Chapter 23: Petty Brother

Translator: Azza

Editor: Conspiracing

Chen Shi parked the car downstairs from Lin Dongxue’s address and looked at the very ordinary apartment complex. “You live here?” He asked.

“Are you implying that where I live is bad, or is it that the location isn’t good? I’m just renting a place because it is close to work from here... I will go up on my own, don't follow me! I am not familiar with you so I’m not going to let you enter my house!”

“I’ll wait for you here then... You are just like your brother. You love to assume the worst in people!” Chen Shi smiled.

“We’re not the same. My brother is suspicious of others whereas I am just a normal young girl who's alert.”

“Twenty-five years old, the age of marriage, but you still refer to yourself as a young girl?”

“Looking for a fight?!” Lin Dongxue raised her fists.

“Spare me! Spare me!”

“Wait for me here!” After that, Lin Dongxue got out of the car.

Chen Shi lay on his steering wheel in a daze. A father and son came out of the little complex. The father held the toddler’s hands with a doting face. He cautioned, “Baby, slow down!”

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Looking at them, Chen Shi’s thoughts drifted away and was oblivious to Lin Dongxue’s return. She knocked on the door and asked, “What are you looking at?”

“Just daydreaming.” Chen Shi replied.

Lin Dongxue had changed into her normal formal clothes. She had put on a jacket that she usually wore and her hair was tied into a ponytail, making her look clean and neat. Chen also noticed that her face was not as white as before, indicating she had just done some light makeup.

“Let’s go!” said Lin Dongxue.

As they drove, Lin Dongxue asked, “Guess how my brother’s going to investigate this case like last time!”

“How he would investigate? Since it has been determined that an acquaintance committed the crime, it is nothing more than starting from interpersonal relationships. In reality, murder cases are often not due to love and emotional revenges. The usual intentions is due to nothing more than one word – benefits. So, your brother will focus the investigation on people that have a conflict of interest with the victims or people who had a dispute with the deceased. Then, he is most likely going to send you to investigate the witnesses.”

“How do you know my brother so well?”

“I don't know him, but he is easy to read.”

Lin Dongxue laughed. “You’re saying that my brother is stupid?”

“For someone of your brother's age to climb to such a position, there are two possibilities: One is that he is a genius, while the other is that he is a stupid bird that flies first."[1]

“Which one is my brother?”

“A stupid bird who thinks he is a genius.”

Lin Dongxue laughed loudly and smacked Chen Shi, saying, “Your reasoning is unreasonable. There is still another possibility. Perhaps through family relations?”

“There’s no chance that’s the case. Both your parents are dead. Where would the family networking come from?”

Lin Dongxue was shocked and asked, “You... How did you know?”

“Oh... Uh. Just a guess. You don't live with your parents but rent a house outside. You haven’t mentioned your parents once in a conversation with me. It's also your aunt that did your matchmaking, so I guessed as much. Please forgive me if I’ve offended you.”

Lin Dongxue was still suspicious of what he said and was unsure if she was just seeing things. Chen Shi who is usually always calm just revealed a trace of panic. Is it that he knows my brother?!

After thinking about it, she denied it. How could he? They’ve never crossed paths before.

Lin Dongxue returned to the station, but she couldn’t find a single free seat in the conference room. Lin Qiupu stood up straight as a plank as usual. He looked around the room. “Last night, a huge family massacre occurred. The deceased included a worker from an insurance company...” After introducing the deceased and the case, he continued, “The bureau attaches great importance to this case. Once the case is made public, it will cause concern and attention throughout the province and the whole country. Therefore, we must give accountability to the deceased and give an appropriate answer to the public. All the people here, please give this case all you have. Take all your energy and place it into the investigation of this case, and try to solve the case within forty-eight hours. Are you confident?”

“We have confidence!” Everyone responded in unison.

Lin Qiupu turned off the lights and used the projector to project the photos of the crime scene on the white screen. While playing the different photos, he also explained the situation on the spot. The police officers who had not participated in the on-site investigation saw the mangled bodies and made low-pitched exclamations.

The officers all expressed their own opinions. From the various clues currently on hand, the case should have been committed by an acquaintance. The investigation tasks assigned by Lin Qiupu started from the interpersonal relationships of the deceased, especially the loan-shark company that had loaned 800,000 to the deceased. This would be the key to cracking the case.

Hearing this, Lin Dongxue once again admired Chen Shi because his guess was completely spot-on again.

He also guessed another thing correctly. The task assigned to her really was the one with the least difficulty - visiting witnesses.

If it was before, Lin Dongxue would have definitely protested, but now with Chen Shi, a powerful helper, she no longer argued in this matter. Instead, she thought the more you look down on me, the more I will prove you wrong!

However, Lin Qiupu’s next sentence made her feel very surprised. Lin Qiupu instructed, “Yes, Lin Dongxue, you will be doing your task with Xu Xiaodong.”

“What?!” Lin Dongxue exclaimed on reflex.

“What do you mean what? Obey the order, that is all. Adjourned!”

The police officers went on to perform the tasks one after another. Xu Xiaodong, who was assigned an easy task, giddily hurried, “Dongxue, let's go now!”

Lin Dongxue was so angry that she grit her teeth. Anyone could tell that Lin Qiupu was not at ease. He called Xu Xiaodong to go with her to keep an eye on her. In her heart, she felt that her brother was truly too petty.

After briefly glaring at Xu Xiaodong, Lin Dongxue exclaimed. “I am going to the toilet!”

When she went to the corridor, Lin Dongxue called Chen Shi and confirmed his theories. “You guessed right. My brother really did ask me to find eyewitnesses. Not only that, but he also sent a colleague to go with me.”

“Hahaha!” At the end of the phone, Chen Shi laughed. “Then you should go!”

“But......”

“I know that you really want to get acknowledged!” This time, the voice came from both the phone and from her side. Lin Dongxue turned to look, and Chen Shi had actually walked in by himself.

Lin Dongxue hung up and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Didn’t Captain Lin promise to let me help solve the case? Surely there’s no problem in me coming in! Going back to my earlier point, I know that you really want to get acknowledged for a meritorious deed, but the case is at its tipping point. Everyone is still just trying to find a lead. It’s not a problem to visit the witnesses.”

“What are you doing then? Are you coming with me?”

“This kind of chore is not my cup of tea!”

“No loyalty!”

“Actually, I came to see what the technical squad found. Compared to people's opinions, I would like to hear the coroner’s report. That is more helpful for solving the case.”

At this time, Xu Xiaodong walked out of the conference room and saw Chen Shi. His mouth became an o-shape and hesitated, “Hey, weren’t you that dude from last time?”

“My name is Chen Shi. Captain Lin told me to help solve the case. Please take care of me.” Chen Shi responded using a feather pretending it’s an arrow[2]. He even extended his hand.

Xu Xiaodong was puzzled but shook hands with him. Then he turned to ask Lin Dongxue, “Captain Lin really called him in?”

“Uh yeah!”

“A master?!” Xu Xiaodong exclaimed.

“I don't dare to be called as such.” Chen Shi pointed to the front, “I will go see the forensics department first.”

“Wait!” Lin Dongxue stopped him. “You don't know anyone here. I will take you there. I also want to hear the report.”

1. A bird that knows that they are fat, will fly first so they reach the same destination at the same time. Hard working when they know their own circumstances.

2. Bluffing or exaggerating their words to imply something that’s only partially true.