Chapter 130 Clue

Chapter 130: Clues

There were two gas cylinders in the Liang family's kitchen. If only one gas hose had scratches, it might have been dismissed as a coincidence. But what if both hoses had identical marks?

Murder.

The word hung unspoken in the air: Murder. Yue Lingchuan immediately called Detachment Leader Song, who had been woken by news of the explosion and was still awake. Shocked by the report, Song demanded an immediate case filing and reported it to higher authorities.

An hour and a half later, Yue Lingchuan received a notification. Given the serious nature of the case, the Provincial Department had established a special task force for the "6·21 Incident," with Yan Haifeng, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Criminal Investigation Division, appointed as the team leader and Yue Lingchuan as the deputy leader. Pingjiang PD was ordered to assist fully in solving the case.

Yue Lingchuan responded solemnly. After hanging up, he wasn’t surprised.

Premeditated murder—arson by explosion. Fortunately, the incident occurred in a villa area where houses were spaced far apart, preventing the fire from spreading. Even so, neighboring villas took blast damage, with exterior walls partially peeling off.

One could only imagine the devastation if this had happened in a densely populated residential area…

The toll would have gone beyond six dead and one injured.

Yue Lingchuan took a deep breath, staring at the wreckage, his gaze darkening.

·

At 5:10 a.m., Yan Haifeng, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Criminal Investigation Division, arrived in Pingjiang. Without resting, he called a briefing to discuss the case.

In the spacious conference room, Yan Haifeng reviewed the photos and the preliminary forensic report, which had been pulled together overnight. The forty-something’s face was grim, his brows furrowed.

"Forensic analysis confirms that the cuts on the two gas hoses measure approximately five and seven centimeters respectively. The edges are sharp and fresh, indicating the cuts were made in one swift, decisive slash."

"This confirms our earlier theory that the incident was not an accident but a premeditated homicide."

"Additionally, the lab found remnants of burnt mosquito coil ash and unburned fragments beneath the dining table outside the kitchen. This confirms our earlier theory that the explosion was triggered by an open flame from the burning mosquito coil."

"Based on the kitchen and living room dimensions, as well as the size of the hose cuts, the lab estimates it would take roughly one hour and twenty minutes for the gas concentration to reach explosive levels. Thus, the perpetrator likely acted between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m."

He paused, scanning the room. "Does anyone have anything to add?"

The room fell silent. Yue Lingchuan spoke first: "I’ve already questioned the villa management and security. They said no one came or went after 10:00 p.m."

Yan Haifeng tapped the table. "If the killer acted then, they wouldn’t have entered through the main gate openly."

After a brief pause, he asked, "Are there surveillance cameras in the villa area?"

Yue Lingchuan shook his head. "They were supposed to be installed this year, but due to various delays, it hasn’t happened yet."

He added, "Neighbors we interviewed said they were already asleep at that time and didn’t notice any unusual activity around the Liang residence."

Yan Haifeng frowned. Shen Qingye, who had been listening quietly, spoke up: "I observed that the rear wall of the villa area isn’t very high. It’s highly possible the perpetrator climbed over to stay unnoticed before sneaking into the Liang home."

Yan Haifeng glanced at the young female officer. He’d heard of her—rumors circulated that the newly transferred detective in Pingjiang had a 100% case clearance rate, with no open cases on her record. But success took skill *and* luck, and with veterans like Yue Lingchuan and Yang Wanmin around, he hadn’t paid much attention. That was until a call from Ankou City put her back on his radar.

Still, a rookie, no matter how talented, lacked experience. Yue Lingchuan likely brought her in to give her some training.

Yan Haifeng nodded. "Good point."

Captain Ma added, "The lab just called in. The Liang villa’s front door wasn’t jimmied open, meaning the perpetrator likely used a key."

Captain Yang said, "Knowing where the key was… suggests the killer was someone close to the family."

Yue Lingchuan concluded, "Moreover, the first and second floors showed no signs of ransacking, and cash and jewelry were left behind. This wasn’t a burglary gone wrong."

"It wasn't theft, and there were no signs of sexual assault on the bodies of the deceased wife and daughter, yet such brutality was inflicted..." Yan Haifeng leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily. "Then it's got to be revenge."

Everyone fell silent, thinking about revenge...

What kind of grudge runs that deep to wipe out an entire family?

