The Missing Daughter – CH 011

Chapter 11. Boyfriend 2

When I came out of the morgue, I was still a little dazed.

He Chenghui saw my state and called a policewoman to accompany me.

Standing in the corridor, I said, “If this is a prank, it’s too cruel. I’ll never forgive Jiang Shen.”

I was absolutely certain that the body lying there was his.

Jiang Shen. I would recognize him even if he were ashes, let alone before he was even burned.

The atmosphere was silent.

Probably no one dared to answer the deceased’s family at this time, because no matter what they said, it would be wrong and might even cause chaos. So, based on their experience, it was better not to answer.

After a long pause, He Chenghui cautiously asked, “Why don’t you go home and rest for a day and come back tomorrow? We have some questions to ask you about Jiang Shen’s death…”

“No need,”

I interrupted him. “I can do it now.”

He Chenghui said sympathetically, “You don’t have to force yourself.”

I said, “I won’t force myself. I won’t be able to sleep tonight anyway, and besides, I have many questions to ask you about Jiang Shen’s death.”

**

Because I wasn’t a suspect, the interrogation environment was very friendly. The policewoman was taking notes, and He Chenghui asked me from across the table, “What was your relationship with Jiang Shen?”

I said, “Boyfriend and girlfriend.”

He hadn’t given me a ring yet, nor had he proposed. Although we were getting married soon, we weren’t officially engaged. I hadn’t mentioned engagement, but one day I suddenly had a thought and said to him, “Jiang Shen, shouldn’t we get married?”

He was cooking in the kitchen when I heard the sound of eggs scattering everywhere. A moment later, I heard his calm voice, “It’s about time we got married. Which day do you like?”

I didn’t expect him to actually go for it. My parents had asked many times this year, so I opened my phone and started scrolling through the calendar. After a while, I realized I couldn’t understand the auspicious dates, so I called my parents and asked them to choose a date.

They both sounded even more eager than we were on the phone. My dad was overjoyed and cried, and my mom started preparing for early retirement, fantasizing about the happy life we’d have with our family raising the kids.

Two months later, they said this was the best date of the year.

He Chenghui asked, “You aren’t married yet? Your records show you live in the same place, Anquan Residential Complex.”

I nodded. “Jiang Shen and I have been together since our freshman year of college. When we graduated, apartments in Anquan Residential Complex were going on sale, but the prices were too high. My whole family and I couldn’t afford it, so I asked him to ‘divide the cost.'”

He Chenghui. “…?”

You could even ‘divide’ the cost of an apartment?

After graduation, we lived under the same roof, but in separate bedrooms. Jiang Shen said we could only live together after we got married, and I agreed. I sleepwalked, and if he woke up in the middle of the night and saw me wandering around the bed expressionlessly, the marriage might not happen.

However, if we got married and he saw me sleepwalking and he wanted a divorce, he’d have to consider whether the court would support that reason, adding a little to the cost of divorce, but not much.

I hid it very well. I always locked the door when I slept. Jiang Shen… No, Jiang Shen would never know I sleepwalked. I even reminded him to lock his door; it wasn’t safe for a boy to be home alone.

Jiang Shen touched my forehead to make sure I didn’t have a fever. “Nie Qingyu? Aren’t you human when I’m home alone?”

I earnestly advised him. “It’s precisely because I’m home that you need to protect yourself.”

**

“How’s your relationship? Have you been arguing lately, or have there been any problems or friction in your lives?”

He Chenghui’s voice always pulled me back to reality.

I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t escape reality, so I could only answer. “We have a good relationship, we rarely argue, and both of us are emotionally stable. You should be able to see that I haven’t smashed up your place yet, which shows how stable we are.”

He Chenghui and the policewoman beside him exchanged a glance. “…”

It was clear that the calmer I appeared, the more frightened they became.

I asked, “I want to know, how did he die? I couldn’t lift the sheet and examine his body in front of everyone; I’m not a professional.”

He Chenghui. “He… at this point, we can only conclude that it’s highly likely suicide.”

“How did you determine that?”

“The deceased had multiple cuts on his wrists. Based on current indications, he likely died from excessive blood loss. A large amount of sleeping pill residue was found in the water glass on the living room table, suggesting he took the pills and then cut his wrists. There was also a suicide note nearby. Therefore, our initial conclusion is… suicide.”

I asked again, “Living room? Whose living room?”

He Chenghui replied, “It’s a hotel. The hotel cleaning staff found his body when they went to clean the room.”

He mentioned a hotel name, which I knew; it was just three streets outside Anquan Residential Complex.

It was a five-star hotel, and he had booked a suite. Jiang Shen really didn’t skimp on himself.

He Chenghui asked, “Since you live together, have a good relationship, and haven’t had any conflicts recently, why was he staying in a hotel instead of going home?”

I recalled, “He usually goes home except when he’s working overtime or on business trips. On the 24th, two days ago, Jiang Shen said he was going to fly abroad to pick up his custom-made wedding ring. He was originally scheduled to return today, but he told me yesterday that his flight was canceled due to weather, and he could only book a ticket for two days later.”

