Prodigy

Mad Detective

[Author: Kuang Hai Wang Hu]

[TL: Spades]

[PR: Blitz]

[QC: Lumi]

Chapter 33 — Prodigy

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"What happened?" Hearing Yang Hong mention a strange incident, Zhao Yu's curiosity surged, urging her to elaborate.

"Um…" Yang Hong recalled, "I remember, during the qualifiers for that year's piano competition, our Fengridge County had this incredibly talented girl. I forgot her name, but she was a big deal in our county before the competition. They said… she passed level 10 at 12 and studied with a master from the capital. Super impressive…

"I think I saw her once during the semifinals. Her clothes were worn, patched up, probably from a poor family. But her piano skills were unreal. We were all level 10, but she was clearly on another level.

"Right…" Yang Hong's memory sharpened, "The strange thing was this! She dominated her way into the finals with a terrifying score!

"But for some reason, her name wasn't on the final list. I heard… someone said she withdrew the night before the finals! Isn't that… weird!?"

Zhao Yu mulled over her words, sensing something off, and asked, "You're sure she made it to the finals?"

"Tch…" Yang Hong scratched her head with both hands, smacking her lips, "It's so hazy. I might've heard it from other parents or my mom…

"Wait, yeah! Why didn't I think of that? Ask my mom! She was so invested in my piano, she's practically level 10 herself. She'd remember anything piano-related!"

Unexpectedly, Yang Hong was more eager about the case than Zhao Yu. Ignoring the early hour, she called her mom without hesitation.

To ensure Zhao Yu heard, she put it on speaker.

An elderly voice answered, and Yang Hong explained the situation, even fibbing that she was at the police station under investigation to spur her mom's cooperation.

The old lady, alarmed, spilled everything she knew. Her account aligned with Yang Hong's but was more detailed and precise.

Indeed, Fengridge County had a piano prodigy, a girl with extraordinary talent from a young age. Despite her family's poverty, her parents went all-in, supposedly selling their ancestral village home to fund her lessons!

The prodigy lived up to their hopes, racking up countless awards, becoming a local celebrity in Fengridge.

Before the 10th Qinshan High School Piano Competition, everyone had high expectations, certain she'd claim a top-three spot. If a prestigious university scouted her, her future would be limitless!

Back then, being the same age, Yang Hong's mom often used the prodigy as an example, scolding Yang Hong, "Look at her, same piano training, and look at you!"

Yet, unbelievably, despite storming into the finals with a commanding lead, the prodigy abruptly withdrew the night before!

Rumors swirled about why. Some said she practiced until she coughed blood, others claimed she was kidnapped, and some even whispered she eloped with a male contestant…

In short, after that competition, no one saw the prodigy again, not even her parents, who vanished too.

Her withdrawal was so sudden that the organizers slotted in the 11th-place contestant, explaining her absence from the final roster.

For a few years, people still talked about it, but as time passed, the prodigy and her family faded from memory.

Prodigy?

Prodigy…

Zhao Yu had a gut feeling her sudden withdrawal might mean something.

What happened that night to make her quit on the eve of the finals? And why did her whole family disappear afterward?

On its own, it might be nothing, but tied to the Hand-Chopping Case, it felt significant.

Zhao Yu instinctively sensed this prodigy's withdrawal could link to the case! Finding her might uncover new leads!

"Mom!" Yang Hong, equally invested, asked her phone, "Do you remember the prodigy's name?"

"Li Dan!" The old lady's memory was sharp, "From Lijiazhuang, Fengridge County, same village as my family, even shares your second aunt's name!

"Dear, any other questions the police have, ask me, I'll tell all I know. Just don't stay at the station too long, don't let people think you did something wrong…"

"Alright, Mom, I'm fine, bye!" Yang Hong hung up, embarrassed. Her mom's "tell all" made them sound like criminals.

"My mom's like that, nags nonstop!" Yang Hong looked up, "So, Officer Zhao, does this help your case?"

"Fengridge County, Lijiazhuang, Li Dan!" Zhao Yu repeated, "I'll check it out to know for sure. If it ties to the case, I'll get you a Good Citizen Award!"

"Thanks to you, skip the award!" Yang Hong teased, "Just give me a heads-up before jumping balconies next time!"

"No next time!" Zhao Yu vowed. But after, they stared silently for three seconds, the mood a bit awkward.

"So… us…" Zhao Yu pointed at her, then himself, trying to say something but fumbling for words.

"I get it!" Yang Hong said generously, "Case comes first, you saved me, I owe you!"

"Straight-up!" Zhao Yu gave a thumbs-up, grabbing her phone, "Let's swap numbers, add WeChat! When—"

For some reason, he snapped a salute before turning to leave.

"Hey… how'll you get home like that?" Yang Hong worried, "Not going to the station in that, right? Want me to grab you some clothes? Hey?"

Before she finished, Zhao Yu's door-closing echoed.

"That guy! Comes in a rush, leaves in a rush…"

Yang Hong gazed at the empty room, feeling uneasy.

Thinking of the Hand-Chopping Case, she instinctively mimed chopping her right hand with her left, shivering with goosebumps.