Yan Haifeng tapped the table and said slowly, "Murder motives boil down to a few possibilities. Love, money... or some old score being settled."

He looked up at Yue Lingchuan. "What were the five Liangs' occupations?"

Yue Lingchuan, having already gathered the information, replied, "Liang Yongcheng majored in chemistry in college. Even before graduating, he started researching laundry detergent with classmates, and the business slowly grew. After graduation, he directly opened a factory specializing in laundry products. Now he runs a full-fledged company with a product line extending beyond just detergent to various household chemical products."

"Liang Yongcheng’s wife, Ding Xiumin, became a stay-at-home mom after giving birth to their youngest son. They had three children in total—the eldest son was in high school, the second daughter in middle school, and the youngest son had just started elementary school."

"A family of five, each running in different circles."

There's no telling which member of the family the killer was targeting.

Yan Haifeng was silent for a moment before asking, "How is Xu Hongxia’s condition now?"

Xu Hongxia was the nanny who had survived the attack.

Yue Lingchuan said, "The doctor said she suffered severe external injuries from the explosion’s shockwave, along with inhaling a large amount of toxic gas, leading to temporary cerebral ischemia. Although she’s been stabilized after emergency treatment, she’s still unconscious. It’ll likely take another day or two before she wakes up."

Yan Haifeng nodded. "Keep tabs on her condition at the hospital. Have them notify us immediately if there are any changes. Being the sole survivor and someone who worked in the Liang household, she must know something."

He then addressed the group. "Right now, we're flying blind here and have no clear idea who the killer might have had a grudge against. After daybreak, fan out and dig into the social circles of each family member separately. We need to find relevant clues as soon as possible."

This case would likely start gaining public attention by morning. They had to solve it quickly—otherwise, the brutal massacre of a respected entrepreneur’s entire family would spark public panic and damage the credibility of the police department.

Everyone answered gravely, "Understood!"

·

It was summer, and dawn came early. Just past six in the morning, the sun had already begun to rise.

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan, assigned to investigate Liang Yongcheng, returned to Longhu Villa.

The Du family next door were still shaken up. When they knocked, Mrs. Du simply said, "We weren't close. If you have questions, ask Auntie Dong," before going back to sleep.

Shen Qingye didn’t take it personally. Watching the Du family’s nanny, Auntie Dong, hurrying to get them water, she apologized for the disturbance. The older woman shook her head and sat down across from them, sighing.

"Think nothing of it. I’ve known Sister Xu next door for years. If I can provide any useful information, I'd be happy to help."

Shen Qingye took the opportunity to ask, "You've worked here for a long time?"

Auntie Dong nodded. "Yes, about... over ten years now. I came in '89 and have been here ever since."

Shen Qingye said, "That's quite something."

Auntie Dong smiled. "The master and mistress are easy to work for—not too demanding. It’s a comfortable job, so I stayed."

She paused, then added, "Don't get me wrong. Our mistress comes off cold but has a soft heart. When she saw the fire next door yesterday, she was beside herself worrying about how the family was doing, especially the children..."

She chuckled. "She wasn't trying to be rude to you—she just rarely interacts with others. At most, she might say hello if she runs into them during her walks. She couldn't care less about gossip or other people’s business."

Shen Qingye nodded. "Don't worry, we understand."

She then asked, "Since you've worked here for over a decade... you must be pretty familiar with Auntie Xu next door, right?"

Aunt Dong said, "Pretty good. Hongxia has been working next door for five or six years now. We often meet up when going out to buy groceries and such, so over time, we became close."

Shen Qingye asked, "In your opinion, what kind of people are the Liangs?"

"Mr. Liang..." Aunt Dong thought for a moment. "The Liang family is really decent, very friendly. Though they’re wealthy, they never look down on people or put on airs. Maybe because they came from the countryside—they don’t have that bossy attitude some rich folks do. They treat Hongxia and the other staff quite well."

"Mrs. Liang seems to be Mr. Liang’s classmate. They built their success together, and she’s also very kind. Whenever we meet them on the street, they always give us a friendly hello."

Shen Qingye paused slightly before asking, "So, people think well of them in the villa area?"

Aunt Dong nodded. "Yes. At least from what I know, no one has anything bad to say about them."

Shen Qingye continued, "How’s their marriage?"

Aunt Dong: "Their marriage seems quite good. I’ve never heard of Mr. Liang stepping out. Hongxia also mentioned that they hardly ever fight at home—they always discuss things calmly."

Shen Qingye pondered for a moment before asking, "What about their three children? What are their temperaments like?"

Aunt Dong: "I don’t know much about the kids. I’ve only heard the eldest is in high school and gets good grades. Not sure about the second and third. But they're well-behaved—always polite when we meet. Hongxia also said the kids treat her with respect at home."

She paused before adding, "But that makes sense. Mr. and Mrs. Liang were college students in the '80s—they’re well-educated, so naturally, their kids are raised well too."

Shen Qingye nodded slowly, taking it all in.

Yue Lingchuan then asked, "Do you know if the Liang family had any beef with anyone? Anyone they didn’t get along with or who might hold a grudge?"

Aunt Dong hesitated before shaking her head. "How would I know that? Even if there were, they wouldn’t tell us. Confidentiality is part of our job."

"From what I do know, Hongxia was quite happy working for the Liang family—otherwise, she wouldn’t have stayed so long. Someone once tried to steal her away with a higher salary, but she turned it down because she appreciated how good the Liangs were to her."

In other words, the Liang family had a good reputation in the villa area.

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan shared a look before Shen said, "Alright, we understand."

She then asked, "Do you know which families the Liangs were tight with?"

"Tight with..." Aunt Dong thought. "I don’t know about Mr. Liang, but Mrs. Liang was tight with Mrs. Nie, Mrs. Tang, and Mrs. Zhu."

·

The two then visited the Nie and Tang households, but they heard much the same thing.

The Liang couple was easygoing and rarely clashed with others. The neighbors didn’t know much about Mr. Liang’s work, but Mrs. Liang mostly focused on her children’s education, occasionally joining get-togethers—her life was simple, unlikely to cause conflicts.

They looked more concerned as they bid farewell to Mrs. Tang and headed to Mrs. Zhu’s home.

This time, they learned something new.

"I figured you’d come to me," Mrs. Zhu said, having already prepared tea. "After all, in this area, only a handful of us really knew her."

Shen Qingye asked, "What do you know, Mrs. Zhu?"

"Not much, really." Mrs. Zhu looked worn out, sighing. "I woke up to the explosion last night and ran outside to see the Liang house on fire."

She rubbed her temples, lowering her voice. "I was terrified, but since they were quickly taken to the hospital, I didn’t say much. I couldn’t sleep all night, wondering who could’ve done this."

"The couple was always kind, getting along with everyone. My husband often said Mr. Liang had the demeanor of a 'scholar-merchant'—gentle and always leaving room for compromise. Even in business disputes, he kept things polite."

"Then it hit me—just because they were good people doesn’t mean others returned that kindness."

Shen Qingye looked up: "Mrs. Zhu, do you suspect someone in particular?"

"Not suspicion, exactly," Mrs. Zhu replied. "It's just that she and Xiumin never really got along. I don’t think she’d go that far, but if I had to name someone who didn’t have a good relationship with their family, she’s the only one that comes to mind."

Shen Qingye immediately straightened up: "Please, go on."

Mrs. Zhu took a sip of tea and said, "You’ve probably heard of her—Tao Suqiu. Her husband is Luo Wanzhang, the chairman of Haida Group."

Shen Qingye paused. She didn’t know much about Tao Suqiu, but she certainly knew of Haida Group—a major taxpayer here.

Mrs. Zhu continued, "Unlike the harmonious and loving Liang family, the Luo household is a complete mess."

Shen Qingye blinked slowly: "Their marriage is troubled?"

Mrs. Zhu gave a bitter smile: "Troubled doesn’t even cover it. They’ve nearly come to blows."

Shen Qingye frowned.

Mrs. Zhu explained, "Luo Wanzhang is great at networking, but he has one glaring flaw: his womanizing is another story. When he was younger, it wasn’t as bad. But as he grew wealthier over the years, he stopped even pretending to hide it. Everyone around him knows there’s been a revolving door of mistresses. Even with two children at home, he’s fathered several illegitimate children outside."

"And Tao Suqiu isn’t the patient type. Even in her youth, she wasn’t afraid to confront him physically when displeased. Now, it’s even worse. Every time she finds out about another woman, she marches over to make a scene. Luo Wanzhang always promises to change, but nothing changes. Years have passed, and he’s still the same."

"With all this chaos, their two children have been left neglected. Their grades tanked, and they’re acting out. Tao Suqiu has lost her temper over them countless times."

