The fact that the deceased made only slight noises on the rooftop before being murdered strongly suggested she knew her killer, and in the vast majority of homicides, the perpetrator is an acquaintance. He Shuhua was a young woman, and her social circle must have been substantial, so the investigation should begin with those closest to her.

We had already learned from He Shuhua's boyfriend that she had many friends on QQ and WeChat. Gao Jianning's preliminary investigation revealed that most of these contacts were local to Anyang City, with only a tiny minority from out of town, which conveniently narrowed our scope.

We first had Gao Jianning lock down those friends and notify them to report to the precinct for questioning; if they failed to appear, we would go directly to their doorsteps. Of course, the interrogation would be handled by us in the Special Investigation Office, while the legwork and house calls would be delegated to the assisting Fourth Criminal Investigation Unit.

One could easily imagine the look on the face of that self-important fellow, Hong Yang, as he shuttled around Anyang City with a few subordinates—that image of utter disarray would surely be more entertaining than anything on film or television. Thus, the Special Investigation Office was filled with cheer in those days; our joy was built entirely upon the misery of the Fourth Criminal Investigation Unit.

That afternoon, after having just finished questioning two 'friends,' I was relaxing in the office, sipping tea, when the door burst open with a bang, and Wang Xuyang stumbled in.

He rushed to my desk, grabbed a cup of tea, and chugged it down heartily, swallowing until it felt like it had pierced straight through him. Then, wiping the sweat from his brow, he shouted, "I'm exhausted, completely worn out! You lot are truly comfortable, legs crossed, sipping cool tea, while making my brothers run themselves ragged outside."

Having interacted with him a few times before, Xiao Cuo was starting to find this loose-tongued guy grating. So, he drawled sarcastically, "Well, it’s only because you all are so capable that this kind of work gets handed to you."

But Wang Xuyang was fundamentally thick-skinned; Xiao Cuo’s jab passed him by like a cool breeze. He set down his teacup, slumped over the desk, leaned over the computer monitor, and grinned at Feng Siyan on the other side, "Hi there, beautiful. How's life treating you over here?"

Gao Jianning’s face instantly turned a sickly green, his look toward Wang Xuyang resembling that of a butcher spotting prime meat.

Feng Siyan, however, remained unfazed, offering a faint smile. "It's going well. Same for you, I hope."

"Ah, beautiful," Wang Xuyang shifted his rear end, settling himself right on the desk, facing Feng Siyan. "Didn't you hear me just now? My legs are about to fall off from running."

I watched his two legs swinging carelessly beneath the desk and sneered, "Keep swinging them, kid. You’ll find out the hard way when one actually falls off." But I could also tell this guy had designs on Feng Siyan; otherwise, why would he haunt the Special Investigation Office at every possible opportunity? He was practically the first outsider to frequent our halls.

I looked at the man, contemplating whether I should deploy some strategic move to curb him. Gao Jianning was my cousin, after all, and in a matter of such clear right and wrong, I absolutely had to stand firm in defending his interests.

Feng Siyan showed little emotion, merely stating, "Then please stay a while longer."

Wang Xuyang's face immediately bloomed like a flower. "If the beauty commands it, how dare I refuse? Then this humble scholar shall sit." Having said that, he hopped off the desk, grabbed a rolling chair, and moved to sit right next to Feng Siyan.

Gao Jianning was nearly suffocated with rage, yet he sat frozen, only his hands shaking violently, his teeth grinding audibly.

I saw that this wouldn't do; the guy was like stubborn flypaper, possessing a touch of the reckless abandon of a desperate fighter. How could my gentle, reserved, and tactful little cousin possibly stand against him?

With that thought, I silently shifted my foot, pushing my chair sideways. Just as Wang Xuyang was about to plant himself down, I extended a hand—a Rulai kick, metaphorically speaking.

"Ouch! Who—who did that? That's despicable!" Wang Xuyang bounced up from the floor, clutching his backside and shouting.

Xiao Cuo chuckled, "Heh heh, you didn't steady yourself, blaming the chair for having legs. That’s a fine tradition of the Fourth Criminal Investigation Unit."

Xiao Cuo’s words might work on others, but they were utterly useless against someone as impervious as Wang Xuyang. It seemed the old veteran, me, had to step in.

I let out a knowing chuckle. "Hong Yang isn't here, and you start bouncing around, huh? Want me to make a quick call and report your movements to him?" I knew every member of the Fourth Unit feared Hong Yang, and this kid was no exception.

Sure enough, hearing my words, the fellow could no longer sit still. He changed his tune, "I have something urgent, gotta run!" As he spoke, he was already halfway to the door, then blew a flying kiss toward Feng Siyan: "Baby, your big brother has to go now. Let's chat again when I have time!"

I was furious inside, but not at Wang Xuyang—I was angry at my useless cousin. Usually, he could debate everything from the north to the south, the east to the west, yet when it came to a real close-quarters confrontation, he folded. This was a blatant declaration of war; if the kid didn't step up to meet the challenge, he'd look like a coward hiding in his shell.

