Chapter 101 [VIP] The Headless Dismembered Body Case at the Flower Museum (17)

Chapter 101 [VIP] The Headless Dismembered Body Case at the Flower Museum (17)

Chen Jierong jogged to the parking lot and saw Lu He and Meng Siqi walking together in the distance.

The moonlight was bright, and even amidst the tension of her work, her emotions paused for a moment. The two of them, their silhouettes bathed in the moon's halo, walked with synchronized steps, side by side under the moon. Their heights matched, and their figures were both perfect, giving the impression that they had known each other for a very long time, guarding one another.

She had been busy with this case recently and had no time for her personal life. However, at that moment, she smiled faintly, her eyes curving, as she recalled what Commissioner Liu had once casually mentioned to her, "In your spare time, you should communicate more with Lu He."

Communicating in spare time, Commissioner Liu's intention was clear. Lu He, known as the "green lamp and ancient Buddha" in the police station, never got close to girls. She, too, was the "ivy" in the station, isolated from men. The fact that these two could communicate suggested it was inevitably about feelings.

She understood Commissioner Liu's thoughts, but she did not agree in her heart. She and Lu He were close colleagues. To her, Lu He was the best friend and partner in her career. They might talk endlessly about work-related topics, but they would never discuss matters of the heart. She would never forget how she felt when she first met Xiang Jie.

Unable to hold back, her eyes glistened in the moonlight. She wiped them with her slender white hand and was reminded of the important matter at hand.

When she returned by train from Shanghai that noon, she had called the office of Team One, and later Team Two, but no one answered. It was only when she called the forensic examiner's room that she learned both teams were out on a search operation.

This matter was significant but not urgent, and she hesitated to disturb Commissioner Liu. She immediately boarded the train, hoping to see Lu He in the evening and inform him of this matter as soon as possible.

"Captain Lu!" She jogged a few more steps and called out.

Lu He was walking towards the car door and turned to look.

Meng Siqi followed the sound and, under the moonlight, saw Chen Jierong at first glance.

She walked quickly, her chest heaving, indicating she had something important. She called out, "Sister Rong!"

"Siqi!" Chen Jierong replied as she walked, reaching the two of them, slightly out of breath. "Take a look, I just..." Her throat tightened.

Lu He took the file folder and comforted her, "Take your time."

As Lu He opened the file, Chen Jierong continued more calmly, "When I examined the body earlier, I found the stomach wall to be rigid with a mass. At first, I suspected it might be a benign tumor, but the instruments here couldn't detect it. I took some stomach tissue for consultation at the Jinyang City General Hospital, but the opinions were inconsistent, so I went to Shanghai. I have a respected mentor in Shanghai who works at the Tumor Research Institute. I handed the stomach tissue to him and finally got an accurate conclusion."

Lu He had opened the file folder, which contained a stamped test report, but in the night, the words were unreadable. He looked up and continued listening to Chen Jierong.

Meng Siqi, exhausted from a day of investigation and evening interrogations, forced herself to concentrate and tried to catch every word Chen Jierong said.

Chen Jierong said, "We found that the deceased had cancerous cells in the stomach, which had not fully spread but had reached the middle to late stages."

This news was undoubtedly a crucial clue in the case, which is why Chen Jierong was in such a hurry.

A question was immediately raised: if the murderer knew the deceased was a cancer patient, why kill her?

During this era, the cure rate for cancer was not high, and even if there was a possibility of a cure, it might require a large amount of money.

Unless the murderer was unaware that the deceased had cancer, which, according to Li Muxiao's testimony, was quite possible.

In Meng Siqi's mind, she quickly considered various possible answers.

Chen Jierong spoke quickly, and as she finished, she was still catching her breath, her slightly fluctuating breathing adding a rhythmic quality to the quiet night.

Lu He's magnetic voice said, "Good, Jierong. This is indeed significant. However, today Li Muxiao has confessed."

"Confessed?"

"Yes, he seems not to have known the deceased was ill, but I will follow up on this. I will check if any hospitals have records of cancer patients in their twenties. Maybe it can provide answers to some new questions."

"Good." Chen Jierong nodded.

Meng Siqi also considered the new questions Lu He mentioned. There was still an unresolved question: why did Ruan Mengying suddenly leave, and why did she return a year later with a different attitude towards Li Muxiao? Could it be connected to her terminal illness?

While she was lost in thought, Lu He said to Chen Jierong, "Get in the car, I'll give you a ride."

Chen Jierong's expression paused for a moment, and then she quickly smiled. "No need, I have to go back and tidy up."

Seeing how weary Chen Jierong looked, her appearance tired and travel-worn from days of hard work without proper rest, Meng Siqi felt a pang of heartache. She gently took Chen Jierong's hand. "Sister Rong, come with us. You can handle your work tomorrow. It's already past 9 PM; you need to rest."

Chen Jierong looked at her, seemingly hesitating, but then slowly nodded. "Alright, let's go together."

Chen Jierong opened the back seat door. "Siqi, you sit in the front."

"I'll sit with Sister Rong," Meng Siqi said, turning to get in from the other side.

As the car started, Meng Siqi chatted with Chen Jierong for a while, asking if everything had gone smoothly during her trip to Shanghai and if anything interesting had happened. Chen Jierong answered with a smile.

She said that while waiting for the test report, she had walked along the Bund with her mentor. She saw the Oriental Pearl Tower being built and mentioned that it would be completed within a couple of years if all went well.

She had studied medicine in Shanghai and still held a special place in her heart for the city, but she returned to Jinyang City after graduation, primarily because her family was there.

