“Aren’t you talking about Qiao Zhiyuan?”

With that one sentence, Chen Xiao found himself momentarily speechless.

Indeed.

Wasn’t the person Chen Xiao was asking about almost a perfect match for Qiao Zhiyuan?

No matter the scene, Qiao Zhiyuan was always present!

Before Chen Xiao could say anything, Si Ru said with a speechless expression:

“I knew you police officers were here just to waste time. At first, I thought you were different because of the questions you asked, but now it seems that’s not the case.”

Being scorned by a pathetic gambler.

Chen Xiao didn’t feel ashamed or angry; instead, he began to seriously contemplate.

“Could the case really be what I previously suspected?”

“The murderer is actually Qiao Zhiyuan!”

“The reason he seems so genuinely wronged is that he’s just acting?”

“No, no, no. If Qiao Zhiyuan is acting, then this whole charade is completely unnecessary.”

“He knows and is familiar with the Jiao family, so he couldn’t have left Jiao Yue unless he had a different relationship with Wei Rong, as I suspected! Otherwise, this would just be futile resistance.”

Chen Xiao hadn’t completely ruled out Qiao Zhiyuan’s suspicion.

But in his view, while Qiao Zhiyuan was a suspect, it wasn’t significant.

Because a case of this magnitude couldn’t involve such meaningless actions from the culprit.

Thinking like this, the next second a thought popped into Chen Xiao’s mind:

“What if I were the real culprit, but I knew the police would eventually find me out?”

“So I framed myself, causing the police to be stuck in a long dilemma.”

“Once I did nothing, yet the police caught me and locked me up for years, so I hate them!”

“So after being released, I did the same thing. The only difference is that I’ve seen many criminals in prison; they helped me evolve!”

“So I’m no longer reckless like before; I’ve wrapped my criminal methods in an artistic package, I became an artist!”

“The police are completely disoriented in front of me, the artist!”

“Seeing them so distressed, so torn, brings me indescribable satisfaction!”

When this possibility was sorted out by Chen Xiao, he felt a tingling on his scalp.

Seeing that Chen Xiao remained silent, the impatient Si Ru couldn’t help but urge:

“Hey, Advisor Chen, what are you doing? If you have nothing else, I’m leaving to get busy.”

“Sit still.”

Chen Xiao commanded, changing Si Ru’s expression: “What do you want?”

Chen Xiao ignored her and continued to analyze the thoughts in his mind.

The more he thought, the more unusual Chen Xiao found it.

Just as Si Ru was about to speak again, Chen Xiao silently walked away.

Si Ru watched his departing figure, angry for a while before she calmed down, venting her frustrations into the air.

Chen Xiao wasn’t thinking about Si Ru at all; he drove straight to the detention center.

At the detention center, Chen Xiao met the officer who was in charge of Qiao Zhiyuan’s cell block at the time.

After meeting, Chen Xiao didn’t waste time on pleasantries and went straight to the point:

“Officer Wu, I’d like to ask about what kind of person Qiao Zhiyuan was during his incarceration?”

Instructor Wu, after some recollection, replied:

“He was a very irritable person. I remember he was often punished when he first entered, probably because he was spoiled with a bad temper from a wealthy family.”

“Did he change later on?”

“Almost everyone changes after they come here. After a month or two of hardship, Qiao Zhiyuan became more obedient. Later, he complied with the rules and reformed, with no more incidents.”

“What kind of people were in the same cell with him?”

“That’s hard to say. He was there for several years, and in that time, people came and went. Even I can’t remember them all.”

“Any special cases?”

“Nothing special, or maybe we’ve seen so many criminals that they all seem the same.”

Instructor Wu’s answer was hardly helpful to Chen Xiao.

However, he paused and said: “How about this, I give you the address of a cellmate who was closer to him? Maybe you can find the answers you seek from those ex-convicts.”

“That would be excellent!”

Chen Xiao was pleasantly surprised.

But when Instructor Wu wrote down the address, Chen Xiao’s gaze fixed on it:

“Yumen Town?”

“Yes, is there a problem with this place?” Instructor Wu asked, puzzled.

Chen Xiao smiled and shook his head, not explaining much.

But in reality, he was a bit surprised.

Because Lin Xi’s family lived in Yangguan County’s Yumen Town.

In other words, if he went to find Qiao Zhiyuan’s cellmate, it would be like going back to his father-in-law’s house.

With the address in hand, Chen Xiao didn’t linger at the detention center, quickly driving back to Yumen.

However, just as Chen Xiao arrived at the doorstep of Qiao Zhiyuan’s cellmate, preparing to knock, he heard Lin Xi’s voice behind him:

“Chen Xiao?!”

Chen Xiao stopped his hand mid-knock and turned to look at Lin Xi and the two task force members behind her.

The two members were from the Hongshan Branch’s criminal police team.

Chen Xiao had a bit of an impression of them.

Zhang Xian seemed to call them Xiaozheng and Xiaoliu.

After greeting them, Xiaozheng curiously asked:

“Advisor Chen, why are you here too? Did you and Lin Group have the same idea?”

“It must be. Either that or Lin Group called Advisor Chen in advance.” Xiaoliu chimed in.

Chen Xiao and Lin Xi exchanged a glance.

Lin Xi said: “I haven’t been in contact with him; we both investigate separately, but coincidentally having the same idea is normal since we’re husband and wife.”

At the start of this investigation, Chen Xiao had done some analysis.

This case was very likely crucial for Lin Xi in becoming the deputy team leader.

Initially, he didn’t plan to get involved.

But a conversation with Han Zai brought Chen Xiao into it, which sparked a bit of a competition between Lin Xi and him.

Although the competition between the couple was purely friendly, Chen Xiao still asked:

“Xiaoxi, what do you think we might learn here?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Xi understood and smiled: “Naturally, to determine if there are any significant changes.”

“And if there are?”

“Significant changes warrant attention.”

“No significant changes mean continuing to investigate in the direction you’re thinking.”

Chen Xiao nodded: “I thought the same.”

“But you’re still faster than me!” Lin Xi said, leaning closer to Chen Xiao, whispering:

“You’re only faster than me in investigations, you naughty man!”

After this whisper, Lin Xi knocked on the door.

But it was an elderly woman who opened the door.

“Who are you looking for?”

With a smile, Lin Xi said: “Auntie, we’re looking for Xiong Nan.”

“He’s out with his stall but should be back soon. Who are you, and do you have business with him?”

The two police officers behind were about to reveal their identities, but Lin Xi’s gaze stopped them immediately, and she smiled:

“We’re from the detention center, here to see how he’s been doing after getting out.”

“Oh, so you’re officials, please come in! Let me tell you, since Xiong Nan got out, he’s been very well behaved, making an honest living every day!”

“That’s good. May I ask what he’s selling at his stall?”

“He took over his father’s business, selling pork at the market!”

As the old lady poured water and spoke, she turned and noticed the doorway, her smile growing:

“See, I said Xiong Nan would be back soon, son… greet the officials!”

As the old lady’s voice fell, Chen Xiao and Lin Xi had already turned toward the door.

Standing there were three people.

An old man and two men in their thirties.

One of the men was over six feet tall and as muscular as a beast.

The other was the complete opposite, small and scruffy, carrying a pink backpack with a Barbie doll print!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep