Pure Darkness

Chapter 76

When Jian Yao knocked on the door of Block 2, Unit 3, Room 302 of Guangbo's New Housing Construction, panic flashed for a moment on Feng Yuexi's face.

Oi! I am an article!

Jian Yao smiled amiably. “You remember me, right? I'm a criminal investigator investigating the Nie Shijun case. Suddenly I thought of some questions I should ask you. ”

Perhaps it was because Jian Yao appeared so suddenly that Feng Yuexi's panic had numbed his brain, so he did not know how to refuse Jian Yao's request to enter and sit down. Only after the two of them sat on the sofa did Feng Yuexi belatedly realize that he was trembling in fear and felt as if his life was hanging by a thread. However, after he poured a cup of tea for Jian Yao, he looked at her and noticed Jian Yao's calm and friendly expression, like nothing had happened. It makes him feel a little more comfortable.

Oi! I am an article!

Jian Yao received a cup of tea but had no intention of drinking it. Arranging it, he took the opportunity to assess the decoration of the apartment. It was a one-bedroom apartment; the floor area was small, but it remained spacious and bright. The decoration was modern, simple yet refined, perfectly suited to the tastes of a girl like Feng Yuexi. There are still some packaging boxes piled up in the corner of the living room, proof that the occupants have just moved and have not had time to finish the demolition.

“This is the friend place you mentioned earlier?” Jian Yao asked.

“Ah, no,” replied Feng Yuexi. “Because I do not intend to stay there anymore, he helped me to rent this apartment.”

Jian Yao unintentionally glanced at the scene outside the window and was stunned.

Oi! I am an article!

A group of gray, newly built, modern buildings, among which was one that put a sign on its roof: Jiamei Mingyuan.

Practically just separate roads.

Dusk come down upon them slowly. The two women sat facing each other, both very calm. Jian Yao noticed that Feng Yuexi had Pandora's bracelet on his wrist, which he did not wear twice before they questioned him. On the table behind him was a Gucci bag. There were several pairs of shoes in the shoe cabinet in the entrance hallway. Jian Yao's sharp eyes were able to see the logo on his sole.

“You know, don't you?” Jian Yao asked suddenly.

Feng Yuexi stared blankly at him.

“She's such a person.”

Clearly, Miss Feng did not react like she did twice before when she was smart and ready. His expression changed for a split second, but he still reacted quickly enough and did his best to maintain a calm exterior. He said, “I don't understand what you're saying.”

“He loves you,” said Jian Yao, silently rubbing his fingers. “She is one of the many people who love you.”

Feng Yuexi's face became as white as chalk, and he looked like a bolt of lightning had struck him. Many things appeared in his mind at that moment: every frown and smile of Nie Shijun, the way he looked Feng Yuexi in the eyes deeply, the moment he held his hand and then released it, the way he looked Feng Yuexi deeply, holding his hand and then releasing it. . and he lay in the middle of the butterfly painting, that cold, lifeless photo. . .

Humans are not without feelings*. Seeing Feng Yuexi finally being affected, Jian Yao calmly continued to withdraw her heart. “When we first started investigating the case, we were unable to find the motive of the killer, and also thought the culprit was a serial killer. But now, there's a motive. It was love.”

*T/N (ren fei cao mu) – literally, humans are neither grass nor trees.

Feng Yuexi looked surprised upon waking up, but it was too late, as his face clearly reflected his emotions back then. His eyes shot to the left and to the right, hesitating, as he remained silent.

Jian Yao's voice was calm but reassuring. “We have looked at the history of Nie Shijun and made sure that he is homosexual. But why did you hide it from the police?”

“I'm not hiding anything!” Feng Yuexi reflexively denied. “I just . .” He lowered his head. “I'm just afraid of inviting trouble, putting myself in unnecessary and unwanted trouble. I'm not sure it's relevant to your case. Besides, he's a homosexual, but I'm not! I never accepted him. Lately, he really. . . somewhat abnormal.”

Jian Yao was silent for a moment. His intuition told him that this was very close to the truth. Feng Yuexi's rebuttal was extremely weak, and he had subconsciously released part of the truth. Without a doubt, this is a tipping point, a point at which case breakthroughs can be achieved. He grabbed the phone in his pocket intending to call someone, when – ‘ kacha ‘ – front door unlocked, and someone came in.

