Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Phantom in White!

"It's not exactly poison," Li Hong said. "It might be some kind of chemical that induces sleep. As for what it is, I've never come across it before."

"Then why was I unaffected?" I asked.

Li Hong shook his head. "I don't know, either."

This was no trivial matter. I suspected that Uncle Wang might be connected to the case as well, but I wondered whether we should inform Director Zhang about this.

I looked at Li Hong and asked if we should tell Director Wang that Uncle Wang was also a suspect.

Just as I finished speaking, Director Wang walked in, and I immediately fell silent.

But Li Hong hadn't noticed Director Zhang at all. He merely tilted his head, lost in thought, and said, "Let me do it. If he dares to scold me, I'll just give him a beating."

I shot Li Hong a meaningful glance toward his back, but he continued to mutter to himself, "To be honest, I always feel like Director Wang is so fierce, as if everyone owes him money. By the way, do men go through menopause?"

Director Wang's face twisted with anger. Now Li Hong was in real trouble.

"Are you feeling alright?" Li Hong asked.

"You're in big trouble!" Director Wang suddenly barked coldly from behind.

Li Hong's expression froze. He turned around bit by bit, trying to smile but unable to manage it, resulting in a rather awkward look.

Director Wang sneered, "I'll deal with you later. Both of you, come to my office."

I immediately agreed.

After Director Wang left, Li Hong glared at me, gnashing his teeth in frustration. I just gave him an innocent look. Hadn't I signaled him with my eyes? Who would have thought that someone as serious as him could say something so cheeky?

Li Hong shook his head wryly and said he only joked like that with people he was familiar with. If it were someone he didn't know well, he wouldn't say a word all week.

When we entered the director's office, Director Wang first asked why I suspected Uncle Wang.

So I recounted everything that had happened last night in detail to Director Zhang.

After hearing it, Director Wang shook his head repeatedly, saying that the old squad leader wasn't that kind of person. In the army, he always put others before himself; there must be some misunderstanding. He would never do something so despicable.

I said maybe there was a misunderstanding, but given the special circumstances, we should just keep it to ourselves for now.

Director Wang suggested asking the old squad leader about it, but I advised against it. We couldn't tip him off. Our meticulous plan must not be exposed any further.

Leaving the director's office, I went to find Old Lin, but he still hadn't come to work. I began to worry again—could Old Lin's health really hold up?

Just then, I saw Li Xingchen come out of the office, holding a file. He said he'd finished investigating the owner of the SUV, and there really was a connection to the deceased, Liu Juncheng!

I was delighted and quickly opened the documents to read through them.

The SUV belonged to Chen Da, a man from Lvyun Village—the very village we'd been investigating earlier today.

Liu Juncheng was also from Lvyun Village. Three years ago, they jointly operated a cement factory: Chen Da provided the land, and Liu Juncheng provided the capital. But after Liu Juncheng 'died' three years ago, the cement factory closed down.

That SUV was bought three years ago. After the factory went bust, they couldn't afford insurance, so the registration had been overdue ever since.

That was all the information Li Xingchen could find.

I asked if there was any other information, but he shook his head. They were just ordinary people, not celebrities. There really wasn't any more gossip to dig up.

I pressed further, asking if there was anyone particularly close to the two of them. I wanted to confirm the identity of the drunken man Chen Da had helped into the car.

Li Xingchen shook his head vigorously. "How would I know? The computer doesn't have their social circle. Where am I supposed to look?"

I realized I'd have to investigate in secret. Then I asked if he'd seen Tang Jingjing. Li Xingchen said he hadn't.

Worried she might have gone to Bus Stop No. 8 again, I called her right away.

She answered sleepily, asking why I was calling so early.

"Do you know what time it is? Why aren't you at work?" I demanded.

Tang Jingjing replied, "Didn't I have a night shift yesterday? That's why I didn't get up."

My face went pale with fright. "Don't tell me you went to the bus stop last night!"

She scoffed, "It's not that big a deal. Honestly, it's just your macho attitude acting up again! I went last night, and see? I came back just fine."

"Hurry up and get to work," I said. "If Old Lin finds out, you're dead."

She muttered an acknowledgment and hung up. I was about to call Old Lin to ask where he was.

But before I could dial, Tang Jingjing called me back. I answered impatiently, "What is it now?"

Her voice was panicked. "Xiao Yang, there's... there's something extra here."

"What is it?" I asked.

"A set of white clothes," she said, her voice trembling with tears. "Oh my god, something followed me home last night and slept in my room."

"What?" I was stunned. "Stop messing with me."

"Idiot, do you think I'd joke at a time like this? Get over here, quick! I'm scared to death."

I forced myself to stay calm. "Go somewhere with lots of people. I'm on my way."

After hanging up, Li Hong immediately asked what had happened.

I told him to get a car—we were going to Tang Jingjing's place. Something had happened at her home.

As soon as Li Xingchen heard that Tang Jingjing was in trouble, his face turned as white as a sheet. He insisted on coming with us. I didn't stop him; he got in the car, and we sped off toward Tang Jingjing's apartment.

All the way there, I kept mulling over her words. What did she mean by "something extra"? That something had followed her home and slept in her room? The way she described it was chilling.

When we arrived at her building, we found Tang Jingjing watching some people play Go. I called out to her, and she immediately came running.

"What happened?" I asked.

She looked pale and shaken. "Don't ask, just come with me."

I followed her upstairs right away.

She opened the door to her room, and a faint scent of perfume drifted out. The place was tidy and cozy, not large, but exuding a warm, inviting atmosphere. There was a poster of Jay Chou on the wall—I never would've guessed she was a Jay fan.

Tang Jingjing led us to the sofa and pointed at a set of white pajamas. "Early this morning, I found these pajamas lying on the sofa. But I locked the door tightly last night; there was no way anyone could have come in. Even if someone had, they'd have made a sound, but I didn't hear a thing."

"What are you trying to say?" I asked, looking at her.

"Yesterday... I told you already, but you mustn't tell Director Wang," she said quietly.

I nodded at once. "Don't worry!"

"Last night, on my way back from the station, I kept feeling someone was following me, but every time I looked back, there was nothing. By the time I got home, it was already past midnight. I lay down to sleep, and in my half-dreaming state, I heard noises in the living room. I ignored it, thinking it was my imagination. But when I woke up this morning, I found these clothes."

Li Xingchen was so frightened his face went completely white. "I... I get it now. Xiao Yang said there was a female ghost at the station wearing white pajamas. She must have followed you home last night and slept in your living room."

Furious, Tang Jingjing kicked Li Xingchen aside. "Shut up! Stop talking nonsense. There's no such thing as ghosts!"

"Then what are you afraid of?" Li Xingchen retorted.

"You said no one left the apartment last night?" I quickly interrupted them.

Tang Jingjing drew a sharp breath. "You mean... that ghost is still in my room? Or is it a woman?"

I glanced at Li Hong and saw he was even more on edge than I was. His baton was already out with a click, his sharp gaze sweeping the room.

Tang Jingjing, terrified, drew her gun for protection.