Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Xie Qingling wrapped an arm around the property manager and retreated, then pushed her away with one hand.
The property manager’s body had gone as rigid as wood. Once she left Xie Qingling’s embrace, all her strength seemed to vanish abruptly, forcing her to lean against the wall just to remain standing.
She had not seen what was inside with her own eyes, but the slightest thought, combined with that nauseating stench, made it impossible for her to remain composed.
“I’ll… I’ll call the police. I’ll call the police…” the property manager said distractedly.
“No. We’ll handle what happened here. Don’t tell anyone. Pretend you never came here. Now return to your post and make sure no one comes down to level B2.” Xie Qingling’s frighteningly cold voice sounded again.
The property manager froze. She had been about to say she could not do it, that she was incapable, but when she met Xie Qingling’s gentle gaze, courage suddenly rose within her.
She said, “All right. I trust you.”
Rapid footsteps receded as the property manager left, leaving only Xie Qingling and Dai Xingyu at the scene.
As a grown man, Dai Xingyu did not receive the same considerate treatment as the property manager.
He braced himself against the wall and vomited. Xie Qingling offered not a single word of comfort. She entered the storage room and began examining the two corpses, which had already started rotting and stinking.
Their skin had been removed intact, leaving bloody flesh exposed to the air. They had been dead for quite some time, and the enclosed room was filled with a terrible stench. No wonder Dai Xingyu was vomiting so violently.
Xie Qingling remained perfectly composed as she examined the bodies.
As a forensic pathologist in training, Xie Qingling had long imagined confronting a situation like this. It remained within what she could psychologically tolerate.
“Director.” Xie Qingling contacted Ling Fang. “We found the victims’ bodies, one woman and one man. My preliminary judgment is that they’re Yang Zhenhua and his wife.”
“The Painted-Skin Ghosts removed their skin, so I can’t use livor mortis or similar characteristics to determine the time of death. But the corpses already show postmortem bloating, with swelling in their limbs and abdomens. Judging by the degree of bloating and the basement environment, they’ve been dead for at least a week.”
Listening to Xie Qingling’s report, Ling Fang could infer that the scene was extremely grim even without seeing it himself.
The Painted-Skin Ghosts were not only highly skilled at concealment but also exceptionally cruel.
Ghosts like these could not be allowed to live another day.
Ling Fang said, “Dai Xingyu will handle the bodies. Xie Qingling, find a way into Yang Zhenhua’s home and confirm their current location.”
Xie Qingling looked back at Dai Xingyu, who was vomiting his insides out. She did not expose his embarrassing condition and merely said, “Director, I don’t think Dai Xingyu can handle them.”
“Postmortem bloating occurs because bacteria inhabiting the human body reproduce without restraint after death, generating large quantities of gas. That gas cannot escape and eventually inflates the corpse. At this point, there is a substantial pressure difference between the corpse’s interior and exterior, and moving it may cause a pressure explosion and secondary injuries. Professionals must handle this.”
Xie Qingling said, “We’ll call the police after dealing with the Painted-Skin Ghosts. For now, we shouldn’t alert them.”
On the other end, Ling Fang fell silent for a moment, then agreed. “Do as you say.”
After confirming their plan, Xie Qingling dragged a sign reading “Construction in Progress – Keep Away” from the utility room and sealed the storage room off completely. Then she patted Dai Xingyu’s shoulder. “Finished vomiting? Time to work.”
Dai Xingyu caught his breath, wiped his mouth, and followed her.
At the same time, his heart filled with reverence for Xie Qingling.
The two rode the elevator up from level B2 and returned to the property management office.
The property manager who had accompanied them downstairs now sat at her desk, her face deathly pale and her expression dazed.
Only when she saw Xie Qingling did light gradually return to her eyes, and she felt considerably safer.
Xie Qingling leaned against the counter and asked, “The buildings in this complex should all have intercoms, right? Can you call the owner of Unit 1303 for us?”
“We do.” The property manager was extremely nervous, but she obediently picked up the telephone and called Unit 1303.
The line rang for roughly a minute, but no one ever answered.
The property manager shook her head. “The owner isn’t home.”
Xie Qingling and Dai Xingyu exchanged a look.
The two left the property management office and took the elevator to the thirteenth floor.
They had decided to investigate Yang Zhenhua’s home themselves.
Upon reaching Unit 1303 and seeing the tightly closed door, Xie Qingling was about to kick it in when Dai Xingyu stopped her immediately.
“…Let me.”
Dai Xingyu took out a device and connected it to the electronic keypad lock. After he pressed several buttons, a beep sounded, and the door opened.
As expected, the home was empty. Not a single person was inside.
Xie Qingling inhaled deeply. “I smell a rotting corpse.”
The stench was not as powerful as in the basement, but a faint trace still permeated the air. Anyone with a sensitive nose could detect it.
Dai Xingyu nodded as well. “It looks like they’ve been living here for some time.”
The two reported their findings to Ling Fang.
Yang Zhenhua was not home…
Ling Fang remained silent in thought for a moment, then said, “Check the law firm.”
