Chapter 2: Meeting Again

Peach protested, “Although I’ve only dated once, I know plenty of examples around me.”

The group arrived at the main gate and boarded the forensic center’s dedicated crime scene investigation vehicle.

Gao Yi chatted nonstop with two interns, while Shu Yan smiled faintly, occasionally uttering a word or two.

Everyone was accustomed to it—Shu Yan was famously aloof, a “high mountain flower” within the bureau.

She spoke little, but her professional skills were, aside from the director, the strongest, earning her the reputation of a genius forensic expert.

The scene was in the suburbs, eastward, with smooth traffic; they arrived fifteen minutes later.

This was a well-known affluent neighborhood.

All were detached villas, spaced about thirty meters apart, ensuring the owners’ privacy.

The crime scene was easy to locate—just follow the police tape.

Once the vehicle stopped, Shu Yan was the first to exit. She pulled out her forensic identification and walked toward the destination.

At the police line, she showed her badge to the on-duty SWAT officer. “From the forensic center.”

The officer saluted and let her pass, stealing a second glance at her.

Such a beautiful female officer was rare, and one from the forensic center—an even rarer sight.

That was not a job just anyone could do.

Crossing the tape, Shu Yan stopped and donned the investigative gear handed by Yang Guang—hat, mask, gloves, shoe covers—nothing was omitted.

Only when fully prepared did the team continue forward.

“Good morning, Director Shu,” Liu Xun, deputy head of the criminal police unit, greeted her and began the briefing.

“The deceased is Zhang Ruilin, male, thirty-five years old, CEO of Oceanic Technology Corporation. Currently, only he and his newlywed wife live here.”

“CEO of Oceanic Technology?” Gao Yi exclaimed in shock. “The one known as the most handsome president in Licheng?”

Liu Xun nodded. “That’s him.”

Shu Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, as if pondering. “Newlywed wife?”

Liu Xun explained, “They married just a month ago—a whirlwind romance. They met at a party and married within a week. The wife’s name is Wen Ling, thirty years old.”

“According to Wen Ling, they fell in love at first sight at the party, and she moved in here afterward. Zhang Ruilin is a light sleeper, so they slept in separate rooms last night as well.”

Shu Yan listened carefully as they entered the house, climbed to the second floor, and stopped at a bedroom door.

Inside, the trace evidence team had already laid down investigation boards and busily took photographs and collected evidence.

Liu Xun halted at the door, pointing toward the walk-in closet.

“The person is in the closet. You guys go in and check it out. I won’t disturb you—I have to head downstairs to receive an important guest.”

“Xun, what important guest?” Gao Yi asked curiously. “Could it be Director Zhao coming here?”

Liu Xun chuckled, “Not likely. When have you ever seen the director come to a crime scene? It’s my superior, the new squad chief.”

Gao Yi was surprised. “New squad chief? Didn’t you say he was only starting next Monday?”

Liu Xun said, “Yes, but this case is special. Oceanic Technology is a renowned local company, publicly listed, and the CEO suddenly dies—if word gets out…”

“Not only would it cause a citywide sensation, their stock would definitely be affected. It was their chairman himself who called Director Zhao, asking for our help to quickly clarify Zhang Ruilin’s cause of death.”

“That’s why Director Zhao assigned Director Shu to handle this case. Now you know why we called you back to work overtime. Come on, comrades, Director Zhao promised to treat us to a meal once the case is solved.”

After saying this, Liu Xun patted Gao Yi on the shoulder, glanced at Shu Yan, and turned away.

Shu Yan felt a grim premonition—this case was certainly not straightforward.

She immediately switched into focused work mode.

Turning to her three team members, she said, “You heard that—let’s get to work.”

She stepped onto the investigation boards and moved toward the walk-in closet.

Senior engineer Zhang Yong from the trace evidence lab approached with a camera. “Morning, Director Shu.”

“Morning, Brother Yong,” Shu Yan replied politely.

“Brace yourselves for a visual shock,” Zhang Yong said mysteriously as he walked.

Old forensic experts would frown at such words.

Only inexperienced interns would get excited—especially Yang Guang, who was itching to rush in first.

But he couldn’t; the team leader always entered first.

Inside the walk-in closet, they followed the boards to a wardrobe.

When everyone saw what was inside the wardrobe, they all gasped sharply; Yang Guang felt his scalp tingle.

He couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh my goodness, this is... perverted.”

Gao Yi shot him a sharp look.

Yang Guang quickly shut up.

Zhang Yong, seemingly accustomed to the scene, explained, “According to the wife Wen Ling, last night they celebrated a festival after going on a date. They returned home around nine in the evening.”

“Then the deceased invited her inside; they showered together and were intimate. Afterwards, Wen Ling went to her own room. She said she played some games in her room around eleven and fell asleep around midnight.”

Shu Yan asked, “Did Wen Ling discover the deceased? When did she find him?”

Zhang Yong replied, “Yes. Wen Ling said she woke up around 5:30 a.m. from a nightmare. Afraid, she came to find the deceased, something she had done before. But when she entered, the bed was empty.”

“So she searched the house, first the bathroom, then the walk-in closet. She found this wardrobe door open, came to check, and was almost terrified to death by what she saw.”

“Then she immediately called the police.”

Shu Yan frowned deeply, concentrating on the deceased before her.

The deceased, Zhang Ruilin, was shirtless, wearing only a pair of red lace women’s underwear and black pantyhose on his lower half.

He knelt inside the wardrobe, his hands and feet bound behind him with nylon rope.

A nylon rope was looped around his neck, the other end tied to the wardrobe’s hanging rod.

Shu Yan carefully examined the ropes on his hands and feet, then reached out and bent his hand joints.

Muttering to herself, “Rigor mortis has spread to the major joints.”

She then studied the deceased’s legs, which were kneeling face down, and continued, “Livor mortis is extensive; time of death exceeds six hours, and the body has not been moved.”

She stood and pried open the deceased’s eyelids. “Corneal opacity with white spots, consistent with the livor mortis estimation. Time of death should be around 1 a.m.”

Yang Guang and Peach nodded simultaneously, quickly taking notes.

“Gao Yi, measure the body temperature,” Shu Yan instructed a colleague standing behind her.

There was no response.

She turned, only to meet a pair of deep, dark eyes—eyes that drew her in like a magnet.

Though he wore a hood and mask, Shu Yan recognized him immediately.

And then there was his scent—unique and unmistakable.

A fresh fragrance mingled with the ocean breeze.