Chapter 38: The Hidden Motive Behind the Crime

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Jiong finally showed a hint of relief. "We have a lead on the murderer—one of the bar's waiters."

Facing the three pairs of eyes looking at him, Zhao Jiong succinctly explained, "I've sent the image to the information department. We should have results soon."

Sure enough, it wasn't long before he received the suspect's profile on his phone.

Xu Ximing, male, twenty-five, a graduate student at Q University. He was a model student, courteous, and friendly—a promising young man with a bright future.

"This guy doesn't look like a cold-blooded killer." Jin Hong glanced at Zhao Jiong's phone, seeing a bright and handsome young man smiling in the photo. "Is there more to this story?"

"What do you think could be the hidden story?" As a former criminal police officer with rich experience, Zhao Jiong believed Xu Ximing was likely the culprit.

First, the victim had multiple stab wounds, inflicted randomly and without pattern, suggesting the killer was inexperienced and unfamiliar with human anatomy.

Second, the crime occurred between 9 PM and 11 PM, the bar's busiest hours. It would be nearly impossible for an outsider to avoid detection entirely unless they were familiar with the bar's layout.

Third, although the Dark Night Bar was lax in management, it wasn't loose enough to let a stranger carry a knife inside unnoticed. The most plausible explanation was that the knife came from within the bar, and an insider could easily access it without arousing suspicion.

However, given Jin Hong's intuition, Zhao Jiong was curious to hear her reasoning. After all, during their journey from Fengchuan County to Pengcheng, Jin Hong's near-prophetic sixth sense had proven invaluable.

She predicted ambushes, defused bombs, and correctly identified poisoned individuals who would survive.

If Elder Bai Qi was known for bad news, Jin Hong was a harbinger of good fortune.

Jin Hong shook her head, honestly saying, "I just feel he's a good person."

Zhao Jiong: "..."

"Being a good person doesn't mean they can't kill." Ling Ji, eating an orange, blinked, indifferent. "Sui Xi was a good person, but on the battlefield against foreign invaders, he killed without hesitation."

Sometimes, killing wasn't about evil but about the killer's stance and emotions.

"You're right, Master." Zhao Jiong's expression deepened. He had seen gentle women kill abusive husbands and thugs stab people over loyalty.

"Ding." At that moment, Zhao Jiong received a message—"Target apprehended, ready for interrogation."

With the suspect in custody, Zhao Jiong naturally wanted to check it out. Just as he was about to bid Ling Ji farewell, the girl who had been lazily lying on the sofa moved. "Let's go. I'll come with you."

Zhao Jiong was somewhat flattered. "Huh?" Was his breakfast finally working its magic?

Seeing through his thoughts, Ling Ji glanced at him. "That little fox got involved in this case. Finding the real killer will remove her karma."

The debts of the father fall on the son; the blessings of the ancestors benefit the grandchildren.

She had eaten at Bai Heng's place many times. Now that he was absent, she, as an elder, should look after his descendants.

This way, she could continue enjoying their hospitality in the future.

Seeing it wasn't due to his merit, Zhao Jiong wasn't disappointed. Instead, he happily led the group to their destination—Xuesiyuan Residential Complex near Q University.

Xu Ximing lived in Unit 101 of Building 3, a somewhat damp and dark one-bedroom apartment. Despite its condition, the rent was double that of other places due to its prime location near the university.

When they arrived, Xu Ximing was quietly sitting on the sofa, polishing a picture frame. His demeanor was calm, his features clean and handsome, bathed in sunlight—a picture of tranquility, far from a murderer.

"See, I told you he doesn't look like a bad person." Jin Hong, seeing him, straightened up, glancing at Zhao Jiong for validation.

Zhao Jiong smiled without comment, walking over to Xu Ximing and knocking on the coffee table with his knuckles. "Knock knock."

