Genius Club-Chapter 181 - 24 Supplementary Personnel

The next day at noon

A business van came specifically to pick me up at the building downstairs.

It was Mister Chu who arranged for the driver.

The vehicle arrived at Mister Chu Shanhe’s estate, which was indeed impressive.

After Lin Xian got out of the car, Chu Shanhe came out to greet him with his wife and daughter:

"Welcome, welcome, hahaha, Lin Xian, your Auntie Xiuying has been wanting to meet you."

"Hello Auntie."

Lin Xian smiled and greeted the beautiful and elegant lady.

At the Donghai Chamber of Commerce’s New Year banquet, he had met Chu Shanhe’s spouse, Su Xiuying.

Now Su Xiuying wore an apron, evidently cooking, and standing next to Chu Shanhe and Chu Anqing, there was an added touch of warmth to the household atmosphere.

"Lin Xian, Auntie has been wanting to meet you for a while."

Su Xiuying beamed, inviting Lin Xian into the house:

"An Qing talks about you all the time, and indeed, seeing is believing. You truly are a person of outstanding appearance!"

Chu Shanhe took Lin Xian on a brief tour of the house, introducing his collection of items, then pointed to the teahouse and said:

"The two of them are preparing lunch, and it’ll still be a while before we eat. Let’s have a cup of tea and chat for a while."

After the teahouse door was closed.

Chu Shanhe skillfully used various tea sets, personally brewed a pot of tea for Lin Xian, and talked about the origin of the tea and his understanding of the art of tea.

After chatting leisurely for a while, Chu Shanhe put down his teacup, looked up at Lin Xian:

"Lin Xian, there is something I want to talk to you about. I hope... you won’t refuse me."

"What is it, Mister Chu?"

Lin Xian had just asked when.

Snap.

Chu Shanhe took out a bank card with a note attached and placed it next to Lin Xian’s tea cup:

"This is a small token of appreciation from your Auntie Xiuying and me."

"This token of thanks is far from enough to express my gratitude to you. So, if there’s anything in the future you need my help with, don’t hesitate. No matter whether I can be of assistance or not, I’ll do my best to find a solution for you."

…

Chu Shanhe’s words were very clear.

Take the money.

But the favor, I still owe you.

Just ask if you need anything in the future.

Lin Xian understood as well.

But still…

He reached out and pushed the bank card back:

"Mister Chu, I understand your intention, but I truly cannot accept this money."

Lin Xian raised his head, looking at Chu Shanhe:

"An Qing and I are simply schoolmates and friends outside of school. It was only right for me to save her in that situation. I believe such mutual help among friends should not require any thanks."

"Furthermore... I don’t know if An Qing told you, but the girl who died in the car accident was my high school classmate. We were close. Yet, she still lost her life in that accident, and I even attended her funeral in Hang City."

Chu Shanhe didn’t speak, nodding his head, indicating he knew about it.

"For both sentimental and rational reasons, I really appreciate your kindness, but I truly cannot accept this token of appreciation," Lin Xian said frankly.

Chu Shanhe picked up the teapot, poured Lin Xian a cup of tea, and then, smiling, he sighed and shook his head:

"You really are as An Qing described, possessing both integrity and ability. Young people like you are truly rare these days."

"I also understand your perspective, but from mine, you saved my daughter’s life. I can’t just not acknowledge it; it would be terribly impolite."

"However... I can relate to your current feelings. Since you don’t want to accept the money, I won’t insist. I’ll find another way to repay you."

"At least in Donghai City, if you encounter any trouble or have any needs, I can help you sort them out or solve them."

After drinking a cup of tea, Chu Shanhe set down his cup and continued:

"The girl who passed away... her name was Tang Xin. An Qing has also mentioned this incident to me several times, and I too am very sorry about it, given how young she was and being a researcher in the sciences. I have been keeping a close eye on this case."

"I won’t hide it from you, although the Donghai City police have not announced it externally, internally they are treating Tang Xin’s case and Xu Yun’s case as connected and have even set up a special investigation team."

Lin Xian nodded.

Indeed, this was where he could hear some useful information from Chu Shanhe.

Donghai City police had never disclosed this matter publicly, including when Gao Yang and Tang Xin’s brother inquired at the police station, they didn’t reveal anything.

But this was understandable, as the details of police investigations are not usually made public.

It seems...

the police had also indeed noticed the connection between Xu Yun’s and Tang Xin’s cases.

"It’s just a pity..."

Chu Shanhe started to speak several times but stopped, finally deciding to say it:

"Forget it, Lin Xian, I won’t keep it from you."

