I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 115: Chapter 113: Retired Police Dog

After interrogating Xu Chuan, Zhuang Yanzheng went to interrogate Cui Xian.

Cui Xian still insisted she knew nothing.

Even when Zhuang Yanzheng told her that Xu Chuan had confessed everything and implicated her.

Still, Cui Xian claimed she knew nothing.

Meanwhile, people on the outside were still trying to arrange for Cui Xian’s release.

From her expression and tone, it seemed Cui Xian thought they were lying to trick her into confessing.

It wasn’t until Zhuang Yanzheng told her that Xu Chuan hadn’t been arrested by them, but by the narcotics division, that Cui Xian finally began to panic.

Although Xu Chuan didn’t seem to feel much for Cui Xian, it was clear that she cared deeply for him.

Very deeply.

In fact, the moment she heard Xu Chuan’s drug test came back positive, she confessed to everything she had done.

She admitted it was her idea to bury the body at the villa.

After the villa was completed, she grew terrified and sold it.

She thought no one would ever tear down and rebuild such a large villa, one that had cost her so much time, effort, and money. Who could have known...

...

After leaving the interrogation room, Zhuang Yanzheng went straight to the chief’s office.

’He wouldn’t have to go home and inherit the family fortune after all.’

Su Miaoyi returned to her desk and worked on her unfinished report.

But her thoughts were on Cui Xian.

’Xu Chuan didn’t even dare mention Cui Xian to his relatives and friends.’

’He even maintained the facade of a loving husband and doting father, pretending he was constantly searching for his wife and daughter, waiting for their return.’

’And yet, despite all that, Cui Xian had still given him all of her resources and connections.’

’She had even given him advice after he’d killed someone.’

’They had been together for so many years, and she didn’t even have a proper title to her name.’

’Was it worth it, for a man like that?’

But whether it was worth it or not, only Cui Xian herself truly knew.

’Still... Su Miaoyi silently cursed Xu Chuan and his eighteen generations of ancestors.’

...

「Three days later, on Saturday.」

Su Miaoyi went to Jinghai First Middle School to see Cheng Jue.

The college entrance exams were just around the corner.

Boarding students could only go home once a month. Apart from that designated ”home weekend,” they had to spend all other weekends at school for self-study sessions.

Su Miaoyi brought him some clothes for the changing season, along with lunch, and asked how his studies were going.

If he felt he was falling behind, she’d hire a teacher for one-on-one tutoring for a while.

After spending the lunch period with him, Su Miaoyi left the school and stood by the road, waiting for the ride-share she had ordered.

While she was waiting, Zhuang Yanzheng called.

She answered the phone.

Zhuang Yanzheng said, ”Are you free?”

”Yeah, what’s up?”

”Shen Yanzhou left a car for you, didn’t he? Drive...”

Su Miaoyi cut him off. ”I’m not at Weiyang Palace. I’m at the entrance to Jinghai First Middle School. I came to see my brother.”

Zhuang Yanzheng fell silent for a moment. ”Then wait there. I’m passing by anyway, so I’ll pick you up. We have a case.”

”Okay.”

After hanging up, Su Miaoyi canceled her ride and waited under a tree by the side of the road.

About ten minutes later, she suddenly sensed something rushing toward her at high speed.

She instinctively took two steps back.

The next second... a German Shepherd appeared in her line of sight.

The German Shepherd seemed to have pounced at the spot where she had just been standing.

Because she had moved back, it missed.

After missing its mark, the German Shepherd looked at her again, its tail wagging.

Su Miaoyi could sense it meant no harm; in fact, it even seemed friendly and familiar.

The woman and the dog stared at each other for a moment. Su Miaoyi slowly raised a hand and gave a little wave. ”Hi?”

The German Shepherd padded closer to her.

Su Miaoyi didn’t move.

The German Shepherd tilted its head as it watched her, first to the left, then to the right. Then, it suddenly lifted its front paws, wrapped them around her leg for a moment, and let go.

Su Miaoyi stroked its head. The dog’s tail wagged even faster, and it hopped around her twice.

Su Miaoyi leaned down and held out her hand, and the German Shepherd placed its left paw in hers.

She gave it a little shake.

The German Shepherd seemed overjoyed.

”Liu Liu! Liu Liu!” A voice called out from a short distance away.

The dog tilted its head to look.

Su Miaoyi turned her head to look as well.

