Insights Chapter 14: Freeloading a Meal

Chapter 14: Freeloading a Meal

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

After Shen Junci finished showering, he regained his usual calm demeanor. Gu Yanchen had already walked the dog, leaving Wuliang on the balcony. He sat on the sofa, playing videos of Lan Jie’s debut on his phone.

When Shen Junci emerged in fresh sleepwear, his naturally slender figure looked even more ethereal in the slightly oversized attire. Having conducted a post-mortem examination during the day, there was a lingering scent of blood, but after his shower, the unpleasant odor had dissipated.

Under the light, Shen Junci’s skin appeared a shade paler, almost reflective. As he dried his hair, a faint hint of red showed through the knuckles of his fingers. Even as a fellow man, Gu Yanchen couldn’t help but admire Doctor Shen’s exquisite appearance, which seemed almost excessive.

Shen Junci, having almost dried his hair, lifted his eyelashes, revealing reddened eyes and a slightly flushed eye white. Gu Yanchen noticed these abnormalities and asked, “What happened to your eyes?”

Without needing a mirror, Shen Junci knew his eyes were red. He explained, “The shampoo stung my eyes a bit.”

Gu Yanchen replied, “I’ll get a different one next time.”

Jokingly, Shen Junci said, “You make it sound like I’ll be coming here to shower often.”

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a steaming meal arranged on the living room table. The enticing aroma filled the room. Gu Yanchen stood up from the sofa, walked to the table, and pulled out a chair, saying, “Let’s have dinner together.”

Shen Junci declined, “No, I’m ready to go back.”

As he spoke, his eyes glanced at the table. There were dishes he had made and some bought ones – sliced beef with sauce, stir-fried mushrooms and vegetables, and a catfish soup – all things he loved. After a day of exhaustion, just out of the shower, he rejected the offer verbally but his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.

“I made yours too,” Gu Yanchen said. “It’s quite late, just eat a bit. Consider it an apology from the landlord.”

Shen Junci reluctantly sat on the opposite chair, and Gu Yanchen served him a bowl of fish soup.

After a few bites, Gu Yanchen asked, “Does it suit your taste?”

Busy eating, Shen Junci nodded.

Gu Yanchen inquired, “Did you cook at your place?”

Shen Junci shook his head, “No, I feel it’s not worth cooking for just one person. I mostly order takeout.”

Despite his excellent room decor, especially the kitchen, Shen Junci found it a bit wasteful not to cook. After a day of work, he felt drained of all energy and just wanted a peaceful rest. Cooking again would be asking too much of him, both physically and mentally.

Gu Yanchen kindly advised, “If you can cook for yourself, you should. We police officers, especially during busy times or night shifts, need to take care of ourselves. Eating well, sleeping well, and staying hydrated are essential for good health. Especially eating well – no matter what happens, you must eat on time.”

Shen Junci lowered his head, paused for a moment, and said, “My elders used to nag me with similar advice.”

Gu Yanchen replied, “Don’t dismiss it. As you grow older, you’ll realize it’s true.”

He had been influenced by Lin Xianglan regarding health practices, seeming like an old hand at it.

After a few more bites, Shen Junci complimented, “The food you cooked is delicious.”

Gu Yanchen then suggested, “If you ever feel lazy to cook alone, you can come here and freeload a meal.”

Shen Junci objected, “That wouldn’t be right.”

Gu Yanchen said, “Eating alone is no fun and can lead to waste. If it’s two people, we can buy more delicious food.”

Though Gu Yanchen seemed reserved and distant outside, that was merely because he hadn’t encountered someone he clicked with. With acquaintances, he became extremely generous.

As Shen Junci sipped the fish soup, he hesitated, “Thank you, Captain Gu.”

The two of them quietly continued their meal. The room was silent, and Shen Junci suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. Eating together, faint sounds of the dog scratching at the door were audible. The room was lit with a soft yellow light, creating a warm atmosphere. Loneliness prevailed when alone, but with two people, it became a home. It seemed to be the same back then, but at that time, he had not anticipated such an ending.

After a while, Gu Yanchen shifted the conversation to the case, “Was the autopsy smooth this afternoon?”

“Relatively smooth. It was a drowning, and the fluid matched the water in the river. But something feels off,” Shen Junci asked Gu Yanchen, “From a criminal investigation perspective, do you think this is a murder case?”

“It feels like it. I met the deceased’s son and wife this afternoon; they were evasive in their answers and didn’t seem too grief-stricken. Normally, when family members are victims, they want the police to investigate thoroughly and find the perpetrator. But they wanted to hush it up and quickly handle the funeral.” Gu Yanchen continued, “This afternoon, I received several calls, all claiming it was a family matter that needed quick resolution.”