He Chenghui paused, seemingly hesitant to continue.

I looked at him and said, “It’s okay, I’m calm. You can ask me anything, as long as we can find out the truth; don’t worry about anything.”

He Chenghui nodded. “We’ll investigate the flight records you mentioned, but we didn’t find any…ring at the scene. Also, according to his account transaction records, we found that he ordered 999 red roses, delivered to a hotel.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Is it possible…he has another relationship?”

The room fell even more silent.

I could tell He Chenghui was under immense psychological pressure to ask that question. He phrased it delicately, because most family members would go crazy upon hearing such speculation. But I was different; the doctor told me to remain calm.

I said, “It’s probably impossible. As far as I know, he didn’t have any other female relationships.”

I paused, then added, “None of them were women either.”

Although I knew this sounded like a deceived girlfriend stubbornly refusing to admit the truth, a self-deceiving answer, Jiang Shen wasn’t that kind of person. He was always either working or spending time with me; he was the kind of person who would even directly refuse company team-building activities and dinners.

A lying boyfriend, a death scene at a hotel, pre-ordered roses…

Perhaps there was more evidence I didn’t know. All of this made it hard not to suspect him.

If that was the case, then I could also become a suspect in his death.

Of course, that was assuming it was confirmed to be murder.

He Chenghui continued, “We’ll continue our investigation. Since you know Jiang Shen better than we do, what do you think might be the reason for his suicide?”

I tried to speculate, “Was it because he was about to get married, the pressure was too much, and he couldn’t think straight?”

As I spoke, I started to doubt myself. Then I looked up, stared into He Chenghui’s eyes, and said firmly, “I know him. We are getting married soon; he couldn’t have committed suicide.”

He Chenghui seemed to be thinking of many cases he had handled before and sighed, “Perhaps you don’t know him as well as you think.”

I asked, “You just said he left a suicide note. I want to see it. Since it’s a suicide note, it should state the reason for his suicide.”

He Chenghui hesitated and nodded, then took out a transparent evidence bag containing a page torn from a notebook.

The paper had familiar handwriting.

He used to use this handwriting when we passed notes in class—scribbled like an encrypted file.

【I am Jiang Shen.

This is my suicide note.

On the surface, I seem happy. Stable job, plenty of money, healthy, and about to get married.

But in reality, I felt incredibly miserable. My parents passed away long ago, and living alone was exhausting. Behind my professional success lay untold pain and pressure. When I said my flight was delayed and I wasn’t going home, it was simply because I wanted some peace and quiet.

Buying roses was just a momentary lapse in concentration. After placing the order, the thought of sharing this painful life with my wife made me incredibly sad.

All my inheritance goes to Nie Qingyu.

Nie Qingyu, 口口口, don’t be sad.】

Three words were scribbled over, the paper torn. He wrote them, but didn’t want anyone to see them.

How could I not be sad?

If this suicide note hadn’t been in the evidence bag, with the bloodstains constantly reminding me it was evidence, I would have torn it up on the spot.

Bullshit!

Those two syllables I didn’t even utter when I learned he was accepted into Tsinghua University.

I said, “Officer He, the handwriting and tone of this suicide note are his, but I don’t believe a single word of what it says. He couldn’t have committed suicide.”

**

He Chenghui saw me out, offering a few dry words of comfort.

I asked him, “Can you confirm it’s suicide?”

He Chenghui replied, “Many things still require further investigation and verification. Once it’s confirmed to be suicide, we’ll notify you. We’ll need you to come again then…”

I knew what he meant. Then I could take the cold body back from the morgue and decide for myself whether to cremate it or not.

I said, “Officer He, he couldn’t have committed suicide. Can you help me find the truth behind his death and bring the murderer to justice?”

He Chenghui didn’t answer, only sighed and said, “If you need help, call me anytime.”

**

The city was still bustling at night. After leaving the police station, I took a taxi to the hotel He Chenghui had mentioned. I asked the front desk, but they said guest information was private, and the hotel was very secretive; nobody knew a body had been found there that day.

The hotel was located in a prime location in the city center, but I’d never been there before. I walked slowly along the road, thinking about everything the police had told me.

The ring wasn’t found at the scene, but his valuables and his phone were still there. Did someone kill someone just to steal a ring?

For the person who commissioned it, the ring was very valuable.

But for the seller, the ring was worthless.

Unless, in the first place, he never even went to retrieve the ring.

Leaving the bustling area, I wandered aimlessly along the roadside.

A cold wind blew, and I snapped out of my reverie. I realized the Chushui Bridge wasn’t far away.

Beneath the bridge was the Chushui River, and the moon shining brightly over its waters was exactly the same as the one we used to see on our way home from school. Back then, Jiang Shen and I would have tutoring until very late. His class would finish first; mine wouldn’t end until ten. He would always wait for me by the roadside until I finished, and then we’d walk home together.

I asked him why. He said it was dark and windy, and there were many bad people on the road. He was scared, and it would be safer to walk together.

I thought he was very safety-conscious and a reliable person.

Later, that tutoring center was reported for violating regulations, and we never had tutoring again, walking together on the moonlit road.

Years had passed, and the moon had always looked the same, never changing.

I wanted to go home.

Perhaps everything I experienced today was just a dream.

After I got home, nothing would have happened; everything would be the same as before.

And Jiang Shen would be home in two days with the ring.

Right?

I tried to hail a taxi on the street, but at this time and in this location, it wasn’t easy.

Three fully booked taxis whizzed past me, so I gave up, took out my phone, and prepared to find a temporary ride-hailing app.

Just then, an elderly man’s voice rang out beside me. “Young lady, young lady, could you do me a favor?”

I turned around and saw a man who looked to be in his sixties, with gray hair and simply dressed. His voice was a little hoarse, and he was holding a black bag. “Young lady, please help me.”

I took a step back. “Grandpa, what’s wrong?”

The old man looked anxious. “It’s like this, my granddaughter is over there. She suddenly had a stomachache, saying she’s on her period. I went to buy this for her, but I can’t go into the women’s restroom. Could you please deliver it to her?”

I looked down and saw that the black bag he had opened contained sanitary napkins.

I said, “Excuse me, I have something to do…”

The old man pleaded, “There’s no one else around; it’s really inconvenient for me to go in by myself. Young lady, please help me.”

I refused several times, but I couldn’t resist the old man’s pleading. Even when I was out shopping, my period would often come unexpectedly, and I would always buy things for myself.

Putting myself in her shoes, I had no choice but to agree to help.

There was a fairly large green park next to the bridge, but it was late at night, and there weren’t many people. He led me to a secluded restroom nearby.

There were no lights outside the restroom, and it was pitch black inside. I hesitated, but the old man stuffed a sanitary napkin into my hand. “Young lady, it’s inside, just call out. Thank you.”

I took the black bag and went inside. Normally, restrooms had lights, but this one seemed to be broken. I pressed the buttons a few times, but nothing happened. Just as I was about to speak, I heard the sound of the stall in front of me opening.

That sound… it wasn’t just one stall opening.

Before I could react, a figure rushed up behind me.

The person was wrestling with the people inside the restroom. I heard screams and curses, but they must have come from the one being attacked. I took a few steps back; in the dim light, I could only see two or three figures entangled together.

I wanted to join the fight, but I couldn’t tell who was on my side.

“Don’t run!”

“Damn brat, you ruined things.”

My eyes adjusted to the darkness and the sounds around me, and I finally got a sense of the situation.

The two people on the ground were burly and had rough voices; they weren’t girls at all. The person who had rushed in took a few steps back. Just as I thought he was gathering his strength to take down the other two in a one-on-one fight, he grabbed me and ran outside.

The old man at the restroom entrance was startled when he saw us come out. He reached into his pocket to take something out, but the person holding me kicked him three meters away, sending him crashing into the nearby bushes.

It really was a trap. If it weren’t for this man’s act of bravery, I probably wouldn’t have walked out of this restroom today; I’d be tied up and taken out.

We ran for over ten minutes through the dark green space before reaching the park entrance. The people behind us didn’t seem to be catching up, and I was too exhausted to run anymore.

I looked up to thank him, but suddenly my body stiffened, and I froze on the spot.

Although I couldn’t see his face clearly, the back of the person standing under the lamplight looked just like Jiang Shen’s.

Even the force with which he was pulling me was exactly the same.

“Nie Qingyu, you’re really sick, coming here to the bridge at night. I almost thought you…”

His angry voice was just like Jiang Shen’s.

I stared at him blankly for a full three minutes.

His features were somewhat the same as I remembered, yet slightly different, but overall pleasing to the eye. He had a high nose bridge, and his eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, like a fox or a wolf. His lips were a pale color; I remembered the first time he kissed me, I said it felt like being bitten by a butterfly.

He laughed. “Butterflies don’t bite, silly.”

It was indeed Jiang Shen’s face.

The young man’s physique was no longer that of a boy; his shoulders were broad and his waist narrow. Just standing there, his shadow could encircle me.

Passersby walked by, giving me a strange look before avoiding me as if I were a lunatic.

I took out my phone and dialed Lianyu’s number.

The phone was turned off.

I then called Dr. Sun. Oh, I forgot to introduce him; Dr. Sun was a highly skilled psychologist I saw last year.

That phone was turned off, too.

I hesitated, looking at the newly saved number, Officer He’s.

The police shouldn’t concern themselves with hallucinations and ghosts.

I heard the “hallucination” in front of me sigh softly, then reach out and gently hug me. “Nie Qingyu, didn’t I tell you not to be sad?”

I said haltingly, “I’m not sad.”

He sighed, tightened his arms around me, and asked, “Then why are your eyes red?”

I was held so tightly that I couldn’t pull my arms away, so I could only let my tears fall onto his shoulder.

I said, “Because I saw a ghost, and my eyes hurt.”

Were there really no ghosts in this world?

If only there were ghosts in this world.