"This isn’t even a secret in our circle. At first, people found it amusing, but now, their family’s a joke."

"Perhaps because of this, Tao Suqiu has it out for Xiumin, whose family is harmonious and whose children are well-behaved. Whenever they’re in the same gathering, Tao Suqiu never misses a chance to take a dig. But everyone knows the state of her own family, and in the end, she ends up looking foolish."

"Not long ago, Luo Wanzhang’s latest young mistress got pregnant, and he flaunted her like a trophy at business dinners. When Tao Suqiu found out, she made a huge fuss—even tried to push the woman. In the chaos, Luo Wanzhang slapped her. Coincidentally, the Liang family was dining at the same restaurant, and Xiumin witnessed the whole thing."

"Tao Suqiu was already humiliated, but afterward, the incident somehow spread, and everyone mocked her. She blamed Xiumin for spreading it, and that’s when her grudge deepened."

"Lately, she’s been trash-talking Xiumin nonstop. But the truth is, Xiumin barely even glanced their way that day. Even if she had noticed, given her personality, she wouldn’t have spread rumors. Tao Suqiu is just overthinking it."

"But she won’t hear a word against her version. No one can talk sense into her."

Mrs. Zhu concluded, "In all the years Xiumin has lived here, she’s gotten along with everyone—except Tao Suqiu, who’s had a grudge against her. And after that incident… well."

Despite knowing Tao Suqiu for so long, Mrs. Zhu couldn’t believe she’d go this far. But objectively speaking, she was the only one who’d openly clashed with Ding Xiumin.

"These are just my speculations. Whether they hold any truth… I don’t know." Mrs. Zhu sighed deeply and looked at Shen Qingye. "If you do go to question Tao Suqiu, please don’t mention that I was the one who told you."

After all, they still lived in the same neighborhood, and their husbands’ companies had business ties. A public spat would be messy.

Shen Qingye nodded reassuringly. "Don’t worry, we won’t."

"I don’t have many friends left. Xiumin was one of the few." Mrs. Zhu forced a weak smile. "I hope you can find the culprit and uncover the truth soon."

Yue Lingchuan said solemnly, "We’ll give it our all."

·

After leaving Mrs. Zhu’s home, Shen Qingye reviewed her notes and asked Yue Lingchuan, "What are the odds Mrs. Tao’s our culprit?"

Yue Lingchuan lowered his gaze for a moment before shaking his head. "Hard to say."

Over the years as a police officer, he had seen all kinds of bizarre murder motives. Much of what Mrs. Zhu said was subjective and personal, which couldn’t be used as solid evidence.

Tao Suqiu might be innocent, but what if she really was that kind of extreme person?

Until the facts come out, no one could say for sure.

Shen Qingye rubbed the white porcelain shard in her pocket, remembering what it had said...

Tall and thin, a man...

"We're here," Yue Lingchuan said quietly.

Shen Qingye looked up—the Luo family’s villa stood right before them, ostentatiously grand and dazzling.

She shook off the thoughts in her head.

The porcelain’s words could serve as corroborating evidence, but the truth still had to be verified firsthand.

She couldn’t jump to conclusions without proof, nor could she ignore anyone suspicious.

Stepping forward, she pressed the doorbell. Moments later, a voice shouted from inside, "Who is it?"

Yue Lingchuan raised his voice, "Police."

There was a brief hesitation before someone emerged from the house, looking startled.

"Police?"

The person was in their forties, dressed plainly—probably household staff.

Yue Lingchuan held up his badge. "Regarding the explosion and fire at the Liang family’s home tonight, we need to ask you some questions."

The person hesitated, then hastily wiped their hands on their apron. "Ah, ah—just a moment, I’ll go ask the madam."

Shen Qingye waited patiently outside, unfazed.

Inside the villa, Sister Zhao hurried over and called toward the backyard, "Madam! Madam!"

An irritated voice snapped back, "What’s all the shouting for? Trying to raise the dead?"

"Oh, Madam!" Sister Zhao said urgently. "It’s not that—the police are here!"

Tao Suqiu tore her gaze away from the vase, her expression impatient. "Police? What do they want?"

She scoffed. "Did that good-for-nothing Luo Wanzhang stir up trouble again, and now they’re here to investigate him?"

"Oh, no!" Sister Zhao said. "It’s about the explosion at the Liang family’s place early this morning. They’re here for that!"

