Chapter 96: A Ghost’s Story

Xiao Yu was daydreaming. He was staring at the first-class merit medal lying in the red box in his hand. He had been in a daze for almost ten minutes.

Had he made another contribution?

Yes.

It was delivered by the national security personnel, along with a message. Zhang Shi had been executed.

Xiao Yu let out a long breath.

A person like that living was simply a provocation to the world.

As long as Zhang Shi was alive, Xiao Yu could not be at ease. With Zhuang Shi’s death, the case was officially closed. Just as Xiao Yu was about to continue investigating the prison break case, his wife arrived.

***

Xiao Yu was eating his bento with big bites, his eyes fixed on the tablet in his hand.

“Eat properly,” Mu Qingwu, who had brought him the bento, chided gently.

“Okay.” Reluctantly, Xiao Yu put down the tablet and looked at Mu Qingwu.

Her face, devoid of makeup, was as flawless as a peeled egg, smooth and fair. Ever since she became a woman, she exuded a kind of sculpted beauty. With just one look, it was hard to take his eyes off her captivating face.

“What are you looking at?”

In public places, Mu Qingwu always maintained an elegant and cool demeanor. But her brother’s devouring gaze still made her blush.

“Because you’re beautiful,” Xiao Yu chuckled, quickly resuming his meal.

When he finished eating, Mu Qingwu carefully wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, “Don’t overwork yourself.”

That’s what a considerate woman is like. She doesn’t complain or cling to you. Just a single sentence can warm your heart.

At the entrance of the municipal bureau, Xiao Yu hugged Mu Qingwu as she prepared to go home.

“Go to work,” Mu Qingwu said softly, “And think of me when you have time.”

“I can’t,” Xiao Yu shook his head, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

“Why not?” Mu Qingwu asked, puzzled.

“Because when I think of you,” Xiao Yu said seriously, “My mind is filled with images of us fighting bloodily.”

“What?!” Mu Qingwu blushed and fumed, biting her naughty brother’s neck in mock anger.

“Haha!” Xiao Yu laughed joyfully, knowing his wife wouldn’t really hurt him. “Sister…”

“What?”

Mu Qingwu released her bite and leaned into her brother’s embrace.

“For this lifetime, you can only love me,” Xiao Yu threatened, “Or else I’ll beat you up.”

“Haha!” Mu Qingwu laughed out loud, “Alright.”

“Have you ever thought about it,” Xiao Yu asked with a complex expression, “What would you do if one day I couldn’t come home?”

“I have thought about it,” Mu Qingwu raised her calm face and smiled gently, “You’ll definitely come back.”

“Why?” Xiao Yu was stunned.

“Because you have me in your heart,” confidence shone on Mu Qingwu’s beautiful face as she spoke softly, “Even if you have to risk your life, you will come back.”

Xiao Yu hugged his sister tightly as if trying to merge her into his own body. He thought of a ghost story. According to legend, in the world of ghosts, there was a custom. If a ghost was devoted to someone, it would give its ashes to that person. It was equivalent to entrusting its life to that person.

“Sister, wait for me at home. It won’t be long.”

“Okay.”

***

In front of an apartment door, Xiao Yu raised his hand and knocked.

Not long after, a woman’s voice came from inside, “Who is it?”

“Police,” Xiao Yu took out his police badge and showed it to the peephole.

The door opened, and a woman appeared in front of Xiao Yu.

The woman was about thirty years old, of above-average appearance, and looked at Xiao Yu and the two detectives behind him with a puzzled expression.

“I’m sorry to bother you so late, but there’s a case we need your help with.”

The confusion on her face was genuine. Xiao Yu smiled and asked, “Is it convenient for you?”

The woman in front of him was Shen Qi, the girlfriend of the escaped convict Ma Hexuan. She was thirty years old, a senior executive at a company, and a local resident.

After investigating, the police didn’t find any suspicious evidence. This didn’t quite match Xiao Yu’s expectations, so he came to see for himself.

“A case?” Shen Qi’s expression changed slightly. “Is it about… Hexuan?”

“Yes,” Xiao Yu nodded.

“Didn’t you already come this afternoon?” Shen Qi frowned. “What else do you need to ask?”

“It’s like this,” Xiao Yu explained, “We’d like to ask about your past relationship with Ma Hexuan.”

“Relationship?” Shen Qi’s expression turned complex again. She stepped aside and said, “Come in.”

Xiao Yu signaled to the two detectives behind him to stay put and entered Shen Qi’s home alone.

In the living room, Shen Qi politely poured a glass of water for Xiao Yu, who was seated on the sofa, and then she sat down.

Xiao Yu observed Shen Qi’s expression. From the moment he entered until now, her behavior seemed completely normal. Her microexpressions were also normal.

Because of this, a strange feeling rose in Xiao Yu’s heart.

According to the investigation, Shen Qi and Ma Hexuan had known each other for six years. Even when Ma Hexuan was recently detained, they hadn’t broken up. Due to information being blocked, Shen Qi still didn’t know that her boyfriend had escaped after committing murder.

“We’ve known each other for six years,” Shen Qi said without waiting for Xiao Yu to ask. “As for our relationship… how should I put it? When I met him, he was doing well. But later, he became obsessed with developing some kind of software. He poured all his money into it and changed as a person. But towards me, he has always been good.”

“What about your best friend and him?” Xiao Yu didn’t want to rub salt in the wound, but some things needed to be asked.

“…”

Shen Qi’s expression changed, a flash of hatred in her eyes.

“I guess I was blind. My best friend wanted to sleep with my man but didn’t succeed. You have to understand, at that time, all of Hexuan’s attention was on the software. He barely paid attention to me, let alone force himself on her.”

Understood.

Xiao Yu nodded. Ma Hexuan was deeply involved in programming. To put it simply, he was a coder, and many people in this line of work have peculiar personalities.

They were so peculiar that even if a woman took off her pants in front of them, they would only shout, “404!”

Why were most programmers so awesome? 

With no woman in their hearts, their swordsmanship was naturally divine.

Ma Hexuan had been focused solely on programming for five years, investing twenty million yuan into it. His mind was entirely on the software. Accused by his girlfriend’s best friend, Ma Hexuan was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

As for the video the best friend had, it was staged after Ma Hexuan got drunk and was stripped of his clothes.

“Ma Hexuan was detained for injuring your best friend,” Xiao Yu continued, “She approached him again, and in a fit of anger, Ma Hexuan grabbed a fruit knife and injured her. Do you think that’s what happened?”

“Isn’t that the case?” Shen Qi asked, puzzled. “Otherwise, Hexuan wouldn’t have only been sentenced to three months of detention, right?”

This woman truly knew nothing.

Xiao Yu felt like he was wasting his time.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” Xiao Yu said, standing up to leave.

At that moment, Shen Qi’s expression turned strange. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Is my best friend… dead?!”

Hmm?

Xiao Yu’s expression froze.

How did she know that?