Within the neighborhood of the 79th Secondary college, there are quite a lot of previous abandoned textile factories.   After the SOE reforms within the early twenty first century, most small scale textile factories confronted chapter and closed down.  Most of the laid off employees arrange avenue stalls within the Aromatic Hill district to makes ends meet.  And lots of of their kids research within the 79th Secondary Faculty.  

Ruan Ming Huai’s finest buddy, Huo Xiao Lu is one in all them.

Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan observe as an officer takes her testimony. 

It’s late within the evening and it’s darkish outdoors.  The college is nicely lit, however there’s a sense of vacancy within the place.  They’ve arrange a brief workplace in one of many school rooms.  A lady is grieving the lack of a very good buddy. 

“Did she let you know whether or not she was assembly somebody afterwards?” Asks the officer.

Huo Xiao Lu is weeping: “No.”  She shakes her head.

She is an atypical woman with common appears.  A small face with some freckles across the nostril.  However her eyes look clear and sharp.  She is carrying a easy T Shirt and denims.  

“Does she have a boyfriend?”  Asks the officer.

She shakes her head once more: “After all not.”

“Are you able to please repeat what occurred that evening?.  Embrace each element.” Bo Jinyan says out of the blue.  

Huo Xiao Lu appears at this man who has been quietly sitting all through the interview.  She nods.

“Round 8pm.  Huai Huai collected all the cash.  We left the classroom collectively.  I do not recall seeing anybody alongside the way in which.  The third graders are on vacation.  Different college students are revising for exams in their very own school rooms.” She clears her throat and continues: “We arrived on the administration workplace.   The door is open however there’s nobody inside.  We waited outdoors for some time.  A couple of lecturers walked previous us. We have been chatting.  We didn’t pay an excessive amount of consideration. 

The officer interrupts: “We’ve got confirmed that with the CCTV footages.”

Huo Xiao Lu continues: “Round 8:30pm, my abdomen began to harm.  I often get cramps on the primary day of my interval. So I returned to the dormitory to relaxation.”  

“Was there anybody within the dorm?”  asks the officer.

“No.  My roommates have been learning of their school rooms.”   solutions Huo Xiao Lu.

“Then?  What did you do within the dormitory?”  Bo Jinyan asks.

Huo Xiao Lu solutions: “Nicely, I went to the…. bathroom.  Then I observed my garments have been stained, so I washed them.  Then I made myself a cup of tea, lied on mattress to learn.  After some time, I went to mattress.” 

The officer asks one closing query: “Does she have an entanglement with any of the boys?  Maybe a crush, or somebody is chasing after her?”

Huo Xiao Lu:  “Nicely… there’s this boy…”

———————

The second individual they interviewed is one other good buddy of Ruan Ming Huai.  Her title is Qi Xiao Ran.  

Like  Ruan Ming Huai, her household lives within the space so she doesn’t want to remain within the college dormitories.   She begins crying when requested about what occurred that evening.  

“If I knew one thing would occur to her, I wouldn’t have left her alone.” She sobs. “I left college instantly after the lessons.  She seemed effective on the day.  Why would anybody kill her?”  

Bo Jinyan asks: “What did you do after college?”

Qi Xiao Ran pauses for some time.  Then she solutions: “I used to be with my boyfriend.  I didn’t go house till 10pm.  Mr. Officer, is it doable to not inform my dad and mom about this?”

Bo Jinyan places his hand on his knee.  There’s a small smile on his face: “Positive.  Everyone seems to be entitled to pursue love the way in which they wish to.”  

Jian Yao takes a take a look at him.  By some means, this sounded humorous coming from him.   A ‘love fool’ has views on courting and relationship too?  

“Hmm..” The officer asks once more: “What have been the 2 of you doing?”

“Not a lot… simply chatting.  We have been  sitting in amongst the timber simply outdoors of the college.” She mentions the title of her boyfriend.  It’s somebody from her class.

“I actually didn’t suppose this could occur to Huai Huai…” Tears are streaming down uncontrollably. “I’m shocked.  Why would anybody wish to kill her… there’s school entrance exams subsequent yr… however she’s going to by no means….” 

The officer passes her a tissue: “Final query.  This is essential.  Does she have any entanglements with any of the boys at school?”

