I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 13: Chapter 11: Who Am I?

When Su Miaoyi returned from the restroom, Zhuang Yanzheng had already left to handle the follow-up on the case.

She had wanted to leave.

But Yan Cheng said Zhuang Yanzheng told her to wait for him.

So she followed Yan Cheng to his office.

Yan Cheng sat at his computer, organizing his work.

Su Miaoyi sat quietly on the sofa.

Yan Cheng took off his mask, revealing a face that perfectly matched his eyes.

’How to describe it?’

Drawing on her writer’s habits, Su Miaoyi described his features.

’Sharp, defined features, a high-bridged nose, and thin lips that gave him a somewhat cold appearance.’

’When pressed together, they gave off an impression of seriousness, earnestness, and meticulousness.’

And that was indeed the case.

Sensing her gaze, Yan Cheng glanced up, his eyes meeting hers over the top of his computer.

As their eyes met, Su Miaoyi offered a perfectly polite smile.

Yan Cheng gave a polite nod in return before going back to his work.

Su Miaoyi remained on the sofa, waiting for Zhuang Yanzheng.

Zhuang Yanzheng had said he needed her help, but in reality, the case had already been cleared up. It was more of a large-scale test.

She hadn’t expected to be the one to actively view the victim’s final moments this time.

’Wouldn’t that be a huge help in solving cases from now on?’

Su Miaoyi still found it all very incredible.

She felt that so many strange things had happened over the past month.

Her cat had suddenly attacked her, her mind was suddenly filled with knowledge she’d never encountered, and now she could suddenly see these visions.

’Something feels like it’s changing, but I can’t seem to figure it out no matter how hard I think.’

If you can’t figure it out, just sleep it off.

The office had air conditioning, which was much more comfortable than selling vegetables at her stall.

The wait was long, and eventually, Su Miaoyi fell asleep on the sofa.

But it wasn’t a comfortable sleep.

She dreamed.

And she knew she was dreaming.

But she couldn’t wake up.

The images in the dream were also very disjointed.

She heard a voice speaking to her.

”You must come back alive. We’ll throw a victory banquet when you return.”

But then the scene shifted.

The blaze lit up the sky, and a scorching heatwave washed over her.

A series of explosions rang out.

She and another person plunged into the sea.

Before the suffocation set in, the scene changed again.

She saw herself in the orphanage.

She saw the Ji Family picking her up from the orphanage.

Then she saw herself standing in the Ji Family’s living room, her old clothes clashing with the grandeur of the villa, listening to a woman’s sharp, bitter tirade.

”You’re a little jinx, born to make our lives miserable! I should’ve just strangled you from the start; then we wouldn’t have all this trouble today.”

”After all these years of hard work, I finally had a good chance at a promotion, and it’s all because of you! Not only did I not get the promotion, I even lost my job!”

”Why are you still alive? Why didn’t you just die?! Why did you let them find you?!”

”I shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted just abandoning you. I should have just buried you instead. Get out! Stop standing here and being an eyesore!”

The scolding faded away.

Su Miaoyi saw herself at her uncle and aunt’s house again.

”Come, Miaomiao, this will be your home from now on. This is your room. Your uncle just built the bed, and the sheets and bedding are all new. See if you’re missing anything, just tell your uncle and aunt, don’t be shy.”

The heartwarming scene flashed past in an instant.

Su Miaoyi fell into endless darkness again.

She stood in the darkness and, after a moment, raised her hand to look at it.

A question suddenly surfaced in her mind.

’Who am I?’

”Su Miaoyi, Su Miaoyi, Su Miaoyi, Su Miaoyi!”

Zhuang Yanzheng was pinching her sleeve and shaking her arm, calling her name.

His calls grew louder and louder.

Su Miaoyi woke with a start, staring at him blankly.

Everything before her eyes became real.

Zhuang Yanzheng asked, ”You saw something again?”

Su Miaoyi looked at him and collected herself. ”No.”

Zhuang Yanzheng straightened up and sighed in relief. ”You scared me. I thought I wasn’t fated to get any rest.”

Su Miaoyi sat up straight, looked out the window, then looked at the thin blanket on her.

’When did this get here?’

She had no idea who had covered her with it.

”You sure make yourself at home quickly. You’ve been here twice, and you’ve slept here twice,” Zhuang Yanzheng said. ”Once at the Criminal Investigation Division, and once at the Forensic Science Center.”

