After returning to the sub-bureau, Brother Huang immediately gathered everyone for a meeting to review the
clues collected so far.
The autopsy report had just come out. Since He Chuan Zhou hadn't followed the previous investigation,
Brother Huang also mentioned the results of the scene investigation.
"From the shape of the victim's wounds, it seems the killer first struck the right side of the victim's head
with a sharp object. After the victim lost the strength to struggle, the killer then suffocated him to death
by covering his mouth and nose, making it look like he had hit his head on the edge of the coffee table."
This method of killing could be done by either a man or a woman.
However, judging by the bone fractures, the killer had considerable strength. A woman like Xu Yu, who
maintained regular exercise, could inflict such damage with a forceful blow from behind. A weaker woman
could not.
Brother Huang spoke calmly as photos were displayed one by one on the projector screen.
"There were no obvious signs of struggle or resistance on the victim. From the angle of the impact, the
victim had his back to the killer at the time."
Other evidence matched the previous speculations.
"From the entrance to the living room, the technicians only found footprints from the security guard and the
cleaner. However, the other rooms' floors were untreated. Besides the footprints of Tao Xian Yong and the
security guard, we found an unfamiliar footprint. Based on its size, it likely belongs to a woman."
Not all footprints inside the room could be collected, but since the room was cleaned on the 15th, the floor
was covered in dust. The woman had come on a rainy day, and using multi-band inspection lights, they
successfully extracted clear traces.
The timeline was now relatively clear.
"On March 18th, shortly after 11:30 AM, after Zhou Tuo Xing entered the community, the killer entered the
apartment and committed the murder. The killer then wrapped the body in waterproof material and placed it in
the bathtub to chill.
"Between March 21st and 23rd, it rained in City A. An unknown woman appeared in the apartment, closed the
living room window, leaving fingerprints on the handle. She walked through the rooms and then left Guangyuan
Community.
"After that, until the 25th, the killer likely returned, removed the body, staged the scene to look like an
accidental fall, and wiped away footprints from the living room to the entrance. This indicates the killer
only operated in this area with a clear purpose, which was to kill. On the evening of the 25th, the cleaner
reported the case."
Brother Huang cleared his dry throat as Xu Yu handed him his thermos cup.
It contained his coffee, with a few extra goji berries as suggested by online advice, giving the coffee a
mysterious Eastern power and a sense of security.
After reviewing the materials in her hand, He Chuan Zhou took over, "Previously, we leaned towards the idea
that the killer might be a woman close to Tao Xian Yong. However, according to the hotel staff's testimony,
the killer is likely a man."
The screen displayed the previously drawn relationship diagram. He Chuan Zhou pointed at the names, "But
only these three people had the key, and only these two knew when Tao Xian Yong would go to Guangyuan
Community. So, there must be some connection between this male killer and the mysterious woman."
Brother Huang, half-sitting on the edge of the conference table with a slouched posture, said, "The biggest
mystery now is if the mysterious woman closed the window, why would she bother to go back and close it after
instructing the killer to murder? From the footprints at the scene, she shouldn't have known Tao Xian Yong
was dead. Was she performing some kind of pantomime?"
He continued, "Forget it, we can set aside this logic for now. The key is how to find these two people."
The usual methods of finding people were interviews and surveillance.
However, no one dared to speak up for a moment.
Until He Chuan Zhou broke the silence, "How's the investigation on Tao Xian Yong's other phone records?"
Xu Yu quickly raised her head and grabbed the file in front of her, handing it to He Chuan Zhou, "The phone
has been off and cannot be located, likely discarded by the killer. Since the phone was registered under Tao
Xian Yong's wife's name, we reviewed her call records and some WeChat chats, but found nothing significant,
mostly work-related communications."
He Chuan Zhou casually flipped through it and then closed the cover, "Given Tao Xian Yong's cautious nature,
I don't think he would use common chat apps to contact the suspect."
Xu Yu, clutching her hair in distress, said, "If it's a less common social app, it's hard to trace without
leads. Besides, he might not have registered it with his wife's ID. Cunning as a rabbit, he wouldn't expose
himself so easily doing shady things."
He Chuan Zhou asked again, "Any findings from the interviews?"
Another colleague raised his hand and reported, "We interviewed Tao Xian Yong's friends and family. Some
said they knew he had a young girlfriend, but they didn't know how they contacted each other or who she was.
He never talked about her in detail. He only mentioned she looked like his wife when she was young."
Xu Yu scoffed angrily, turning to spit on the side.
Shao Zhixin, an innocent victim, widened his eyes and said, "Why are you spitting at me? What does this
have to do with me!"
Xu Yu sneered coldly, rolling her eyes and mocking, "Men like him want to be surrounded by flowers while
claiming to be deeply devoted. Selectively face-blind, any young, pretty girl looks like their wife when she
was young."
Brother Huang lightly tapped her on the back of the head with a file, "Good girls shouldn't make such
grimaces; your face muscles might cramp."
Brother Huang assigned a few people to the traffic team to retrieve surveillance footage and asked Xu Yu to
schedule another meeting with Tao Si Yue to see if they could find new clues to narrow the investigation.
