Xie Wensheng looked at the half-drawn face Chen Xiao had sketched, full of confusion.

“Whose smiling face are you drawing?”

“It’s no one’s.”

“Then why are you drawing it?”

Xie Wensheng inquired.

Chen Xiao took a deep breath and replied, “The hardest part of our discussion is that the murderer wanted to kill these six people, yet they were completely off guard during their last meal. This indicates that they had met the murderer before and were very familiar with them.”

“Moreover, the murderer is very familiar with the local area, otherwise, it would have been difficult for them to connect Xiong Ruru’s tattoo ‘Renxin Bridge’ on the tiger’s mouth spot and equally challenging to recall Yaoxi, an old place name that was replaced over a decade ago.”

Xie Wensheng nodded, tentatively saying, “So, the half face you’ve drawn is a smiling face, while the other half is one showing menace, right?”

“That’s right, the smiling face is what the six victims saw, or you could say it’s the attitude presented to everyone daily, though the interior is not quite the same as what it appears to be; this person often uses disguise when dealing with people!”

With that, Chen Xiao couldn’t help but pause.

But he didn’t want to interrupt his train of thought, so he continued, “Furthermore, I mentioned at the door of Huang Zhao’s TCM clinic that Dr. Huang’s granddaughter drowned last year!”

“Hmm, you’re not suspecting…” Xie Wensheng half guessed, but Chen Xiao cut in:

“That’s right, I did assume at one point. I assumed whether it was Huang Zhao’s granddaughter’s drowning caused by Xiong Ruru and her group, or perhaps they were present at the time but did not attempt to save her. It’s hard to maintain sanity when losing a close relative. Sometimes, to shift one’s own responsibility, one blames others!”

“But I find it unreasonable. For one, a year has passed, it’s been too long. Besides, I think the direct cause of this case mightn’t be linked to enmity involving life and death.”

“Indeed, so despite everything, we’re back at the starting conflict point again.”

After uttering this, Xie Wensheng frowned, troubled.

Chen Xiao stood up, “We’ll head to Huang Zhao’s TCM clinic, let your people investigate the trash or recycling centers.”

“Okay.”

Xie Wensheng picked up his car keys, and the two left the criminal police unit together.

Returning once again to Huang Zhao’s TCM clinic, when Chen Xiao appeared before Dr. Huang once more, the latter was a bit surprised:

“Young man, why are you here again?”

Chen Xiao smiled and said, “You’ve got a good memory, doctor.”

“It hasn’t been long. If I forget even that, how could I continue seeing patients?” Dr. Huang said, looking at Xie Wensheng next.

With just one look, Dr. Huang frowned slightly and said, “Sir, sit down, and I’ll check your pulse.”

Xie Wensheng, feeling a bit mystified, extended his wrist when Chen Xiao nodded.

Huang Zhao earnestly felt his pulse, occasionally glancing at Xie Wensheng with increasing seriousness.

This expression left Chen Xiao with a bad feeling.

Until Huang Zhao retracted his hand, he seriously said, “Sir, do you have a heavy workload? Working day and night?”

Unconcerned, Xie Wensheng replied, “It’s been like this for over ten years, I haven’t found night and day to matter that much.”

“That’s because you were younger back then. Are you frequently experiencing headaches?”

“Most of my work involves thinking, and thinking too much indeed leads to headaches.”

“Alas… take my advice, find time to have a proper check-up at the hospital,” Huang Zhao said as Xie Wensheng was about to retort, and Huang Zhao immediately solemnly added:

“Listen to me, I’m already this old, deceiving you serves me no purpose. Besides, whatever the outcome of your examination, I won’t be your doctor.”

Both Chen Xiao and Xie Wensheng took the advice to heart after what Huang Zhao said: “Is his condition serious, doctor?”

“Timely intervention, timely discovery, and timely treatment. But I can’t specifically explain it, it’s best to go to a large hospital. From what I see, his health could erupt at any moment, and intervening after that moment would be too late.”

Huang Zhao ended with a sigh, “Toiling too hard, too dryly!”

Xie Wensheng seemed indifferent, signaling Chen Xiao with eyes to hurry up with their inquiry.

After pondering a bit, Chen Xiao said, “Dr. Huang, we came to learn something from you.”

Receiving a nod from Huang Zhao, Chen Xiao continued asking, “Do you recall a patient named Xiong Ruru?”

“I don’t remember.”

“She had a big afro, usually accompanied by a girl who looked timid and docile, and they were thrown out of the clinic once.”

Recognition dawned on Huang Zhao, “Ah, now I remember, there were indeed those two girls. After I threw them out, their boyfriend stood outside the clinic cussing, saying he’d chop me down someday.”

While speaking, Huang Zhao shook his head, smiling.

The look in Xie Wensheng’s eyes intensified, while Chen Xiao continued, “Did you know they are dead?”

“I didn’t know, when did that happen!” Huang Zhao was very shocked.

The shock was definitely genuine.

Chen Xiao said, “It happened recently.”

“I just returned to Shencheng City yesterday. Recently I was helping a sick old comrade recuperate somewhere else.”

“Ah, I see!” Chen Xiao nodded, then introduced Xie Wensheng, “Doctor, actually, this is our station’s criminal police captain, and there’s another matter we need your assistance with today.”

“I need to assist? I haven’t done anything, but go on, it’s our duty and responsibility to cooperate with our police!”

“Last year, your granddaughter drowned. Where are her parents now? We need to see them.”

After a pause, seeming to grasp the intention, Huang Zhao sighed, “They went abroad long ago, half a year after the incident, and haven’t dared to return, fearing they’d miss her once they did.”

Chen Xiao looked at Xie Wensheng, who smiled apologetically, “Sorry, sir, sorry to have brought up sad memories.”

Huang Zhao shook his head with a smile, and at this time, Xie Wensheng also excused himself to leave.

However, Huang Zhao earnestly said, “Officer Xie, I hope you take my recent advice seriously, find time to visit the hospital. A city as large as Shencheng City will keep having cases. But getting your body checked, the criminal department can still function smoothly.”

“Okay, thank you for the reminder, doctor.”

With that, Xie Wensheng and Chen Xiao left the clinic.

Once outside, Xing Wensheng frowned, “It seems Dr. Huang’s family isn’t closely related to the case, but we should still check those parents.”

“Yes, to be cautious, it’s best to confirm they are abroad right now.”

While talking, Chen Xiao suggested, “Shall we visit another TCM clinic?”

“Sure.”

Not refusing, the two proceeded towards Jiang Anguang’s clinic.

But as they turned around, they didn’t notice Huang Zhao following them out with several bags of medicine.

Seeing them in the distance, Huang Zhao hurriedly shouted, “Gentlemen, wait a moment!”

Chen Xiao and Xie Wensheng turned back, surprised, “Do you have more to say, sir?”

Huang Zhao handed the bags of medicine to Xie Wensheng, “I doubt you’ll listen to me, but take these and have a dose daily. It might slightly curb your headache.”

Slightly moved, when attempting to pay, Huang Zhao refused, “I won’t take your money. Where are you two headed?”

“We’re going to see Jiang Anguang.”

“If you’re questioning him, fine. But don’t be easily convinced he can cure anything. That person isn’t trustworthy, and I even suspect his wife died because of his treatment!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep