Chapter 3: Luxury Apartment, Scene of Conflict

The office was buzzing with gossip, the atmosphere lively and heated. The incident of the suicide note on Weibo had gained such immense attention that even a few veteran detectives who didn't use Weibo had heard about it. With the team having just cracked a major case, everyone was in a relaxed mood, eager to join in on the gossip. When Lin Che returned, seven or eight people were gathered around Li Li's desk, engrossed in their discussion. They were so absorbed that they didn't even notice Lin Che approaching. "Quite the little informant, huh? Ever thought about a career change? Li the Paparazzi?"

Li Li, who had been animatedly talking, was startled by Lin Che's sudden remark. His smile froze into a comical expression. "Captain Lin, have you heard about the online suicide note? Weibo is exploding with it!"

The one who spoke was Xu Yang, nicknamed "Pleasant Goat." A young woman in her twenties, she had been transferred from the technical department and was primarily responsible for information technology and data analysis. Along with Li Li, she was dubbed one of the team's "Dynamic Duo" and a pioneer in gossip. Lin Che shot her a look, and Xu Yang stuck out her tongue, mimicking zipping her lips from left to right. With the boss back, even in such a relaxed atmosphere, no one dared to continue idly chatting. Just as they were about to disperse, Lin Che spoke up. "Li Li, call the forensic team. Old Du, Xia Jie, we're heading to the scene in five minutes."

As soon as Lin Che finished speaking, the relaxed expressions on everyone's faces turned serious. "Boss, another case?"

"Yeah," Lin Che replied, glancing at his watch. "Xu Yang, coordinate with the public opinion office. Have all the deceased's Weibo content compiled by 2 PM. Zhou Yun and Da Zhuang, investigate the deceased's social connections, health status, and financial situation. Determine the cause of suicide as soon as possible."

Li Li reacted the fastest, his voice rising in excitement. "Captain, are we investigating the online suicide note case?"

Before he could finish, he received a kick to the backside. "Can't you communicate properly without shouting? The public pressure on this is already huge. Don't make things worse." Li Li rubbed his nose. "Sorry, Captain."

"But these flies that swarm at the slightest whiff of news, they don't listen to reason. Sometimes you have to swat them to get them to behave. Make it clear to them: keep a close eye, don't let these flies find any cracks to slip through. If any dare to push their luck, bring them to the station for a good talking-to."

"Got it, Captain! I'll handle it right away!"

Li Li had already figured out Lin Che's temper. He knew the earlier scolding was just for show and that his loud outburst hadn't been a mistake. The elevator entrance was cluttered with several large boxes, taking up most of the space. The delivery worker, struggling with poor signal, was on the phone, his voice unintentionally loud. "I've made over ten calls, but I can't get through! I've got another delivery to make soon!"

"Easy for you to say! Without the owner's authorization, I can't even get into the elevator. How am I supposed to leave this at their door?"

"Besides, do you know how much this stuff is worth? If it gets stolen, are you going to pay for it?"

"Alright, alright, I'll go ask the property management, but you're adding to my fee for this! Wasted my whole morning!"

The delivery worker glanced at Lin Che and the others, then looked up at the surveillance camera in the elevator lobby. Cursing under his breath, he walked out, presumably to find the property management.

27th floor. The officer standing at the apartment door handed out shoe covers to the team, and everyone got to work. Li Li walked around the apartment and couldn't help but marvel. "Tsk tsk, no wonder it's called 'Heart of the Riverside,' worth twenty million. What could someone living here possibly have to be so troubled about that they'd resort to suicide?"

Lin Che ignored Li Li and methodically inspected each room. Unlike most crime scenes, the apartment was bright, clean, and simply yet elegantly decorated. Fresh lilies adorned the living room, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air. Lin Che casually picked up a comic book from the coffee table and flipped through a couple of pages when Xia Jie hurried over. "Captain, there's something from the property management."

The two stepped out of the apartment and into the hallway, where they saw the delivery worker from earlier. "What's going on?" Lin Che asked.

"Officer, this young man came to deliver furniture but couldn't reach the buyer. He went to the property management, and when we checked, we found the delivery address was this unit," the property manager explained, pointing to the door behind Lin Che, now cordoned off with police tape.

The delivery worker looked visibly upset. "What bad luck, delivering furniture to a dead person!"

"Xia Jie, get the details and take a statement," Lin Che instructed. Despite the case appearing to be a straightforward suicide, Lin Che always approached his work with meticulous care. He had instructed the team to follow standard criminal investigation procedures, including a thorough scene examination.

Xu Yang's eyes widened in surprise, and she covered her mouth, whispering, "Could it be true what they're saying online? Is there more to this case?"

"Whether there's more to it or not, we'll find out after investigating," Lin Che replied. Before heading out, he had made a point to return to the office and retrieve a comic book by Xiao Yumao that Zhou Lepping had left behind.

- Heart of the Riverside Apartments. The name alone spoke volumes about the building's prestige. As soon as the car came to a stop, Lin Che had barely stepped out when several microphones were thrust in his face. "Captain Lin, hello! Does the involvement of the criminal investigation team mean there's more to Xiao Yumao's death than meets the eye?"

"According to the police report provided by netizens, the Riverside Road Police Station took three hours to respond after receiving the emergency call. Many believe that if the police had arrived sooner, this tragedy could have been avoided!"

"Captain Lin, do you believe the officers at Riverside Road Police Station should be held accountable for this tragedy?"

Given the unique nature of the case, both social and entertainment media had mobilized, all vying for exclusive coverage. Had they encountered anyone else, they might have extracted a few official statements. Unfortunately for them, they had run into Lin Che, a brick wall of a man, and were destined to leave empty-handed. As the reporters and cameramen surrounded the car, Lin Che remained silent, simply staring at the most aggressive ones for a few seconds each, enough to make them uneasy.

With the crowd sufficiently intimidated, it was Li Li's turn to step in. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we cannot disclose any details regarding the case at this time. Please refer to official police statements for any information. Be mindful of spreading false information, as you may be held legally responsible."

Seeing Li Li's youthful appearance and friendly demeanor, a few bold reporters thought they could coax some information out of him. But before they could approach, Li Li bellowed, "Where are the people responsible for maintaining order? Where the hell is the police tape? Clear the area now! Anyone who doesn't comply will be detained for 24 hours!"

As expected, the tough approach worked, and the reporters quickly backed off, muttering as they dispersed. With the crowd gone, Li Li jogged up to Lin Che, eager for praise. "How was that, Captain? Did I nail your style with that shout?"