Chapter 334: How Could It Be Her?

‘Is there really such a fool in this world? Someone gives you money and tells you to commit a crime, and you just do it?’

According to Qi Xubin’s confession, he was deeply addicted to gambling and had accumulated a significant amount of debt.

A month ago, he discovered a letter wedged in the gap of his front door. The letter had only one sentence: Do you want money? Come to a certain place… Help me with something, and I’ll pay you 100,000!

For a gambler, 100,000 yuan was life-saving money. Qi Xubin would have to sell his car and house if he couldn’t get the money.

Following the address in the letter, he arrived at a shopping mall’s storage area, entered a passcode, and opened a locker. Inside, he found a photograph, an address, a bottle of ether, and a second letter.

The letter instructed him to kidnap a woman at a specific time and place.

Once he delivered her to the designated location, he would receive 100,000 yuan.

Qi Xubin followed the instructions, abducted the woman, and delivered her as directed.

When he returned home, he found a third letter at his doorstep. He then returned to the shopping mall’s storage area, opened another locker, and retrieved the 100,000 yuan.

He wasn’t lying.

Few people could lie in front of Xiao Yu.

Was this really Qi Xubin’s first time doing something like this?

Xiao Yu felt that something was off.

“Something’s happened!”

A loud shout suddenly rang out from not far away, snapping Xiao Yu out of his thoughts.

“What is it… You?”

Looking up, Xiao Yu was shocked to see He Li running toward him, blood staining her forehead.

“Feng Xiuyun… escaped!”

He Li’s face was grim as she delivered the news to Xiao Yu.

“How is that possible?” Xiao Yu found it hard to believe.

He immediately dismissed the possibility.

It didn’t make sense.

Why would Feng Xiuyun run away? Didn’t she want to find the murderer who harmed her sister?

Unless…

Xiao Yu’s expression darkened instantly. “What happened?”

“We had just finished eating takeout. She said she wanted to get some fresh air, so I accompanied her outside. Then…” He Li gritted her teeth and said, “She took advantage of my distraction, hit me with a rock, stole my car keys, and drove away.”

“Where are Guo Qiang and the others?” Xiao Yu asked coldly.

“They went after her,” He Li said.

“Let’s go…”

Xiao Yu walked to the Criminal Investigation Brigade’s main hall, finding the place in chaos. Stepping outside, he got into his Hongqi car.

Just as he started the engine, he suddenly froze. 

Turning to look at He Li in the passenger seat, he asked, “You just said you all ate takeout?”

For the past few days, everyone had been eating at the Criminal Investigation Brigade’s small cafeteria.

Why would He Li suddenly order takeout?

“You didn’t order it?” He Li was stunned.

“Something’s wrong.” Rolling his eyes, Xiao Yu felt like cursing. “Did you see the delivery guy’s face?”

“No, he was wearing a mask,” He Li shook her head.

“And he personally handed each meal to you all? Including Feng Xiuyun?” Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes.

He Li hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes, that’s right.”

The takeout was suspicious. Xiao Yu’s mind raced.

Feng Xiuyun ate the takeout, and then her behavior changed and she suddenly wanted to escape.

No… not escape.

What made Feng Xiuyun run out of the Criminal Investigation Brigade? What was she trying to do? Was it for her sister’s revenge?

Did the deliveryman say something to her, or did she find something in the food?

Did someone deliberately lure Feng Xiuyun out of the Criminal Investigation Brigade?

Xiao Yu took out his phone and dialed Guo Qiang. As soon as the call connected, he asked, “Where is she?”

“Still chasing her,” Guo Qiang responded quickly.

“Where are you now?” Xiao Yu asked.

”…”

Guo Qiang was silent for a moment before his voice turned strange. “At Feng Xiuyun’s residential complex. I’m hanging up now. We’re going to catch her.”

The sound of screeching brakes came through the phone, followed by the call being disconnected—beep, beep, beep.

Xiao Yu lowered his phone, his expression turning odd.

Feng Xiuyun’s home?

Why would she go home?

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Xiao Yu’s mind. His expression changed instantly. Slamming his foot down on the accelerator, his Hongqi car shot out of the parking lot and onto the road. He sped toward the hospital.

***

Twenty minutes later.

A sharp screech of tires.

Xiao Yu opened the door and stepped out, his gaze falling on Guo Qiang and the others, who looked dejected.

His face darkened. “Where is she?”

Guo Qiang hung his head. “She got away.”

“Pull up the surveillance footage.”

Xiao Yu’s voice was cold.

Moments later, they retrieved the surveillance footage from the residential complex.

On the screen, Feng Xiuyun could be seen driving up to the entrance of the complex, getting out of the car, and running inside.

The internal surveillance showed her heading in the direction of her home.

Two minutes later, Guo Qiang and the others arrived, rushing toward Feng Xiuyun’s residence—

But she was already gone.

Impossible…

Xiao Yu walked into the apartment building, reaching for the elevator button.

No, something was wrong.

She wouldn’t have taken the elevator. She was in such a hurry, there was no way she would have waited for it.

Turning around, Xiao Yu walked up the stairwell.

As he reached the landing on the second floor, he suddenly stopped and twitched his nose slightly. His gaze shifted to the open window. 

Did she jump out from here?

Resting his arm on the windowsill, he vaulted out of the building and landed on the ground.

Following the lingering scent, he moved forward, arriving at a perimeter wall. He scaled the wall, landed on the other side, and traced the scent to a nearby road.

The scent was gone.

Standing in the middle of the street, Xiao Yu scanned his surroundings.

‘Who picked up Feng Xiuyun?’

His thoughts turned back to the takeout that He Li and Feng Xiuyun had eaten at the Criminal Investigation Brigade.

The deliveryman?

Without hesitation, Xiao Yu rushed back to the Brigade.

In his haste earlier, he had overlooked something.

The team pulled up the surveillance footage. On the screen, a deliveryman carrying two bags of takeout walked into the Criminal Investigation Brigade.

The image froze.

Xiao Yu’s eyes locked onto the deliveryman’s figure.

‘So familiar… Where have I seen this person before?’

The next moment, something clicked in his mind.

‘The woman in red? Wait, no… something still isn’t right. Why does this feel so familiar? I’ve definitely seen this figure more than once.’

He combed through his memories, trying to recall, but he couldn’t remember.

Xiao Yu fell into deep thought.

‘No, I must have seen her recently. I definitely saw her somewhere… Her?’

Suddenly, Xiao Yu’s expression froze.

Then, he zoomed in on the surveillance footage. His eyes landed on the deliveryman’s hands holding the takeout bags, especially the left hand.

When he saw the bandage wrapped around the person’s left hand, Xiao Yu’s pupils dilated sharply before quickly constricting.

‘How could it be her?’