Chapter 119: This World Should Not Bring Me Joy

“Was it because of the brief video chats, voice calls, or texts that Ren Chang suspected you?” Xiao Yu stared at Wu Tingting, mocking her, “So your plan failed, and you only managed to swindle six million before you had to break up with Ren Chang?”

Wu Tingting’s resolve wavered, her inner panic clearly visible on her face.

“You wanted revenge, didn’t you?” Xiao Yu’s eyes grew colder, his expression turning ruthless. “You had Jiang Dan’s phone, you knew all their past conversations. You also knew from Jiang Dan that Ren Chang was someone willing to die for her, you even knew about their agreement. If Jiang Dan died, he would follow? I finally understand what those two video calls before Ren Chang’s reports were about. When Ren Chang first reported that someone was beating and killing his girlfriend, he wasn’t lying. You and your boyfriend were acting it out, right? When you realized he didn’t die and instead called the police, you performed again, this time with even more brutality. I have to say, if you were truly Jiang Dan, maybe your plan would have succeeded. But the problem was, he already suspected you, so he reported again and then the police brought you to meet him. At that moment, Ren Chang finally confirmed that his girlfriend had been replaced, that someone had taken her place. A woman impersonated his girlfriend, so his real girlfriend couldn’t be alive. He went completely mad, wanting not only to die but to make sure you suffer even after his death.”

Xiao Yu glared coldly at Wu Tingting, “He didn’t just commit suicide in the detention center; he left those three bloodstained words. Then… I came, carrying Ren Chang’s last wish to find you.”

That was someone he had spent eight years with, day and night. Even if it were a dog, eight years would form a bond.

‘And you killed her without a second thought. Are you even human?’

Ren Chang, an autistic patient, was already pitiful enough.

They schemed even against someone like him, ultimately driving him to suicide. Were you animals?

With a thud, Wu Tingting collapsed onto the ground. Panic and despair completely overwhelmed her.

Guo Qiang, standing nearby, exhaled sharply. His gaze shifted from Wu Tingting to Xiao Yu, as if he were looking at a deity.

Everyone knew that reasoning alone couldn’t serve as evidence. But once the whole case was logically pieced together, and the investigative process began, evidence would naturally emerge. This was basic knowledge.

In the police academy, every student read a book titled *The Role of Logical Reasoning in Criminal Investigation*. 

Why was reasoning so important? Because when police encounter a case, it has already happened. In the absence of the crime scene, suspects, and traces, much of criminal investigation relies on speculation, reasoning, and analysis to gradually collect clues and evidence.

Guo Qiang stared at Xiao Yu like a god because he had never seen anyone use reasoning to completely piece together an entire case. Just looking at Wu Tingting’s state, it was clear that Xiao Yu’s reasoning was incredibly close to the truth. 

Was this really reasoning? More like divine insight. If this isn’t a god, what is?

Soon after, good news arrived. Under police interrogation, Wu Tingting’s boyfriend couldn’t withstand the psychological pressure and confessed.

When Wu Tingting learned that her boyfriend had confessed, her psychological defenses completely collapsed, and she truthfully recounted the events.

But mere confessions weren’t enough. The entire Criminal Investigation Brigade was mobilized to thoroughly investigate the case. The car accident nine months ago, the vehicles involved, the hospital, and even the murder weapon.

Murder weapon? Yes, during the car accident, Jiang Dan didn’t die. Wu Tingting and her boyfriend Duan Qicheng conspired to kill her and staged the accident. They not only destroyed Jiang Dan’s face but also mutilated her body beyond recognition.

Only by doing this could Jiang Dan truly take on the identity of Wu Tingting. And Wu Tingting could then be reborn as Jiang Dan.

What was their motive? 

Just as Xiao Yu had reasoned, it wasn’t just about marrying into the Ren family under Jiang Dan’s name, it was about seizing the Ren family’s fortune.

But posing as Jiang Dan, Wu Tingting aroused Ren Chang’s suspicions. Maybe Wu Tingting and her boyfriend were just unlucky. If they had been dealing with an ordinary person, their plan might have succeeded.

Despite Ren Chang being autistic and extremely sensitive, he grew suspicious of Wu Tingting. 

Realizing their plan was about to fail, Wu Tingting, filled with resentment, conspired with her boyfriend to stage a scene. Unexpectedly, Ren Chang reported it to the police, was arrested, and subsequently committed suicide, which drew police attention. Even so, it would have been almost impossible for ordinary police officers to solve this case. But Xiao Yu got involved. 

***

Xiao Yu received a commendation for his achievements. He didn’t take all the credit, the Criminal Investigation Brigade was also recognized. Deputy Captain Li Shu didn’t have to face disciplinary action because the investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing. Furthermore, it was confirmed that Ren Chang’s suicide was a deliberate act to prompt a police investigation.

At a restaurant…

“Thanks!” At the table, Li Shu raised a glass of rice wine to toast Xiao Yu. 

Zhao Changshan, the instructor, and colleagues all watched with smiling eyes. 

‘These old folks are sly,’ Xiao Yu’s mouth twitched. He thought to himself, ‘If I go home drunk, will my sister beat me?’

‘Wishing you eight sons,’ Xiao Yu downed the drink in one gulp. 

The case was solved, and everyone was happy. As the one who cracked the case, Xiao Yu found himself facing the annoying habit of well-wishers trying to get him drunk, each taking turns to offer him drinks. This was a troublesome phenomenon for any protagonist, born with a natural main character halo.

Xiao Yu got drunk. Mu Qingwu drove over to pick him up. As soon as the car started moving, Xiao Yu, who had been snoring loudly, sat up.

“Are you faking it?” Mu Qingwu, who was driving, felt both annoyed and amused. “You’re quite sly.”

“Sis, you think that’s sly?” Xiao Yu beamed, “This is called social savvy.”

“Look how pleased you are with yourself.” 

Her brother wasn’t drunk, which made Mu Qingwu quite happy.

“Sis, I said I’d pick you up and take you home someday.” Xiao Yu’s eyes softened. “But here you are, picking me up instead.”

“We’re a couple.” A flawless smile curved on Mu Qingwu’s delicate face. “You know, I didn’t really like this world before.”

Xiao Yu was taken aback. “And then?”

“And then…” Mu Qingwu stopped the car; they were home. Her beautiful eyes looked at Xiao Yu. “Then you came along.”

Xiao Yu got up and threw himself at Mu Qingwu.

The world wasn’t supposed to bring me joy. But then, there was you!