The sound broke Xu Ximing's reverie. He looked up, his dark eyes dull, like dust-covered pearls, lacking any brightness. "Are you the officer in charge of this case?"

Zhao Jiong nodded.

The next moment, the young man spoke in a calm voice, "I killed her. You can arrest me."

This genuinely surprised Zhao Jiong.

He had encountered many people turning themselves in, but never someone so calm, so lighthearted, as if he had long accepted their arrival, showing no resistance, regret, or defense.

It was as if he had already accepted his fate, his heart like dead water.

"Captain Zhao." One of the officers guarding Xu Ximing approached, whispering in his ear, "He didn't resist when we arrived, nor did he attempt to flee. It was like he knew we were coming and remained calm, as if we had the wrong person."

"Thanks, I'll take it from here. You and the team can take a break." Zhao Jiong, with a complex expression, looked at Xu Ximing, then patted his colleague's shoulder.

The officer nodded and left with his partner.

"Can you tell me why you killed her?" Zhao Jiong sat down opposite Xu Ximing, his gaze pausing on the photo frame in his hand. He softened his voice. "Was it because of her?"

He pointed to the photo of a girl who bore a resemblance to Xu Ximing.

Xu Ximing's grip tightened, veins bulging on his pale hand. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "Yes."

He squeezed the word out through clenched teeth, carefully placing the frame on the table. "That woman deserved to die."

His voice was cold and sharp, like a chilling wind from hell.

"What did she do?" Zhao Jiong wasn't intimidated by his gloom, continuing to ask, "Or rather, what did she do to your sister—Xu Xinuan?"

On the way here, Zhao Jiong had studied Xu Ximing's profile.

He found that the young man had always been a model son, student, and friend—obedient, filial, polite, and ambitious. Every commendable adjective could apply to him.

If he had a flaw, it was his poor family background.

Fate seemed to favor and torment him equally.

Born in a remote, impoverished village, his parents earned less than 5000 yuan a year. He had a younger sister, three years his junior. Despite their hardships, poverty didn't crush his spirit. It made him cherish education, and after twelve years of hard study, he was admitted to the nation's top university.

He thought it was the beginning of his soaring journey, but it was the start of misfortune.

His father was diagnosed with lung cancer. To avoid burdening the family, he returned home to wait for death. His mother worked day and night for his tuition, nearly losing her sight.

Yet he still got into Q University, thanks to his sister, Xu Xinuan.

Xu Xinuan gave up her studies, followed him to the capital, and worked to support his education and their father's treatment.

Coincidentally, Xu Xinuan worked at the Dark Night Bar.

Seeing this, Zhao Jiong connected the dots between the siblings and Mo Baobao. He called Wu Song to investigate Xu Xinuan's history, especially her death.

Yes, Xu Xinuan was dead.

Xu Ximing's family record clearly stated, "Parents deceased, sister deceased, only him remaining."

The most plausible reason for a promising young man to forsake his future and embrace murder charges was a suspicious death of his sister.

Sure enough, he heard Xu Ximing's hoarse voice, "She dragged my sister into the abyss."

"My sister was introverted and shy, blushing when speaking to strangers." Xu Ximing's eyes were hollow as he recounted, "But they said she argued with a customer and committed suicide."

"Ha, ridiculous. She never argued, only stomped her foot and said, 'I won't talk to you anymore.' How could she argue and forget our promise to commit suicide?"

"I didn't believe it then. I begged the police to investigate thoroughly, but they didn't believe me." His eyes mocked Zhao Jiong, then turned away, "The case closed as suicide."

But he didn't give up, searching for evidence for years with no progress.

Until a month ago, a bar employee approached him, revealing some truths.

"I don't know if Xu Xinuan committed suicide, but I know what she went through. Maybe those experiences drove her to it."

Then he heard heartbreaking details.

A regular customer at the bar fancied Xu Xinuan and wanted to keep her, but she refused. Mo Baobao gave her a drugged drink, leading her down a path of no return.

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