Hearing this, Yang Heng quickly took out his phone. He eyed Chen Er warily, then turned around and walked to a corner to call his colleague in the forensics department.
Granny Wang was supported by Chen Er and Qin An, one on each side, and escorted back home.
The police station was highly efficient. In just half an hour, the forensics team arrived at Zhang Lu's house with their equipment.
"Collect as much evidence as possible without disturbing the crime scene," Jiang Cong stood at the door and reminded Yang Heng, who was trying to move the sofa.
"But Zhang Lu is a missing person. Logically, he shouldn't be a suspect, right?" Yang Heng was a bit lost following Jiang Cong's train of thought. Compared to Jiang Cong, he felt like he had regressed to his days right after graduating from the police academy.
He still couldn't believe that Zhang Lu, who was a straight - A student and had been recommended for further studies, could be the person on the run from the law as described by Chief Wang.
Unconsciously, Yang Heng had fallen into the trap of linear thinking and stereotypes.
Chen Er let out a soft laugh. The elite - cop act that Yang Heng had put on before must have deceived many criminals.
The truth was far more complex than it seemed.
"Anything is possible until the case is closed," Chen Er said enigmatically. There was a double meaning in her words, and she exuded a calm and maturity beyond her years.
Yang Heng scoffed. His impression of Chen Er was still stuck on her uncooperative and nonchalant attitude in the interrogation room.
Facing Yang Heng's prejudice, Chen Er chose to ignore it.
Qin An took a break from her work and listened to the banter between Chen Er and Yang Heng. Her tense nerves gradually relaxed.
She had overthought it. Maybe Chen Er was just a bit precocious. Why did she think Chen Er was so unusual?
Chen Er had been secretly observing Qin An. Seeing that Qin An was no longer as stiff and guarded as before, she knew that Qin An had let down her guard against her.
Jiang Cong, on the other hand, felt that there was more to Chen Er's words. A glint of curiosity flashed in his eyes.
Soon.
Xiao Lin, who was in charge of the on - site investigation, walked up to Jiang Cong with a sample of the suspicious bloodstain. "We found this on the doorknob of Zhang Lu's room. The blood has dried. Preliminary analysis shows that it has been exposed to the air for at least two to five days."
Jiang Cong frowned slightly. He took the blood sample bag from Xiao Lin. "Run a DNA comparison with the victim, Sheng Qingqiu."
Xiao Lin nodded eagerly. With a look of eagerness to learn, she nervously curled her fingers. "Professor Jiang, how did you suspect that Zhang Lu was involved in Sheng Qingqiu's death?"
As soon as she said this, everyone at the scene focused their attention on Jiang Cong, either openly or secretly.
"Chief Wang was the one who first suspected Zhang Lu. I'm just conducting basic investigations based on that. Solving any case requires not only meticulous observation but also speculation and experimentation on various possibilities," Jiang Cong replied patiently. There was no sign of impatience on his face. His white shirt made his figure look even more upright.
Xiao Lin silently committed Jiang Cong's words to memory, regarding them as the golden rules for solving cases.
There were no absolute geniuses in the world. They just used the time when ordinary people were playing and relaxing to improve themselves.
Leaning against the doorframe, Chen Er couldn't help but show a hint of admiration for Jiang Cong's words.
"Let's go," Jiang Cong suddenly walked up to Chen Er. "It's getting late. You should go home. I'll inform you if there's anything new."
Chen Er snorted and tossed her bangs defiantly. "If you tell me to come, I come? That would be so embarrassing for me."
Jiang Cong leaned down, closing the distance between them. His warm breath hit Chen Er's face, and her heart started pounding uncontrollably.
The next second.
Jiang Cong grabbed the collar of Chen Er's clothes and lifted her up effortlessly, like a chick, and walked downstairs.
"Hey! Put me down!" Chen Er was furious. No matter how much she waved her arms, she couldn't get close to Jiang Cong.
Jiang Cong just smiled but said nothing, still looking calm and composed.
The next day.
The forensic report on the suspicious bloodstain found in Zhang Lu's house was out.
Jiang Cong sat in the meeting room, listening to Xiao Lin's report.
"After identification, the bloodstain is an exact match with the DNA of the victim, Sheng Qingqiu."
Hearing this, Chief Wang stood up excitedly. "Great! It seems that Zhang Lu is the murderer. Once we find him, the case will be solved!"
In contrast to Chief Wang's eagerness, Jiang Cong was not overly surprised by the report. It was as if he had anticipated it.
Seeing Jiang Cong's calm reaction, Chief Wang awkwardly cleared his throat with a fist. "Are there any other valuable clues?"
Xiao Lin nodded and reported the information they had gathered. "Yes. After further questioning Zhang Lu's friends and classmates, we found that Zhang Lu once courted Sheng Qingqiu."
"And then?" Jiang Cong tapped his fingers on the table and leaned back casually in his chair.
"Sheng Qingqiu rejected him and publicly mocked him. Many people still remember that scene vividly," Xiao Lin hesitated, biting her lip and lowering her head.
Jiang Cong noticed Xiao Lin's unease. He deliberately softened his voice, sounding more like he was guiding her. "Do you have any speculations? Let's hear them."
Jiang Cong's words were an encouragement to Xiao Lin. She tried to calm her breathing, but her voice still trembled slightly. "I think Zhang Lu might have killed Sheng Qingqiu out of hatred after being rejected."
Jiang Cong nodded but neither agreed nor disagreed with Xiao Lin's speculation.
Everything seemed to be going too smoothly. The case seemed to be developing logically, but Jiang Cong had a strange feeling that someone was deliberately leading them astray.
When all the coincidences piled up, they were probably not coincidences at all.
So far, all the evidence pointed directly at Zhang Lu.
The fact that Zhang Lu had courted Sheng Qingqiu was not hard to find out. But would Zhang Lu really commit the crime with such an obvious motive?
Jiang Cong didn't think the murderer would be so naive.
Seeing Jiang Cong deep in thought and not saying a word, Chief Wang braved himself to ask, "Professor Jiang, what do you think?"
Jiang Cong looked up and shook his head. "I'm not sure yet. I can't draw a conclusion for now."
Although Chief Wang believed in his heart that Zhang Lu was the murderer, seeing that even Jiang Cong couldn't give a definite answer, he began to doubt his own judgment.
The meeting room fell into silence, and the investigation of the case had reached a dead end.