She suggested that Meng Siqi visit the Oriental Pearl Tower once it was finished, saying it would be beautiful. She also spoke of the breeze along the Huangpu River, which could wash away one's troubles.

Chen Jierong also talked about her early days at work, saying that she was initially hesitant to perform autopsies, as it was entirely different from the cadavers she had dissected in medical school, but she soon adapted to the work of a forensic examiner.

When she stopped describing her work after two years, Meng Siqi, who had been deeply engrossed in the story, suddenly noticed that Chen Jierong's eyes were shimmering in the dim light.

Meng Siqi didn't disturb her; perhaps recalling the past brought back many memories, the purest of emotions.

"Sister Rong, rest a bit."

"Hmm," Chen Jierong looked at her and smiled slightly. "Siqi, take care."

Meng Siqi nodded, although she didn't fully understand what she meant, it was undoubtedly a blessing.

After resting for ten to twenty minutes, the car stopped, and Chen Jierong woke up, greeted the two, and got off.

Chen Jierong's home wasn't close to the police station, and Lu He didn't drive too fast on the night road.

As Lu He resumed the journey, Meng Siqi lay on the seat, looking out at the night, her thoughts still lingering on Chen Jierong's descriptions. She could sense that Chen Jierong had once been a vibrant young woman. Returning to her hometown, she faced the challenges and resolve of a new career, but today, she was an excellent forensic examiner, having undergone a transformation over the years. Meng Siqi hoped she could also complete such a transformation.

A breeze dispersed her thoughts.

A file folder fell from the seat, and Meng Siqi picked it up, once again reminded of the content the folder pointed to and the new issue Lu He had mentioned.

Did Ruan Mengying know she had a terminal illness? If she did, she likely went to the hospital for a check-up, meaning there must be medical records. A serious illness wouldn’t be recorded under a pseudonym, so Ruan Mengying’s name could be in some medical records.

This could be what Lu He referred to when talking about investigating hospitals. If they found records of a terminal illness, it could explain why Ruan Mengying borrowed money and left without a word. Perhaps she knew something was wrong with her.

However, some things didn't add up. Ruan Mengying left and reappeared a year later. If she had a terminal illness, she shouldn't have appeared healthy when she saw Li Muxiao again.

So, did Ruan Mengying leave for other reasons? Perhaps she was diagnosed with a terminal illness much later, thinking she didn't have much time left. When she saw Li Muxiao again, she wanted him to leave her, giving him a decisive rejection to make him give up on her.

If this were the case, Li Muxiao's killing of Ruan Mengying due to "betrayal" would be a complete misunderstanding. When he learns the truth, it will devastate him.

Li Muxiao had already confessed, so these possibilities might not be important, but for criminal investigators, it wasn't just about tracing the crime; it was also about motive and a complete chain of evidence.

As Meng Siqi pondered, the car pulled up to her house, a familiar villa with a spacious yard. It was after ten, and the house was still brightly lit. Either Ye Xiuhui was watching TV or Aunt Chang was waiting for her.

Meng Siqi got out of the car and was about to say goodbye through the window to Lu He when he also got out of the car.

Their eyes met, the cool moonlight mingling with his gaze, yet his warmth softened the coolness.

"Siqi, you seem very tired today, go and rest well when you get home."

"Sure, Captain Lu, thank you."

"Don’t mention it, go ahead."

Meng Siqi nodded and walked a few steps, then she turned back, "Captain Lu, let me follow up on the hospital matter tomorrow, okay?"

Lu He stood in the empty space, his hands habitually stuffed in the pockets of his brown leather jacket, as straight as a tree. He replied, "No need to rush, you should get some rest first."

Meng Siqi turned her whole body to face Lu He again, "Captain Lu, do you think Ruan Mengying rejected Li Muxiao outright because she had a terminal illness, and you want to find out the truth to clear her name and show that she didn’t betray him?"

In Meng Siqi’s heart, solving the case was only part of it; she also wanted to bring justice to the victim. Perhaps Lu He had the same thought.

Lu He pursed his lips and took two steps forward, his sharp features illuminated by the moonlight.

He slowly said, "It goes beyond that. The pursuit of truth is endless. As criminal investigators, we delve into the deepest, most authentic truths hidden in the depths."

"I’m concerned that this story might be more complex. I hope it’s just a worry..." His tone carried a faint sadness, "Let’s stop here for now. We’ll wait for the court’s decision next."

Meng Siqi nodded again, she gave a small smile, seemingly meant especially for Lu He, and waved as she walked toward the courtyard.

As she walked, she suddenly felt something wasn’t right. Lu He had said the truth was endless, but then he also said to pause the work, which seemed out of character for him. Was it because he didn’t want her involved anymore? Had Lu He discovered something and was concerned for her safety?

She stopped, turned around, and saw the moonlight bathing the area. Lu He stood in the light, watching her from a distance.

Perhaps noticing her turn, Lu He slowly walked a few steps toward her. His pace was even, each step resonating with her heartbeat.

When he was in front of her, he pulled something from his pocket and handed it to her, "I grabbed some band-aids from the office. Do you have antiseptic at home?"

"Huh?" Meng Siqi was a little slow to react, and only remembered as she reached out to take it that her knee had been scraped earlier that day, though she had already forgotten about it.

"Thanks, Captain Lu, I do have antiseptic at home." She took the band-aids from him, feeling the warmth from his palm. The band-aids were likely warmed in his pocket.

"Go back and get some rest."

"Okay." Meng Siqi smiled, "Take care on your way."