I glared at him with vexation, then caught Feng Siyan in my peripheral vision. Suddenly, I sensed something unusual between them. Feng Siyan hadn't looked up the whole time, which was unlike her usual demeanor. Could this little lass have developed genuine feelings for Gao Jianning?

After several days of intense and meticulous screening, the results were deeply disappointing: every single 'friend' had an airtight alibi. With the case making such slow progress, everyone was feeling deflated.

The door suddenly flew open, and Zhang Jiewei rushed in, shouting to everyone, "Jiang Hua is missing!"

Jiang Hua was the boyfriend of the victim found in the rental apartment, He Shuhua. He was the one who initially reported the crime, but now he was gone. What did this imply?

Could he be the real killer? Did he murder He Shuhua, then feign reporting the crime to mislead the police, using the time to find a safe hiding spot? Now that the spot was secured, he had slipped away?

Regardless, this news was a critical lead; we had to find Jiang Hua.

Gao Jianning immediately tried to locate Jiang Hua's position via computer, but his phone was off. However, this didn't stump Gao Jianning, the computer whiz. He swiftly activated the police's special investigation system and soon pinpointed the location to the Sanhe area.

Sanhe was the old territory of the supply and marketing cooperative. I had encountered henchmen of ‘Mandible’ there before and incidentally busted a child trafficking ring.

According to Gao Jianning’s findings, this was the last area where Jiang Hua’s phone was active. Even if he ditched the phone before fleeing, we could still track his movements by interviewing locals.

Zhang Jiewei and I immediately headed to Sanhe. Xiao Cuo did not accompany us; he was busy pursuing the 'Grim Reaper' case. Elder Jiang’s instructions were clear: Xiao Cuo was to spearhead that investigation, while we handled the rental apartment homicide.

Upon arriving in Sanhe, we found several residential blocks based on the location Gao Jianning provided—this was the tightest search radius the detection system could offer.

Next, Zhang Jiewei and I went door-to-door in the buildings, showing around Jiang Hua's portrait photo and asking for identification. By the time we finished the first building, my throat was dry, and my legs ached, yet we had found nothing. Zhang Jiewei was the same, though his stamina was like a bear's; as soon as we finished one building, he immediately moved to the next.

After checking five buildings with zero success, I began to doubt Gao Jianning’s investigative prowess. I pulled out my phone and called him: "Hey, did you get this wrong, kid? There’s absolutely nothing here. Are you messing with us? Why don't you come down here and try searching these floors yourself?"

"Brother Lei, this is official business; how dare I trick you? Search more carefully; perhaps the clue is right beside you. Wasn't it the same way on the rooftop of the rental apartment last time?"

He sounded convincing, but he spent his days exchanging flirtatious glances with his 'goddess' in the office while we two legs did the hard work. I cursed him a couple of times and hung up, then bent my head and trudged toward the next building.

However, we combed through more than a dozen surrounding blocks, still coming up empty-handed.

Both of us, panting heavily, collapsed onto the steps at the base of a building. I loudly declared, "No more searching! No more! Gao Jianning, that bastard must have lied to us, or maybe his machine is busted. We could search for another hundred years and waste our time."

Zhang Jiewei was likely exhausted too, just breathing heavily as he sat there. He had easily run up five or six more flights than me. Counting three to four units per floor, with ten flights of stairs per unit, the total mileage was significant.

"Let's just go back now and give that kid Gao Jianning a good thrashing, so he doesn't treat us like draft animals in the future," I grumbled angrily.

Zhang Jiewei caught his breath for a moment, then said, "Let's just hold on a little longer. Victory might be just around the corner."

I scoffed. Looking this worn out, and he’s reciting slogans? I truly admired his spirit. In my view, victory wasn't close by; it was right under our feet.

"Fine, you go find your victory. My victory is sitting here for another hour or so," I replied weakly.

But Zhang Jiewei was a man of action. He sprang up like a tiger and said to me, "You rest a bit more. I’ll check those buildings over there."

Watching his retreating back, I felt a flicker of genuine emotion—not personal affection, but a profound respect, as an ordinary citizen, for a dedicated, tireless, and passionate police officer.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, all our efforts amounted to nothing. We dragged our weary bodies onto the police car, looking like two old horses after the Long March.

Zhang Jiewei usually fought for the driver’s seat, but today he seemed hesitant. He gave me a pitiful look, and I quickly waved my hand, "Don't look at me. That’s your specialty. I won't fight you for it!"

For the first time, an expression crossed Zhang Jiewei's face. He gave a wry smile, then slid into the driver's seat, sounding nearly drained, "Buckle up!"

I was startled. Wasn't this guy clearly trying to scare me? Fine, I hadn't climbed as many stairs today, so I still had a little energy left. Driving shouldn't be a problem. But if the kid really did drive us off a cliff, who would I appeal to for justice?

I jumped out, opened the driver's side door, and yanked him out, only to find he was genuinely near collapse. When I pulled him, he slumped over and fell.

"Zhang Jiewei, what’s wrong with you? Stop playing dead; I don't fall for that trick!" I shouted menacingly.