"Meeting adjourned. There's a lot of work to do." Brother Huang, exhausted, said, "Yu, where did you put the
goji berry pack?"
Xu Yu shouted, "Buy it yourself!"
Everyone took their materials back to the office to start their new tasks. Just as they sat down, a
colleague came over in small steps to notify, winking, "Captain He, someone is looking for you!"
He smiled slyly, "It's a handsome guy. The one from last time."
The previously dispirited group instantly perked up. Led by Xu Yu and Shao Zhixin, they grabbed their files
and rushed outside.
When He Chuan Zhou leisurely walked over, there were already five or six people in the hallway, jostling to
peek inside. Their motives were clear, and their behavior was blatant, apparently unaware of the phrase
"guilty conscience."
Even Brother Huang was there, but he was more restrained, standing farther away with his thermos cup.
When He Chuan Zhou walked in, Zhou Tuo Xing was sitting expressionlessly in a corner chair, one leg crossed
over the other, looking both lazy and elegant, with his eyes half-lowered, ignoring the crowd outside. His
expression briefly changed when He Chuan Zhou appeared, but he quickly returned to his usual cold demeanor.
The group followed He Chuan Zhou into the duty room, making the previously spacious room crowded.
The heater was on, so Zhou Tuo Xing had taken off his coat, revealing a neatly pressed shirt. He stood up,
quietly watching He Chuan Zhou without speaking.
Noticing his formal attire, He Chuan Zhou couldn't help but take a closer look and asked, "What brings you
here today?"
Zhou Tuo Xing was not pleased with her first words. There wasn't even a "hello," so he said emotionlessly,
"I'm here to provide you with some clues."
Brother Huang felt disdainful. He thought that a handsome guy like Zhou Tuo Xing probably never experienced
the emotional rollercoaster from being out of reach to being ignored. They had already interrogated him
thoroughly before and confirmed that Zhou Tuo Xing had no useful information.
This young man didn't understand that the world of the criminal police team was cold and harsh.
Especially the soul of their team—He Chuan Zhou.
As expected, He Chuan Zhou replied formally, "We don't need your assistance in the investigation anymore."
Brother Huang blew on his thermos cup, happily watching the show unfold.
Zhou Tuo Xing paused for a few seconds and said, "Why don't you think it over again?"
Everyone: "??"
No matter how enthusiastic a citizen is, they can't insist on helping the criminal police team investigate,
right?
Shao Zhixin said tactfully, "I think the one who needs to reconsider is you."
Brother Huang waved away the onlookers in the front row and advised in a veteran's tone, "Young man, go back
to work. Don't idle around all day."
Zhou Tuo Xing: "??"
Brother Huang was about to drive everyone back to check the surveillance footage when Zhou Tuo Xing coldly
asked, "Don't you want the front surveillance video of Tao Xian Yong's building?"
"Ah—cough, cough!" Brother Huang almost choked on his water. Ignoring his own safety, he turned around, his
face changing dramatically like in Sichuan opera, and warmly invited, "Sir, please sit. Please sit here!"
He shouted over his shoulder, "He Chuan Zhou, how can you be so inconsiderate? Our guest has been here for
so long, and you haven't even performed any talents!"
His fawning attitude made people doubt his profession.
Xu Yu and a few others eagerly chimed in, "Welcome Comrade Zhou Tuo Xing to the police sub-bureau to assist
with the investigation! This is the serious crime unit, dedicated to serving you! Captain He, the
enthusiastic citizen said he wants to see a talent show!"
Shao Zhixin meekly moved to stand in the corner, thinking these people were brave souls.
He Chuan Zhou didn't say anything. He just took a step forward and gave everyone a cold, sweeping look.
From left to right, the scene quickly quieted down as if muted. The people who had been making a fuss now
started looking around, pretending to be blind.
Brother Huang wanted to remind her quietly that getting the surveillance footage now was as good as a
lifesaver. Then Zhou Tuo Xing said, "I don't want to see a talent show."
"You really have demands?" He Chuan Zhou asked curiously, "What do you want?"
Zhou Tuo Xing hadn't thought about making any demands before coming here, but suddenly a strong idea came to
him.
He looked at He Chuan Zhou, opened his mouth to speak, but facing the prying eyes around him, he changed his
mind and said, "Treat me to a meal."
He Chuan Zhou, pondering what Zhou Tuo Xing really wanted to say during his few seconds of silence, didn't
immediately respond. Brother Huang, fearing the awkward silence, smiled and said, "Of course, that's doable!
If you need, I can also treat you to a meal!"
Zhou Tuo Xing remained silent, but his expression indicated it wasn't necessary.
He said, "I sprained my hand and couldn't drive at the time, so I temporarily parked my car in an internal
parking spot in the community. There was a wireless camera on the car's front. To enter Tao Xian Yong's
building, you have to pass by that spot, so it should have captured something. However, my battery only
lasts for a little over a day."
"That's enough, enough!" Brother Huang was overjoyed, "You left, and he died soon after, so a day's worth of
surveillance footage will surely be sufficient!"
Zhou Tuo Xing felt something strange about the wording but hadn't fully grasped it before Brother Huang,
already ecstatic, left with his team.
He Chuan Zhou thought for a moment, then turned back and said, "I'll get back to you when I'm done."