Chapter 9: The Vanished Her (Part 2)

Chapter 9: The Vanished Her (Part 2)

That afternoon, all members of the second team gathered to analyze the case.

Photos of Teng Fei, Liu Yuwei, and Teng Rong were pinned on the crime board, along with locations such as the outdoor store, the hospital, Teng Fei's current residence, the rental apartment where Teng Fei and Liu Yuwei had lived together, and the Qin Dongzi Canyon where they had traveled before their wedding.

Based on all the clues gathered so far, Tang Xiaochuan reconstructed the events that had transpired.

Teng Fei, who once worked at an outdoor sports store, met supermarket clerk Liu Yuwei by chance. Both shared similar family backgrounds—neither had parents—and found many commonalities in their experiences. They quickly fell in love and moved into a rental apartment near the outdoor store, living together for a month. According to those who knew them, they never argued or had any conflicts.

Soon after, they decided to get married, a plan Teng Fei discussed with his colleagues at the outdoor store and his sister, Teng Rong.

Before the wedding, Teng Fei prepared some outdoor gear and they went to the Qin Dongzi Canyon, a branch of the larger Qin Dong Gorge. This route was undeveloped but still attracted many hikers. With Teng Fei’s extensive experience in outdoor activities, they traveled together.

On March 8th, around noon, they arrived at the Zi Canyon and decided to spend the night in the forest. However, the next morning, while Teng Fei was still asleep, Liu Yuwei left alone. Teng Fei searched for her but couldn't find her. He contacted the rescue team, and by evening, they found one of Liu Yuwei's hiking shoes near a deep pool by a waterfall.

After confirming that Liu Yuwei had met with an accident in this area, the rescue team conducted a thorough search but found no other belongings or her body. Thus, Liu Yuwei was declared dead due to an accident.

Following this incident, Teng Fei resigned from the outdoor store, possibly to take care of his sister's illness. Soon after, he began writing novels, initially posting them on forums. Due to their bold content, they quickly gained attention, eventually leading to publishers seeking him out.

This was all the information they had gathered so far.

After Tang Xiaochuan finished speaking, everyone's gaze lingered on the address on the crime board—the Qin Dongzi Canyon. What had really happened there? Was it exactly as described?

"Captain Han, Teng Fei is returning from Shanghai tomorrow. Can we bring him back for questioning?" Zhao Leiting asked.

"Questioning? There's no motive for murder. Do you think Teng Fei will tell us anything?" Feng Shaomin said coldly.

Han Changlin nodded. "Feng is right. From every aspect, there seems to be no conflict of interest or emotion between them. Why would Teng Fei have a motive to kill someone he loved?"

The air grew heavy.

"What if he killed her for material for his novel?" Zhao Leiting blurted out.

Meng Siqi felt a chill run down her spine. If that were true, it would be too outrageous.

Zhao Leiting added, "I've seen foreign movies where people commit crimes to experience novel plots."

"Enough with these wild speculations," Captain Han shot him a cold glance.

Zhao Leiting stuck out his tongue.

Everyone stared at the crime board, lost in thought. Meng Siqi did the same, but her gaze slowly shifted from the Zi Canyon to Teng Rong's photo—a healthy Teng Rong, not the sick one. She recalled what Teng Rong had said earlier: "My brother is my guardian angel." She spoke up hesitantly, "Could it be related to Teng Rong?"

Everyone turned to look at her. Meng Siqi's words seemed to suggest a new direction. Zhao Leiting asked, "Why do you think it might be related to Teng Rong?"

Teng Rong's involvement seemed highly unlikely, and Zhao Leiting's tone implied this.

With everyone's gaze on her, Meng Siqi smiled awkwardly. "I just had a sudden thought. Teng Rong was seriously ill at the time, and she needed Teng Fei's care the most. Why did Teng Fei choose to marry Liu Yuwei then?"

This question stumped everyone present, and their expressions froze.

After a moment of silence, Tang Xiaochuan spoke softly, "To ward off bad luck?"

Everyone looked surprised.

"Tang Xiaochuan, are you superstitious? Warding off bad luck?" Zhao Leiting objected first.

"This isn't superstition," Tang Xiaochuan replied calmly. His skin was slightly tanned, and he had a square face, giving him a solid appearance. He continued, "In my hometown, I've heard elders say that if someone is seriously ill, a red wedding can ward off bad luck."

Given that such customs existed in some places, no one commented further. Their gazes shifted to Han Changlin, as if the investigation direction might change if it were indeed a warding-off ritual.

"All possibilities are possible, but we should focus on Teng Fei for now. He's returning tomorrow," Han Changlin said. "Zhao Leiting, Meng Siqi, you two should approach him indirectly. It's not yet a criminal case."

"Understood, Captain Han."

The next afternoon, Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting arrived early at Jinyang City Railway Station to wait for Teng Fei.

Meng Siqi wore a light blue denim outfit. Usually, she tied her hair in a ponytail, but today she let it down, adding a touch of warmth and elegance. She looked more like a college student.

"Here." Zhao Leiting handed her a work badge, his eyes filled with admiration. "Meng Siqi, you look really nice today."

She felt a bit self-conscious. "Are you saying I didn't look good before?"

"No, no," Zhao Leiting waved his hands. "I didn't mean that. You just look different today."

Meng Siqi hung the badge around her neck. "Thanks for the compliment. By the way, Teng Fei should arrive in half an hour. Where should we wait for him?"

"The waiting hall. We need to make it look real."

As they walked over, Meng Siqi noticed the camera Zhao Leiting carried. It was large but stylish for its era.

"That's a nice camera. Do you like taking photos?"

Zhao Leiting lifted the camera. "How about I take one of you?"

"No thanks, I don't photograph well."

"If you don't photograph well, there are no beauties in Jinyang."

"Ha, stop it."

At two o'clock, the station exit was crowded with people. Holding photos, they scanned the crowd, spotting a young man resembling Teng Fei.

Teng Fei finally emerged, and Zhao Leiting waved a sign that read "Welcome Author Teng Fei."

Teng Fei spotted them immediately and paused for a moment, his expression unreadable—was it joy or caution? But ultimately, he stopped in front of the two.

Zhao Leiting put away his sign and showed them his work badge. "Mr. Teng Fei, we are reporters from Yiwei Magazine and also your fans."

Teng Fei was about 1.7 meters tall, dressed in casual suit, looking very energetic. His hair was neatly styled, and he wore rimless glasses on his fair face, giving him a scholarly appearance.

He finally smiled. "Thank you."

Meng Siqi promptly waved the book in her hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Teng, would it be convenient to conduct an interview with you? Just a casual chat about your book."

Teng Fei did not respond immediately but glanced at Meng Siqi, eventually focusing on her badge.

In fact, their badges were borrowed through Zhao Leiting's connections to ensure authenticity. However, there was no guarantee they wouldn't be discovered.

"There's a tea restaurant nearby," Zhao Leiting interrupted Teng Fei's gaze.

"Alright, but I have other things to do. Twenty minutes?"

"Of course."

Soon, the three arrived at a tea restaurant near the station, choosing a less crowded spot.

Earlier, Zhao Leiting and Meng Siqi had agreed that Meng Siqi would handle the interview today. Zhao Leiting worried that he might inadvertently reveal his true identity as a police officer.

Meng Siqi took the lead, but she faced a challenge: she hadn't even read the book. She stayed up until 2 AM the night before, falling asleep over the book.

This morning, staring at the faint dark circles under her eyes, she applied some light makeup, which was different from her usual natural look but fitting for a magazine reporter who often appeared in public.

After introducing her position and name at the magazine, Meng Siqi began the conversation. "Mr. Teng, we are very interested in your book. For example, the love story between the male protagonist and the female protagonist is truly beautiful. I remember one line: if in this world nothing can be obtained, then love will be the last meal to savor..."

Zhao Leiting initially listened but soon found himself fixated on Meng Siqi's eloquent lips. He suddenly realized how skilled Meng Siqi was; she had clearly done her homework, something he couldn't have managed.

Clearly, Teng Fei also relaxed, his expression becoming more at ease. After Meng Siqi quoted a few lines from his book, his lips curved into a slight smile.

Meng Siqi seized the opportunity to move to the main topic. "Mr. Teng, what inspired you to write this book? Did you draw inspiration from any real-life experiences? Because the story is truly captivating."

"Hmm..." Teng Fei seemed to be thinking, his gaze fixed on Meng Siqi's face. "If I must say, yes, there was someone I loved deeply. Those feelings naturally flowed into my writing."

Although Teng Fei didn't mention Liu Yuwei by name, everyone could tell he was referring to her.

While the two conversed, Zhao Leiting wasn't idle. He stood nearby, posing as a photographer, taking a few photos of them.

Whenever the camera focused on him, Teng Fei instinctively turned his head, seemingly avoiding being photographed. Meng Siqi, concerned about Teng Fei's mood, gestured for Zhao Leiting to step away.

Teng Fei continued talking, describing the relationship as beautiful and romantic. Meng Siqi could see a hint of nostalgia and sadness in his face.

If the book ended here, it would be a perfect story. However, in the end, the male protagonist kills the female protagonist because he believes that her death is the only way to preserve their eternal love.

The latter part of the book delves deeply into the protagonist's twisted and extreme views on love, detailing the brutal murder of his girlfriend in graphic detail. This disturbing content has gained popularity, making it hard to believe and leaving many perplexed.

After a long conversation, Meng Siqi noticed that Teng Fei spoke openly about his past. She felt the time was right to ask the prepared question: "Mr. Teng, if it was so beautiful, why did you destroy her? What is your true view on love?"

This question was sharp, probing the edge of the motive for murder. Zhao Leiting marveled at its boldness.

Teng Fei's expression darkened slightly compared to his earlier ease. He still managed a small smile. "Miss Zheng, you wouldn't understand. Loving someone deeply, only to have them leave you forever—it's heart-wrenching. If given the chance to relive it, you might choose another way to make her immortal—"

He paused. "Perhaps killing her in the novel is a good ending."

Meng Siqi felt a bead of sweat on her forehead, shocked by his thoughts and his openness.

This reminded her of Zhao Guanghui's real motives for killing Zhou Jieli. Meng Siqi often compared unrelated events, and Zhao Guanghui's actions seemed to align with Teng Fei's idea of "immortality."

This made Meng Siqi realize how frightening Teng Fei's inner thoughts were.

Moreover, he didn't seem to hide anything, always speaking candidly.

He told everything, making you believe it was just a fantasy.

Reality and fiction are different, perhaps what he truly wanted to convey.

He didn't need to hide or lie; he was sincere.

If he really killed Liu Yuwei, it would be truly terrifying, and his reasoning would be suffocating.

Pushing further might yield nothing.

But now, Teng Fei's lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of smugness. He turned the tables. "I assume, based on my guess, you two are actually police officers?"