Zhang Jiewei managed to pry one eye open slightly, trying to speak but failing. Only then did I notice the cluster of fine blisters on his lips.

He wasn't pretending; this bear of a man was truly depleted!

Without a second thought, I helped him lie down in the back seat, poured some bottled water into his mouth, and splashed some on his face, then sped the car toward the City Hospital.

Fortunately, my driving skills were decent enough to get him there in time. Later, the doctor told me that if we had been half an hour later, his life might have been in danger. And because of that half hour, this bear of a man walked out of the hospital the very next day.

When Zhang Jiewei returned to the office, Xiao Cuo, Gao Jianning, and the others looked surprised. We had planned to visit him today; how was he already back?

Zhang Jiewei’s complexion was still a bit pale, but he looked mostly normal. He turned to me and said, "Wang Lei, thank you."

"Don't thank me; you should thank yourself. If you hadn't threatened me about the seatbelt back then, I wouldn't have bothered, and we both might have been totaled. Actually, I should be thanking you!" I quipped with a laugh.

Gao Jianning and Xiao Cuo leaned in, sensing there was a story behind it.

I raised my hand and delivered a heavy punch to Gao Jianning's head, scolding, "It's all your fault, you useless guy! You nearly sent two of our top men to the grave. Tell me, what should happen to you?"

Gao Jianning rubbed his head aggrievedly. "No way! It really was there; you just had bad luck not finding it. Why blame me?"

I was about to deliver a few more blows when Feng Siyan walked in, so I stopped. After all, Gao Jianning was my cousin; until he successfully woos the 'Goddess,' I, as the older brother, had to save him some face.

As soon as Feng Siyan entered, Gao Jianning instantly reverted to the image of a refined gentleman, flicking his nonexistent fringe of hair, and flashing a dazzling smile at her—a sight that nearly made me gag right there in my seat.

It had been some time since Feng Siyan joined the Special Investigation Office. During this period, she and Gao Jianning spent almost every day together, glued to their computers all day long. As an outsider, I had no idea what they were actually working on. But Gao Jianning's progress was agonizingly slow. Considering they were practically inseparable, even a stone should be close to blooming, yet this kid remained silent, relying only on subtlety and reserve, failing to seize the moment when the flower is ripe. If he doesn't pick it now, someone else will snatch it away.

Feng Siyan was an excellent officer, possessing both outward beauty and strong character. As far as I knew, she had numerous admirers and suitors within the police force, and I heard many young men outside were also enamored with her. Taking the closest example, that Wang Xuyang from the Fourth Unit was a complete womanizer. If she were a slightly more flirtatious woman, he probably would have won her over in a few days. I wonder how long she can hold out against his bombardment. I genuinely worried that if, one day, this little lady ended up with another man, my dear cousin would be heartbroken.

At that moment, Feng Siyan sat down next to Gao Jianning, whispered something to him, and then the rapid clicking of a keyboard filled the air.

Just as I was reaching the peak of boredom, Gao Jianning suddenly stood up and called out to me, "Brother Lei, I just used a more precise, overlapping network positioning method. I can now essentially narrow down Jiang Bo’s mobile phone location to within three buildings."

When I heard the first half of that sentence, I seriously considered throwing my teacup, but just as I was about to throw it, the second half came out—three buildings. My heart leaped. "You’re sure this time it won't be wrong?"

Gao Jianning pouted, "It wasn't wrong before; these three buildings are still within yesterday's search perimeter."

I couldn't be bothered to argue. I held out my hand: "Write the building numbers on a piece of paper for me. If you're wrong this time, we'll have it in black and white, and I won't be polite about it."

Gao Jianning quickly jotted them down and handed the paper to me. I took a look and saw: "Buildings 47, 158, 215." I glanced at it once and shouted, "The numbers on these three buildings are nearly a hundred apart. How can they be together?"

Gao Jianning insisted, "Absolutely no mistake. I have the most detailed architectural model maps of Anyang City. These three buildings are adjacent. If I'm wrong, you can punish me as you see fit."

I figured, since it was only three buildings, I wouldn't wear out my feet too much, nor would it kill me. I left the precinct and drove over alone. Zhang Jiewei had just been discharged from the hospital; I wouldn't be so cruel as to drag him along.

After driving around Sanhe for a bit, I realized the building numbering was indeed peculiar. It didn't follow a regular sequence building by building; rather, the count reset around clusters where buildings were concentrated, likely because they were part of the same initial construction phase. Gao Jianning’s numbers—47, 158, and 215—happened to be the focal points of three such clusters, resulting in these three buildings being right next to each other.

There were no traffic police here, and cars were parked haphazardly. I parked under a shady tree and got out, looking at the three buildings ahead. Building 47 was to the west, 158 was to the southeast, and 215 was to the southwest. The distance between the three was extremely short, perhaps only about fifteen meters—a spacing that would be unacceptable in modern commercial housing.

I recalled that I should have searched Building 158 yesterday. Zhang Jiewei must have checked the other two, but we found nothing. I hoped for better luck today.

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