Chapter 28: The Mysterious Family Massacre (12)

For the next few days, everyone worked tirelessly, reviewing reports and identifying potential suspects based on their content. However, the workload was immense, and no significant progress was made.

Every time Han Changlin and Feng Shaomin returned to the office, they would glance at the mountain of newspapers with visible frustration.

That morning, Han Changlin and the others went out to continue their investigation while Meng Siqi remained in the office, meticulously reviewing the newspapers. Han Changlin had instructed her to mark any suspicious reports so that they could be followed up on later. The process was similar to solving a proof in a math problem—make an assumption first and verify it later.

The repetitive nature of the work was overwhelming. It reminded Meng Siqi of the endless practice problems she had faced during her university entrance exams. After days of staring at newspapers, the words began to blur before her eyes. They no longer looked like actual characters, and she started experiencing visual distortions and double vision.

She had to take frequent breaks. As she absentmindedly bit the end of her pen, a steaming cup of tea was placed in front of her. It was Zhao Leiting. “Here, drink some goji tea. It’s good for your eyes!”

She took the cup and noticed the bright red goji berries floating in the water. The rising steam felt soothing against her tired eyes.

Looking up, she saw Zhao Leiting holding his own glass of goji tea. She couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’ve already entered the health-preservation phase?”

“I’m feeling weak lately,” Zhao Leiting said with a serious expression. “I need to build up my strength. I’m worried my future girlfriend might not be satisfied with my physical condition.”

Meng Siqi laughed. “You really overthink things!”

Zhao Leiting returned to his seat and dramatically recited, “As the ancients said, ‘One cup of goji tea, and you’ll feel as happy as an immortal!’”

Meng Siqi shook her head, smiling.

After a few sips of tea and a brief rest, she refocused on her work. However, the strain on her eyes quickly returned, forcing her to rub them again and again to stay alert.

Just as she was about to turn to a new page in the newspaper, an image suddenly caught her attention.

It struck a deep chord in her memory, snapping her out of her fatigue in an instant.

Everything around her became crystal clear.

She had seen this before—the pattern on Zhu Xinting’s thigh in the morgue.

She had tried countless times to recreate that pattern from memory but had always failed to grasp its true form. Now, at this very moment, she finally saw it.

The report contained three photographs. Each image showed a naked woman lying on the ground. Despite the censorship covering certain parts, her overall appearance was still visible. But what truly caught Meng Siqi’s attention was the large tattoo on the woman’s right thigh.

It was a butterfly tattoo, primarily in red and purple hues. However, the tail of the butterfly morphed into the stinger of a scorpion, forming a fusion of both creatures.

The moment she saw it, Meng Siqi was almost certain—this was the same design she had seen before.

She had initially thought it was a pair of strange wings or oddly shaped leaves, but now she realized it was this.

Why had the killer carved a similar design onto Zhu Xinting’s thigh? There had to be a connection between this case and the report.

Meng Siqi’s heartbeat quickened. She felt like she had just uncovered a major clue.

The report’s headline was bold and shocking, with the word “rape” prominently displayed. The content was just as disturbing, and the images made it even more jarring.

She quickly skimmed through the article. It was about a girl named Xin Shu who had been sexually assaulted. The name Xin Shu was marked as a pseudonym, but it was likely just a formality by the newspaper. Whether Xin Shu was her real name no longer mattered— a simple investigation would be enough to uncover the truth.

She grabbed the newspaper, nearly jumping out of her chair in excitement, ready to rush to Zhao Leiting and share the discovery. But when she turned around, she realized his seat was empty. Several newspapers were stacked neatly on his desk, suggesting he had stepped out—probably to the restroom.

She quickly walked over to the landline phone, ready to contact Han Changlin and the others. However, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. If she told Han Changlin she had found the killer based solely on this tattoo, it would sound far-fetched. She couldn’t even fully explain why the image had been imprinted in her memory. More importantly, she had yet to determine the exact identity of the killer.

After murdering Zhu Xinting, the killer had carved a similar pattern onto her thigh. However, perhaps because he was worried about exposing his identity, he had no choice but to cut away the tattooed skin, chop it into small pieces, and deep-fry them. To further cover up this act, the killer had also cut small sections of skin tissues from other areas of her body.

The murderer is a very calm person. He is worried about exposing his identity, which means his identity must be related to the tattoo. The only person known to have this tattoo is Xin Shu, the victim in the rape report. This suggests that the killer is someone Xin Shu knows.

Meng Siqi was confident in her judgment. It was already known that the report on Xin Shu mentioned a butterfly and scorpion tattoo on her thigh, while the killer had carved the same butterfly and scorpion pattern onto Zhu Xinting’s thigh. The fact that the killer did this indicated that he knew Xin Shu. His reason for breaking into the Zhu household and wiping out the entire family likely pointed to only one possibility—Zhu Gongyou’s family was closely connected to Xin Shu’s assault case. In an act of revenge for Xin Shu, the killer targeted and took vengeance on Zhu Gongyou’s family.

