Case File 094

"Stage actor," Han Bin murmured.

Han Bin's micro-expression analysis technique was only at the entry level; above it were advanced and expert levels. Micro-expression analysis is a method of discerning people's true feelings and emotions through subtle facial expressions and body movements. At the entry level, one can only distinguish through body language. The advanced and expert levels, however, rely on the finest nuances of facial expressions to infer emotion. A "micro-expression" can last as little as 1/25 of a second, an instinctive response that is beyond conscious control, making it exceedingly difficult to detect accurately.

To be an actor is to master the art of controlling emotions, to immerse oneself in a role and project convincing feelings. Since Han Bin's skills were just at the beginner stage, if Tang Yu's acting was good enough, she could very well deceive him—rendering her statement untrustworthy.

The dossiers of Tang Yu, Xiang Hongbo, and Luo Xinghua were displayed one after another on the projector, and Luo Xinghua's address was recorded in detail.

Suddenly, Zeng Ping’s phone rang.

He stood up and stepped aside to take the call. When he returned, there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "We’ve just heard back from WeChat. They checked He Shirui’s payment records. The night before last, at around ten, there was a transaction at Jinsha Bar—forty-eight yuan."

They could officially file the case now!

…

Midnight Café, Qindao.

The café was surrounded by office buildings. To cater to the tastes of white-collar workers, the décor was dominated by elegant whites, giving it a refined, bourgeois air.

At an inside booth by the wall sat two men and a woman. The man and woman sitting together were Tang Yu and Xiang Hongbo. Across from them, a young man in his twenties wore thick-rimmed glasses.

"Hongbo, the cops didn’t find anything on me, did they?" asked the man with the glasses.

"No. Tang Yu and I took care of it," Xiang Hongbo replied.

"Good, thank you both so much." The man exhaled in relief.

"Luo Xinghua, we’ve covered for you on this case. Don’t forget what you promised us," Tang Yu said.

"We’re friends, I’d never go back on my word." Luo Xinghua leaned down, picked up a travel bag from beneath the table, and set it before them. "I just withdrew half a million from the bank. Take it—consider it a token of my appreciation."

"Luo Xinghua, that wasn’t the deal. I didn’t help you for the money," Tang Yu said, a little dissatisfied.

"Tang Yu, I understand. This is just my way of showing my gratitude. I’ll keep my promise to you," Luo Xinghua said, pressing his palms together in earnest.

"Tang Tang, since it’s a gesture from Xinghua, let’s accept it for now. We can discuss the TV series later. Xinghua’s a good guy—he’ll help you fulfill your dream," Xiang Hongbo added.

"You really know me," Luo Xinghua forced a smile, sliding the bag toward Xiang Hongbo.

Xiang Hongbo opened it, glanced inside, then smiled and placed the bag by his feet.

"So, what did you tell the police? Walk me through it, so if they come for me, I’ll know how to handle it," Luo Xinghua said.

"Tang Tang, you’ve had more contact with the police. You explain," Xiang Hongbo suggested.

Tang Yu nodded and recounted her interaction with the police the day before. Luo Xinghua listened, occasionally asking questions. The three chatted for half an hour before leaving the café.

As they walked out, a young man in a baseball cap followed them—Han Bin’s informant, Chen San.

Rubbing his chin, he muttered, "What’s in that travel bag?"

…

After Zeng Ping reported the case’s progress to Zheng Kaixuan, Zheng Kaixuan formally applied to the precinct for an investigation.

At that moment, Zhao Ming sent the communication logs of Xiang Hongbo and the others to their group chat. WeChat also cooperated by sending over the chat records between the three.

Zeng Ping entered the office with a stack of printouts. "Here are the mobile call records and WeChat conversations. Let’s see what connections exist between them."

"Understood."

With four people using different communication methods, the information was a bit disorganized. At Han Bin’s suggestion, they arranged everything chronologically.

It took over half an hour for Han Bin and the others to untangle the threads.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway as Zheng Kaixuan entered the office.

"Captain Zheng, has the case application been approved?" Zeng Ping asked.

"Although there were no fatal wounds on the victim, the WeChat payment records and the bartender’s testimony are enough to establish that this was not a simple accidental death. The precinct has approved a formal investigation," Zheng Kaixuan replied.

"That’s great. At least there’s an explanation for the victim’s family," Tian Li said.

"Don’t celebrate too soon. If you file a case but fail to catch the culprit, the responsibility falls on you," Zheng Kaixuan warned.

"Captain Zheng is right. Filing the case is only the beginning; the real challenge lies ahead," Zeng Ping agreed.

Zheng Kaixuan pulled out a chair and sat down. "Any new developments?"

Zeng Ping nodded toward Han Bin. "Han Bin, you explain."

"We’ve pulled the contact details for He Shirui, Tang Yu, Xiang Hongbo, and Luo Xinghua. Comparing them revealed some anomalies," Han Bin began, twirling a carbon pen in his right hand. "Before He Shirui’s death, Luo Xinghua was in frequent contact with both Xiang Hongbo and He Shirui. But after her death, Luo Xinghua barely spoke to Xiang Hongbo, and if he did, it was only by phone—never through WeChat again."

"What exactly is the relationship between these four?" Zheng Kaixuan asked.

"Luo Xinghua and Xiang Hongbo are friends. Xiang Hongbo and Tang Yu are a couple. Luo Xinghua was pursuing He Shirui, which is why he agreed to pay her steep rent," Han Bin explained.

"Did he succeed in his pursuit?"

"Apparently not yet," Han Bin replied.

"Is Luo Xinghua involved in He Shirui’s death?"

"Before He Shirui died, Xiang Hongbo found out that Mao Yiran had come to Qindao and told Luo Xinghua. This made Luo Xinghua both angry and anxious. He even considered hiring someone to deal with Mao Yiran," Han Bin said.

"How did Xiang Hongbo know Mao Yiran was in Qindao?" Li Hui asked.

"I suspect Tang Yu lied," Han Bin tapped his pen on the table. "He Shirui must have told her, or even discussed it with her. Tang Yu then told her boyfriend, and Xiang Hongbo relayed it to Luo Xinghua via WeChat."

Zheng Kaixuan stroked his chin and pondered for a moment. "Where was Luo Xinghua on the day He Shirui died?"

"According to the chat records between Luo Xinghua and Xiang Hongbo, Mao Yiran’s arrival put a lot of pressure on Luo Xinghua. To win He Shirui over, he planned to charter a yacht for an evening cruise with her—scheduled for August 24th at 8 PM," Han Bin replied.

"He Shirui’s time of death was between 8 and 10 PM, which means she likely died on the yacht," Zheng Kaixuan speculated.

"He Shirui couldn’t swim. She probably tried to grab the yacht for support after falling in, which would explain the paint fragments under her fingernails—matching Dr. Wu’s findings," Zeng Ping analyzed.

Zheng Kaixuan nodded. "We finally have a lead."

Suddenly, a phone rang.

Zeng Ping stepped aside to answer. Moments later, he returned, his brows furrowed.

"Captain Zheng, something else has happened!"