Pure Darkness

Chapter 15

The afternoon sun was warm. There were not many people on the streets, only a few janitors gathered under the trees to rest and chat.

A young lady walked over and smiled politely. “Sorry to trouble you, may I know who Zhang Sufen's older sister is?”

Some janitors looked at him while one of them stood up. “I. Why are you looking for me?”

Jian Yao paused for a moment before she smilingly replied, “Auntie, let's go over there to talk. Today is hot, let me buy you all some water bottles.”

He bought enough water to fill a large bag from a nearby newsstand and gave it to them. These women had no idea why he treated them so well*, and felt a little embarrassed. However, Jian Yao remained smiling gently at them, and invited Zhang Sufen to walk to the side with him. While they were drinking from their bottled water, she asked, “Auntie, there is something I want to ask you. A few years ago, did you work for the Yao family?”

(TN * ⁇ – literally, they don't know what drug he's selling)

Zhang Sufen took a sip of water and asked, “Young Miss, why are you asking this question?”

Jian Yao replied, “In the past few days, there have been two deaths in the Yao household. I've heard aunts who help in the household say that you've worked there before, and thought to talk to you to help me understand the situation there. In reality, information about Zhang Sufen and the other housemaids had been obtained by the police through other channels. Where the investigation into Yao Yuange was concerned, without proper evidence, there was no need to worry anyone. If by any chance, Tong Sheng's case was really related to him, was it impossible that perhaps some housemaid or insider at that time was his accomplice, or even have a close relationship with Yao Yuange?

Some understanding appeared in Zhang Sufen's eyes. “Are you . . . a journalist?”

Jian Yao smiled without saying anything.

“Yes, I worked there for a year, but I can't continue it,” said Zhang Sufen.

“Why?”

Zhang Sufen was silent for a moment. “That place is not a place for anyone to work. Although sweeping the streets produced me much less, I felt much more comfortable. ”

……

“People in the Yao household cannot be said to be human.”

Jian Yao was silent for a moment before asking, “They mistreated their workers, but you never thought of making a police report?”

“What's the point? The Yao family had wealth and power. Even if I acted that far to make a report, what would happen if they then decided to take revenge? Since it was just a few minor injuries, I thought it would be best to let it go. ”

Jian Yao took out a photo and showed it to him. “Have you ever seen this young girl?”

Zhang Sufen scanned the photo closely before shaking his head. “No, never.”

“Then . .” Jian Yao asked an even bolder question. “Did Yao Yuange ever bring home young girls?”

“No. I guess I've never seen it happen before.”

Jian Yao turned around and walked across the street. He looked at Bo Jinyan, wearing sunglasses, standing alone under the porch of a building with both hands in her pants pocket and looking at her.

Let us not speak of how his tall and upright figure brings about a delicate atmosphere of sensitivity, or how, amid subtle sensitivities, there is a measure of callous indifference, and how it all worked together to give her a unique good looks.it was like no other.

He beckoned at her by shaking his head slightly.

They and Fang Qing had split into two teams, working separately to search for people with possible information people within that year. However, so far, they had come empty-handed, as no one had seen Tong Sheng.

Bo JInyan held onto her shoulder tightly, and the two of them returned.

Jian Yao said, “I've found that you look very good in sunglasses.”

Bo Jinyan smiled faintly. “Of course.”

The corner of Jian Yao's mouth lifted and she looked at him, but the brilliant sunlight behind her was so bright that it hurt her eyes and she had to look down again.

Bo Jinyan's hand immediately held the back of her neck. “You don't wear sunglasses?”

“That's not my custom,” Jian Yao replied. “Previously, with Xun Ran and Jian Xuan, we would run all day under the sun, and it didn't bother me. I'm fine.”

(TN (Xun Ran) and (Jian Xuan) are the characters in ‘Love Me if You Dare’. Xun Ran is Jian Yao's childhood best friend and a police officer who suffered quite a lot of trauma in the novel, while JIan Xuan is Jian Yao's younger sister. Thanks to Ting for the info!)

He looked at her, and made an ambiguous voice.

The scene before his eyes turned dark. He took off his sunglasses and put them on his head.

“What are you doing?” she laughs. He had taken off his sunglasses to reveal a face so handsome that it looked radiant.

“I protect a pair of eyes that I really appreciate.”

Jian Yao was too lazy to refuse. He was really tired, because he had been working all night and day. He placed his head gently on his shoulder.

On the pedestrian sidewalks of the ancient city, on both sides, there were many small shops. Jian Yao looked around aimlessly, when her attention was suddenly attracted by something.

It was a small, inconspicuous shop, with a closet in the doorway that displayed hairpins and ornaments. Everything is made of brass, and most are petal-shaped. Some were even inlaid with jade, and were unexpectedly complicated. He stared at them for quite a while before throwing his face away.

However, he has noticed. He stopped walking, and said, with certainty in his voice, “You like them.”

“Not needed.” He pulled his hand. “We still have to investigate this case, and I won't have a chance to wear such items.”