"This matter isn’t supposed to be disclosed, but you’re my daughter’s lifesaver and Tang Xin’s classmate, so I think it’s okay to tell you."

Lin Xian sat up straight, all ears:

"What is it, Mister Chu? Don’t worry, I definitely won’t tell anyone."

"I really hadn’t planned on telling you this."

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Chu Shanhe’s expression was complex, his smile awkward as he refilled their tea cups:

"Actually... [The investigation results of Tang Xin’s case have come out, and the murderer has been found.]"

"What?" Lin Xian frowned:

"Then why hasn’t it been made public if it’s all been investigated?"

"Because the hidden details behind this matter are not very honorable..." Chu Shanhe looked at Lin Xian:

"I didn’t want to tell you earlier because I took into account that you were classmates, and I didn’t want you to see Tang Xin’s dishonorable side."

"Mister Chu, what exactly is going on?" Lin Xian was getting more and more confused...

Tang Xin was clearly the victim; how could there even be talk of dishonorable behavior?

"The Donghai police initially thought that the same murderer killed Tang Xin and Xu Yun. But after investigation, it turned out... While the two cases seem similar, they are, in fact, unrelated."

"The authorities, though unable to locate the hit-and-run vehicle from a Rolls-Royce’s dashcam footage, quickly established the criminal’s identity."

"And after decrypting and scanning Tang Xin’s abandoned phone, her chat history was restored, and many things have become clear—"

Chu Shanhe paused:

"Tang Xin’s death... was a crime of passion."

"That’s impossible." Lin Xian couldn’t help but laugh; it was too far-fetched.

"I know it’s hard for you to believe, but according to the evidence that the police have gradually uncovered, Miss Tang Xin’s private life was indeed somewhat chaotic."

"I haven’t mentioned these things to An Qing either because, from both your perspective and An Qing’s, Tang Xin should be a very outstanding woman, and you would definitely not accept this kind of investigation result emotionally."

"This isn’t an issue of acceptance..." Lin Xian felt the world was absurd:

"Tang Xin clearly wasn’t this kind of person and didn’t engage in any flirtatious behavior; how could they make up such nonsensical findings?"

Based on his interactions, Lin Xian didn’t think Tang Xin was that kind of girl.

No wonder Chu Shanhe was so hesitant today; was it because he thought Lin Xian was also a fish in Tang Xin’s pond? That he felt cuckolded?

"Mister Chu, I find these investigation results you’ve provided hard to believe... I’ll be straightforward with you, I’m actually quite familiar with Tang Xin’s private life, and I believe she isn’t that kind of person."

"But as you said, police need evidence to proceed with a case, and surely chat logs alone cannot be considered conclusive evidence, right? What if they were fabricated? Is there even a possibility that someone maliciously slandered Tang Xin?"

Lin Xian was feeling more and more that something wasn’t right...

He had originally thought that Tang Xin’s death would be the end of it. Once the murderers achieved their goal, they would just need to let this case be gradually forgotten by people like Xu Yun’s case...

But now.

What kind of incomprehensible maneuver was this?

Why try to sully Tang Xin’s name?

Could it be that the murderers had some other purpose?

As for the dashcam provided by Zhou Duanyun and the chat history recovered from the phone... Lin Xian didn’t believe it was real at all.

For criminals willing to spend months planning a murder at 00:42, fabricating chat logs and dashcam footage wouldn’t be a complicated matter.

"You are right, Lin Xian; the police had these considerations, which is why they haven’t published these investigation results yet,"

Chu Shanhe smiled:

"However, I believe that the truth will eventually come to light. An Qing must have already told you; that girl really can’t keep a secret... The Donghai Public Security Bureau has brought in an [auxiliary investigator] to assist with the investigations of these two cases."

"Though he’s here to assist... the man is truly capable. Upon arriving at the Donghai Public Security Bureau, he solved many old cases in no time, earning everyone’s trust, so the investigations of both Xu Yun’s and Tang Xin’s cases are actually being led by him, and he is indeed very capable."

"Can you tell me... who this [auxiliary investigator] is?" Lin Xian asked.

He didn’t doubt the person’s abilities; if, as Chu Shanhe said, he had helped the Donghai police solve many old cases, that meant he must be quite skilled.

Only...

Regarding Tang Xin’s case, perhaps this auxiliary investigator had really been duped by the forged evidence, which led him to a wrong conclusion.

"I’ve told you so much; it won’t hurt to tell you his name. You should be very familiar with it,"

Chu Shanhe said with a smile:

"He is a very young best-selling author, revered as a genius mystery novelist—"

"Ji Lin."