cuffs of his clothing. As she picked up a shirt, a strong unpleasant odor hit her. It was hard to tell how long the clothes had been unwashed.

She held her breath and quickly felt along the sleeves. There were no buttons. Just as she was about to put it down, she noticed another piece of clothing on the floor. It turned out that Zhao Guanghui tended to let his laundry pile up for days.

She picked up the second piece and felt along the sleeves, but again, she found nothing.

In the living room, Zhao Leiting and Feng Shaomin had apparently finished questioning him. When they saw Meng Siqi come out, they both stood up, ready to leave.

Feng Shaomin, being thorough, gathered more information from the neighbors about Zhao Guanghui and Zhou Jieli’s relationship. The conclusion was that their marriage was average, and occasional arguments could be heard from their home.

At noon, back at the precinct cafeteria, Meng Siqi had no appetite. She simply picked at a few bites of vegetables while keeping her colleagues company.

Tang Xiaochuan, a colleague from the second unit, had been gathering information with Captain Han in the morning. As he ate, he shared some of what he had learned about Zhao Guanghui.

It turned out that Zhao Guanghui had once been an ambitious young man. He was well-educated and had a knack for making money. At one point, he even started a financial company. In the 1990s, this was an impressive career path.

That was also when he met Zhou Jieli, a high school teacher. She was highly accomplished, and their meeting seemed like a perfect match.

However, an incident changed their lives.

An employee at Zhao Guanghui’s company suddenly died of a heart attack. The family caused a huge commotion, and the company was forced to shut down. Zhao Guanghui was taken to court, and an investigation revealed that his company’s paperwork was not entirely in order. In the end, the court ruled that his business was essentially a shell company, and he went bankrupt.

To make a living, he borrowed money and rented a taxi to drive.

On the way back to the office, Zhao Leiting asked, “When did Zhao Guanghui and Zhou Jieli start living separately?”

“Earlier this year, after a fight at the school,” Tang Xiaochuan replied. “After that, Zhou Jieli seemed to change. She rarely came home, probably because she was disappointed in him.”

“What was the fight about?”

“I’m not sure, but I heard that Zhao Guanghui forcibly pulled Zhou Jieli into his car and was rough with her.”

Everyone fell silent, deep in thought.

Meng Siqi had the same thought as the others. Zhao Guanghui had experienced major ups and downs in life. No matter what, their relationship must have gone through many struggles. At the end of the day, material stability was still the foundation of happiness.

If resentment had grown from their deteriorating relationship, it could be a motive for murder.

But for now, everything was just speculation. Han Changlin had not returned yet, and further investigation would have to wait.

Meng Siqi had just returned to the office and made a cup of fruit tea when Han Changlin walked in and called out, “Tang Xiaochuan, come with me to the interrogation room.”

Then, he turned to Meng Siqi. “Xiao Meng, you come too. Take notes.”

“Got it.” Meng Siqi quickly grabbed her notebook and followed them out. As she entered the interrogation room, ready to find a seat, her eyes were suddenly drawn to the silver-gray buttons on the sleeves of the man standing inside.