Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1178: Chapter 19: Blame You for Being Too Beautiful

Although the request was not to do it at home, Zhao Le chose a place not too far away—beside the flower bed downstairs in the community, and it was a place where he could look up and see his own balcony.

Regarding the relationship between Zhang Xiaoqin and Wang Liang, the police only knew that Wang Liang had once got some money from Zhang Xiaoqin, but at that time, there was no evidence left, so they couldn’t file a case.

They began to learn more about Wang Liang from Zhao Le’s words.

Zhao Le’s expression was somewhat complicated at this moment, “…Before the incident, my sister loved this man very much, and Wang Liang was a guy who knew how to please people. At first, I didn’t like him much, but later he kept helping us, appearing in our home frequently, and over time, I let go of my guard against him. I just didn’t expect that this scumbag not only had my sister but also had several girlfriends outside, and even one of them had a child with him, though they hadn’t registered for marriage yet.”

“He… cheats women for money?” Lin Feng frowned.

Zhao Le nodded, “Not just my sister, but as far as I know, those other women have also spent a lot of money on Wang Liang over the years… I’ve actually tried to persuade my sister several times, but she wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t help it and couldn’t keep an eye on her at all times. My sister had a tough time, probably because of this, she longed for the so-called love money.”

Shaking his head, Zhao Le sighed, “Later, Wang Liang’s affairs came to light. Actually, it wasn’t even my sister who discovered it; it was a woman outside who found out, tracked down all the women around Wang Liang, including my sister, one by one, and that’s when they all realized they had been deceived by Wang Liang.”

“Then… why did your sister?”

Zhao Le clenched his fists and then relaxed them a bit, “She couldn’t get past it herself, went to find Wang Liang several times, and ended up being humiliated, always coming back in tears. Her savings were gone, and her feelings were hurt. That night, I came back a bit late, and when I got downstairs, I saw her lying on the ground… She had jumped. She was later saved, but she probably won’t be able to walk for the rest of her life… That’s basically her situation.”

Zhao Le looked at Lin Feng, “That’s all I know about Wang Liang. As for his personal information, where his hometown is, what job he does, I believe you can find it out, or perhaps you already have.”

Lin Feng glanced at his colleague, frowned slightly, “I have a few more questions.”

“Ask away.” Zhao Le sighed.

Lin Feng said, “Do you know any of the other women involved with Wang Liang? Their names, contact information, or addresses would be useful.”

“I don’t know any details.” Zhao Le shook his head, “There seems to be one named Wu Rong. She was the first to discover Wang Liang’s issues and stirred things up.”

Lin Feng nodded, noted down the name, and then suddenly asked, “So… when did your sister attempt suicide?”

Zhao Le’s pupils slightly contracted.

Lin Feng continued, “We only want to eliminate any suspicion related to your sister… if possible.”

Zhao Le turned his face away, “Last year, November 7th.”

Lin Feng nodded… According to the information from the landlord, Wang Liang should have disappeared after December. He then asked, “Zhao Le, what have you been doing during this period?”

“What do you mean by that?” Zhao Le turned his head, looking somewhat agitated.

“Calm down.” Lin Feng took a deep breath, “We are not targeting you, but we have to ask these questions.”

Zhao Le took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, seemingly trying hard to control his emotions, “After my sister’s accident, I have been taking care of her in the hospital and running back to school.” Zhao Le reluctantly said, “If you still think I’m a suspect, then go ahead and investigate… To be honest, I did think about killing that scumbag!”

Lin Feng frowned, and while frowning, he suddenly motioned to his colleague beside him to temporarily stop the camera—which had been on since they entered Zhao Le’s home, starting with Zhang Xiaoqin.

Seeing Lin Feng’s move, Zhao Le slightly opened his mouth but did not say anything.

“Zhao Le, about the clues you’ve provided, I’ll organize them after I get back and send them to you for review.” Lin Feng said seriously, “I also hope you understand that testimonies are serious matters and not just moments of venting… What you just said, I can pretend not to have heard, and I hope you don’t say the same thing next time.”

Zhao Le said, “I’m cooperating with you, not because I feel the need to help find the murderer for Wang Liang, but just hoping you won’t continue to disturb my sister… My family has nothing to do with this, and I hope you all won’t come again. If there’s nothing else, I need to get back to see my sister.”

Saying this, Zhao Le stood up, ready to leave… He suddenly turned his head, looking at Lin Feng, glanced at the turned-off camera, hurriedly said thank you, and quickly left.

…

“Officer Lin, do you believe what Zhao Le said?” the colleague suddenly asked.

Lin Feng didn’t answer directly but said, “The time of Zhang Xiaoqin’s suicide was before Wang Liang’s disappearance, and after that, she was hospitalized and unable to walk, essentially ruling out suspicion… Let’s split up and take action, you go find this woman named Wu Rong. I’ll head to the hospital.”

The colleague frowned slightly, “Officer Lin, do you suspect Zhao Le?”

“We can’t ignore any possibility just because of sympathy,” Lin Feng shook his head, “Sympathy doesn’t equal understanding… Zhao Le has sufficient motive for murder. And as it stands, he’s probably the most suspicious.”

The colleague pondered for a moment, “If that’s the case, then this kid’s psychological resilience is terrifying… From the moment we met him, he’s been full of anger, agitation… but there’s no fear or panic.”

“Don’t underestimate kids these days,” Lin Feng shook his head, and casually said, “Many times, what kids do can send chills down an adult’s spine. Let’s go… The bureau currently has another suspect dead, and we are short of manpower. In any case… let’s endure the overtime!”

…

…

In the evening, at Riverside Park, children were playing, all around seven or eight years old, while a few adults gathered nearby playing chess.

In front of the flower bed, Chen Mingming was sketching the city across the river using a pencil in his notebook.