Tao Suqiu frowned. "What does the Liang family’s explosion have to do with me? They got what was coming to them! I won’t see them!"

Sister Zhao wrung her hands anxiously. "Madam..."

"Since when do you get to turn away the police?"

A voice suddenly came from upstairs. Sister Zhao looked up and sighed in relief. "Yinyin, please reason with your mother. The officers are waiting outside!"

Luo Yin took a deep breath and said to Sister Zhao, "Show the officers in first."

Then, glaring at her defiant mother, she bit back her anger. "The police are here to investigate a case, and who do you think you are to refuse?"

Tao Suqiu lost face after being scolded by her daughter and snapped in anger, "What kind of tone is that?"

Luo Yin retorted, "What tone? The police are doing their job, and it's the law to cooperate! If you refuse to see them now, you’ll be seeing them at the station soon enough!"

Tao Suqiu stuttered, "But—but—why would they need to ask me anything? What does the Liang family’s fire have to do with me?"

Luo Yin said, "That’s not for you to say—it’s up to the police."

Glancing at the flowers and plants, she couldn’t help but add, "Move those plants out of the way—now! They’ll be here any minute!"

Only then did Tao Suqiu reluctantly move to the living room.

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan happened to be ushered in at that moment. Tao Suqiu had a face like thunder and refused to speak. Seeing this, Luo Yin suppressed her anger and stepped in to play host: "Please sit down, Officers!"

Shen Qingye naturally noticed Tao Suqiu’s attitude but remained composed, smiling slightly. "We appreciate your time."

Luo Yin replied, "Not at all. Cooperating with the police is our duty." She then nudged her mother with her elbow, prompting Tao Suqiu to paste on a smile. "Yes, yes. Officers, feel free to ask whatever you need."

Shen Qingye said, "We mainly want to know where you were between 10 PM and midnight last night, Ms. Tao."

"10 to 12?" Tao Suqiu blanked for a second. "I was sleeping—where else would I be?"

Shen Qingye pressed, "Are you sure you were asleep the whole time? You didn’t go out?"

Tao Suqiu frowned. "Of course I was sleeping. Who in their right mind goes wandering at night?"

Luo Yin’s stomach dropped at this. Meeting Shen Qingye and the others’ serious gazes, she suddenly realized something and quickly added, "Yes, Officers, we went to bed early last night—before 10—and didn’t leave after that!"

Shen Qingye asked, "Is there anyone who can confirm that?"

"Confirm what?" Tao Suqiu grew even more puzzled. "That useless husband of mine was out god-knows-where last night—who could possibly confirm it?"

Only then did she grasp the implication, her expression darkening as she glared at them. "Wait—what are you trying to say?"

She looked incredulous. "Oh, so you think I had something to do with what happened to the Liang family?"

Yue Lingchuan said calmly, "We’re just covering all bases. Please stay calm."

"Calm? How can I be calm?" Tao Suqiu sprang up, eyes wide, shouting, "Don’t tell me you’ve gone around asking everyone else in the neighborhood the same thing!"

"Pinning this on me—what, you think I did it?"

Before Shen Qingye could respond, Luo Yin grabbed Tao Suqiu’s arm. "Mom!"

She called sharply, snapping at her mother’s furious gaze before taking a deep breath and forcing herself to stay composed. Turning to Shen Qingye, she said, "Officers, there must be some misunderstanding. My mom might have a mouth that runs like a loose tap and act irresponsibly sometimes, but she would never dare to kill anyone!"

Snapped Tao Suqiu, "Who says I wouldn’t dare? If someone pushes me too far, I’ll cut them down without blinking—what’s there to be afraid of?"

"Mom!" Luo Yin trembled with anger. "Would you just stop talking?"

Tao Suqiu opened her mouth but, seeing her daughter’s furious glare, finally fell silent. She crossed her arms and huffed, turning away.

Luo Yin took another deep breath to steady herself before addressing Shen Qingye again. "Officers, please don’t take my mom’s words seriously. She’s just like this—has a mouth that runs like a loose tap..."

She continued calmly, "We really did go to bed early last night. I remember my mom finished the drama she was watching—it was exactly 9 PM—then took a shower and fussed around a while. By 9:30, the lights were out in the house."

"My dad wasn’t home last night, so there’s no one to confirm she stayed in her room. But my mom has no motive—what reason would she have to hurt the Liangs?"

