I questioned her about this incident, and she said, "When I later went with everyone to inspect the rooms, I discovered there were two underground levels. The upper one was easy to climb up, you seemed a bit unlucky, but I think they did it intentionally. Is Gongsun Hao targeting you because you captured his brother?"
"There's a possibility. Then, what is the relationship between Gongsun Hao and Ni Xilei?" I mused, resting my chin on my hand. Liu Yuning gently wiped a few residual drops of sweat from my forehead with her fingertip. I looked at her gratefully. While everyone else continued their work, I returned to the director's office. I hadn't been there for nearly a week, but it remained spotlessly clean. It was clear Liu Yuning cleaned it daily.
I sat down, looking at the neatly arranged documents, and felt a sense of happiness. Over the years, no matter what situation I found myself in, Yuning had always supported me silently from behind. No matter how difficult things were, she would face them with me, fulfilling her role as a wife perfectly.
If it weren't for her, I might have succumbed to torment and death in many difficult times, never reaching this point today. Lost in thought, I opened the drawer. Although my father was gone, our old photos were still here, along with my mother. I didn't know how they were doing in the afterlife. This time, my father was truly gone. When my grandfather learned of this, he wrote me a letter saying that they (He Bailing and He Jinghui) had gone into seclusion together and would no longer concern themselves with worldly affairs.
Without the help of these bodyguards and my grandfather, I still had to press on, especially since Mr. Song and his bodyguards were also gone.
If I were to fall, there would be no one to confront the criminal alliance.
I called for Monkey to come to my office and asked about his recent studies. Dao Zhiyong said, "Don't worry, Master. I'm learning very well. I've mastered most of the coroner's techniques. I've been reading that book lately."
"Good. Grandfather will surely be happy to know I have a successor. Monkey, if one day I am no longer here, you must lead the Punishment Crime Group to complete the remaining missions, understand? You are the most qualified person besides me to become the new leader of the Punishment Crime Group. Rest assured, I'm not saying this just because you are my disciple. After all, I wouldn't have made you my successor if I hadn't seen your talent and willpower."
Dao Zhiyong scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, and said, "Oh, I thought it was because He Xin and I had already consummated our relationship!"
"Hmph, get out of here. If it were anyone else, I would have skinned them alive. I value you. Now, cooperate closely with Yuning. You must arrest the two suspects in this case as soon as possible, alright?"
I stood up and tapped Monkey on the head. He cleverly placed some peanuts on my desk and turned to leave.
I picked up the peanuts and started peeling them, muttering, "Walnut flavor, not bad..."
After Monkey left, I leaned back comfortably in my office chair, planning to take a moment to relax. Unexpectedly, as soon as I rested my hands behind my head, the landline near me rang. I quickly picked it up, and He Xin's voice came through the intercom, "Ni Xilei is here!"
"What? You mean she came to the provincial department voluntarily?"
"That's right. She said she has something to tell us!"
"Arrange it immediately."
I was a bit stunned at the time. We had been looking for Ni Xilei, and now she was the one showing up at the provincial department. Wasn't this a ruse? But given her situation, walking into a trap would be the most foolish thing to do.
I didn't think she was that stupid. When I saw Ni Xilei again, Liu Yuning also entered.
"Ni Xilei, what exactly do you want? Framing us at your home before, you've already committed a crime! And you dare to show yourself before us?" Liu Yuning put down some documents and sat down to question her.
"No, I was forced. Wuwu, Gongsun Hao forced me. I escaped these past few days and ran straight here!"
"What did you say?" Liu Yuning and I exchanged a look. Then I asked, "Did you know Gongsun Hao before?"
"No, but this guy... he's actually been in our house for more than a day or two. Um... after my husband left, he, he possessed my body..."
"What's going on? Can you explain in detail?" Liu Yuning and I asked in unison.
Ni Xilei said, a bit shy and wronged, "After my husband died, I returned home very dejected, didn't I? Before going to the psychiatric hospital, Gongsun Hao suddenly appeared in my house. I was terrified, thinking I saw a ghost. Who knew he would brandish a lock pick in front of me, then push me onto the bed and do unspeakable things. I hadn't been intimate for a while, and that guy was very skilled in that regard. I couldn't bear the stimulation, so I had relations with him. Afterwards, he told me he was a friend of Hesun, my husband, and that my husband had entrusted me to him. Aren't I still good-looking? So he liked me a lot. I don't know what was wrong with me at the time, but I got involved with him. However, I discovered this guy was very perverted. He always imitated my husband's behavior and wore his old clothes, used his old personal items, including his razor, underwear, and... anyway, his behavior was frightening. I even felt like he was my husband, just with a different face...
But that part of him was different, because my husband didn't have... well, you know. So I was persecuted like this until today. He said he particularly liked women with mental problems. This guy even wanted me to cooperate with him in framing you. He said this matter couldn't be exposed, otherwise, I would face imprisonment. I had already been subdued by him, so I listened to him. Even before boarding the plane, I was actually conscious, but I don't know the situation of those two women, nor whether Gongsun Hao had contacted them."
"Ni Xilei, we will verify what you've said. If you can help us apprehend Gongsun Hao, your sentence will surely be reduced. Don't worry!" I could see Ni Xilei wasn't lying, so my tone softened a bit.
Yuning sent a message to the group, instructing the investigators to act immediately based on Ni Xilei's tip.
We had to use the relationship with the two women to find Gongsun Hao.
Unexpectedly, this targeted search yielded some clues. He Xin told me that Gongsun Hao had recently been seen near the residence of Jie Manyun. This house was also a bungalow, and I had a premonition. Could it be another former crematorium or something similar?