The Fang family was influential, and many hoped to swiftly close the case to prevent any further complications. Shen Junci inquired, “What did Director Ding say?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “Thorough investigation, no tolerance for cover-ups. Many people are watching online.”

Shen Junci asked, “Do the family members have motives for murder?”

“Both do. Moreover, neither family member has a solid alibi, while the secretary, Zhong Zhichun, was at the company at the time,” Gu Yanchen served himself some vegetables, “But I’m not sure about the specifics of how it was done. Perhaps Fang Zhenrong was pushed into the lake? Or was he drugged, leading to unconsciousness and falling into the water?”

Shen Junci pondered, “Fang Zhenrong was an adult of considerable height. In a fight leading to drowning, there would typically be injuries, but I didn’t find any obvious signs on the corpse. The same logic applies to poisoning; blood tests and toxicology would reveal it, but there’s nothing. There’s only a slight abrasion on the back of his head and some scrapes on his knees.”

“Maybe there’s another method,” Gu Yanchen suggested.

The two exchanged further details about the case. Gu Yanchen shared his observations at the Fang residence, recalling the large aquarium with fish Fang Zhenrong had caught, “They had a huge aquarium at home, filled with fish Fang Zhenrong had caught at the fishing grounds.”

Hearing this, Shen Junci lost grip of his spoon, splashing some soup onto his clothes. He reached for a tissue.

Gu Yanchen, however, was a step ahead, grabbing tissues and helping Shen Junci wipe his clothes, “Not burnt, right?”

As Gu Yanchen’s hand touched him, Shen Junci suddenly realized. He quickly stood up, using tissues to cover his chest. Gu Yanchen observed Shen Junci’s exaggerated reaction, leaving him momentarily stunned.

After a moment of silence, Shen Junci raised his head, saying, “It’s okay, the soup has cooled down. I’ve almost finished eating; a wipe will do.”

Feeling a bit awkward, Shen Junci’s mind suddenly recalled something that had surprised him earlier, “You said there’s an aquarium in his house with many fish from the fishing grounds?”

Gu Yanchen nodded.

Shen Junci suddenly understood, “This can explain the issue of drowning. Perhaps Fang Zhenrong didn’t drown by the river; he might have drowned at home.”

He felt something was off about this case. Fang Zhenrong did drown, but the location was different. In cases of drowning, the determination of the victim’s death often relied on the drowning fluid. Different drowning fluids indicated different locations of drowning. Sometimes, a change in perspective was needed. If the drowning fluids were the same, it only meant the water quality was the same, and the victim could have drowned in different places.

The knee abrasion hinted that the victim might have been in a kneeling position before death.

Seeing Gu Yanchen’s confusion, Shen Junci further explained, “When raising fish, water quality is crucial. People who keep fish from these fishing grounds often have some of that water at home to acclimate the fish before putting them in the tank.”

Gu Yanchen understood, “Fang Zhenrong’s villa might have such a place, maybe a bathtub or a small fish pond.”

“The injuries on the back of the head and knees may suggest someone grabbing him by the hair and pushing him into the water,” Shen Junci continued his deduction.

As Gu Yanchen listened, he carefully considered for a moment and then said, “I think I have a rough idea of what’s going on. The scene upstream should be a diversion.”

Listening to Shen Junci provide this information, ideas started forming in Gu Yanchen’s mind. These were still his speculations, needing further evidence for confirmation.

At this point, Gu Yanchen’s phone rang. He stood up and asked, “Did you finish eating?”

“Yes,” Shen Junci asked, “Are you going out?”

Putting on his coat, Gu Yanchen replied, “The search warrant has just been approved. I’m going to put in some extra hours. If luck is on my side, we might be able to close this case.”

Shen Junci added, “Search thoroughly. If the assumption is correct, there should be another crime scene. The water in the bathtub can be drained, but there might be diatomaceous earth residue in the U-bend of the drain.”

Gu Yanchen nodded, “Got it.”

To confirm the existence of such a place, asking the housekeeper should be enough. If they transported the body, other places might also have traces.

As Shen Junci stood up, he remembered something and turned back to remind, “Keep an eye out for lung foam. It doesn’t look like blood and is hard to detect, but once it sticks, it’s difficult to wash off.”

Gu Yanchen assured, “Don’t worry, I won’t let any clues slip by.”

Shen Junci said, “Then I’ll head back now. I’ll wait for your message.”

Gu Yanchen escorted him to the door, then hurriedly changed his shoes and went downstairs. He started his car and drove out of the residential area.

In the night, the road was illuminated by various streetlights, and neon lights in the distance shone brightly. Gu Yanchen put on his Bluetooth earpiece, contacting various places, “Special operation tonight, prepare more manpower.” Then, with a serious expression, he added, “Yes, not only check the villa but also investigate the main Fang residence.”