“Oh,” she laughs, “a little time this will not affect the investigation.” He pulled her in front of the closet. The shopkeeper watched them casually, not rushing to peddle his wares, and let them peruse the items casually.

Jian Yao took it.

I like that . . . very much. That's so beautiful. Especially the fish.

While observing his expression, he seemed to understand his feelings. Smiling, he took out his wallet to pay for the hairpin.

Jian Yao held onto the hairpin but had nowhere to put it. When she gets out of a case, she doesn't wear any jewelry. Bo Jinyan picked it up and put it in her pants pocket, then whispered in her ear, “When we're home, wear it for your husband to see. I think he'll consider it perfect.”

Under the amused gaze of the shopkeeper, Jian Yao blushed. “Oke.” This bastard did not care about the time or place when he wanted to seduce her.

Looking up, one could see a boundless stretch of blue sky, with white clouds hovering across. The life of this grueling, drab, blood-soaked, serious criminal investigator, has become secretly clear and beautiful, because of him.

——

At the same time, Fang Qing brought another criminal investigator with him as they traversed the ancient city, tracking down clues from a few years ago.

The man in front of him crouched down in front of the small eating place, smoking with narrowed eyes. “Yao old, yes? When he was a huge success, he maintained little contact with his old friends.”

“Zhao Xia with him 5 years ago, right?” the criminal investigator asked. “Have you heard if they have enemies?”

“No,” replied the man. “His fourth wife was actually killed by someone? Ck ck. . . indeed, that is why men should not be too greedy. One man and 5 wives!”

“Isn't that 6 wives?” Fang Qing interrupted from the side. “I heard she held a wedding reception with a young girl a few years ago, and the girl ran away after that.”

The man glanced at Fang Qing. “Who is he?”

The criminal investigator smiled as he replied, “My colleague. Old Zhang, do you remember anything about the situation with the girl? He also offered the man a cigarette.

The man named Old Zhang squinted again, then said, “That girl. . definitely 6 or 7 years ago. She was quite graceful, but did not say much, nor was she very smart. Back then, he invited us to the reception, only a few of us, but told us not to spread the word. Ck ck, the whole table of beautiful women belongs to him. Not long after that, we did not see the girl again. Everyone says he ran.”

“6 or 7 years?” Fang Qing interrupted once more. “Isn't it 5 years ago?”

Old Zhang thought for a moment before shaking his head. “No.”

Taking advantage of the opportunity, criminal investigators took a photo of Tong Sheng and showed it to him. “Is this the girl?”

Old Zhang inspected the picture carefully, then shook his head, saying, “No. That girl is not this pretty. This one is really pretty.”

Fang Qing and the criminal investigator exchanged glances, and remained silent.

They did not manage to find anything else valuable, so Fang Qing and the criminal investigator decided to return to the office. Suddenly, Fang Qing had an idea. He walked back to Old Zhang and asked with a smile, “Can you describe the girl in more detail?”

Old Zhang looked at him and took out his phone. “No need to keep talking, I took a picture back then. I'm not good at anything, but my memory is excellent. Wait while I look and see if it's still here. ”

——

In the silence of the night, Fang Qing sat alone in the office, his ashtrays filled with cigarette butts.

He once again reviewed the information on Tong Sheng's case, looking for clues, no matter how small*.

*(zhu si ma ji) – literally, spider threads and horse tracks are small clues from a secret/hint

However, at that time the police in Province A had conducted a thorough examination. Witnesses had seen Tong Sheng buy bus tickets and leave the ancient City. The ancient city police had helped in the investigation back then, but, after that, they had nothing to do with the case.

He picked up his phone again and looked at the picture Old Zhang had sent him. It was taken hastily during the wedding reception, and showed only one side of the bride's face. But what was clear was that the girl was not Tong Sheng.

He felt his heart beating.

Not Tong Sheng. Then who is he?

The thought was like a vine rooted in his heart, pulling him with magic towards the boundless depths. He threw away his cigarette butts and turned on the computer. First, he accesses the database of missing persons, then applies relevant search conditions, such as age and time of disappearance, then looks at the results and compares cases one by one.

Time passed quietly, until the sky was filled with stars and the moon, while the lights of the city were mostly extinguished.

Fang Qing looked at the picture on the screen.

A strange name for a girl who looks a lot like the girl in the picture on her phone.

Name: Tang Lian Lian.

Date of Birth: 16 September 1984.

Disappearance time: April – May 2008.

Location of disappearance: unknown.

Reason for disappearance: unknown.

What followed was relatively detailed case information. Tang Lian Lian had just graduated a few years earlier, and was working in the S Province. Both of her parents are dead, so she's alone. According to an investigation conducted by the S Provincial police after she disappeared, she had resigned and traveled to the ancient city, where she had lived for some time. However, surprisingly, the report did not mention his relationship with Yao Yuange. Fang Qing speculated that it might have been deliberately covered up, or he might have changed his name or surname. However, there were enough witnesses and evidence to prove that he had bought a boat ticket to a nearby area and left the ancient city. After that, the police failed to find any trace of him.

Fang Qing stared at the information he was looking for for for a while, then felt a sudden chill enter his body, which he could not eliminate.