However, the tattoo pattern on Zhu Xinting’s thigh was seen only by her, making it less convincing as evidence. Moreover, even if they deduced that the case was related to Xin Shu and the murderer was someone she knew, the suspect pool was still too broad. Meng Siqi needed to ask Zhao Leiting. He might know more about Xin Shu’s case. After thinking for a moment, she placed the newspaper with Xin Shu’s report under the next newspaper on Zhao Leiting’s desk.

Five minutes later, Zhao Leiting returned to his desk and picked up the newspaper. Meng Siqi, pretending to check in on him, leaned against his desk and took a sip of goji berry tea.

Zhao Leiting finished reading the report and yawned before setting the newspaper aside.

“You read that fast?” Meng Siqi asked impatiently.

“Hmm?” Zhao Leiting looked at her in confusion. “Is there a problem?”

“Can you really spot any clues when you read that fast?”

“I read it and didn’t find anything suspicious.”

Meng Siqi realized that the report alone did not reveal any obvious clues. She had to make Zhao Leiting suspicious.

She hesitated before saying, “Look at it more carefully. What if you missed something?”

Zhao Leiting frowned but picked up the newspaper again, mumbling as he read: “Xin Shu, a high school girl, was raped while out at night…”

After reading it again, he said, “I actually remember this case. The perpetrator was quickly arrested. So there shouldn’t be any issue.”

Meng Siqi bit her lip. This wasn’t working. She deliberately guided him, saying, “Could it be that even though the perpetrator was caught, someone close to the victim—like her family or friends—felt that justice wasn’t fully served and sought revenge?”

Zhao Leiting stared at her for a moment, then turned back to the newspaper. Suddenly, he stood up and said, “We need to check the case files!”

It was clear that Zhao Leiting had thought of something. He walked quickly, and Meng Siqi, feeling excited, followed him to the archives. Soon, Zhao Leiting retrieved the case file for Xin Shu’s rape case.

“If I remember correctly, this was one of the cases I worked on when I first joined the force. That’s why it left a deep impression on me.” As he spoke, his voice carried a hint of urgency.

He opened the case file fully so Meng Siqi could see as well. The two of them carefully read through it from beginning to end.

The case details and its resolution were clear. The perpetrator had been sentenced and executed for multiple rapes and murders. There seemed to be no suspicious points. But then, Zhao Leiting suddenly said, “Xin Shu’s father was unhappy with the verdict.”

“Why?”

“He wanted us to investigate other people who may have harassed his daughter. He believed that after the assault, his daughter was also molested by others. However, our investigation at the time found no such evidence, so the case was closed.”

Meng Siqi took a deep breath. “Zhao Leiting, you found the answer!” Xin Shu’s father was dissatisfied with the verdict. He believed that others had harassed his daughter but were never punished. So he went to punish them personally?

“What do you mean?”

“Your guess is correct, you discovered the murderer’s motive for murder!”

Zhao Leiting suddenly understood. “You are saying that Xin Shu’s father, Xin Tianfei, wanted revenge on those he believed had molested his daughter? Could he be the murderer?”

Meng Siqi nodded firmly.

“No,” Zhao Leiting refuted. “But we investigated and found no evidence that anyone else harassed his daughter.”

Meng Siqi thought for a moment before saying, “What if Xin Tianfei had delusions? He was in an emotional crisis at the time. He might have mistaken some actions as molestation. For example, Wei Xingping, the photographer who took photos of Xin Shu at the scene, could have been perceived as molesting her. Zhu Gongyou and Qi Xiaowei might have also been present and did something that Xin Tianfei misinterpreted as harassment. That would explain why they were targeted for revenge.”

“Yes!” Zhao Leiting’s eyes lit up. “I remember that Xin Tianfei was a math teacher. He is intelligent enough to plan such a meticulous crime.”

Meng Siqi quickly praised him. “Zhao Leiting, you are amazing! Out of all the scattered clues, you actually pinpointed the suspect.”

Zhao Leiting grinned sheepishly. “This might be the first time I made such a big breakthrough… I feel a bit excited.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Report it to Captain Han immediately. This is urgent!”

“Right, right! I’ll call him now.”

Half an hour later, Han Changlin and his team rushed into the office. He swiftly took the case file and newspaper from Zhao Leiting and asked, “Have you found Xin Tianfei’s home address?”

During the phone call, Zhao Leiting had already been instructed to look up Xin Tianfei’s information. In less than thirty minutes, he and Meng Siqi had gathered everything.

Zhao Leiting repeated Xin Tianfei’s home address and added, “He also owns a black family sedan with the license plate Haijiang 06 03687. He has been divorced for a long time. Two years ago, he resigned from Jinyang No. 2 High School and has been running a business with his car ever since.”

