Cherish You as My Life - Chapter 18.2

Chapter 18.2

After receiving the news of Qiao Jiang’s unexpected death, Ji Yao immediately took some people to the scene.

It was an old and remote alley, and the surveillance in the area was destroyed a long time ago. 

Ji Yao walked in the front, followed by Zhao Jingjing, Zhang Xiang, and others. Han Xi, Zhu Han, and the trace surveyors also followed the group of police officers.

The police had protected the place, and a lot of people were already gathered around the yellow tape to watch the excitement.

Ji Yao pushed aside the crowd, raised the cordon, and walked in.

On the bluestone floor tiles lay Qiao Jiang. His body had no signs of blood on it. His lips were white, his face a grey shade of blue.

After bending over, Han Xi took out the toolbox and got to work. “Excessive blood loss was the deceased’s cause of death. A puncture mark from a needle could be seen in the vein of the wrist. The death occurred between 1 o’clock this morning and 11 o’clock last night. The body did not appear to have been moved. This is the first crime scene.”

“Thank you for your hard work,” Ji Yao nodded as he turned to face Han Xi.

There wasn’t a single drop of blood at the scene, despite the significant blood loss. Combined with the needle marks on the wrist veins, it was probably the murderer who drained the blood.

The topic of conversation among those beyond the barrier was “Did a vampire kill him?”

“Captain, was this person really killed by a vampire?”

Some people mistook Zhao Jingjing as the captain.

Zhao Jingjing looked blankly out at the crowd, then looked back at Ji Yao and kept glancing around the area.

Han Xi discovered a written card in Qiao Jiang’s hand. She gave it to Ji Yao after carefully placing it in the clear evidence bag with tweezers.

It was like a business card. Red characters were typed on the white background. 

Ji Yao read the words on it. “Some encounters are beautiful, and some are sinful.” There was a date followed—no year, only May 6th. It happened to be today.

Then he realised that it was left behind intentionally by the murderer. ‘It seems the reason behind Qiao Jiang’s death lies in this line of words. And judging from the date on the card, it also seems to be related to the murder.’

After doing the basic tasks, Han Xi and Zhu Han put the body into the body bag, and Ji Yao helped carry it into the car.

Han Xi and Zhu Han conducted the postmortem at the City Bureau, and as soon as they finished it, they issued the autopsy report to Ji Yao.

Sitting on Han Xi’s desk, Ji Yao carefully reviewed the report. ‘As I guessed, the blood was drained while Qiao Jiang was alive.’

Han Xi poured a glass of water and handed it to Ji Yao.

Ji Yao took it and took a sip. “Water is not as good as lemonade. I want to drink lemonade.”

Han Xi looked at the man for a few seconds, then grabbed the cup from the man’s hand and poured the water into the pot by the window.

Ji Yao got down from the table as nothing had happened, walked over to the window, and asked, “What kind of flowers are you raising? Why are there no flowers?”

Han Xi plucked two fresh leaves from the plant, washed them, put them in a paper cup, and poured water into it. “That’s mint,” she replied while giving the cup to Ji Yao.

After taking it, Ji Yao smelt it. It smelt so refreshing. While looking at Han Xi, Ji Yao finished the cup of water. 

“Our relationship is getting better and better,” he said, playing with mint leaves in his mouth. ‘She didn’t even bother to look at me the last time I visited the forensic room. She now goes ahead and offers me some water. Hehe…’

Yang Chunmian, the chief of the anti-drug team, entered the forensic office at this moment. Upon seeing Ji Yao, he became upset. But he smiled at Han Xi and said, “When I’m passing by your place, I feel thirsty.”

Ji Yao leaned on the edge of the table, tilted his head to look at the intruder, and said as he was the owner of this office, “No water.”

But Han Xi took out two fresh lemon slices from the refrigerator and put them into a paper cup, then poured water into it and handed it over to Yang Chunmian. 

Yang Chunmian took the water cup and didn’t forget to give Ji Yao a provocative look. Then he left with the cup while humming a tune.

Ji Yao took his phone out and made a call. “After a while, Yang Chunmian will come to our office to get some food. Do not give anything and just beat him with a stick.”

Zhou Li, who was inside the criminal investigation office, glanced at the door and heard a series of lazy footsteps. “Okay, Captain Ji!” she quickly said to the phone.

Han Xi leaned on the desk and looked up at Ji Yao and asked, “Can you not be childish?”

Ji Yao pulled up a chair, lay down in it, and looked at Han Xi. “He got lemonade, and I only got mint leaves.”

Zhu Han covered her mouth and snickered.

Han Xi walked around behind Ji Yao, pushed him out with her chair, and pushed him out of her office.

Ji Yao, who was kicked out, leaned on the wall and read the autopsy report. 

“When did your office move here?”

Ji Yao, who heard Director Cai’s stern voice, raised his head and saw Director Cai, who walked out of the elevator, was glaring at him. 

“Reporting to Director Cai: it just moved.”

Director Cai: “You little bastard!”

After giving Director Cai the autopsy report, Ji Yao and the director strolled over to the director’s office.

“The murderer’s method of killing Qiao Jiang is very similar to a serial murder case,” Ji Yao, who switched to the serious mood, remarked as he shut the door. “While the deceased was still alive, the blood was drained. There were no blood stains on the scene.”

After taking a seat, Director Cai squeezed two red dates and submerged them in a glass of water, saying, “You are talking about Liu Qiangshan.”

Ji Yao nodded.

Liu Qiangshan was a Myanmar-born professional assassin. He was harsh and sinister. He murders people to get money. He removes blood before killing people because he enjoyed the taste of human blood.

Ji Yao continued. “The family members and friends of Zhou Tong and Wu Ting’s family have been interrogated. They all have perfect alibis and have been verified. There is no abnormality. If the murderer is really one of these people, that one is playing tricks.”

Director Cai sipped his tea and gestured for Ji Yao to go on.

“But Liu Qiangshan’s fee is very high,” Ji Yao said as he sat down. “I don’t think any of Zhou Tong and Wu Ting’s people can afford it. Also, Qiao Jiang is at the end of his rope and will be caught by the police sooner or later, so they don’t have to shell out a huge sum of cash.” Ji Yao tapped his fingers on the desk and continued, “And that death note… There’s definitely a meaning behind that string of words and the date. It seems to me that he is carrying out some kind of revenge in his own way.”

Director Cai pondered for a while and asked, “The one on the card is May 6th, right? Is it a special date?”

Ji Yao retorted, saying, “I checked, and it’s not Qiao Jiang’s birthday or anniversary. Although Qiao Jiang may not attach any significance to this day, it would be different for the murder. I think that day is a key point in this investigation, and we have to find it out.”

Director Cai: “Okay, carry on your work.”

Ji Yao remained motionless and grinned innocently, saying, “Well, Derector Cai, you, did you not say that you would set up a blind date if I managed to nab Qiao Jiang?”

“You still have the nerve to say that.” Director Cai scowled as he placed the tea cup down on the table and pointed towards Ji Yao’s nose.

Then he added, “Setting up a blind date is acceptable. Let us wait for the resolution of Qiao Jiang’s case.”

Ji Yao still wanted to speak, but Director Cai stared back at Ji Yao sternly without giving him a chance to talk. 

Glancing around the forensic room, Ji Yao left the director’s office. ‘It seems I would have to rely on myself.’

End of chapter 18.2