Chapter 5 Clarifying the Case

  Wu Hui and Guo Yining discussed and decided to start by investigating the necklace that Yang Liu lost at the airport, maybe they could find some clues. The necklace that Yang Liu lost was custom-made by the largest jewelry store in Lincheng, perhaps the people at the jewelry store would have some impression of this necklace.

  In the jewelry store, Guo Yining found the staff member who had served Yang Liu that day through the manager. Through Yang Liu's photos, the staff member recalled some things that happened that day. "I remember this person, she came alone to pick up the necklace that day. At that time, I saw such a young woman could afford such a good necklace, so I was envious and chatted with her for a few more words."

  "Please recall carefully what happened that day." Wu Hui took the tea handed over by the staff member and placed it on the coffee table.

  "That day, she indeed came alone. When she arrived, she said it was to pick up a previously customized necklace and gave me the receipt. I then took out the necklace for her. At that time, I suggested we could engrave something on the necklace. She asked if it was possible to engrave two letters, and I said yes. She said to engrave 'YL' and when I saw the customer's name list as Yang Liu, I asked if those two letters were an abbreviation of her own name. She shook her head and said they were the initials of her boyfriend's first letter. At that time, I suggested adding a heart shape between the two letters, which would look better, but she didn't agree." The staff member tried hard to recall what happened that day and carefully recounted their conversation.

  "Is that all?" asked Guo Yining after listening.

  "At that time, I said the engraving would take half an hour, and she could go out for a walk, but she didn't. Instead, she sat in the store waiting, sitting in this position, constantly lowering her head to play with her phone, as if sending messages." The staff member pointed to where Guo Yining was sitting and said.

  "Alright, thank you. If you remember anything, please give me a call." Guo Yining glanced at Wu Hui and felt there was nothing more to ask, so she handed the item over to the staff member and prepared to leave.

  "Do you remember her expression when she spoke at that time?" Wu Hui got up and was about to leave, but seemed to have thought of something and turned his head to ask the staff.

  "I also can't quite put my finger on it, I just feel that when she talks about her boyfriend, it doesn't seem like she's in the midst of a passionate love affair, but rather there's a hint of bitterness. I couldn't say for sure, but considering her boyfriend is able to buy her such expensive gifts, he should be deeply in love with her, right? Maybe I'm just mistaken.

  The employee thought about it some more and perhaps it was herself who was mistaken, and the one who truly felt bitter inside was actually herself."

  Guo Yining didn't understand what Wu Hui's last question meant, "How did you suddenly ask such a thing?"

  "It's nothing, just ask casually." Wu Hui thought that if it was really her boyfriend who sent it, the happiness and sweetness in her heart should not be hidden.

  Wu Hui became more and more interested in the boyfriend mentioned by Yang Liu, but after many days had passed since Yang Liu's death, and her parents had come to claim her body, why hadn't the boyfriend she mentioned appeared even once. "Officer Guo, let's go take a look at Yang Liu's school."

  "Okay, we also went to her school before, but didn't find out anything. Her classmates said that Yang Liu was always a very outgoing student and wouldn't hold grudges with anyone. The only strange thing is that from freshman to junior year, Yang Liu's dressing style was not much different from other college students, but after she started living off-campus in her senior year, the change in her can be described as like two completely different people." Guo Yining had previously investigated at Lincheng Art Academy where Yang Liu studied with Fang You.

  "Senior? It seems that this is a turning point in Yang Liu's life. Has anyone asked the people in the same dormitory as Yang Liu?" Wu Hui looked at the fashionable and energetic university students in the school, which was completely different from ordinary universities.

  "They've all asked, and basically they're all saying the same thing. Yang Liu's grades in their major are excellent, and she gets along especially well with her roommates. Among them, the one she gets along best with is Zhang Qian from the same dormitory. I've already called her, and she's waiting for us downstairs right now." Under Guo Yining's lead, Wu Hui quickly arrived at the girls' dormitory, and from a distance, he saw a short-haired girl standing downstairs looking in their direction.

  Kuo Yining saw Zhang Ju beckoning them over and quickly walked two steps to her side, "Hello, thank you for taking the time to see us."

  Although Zhang Ke did not see Yang Liu's body, she also knew some of the circumstances of Yang Liu's murder from news reports. "No need to be polite, it's what should be done, I also want to catch the murderer as soon as possible, hoping that she can rest in peace. But I know too little and can't help you much." Thinking of Yang Liu's appearance when she was alive, and then thinking of her now lying in the morgue as a cold corpse, Zhang Ke suddenly felt that being alive is such a happy thing.

  Guo Yining had asked Zhang Lu some questions before, so this time he let Wu Hui come to ask, maybe from Wu Hui's perspective could get some other clues. "You and Yang Liu are good friends, didn't you find anything unusual about her before?"