Han Changlin, visibly excited, patted Zhao Leiting on the arm and nodded. “This is a major breakthrough, but now is not the time for praise. We’ll save that for later.”

Zhao Leiting grinned, then threw a smug glance at Meng Siqi. Meng Siqi smiled slightly, exuding a calm and satisfied aura, as if saying, “My work here is done.”

Han Changlin continued, “If Xin Tianfei is the murderer, we must act immediately. Old Feng, do you think the current evidence is enough to point to him?”

Feng Shaomin replied, “I was thinking about this on the way back. If Xin Tianfei is indeed the killer, there are many factors that align. First, he is a well-educated man and a mathematics teacher with a deep understanding of logic. Second, his daughter’s incident was a huge blow to him, which could serve as his motive for murder. Third, he owns a personal vehicle, making it convenient for him to commit crimes without drawing suspicion.”

“There’s one more thing, Master,” Meng Siqi added. “We just discovered that Xin Tianfei’s daughter, Xin Shu, passed away last September. The cause of death was a fall from a building. The police have records of it.”

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Xin Shu had been a young girl in her prime, fragile and vulnerable. Her death was most likely connected to the sexual assault case.

Perhaps her passing was what truly drove her father to commit these murders. There were still many unanswered questions, but Xin Tianfei was the only one who could provide answers.

Suddenly, Feng Shaomin shifted the topic. “Even if Xin Tianfei’s motive is clear, we still lack the most crucial evidence.”

Meng Siqi’s heart sank. She knew that she was the only one who had seen the symbol carved on Zhu Xinting’s thigh. To her master, the evidence might seem incomplete, so his hesitation was understandable. However, if they delayed any longer, Xin Tianfei might already be planning his next kill. She had to remind him, “Master, the evidence may be weak, but right now, Xin Tianfei fits the profile of the murderer the most.”

Feng Shaomin remained silent. Han Changlin rubbed his chin in thought before saying firmly, “Old Feng, we cannot afford to take chances. This is the closest we have ever been to the killer. Xiaochuan, apply for an arrest warrant. We’re heading to Xin Tianfei’s house.”

Tang Xiaochuan responded immediately and dashed out of the office.

“Gear up and get ready to move,” Han Changlin ordered. “Zhao Leiting, gather a few more people. This arrest must be swift and precise.”

“Got it.”

As Han Changlin and Feng Shaomin prepared their equipment, Meng Siqi hesitated. She wanted to go with them, but Feng Shaomin had always stopped her from participating in arrests.

Just as she was debating whether to speak up, Han Changlin called out to her, “Xiao Meng, come along.”

Her heart swelled with excitement, but Feng Shaomin quickly shut it down. “Captain Han, Xiao Meng should stay behind.”

Han Changlin didn’t argue further, and Meng Siqi felt disheartened. She wanted to plead her case but hesitated under Feng Shaomin’s strict gaze.

As she gathered the newspaper and case files from Zhao Leiting’s desk, Han Changlin suddenly said, “Old Feng, a good horse is meant to run. Keeping her sheltered won’t train her properly.”

Her hands froze mid-motion. Hope sparked in her heart, and she listened intently.

Feng Shaomin replied, “Not yet. It’s still too soon.”

Meng Siqi felt a surge of frustration as she waited anxiously. Then, Han Changlin gave the final word. “This time, follow my orders. We will protect her.”

Her heart pounded as she waited for Feng Shaomin’s response. To her relief, he didn’t object further.

Han Changlin handed her a stamped document. “Apply for a spare Type 54 pistol immediately and return it after the arrest.”

She was momentarily stunned. Was she really allowed to carry a firearm on duty?

Ten minutes later, she held the Type 54 pistol in her hands. It was heavier than she had imagined. Although she had learned how to use a gun in police academy and had muscle memory for it, holding a real firearm filled her with a deep sense of responsibility and purpose.

Before departure, Feng Shaomin seemed relaxed, almost as if he had silently approved of her participation.

Sitting in the police car, Meng Siqi finally let out a breath of relief. If they caught the murderer today, she would have contributed significantly, which might help her secure her permanent position.

As they drove, Han Changlin suddenly asked, “Xiao Meng, why haven’t you submitted your application for permanent status yet? You need to act fast.”

She was caught off guard, her joy spreading uncontrollably. She had been waiting months for this moment, and now it was finally happening.

Zhao Leiting turned to her with a grin. “Congratulations, Siqi! You’re officially in!”

“Thank you!”

Tang Xiaochuan, who was driving, added, “Siqi, once we catch the murderer, we have to celebrate. We’ve all been under so much pressure lately.”

Feeling slightly shy, Meng Siqi smiled. Han Changlin chuckled and said, “Fine. If we solve the case, I’ll take everyone out for seafood.”

“Great!” Zhao Leiting cheered. “Captain Han, we want lobster!”

Three police vehicles sped toward Xin Tianfei’s residence. The roads were clear, and Meng Siqi had never felt this happy before.