The weather at the start of spring is as fickle as a woman's mood. It was just sunny with a light breeze earlier, but now it's started to drizzle, giving off a sense of unpredictability. After parking the car in the underground garage, Xiao Lin glanced at Wu Shuang, not in the mood to shake off the tail following them.

"Following us all the way and not even tired."

"Then we..."

"Of course, we have to eat, but it might be a little inconvenient for you." After saying that, Xiao Lin got out of the car first, walked to the right side to open the door for Wu Shuang, extending a hand towards her. She, intrigued, handed him her right hand, enjoying the courtesy of being assisted out of the car.

Xiao Lin immediately wrapped his left hand around her slender waist, leading her away from the car, and entered the fourth-floor commercial area via the elevator.

"Let go!" The scent coming from Xiao Lin made Wu Shuang's heart race. She wanted to struggle, but he held her even tighter. To outsiders, they looked like an affectionate couple, with the girl playfully teasing the boy.

"Let's eat Thai food!"

Smiling, Xiao Lin led Wu Shuang into a restaurant with a strong exotic vibe. After requesting a quiet spot from the host, he glanced back. A restaurant like this was relatively high-end; if someone managed to follow them in, they must have some backing; otherwise, they'd have to hang around outside.

"Hey, this place is expensive." Wu Shuang whispered her protest as she flipped open the first page of the menu. Although the prices were nothing to the man in front of her, it seemed unnecessary.

"Don't be so fussy. The afternoon tea here is nice." Xiao Lin liked this place because Hua Qingyi had brought him here once, and the flavors were quite authentic. Besides, they didn't close during lunch, and one could continue to enjoy afternoon tea afterward. Sitting comfortably in ergonomically designed chairs, gazing at the street view was a pleasure.

After selecting a few dishes casually, Wu Shuang ordered a pot of tea that Xiao Lin replaced with locally brewed Thai wine, drawing an eyeroll from Wu Shuang: "Why drink during the day? I'm still on work hours."

"Spring's a bit chilly, have some wine to warm up." The small private booth could accommodate about four to six people. One side of the booth was a floor-to-ceiling window, while the other three sides were set up like a tatami. However, there was a hole dug in the middle to rest your legs, avoiding the strain of kneeling. The thick coverlet buried the legs under the table, with a bit of warm floor heating keeping feet from being too cold, thus preventing loss of appetite.

"The design here is quite considerate." Xiao Lin made casual conversation with Wu Shuang, ensuring their tails hadn't followed them in, and Wu Shuang spread the photos on the table.

Each photo had numerical markers to indicate the sequence. He hadn't touched base with Yi and the others, so he wasn't fully aware of the scene's situation. Just judging from the photos, the situation seemed rather theatrical at the time.

Once the dishes were served and the sliding door pulled shut, leaving the server outside, Xiao Lin casually indulged in the delicacies while facing the gruesome pictures, while Wu Shuang sipped on the slightly overwhelming wine, its fruity aroma lingering.

Thai food tends to be on the sour and spicy side, not quite to her taste. She would opt for Sichuan cuisine if it came to heavy flavors.

"Officer Wu, were you stationed outside the whole time?"

"Mm, didn't you ask me not to go in?" Wu Shuang picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth: "After receiving your call, I rushed over. By the time I arrived at Jingshan, it was already eight o'clock. The Wang Family Villa was quite quiet, with no signs of abnormality." The fish was fresh and tender, making Wu Shuang's eyes brighten.

Xiao Lin lit a cigarette, casually picking up a photo. Zhang Teng was lying prone on the ground. "How did he die? Gunshot or stabbed?" Judging from the photo, there wasn't a large pool of blood around the deceased, and the posture of death looked somewhat odd.

"Not a gunshot. The fatal wound was unique, with blood flowing inward. The forensic doctor hasn't dissected yet; I wanted you to see the body first before any autopsy."

Picking up a second photo, the body's angle changed slightly, taken from the right side, capturing half of Zhang Teng's face. Judging by his expression, there was a hint of disbelief in his wide-open eyes. Xiao Lin brought the photo closer under the lamp. From Zhang Teng's head position, someone seemed to have been standing in front of him then.

"Who was present when you arrived at the scene?"

"Fatty Wang, Wang Zhantian, and some servants," Wu Shuang answered truthfully.

"Servants? How much time elapsed from receiving the report to the scene?"

"Around half an hour. To avoid any suspicion from the other side, I waited in the car for half an hour before turning on the siren." Wu Shuang was a meticulous person. If she appeared immediately after receiving the report, with Fatty Wang's intelligence, he could quickly suspect the situation. Thus, she made a decisive decision. Even if there were doubts, they couldn't be verbalized.

"I walked people into the villa, there was Zhang Teng on the ground, his head pointing towards my entrance." Wu Shuang picked out a photo and handed it to Xiao Lin: "As I remember, an old man was standing on my left, looking like a butler. Fatty Wang was seated in the corner by the wall on his right, while Wang Zhantian was behind me, following me in. But I have a question."

"Let's hear it!"

"Zhang Teng entered through the window, so Fatty Wang, in the closest position to the window, should have been the first to discover him and be in danger. But clearly, that wasn't the case from what I observed. From our inspection to leaving the scene, he never got up from that sofa, which doesn't make sense. Besides..." Wu Shuang put down her chopsticks, picking two more photos: "There should have been a fight. Here are other deceased individuals. Judging by their clothing, they weren't Wang Family's servants."

"What did the Wang Family explain?"

"Fatty Wang didn't say a word. It was Wang Zhantian making a fuss, pleading with the police to settle the matter." Wu Shuang poured herself a bowl of soup, being a soup lover, while Xiao Lin barely touched his chopsticks, staring at the table full of dishes. Watching Wu Shuang eat, he felt a sense of fulfillment. "When I asked why Zhang Teng appeared at the Wang Family, Wang Zhantian's reply was odd, claiming never to have any ties with Zhang Teng. However, we found a matching account from Zhang Teng's recent bank transactions. There was a significant amount transferred, originating from a Wang Family subsidiary."

"Let's eat first, then talk." Halfway through the cigarette, watching Wu Shuang eat, Xiao Lin felt a sense of satisfaction. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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