When they could not immediately locate someone, considering the two places between which that person traveled for work and daily life offered a reasonable chance of success. Yang Zhenhua was a workaholic, after all.
But the moment Ling Fang finished speaking, Jiang Lulu grabbed his clothes and said urgently, “No. That’s wrong. He isn’t at the law firm.”
Ling Fang gave her a surprised look, paused his team members’ movements, and turned back to ask, “Why do you say that?”
Jiang Lulu inhaled deeply. “The boss likes making us work overtime, but he never stays late himself. He’s unlikely to be at the law firm at this time. I know where he is.”
“Where?”
“Probably the Children’s Palace.” Certainty filled Jiang Lulu’s voice. “The boss is a family man. Whenever he has time, he spends it with his wife and child. He should be waiting at the Children’s Palace for his daughter’s dance class to end.”
Jiang Lulu lowered her head to check the time. It was now eleven forty-five in the morning. “The morning classes are almost over.”
Ling Fang’s brows had not relaxed once. He continued staring hard at her.
Was a battle maniac’s friend also a battle maniac?
Why did she look so impatient to charge into battle herself?
Jiang Lulu said anxiously, “It’s true! I want them dead more than any of you! I won’t hold you back!”
After thinking for several seconds, Ling Fang asked Dai Xingyu, “How long does it take to reach the law firm and the Children’s Palace?”
Dai Xingyu said, “Twenty minutes to the Children’s Palace. Half an hour to the firm.”
Ling Fang quickly decided. “Yu Wei, Ye Anran, Shen Huaizhou – come with me to inspect the Children’s Palace first. Dai Xingyu and Xie Qingling will follow afterward.”
“Understood.”
Everyone else on standby also received the order and immediately set out for the Children’s Palace.
Jiang Lulu remained behind Ling Fang, sitting quietly on the motorcycle’s rear seat.
Just as she had promised, she worked hard not to hold them back.
—
The Children’s Palace.
A long, melodious chime rang out. It was noon, and class was over.
The ballet teacher stopped the lesson and sighed as the children in the classroom instantly descended into chaos.
“That’s all for today. Everyone, remember to practice your fundamentals after you go home. Don’t let your skills deteriorate.” Despite her words, most children treated these classes merely as a hobby. Any one of them might stop coming someday. They agreed aloud, but few truly took her words to heart.
The teacher had grown accustomed to their sporadic effort.
Among these children, however, one practiced with exceptional seriousness and diligence.
Her name was Yang Xianxian. She was both hardworking and intelligent.
While the other students eagerly packed their bags and left, only Yang Xianxian properly completed her final movement before saying goodbye to the teacher.
“Goodbye, teacher.”
The teacher smiled. “Goodbye, Xianxian. Did your mommy and daddy come pick you up again?”
Yang Xianxian nodded.
Through the enormous, spotless floor-to-ceiling window outside the dance studio, one could see a middle-aged couple standing arm in arm in the corridor. They wore happy smiles and looked exceptionally loving.
They were Yang Zhenhua and his wife.
Every teacher who had taught Yang Xianxian at the Children’s Palace knew that the couple doted on their precious daughter. They came together to drop her off and pick her up every day, rain or shine.
What a happy, perfect family.
The teacher could not help patting her head. “Xianxian is so fortunate to have a mommy and daddy who love you so very much.”
Yang Xianxian tilted her head and smiled. Her eyes, gleaming like freshly washed grapes, curved with her smile. She said, “Teacher, it’s getting late. I have to go.”
The teacher lowered her head to check the time. It was twelve fifteen.
She nodded and waved goodbye, while also smiling and nodding at the couple in the corridor.
The couple’s smiles remained dazzlingly bright, both looking exceptionally happy.
At that moment, the teacher suddenly shivered, sensing something faintly eerie.
The curves of the couple’s smiles were almost exactly the same…
She was overthinking it.
The teacher patted her cheeks. When she looked again, however, the couple had already vanished from the corridor.
Yang Xianxian happily walked down the stairs, holding Daddy’s hand with one of hers and Mommy’s with the other.
Mommy and Daddy had promised to take her out for fried chicken today.
For a child, being allowed to eat fried food was the happiest thing in the whole world.
Except…
“Mommy, Daddy.” Yang Xianxian sniffed herself, then frowned. “Why do I feel like I smell strange?”
Mommy smiled gently. “You don’t. There’s no smell at all.”
“Oh. All right.” Yang Xianxian quickly stopped worrying about it.
The family of three made their way to the Children’s Palace’s underground parking garage.
The tapping of footsteps echoed through the dark garage, sounding strangely unnerving.
Aside from her and her parents, there was unexpectedly no one else in the garage today.
How strange.
Yang Xianxian was about to say something when a deep male voice suddenly sounded beside her ear. “Veil the eyes.”
The world before Yang Xianxian abruptly twisted, and Mommy and Daddy vanished from sight!
“Mommy! Daddy!” Yang Xianxian screamed.