Hearing this, Shen Qingye arched a brow and shared a look with Yue Lingchuan.

After this whole ordeal, the two detectives had a pretty good idea that the likelihood of Tao Suqiu being the culprit was quite low. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so brazen with her words.

But still…

Shen Qingye looked at Luo Yin and said, "However, from what we know, Ms. Tao and Ms. Ding never saw eye to eye, always butting heads."

Tao Suqiu immediately turned her head at this. "Ah, so that’s it! No wonder you suddenly suspected me—this is the root of it!"

"Who’s the bitch badmouthing me? Just wait till I rip her lying mouth—"

Before she could finish, Shen Qingye cut her off sharply, "Ms. Tao!"

Her expression was stern as she said coldly, "We follow procedure in our investigations. Others are merely cooperating with us, and we will verify the credibility of any leads provided! Mind your language!"

"Who said this doesn’t matter. What matters is—isn’t it true? You and Ding Xiumin have bad blood. Is that a misunderstanding?"

Tao Suqiu’s face turned pale and then flushed with anger. She opened and closed her mouth several times but ultimately couldn’t refute it.

Luo Yin interjected urgently, "Officer, my mom and Auntie Ding do have some conflicts, but they’re just verbal disputes. Mom usually lets it go afterward. Besides, there’s no deep-seated grudge between them—my mom would never resort to violence!"

"Mom’s got a sharp tongue sometimes, but she would never commit murder! She wouldn’t throw her whole life away over petty nonsense!"

Tao Suqiu’s expression was still sour, but hearing her daughter’s anxious defense, she snorted and added, "If I were to kill anyone, it’d be that bastard’s side piece and his bastard kids first. Why would I target Ding Xiumin’s family?"

Luo Yin also said, "That’s right, Officer. Uncle Liang and Auntie Ding got along well with everyone except for some friction with our family. Look what’s happening now—they have trouble, and people immediately suspect my mom? Mom might shoot her mouth off, but she’s not that stupid. Please, you must uncover the truth and clear my mom’s name!"

Tao Suqiu huffed, "Truth will out. I didn’t do it, so I’m not afraid!"

Seeing this, Shen Qingye’s expression softened slightly. "We’re here to find the truth, not pin it on you. If Ms. Tao is truly innocent, we certainly won’t wrong her."

Tao Suqiu pursed her lips and couldn’t help adding, "Besides, if it weren’t for the fire last night, I wouldn’t even know where the Liangs live. How the hell would I even know where they live to torch it?"

Luo Yin looked at them pleadingly, "Officer..."

Yue Lingchuan said, "Alright, we’ve got the picture. Thank you for cooperating with the investigation."

"As for the truth, we’ll continue our inquiries and will never wrong an innocent person."

Shen Qingye also met the gaze of the girl, not yet twenty but already unusually mature, and nodded reassuringly. "You’ve got nothing to worry about."

Only then did Luo Yin slowly relax, offering a grateful smile. "Thank you, Officer..."

Shen Qingye replied, "No need to thank us. Just doing our job."

She paused before asking, "Aside from your family, do you know if the Liangs had conflicts with anyone else? Or if someone secretly held a grudge against them?"

Luo Yin thought for a moment and shook her head. "I’m not too sure about that." She then glanced at her mother. "Mom?"

Tao Suqiu snapped, "No!"

She curled her lip. "Ding Xiumin knew how to work a crowd. At the very least, I don’t know of anyone who had issues with her."

Even when people talked trash with her, most were just trying to curry favor by saying things she’d like to hear. But deep down, she wasn’t dumb—she knew they were just blowing smoke.

She added, "Instead of wasting time here, you’d be better off checking if Liang Yongcheng offended anyone in business. Ding Xiumin’s life was small-time—who’d want her dead over nothing?"

Shen Qingye nodded in understanding. When no new leads turned up after more questioning, she bid them farewell.

As they left, Shen Qingye thought it over and finally said, "I think... Tao Suqiu’s probably not our perp."

Not only because of what the porcelain shard said—it claimed to have seen a tall, slender man, while Tao Suqiu was only about 5'3" with a full-figured/curvy build. There was also her open hostility toward Ding Xiumin.

If she had really done it, she wouldn’t have left such an obvious trail for them.

Her words and demeanor all indicated she wasn't the one.

Yue Lingchuan nodded but added, "But there’s no hard proof she wasn't involved either."