Qi Xiao Ran solutions: “Su Bei.  Huai Huai likes Su Bei.  However Su Bei isn’t inquisitive about her. They don’t get together with each other… Does he have something to do with the homicide?”  

——————

“Su Bei”  

The third woman’s title is Zhao Ying Zi.  She is the daughter of one of many lecturers at college.  It’s the identical title… once more.

She appears like a straight ahead woman.  Her eyes are swollen from  all of the crying, however she speaks with a agency voice: “Huai Huai likes Su Bei.  It’s been two years.  However Su Bei isn’t .  Hua Huai belongs to the college committee.  Su Bei heads the sports activities committee.  However they aren’t on speaking phrases.”

Jian Yao tries to make clear: “Even when Su Bei isn’t inquisitive about her, why are they not even speaking to one another?”

Zhao Ying Zi pauses, then solutions: “As a result of Huai Huai talked about earlier than that Su Bei is likely to be homosexual, as a result of he likes to hold across the basketball gamers.  I don’t suppose Huai Huai meant to start out a hearsay, but it surely ended up that method, and Su Bei was not joyful.”

Bo Jinyan smiles: “Ruan Ming Huai should be a little bit of a diva too, proper?  Simply because somebody doesn’t like her, they’re homosexuals?”

Zhao Ying Zi says: “Nicely, she is a proud woman.  Apparently, Su Bei finds her smug.  However this Su Bei isn’t Mr. Good Man both.  I heard he gambles rather a lot with these basketball boys, and recently he has been shedding some huge cash.”

Everyone seems to be quiet.  

Playing… then the lacking 40,000 yuan…

“Does Ruan Ming Huai nonetheless like Su Bei?”  Jian Yao asks.

“Sure.” Zhao Ying Zi says quietly. “She nonetheless likes him.”

—————

It appears extra layers of this thriller have been peeled off.  They’re nearer to the reality now.

After a number of extra interviews with different college students, they’re positive that the one boy that she has involvements with was Su Bei.

Su Bei.  Eighteen.  His dad and mom was once employees within the textile manufacturing unit too.  From the data supplied by the college, he’s tall and good-looking.  His grades are common however he is superb at sports activities.  Many ladies are attracted to those ‘sporty unhealthy boys’.  

Lately, he has misplaced 1000’s of {dollars} in sports activities betting. 

The motive is there.  And he has no alibi.  No one is aware of the place he was  in the course of the time of the homicide. In truth, nobody is bound the place he’s presently.  His dad and mom are in Zhuhai.  He lives along with his grandfather, who has no concept the place Su Bei is many of the  time.

—————-

It’s 9pm.  Bo Jinyan has spent one and a half out of his 4 hours.   

Within the short-term workplace, officers proceed to take testimonies from different college students and workers.  Bo Jinyan thinks he has sufficient data.  He asks Jian Yao to go to the playground with him. 

Summer season is nearly over.  Jian Yao feels the cool evening’s breeze towards her pores and skin.  She is just carrying T Shirt and a pair of Capri pants.  She wraps her arms round herself to maintain heat.

“Does he hate her a lot?  What makes a highschool scholar so decided to kill his peer?”

Bo Jinyan stands subsequent to her.  He appears straight forward and feedback: “Typically, killing is their method of escaping from this world.”

Jian Yao all the time knew Bo Jinyan understands these psychopaths.  When he’s investigating, he is ready to preserve neutral and by no means let his feelings get in the way in which of labor.  However maybe, it’s just because… he has no emotions?  

“You’ve got two and a half hours left…” She modifies the topic.

He glances at her, as if to say he has all of it beneath management.  

An officer walks as much as them.  It’s Xiao Chen, the younger man who requested Jian Yao out for a film.  He says to Bo Jinyan: “Professor Bo, we’re going to try the locations Su Bei often hangs out.  Would you want to return with us?”

Bo Jinyan shakes his head: “That won’t be needed.”

Xiao Chen is about to stroll off when he notices Jian Yao’s face is slightly pale. She nonetheless has her arms round herself.  He begins to unbutton his jacket: “This space is near the hills, the temperature drops at evening.  You must put on one thing hotter.”

Jian Yao is feeling chilly, however she shortly waves her palms: “No no, I’m alright.” 

