Chapter 396: Household Little Brother 

“Deduction… confirmed!”

Wang Dong and the rest of Group Two stared at Xiao Yu.

Their eyes held admiration and disbelief.

The case that had stumped the entire team, that had all signs pointing toward some ghostly involvement, had just been completely overturned.

It was confirmed, it was a human crime.

“What’s the next step?” Wang Dong looked at his little brother, smiling slyly.

He was planning to squeeze every drop out of this tool-man while he had him.

“How should I know?” Xiao Yu, sharp as ever, instantly saw through Wang Dong’s thoughts. “I’m fine with running my mouth, but this question’s already out of the syllabus.”

That’s just how people were.

When you first meet, everyone wants a fair trade. No freeloaders.

But once you’re familiar and become real brothers—that’s when you start covering for each other, lowering your guard, blurring the lines of give and take.

Right now, Xiao Yu could see Wang Dong trying to freeload off him. Just like back then, when he freeloaded off Wang Dong himself.

The problem was…

‘Do you think you could freeload off me so easily?’

“One case of exclusive reserve, not a drop more,” Wang Dong said, clutching his liver.

“We’re brothers, talking about money wounds the heart.” Xiao Yu slung an arm around his shoulder, wiggling his brows. “Deal!”

‘I’m always too softhearted, too softhearted, shouldering everything on my own.’

***

“All six victims were students from the same university, seniors in their final year.” Wang Dong handed Xiao Yu the file.

Xiao Yu flipped through it.

Anyone who’s been to college knows most students spend their final year off campus.

The typical system was a 3+1 setup: three years of in-school coursework, one year of internship out in the real world.

The six victims were seniors, preparing résumés and job-hunting.

The four boys shared a dorm. The two girls, likewise.

One couple among them.

University dorms usually housed four or six students per room. Sometimes eight. The boys lived in a six-person dorm. The girls were in a four-person one.

National Security had already gone to the university and checked the dorms. From their roommates, they learned that the six victims had a tight bond. They had always hung out, eating together, going on trips.

Later, one of the female victims’ roommates shared that she once mentioned wanting to “act” in a short video, which they planned to show at graduation.

She had asked her roommate to keep it secret and not tell anyone else.

Everything lined up with Xiao Yu’s deduction.

The six really had planned to film a video.

A “plate spirit” video.

“At the time of the crime, there were at least seven people present.” Xiao Yu closed the file and rubbed the center of his brow. “Start looking into anyone outside this six-person group who was especially close to them. Also, none of the victims were from J City. How did they even hear about that haunted house?

“Only locals would know about a place like that. These were just students. The odds of them stumbling across such a story on their own are slim. And check whether any of the victims had enemies—romantic entanglements, social issues. No one kills for no reason. And finally…” His brows drew together. “Add all six of their roommates to the suspect list.”

“Their roommates?” Wang Dong was surprised. “You think their roommates might be involved?”

“I’m sure of it,” Xiao Yu nodded. “In three years of living together, you’re bound to have friction. Fights. Tension. Maybe even drama over relationships.”

He paused, remembering a case from his previous life.

A female student fell in love with her roommate’s boyfriend.

Secretly seduced him. They had an affair. Eventually, the roommate found out, exposed her, and soon the whole dorm knew.

Enraged and humiliated, the girl spiked her roommate’s cup with chemicals one day.

Pretended to help her to the hospital.

In truth, she brought her to the chemistry lab and killed her. But it didn’t stop there. She used high-concentration acids and lab-grade reagents to dissolve the body. Only a few bones remained. She packed them up and dumped them outside campus.

Xiao Yu handled that case. Took him three days to catch the killer.

Upon investigation, he found the whole thing ridiculously messy—love triangles, backstabbing best friends, cheating boyfriends. Like some low-budget melodrama.

College dorms could be incredibly close-knit.

But when things turned sour, people could be killed. 

Dorm-room murders weren’t rare at all.

***

Night.

Exhausted after the long day, Xiao Yu finally collapsed onto the hotel bed and pulled out his phone.

WeChat.

Xiao Yu: Silly sister hasn’t even messaged me. Can’t you at least say “goodnight”?

Mu Qingwu: You’re the one who told me “goodnight” really means “I’m staying up to play on my phone for another hour,” remember? I just assumed you were already asleep.

Xiao Yu: …Did I really say that?

Mu Qingwu: Heh.

Xiao Yu: Then maybe, just maybe… when you’re thinking of me, I’m also thinking of you?

Mu Qingwu: Got it. My little brother is thinking about me. But why aren’t you sleeping? What do you want?

Xiao Yu: I want to do a Leo Flying Kick!

Mu Qingwu: ???

Xiao Yu: Sis, have you ever felt like our lives are one big Ultraman episode?

Mu Qingwu: Oh? Then tell me, which Ultraman am I?

Xiao Yu: I’m Ultraman. You’re the little monster.

Mu Qingwu: …Huh? Do you have some sort of warped perception of your role in this family?

Xiao Yu: …

Mu Qingwu: Wait till you come home. I’ll show you who’s Ultraman and who’s the monster.

Xiao Yu: Don’t be mad. Do you believe in light?

Mu Qingwu: Get lost.

Xiao Yu: I love it when you scold me. It hits just right.

Mu Qingwu: I’m starting to suspect there’s something wrong with you. I’m done talking.

Xiao Yu: But I want to hear you say it… that thing. Say it once so I can sleep.

Mu Qingwu: ???

Xiao Yu: You know, that two-syllable thing.

Mu Qingwu: “Baby”?

Xiao Yu: No.

Mu Qingwu: “Zai-zai”?

Xiao Yu: Still no.

Mu Qingwu: “Hubby”?

Xiao Yu: Are you doing this on purpose?

Mu Qingwu: You’re overstepping. Not behaving.

Xiao Yu: To be fair, a little spice in a girl makes her more attractive to most guys. Not me though, obviously. You have to believe me.

Mu Qingwu: Be a decent human being, please.

Xiao Yu: I miss you and I miss the baby too.

Mu Qingwu: Baby kicked me tonight.

Xiao Yu: Tell him not to bully Mommy. If he’s got a problem, he can come for me.

Mu Qingwu: Mm.

Xiao Yu: See you in my dreams?

Mu Qingwu: See you in my dreams.

Xiao Yu ended the chat with a smile and closed his eyes. They agreed they’d meet again in dreams.