I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 51: Chapter 49: Solving the Case Even Without a Vision

Having shared all the findings from his side, Zhuang Yanzheng looked over at Yan Cheng.

Yan Cheng looked at the autopsy report.

”The deceased has a fractured skull and intracranial bleeding with visible blood clots. Four ribs are broken on her left side. There are ruptures in her left lung and left pericardium, with blood accumulation in the thoracic cavity but no clots. Her left arm is fractured, but there are no fractures at the joints of her limbs.”

”Time of death is between 12:30 AM and 2:00 AM.”

Su Miaoyi quickly reached a conclusion.

’The fall occurred post-mortem.’

”In a living body, there’s a self-healing function. After an injury and bleeding, platelets cause the blood to coagulate. The bleeding in the deceased’s left lung and pericardium was caused by the fall, and there are no blood clots, indicating it was a post-mortem injury.”

”If she had fallen while alive, the body would have instinctively reacted to resist the ground’s impact force upon landing, which would more likely cause fractures in the joints. But a fall after death results in a direct impact on the corpse. The fractures on the deceased’s left ribs and left arm are more consistent with a post-mortem fall.”

”Furthermore, the skull fracture shows signs of a secondary impact,” Yan Cheng said. ”This is consistent with the bloodstains at the scene. Our current theory is that she died from intracranial bleeding after her head was repeatedly struck against the ground, and the fall from the building caused the secondary impact to the skull.”

”The deceased had consumed alcohol before death. We are still waiting for the results of the other lab tests.”

Based on the autopsy report and the evidence from the scene, it was confirmed that the fall occurred post-mortem.

But for now, it seemed everyone had an alibi.

However, Jiang Lingjie was a major suspect.

”First, let’s go to the hospital and check on Jiang Lingjie. If possible, bring him in,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

”Okay.”

The case discussion went late into the night. When they came out of the conference room, Su Miaoyi felt like everyone had aged several years.

Time was running out, the pressure was mounting, and the public outcry online was relentless.

Su Miaoyi went to the restroom. Afterward, she sat on a chair in the hallway, looking at the news online before closing her eyes and leaning back against the wall.

’So far, I still haven’t seen anything.’

’How can I see?’

’Why can’t I see anymore?’

’If I can’t see, I can’t help.’

’The public pressure online is so intense.’

’A forty-eight-hour deadline to solve the case.’

’Who could the killer be?’

’Please let me see something, just let me see.’

Su Miaoyi prayed inwardly again and again. No images appeared, but a cold voice suddenly sounded in her head: ”You can’t solve a case just because you can’t see?”

She snapped her eyes open, trying to determine if she was hallucinating.

It wasn’t a hallucination, because she heard the voice again: ”Is the knowledge in your head just for decoration?”

”Who are you?” Su Miaoyi asked.

The voice gave a cold snort and fell silent.

”Are you still there? Hello?” Su Miaoyi didn’t hear her speak again.

”What are you doing here?” Zhuang Yanzheng had run into her on his way to the restroom. ”Tired?”

Su Miaoyi shook her head.

Zhuang Yanzheng said, ”Let’s grab a bite together in a bit, then I’ll take you home.”

”I can get back on my own. You’re busy,” Su Miaoyi said.

”I’m meeting Shen Yanzhou for dinner,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

’Shen Yanzhou?’

’Today, we only questioned people who were at the clubhouse party after midnight.’

’It wasn’t Shen Yanzhou’s turn yet, since he’d left so early.’

”Then hurry up,” Su Miaoyi said, sitting up straight.

Zhuang Yanzheng clicked his tongue and went into the restroom.

’Is that something I can just hurry up with?’

...

Zhuang Yanzheng took Su Miaoyi to meet Shen Yanzhou.

When they arrived, Shen Yanzhou was already waiting for them, and he had already ordered the food.

When Shen Yanzhou saw Su Miaoyi, he was taken aback for a moment.

For one, he hadn’t expected Zhuang Yanzheng to bring her. He had only mentioned he was bringing someone along, which was why he had ordered for three.

