Chapter 216: Little Sis, Why Are You So Nervous

A summer night. 

The warmth carried a hint of coolness. On the balcony, the couple snuggled together on a lounge chair, gazing at the starry night sky and the crescent moon.

“Sis, I feel like summer only has meaning if I spend it with you,” Xiao Yu smiled, looking up at the moon. “How about we spend every summer together from now on?”

“Heh… don’t joke around with me like that,” Mu Qingwu buried her face in his neck. “I might just take it seriously.”

If only it could really be like that. But with his job, her husband couldn’t always be by her side.

“You know,” Xiao Yu said, holding her tighter and nestling his face in her soft hair, “if you wanted to, you could tie me down anytime.”

“That wouldn’t be any fun,” Mu Qingwu giggled softly. “I’ll wait until you’ve flown as far as you can. Then, don’t expect me to be kind—I won’t let you leave my side, not even half a step!”

“Okay,” Xiao Yu kissed her gently, “when that time comes, I won’t be a step away.”

He scooped her up in his arms, carrying her tenderly towards the bedroom.

***

The next morning was peaceful. After enjoying a lovingly prepared breakfast with Mu Qingwu, Xiao Yu spent a little time listening to her belly. Only then did he happily drive to the Criminal Investigation Division.

“Xie Shasha, female, 28 years old, local resident, unemployed. Years ago, she and Wang Mei were classmates, best friends. According to Wang Mei’s parents, the two were inseparable back then. They were always eating, drinking, and having fun together.”

A file lay open in front of Xiao Yu, with Guo Qiang reporting.

Xiao Yu studied Xie Shasha’s profile while recalling the many little secrets his sister had shared with him about women. Some secrets, even those closest to them wouldn’t know. But…

‘Best friends? They definitely know all those secrets. Isn’t that fascinating?’

***

Bencheng, a certain residential area.

The front door slowly opened. A young woman, face unwashed, hair unkempt, and makeup still smudged from the night before, appeared in the doorway, yawning. But the moment she saw Xiao Yu standing outside, her eyes widened in shock.

“Xie Shasha?” Xiao Yu ignored her predatory gaze and spoke calmly.

“Ah?” Xie Shasha snapped back to reality, nodding, “Yes, that’s me.”

“Police.” Xiao Yu didn’t waste any time, flashing his badge and identifying himself.

“…”

Xie Shasha froze, her expression shifting in an instant. Her eyes darted nervously, and she seemed flustered. 

“What… what do you need from me?”

‘Heh, little sis, why are you so nervous?’

Staring into her eyes, Xiao Yu gave a faint smile. “There’s a case I need your cooperation with. But first, could you please change into something else? Thank you.”

Xie Shasha’s outfit was a bit too revealing, just a camisole. Xiao Yu had no patience for women who dressed provocatively like they were on display in front of others. Ever since being with his wife, he’d developed a bit of a cleanliness obsession.

“Ah!”

Xie Shasha, flustered, hurried back into her apartment. After about ten minutes, she returned in a summer outfit. 

“Please come in.”

Xiao Yu stepped into the living room, followed closely by Guo Qiang.

Visiting a single woman’s home required following protocol—otherwise, if something happened, things could get messy.

In his previous life, Xiao Yu had seen this happen. One of his colleagues had been careless during the arrest of a female drug dealer. The dealer accused him of harassment.

She’d stripped her own clothes and lunged at him, screaming.

Police don’t always wear body cams, especially when working undercover.

In that case, if the dealer hadn’t eventually confessed to making false accusations, Xiao Yu’s colleague might’ve lost his job over it.

Sound like a joke? It was real.

“Do you know Wang Mei?”

Sitting on the sofa, his face expressionless, Xiao Yu glanced at the clearly anxious Xie Shasha.

“Ah?”

Again, Xie Shasha froze, but her eyes shifted slightly. Even though she tried to act calm, her hands clenched together as she slowly said, “Yes, we were good friends back in the day, but then… she disappeared.”

“Is that so?”

Xiao Yu’s gaze drifted to her tightly clenched, slightly bluish hands. In a cold voice, he continued, “By the way, did you know she owned a villa in this city?”

“This…”

Xie Shasha hesitated for a moment before suddenly shaking her head. “I didn’t know that.”

“Heh!” Xiao Yu stood up without looking at her again and headed for the door. “Take her in.”

Without hesitation, Guo Qiang pulled out handcuffs, his gaze cold as he warned her, “Cooperate, or I’ll be forced to take stronger measures.”

Could Xie Shasha refuse?

She was so terrified that her legs nearly gave out, trembling all over. Her teeth chattered as Guo Qiang cuffed her.

***

Criminal Investigation Unit, Interrogation Room.

“Why did you lie?”

Xiao Yu coldly stared at Xie Shasha, who sat handcuffed to the interrogation chair with her head lowered. “Do you understand the consequences of lying to the police?”

“…”

Xie Shasha kept her head down, silent, shrinking into her seat like a scared little bird.

“What are you afraid of?” Xiao Yu asked, his tone deliberate, “Or is it that you know where Wang Mei is?”

“No!” Xie Shasha suddenly looked up, her voice trembling in panic. “I-I don’t know!”

‘Hmm… she’s not lying?’

Xiao Yu hesitated for a moment. Could it be that he had overthought it? Maybe she really wasn’t involved. But perhaps she knew something bad about Wang Mei?

“Are you sure you don’t want to come clean?” Xiao Yu’s expression grew colder. “Do you really think we brought you in without a reason?”

Of course, he had no actual reason, but that didn’t stop Xiao Yu from using scare tactics. 

It was obvious Xie Shasha didn’t have a strong nerve. Even an average person would feel their heart race when brought in by the police, let alone someone as jittery as her.

“I-I don’t know anything,” Xie Shasha stammered, visibly more flustered. “I really don’t know anything!”

‘Oh, really?’ Xiao Yu smirked inwardly. 

The more someone insisted they knew nothing, the more likely they knew everything. Xie Shasha’s denial was triggering all of his instincts.

Which type was she? Innocent or guilty?

Suddenly, an idea struck Xiao Yu. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke sharply, trying to catch her off guard: “Don’t tell me you have no clue about how Wang Mei used to hook up with men, booking hotel rooms. You really didn’t know anything about that?”

Xie Shasha’s face drained of color the instant she heard those words. She started trembling all over.

Her reaction caught Xiao Yu by surprise.

What had she gotten herself into?