"How did he die?"

Chen Fang's heart skipped a beat as he asked impatiently.

Pei Shanglian pondered for a moment.

He said, "I remember it was suicide, yes, suicide..."

Shi Ming, 37 years old, Deputy Chief of the Taicang Street Police Station.

One night, a year ago.

The 110 Command Center received a call from a woman who claimed she had been raped, and the perpetrator was none other than Shi Ming, the Deputy Chief of the Taicang Street Police Station.

The detective team arrived at the scene immediately.

In a hotel room on Taicang Street, they found a disheveled female victim.

The victim claimed to be a prostitute working in a certain KTV.

Around nine o'clock that evening.

Shi Ming led his men into her room, where she was servicing a client at the time.

After being caught at the scene.

Shi Ming ordered the other officers to take the man soliciting prostitution back to the station while he personally interrogated the prostitute.

During the interrogation, Shi Ming suddenly began to make advances on her, and under his threats, forced the prostitute to have relations with him.

Afterwards.

Shi Ming left with a swagger.

The more the prostitute thought about it, the less she could tolerate.

So she called the police.

The detective team took the victim to the hospital, where indeed, male bodily fluid was extracted from her body.

After testing, the fluids were confirmed to be Shi Ming's.

So, in the early hours of the morning.

The detective team called Shi Ming, summoning him to the Public Security Bureau to explain the issue.

At this point.

Pei Shanglian paused, then said, "Shi Ming did not show up later, and early the next morning, someone found a body at the Mingxi Reservoir on Taicang Street, which was indeed Shi Ming's."

Chen Fang asked, "What were the results of the autopsy?"

Pei Shanglian frowned and recalled, "The autopsy results matched the characteristics of drowning. The medical examiner concluded that Shi Ming had drowned."

Later.

The Public Security Bureau's detective team got involved in the investigation.

They found the man who had solicited prostitution, and his testimony corroborated the prostitute's account.

Furthermore, the police officers at the station also confirmed that the events had indeed occurred as described.

That is to say, the course of events was all true.

As Chen Fang looked at the photo in his hands, he felt increasingly that the matter was shrouded in mystery.

Why was this photo stuck at the top of the drawer, and who was missing this corner?

Also, what other hidden issues were there in this Shi Ming case?

Thinking of this.

He asked, "Can that prostitute still be found?"

Pei Shanglian said, "We'd have to look through the files for that; it's getting late, so let's leave it at that for today. Tomorrow I'll send you all the files related to the Shi Ming case."

"Okay."

Chen Fang nodded.

The two parted ways.

After Pei Shanglian returned to the Director's office at the Public Security Bureau, he made a call to Zhang Jiangming, the Deputy Director and head of the detective squad.

About five minutes later.

Zhang Jiangming appeared before Pei Shanglian.

"Director Pei, you were looking for me?"

Zhang Jiangming asked.

Pei Shanglian nodded.

He handed over a photo stored in a plastic bag and said, "Get the technical investigation to analyze this and see what fingerprints can be lifted from it."

Zhang Jiangming took the photo and looked at it.

He exclaimed, "Is this Song Yan and Shi Ming?"

Pei Shanglian nodded and said, "It was found in Song Yan's house, right in the drawer where the IOUs were kept. I haven't even scolded you yet. When you searched back then, how could you be so careless, not even noticing the photo on top of the drawer?"

Zhang Jiangming quickly said, "Director Pei, it's my fault, I wasn't thorough in my work."

Pei Shanglian waved his hand and said, "Alright, let's not talk about that now. You take care of this matter first, and also, get me all the files on Shi Ming; I need them."

"Okay, I'll go handle it now."

After saying this, Zhang Jiangming turned and left.

He shut the door of Pei Shanglian's office.

Zhang Jiangming stood there for a moment, his expression gradually becoming fierce.

Then, he carefully examined the photo and hurried back to his own office.

After quickly shutting the doors and windows, he checked the door again, not feeling reassured, and after confirming there was no one at the door, he frantically pulled out a cellphone from a secret compartment in a drawer.

From another compartment in a different drawer, he found a SIM card.

He inserted it into the phone and turned it on in one fluid motion.

Next, a phone call was made.

"Hello, what's up?"

A voice asked from the phone.

Zhang Jiangming said, "Chen Fang and Pei Shanglian, in Song Yan's house, found half a photo, with both Song Yan and Shi Ming in it. Now Pei Shanglian has already asked me to retrieve all the files on the Shi Ming case. What's going on with you guys? Didn't I say to have your people search thoroughly to ensure nothing was missed before I would bring someone over?"

"What are their next steps?"

Instead of addressing Zhang Jiangming's accusation, the person on the phone immediately asked.

"I don't know,"

Zhang Jiangming said bluntly.

After a pause, he added, "If nothing unexpected happens, they would likely try to find that prostitute."

"Alright, I got it. I'll handle the rest. Keep an eye on those two,"

After saying this,

The call was disconnected.

Zhang Jiangming held the phone for a long time, stunned.

Suddenly, he cursed, "Damn!"

He raised the phone to smash it down, but at the last moment, he held back.

...

"I'm back."

It was six-thirty in the evening.

Chen Fang returned to his dormitory.

After opening the door, he called out.

He expected Xiaoxue to rush out immediately.

Instead, there was no response at all.

Chen Fang felt a chill.

Just as he was about to head straight for Xiaoxue's bedroom, at that moment, bang, the kitchen door was flung open forcefully.

A thick smoke billowed out from inside, quickly filling the whole house.

Frightened, Chen Fang immediately opened all the doors and windows to air the space.

Then, a soot-covered figure, bent over and coughing, walked out from inside.

As they looked up and saw Chen Fang,

Chen Fang rubbed his eyes, and upon seeing the person clearly, he burst into laughter.

The person in front of him was Xiaoxue.

Her face was covered with black soot and her clothes were dirty. Looking at Chen Fang, she burst into tears and said with a sobbing voice, "The rice cooker exploded, the rice cooker exploded..."

Chen Fang hugged her tight.

He patted her back to comfort her and asked, "Why were you messing with the rice cooker? Didn't I arrange for Xiaoyu to bring you lunch today? Didn't she come?"

"She came... but... but I thought you'd be back in time for dinner, so... so I was preparing to cook for you... wuwuwu... The rice cooker is bullying me, it exploded..."

Chen Fang let go of Xiaoxue.

He looked towards the kitchen,

and indeed, it was a dismal scene, the kitchen looked as if it had been hit by a world war.

The rice cooker was still emitting black smoke.

Chen Fang hurriedly unplugged it, opened the rice cooker, and immediately was dumbfounded.

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