For another, the sight of the two of them arriving together suddenly brought back a flood of memories.

Shen Yanzhou was a bit lost in thought and only snapped out of it when the two sat down.

Zhuang Yanzheng raised a hand to call the waiter over and ordered a lot of food to go. There was still a whole team at the station waiting to be fed.

”I wasn’t sure what you like to eat, so I just ordered a few things,” Shen Yanzhou said to Su Miaoyi.

”It’s fine, I’m not a picky eater,” Su Miaoyi said.

”Are you... working at the police station?” After some thought, Shen Yanzhou finally asked the question that had been on his mind for a long time.

’How could someone just suddenly appear like this?’

’And have so many ”coincidences” surrounding them?’

”I...” Su Miaoyi thought for a moment and said, ”I’m about to be.”

After finishing his order, Zhuang Yanzheng glanced at her and chuckled at her words.

Su Miaoyi shot him a look and said, ”I was talking about the forensic center.”

”You wouldn’t dare,” Zhuang Yanzheng said, frowning.

”And why wouldn’t I?” Su Miaoyi looked at him, her tone just as provocative.

Zhuang Yanzheng’s frown deepened. He took a slow breath and, in the end, said nothing.

’There’s really nothing I can do with her.’

Shen Yanzhou watched them.

While eating, Zhuang Yanzheng asked Shen Yanzhou, ”Of the people at last night’s party, who do you think is the killer?”

Shen Yanzhou had already eaten dinner, so he just sat and watched them eat. ”To me, any one of them could be the killer. They’re all the type who are reckless when they party.”

Su Miaoyi looked up at him.

Zhuang Yanzheng thought for a moment and asked again, ”How was Jiang Lingjie and Xia Yan’s relationship?”

”I’m not too clear on the details,” Shen Yanzhou said. ”He’s brought Xia Yan to some events over the past couple of years. She also got a lot of resources from him. They’ve certainly been together for a long time.”

”Was Jiang Lingjie faithful?” Su Miaoyi asked.

”Not at all,” Shen Yanzhou replied. ”Xia Yan was his publicly acknowledged girlfriend in his circle, but he played around a lot on the side.”

Su Miaoyi frowned.

”At a party like last night’s, everyone brought their quote-unquote girlfriends,” Shen Yanzhou said, looking at Zhuang Yanzheng.

Zhuang Yanzheng glanced at him, understanding his implication.

’Their so-called ’game’ last night was probably swapping girlfriends.’

”I’ll have the vice squad bring them all in later,” Zhuang Yanzheng said.

Shen Yanzhou said nothing.

’If it were really that simple, they wouldn’t dare to play like that.’

”Are you familiar with the No. 7 Clubhouse?” Zhuang Yanzheng asked.

”I’ve only been there twice,” Shen Yanzhou said.

”Did you see Xia Yan yesterday?” Su Miaoyi asked.

”I did,” Shen Yanzhou said. ”She was very unhappy and didn’t seem to want to stay. She and Jiang Lingjie were constantly whispering about something, and things seemed very unpleasant between them.”

Zhuang Yanzheng nodded.

This was something they wouldn’t hear from the other party attendees.

Since they were all in on the ”game” together, they were bound to hold back in their statements.

The two of them quickly finished their meal.

As Su Miaoyi wiped her mouth, Shen Yanzhou looked at her plate. She had claimed not to be a picky eater, but it was full of the tomatoes, carrots, celery, and eggplant she had picked out.

Looking at those vegetables, Shen Yanzhou’s eyes flickered, and he turned his gaze back to Su Miaoyi.

Sensing his gaze, Su Miaoyi looked at him.

Shen Yanzhou’s eyes went back to her plate.

Su Miaoyi looked down as well, seeing the vegetables she had picked out.

’What’s going on?’

’As far as I can remember, I’m not a picky eater, aside from not really liking green peppers.’

’How...’

’How come there are so many things I don’t eat?’

Zhuang Yanzheng also glanced at the food she had picked out. He didn’t say anything, just waited for their takeout order...