“Wow! Big brother, you’re amazing!”

This was a little boy who curiously walked over—the indistinguishable sketch of the city across the river in the notebook made the little boy at his age feel astonished.

Chen Mingming stopped his hand, smiled slightly at the boy.

The little boy, full of curiosity, pointed at a shadow on the sketch, on a bench, “Who is that?”

The sketch only had this lone figure sitting, seemingly gazing at something in the background, and besides that, there was no other person in the picture.

Chen Mingming didn’t answer, he just closed the notebook. He looked at the little boy in front of him and suddenly said, “I’ll show you something.”

The little boy widened his eyes with anticipation.

Chen Mingming reached into his backpack and then, under the boy’s gaze, slowly drew it out… a silver handgun.

The cool appearance immediately made the little boy think of weapons used by heroes in some special effects shows on television—the texture far surpassed any fifty-dollar plastic toy, and the boy was immediately awed, his eyes lighting up.

Chen Mingming then beckoned the little boy to turn around.

He wrapped his arms around the small boy’s body, then lifted the boy’s hands gently, placing them on the grip of the silver handgun, and aimed it at an elderly man walking a dog in the distance.

This was probably an unprecedented thrill for the small boy… The boy tilted his head, squinting his right eye, as if aiming.

Chen Mingming whispered in the boy’s ear, “Do you want to shoot?”

The boy nodded with some excitement… the thrill made his heart race.

Chen Mingming then let go of his hands, allowing the boy to hold the gun, maintaining his aiming posture.

The boy smiled, his fingers poised around the trigger, the gun’s weight not matching its metallic texture, allowing him to hold it very steadily.

The elderly man stopped, his pet dog squatting at his feet, accompanying him… The elderly man watched the beautiful urban dusk, seemingly engrossed.

The gun’s barrel moved ever so slightly, from the man’s body to his neck… to the man’s head, finally stopping.

The boy’s finger gently pressed down on the trigger, as if time had slowed down.

Chen Mingming silently watched the boy’s every move.

At this moment—!

“Son—!!”

A rough voice suddenly reached their location, halting the boy’s actions—it was a middle-aged man with a shopping bag, who had been watching a chess game.

The boy instantly stuck out his tongue, turned around playfully at Chen Mingming, then reluctantly returned the gun to Chen Mingming, “Big brother, will you come again tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.” Chen Mingming smiled slightly.

The boy didn’t ask further—his father urged him again and was walking over. The boy had to quickly run back to his father.

When he grasped the boy’s hand, his father glared cautiously at Chen Mingming, then quickly left, sternly saying, “Kids, don’t take things from strangers!”

The father had seen the gun… but hadn’t thought it could be a real one.

By the riverside, peace soon returned. The elderly man enjoying the sunset had already begun to walk away slowly with his pet.

The people playing chess tidied up their chessboard not long after, and the spectators gradually left… fewer and fewer people remained.

Chen Mingming seemed to blend in with the fading light and the surroundings.

He sat down on a long wooden bench ahead—it was the very spot depicted in the painting, with the back still facing the artist—sitting there, watching the last bits of the sunset vanish beneath the horizon, leaving only dark red clouds.

Suddenly, he removed the magazine from the gun—no bullets.

Ten minutes later, as streetlights came on, Chen Mingming picked up his backpack and left.

…

…

One has to admire the ability of women to converse—especially when one seems to have an endless array of topics, making the time of afternoon tea seem to slip away so easily.

“Oh dear… why hasn’t that brat come yet?”

Seizing this opportunity, Mammy Ren naturally wouldn’t let it slip—after intercepting You Ye, she immediately and quietly texted her son.

“He said he wanted to go to the Library to do some research today, probably got too absorbed and lost track of time,” You Ye said with a smile.

Ren Ziling rolled her eyes, “Is reading more fun… no, more important than having a girlfriend? I’m telling you, You Ye, that Luo Qiu is just like a stick typically, but don’t worry, such men are the best! They’re devoted!”

The maid covered her mouth, chuckling lightly, as if the bustling place returned to the courtyard of an Aristocrat huge palace from centuries past… Mammy Ren watched, a bit mesmerized.

“Or… why don’t you sit for now, I’ll go buy some more things.” Ren Ziling thought for a moment, “After all, I’m out now, might as well not worry about dinner later… You sit here, I’ll see what’s good to eat at the counter, that brat Luo Qiu is probably almost here, don’t want him to starve!”

The maid naturally did not intend to refuse Ren Ziling’s care.

Ren Ziling stretched leisurely, showing off her graceful figure, and slowly walked into the shop… At this moment, the maid smiled gently, intending to get up.

Because, the Master had appeared.

However, she did not stand up, because before she could, Luo Qiu lightly placed his hand on her shoulder, whispering, “Just sit.”

Afterward, Luo Qiu pulled up a chair and sat down.

You Ye started to serve the flower tea Ren Ziling ordered, pouring it for Luo Qiu, “I bumped into Ms. Ren while buying things, so it took some time.”

“No problem.” Luo Qiu laughed, “She likes you a lot, this isn’t the first or second time she’s wanted to see you. But thank you for your trouble, she can be quite chatty.”

You Ye said softly, “She only talks about your matters, Master, how can that be chatty.”

Luo Qiu suddenly stood up, leaned over, and kissed those faintly colored lips… a gentle kiss.

The lashes on her eyes fluttered lightly, her azure eyes showing a slight glimmer, as she naturally wrapped her arms around Luo Qiu’s neck.

Lips parted.

Luo Qiu spoke softly, “These days, I want to do something by myself, just finish it, and don’t overthink.”

“Mm.”

Thump, thump—!

It seemed to be the real sound of a heartbeat, emanating from the Maid’s body.