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by 陈年奶泡"Therefore, there's only one conclusion: the murderer was an unknown stranger who entered the store randomly and, on a whim, decided to kill for personal gain."
Zhou Fengxu, with his slender hands crossed behind his head, stretched out his legs and leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.
After Luo Qizhong finished speaking, he massaged his temples and rose once more. Flipping through the crime scene photos, he pointed at the spot where Shi Boren first encountered his attacker.
He then turned to the second image: an open cash register and an empty drawer.
"I lean towards the possibility of it being someone the victim knew. At the very least, the deceased was familiar with the killer. Business owners usually have basic safety awareness. The fact that Mr. Shi felt comfortable counting money next to the drawer indicates that he had no suspicions about the perpetrator."
Sitting on the other side, Shi Boren remained silent for a long while. As one of the victims, he couldn't personally participate in the investigation.
Zhou Fengxu placed a comforting hand on Shi Boren's shoulder, understanding the pain his brother was going through. Losing all his loved ones in one night and having the case reopened was a heavy burden few could endure.
"Ren, do you still have any recollection of what happened back then?"
Shi Boren finally lifted his head, his eyes rimmed with dark circles from the sleepless nights, filled with bitterness and pain. He forced a bitter smile.
"In those days, when Peace and I played hide-and-seek in the cellar, our parents didn't come to call us to bed, so we fell asleep down there. The next day, it was the police who carried us out."
"But you're right about one thing, Brother Xu," Shi Boren recalled his childhood, his eyes reddening despite his efforts to hold back tears, which trickled down his cheeks.
Regaining his composure, he continued, "Ever since I can remember, Father always locked the cash register. He would never count money in front of strangers."
Luo Qizhong had investigated this case when he was younger, and even now, as an older man, he was still on the case. Naturally, he knew how much the Shi brothers had suffered after losing their parents.
Patting Shi Boren's shoulder, he said, "Stay strong. We will definitely catch the culprit."
Just then,
Gan Yizu entered again, carrying a stack of files almost as tall as himself. He carefully placed them on the desk. "Brother Xu, Group A just contacted me, saying they also have some documents for us to retrieve. I really couldn't carry any more just now."
"Alright," Zhou Fengxu pushed back his chair and stood up.
At that moment, the landline phone in the office rang.
Gan Yizu, being closer, caught sight of the caller ID and said cheerfully, "Brother Xu, it's Sister Ning on the line."
Ning Ning's nickname had been mentioned.
The already tense atmosphere in the office lightened up.
"Ah, a fine woman is sought after by many. If someone doesn't make a move soon, they might just lose the cooked chicken and let the prepared dish get cold," Luo Qizhong said, shaking his head as he lifted his coffee cup for a small sip. His gaze secretly drifted towards his superior.
Sure enough, upon hearing that nickname, the usually stern superior couldn't help but curve the corners of his lips into a smile.
Zhou Fengxu smiled and nodded slightly. "Answer quickly, don't keep her waiting too long."
Gan Yizu picked up the call, his tone enthusiastic. "Sister Ning, what can I do for you? What did you say?"
The last part of his question was spoken with a hint of surprise, as if he had been taken aback.
Silence fell over the office instantly.
The three of them waited.
Gan Yizu hung up the call, taking a long while to regain his composure. "Brother Xu..."
"What's up?" Zhou Fengxu was puzzled.
Shi Boren, concerned, stood up. "Why do you look like that? Is something wrong with Ning Ning?"
Gan Yizu took a deep breath, fully aware of the implications of the news he was about to share. He gestured for Shi Boren to sit back down.
"Brother Ren, listen to me. You have to stay calm."
"Ning Ning said she's found the killer who murdered your parents back then."
The atmosphere turned silent instantly.
With a thud.
Zhou Fengxu swiftly flipped over the desk, landing on the other side. He opened a drawer, retrieved a pistol, and tucked it into his waist, his gaze icy cold. "Dispatch! We're heading out!"
Just as Shi Boren was about to sit, the revelation exploded in his mind. Without a moment to spare, he slapped the table and bolted downstairs.
Luo Qizhong removed his reading glasses hastily and placed them on the documents, hurriedly following Gan Yizu's pace.
The group rushed out the door.
In the grand hall of the Kowloon Police Station, a large crowd had gathered.
Inspector Leung, dressed in his police uniform, stood at the press podium, being interviewed by numerous journalists from Hong Kong. He adjusted the microphone and smiled.
"In addition to the aforementioned personnel changes, the Serious Crime Unit also has some good news to share. I believe many of you journalists have heard about the Temple Street Fortune Teller. The direct application of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams can assist the police in solving cases, even more so than reasoning."
"The police station currently plans to rehire Miss Chu to join the force, and an invitation has already been extended. In the days to come, journalists can look forward to Miss Chu's performance in the Serious Crime Unit."
It was evident that the journalists were more eager to hear about another matter.
"Inspector Leung," a female journalist raised her hand.
Inspector Leung maintained his smile. "Please ask your question."
The journalist glanced at her notes, picked up the microphone, and asked, "Inspector Leung, we've noticed that the Shih family murder case from 20 years ago is being reopened for investigation. Can you confirm this?"
"Indeed," Superintendent Liang didn't refute. "Regardless of how long it's been, we persist in investigating murder cases until justice is served for the victims and their families. There are still many psychopaths in society, and new cases are constantly emerging. I advise you not to focus solely on old cases; our Homicide Unit colleagues have been performing exceptionally well in handling many recent incidents."
The journalist persisted, "Cases that have stumped many detectives in your police department over the years—will there be any hope of solving them two decades later?"
A case unsolved for twenty years would undoubtedly bring immense pressure when revisited from all quarters.
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