No witnesses, coupled with their known bad blood—these two points were the most crucial.

Even as a detective, Yue Lingchuan agreed that Tao Suqiu wasn't their prime suspect, but police work couldn't just go by intuition.

They had nothing concrete to clear Tao Suqiu.

What if she's just really convincing?

No way to know for certain.

Shen Qingye took a deep breath and was about to canvas the neighborhood to learn more about the bad blood between Tao Suqiu and Ding Xiumin when her phone suddenly vibrated with a message.

She glanced down and immediately perked up:

"Captain Xu found footprints near the back wall of the villa area!"

·

Shen Qingye’s earlier hunch had actually panned out. While they were investigating the Liang family’s personal connections, Xu Yanting had led his team to examine the footprints along the wall.

Eventually, they discovered a pair of footprints in the soil near a section of the wall not far from the Liang family villa.

The footprints were clear, evidently left recently. Based on the depth and size of the shoe prints, they determined they belonged to a man.

In other words, Tao Suqiu was in the clear.

This was a lucky break.

Moreover, it successfully shrank their suspect list to males.

Shen Qingye asked, "Can we estimate the killer’s height?"

Xu Yanting replied, "Judging by the shoe prints, the suspect is likely between 5'9" to 5'11", on the slender side for a guy, probably weighing no more than 154 lbs."

Picturing the guy in her mind, Shen Qingye noted he was definitely tall and slender.

"A man..."

Everyone said the couple had a harmonious relationship, so the likelihood of the killer being connected to Ding Xiumin through a crime of passion was low.

That meant they still had to dig into Liang Yongcheng’s angle.

Just as Shen Qingye was about to speak to Yue Lingchuan, her phone vibrated with another alert. She looked down—it was a message from Captain Ma, who had been investigating the deceased’s company.

Shen Qingye read carefully, her eyes lighting up: "Captain Ma found some leads at the victim’s company. Turns out, Liang Yongcheng’s business partner—the company’s second-largest shareholder—had it out for him."

"Over the past two years, they’ve had plenty of blowups over company decisions!"

"Moreover, he wasn’t at home last night. During Captain Ma’s interrogation, he was clearly sweating it!"

The girl’s eyes lit up. Hearing this, Yue Lingchuan’s pulse quickened, and he quickly made a call.

As soon as Captain Ma answered the call, Yue Lingchuan blurted out, "Did you find a suspect over there?"

Captain Ma replied, "Yes..."

Before he could finish, Yue Lingchuan interrupted, "What's the person's approximate height and weight?"

"Height and weight?" Captain Ma glanced at the man detained in the interrogation room and said, "Looks under six feet, quite thin too."

This was rather unusual, as most entrepreneurs tended to be paunchy. Yet, Deputy Chairman Yao was an exception—lean and almost resembling a university professor rather than a businessman.

The two exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with excitement.

After hurrying back, Captain Ma met them. "Did Officer Xu find the suspect's shoe impressions?"

Yue Lingchuan nodded. "Exactly. The estimated height and weight match the person you mentioned."

He asked, "Where is he now?"

Captain Ma jerked his chin. "In the interrogation room. Team Leader Yan is questioning him."

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan didn’t rush over immediately. Instead, they inquired, "What has he said so far?"

Captain Ma shook his head. "Only claims he didn’t do it. But when asked about his whereabouts between 10 PM and midnight last night, he went silent. Press further, and he just looks guilty."

He shrugged. "Tell me, how is that not suspicious?"

Shen Qingye pondered. Liang Yongcheng’s partner would have been close to him before, possibly having access to the keys to the house. Yet, they had recent conflicts, and he wasn’t home during the time of the crime...

The two exchanged another glance and headed upstairs together.

Arriving at the observation room next to the interrogation room, they saw Captain Yang and the others inside, who merely waved in greeting.

Shen Qingye sat down and looked toward the interrogation room. In the center, a lean middle-aged man in his forties sat on the interrogation chair, avoiding eye contact as he stammered,

"Officer, I truly don’t know what happened. If not for your notification, I wouldn’t even have known about the incident at Old Liang’s place. I'm worried too—I’m anxious, but I really don’t know anything!"

"Don’t know?" Yan Haifeng rapped the table, his voice icy. "Then explain to me—what were you doing between 10 PM and midnight last night if you weren’t at home?"

Yao Congxing pressed his lips tightly together and went quiet.