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She released the straw.

Mrs. Zheng knelt down, addressing Chu Yuening as if she were part of the homicide unit, "Madam, please help me, help me find the killer who took Xinya's life so she can rest in peace. I beg of you."

As long as the murderer could be found.

She was willing to do anything, anything at all, to uncover their identity.

Bang, bang, bang.

Mr. Zheng also knelt down, the echoing thuds of their prostrations resonating repeatedly in Chu Yuening's heart.

The people around them sprang into action, frantically trying to help them up.

Just as they managed to assist Mrs. Zheng, she lapsed into unconsciousness due to her emotional upheaval.

Shi Yubing hurriedly supported her into the office and immediately dialed for a doctor. Amidst the chaos, all present were weighed down with heavy hearts; Shi Boren hung his head, completely devoid of his usual jesting mood.

Gradually, the surroundings calmed down.

Chu Yuening straightened her posture and glanced at the sky before declaring, "I'll take on the Zheng family's case."

Shi Boren was about to ask something but held back as she continued.

"And I won't be charging for it."

Chapter 94

After leaving the police station, Chu Yuening headed to the opposite side of the street where the Kowloon Hospital was located. Shi Boren needed to record Uncle Zhong's statement to conclude the case, so they coincidentally traveled together.

The sky was gloomy, with the sun already hidden behind the clouds.

Following behind her, Shi Boren had his hands in his jeans pockets as he watched the girl crossing the road. He whispered, "Brother Xu, Ning Ning just said she'd help catch the kidnapper. Should we inquire about the details?"

Zhou Fengxu cast him a glance. "Remember, you're the police officer. It's your duty to apprehend criminals, not someone else's."

"I know that, but Ma Zhengqi has already fled abroad. I don't have the power to bring him back," Shi Boren said, pointing with his lips.

Zhou Fengxu's gaze followed.

The girl had already entered the hospital ahead of them.

"Ning Ning might actually have the ability to fly to America, calculate his whereabouts, and I believe she could find Ma Zhengqi's location within a day," Shi Boren speculated.

"Fly there? How long does it take to get a passport?" Zhou Fengxu seemed to be awakened, turning to ask, "Where's the mobile phone you were assigned?"

"Don't worry," Shi Boren pulled out the mobile phone from his pocket. "Equipment worth thousands must always be on me!"

As he spoke, he caressed the phone lovingly, his face almost glued to its screen in a state of bliss.

"I rely on it to communicate with my informants. The moment Ma Zhengqi steps foot back in the country, I'll surely get wind of it right away."

Team D had a wide network of informants, and ever since they discovered that Ma Zhengqi had smuggled himself out of the country, the major case unit had been in contact with their sources, keeping a tight watch on the borders.

"Keep your mobile phone line open these few days," Zhou Fengxu instructed before striding across the road with swift steps.

Left behind, Shi Boren stood rooted to the spot, his eyes widening in shock after a moment. "Could it be that Ning Ning has already calculated that Ma Zhengqi will return? Otherwise, why would Brother Xu instruct us to monitor the phone?"

No way.

Could Ning Ning have predicted this?

Shi Boren shook his head again. "I don't think so. Brother Xu was probably just being cautious since he knows I can be careless."

Without seeing your birth chart or a photo of Ma Zhengqi, no master would be able to predict this, right?

However, he had overlooked the fact that Chu Yuening had seen the faces of the Zheng couple.

In the hospital room.

Zhong Chang sat half-upright while Shi Boren took a chair beside the bed, holding a statement book and a pen.

"Uncle, now that Ding Yanli has confessed, she did indeed poison your food in four separate instances. Before that, did you notice anything amiss?"

Zhong Chang's eyes widened as he clutched the bedsheet, refusing to accept the truth. "Officer, are you saying it was really Li Li who poisoned me?"

Shi Boren paused in his note-taking, looking skeptical. "Uncle, you're not still in denial, are you? Four doses of arsenic—had fate not been on your side, the whole village would've shared a meal with you."

Wouldn't it be like hosting a feast after one's death if everyone in the village had enough to eat?

"Sigh," Zhong Chang sighed deeply. "I just find it strange. Li Li usually dislikes household chores, let alone cooking. Why would she suddenly prepare a meal?"

Shi Boren picked up his pen to take notes.

"I could tolerate and understand her tantrums and capriciousness, and I thought she had finally become sensible. But it turns out she only did it to poison me," Zhong Chang said with a wry smile on his face.

After finishing the statement, Shi Boren patted Zhong Chang on the shoulder. "Try to see things more positively. Next time, marry an elderly woman. Young girls might not be after your wealth; perhaps they're attracted to your looks?"

Zhong Chang laughed bitterly and waved his hand. "How dare I even consider marrying again? Inspector, you have quite a sense of humor."

Speaking of which, he looked at the pair standing by the neighboring bed with guilt. "Master Chu, I'm truly sorry. You were waiting for the shop to open while I ended up like this."

Chu Yuening dismissed his concern, placing the fruits she bought on the bedside table. "Your recovery is more important. There's no rush with the store renovation. I have a place to set up my stall anyway."

Zhong Chang nodded. "I'll resume work once I've recovered."

Suddenly —

"Meow..."

The window was ajar, and a nimble black-and-white feral cat leaped in from outside. It swished its tail and softly paced across the floor, stopping beneath Zhong Chang's sickbed. It lifted its head, its large, jet-black eyes, like onyx beads, fixated on Zhong Chang.

"It's you again." Having narrowly escaped death, Zhong Chang recognized the cat beneath his bed as the one that had once saved his life.

Seemingly understanding, the cat used its hind legs to jump onto the soft hospital bed, bouncing around and leaving dusty paw prints on the pristine white sheets like a scattering of gray plum blossoms.

Ordinarily, someone would have chased the cat away by now.

Yet, Zhong Chang reached out to cradle the cat in his arms, tenderly stroking it. "From now on, I'll be all alone again. Would you mind keeping me company, old man that I am?"

The cat meowed in response, rubbing against Uncle Zhong's palm as if in agreement, its eyes half-closed, relishing the affectionate touch.