Su Miaoyi: ”...”

She folded the blanket.

”Let’s go, time to eat,” Zhuang Yanzheng called to Yan Cheng.

Su Miaoyi looked at him. ”Am I going too?”

”Yeah. This is mainly to treat you,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

”Treat me for what?” Su Miaoyi asked.

”To thank you on behalf of the entire city police department,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

Su Miaoyi stood up from the sofa. ”It’s my civic duty. Thanking me is too formal.”

”You’ve got quite the high-minded principles,” Zhuang Yanzheng said. ”Fine then, the treat is off.”

Su Miaoyi looked at him. ”You’re a whole captain. How can you go back on your word?”

Zhuang Yanzheng laughed. ”So you get upset when I actually take back the offer.”

”I was just being polite,” Su Miaoyi said.

”Let’s go.”

Yan Cheng took off his white coat and left with the two of them.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Su Miaoyi pushed open the car door to get out. But after seeing the name of the place, she pulled her leg back in.

”What are you doing?” Zhuang Yanzheng asked, turning in the driver’s seat to look at her. ”Is the pavement trying to bite your foot?”

’This restaurant is going to bite my wallet.’

Su Miaoyi looked at him. ”You’re treating, right?”

Yan Cheng had already gotten out of the car and was standing to the side, watching them.

Zhuang Yanzheng looked at her.

Even when he found her amusing, his expression was still fierce and intimidating.

Most of the time, though, Su Miaoyi ignored it. Only on rare occasions did she actually find him scary.

”This isn’t going to be a go-dutch situation, is it? Or one where I have to chip in?” Su Miaoyi asked. ”Or are you planning on selling me here to cover the bill?”

”Don’t worry. If I really have to leave you here to cover the bill, I’ll be sure to bring the guys by to visit you,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

Su Miaoyi: ”...”

”His family owns this place. Don’t worry,” Yan Cheng said.

Su Miaoyi looked at Zhuang Yanzheng in shock.

’I knew there was something unusual about his brash and reckless attitude.’

When he’d mentioned that the custom pocket watch started at seven figures, she knew he had to be rich.

”What’s with that expression?” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

”The face of someone who hates the rich,” Su Miaoyi said, finally getting out of the car and sizing up the restaurant.

’My measly writing income wouldn’t even get me in the door here.’

Zhuang Yanzheng laughed. ”You two go in first. I’ll go park the car.”

Su Miaoyi followed Yan Cheng to the restaurant entrance.

She heard footsteps coming from behind.

It was two people, a man and a woman, walking quickly and urgently. They were right behind them in no time.

Sensing their rush, Su Miaoyi stepped aside to let them pass.

But as she did, one of them still bumped into her as they walked by.

Yan Cheng steadied her by the arm, then immediately let go. ”Be careful.”

”Sor—” the person started to apologize.

But upon seeing Su Miaoyi, they swallowed the rest of their apology.

Su Miaoyi looked at them.

It was Ji Sheng and Cai Qinglian.

Su Miaoyi’s biological parents.

Su Miaoyi intended to treat them as strangers and averted her gaze.

But Cai Qinglian suddenly spoke, her voice laced with disgust and loathing. ”What are you doing here? What business do you have here?”

Su Miaoyi looked back at her. The words from her dream suddenly came to mind, and a flash of anger shot through her. ”And why can’t I be here? You’re allowed to come, but I’m not? You own the place? Besides, do I even know you? Why should I have to report my business to you? You sure like to stick your nose in everywhere. Do you go around tasting the water in every sewer in Jinghai, too?”

Yan Cheng raised a single, faint eyebrow.

’You really can’t judge a book by its cover.’

’Su Miaoyi looked so docile, but her tongue was surprisingly sharp, and she packed a real punch.’

”You—!” Cai Qinglian started to say more, but Ji Sheng pulled her back.

Ji Sheng shot Su Miaoyi a look. ”We have important business. Don’t get tangled up with her here and draw attention.”

Cai Qinglian fell silent but glared at Su Miaoyi. As their eyes met, Su Miaoyi rolled her eyes right back at her.

Cai Qinglian was about to say something else, but Ji Sheng saw that people were already looking over and quickly pulled her into the restaurant.

Su Miaoyi let out a soft huff, then turned to Yan Cheng, her tone returning to normal. ”Thanks for that just now.”

Yan Cheng shook his head, indicating it was nothing. He didn’t say anything further; after all, it was her private business...