A woman came jogging toward them, calling out, ”Liu Liu,” as she ran.

”Liu Liu? Is your name Liu Liu?” Su Miaoyi asked, looking at the dog.

The dog wagged its tail again.

The woman jogged up to them, planting her hands on her hips and panting heavily.

Su Miaoyi let go of the dog’s paw.

But the dog just walked back to her side and sat down, pressing against her leg.

The woman was still panting.

Su Miaoyi looked at her.

The woman’s eyes, however, remained fixed on the dog. She didn’t even glance at Su Miaoyi.

”What are you running for? A big thing like you, doing an eight-hundred-meter dash down the street... What if you scare someone?” the woman chided between gasps, pointing at the dog.

Su Miaoyi’s gaze fell on the woman’s outstretched index finger, where a blue diamond larger than a pigeon’s egg was sparkling.

’This woman was wearing a whole villa on her finger.’

”I’m so sorry, did he scare you—” The woman finally looked up at Su Miaoyi. Upon seeing her, she choked on her words and let out a shocked, ”Oh, my!”

She cried out suddenly.

It startled Su Miaoyi, making her own heart pound a little faster.

The woman stared at her, stunned.

Su Miaoyi had no idea why the woman was reacting so strongly. ”What’s wrong?”

The woman just kept staring at her in shock.

The woman’s intense stare was starting to make the hairs on Su Miaoyi’s arms stand on end.

Just then, a car pulled up to the curb.

Someone got out of the car.

Su Miaoyi looked over.

Zhuang Yanzheng walked over. ”Mom.”

Su Miaoyi’s eyes flew wide, her pupils trembling.

’Just how big was this case? Big enough for him to go this far, calling her ”Mom” right off the bat?’

”Yan Zheng.” The woman grabbed Zhuang Yanzheng’s arm, urging him to look at Su Miaoyi. ”She’s...”

”Mom, what are you doing here?” Zhuang Yanzheng interrupted her.

Su Miaoyi blinked rapidly, her gaze darting between the woman and Zhuang Yanzheng.

’Oh.’

She gave an awkward cough.

Zhuang Yanzheng looked at her. ”Don’t tell me you thought I was calling *you* Mom.”

Su Miaoyi nearly choked on her own spit and quickly turned to look at a nearby tree.

’This tree... sure is a tree.’

Zhuang Yanzheng: ”......”

”You two know each other?” the woman asked.

”Yeah.” Zhuang Yanzheng asked again, ”What are you doing here?”

”I... I was taking Liu Liu to get a bath,” the woman said. ”We were just passing a bakery, and I thought I’d buy him some of the bread he likes. But as soon as I parked, he jumped out of the car and bolted over here.”

Zhuang Yanzheng glanced down at Liu Liu.

He was sitting right there, pressed against Su Miaoyi’s leg.

His eyelashes fluttered.

”Hello, ma’am,” Su Miaoyi greeted.

The woman looked at her.

Zhuang Yanzheng introduced her to his mother. ”Her name is Su Miaoyi.”

Then, he introduced his mother to Su Miaoyi. ”This is my mom, Ms. Yan Zhiqing.”

”It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Su Miaoyi said again.

”Hello.”

Zhuang Yanzheng said, ”We have to get to work. You should take Liu Liu home.”

Yan Zhiqing looked at him.

”We’re leaving now,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

”Goodbye, ma’am,” Su Miaoyi said.

”Oh, alright. Goodbye,” Yan Zhiqing replied, still looking dazed.

Liu Liu followed Su Miaoyi.

”Go back,” Zhuang Yanzheng commanded.

Liu Liu looked at Su Miaoyi.

Zhuang Yanzheng: ”......”

”Tell him to go back,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

Su Miaoyi looked at him.

’Me?’

Though she didn’t understand why, she did as he said.

”Liu Liu, go back.”

Liu Liu sat down and refused to budge.

Su Miaoyi: ”?”

Zhuang Yanzheng gave Su Miaoyi another look, then said, ”Let’s go.”

Su Miaoyi followed him into the car. Once they were moving, she asked, ”So this is that dog of yours that supposedly doesn’t take food from strangers?”

Zhuang Yanzheng: ”......”

”Liu Liu was a police dog. I brought him home after he retired.”

Su Miaoyi nodded. ”Oh.”

Zhuang Yanzheng glanced at her again as he drove.

He saw she had no particular reaction.

’He let out a silent sigh.’