Chapter 083: Returning to the Scene

"Do you remember the Shengfangyuan Restaurant? There was a pretty waitress," Dai Peng asked Lin Yu, his gaze fixed.

"I think I have some vague recollection, but not a deep impression," Lin Yu replied. His memories of earlier times were blurred; after all, he had returned from ten years in the future.

"The one Wang Yan fancied—the waitress with a bit of charm!" Dai Peng explained, seeing that Lin Yu didn't recall her clearly.

"Now that you mention it, I do remember. Come, sit down and tell me more," Lin Yu pulled Dai Peng to the sofa and began to ask him carefully.

The office was empty save for the two brothers. However, surveillance cameras recorded their entire conversation. Their figures, the desk, the tea table, and the sofa—all were captured on tape.

They hadn't anticipated this, so they continued speaking without reservation.

Once they were settled, Dai Peng said, "The afternoon before the incident, we went to his house for dinner and saw that waitress, Song Xiaojia. But when the murder happened, she wasn't there! If we could find her, maybe we could ask her something. What do you think?"

"You're right! I can't believe I overlooked her. You're always so attentive," Lin Yu said, his mind immediately turning over the idea.

He wondered why Song Xiaojia, the waitress who rarely left the restaurant, was absent at the time of the crime.

Conan from the anime once said, 'There is only one truth.' Both Lin Yu and Dai Peng fell silent, analyzing every possibility.

"Do you think she might have noticed something strange about the chef Zhao Bo and escaped ahead of time?" Dai Peng asked, frowning.

Lin Yu took out a cigarette, lit one for Dai Peng, and then one for himself.

Watching the swirling smoke expand in circles from the glowing tip, Lin Yu exhaled and said, "That's possible. But I don't think it's that simple."

"Third Brother, could you help me find Song Xiaojia? It's tough for me here. Even with Director Hu looking out for me, every day is full of anxiety and worry," Dai Peng held his cigarette but didn't feel like smoking.

"Don't worry. Your trouble is my trouble. No matter what, I'll help you find her," Lin Yu said, patting Dai Peng's head with his free hand.

He actually felt that Dai Peng and Zhang Zhilong, both troubled youths, could benefit from enduring a few hardships. As long as the outcome was good, it would cleanse them, make them more mature.

After all, a person can have a unique character, but if they're too unconventional, it's hard for others—and society—to accept them.

While Lin Yu and Dai Peng talked at length, Qi Yue had already arrived at the Lin family home with Yang Zhiyin. Upon arrival, Qi Yue realized the families already knew each other when Yang Zhiyin addressed Wang Chunhua as 'Aunt Lin.'

Qi Yue, annoyed that Yang Zhiyin had hidden her acquaintance with the Lin family, dragged her into Lin Yu's room and gave her a fierce scolding. As a result, both girls had flushed cheeks during dinner.

Looking at the two lovely young women, Lin Yu's mother Wang Chunhua wore a gentle smile, saying nothing but serving them dish after dish.

With their parents either absent or always busy, Qi Yue and Yang Zhiyin felt a rare sense of happiness eating a home-cooked meal.

While the woman and the girls ate quietly, Lin Yu parted from Dai Peng, resolved to investigate the crime scene that night, hoping to find a clue. Searching for Song Xiaojia would have to wait until morning.

But as soon as Lin Yu stepped out of the office, he was met by Han Kezhen, who had been waiting for him. Han Kezhen seemed easygoing, but when his eyes swept over Lin Yu, Lin Yu felt as if he were being seen through.

"I heard everything from the surveillance. You're thinking of going to the scene, aren't you?" Han Kezhen said bluntly.

"Yes," Lin Yu replied, matching his directness.

"The site is sealed off; entering now is illegal. Also, you should remember that you're only free because Director Hu used his authority. That doesn't mean you're not a suspect," Han Kezhen said as they walked toward the exit of the police station.

"Guilt or innocence, it's too early to say. But I'm puzzled—why is your investigation so inefficient? Song Xiaojia is such an important witness, yet you've neglected her?" Lin Yu felt confident, his conscience clear.

"Lin Yu, Uncle Han doesn't treat you as a child. But you are inexperienced in investigations. There's no way we'd overlook someone as important as Song Xiaojia. We've searched her hometown but couldn't find her," Han Kezhen explained. He knew Lin Yu was close to Hu Rongqiang and didn't want to offend him.

As they stepped outside, the chilly autumn wind seeped through Lin Yu's clothes, its sharp coldness penetrating deep, making him shiver and calm down.

"Could she have foreseen something and fled?" Lin Yu speculated, thinking that possibility quite likely.

"We suspect the same. We've checked the scene thoroughly and found no clues. Where do you live? I'll give you a ride home," Han Kezhen patted Lin Yu's shoulder and gestured toward the police car parked nearby.

"Uncle Han, could you take me to the crime scene? I feel there's something strange about this case," Lin Yu said, his expression serious.

He sensed something odd, as if he remembered something important but couldn't quite grasp it. At that moment, he deeply regretted not having Holmes's keen powers of observation.

Seeing Lin Yu's determination, Han Kezhen fell silent. It was clear he wasn't doing this for Lin Yu's sake, but for Hu Rongqiang's.

After thinking it over, he glanced at Lin Yu and said in a low voice, "Come on, get in."

Bincheng wasn't a large city. The police station wasn't far from Shengfangyuan; after a ten-minute drive, they arrived.

By then, it was about half past nine at night. Most shops nearby had closed, save for a few foot massage and bath centers.

Shengfangyuan's front entrance consisted of two transparent glass doors, now secured with a chain lock. Crossed seals were affixed to the handles.

"Do you have the key?" Lin Yu asked, looking at the locked doors.

Han Kezhen didn't answer. He simply produced a ring of keys, found the right one, and unlocked the door.

"Go ahead," Han Kezhen said, pushing open one door for Lin Yu.

"Aren't you coming in?" Lin Yu asked in surprise.

"You go ahead. See if you can find anything. I've been to this scene five or six times; my thinking is stuck, and I can't find anything new," Han Kezhen replied.

Seeing Han Kezhen's disheveled hair and tired face, Lin Yu said nothing more. He walked inside.

As soon as he entered, a chill swept over him, making him shudder. An inexplicable tension rose within him.