Cherish You as My Life - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Zhao Jingjing led people to re-visit Xiao Yu’s relatives and friends.

The technology company where Xiao Yu was employed before her passing was the final destination.

Zhao Jingjing headed to the front desk and gave his name and purpose of visiting.

After checking Zhao Jingjing’s police ID card, the front desk employee informed the leader and took the group of people to the lounge. 

“Officer, I remember you. You seem to have been here before,” the receptionist said after pouring them water.

Last time it was a routine investigation of a suicide case, and this time it was a homicide investigation. So Zhao Jingjing did not answer.

The receptionist had blonde-coloured hair, and a youthful and friendly appearance. 

She looked at Zhao Jingjing, who appeared to be the leader of the team and was dressed neatly in a police uniform, and asked in a curious voice, “Did Sister Yu commit suicide? Is there a secret that’s being kept here?”

Zhao Jingjing got ready to find some useful information from the chatterbox in front of him.

“How is Xiao Yu’s normal behaviour in the company?” enquired Zhao Jingjing.

Surprised by the police interrogation, the receptionist put on a brave face and replied, “Sister Yu is very nice and loves to help others.”

Zhao Jingjing persisted with her more. “How popular is she in the company? Who are the people she has the best and worst relationships with?”

The front desk: “Sister Yu is such a nice person; everyone likes her.” 

Half an hour ago, Ji Yao called Zhao Jingjing and informed him that Xiao Yu seemed not to be happy at her workplace. So when he heard the receptionist’s words, he felt that there would be something hidden here. 

Just as he was about to ask further, he heard a cough from the door. Zhao Jingjing realised that it was a reminder for the receptionist, and the meaning of the cough was: “Don’t talk nonsense, and shut up.” 

It seemed that the receptionist was not afraid of the police, but she was very wary of the person who coughed just now. She quickly lowered her eyes, honestly greeted with a  “Mr. Liu”, and went out of the room. 

Mr. Liu, Xiao Yu’s direct supervisor and the company’s financial director, smiled when he saw Zhao Jingjing. “Thank you for your hard work, police officer. It is a hot day.” After saying that, he handed over a few cigarettes.

Zhao Jingjing waved his hands, refusing to take part in his trick.

Those who could become leaders in the workplace were not fools, after all. Therefore, Mr. Liu realised he couldn’t use any tricks on Zhao Jingjing.

They both avoided wasting words and went right to the point.

Zhao Jingjing: “Xiao Yu is the topic of discussion.”

Mr. Liu said with a dejected expression, “Xiao Yu is a very good person with strong work capacity. Barely six months ago, she received a promotion to financial manager. Unfortunately, such a thing happened.”

His gaze shifted from Zhao Jingjing to the policewoman who was standing behind Zhao Jingjing as he was speaking. Suddenly, a trace of obscenity flashed in his eyes, and it vanished instantly.

Noticing that, the policewoman fixed her uniform collar.

“How is your work intensity?” Zhao Jingjing asked. His tone was a little more serious than before as he cast a quick glance at Mr. Liu.

Mr. Liu answered this question right away, saying, “We don’t allow staff to work extra hours. Additionally, Xiao Yu was an outstanding employee. So there was no pressure or depression caused by work.”

“Are you married?” asked Zhao Jingjing.

Mr. Liu was taken aback by this question. He answered, “No, no, why do you ask that?” 

Zhao Jingjing did not answer Mr. Liu’s question but asked again, “Who does Xiao Yu have the best relationship with?”

After giving it some thought, Mr. Liu asked, “Qiao Jiang, right? He only came here a little over three months ago, but he followed Xiao Yu in the office. But after Xiao Yu’s accident, he resigned.” 

With a cool demeanour, Zhao Jingjing replied, “Let’s talk about him.”

Mr. Liu: “Xiao Yu recruited Qiao Jiang. That guy is unpleasant, unfriendly, has poor communication skills, and has even gotten into arguments with consumers over the phone. Even if that incident didn’t happen, he would  not have been able to complete the probation period.”

Zhao Jingjing: “Do you guys have Qiao Jiang’s information?”

Mr. Liu replied, “Yes, yes, I’ll ask the HR department.” He then left to make a phone call and returned, saying, “It will be sent over by the HR department shortly. Pardon me, I have a meeting now.”

As soon as the man went out, Zhao Jingjing turned around and went  to take off the shirt of his police uniform. He was about to unbutton the shirt when he suddenly thought of something and turned to the policewoman next to him. “Don’t look at me.”

The little policewoman was looking at him enthusiastically. “Don’t, Deputy Zhao. You are not a woman, you can’t suffer.”

Seeing that his deputy was being teased, the male police officer next to him did not dare to laugh. 

Zhao Jingjing blushed and said in a serious voice, “Turn around. This is an order.”

After hearing the command, the female police officer had to turn around because she dared not disobey.

After a few seconds, Zhao Jingjing exchanged clothes with the policeman, who wore plain clothes, and said, “I’ll go out for a moment; you guys wait here.”

Wearing a blue shirt that he borrowed from his colleague, he mixed in with the people in the company and entered the tea room.

The tea room was the best place to learn about gossip. 

