Just as everyone was about to get swept up in a lively conversation, the closed door was pushed open.
Everyone shuddered and grabbed whatever was closest to them. Those who were supposed to write reports began writing reports, and those mentoring the newcomer dragged him over, launching into formal-sounding platitudes as they all pretended to work diligently.
When the captain walked in and saw this, having worked with them for so long, how could he not know what they had most likely been doing before he entered?
He wasn't the nitpicking, capitalist-style boss, so his lips curled up slightly before he flattened them again, pretending not to have noticed anything.
“Is the final report from the verification department out?” the captain asked, looking at the glasses-wearing investigator.
“It is. Here, Captain—” The glasses-wearing investigator handed the unopened report to the captain.
The captain tore it open and quickly skimmed through it. “Take a look. We can close the case.”
His expression remained calm as he placed the report on the desk.
It was unclear whether the result was simply within his expectations or if he was just someone who could accept any outcome with composure, remaining unperturbed even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.
Everyone immediately crowded around.
The glasses-wearing investigator was also a speed-reader when it came to documents. He skimmed the beginning and end of each paragraph first, read the final conclusion, and then went back to carefully read the parts he had doubts about.
The more he read, the deeper the confusion on his face grew, until finally, he couldn't help but gasp.
“How could this be...”
The skeleton indeed belonged to Si Nian. The DNA comparison was a perfect match, and her time of death was determined to be less than a year ago.
The lingering resentment at the scene was indeed left behind by Si Nian's resentful spirit.
But the crucial point was that the report showed there was no scent of blood-stained sin within the lingering aura of Si Nian's resentful spirit.
In other words, this resentful spirit hadn't had the chance to directly or indirectly harm anyone yet. Si Diyi's death had absolutely nothing to do with her.
“If that's the case... how do we explain the resentment at the scene?” the young investigator, who had finished reading, couldn't help but ask, his face filled with disbelief.
“And Si Diyi's death—could it really be a simple accidental fall into a well while drunk? But that's just too coincidental.”
Leaning back in his chair with his hands crossed over his chest, the captain spoke slowly, “It's not a coincidence, but it has nothing to do with the resentful spirit either.”
“Si Nian's resentful soul had been lingering around Si Diyi, and her purpose was indeed most likely revenge. However, because she has been dead for less than a year, her resentment was too weak, so nothing happened.”
“Si Diyi's death was a pure accident.”
“He stumbled while drunk and happened to step into an open manhole that had its cover stolen. This is verified by both surveillance footage and the confession of the repeat offender who stole the manhole cover.”
“As for the resentment at the scene,” the captain paused before continuing, “Si Nian's resentful soul probably sensed that her enemy was dead. Her years of obsession suddenly dissolved, and with no target left, her resentment weakened and dissipated accordingly.”
“What we detected was merely the faint traces left behind before her resentment completely vanished.”
An Shu read the conclusion over and over again, letting out a sigh of emotion. “I'm quite surprised too. After all, given what Si Diyi did, he truly deserved to die. Anyone would think a vengeful spirit had claimed his life.”
“But the test results don't lie. Aside from Si Nian's residual resentment, there were no traces of any other anomalous power at the scene, nor any signs of external forces catalyzing the resentful spirit. It was a pure accident.”
The mentor investigator nodded. “This is for the best. At least it wasn't a vengeful spirit causing trouble, and there's no unknown force involved. It's a simple wrap-up.”
Still full of youthful, raw emotion, the young investigator muttered, “It's just a pity for Si Nian. Even in death, she couldn't personally get justice and could only watch her enemy die in an accident.”
“Actually, this is a good thing,” An Shu comforted him.
“A resentful spirit that has been dead for less than a year will dissipate on its own once its enemy dies. If it had been over a year, the enemy's death might have turned it into a ticking time bomb instead, ready to explode whenever it was triggered by some random scene or moment.”
The young investigator nodded; that did make sense.
He scratched his head. “I thought we were going to investigate a proper vengeful spirit case, but to think it would turn out like this... So, what we do next is just compile the report and close the case?”
“Yes,” the captain nodded, his tone crisp.
“An Shu, you'll be in charge of organizing all files and reports to complete the case closure procedures. The rest of you, organize the relevant materials from the scene investigation and assist An Shu in wrapping things up.”
Everyone voiced their assent, and the office was soon filled with a busy atmosphere, leaving only the young investigator still feeling a bit unsatisfied with such a mundane conclusion.
Meanwhile, on a street on the other side of town, an electric scooter slowly came to a stop beneath a residential building.
Inside the elevator going up, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Mother Bai kept glancing sideways at Bai Ci next to her. After hesitating for a long time, she finally couldn't resist speaking up to persuade her.
“A'ci, Mom thinks...” Mother Bai's tone carried a hint of pleading.
Bai Ci handed her phone over to Mother Bai. “Mom, take a look at this first.”
Along the way, she could feel Mother Bai's hesitation to speak. She had opened the page way in advance, not expecting her mother to hold it in until they were in the elevator.
Puzzled, Mother Bai took the phone and looked down at it.
On the screen was the information Bai Ci had searched up: the business registration details of Wa Yeyao's construction materials company, the property registry under his name, and some reviews related to the local construction materials industry.
“Look, Wa Yeyao's construction materials company is quite large, and his business has always been doing well. He has several villas and luxury cars under his name, so his net worth is definitely not low.”
“With conditions like that, what kind of marriage partner couldn't he find? There are plenty of people willing to marry him.”
Mother Bai froze, murmuring, “But Teacher Cheng said he wanted to find someone down-to-earth to live with because he was in debt before and was abandoned by his ex-wife...”
“Do you believe everything Teacher Cheng says?” Bai Ci interrupted her, her tone laced with helplessness.
“With his net worth, even if he really wanted to find someone down-to-earth, it wouldn't be my turn.”
“I'm just an ordinary freelance writer with no family background, and I'm only average-looking. Why would he be willing to go on a blind date with me? Isn't there obviously something wrong here?”
Mother Bai's expression faltered, clearly stumped by Bai Ci's questions.
Before, she had only thought about how good Wa Yeyao's circumstances were, how he could take good care of Bai Ci and help her survive the deadline of her curse, but she had never considered this aspect.
“I didn't think too much about what you just said...” Mother Bai's voice weakened, tinged with a bit of guilt.
“Mom, I know you mean well and are afraid I won't make it past my thirtieth year.” Bai Ci's tone softened a bit; after delivering a blow, she had to sweeten the deal to soothe her mother.
“But precisely because it's about surviving the curse, we absolutely cannot look for someone with hidden dangers like him.”
“If there really is something wrong with him and I marry him now, even if I pass thirty, I might not be able to easily get a divorce. When that time comes, it will only bring even greater trouble.”
Rate on N.U.
