Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Evolution of a Demon

Chen Xiao’s mind has already started connecting all the information points that emerged after the case occurred.

Those information points, at this moment, Chen Xiao instinctively felt are like sharp blades!

Lin Xi was investigating, unmindful of the hour, making call after call.

But to find that unique article, thinking about it is easy, doing it is not simple.

As time ticked by, Zhang Xian soon arrived after hearing the news.

Seeing Lin Xi was still on the phone, Zhang Xian patted Chen Xiao’s shoulder and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Just doing some adding and subtracting,” he replied.

Zhang Xian was a bit unclear, but after Chen Xiao explained his purpose, Zhang Xian realized and gave a thumbs-up, “Oh man, it looks like finding a needle in a haystack, but there’s actually a trail to follow here.”

Chen Xiao smiled slightly, “Seems like Captain Zhang also approves of my method and what I suspect.”

Zhang Xian nodded, “From the start of the case, you and I have held deep suspicion about that girl Su Ting. But she has a perfect alibi.”

“Exactly, concerning Su Haidong’s death, she might indeed not have participated. However, precisely because she holds a perfect alibi, I deeply suspect Si Ying’s death is related to her!”

After pondering for a bit, Zhang Xian sharply said, “If that’s the case, then it’s truly wicked!”

Chen Xiao silently hung up the phone without saying a word.

Lin Xi continued reaching out to people, and soon after, Liang Yan joined in.

Yet, searching for people, finding contact information, and locating that special article was continuously consuming the night’s time.

Gradually, Chen Xiao took over from Lin Xi and urged her to catch some sleep.

Unknowingly, dawn arrived.

Chen Xiao’s complexion turned somewhat grim, and his speculations were proved right.

Many teachers during their teaching process had asked students to write essays centered on family.

But those teachers found either had no impression of Su Ting or couldn’t recall if she wrote such an essay.

Chen Xiao glanced at the remaining two contacts, only to dial them with a final sense of anticipation.

But before the call connected, Liang Yan suddenly walked in with a woman in her forties.

The woman held a notebook in her hand, visibly filled with many clippings, making it appear particularly bulky.

Liang Yan said, “Chen Xiao, this is Teacher Sun; her husband used to be Su Ting’s third-year language teacher.”

Chen Xiao was taken aback, “Didn’t we just contact Su Ting’s third-year teacher?”

Teacher Sun explained, “My husband left his position halfway through the semester due to health reasons, and hasn’t resumed his teaching career since then.”

Chen Xiao was enlightened, Liang Yan also elaborated, “It was another teacher we contacted earlier who reached out to Teacher Sun, and brought this notebook. It contains an article her husband clipped from the newspaper—it’s the very article Su Ting wrote in her third year!”

“It’s the article we wanted!” Liang Yan added.

Chen Xiao quickly took the notebook, flipping through the clippings from newspapers, finding the one Su Ting wrote.

The article’s title was simple—”Tree”!

Reading through it, it was entirely about describing the form and spirit of the tree, with plain language yet profound imagery.

Until the very end, she added a simple yet powerful sentence as the conclusion, elevating the entire piece.

She wrote: Tree, that is my father!

Seeing this, Chen Xiao’s eyes slowly narrowed.

He could even feel his heartbeat!

He wasn’t wrong, Su Ting was the one leaking secrets!

She likely conspired with Su Jing and Si Ying on how to defy her father, only to turn around and betray them.

Because in her article, Su Haidong was portrayed as a tree that shielded her from storms, indifferent to cold or heat.

But was Su Haidong really?

Xi Yian personally heard them expressing to Si Ying their fear and inability to endure Su Haidong!

They wanted to resist, to escape from such a family!

In Su Ting’s portrayal of her feelings toward the tree, she repeatedly used words like “wish” and “desire”!

Such words seemed to reveal to Chen Xiao that Su Ting’s growth in a repressive and dark family environment was not rooted in rebellion, but in appeasement!

She wanted to use her appeasement to gain the compassion of Su Haidong, to use leaked secrets to change his attitude towards her.

Silently, Chen Xiao closed the notebook, intending to thank Teacher Sun when several officers arrived with troubled expressions.

“Captain Zhang, there are many journalists outside the station!”

Zhang Xian furrowed his brow, “What are they doing here? Who invited them?”

“They heard about the Swallow Lane fishbone case being solved and came to interview Mr. Chen!”

Zhang Xian was momentarily puzzled, then understanding flashed through his eyes as he smiled at Chen Xiao, “Seems like someone is trying to build your reputation!”

Chen Xiao knew who Zhang Xian referred to.

In Dongzhou, besides him and Zhang Xian, wasn’t Guo Qing the one eager about solving the fishbone case?

Additionally, solving the fishbone case within a day was a win-win for Guo Qing!

First, he witnessed Chen Xiao’s ability, and second, without trouble in Swallow Lane, the long-delayed demolition plan could proceed.

However, Guo Qing clearly valued the benefits brought by Chen Xiao’s investigative skills more than the profit from Swallow Lane, which was why he hurriedly invited journalists to build Chen Xiao’s image.

But Chen Xiao was in no mood to face reporters; the person he wanted to meet most was Xi Yian!

If Xi Yian, Su Jing, and Su Ting formed an alliance, then Xi Yian had already been benevolent.

Once Xi Yian knows there’s a traitor in their alliance, will he reveal more shocking secrets?

“Ignore the reporters, Captain Zhang… I’ll go talk to Xi Yian,” Chen Xiao expressed his purpose, and Zhang Xian understood, “Go ahead, Xi Yian is more willing to talk with you than me.”

Chen Xiao nodded, just as he was about to leave, Lin Xi spoke as she emerged from the lounge, “Chen Xiao, perhaps you should wait until Si Ying’s ex-husband returns before seeing him. I think the relationship between Si Ying’s ex-husband and Xi Yian has become quite subtle because of Si Ying’s disappearance.”

“You have a point!” Chen Xiao agreed with Lin Xi’s suggestion, thus he took out his phone and dialed Zhong Kai’s number.

However, though the call was connected, no one answered.

Could Zhong Kai be busy returning to the country early this morning?

Chen Xiao felt puzzled, continuing to dial Zhong Kai’s number.

Yet, repeatedly—the call connected but remained unanswered.

Looking at the number displayed on his phone, Chen Xiao frowned, unable to understand what Zhong Kai was doing.

Then suddenly, Chen Xiao thought of a rather ludicrous possibility.

He turned to Zhang Xian, “Did you investigate Xi Yian’s major? Is he capable of dubbing or hosting broadcasting?”

“We checked early on; he used to work in an animation dubbing company. But later, for unknown reasons, he ceased working in that field.”

Hearing this, Chen Xiao spoke with a very low voice, “So that’s how he evolved from a rookie to a veteran!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep