"You brat, do I, Lao Xu, seem like that kind of person?" Xu Ming's entire face turned red, thankfully his dark skin didn't show it much, and nobody really paid attention to it. After everyone laughed, they waited for Xu Ming to give an answer. "Do you rember those girls we brought back from the 'Fengwei' entertainnt club last ti?"
"Ah, I rember now, this woman is one of them. But, Lao Xu, you weren't involved in the interrogation back then, how do you know her na? And why did you have An Geng follow her?" Wang Xi asked Xu Ming, puzzled. Their boss sotis did things in a mysterious way.
"This girl's na is Ye Zi, the sister of a lodge waiter, and had a notable relationship with the deceased, Xiao i. Moreover, didn't the manager of the 'Fengwei' entertainnt club ntion that this girl had so dealings with illegal drugs? I always felt that there was sothing odd about such a girl being with a cook, and also about that lodge. The boss thought there was an issue, so we had soone follow Ye Zi." Xu Ming lowered his head and whispered a secret to a few people. "The first ti I saw this girl nad Ye Zi, I felt sothing eerie about her, not superstitious, just chilly."
"Lao Xu, you're really overthinking it." Shi Shuai, who usually had no defense against pretty girls, found it hard to accept how a regular girl had turned into a ghost in Lao Xu's narrative.
"Maybe so!" Xu Ming also thought he might have been overthinking it. "Just the few of us know about this, don't spread it around. We'll wait until the boss gets back before saying anything."
Xu Ming picked up his hat, feeling that this matter couldn't be left unresolved; it needed clarification. A natural instinct regarding danger told him that. Without calling anyone, he decided to drive himself to the 'Fengwei' entertainnt club.
"Lao Xu, why didn't you call for the good stuff!" Shi Shuai stopped in front of him as he started the car.
"Don't block the way." Xu Ming waved his hand at Shi Shuai from inside the car, then unexpectedly had to slam on the brake, stalling the car.
"Where are you going? I want to co too." Shi Shuai circled to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in. "You better not think of going off to do sothing dangerous on your own. We brothers are counting on you to survive!"
The words weren't pleasant, but they were heartwarming. Xu Ming couldn't say he wasn't touched. He used the act of starting the car to conceal his feelings.
"This is the road to the 'Fengwei' entertainnt club. You really are going to look for a woman!" Shi Shuai's once hopeful view of Lao Xu shattered into pieces.
"You brat can't spit ivory from a dog's mouth." Xu Ming smacked Shi Shuai on the back of his head. "I just don't feel right about this matter; I'm going over to inquire."
"Lao Xu, do you really believe there's an issue with that girl?" Shi Shuai, uncharacteristically serious, asked. Knowing Xu Ming for a while now, he understood that Lao Xu was serious and thoughtful. If he suspected Ye Zi, there must be details behind it.
"Hmm!" Xu Ming drove, unable to pinpoint the exact problem, just an instinct that a seemingly innocent girl didn't fit the role. "Just a pure personal intuition."
The car stopped at the entrance of 'Fengwei'. Maybe because of the rainy weather, business wasn't good, and only a few were around. Going up from the lobby, the second room on the left was the manager's office of 'Fengwei'. It was still early, and the lounge next to the manager's office was empty.
"What, it's you again?" Ling caught sight of the two people standing at the entrance of her office as she erged from the restroom. "Comrades from the police, what are you here to investigate this ti?"
"Here to chat with you!" Xu Ming removed his cap, a kind smile on his face.
"Alright, co in and talk," Ling said as she pushed the door open. Inside was a large wardrobe, a sofa, won's belongings scattered everywhere, and a table full of costics. Two-thirds of the desk, ant for work, was used as a storage space. "Don't mind the ss, have a seat." Ling busily tidied up the ladies' clothing, making room for the two n to sit.
"I think we better find another place!" Xu Ming awkwardly yanked a pair of panties out from where he was about to sit. This was clearly a changing room, and the cupboards were packed with won's items and clothing. Even though he was here on official business, the situation did make him feel awkward.
Noticing his discomfort, Ling tidied the table and picked up her bag. "There's a small teahouse nearby; I'll treat you guys to so tea."
Stirring her juice, wrinkles had already appeared at the corners of Ling's eyes, a result of frequent late nights, making her look more haggard during the day—a common problem for working girls. Without proper care, aging occurs faster than usual.
"You're here to ask about Ye Zi, aren't you?" The fruit in the orange juice diluted the taste but was still equally sour and bitter. "She's a part-tir here, as I ntioned last ti."
"How is Ye Zi's situation with clients here?"
"Alright, I guess. Middle-aged n seem to like innocent young girls like her. Isn't the Lolita trend popular now?"
"I've seen District Chief Yao here last ti, his Secretary Li, are you familiar with him?" Xu Ming cut straight to the point.
"Secretary Li? He occasionally cos by. Why do you ask?" This was a sensitive topic, and Ling raised her head, her long lashes fluttering. Without makeup, she looked much younger.
"Oh, nothing!" Xu Ming shook his head. "Will Ye Zi co here today?"
"Not sure. She seems quite busy lately, working part-ti three tis a week. She hasn't co this week. Director Xu, is sothing wrong with this girl?" Ling asked, uneasy.
"There's no issue, just that soone saw her having close contact with Secretary Li, so we ca to check it out. You know how people of status dislike being photographed." Xu Ming intentionally ntioned the affair between Ye Zi and Secretary Li, watching Ling's expression.
"With Secretary Li?" Ling's doubtful expression made Xu Ming feel sothing odd behind the issue. "That seems unlikely!"
"Why? Isn't Ye Zi Secretary Li's type?"
"Liking is one thing, doing is another."
"What do you an by that?"
"Ye Zi is not of legal age yet. Soone as dignified as Secretary Li wouldn't dare touch her."
"Not of legal age?" This was another bombshell, Xu Ming turned to look at Shi Shuai. "Mama-san, you really have the guts to say this. Don't you know it's illegal?"
"I know, but soone pushed her in, what could I do?"
"Who was it?"
"Please, gentlen, don't ask further. How can anyone live if you keep pressing?" Ling bit on the straw, her troubled expression was beyond words. "In short, there's no possibility between Secretary Li and Ye Zi. Anyone who saw them together must be mistaken."
Under Ling's assurance, Xu Ming got into the car, his head resting on one hand while the other hand tapped the steering wheel. "The Secretary Li who went to 'Phoenix Tail' may not be the one you saw."
"What do we do now?" Shi Shuai also felt the severity of the situation.
"Wait, wait for the real person, ask!" Xu Ming couldn't think of any other thod, and dialed An Geng's phone, confirming their location before rushing off.
"I think the girl you saw is indeed Ye Zi." The place they were approaching was the sa as the location in Shi Shuai's photo. It was now one in the afternoon, and An Geng had already settled into the car from the side.
"Are you sure they haven't co out after going in?" Xu Ming asked.
"No, this building has a back door, just explored it earlier. Even if they co out from there, they have to circle back to the front street to exit."
"The woman is the sa, the man may not be." Xu Ming said sothing that An Geng didn't understand. "Notify the boss, this is beyond us."
"Didn't you say you wanted to ask in person?"
"Let's wait a bit more, I fear startling them."'
Just as he finished speaking, a police car roared past them. "It's Wang Xi!" Shi Shuai imdiately recognized the person in the car. "Seeing how urgent he looks, sothing must have happened!"
"Let's follow and check it out. He didn't notify us, maybe the issue isn't serious."
Wang Xi's police car had its sirens blaring, and the cars made way, providing him with clear road conditions. Following closely behind, Xu Ming picked up the radio. "Wang Xi, what's going on?"
"Lao Xu, a female corpse was found on Binjiang Road, the boss wants to head over!"
"Binjiang Avenue? That place is quite far!" Shi Shuai added, wondering why the boss would go to such a place, almost at Yanjing's outskirts.
"Who else is at the station?"
"Li Wei is on watch, I'm taking two over. Where are you?"
"I'm right behind you!"
"Ah!" Wang Xi turned his head to look back, Xu Ming's police car was right behind them.
"Watch the front, want to die?" Xu Ming imdiately scolded for this action, who drives while looking back. "We're following behind you, be mindful of the road."
"Got it!"
Binjiang Avenue is a highway connection to the sea areas of neighboring provinces. However, the actual sea is still a distance away; the area is mainly for cargo transport, with large docks on the other end. Fishing boats that sail out typically berth here, the sea breeze doesn't reach the city, fishern settled here are under mariti jurisdiction, not within the North District scope. The corpse was first discovered by a fisherman, and hadn't undergone any sedint treatnt, floating on the sea surface.
The Mariti Bureau received the report and after comparing photos, called Xiao Lin. The body was swollen due to being subrged in seawater, making it hard to identify, but so hair characteristics sowhat resembled the person Xiao Lin and her team were seeking. Hua Qingyi had already driven to the scene, while Xiao Lin was crouching on the ground, examining the corpse. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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