Chapter 134 Xu Hongxia

Chapter 134 Xu Hongxia

In the hospital, Xu Hongxia's husband and children stood by the bedside, speaking softly as they surrounded her with red-rimmed eyes.

Shen Qingye and the others stopped just outside the door of the ward, gave a light knock, and when the family looked over, she said, "Sorry to disturb you."

"We're from the Pingjiang Municipal Bureau. Regarding the gas explosion that killed the Liang family, we need to ask Ms. Xu Hongxia a few questions. Would now be a good time?"

Hearing this, before the younger family members could respond, Xu Hongxia, lying on the hospital bed, muttered, dazed, "What did you say?"

"What murder case?"

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan exchanged glances. Xu Hongxia tried to push herself up with one hand but fell back weakly due to her injuries.

Her daughter quickly held her down. "Mom!"

Xu Hongxia ignored her, staring intently at Shen Qingye. "What did you just say?"

"The Liang family... was wiped out?" Her face was filled with disbelief.

Not wanting to upset her more, Shen Qingye softened her tone. "You didn’t know?"

"I... I..." Xu Hongxia frowned, trying to remember. "I just recall... a loud bang. It woke me up. But before I could react, I felt this terrible pain all over... Then, I couldn’t breathe, so hard..."

"When I woke up, I was here."

"You said it was an explosion? That noise I heard was an explosion? And the Liang family... the Liang family..."

Her voice trembled. "They all died?"

Shen Qingye clenched her jaw, unsure how to respond without causing more distress.

But Xu Hongxia could tell without words—Shen Qingye’s expression told her everything. She just stared at the ceiling.

Her bosses, who were so good to her, their well-behaved children... all gone?

Suddenly, she thought of something else, her voice rising in panic. "What about Yuexia? The other maid... Is she... is she also..."

Shen Qingye exhaled heavily, nodding solemnly. "When we rescued them, all five members of the Liang family had already passed at the scene. Gao Yuexia was still alive, but... she died on the way to the hospital."

She left the rest unspoken, but Xu Hongxia understood. She went pale, numb with shock.

Her son spoke worriedly, "Mom..."

Xu Hongxia’s eyes slowly shifted to her children. "I’m okay... I’m okay..."

Yes, of everyone in that house, she was the only one unharmed.

For a long pause, she didn’t know if she should feel lucky or what.

Finally, she asked, "The explosion... why did it happen? How?"

Yue Lingchuan replied, "It was a gas explosion."

"Gas explosion?" Xu Hongxia suddenly focused, her voice rising in panic. "But... how? I always make sure the gas is off! This has never happened before!"

Shen Qingye saw how upset she was and quickly reassured her, "We understand. Don’t worry."

Her tone grew serious. "Actually, our investigation found signs that the hose had been cut."

Xu Hongxia repeated, "A sharp object... slashed?"

She vaguely realized something, her eyes widening. "You mean, someone did it on purpose—"

"Someone wanted to kill them?"

Shen Qingye's expression was grave as she slowly nodded.

Her eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling. "Who in their right mind would do something so evil?! There was a child under ten in that household!"

Shen Qingye took a deep breath. "That's exactly the problem, and the reason we're here today. After all, you've worked for the Liang family for so many years and know their situation well."

Xu Hongxia seemed dazed but finally reacted, gritting her teeth. "I understand, I understand!"

"Ask me whatever you need. I'll tell you everything I can!"

Shen Qingye politely asked Xu Hongxia's children to step outside for a bit before speaking. "Then we might need you to recall what happened last night."

"What time did the Liang family have dinner, and when did they go to bed? Did they meet anyone during that time?"

Xu Hongxia thought for a moment. "Dinner... bedtime..."

"Because there are three growing kids, they usually feel hungry after school. So, dinner is generally early, usually finished before seven."

"After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Liang went for a walk, while the children started doing their homework. Then... around nine, Mr. and Mrs. Liang returned from their walk, the children finished their homework, and everyone prepared for bed."

"I was the last to go back to my room, around 9:50, if I remember right."

"I was asleep soon after."

Shen Qingye asked, "Is this the Liang family's usual routine?"

Xu Hongxia nodded. "Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Liang have a regular schedule, and the children have school, so they go to bed early."

"I see." Shen Qingye looked at her and continued. "After you went to bed, did you hear anything unusual?"

"Sounds?" Xu Hongxia paused. "Sounds?"

She frowned as something came to her in her groggy state. She suddenly smacked the bed. "Right, I remember now, I remember!"

"I wanted to tell the police when I first woke up, but my head was pounding, and the kids got me sidetracked, so I forgot!"

"I remember now—last night, not long after I fell asleep, I could just make out footsteps in the living room!"

Shen Qingye leaned forward. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!" Xu Hongxia nodded firmly. "I sleep lightly; the smallest noise wakes me. I remember clearly—last night, in that half-awake state, I could just make out footsteps in the living room!"

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But I was so tired last night, out of it, I didn't think much of it. I assumed it was one of the kids getting up for a snack or water, so I ignored it and went back to sleep..."

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan looked at each other. She spoke more gently and asked, "Do you remember roughly what time that was?"

"Well..." Xu Hongxia shook her head apologetically. "I only remember being woken up after falling asleep. I really don’t know the exact time."

"I just have a vague feeling it wasn’t too late..."

"Besides the footsteps, did you hear anything else?"

"Besides footsteps..." Xu Hongxia strained to remember before suddenly saying. "Oh, there was another sound—clearer and louder this time."

"This one was sharper..."

She paused uncertainly. "Like... a lighter being flicked."