Zuo Shu was holding a cigarette, leaning back in his chair.

His expression kept changing.

Finally, when he looked at Chen Xiao, he couldn’t help but rub his face:

"This is a bit awkward now!"

Guo Qing had a somber expression.

Initially, he hadn’t expected that Zuo Shu would align with his former self.

But this situation was different from back then.

His motivation was all for Dragon Cauldron, and Dragon Cauldron had a share for Chen Xiao.

So anyway, it was a family matter.

Zuo Shu was different.

This gave off a strong impression of trying to get something for nothing!

However, Zuo Shu had plenty of advantages in the media sector.

Presumably, the reason he felt he could negotiate terms with Chen Xiao was due to his control over those media resources!

Chen Xiao, seeing the awkward atmosphere, took the initiative to ease it.

"President Zuo, don’t overthink it. Actually, when I first came to Shencheng City it was an accident because my sister-in-law had an encounter with a biker gang. In the end, it also led to the resurrection of a previously solved serial murder case, which is why I’m now continuing the investigation into the Yang Lake Phantom Case."

Guo Qing chimed in: "Yes, President Zuo, and before this, I did similar things as you, with almost identical thoughts. But in the end, Chen Xiao told me that sincerity is the ultimate weapon, which made me realize that some things shouldn’t be forced."

"An old saying goes, ’do good deeds, don’t ask about the future!’" explained Guo Qing, which made Chen Xiao smile knowingly.

He wasn’t sure if Guo Qing was influenced or if he genuinely changed his style.

Of course, in Chen Xiao’s view, business still requires some tactics.

But when it involves human lives, prudence is necessary.

His interplay with Guo Qing was like first giving Zuo Shu a blow and then offering him a bowl of hot, nourishing chicken soup.

Zuo Shu sighed deeply: "It seems I truly misunderstood and thought my approach was the best. But now, it seems President Chen already had everything well in hand."

"I wouldn’t say well in hand, just getting closer. And President Zuo, shouldn’t you tell me why you thought I’d inevitably ask about the Luming Ridge Reservoir case when I looked for you?"

Chen Xiao didn’t want to discuss business matters anymore.

Upon hearing this, Zuo Shu took a deep breath of smoke: "Senior Brother’s death was like a thunderbolt on a clear day for me back then. You must have heard about my situation from my elder sister-in-law. Under the teacher’s guidance, I, Senior Brother Xie, and Senior Brother Zhao Cheng were his three most satisfied subordinates, or rather, disciples."

"But I’ve never been very interested in policing, only choosing this career due to family pressure. Later, I left the police force, and Senior Brother Xie completely disagreed with my choice, causing some rifts in our relationship."

"Yet no rift is great enough to shake that brotherly bond that’s deeper than blood!"

"However, my elder sister-in-law’s principles haven’t changed over the years, so as a businessman now, I try not to associate with them. But Senior Brother Xie’s death made me unable to sleep for nights on end."

"I didn’t understand why he would die in such a manner, even thinking based on his personality whether he was careless during the simulation, leading to an accidental death!"

"Later on, I thought it impossible, as there was an inexplicable doubt on the day he died. Namely, when any officer is simulating a case, it’s impossible for there to be no colleagues around."

"Thus, I ruled out an accident, reasoning that if it wasn’t an accident, it must have been murder or truly a suicide. At the time, I used my connections to understand the scene, and frankly, aside from suicide, I couldn’t think of any other possibility."

"Yet how could my elder senior brother possibly commit suicide? For over two or three decades as a cop, he was always upright and I strongly believed he had no dirt in anyone’s hands. If so, why would he commit suicide?"

Zuo Shu’s words made Chen Xiao nod repeatedly.

He knew Zuo Shu was getting to the truly significant information.

Soon, Zuo Shu continued: "I’m very familiar with Senior Brother Xie’s personality, so I always wondered if he was concealing something, thus ensuring he’d never have to speak again. Because by not speaking, he wouldn’t struggle, nor would he be repeatedly interrogated by principles and duties."

At this point, Chen Xiao spoke up:

"So you already knew the whereabouts of the survivor of the Luming Ridge Reservoir case, right?"

Zuo Shu couldn’t help but look up at Chen Xiao, then said: "It seems you’ve indeed dug this deep! That’s right... although I’m not certain, there are some similarities."

"What do you mean by similarities?"

"When the Luming Ridge case occurred in ’90, it was Senior Brother Xie and I on the scene. There were two deceased at the scene, both died from blows to the head with club-like objects. One was in the downstairs kitchen, the other at the stairway on the second floor."

"The house was filled with dried bloodstains everywhere and a pervasive stench of corpses. Yet, upon investigation, Senior Brother Xie and I found the surviving daughter of the deceased in the cowshed near the house."

"She was thrown directly from the second floor window by her father during the incident, and she was only nineteen at the time. She’d just had eye surgery not long ago; apart from her nose and mouth exposed, her whole face was wrapped in bandages."

"She couldn’t see. Her father threw her from the second floor, breaking her leg, so she stayed in the cowshed for three days until we found her."

"Later, through our investigation, as none of the household’s gold items were stolen, only cash was missing, we had to suspect whether it was committed by an acquaintance. Given the possibility of an acquaintance, to ensure the survivor’s safety and the potential of luring out the perpetrator, Senior Brother Xie individually took care of her treatment and care."

"Unfortunately, we found nothing in the end, and in disillusionment, I left the police force directly. As for that survivor, as I had confidently assured her we’d catch her parents’ murderer, I never went to see her again, as I felt too ashamed."

"But since that incident, I thought I’d never see that girl again. Until one day, I unintentionally met Wensheng and a girl. Wensheng told me she was his wife, named Cao Chan."

"Looking at her face, she couldn’t be more familiar. I even suspected she was the survivor from the Luming Ridge case. However, the survivor from the Luming Ridge case had the surname Li, and at the time I only casually chatted, so I didn’t overthink it."

"Then in ’94, after Senior Brother Xie’s death, I had various suspicions. But truth be told, I didn’t make any connections then. Until President Guo found me, and then after knowing you wanted to see me, I pieced together these fragmented memories and suspicions from the past decade."

"I think once everything is consolidated, Senior Brother Xie’s choice to commit suicide to silence himself becomes rational!"