Beside the coffee maker, two female staff members were sipping coffee. Zhao Jingjing was sitting on the sofa, with his head lowered as if he was playing with his phone.

“I just saw the police here. I heard they were investigating Xiao Yu’s matter.”

“Didn’t she commit suicide? Is there anything to investigate?”

“There must be some problem in the investigation. Who knows if she really committed suicide?”

“Is it related to Mr. Liu? I’ll tell you, something will happen sooner or later.”

“Shh, keep your voice down.”

Zhao Jingjing continued to sit in the tea room but didn’t hear more useful information. But he was sure that Mr. Liu was one of the executioners who “pushed” Xiao Yu from the roof.

When Zhao Jingjing came back into the conference room, he got Qiao Jiang’s information from the HR department. 

Zhao Jingjing quietly enquired about a few things with HR and discovered that everyone in the company would say the same thing about Xiao Yu. 

“Xiao Yu was very good, very capable at work.”

It was too consistent, too peaceful, and too strange.

Upon reviewing Qiao Jiang’s details, Zhao Jingjing discovered that his residential location was in the neighbourhood adjacent to Zhuyuan.

 ****

Ji Yao listened to Zhao Jingjing’s words over the phone. “This Qiao Jiang is very suspicious. You don’t need to return now. Bring Qiao Jiang to the City Bureau for investigation.”

Ji Yao ended the call, and he then made another call to the Tax Bureau, requesting to look into the financial situation of Xiao Yu’s company.

Just as Ji Yao was going to go home, he got a call from the Tax Bureau. As he expected, the company was suspected of tax evasion.

Xiao Yu’s immediate boss, Financial Director Liu Jinjie, was taken back to the police station by the police as a matter of course.

Liu Jinjie initially tried to blame the deceased Xiao Yu for tax evasion. So the Tax Bureau handed over the document signed by him and threatened him with everything.

After being personally questioned by Ji Yao, Liu Jinji admitted to sexually harassing Xiao Yu. Following that, whispers were going around the company that Xiao Yu’s promotion was the result of her getting into the leader’s bed.

Xiao Yu had denied it repeatedly. But nobody in the company took her remarks seriously, except Qiao Jiang, whom she personally hired. 

Some even sent Xiao Yu’s husband anonymous texts in an attempt to cause friction between them because they envied her job as finance manager.

The worst part was that her husband repeatedly used domestic violence because he believed outsiders. 

Han Xi was waiting for the real estate agent at the entrance of Xiangxue Pavilion when Ji Yao was putting in extra hours to question Liu Jinjie.

The agency guy said, “This community is quite big,” as he approached in a black electric vehicle. “I’ll take you; get in the car.”

With a smile, Han Xi said, “Let’s just walk.” Riding in strangers’ cars wasn’t something she was used to.

The agency guy respected Han Xi’s words and took her into the community on foot. 

Seeing her surroundings, she had a positive feeling about the house. When she went upstairs to see the house, she realised it was also her favourite type of apartment. Even the decoration was new and the furniture was all available, so she could move in right away.

 ‘This house seems to be decorated to be a wedding house. From the sofa cushions to the curtains, all the decorations are in bright red, and even the crystal lamp above the head is shaped like a heart. It is like a fantasy.’

The man representing the agency said, “Even if this house looked modern, this is almost 20 years old. So this is not very expensive.”

“Has someone died in this house before?” Han Xi enquired.

“What are you thinking about?” the young man asked with a frown. “Definitely not.”

‘It was not surprising that this Miss Han asked this question. Who would sell such a house for very cheap?’ If the client hadn’t privately instructed it, the agency would not sell the house for this price.

 He explained, “The landlord was eager to go abroad, so she sold it cheaply.”

Han Xi calculated in her mind about her savings. Plus the money from selling the old house left by her adoptive parents, she could pay off half of the house and take a loan to pay the remaining amount. 

The agency guy opened his briefcase and pulled out a stack of contracts. 

‘It seems he has come to finish off the deal today,’ Han Xi thought, seeing this.

It was eight in the evening when Ji Yao emerged from the interrogation room. He skipped meals and rode a communal bicycle home in a hurry.

After coming out of the elevator, Ji Yao glanced at the house opposite. The door was ajar, and he saw Han Xi through the gap. Fearing he would get caught, he quickly stepped aside.

Unexpectedly, the woman was too sensitive. She noticed someone at the door and found him when she came out.

“It’s such a coincidence that we meet again,” Ji Yao grinned. “Are you visiting relatives? I’m also here to visit relatives. My cousin’s house is this,” he said, while pointing at the house.

Han Xi didn’t use twisted words like Ji Yao. “I’m here to see the house,” she just said the truth.

Ji Yao peered through the door.

Seeing the decorations in the house, which showed ambiguity, Ji Yao felt his throat tightening. ‘The beauty stood at the door, and everything that had been so beautiful just now became a backdrop, not one ten thousandth as beautiful as her.’

He pursed his lips, smiled, and said with a sultry voice, “Look at the wedding room. It seems you are getting married. Are you in need of a groom?”

After looking at Ji Yao for a second, Han Xi took two steps back and closed the door with a bang.

End of chapter 13