Feng Yuexi instantly stood up, looking like a drowning person gripping a straw.

“Chen Jin,” call him. “You're back? Police are here.”

Jian Yao also watched him attentively.

The man was 27 or 28 years old, over 1.7 m tall, wearing a Polo shirt and black trousers. His hair, clothes, and shoes were all very neat and tidy. His face was small, but his body was buff. His eyes were shiny black, and there were deep eye bags under his eyes.

After a moment of silence, Jian Yao smiled faintly and said, “Halo, Chen Jin. . . Is that true? I am a criminal investigator, Jian Yao. We have some pointers on the case that we need to go to and ask Feng Yuexi, sorry to bother you two. ”

Feng Yuexi stood his back to Jian Yao. Jian Yao could not see his expression, but Chen Jin could. He stared at her for a few seconds before slowly shifting his gaze from her to Jian Yao. He smiled politely and said, “You're too polite, cop buddy! Cooperate with your inquiry is our responsibility.”

Then, he pinched the back of Feng Yuexi's hand and said, “Did you not know that you should make tea for the police officer? Quick go!” Feng Yuexi darted into the kitchen, leaving the two of them sitting in the living room.

Jian Yao asked gently, “Are you driving?”

Chen Jin did not expect this line of questioning. He was stunned for a moment before replying, “I don't need to drive because I live in that neighborhood.”

Jian Yao smiled.

Feng Yuexi entered carrying two cups of tea. Chen Jin took one, blew it, took a sip a little and then placed it beside her before asking, “Have you found the answer to whatever you want to ask Yuexi?”

Feng Yuexi sat next to him, his face slightly reddened.

Jian Yao's expression did not change. “Yes, everything is clear.”

They shared a moment of silence. The golden light of the setting sun pierced through the window and illuminated the quiet room. Chen Jin muttered to herself for a while before saying, “Actually, I was thinking of telling you guys about the clues, but I. . couldn't decide.”

Feng Yuexi's expression was extremely shocked.

Jian Yao looked at him steadily. “What's hint?”

Chen Jin looked at Feng Yuexi. “Yuexi, why don't you leave us for a while; go cook something in the kitchen.” He said that last sentence firmly. Feng Yuexi looked panicked for a split second before he stood up and said, “Alright.”

Chen Jin loosened her tie and threw it onto the sofa. He clenched his hands together, seemingly still struggling with hesitation. “I suspect someone as the killer of Nie Shijun.”

“Who?”

Chen Jin looked at him, her eyes firm. “Our friend, Shi Peng.” Seeing the doubt on Jian Yao's face, he continued his explanation in a low voice. “I, Ah Peng and Yuexi, the three of us have been friends since childhood. Ah Peng has always liked Yuexi. But Nie Shijun, who lives with Yuexi, always seems to get in the way of his pursuit. Ah Peng told me more than once that she was very troublesome. Later, we both learned that Nie Shijun's sexual orientation was abnormal. I advised Yuexi not to make contact with her, but Yuexi was gentle-hearted, and they had been friends for so long, so she couldn't decide what to do. Later, Nie Shijun's disorder becomes worse. I was still fine, but AhPeng was always impulsive and easily riled up, and liked to fight in the factory. He said earlier that he wanted to find the right opportunity to deal with Nie Shijun. . . I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but after Nie Shijun died, I remember Ah Peng saying on some nights she had something to do, after which she would go alone. Moreover, she seems to be happy whenever we mention the death of Nie Shijun. .”

His pitch-black eyes stared intently at Jian Yao. His whispering and hastily spoken words gave the impression that he had revealed an earth-shattering secret. Jian Yao was slightly stunned by his words. She vaguely remembered there were two men in the car who had come to the police station to pick up Feng Yuexi that night; there had been others.

Seeing his continued silence, Chen Jin slightly furrowed his brows and said, “Dan. . . I have something that I found by chance in Ah Peng's house and secretly brought back. It was probably proof that Shi Peng was the killer.”

Hearing this, Jian Yao's expression seemed to change. “What is it?”

Chen Jin looked at him without blinking. “There is in the bedroom closet. I'll take you to look around.”

The bedroom door is behind the sofa. They both stood up. Jian Yao pondered the quiet bedroom while Chen Jin walked around the sofa to stand behind him.

“Where is it?” Jian Yao asked.

“There is on the bedside table on the right.”