Chapter 24: Wang Qiang : Are You Somehow Related to Conan?
“What the heck? You’re just using this as an excuse to extort me!”
Fang Xiaocao exclaimed in mock outrage.
“Yep, I totally am. What are you gonna do about it?”
Su Wanqing grinned mischievously.
“If you don’t buy me spicy hot pot, you’re not getting away with this.”
She playfully threatened.
“Fine, fine, you win.”
Fang Xiaocao surrendered helplessly.
“Hehe, it’s a deal then. Whoever backs out is a pig!”
Su Wanqing laughed triumphantly.
“Alright, see you at the school gate at noon.”
After setting the time, Fang Xiaocao hung up the phone.
She glanced at the time—8:15 AM.
It was still early, so she wriggled into a comfortable position, preparing to go back to sleep.
“Two tigers, two tigers, running so fast~”
Before she could even close her eyes, her phone’s quirky ringtone echoed through the room again.
“So annoying!”
She groaned, ruffling her hair in frustration before sitting up.
Glancing at the calling number, she saw that it was Wang Qiang.
Fang Xiaocao frowned in confusion and pressed the answer button.
“Hello, Officer Wang?”
“It’s me.”
Wang Qiang’s voice came from the other end.
“Officer Wang, what’s the matter?”
She asked, puzzled.
“You live in Xintiandi Complex?”
Wang Qiang asked instead of answering.
“Yeah, I do.”
Fang Xiaocao responded instinctively, then suddenly paused.
“Wait… how do you know that?”
She asked in surprise.
“Come downstairs. I need to ask you something.”
Wang Qiang said with a chuckle.
“Huh? Ask me something? About what?”
She was completely confused.
“Just come down first.”
He replied seriously.
“Okay, I’ll be right down.”
Hearing the seriousness in his tone, she quickly got out of bed.
After a quick wash-up, she threw on some sportswear, grabbed her bag, and rushed out.
Taking the elevator down, she stepped out of her apartment building and immediately spotted Wang Qiang.
“Officer Wang, what’s going on?”
She asked, her curiosity growing.
“Which floor do you live on?”
Wang Qiang asked.
“Third floor, apartment 302.”
She replied, still confused.
“Officer Wang, what exactly happened?”
She pressed for answers.
“302?”
Wang Qiang was taken aback.
Both of them stared at each other in mutual bewilderment.
“Did you hear anything strange last night?”
After a pause, Wang Qiang asked solemnly.
“No… I don’t think so.”
Fang Xiaocao shook her head.
“But wait… that’s not entirely true.”
She tilted her head, thinking.
“When I got back from the bar street last night, I did hear a loud door slamming from upstairs.”
She recalled carefully.
“And it wasn’t just one time—it happened twice.”
“But aside from that, I didn’t hear anything else. The soundproofing in this building is actually pretty good.”
Wang Qiang nodded, jotting down notes in his notebook. Then, he suddenly looked at her with an odd expression.
“I gotta ask, Xiaocao… are you somehow related to Conan?”
“Conan?”
She blinked.
“The fictional anime detective?”
“Then why is it that every time you move somewhere, a murder happens?”
He teased.
Fang Xiaocao: …
“So what? I’m some kind of Grim Reaper elementary school kid now?”
She muttered.
“Hahaha…”
“Just kidding.”
Wang Qiang laughed.
“But seriously, you don’t seem to be short on cash. I suggest you move into a hotel for now. Wait until we solve the case before coming back.”
He said gravely, closing his notebook.
Hearing his words, Fang Xiaocao tensed up.
The last time he gave her this advice, she ended up being hunted down.
“No way… am I being targeted again?”
She thought in horror.
“I… am I gonna be hunted down again?”
She asked hesitantly.
“What are you thinking? No way.”
Wang Qiang laughed.
“I’m just suggesting it as a precaution.”
“There’s something weird about the crime scene. I can’t put my finger on it, but it feels off.”
“The victim was cooking when they were attacked, so we suspect it was someone they knew.”
“We’ve narrowed down the suspects to the neighbors in this building and people within the victim’s social circle.”
“Of course, this is just our initial direction. We’re not ruling out other possibilities.”
Wang Qiang explained.
“So… you’re saying there’s a cold-blooded killer lurking in this building? And for my safety, you’re suggesting I move out?”
She asked.
Wang Qiang casually glanced at her red Land Rover parked nearby.
“That car… looks way sturdier.”
“You just bought it, right? No need to crash it so soon.”
He chuckled.
Hearing his remark, Fang Xiaocao felt numb all over.
“What the heck? Are you saying… I’m more dangerous than the killer?”
She asked, exasperated.
“Hahaha…”
“You said it, not me.”
Wang Qiang laughed.
“I get it, I get it!”
She rolled her eyes.
“Not talking to you anymore, I’m going to pack my things.”
With a flick of her ponytail, she turned to leave.
Before entering the building, she paused and dramatically clenched her fist.
“Respected Uncle Wang, I’ll move out tonight!”
She declared.
Wang Qiang’s face turned green.
“Uncle?!”
“Do I really look that old?”
He muttered to himself, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
He stared up at the fourth floor for a while before turning back toward the police car.
Getting in, he instructed, “Apartment 302 on the third floor can be temporarily ruled out as a suspect.”
“Got it, team leader!”
A fair-skinned young man in the front seat responded, marking a circle on his investigation form.
(End of Chapter 24)
