Chapter 39 He Would Likely Make a Good Father

While waiting for Gao Yi to collect the scattered human remains, Shu Yan walked aside, turning her back to the scene to catch her breath.

Lu Chengfeng approached her from behind at some point and handed her a bottle of mineral water.

The case was already taking shape; it was likely the husband who had done it, and the rest depended on the autopsy results. Lu Chengfeng wasn't worried about the case itself, but rather about Shu Yan’s physical state. If she were truly pregnant, he would have to take her to the hospital for a check-up. He felt deep regret, fearing that the hours he had spent tossing her about the night before might have harmed the child.

Shu Yan accepted the water and noticed the cap had already been unscrewed. He appeared to be a rough man, yet he was more attentive than any woman. If he were to become a father, he would surely cherish the child. As this thought crossed her mind, Shu Yan immediately stifled it. How could a child conceived out of wedlock be kept? Their current circumstances did not allow for pregnancy or raising a child, let alone marriage.

Seeing Shu Yan’s furrowed brows, Lu Chengfeng asked, "Do you want to go to the hospital and get checked out?"

Shu Yan turned abruptly to look at him. "Checked for what?"

Lu Chengfeng replied, "Hasn't your appetite been poor lately? You should get it looked at. If it’s gastroenteritis, it’s best treated early."

Shu Yan asked, "How did you know my appetite has been poor lately?"

Lu Chengfeng answered, "You don't eat much at every meal, and you've lost a lot of weight recently."

Shu Yan countered, "Are you stalking me?" Otherwise, how would he know how much she was eating? She wasn't even eating with him.

Lu Chengfeng remained calm. "We all eat in the same cafeteria; how much you eat is no secret."

Shu Yan shoved the water back into his hands. "I am fine. Don't worry about me. Captain Lu, you should focus on this case instead. If it’s death by mechanical asphyxiation, we still need to find evidence." She continued, "I suggest you have the forensic team collect the quilts and pillows from the victim’s bedroom for testing, in case the killer tried to destroy the evidence."

There were no ligature marks on the victim’s neck, so it was highly probable she had been smothered. An autopsy examining the nasal cavity would confirm this.

Lu Chengfeng said, "Understood. Anything else?"

Shu Yan replied, "Not for now. Once the autopsy is complete, I will have Gao Yi contact you. The results should align with our suspicions, and you can proceed with your investigation along those lines."

After Gao Yi finished clearing the scene, Shu Yan led her team and two forensic investigators back to the Forensic Center for the autopsy. After they left, Lu Chengfeng went upstairs to the victim's home and called Zhang Yong aside to give him instructions.

Zhang Yong understood and went to the bedroom to pack up the pillows and quilts. Seeing this, the victim's husband lunged over to stop him. "Why are you taking our bedding? This is my wife’s favorite quilt! You can't take it!"

Observing the man’s reaction, Liu Xun pulled out his handcuffs and cuffed him. He warned the man, "Zhang Hui, we suspect you of murdering your wife, Chen Hong. Please return to the station with us to assist with the investigation. I warn you, do not obstruct our work any further."

Just then, Lu Chengfeng noticed two small heads peeking out from a nearby room—a boy of five or six and a girl of three or four. Their eyes were filled with terror. Lu Chengfeng quickly blocked the children's view. He asked the husband, "Is there anyone who can look after these two children? Or someone who can take them away?"

Zhang Hui looked at his children, paused, and said, "Yes, please contact my wife’s boss."

Lu Chengfeng frowned slightly but pulled out his phone. "Number?"

Zhang Hui recited a sequence of digits. Lu Chengfeng dialed, but the call was hung up after two rings. He tried again. This time, the other party answered, sounding displeased. "Hello? Who is this? Why are you calling at this hour!"

Lu Chengfeng said, "Hello, I am Captain Lu Chengfeng of the City Bureau Criminal Investigation Division. Do you know Chen Hong?"

The person on the other end paused. "What happened to her?"

Lu Chengfeng replied, "She is dead."

Silence fell on the other end of the line. After a moment, the person asked, "How did Chen Hong die?"

Lu Chengfeng explained, "We are still investigating. Her husband asked us to contact you. We are taking Zhang Hui in for questioning, and their two children need someone to look after them."

The person responded, "I will come to get them. Are you at the XX residential complex?"

Lu Chengfeng said, "Yes. Please hurry."

The person said, "Right, I'll be there in ten minutes."

Ten minutes later, an investigator brought up a man in his sixties or seventies. Upon entering and seeing Zhang Hui, the man rushed over, grabbed Zhang Hui by the collar, and demanded, "Zhang Hui, did you push Chen Hong off the building? Chen Hong wouldn't commit suicide! She would never leave her two children behind!"

"Don't think I don't know what you've been doing behind her back! You must have killed Chen Hong! Why did you kill her?" Zhu Qingping had heard the neighbors gossiping downstairs and learned that Chen Hong had fallen to her death in the middle of the night.

"I didn't!" Zhang Hui denied. "Mr. Zhu, I didn't kill Chen Hong. I had no reason to kill her! If she’s dead, you certainly won't give me any more money. Why would I kill her?"

"She really jumped herself. I was asleep early last night; it was the police officers knocking on the door that woke me up."

Zhu Qingping roared in anger, "Do you take me for a fool? Chen Hong told me everything when she called me last night. She said you threatened her, demanding I give you thirty million, or you would never divorce her for the rest of your life."

Zhu Qingping was filled with regret; if he had come to talk to Zhang Hui last night, Chen Hong would still be alive.

Zhang Hui stammered, "I was just saying that casually. I just wanted to tell Chen Hong that I didn't want a divorce and that we should keep living as we were."

Zhu Qingping snapped, "Say no more. I’m telling you, Zhang Hui, if you really killed Chen Hong, I will make you pay with your life. And as for the money you took from her, I will have my lawyers recover every cent!"

Zhang Hui’s face turned deathly pale. "Mr. Zhu, believe me, I really didn't kill Chen Hong. She really jumped herself."

Lu Chengfeng signaled to Liu Xun, who nodded and escorted Zhang Hui away.

"Are you Mr. Zhu? I’m the one who called you," Lu Chengfeng introduced himself.

Zhu Qingping snapped out of his daze and looked at Lu Chengfeng. "Hello, Captain Lu."

Lu Chengfeng asked, "Mr. Zhu, would you mind telling me about your situation? Why are you so certain that Zhang Hui killed Chen Hong?"

Zhu Qingping looked toward the sofa and asked, "May I sit down? I feel a bit dizzy."

Lu Chengfeng said, "Of course. Please, sit. Let’s start with the relationship between the three of you."

Zhu Qingping hesitated for a moment, then walked to the sofa, sat down, and began to recount their situation to Lu Chengfeng.

...

Three hours later, in the conference room of the Licheng Public Security Bureau's special investigation team.

Zhao Jianguo sat at the head of the conference table. The row to his left was already filled with officers from the Forensic Center. The row to his right remained empty.

Just as Shu Yan picked up her teacup for a sip, she heard hurried footsteps approaching the conference room. Shortly after, Lu Chengfeng entered with a dozen investigators. He gave a slight nod to Zhao Jianguo. "Chief."

"Sit down," Zhao Jianguo said, nodding. He turned to Shu Yan, who was sitting on the left. "Shall we start with your report?"

"Yes, Chief," Shu Yan replied, giving Gao Yi a signal.