Bo Jinyan takes a take a look at this younger charming officer.  Xiao Chen… 

Oh…. It’s him.  The one who tried to ask Jian Yao out for film, who distracted her from work and even triggered her to be indignant with him.  

– And what’s he attempting to do now?  Is he inquisitive about my assistant? How lengthy has he had that jacket on? He’s been working round the entire evening.  There’s a mixture of his odour and sweat on it.  Jian Yao’s pores and skin is delicate…  

This…man is about to place his jacket on her.  

– What’s he attempting to do?  Testosterones switch?  

Jian Yao is about to say thanks to Xiao Chen once they hear an icy voice: “She doesn’t put on garments that belongs to strangers.”

They’re each shocked.  Then they see him taking off his jacket and wrapping it round Jian Yao. 

“She will put on mine.” He says to Xiao Chen. “You possibly can go now.”

——————-

The cool evening breezes brushes previous them.

Jian Yao is standing there along with his jacket wrapped round her. 

Xiao Chen appears slightly embarrassed. He appears to return to some type of understanding.  Jian Yao is aware of what’s in his thoughts.  However she isn’t positive herself if that’s in reality the case.  As soon as once more, Bo Jinyan’s seemingly intimate gestures all the time have a logical and non-intimate cause behind them.  This may simply be one other instance.  

However she is touched.  In the course of the first encounter, he refused her request for letting her borrow his garments.  Ultimately, he reluctantly gave her Fu Ziyu’s jacket.  

However she feels that he ought to be taught to be extra thoughtful.  So she says to him: “Xiao Chen is just involved for me.  The issues that you simply mentioned, they could harm his emotions.”

Bo Jinyan: “Why ought to I care about his emotions?”

Jian Yao: “…..”

-Okay… Overlook it.

She appears at Bo Jinyan: “Are you…chilly?”

He’s trying forward.  A forensic physician and an officer are strolling in direction of them.

“Nah…”  He solutions Jian Yao: “What? Do you suppose I’m not robust sufficient?” 

—————-

There are extra discoveries .  

They move Bo Jinyan a blood stained cotton again pack.  

“They discovered the cash.”  The officer passes Bo Jinyan a transparent plastic bag with all of the money in it.”The killer didn’t take it with him.  As a substitute, he hid it within the mountain.  We try to match the fingerprints on the notes, however which may take some time.”  

Bo Jinyan take a look on the objects.  He pulls out a big yellow envelope.  He takes a glance inside, the notes have blood stains on them too.

He passes the evidences again to the officer. 

———-

“Why didn’t he take the cash with him?” Jian Yao asks.

“He’s afraid.”  Solutions Bo Jinyan.

Jian Yao nods.  The cash is stained with blood.  That will entice pointless consideration.  

They see a gaggle of officers strolling in direction of the doorway of the college.  They should be the group searching for Su Bei.  All of the proof factors to him: Motive, weapon, his lack of alibi, his disappearance…

Behind them, college students are slowly leaving their school rooms and make their method house.  The lock down order has been lifted.  The scholars are free to go.  

Jian Yao turns to have a look at Bo Jinyan: “Appears just like the police has additionally found out who’s the killer.” 

However Bo Jinyan has a smile on his face: “Have they?”

Jian Yao turns to have a look at him.

“After all they might want to discover Su Bei.  He’s concerned within the case. However…” He turns to the Seniors Block.  A bunch of scholars are strolling out to the playground. They give the impression of being drained.  It’s been a protracted evening. 

“The killer is there.”  He factors to a gaggle of ladies.  It’s Ruan Ming Huai’s associates – Huo Xiao Lu, daughter of redundant manufacturing unit employees; Qi Xiao Ran, who additionally lives on the town like Ruan, and Zhao Ying Zi, youngster of a trainer within the college.  

Jian Yao feels her head being tapped gently.

It’s Bo Jinyan, in fact.  He whispers in her ear: “Which one in all them killed Ruan Ming Huai?”

Jian Yao appears on the three women.  All of them have been crying.  However every of them has a barely totally different look on their face.

One woman appears calm and picked up.  The opposite woman appears upset.  And the final woman has a decided look on her face.

Jian Yao’s gaze rests on the woman that’s calm and picked up.

“Huo Xiao Lu?”

Bo Jinyan appears at her with an enormous smile: “Good.  Our Felony Psychology Magnificence is displaying enchancment.”