The Obsessive Tycoon Claims the Deserted Heiress-Chapter 49 - 048: Another case has occurred

"There was a serial murder case near her home..." Xu Linchuan recounted the story from start to finish.

Of course, he didn't hold back on embellishments, making it as dramatic as possible.

Jin Yunzhi, who was deeply engrossed in the story, suddenly found the food in his bowl less appetizing. He frowned and gasped from time to time, clearly the most interactive listener of the group.

"Are there any clues? When can he be caught?" Jin Yunzhi's face was serious, filled with an eagerness to bring the killer to justice immediately.

His question hit the point, but Xu Linchuan sighed heavily: "None. The guy didn't even leave a single strand of hair at the crime scene."

Jin Yunzhi furrowed his brows further: "What if he targets someone else next?"

"For now, he probably won't. Even if he were picking his next target, it wouldn't happen in a day or two."

"But isn't this way too passive? You make a pretty useless detective."

"..."

The conversation between the two no longer interested Shi Wei.

He frowned slightly, then looked at Yu Zhi sitting silently next to him. Worried, he tightened his grip on her hand: "Should you consider moving out for a while?"

Even though he had witnessed her skill and knew she was smart, he was still uneasy.

"Don't worry, he can't hurt me." Yu Zhi casually chewed her food, looking as though she hadn't taken this matter seriously at all.

A few seconds later, her chewing slowed, and she glanced at their intertwined hands with a delayed reaction. Her ears quietly turned red.

"You don't have to move, but don't stay there for now." Not wanting her to take risks regarding her safety, Shi Wei's tone carried a hint of firmness.

"Alright, I get it." Yu Zhi pressed her lips together, her fingers twitched slightly but didn't pull away, letting him keep hold of her hand.

The two stopped talking, but across from them, Xu Linchuan and Jin Yunzhi were already locked in a heated argument.

Just as the atmosphere was growing increasingly tense, a phone call interrupted the mood, plunging the entire room into a heavy silence.

"He's killed again." Xu Linchuan's brows furrowed, his expression slightly fatigued. It was the kind of situation where you fear something and it immediately happens.

Yu Zhi put her chopsticks down and raised her almond-shaped eyes slightly: "Where?"

"Still that residential area near your place." Xu Linchuan stood up, grabbed a jacket from the coat rack, and slipped it on: "I'll head over first; you guys can continue here."

"I'm going too."

"Me as well!"

Xu Linchuan: "..."

In the end, the four left together from Lanting Square, arriving at the crime scene within thirty minutes.

The late-night wind blew coolly from all directions, and the leaves and bushes flanking the path rustled with waves of 'whooshing' sounds.

The land near the back entrance of the neighborhood had been abandoned for quite some time, littered not only with rebar and bricks left behind by developers but also a small area filled with garbage.

Swarming with mosquitoes and overgrown with weeds, the place reeked of an indescribably foul odor that compelled one to cover their nose in discomfort.

The four stepped over dried branches and leaves, going around the garbage pile, where they finally saw a circle of yellow tape marking the crime scene and several officers standing outside of it.

Xu Linchuan negotiated with them briefly before walking back quickly: "You all can't go in; just wait here outside for now."

Seeing their intense curiosity, he pointed to the area closest to the corpse: "From there, you can get a slightly clearer view."

"Alright." Yu Zhi followed his gaze without hesitation, taking long strides forward.

Shi Wei, seeing this, was about to follow when someone abruptly grabbed his arm.

"Brother Wei, are we really going over there?" Jin Yunzhi's trembling voice betrayed his nervousness. Though he had watched plenty of suspense dramas, he'd never witnessed anything like this in real life.

Shi Wei raised an eyebrow and teased softly: "Scared already?"

"I'm not scared!" Jin Yunzhi countered immediately, scoffing disdainfully: "I'm just asking."

"So, are we going?"

"Of course we're going!"

Jin Yunzhi straightened his spine in an attempt to prove himself, even releasing his grip on Shi Wei's arm.

But as soon as they reached the spot, his nerves betrayed him once more. He covered his face with both hands, peeking through gaps between his fingers.

Several forensic officers were busy collecting evidence, armed with cameras, flashlights, magnifying glasses, and more. Aside from the faint clicks of shutters and the sound of fabric rustling, the scene was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

After a while, when the officers moved, the corpse came into view.

The victim was very young, around twenty years old. She wore a light green spaghetti-strap dress, her hair tousled and draped to one side. One foot was adorned with a dangling slipper, while shards of broken glass were embedded in the sole of the other.

Apart from the obvious strangulation mark on her neck, several red marks dotted her thighs and collarbone. They resembled mosquito bites but could also have been signs of assault.

Yu Zhi wanted to step forward for a closer look, but a large hand suddenly covered her eyes, halting her in her tracks.

"Don't look anymore." Shi Wei pulled her into his arms in a protective gesture, guiding her away from the scene.

Of course, he made sure to grab Jin Yunzhi, whose face had gone pale with fear.

Once they left the area, Shi Wei finally let go. He glanced at the two of them and said, "Stay out of situations like this from now on."

Jin Yunzhi took a deep breath and patted his chest: "Brother Wei, that woman was probably assaulted before being murdered, right?"

Though he hadn't stared directly, he had seen enough to notice the telltale red marks.

"I don't know." Shi Wei cast another cold glance toward the taped-off area, his face inscrutably calm.

His vague response dampened Jin Yunzhi's enthusiasm, prompting him to turn toward Yu Zhi instead: "What do you think?"

Yu Zhi pondered briefly and replied with a soft "Hmm": "It's possible."

In truth, she wasn't entirely sure. Sometimes, what you see isn't always the truth.

"Do you think the boyfriend could be the culprit? Or maybe an ex-boyfriend?"

"Not necessarily. What if it was just someone drawn to her beauty?"

Jin Yunzhi reflected on her suggestion and found it plausible. Looking at her calm demeanor, he asked curiously, "Aren't you scared?"

"Nope." Yu Zhi kept her hands in her pockets, exuding carefree composure. "I didn't do it, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

Jin Yunzhi: "..."

Can't you at least pretend to be scared?

Jin Yunzhi felt somewhat deflated. If Brother Wei wasn't scared, fine—but now even she wasn't afraid.

Does that mean he's the most cowardly one here?

Jin Yunzhi shook his head quickly to dismiss the thought. It's not his fault, just that they're both utterly insane.

After about twenty minutes, Xu Linchuan finally came out. He wiped the fine sweat from his forehead: "Let's get out of here and catch some air."

"How is it? Did you find anything?" Jin Yunzhi immediately rushed over.