  "The biggest anomaly, as I mentioned earlier, is that after our senior year internship, we had fewer opportunities to meet up. She started dressing herself up, wearing all sorts of branded clothes, and carrying expensive handbags. When I asked her about it, she said they were bought by her parents, who told her that since she's working now, she should dress well and not look like a student anymore." As for Yang Liu's changes, Zhang Cang actually didn't think it was that strange, because many of their classmates' dressing styles changed in their senior year, hoping to cover up the strong student aura on them.

  "Does she have a boyfriend? Have you seen him?"

  "Hmm, actually there's something I'm not very sure about. One time, I went back to the dorm to pack my luggage and was preparing to move out with my boyfriend. Yang Liu happened to come back for her things too, she had already packed everything up, I saw that she had several boxes and thought it would be a hassle for her to move as a girl, so I said my boyfriend was driving over and could help take some of her stuff and send it to where she lived, but she didn't agree, saying someone was coming to help her move. I thought maybe it was her boyfriend, but she didn't say clearly, so I didn't keep asking. We chatted for a bit, then I had something to do, so my boyfriend and I left first, and after that, I never ran into Yang Liu again."

  "Have you ever seen the person Yang Liu mentioned?"

  "No, but once I saw Yang Liu in a bar. It was just for an instant, and I thought I must have mistaken her. The next day, I called Yang Liu to ask if she had gone to that bar the night before. She said no, so I thought I must have mistaken someone else for her."

  "And then, did you see her leave?"

  "I followed a few steps to confirm if it was Yang Liu, and then I went out of the door with her to the parking lot. Yang Liu got into a car, and I couldn't catch up, so I returned to the bar." The lights in the bar were very dim, Zhang Ju didn't see clearly, but felt that the figure looked like Yang Liu.

  Wu Hui thought this was an important clue, and the driver might be Yang Liu's boyfriend. "What kind of car? Take a closer look at who is sitting in the car?"

  Zhang Lu felt a bit embarrassed, "The parking lot was too dark, and I didn't get a good look at the person inside, but I can be sure that it was a man's silhouette, probably Yang Liu's boyfriend. As for the car, I'm not very familiar with cars, all I know is that it was an Audi off-road vehicle, black in color."

  "What kind of bar is that?"

  "Oh, it's Xihé Bar, the largest bar in this city."

  When they heard the words "Xihe Bar", Wu Hui and Guo Yining exchanged a glance, because the second victim was indeed the bartender at Xihe Bar. Although there was no connection between the victims, at least now they saw an intersection line.

  After leaving Lincheng Art Academy, Wu Hui and Guo Yining returned to Wu Hui's residence. Zhang Qiang was playing games and didn't even lift his head when he saw the two return. "How's the investigation going? Any leads?"

  Wu Hui didn't respond to Zhang Qiang's words, but instead poured a cup of tea for Guo Yining and sat down opposite Zhang Qiang. "Zhang Qiang, I remember you mentioned a place called Xihé Bar before?"

  "Really? How is that? Did you find any clues at the Xihé Bar?" Zhang Qiang put down the game in his hand and looked at the two people sitting across from him after hearing Wu Hui say this.

  "How about going to the Xihé Bar for a drink tonight?" Wu Hui looked at Zhang Qiang and smiled.

  "Still being mysterious, won't say if not saying, but there's one thing I must mention beforehand, this is the bar where we went to help Guo team investigate the case, and at that time the consumption of the bar will be paid by Guo team."

  Kuang Yining heard Zhang Qiang's words, and the water he had not swallowed yet came out with a cough. "Cough...cough...I'm saying you're too stingy, my monthly salary is not even as high as your rent, you guys are so rich, why care about this little money? Moreover, going to a bar, the company won't reimburse that, isn't that me paying out of my own pocket?"

  Seeing Guo Yining's somewhat embarrassed appearance, Zhang Qiang didn't let him off so easily. "Captain Guo, what you just said isn't right," he said. "Wu Hui follows you around every day, running east and west. Has he ever complained about being tired? No, right? Has he ever complained about it being tough? Also no, right? Has he ever asked for overtime pay? Also no, right? Look, our Wu Hui is working for you for free. You should be the one treating us to drinks!"

  Guo Yining looked at Wu Hui, hoping he would come out and mediate, but Wu Hui simply picked up his coffee and slowly savored it, not getting involved in the conversation between the two of them.

  "Alright, I've figured it out, you two are sharing a pair of pants. Forget it, tonight I'll treat you to drinks. Yesterday's just-received salary is going to be contributed today. Luckily I'm single, otherwise my wife and kids would definitely be drinking the northwest wind." Guo Yining touched the envelope in his breast pocket, this salary he hadn't even warmed up yet.

  "Alright, tonight we won't leave until we're drunk!" After scamming Guo Yining, Zhang Qiang achieved his goal and ignored the two people again, returning to his gaming world.