Chapter 12: Xinxin Hotel

The case vehicle in the Criminal Investigation Team was a second-hand Changhe van. Xiao Zigang gripped the steering wheel and pressed the gas pedal with a firm foot. Although the engine kept sputtering, the van’s speed did not increase but rather lurched forward unsteadily.

“Take it easy, that’s our team’s old relic. If you break it, I don’t have the money to fix it,” Luan Jin’an said somewhat protectively. The team only had three vehicles, and it had taken considerable effort to secure the rights to use this van. If it broke down, they would have to handle cases on motorcycles.

The second-hand van was quite aged. Once started, aside from the horn not working, the entire vehicle vibrated as it made noise. It seemed Changhe would cease production this year, making spare parts difficult to obtain. This battered van wouldn’t last much longer!

Xiao Zigang eased on the accelerator, waiting for the van to run steadily before asking, “Captain Luan, did the robbery at the Xin Xin Hotel involve any real weapons?”

The “real weapons” Xiao referred to were not knives or homemade guns, but actual firearms.

Since 1996, the country had enforced a comprehensive gun ban. Yet only four years had passed, and numerous firearms still circulated among civilians. Some desperate criminals would take risks, greatly complicating investigations for the police.

“No real guns were used. Two businessmen from out of town were resting in the Xin Xin Hotel when they encountered a burglar picking the lock. A conflict broke out; the thief stabbed the businessmen twice...”

After briefing on the case, Luan Jin’an added, “When we get to the scene, observe more and speak less.”

Xiao Zigang smiled knowingly. The case was straightforward, merely a routine security incident. If no knives were drawn and no severe injuries occurred, even the local police station could handle it without involving the Criminal Investigation Team.

However, Luan was unaware that next door to the murder room lay a case capable of shaking the entire Tianhai City. This time, Xiao Zigang had joined precisely to make the investigation more thrilling!

To unmask the hypocritical façades and expose their true faces to the public.

The van stopped at the entrance of Xin Xin Hotel. Luan Jin’an, clutching his bag, walked ahead, followed by Xiao Zigang.

The crime scene was on the third floor, room 309. The lobby manager had been waiting downstairs and, upon seeing Luan, seemed to see a savior, immediately leading them upstairs.

“I’ve had the scene secured. There’s a lot of blood on the carpet and the bed. The injured have been sent to the hospital, and the two burglars were handcuffed and taken by the police station. They said they’d transfer them to you.”

Xiao casually asked, “Is the weapon still in the room? I’ll need to take photos.”

“It’s there, it’s there. Nothing inside has been disturbed. I’ve been trained and know what can and cannot be done in emergencies.”

At the door of room 309 stood two attendants. Upon seeing the manager, they quickly helped open the door.

The room was not large, about twenty square meters. By the window stood two beds, their white sheets and the gray carpet stained with red blood.

Luan Jin’an opened his bag and handed a camera to me, instructing, “Take wide shots first, then close-ups. When photographing the weapon, always place a ruler as a reference.”

Criminal investigation was a rigorous discipline. It required not only physical evidence but also testimonial evidence. The detectives didn’t fully trust suspects’ confessions. Even if a suspect admitted to murder, the police had to complete the evidence chain to ensure the person wasn’t a scapegoat with ulterior motives.

As I photographed the evidence, I held my breath and focused all my attention on my ears. Then, faint but unmistakable sounds of soft moaning reached me.

In my previous life, while hospitalized, I had heard of a scandal that took place at Xin Xin Hotel.

What a coincidence—the room next to the murder scene housed a court judge who had hired a twenty-year-old foreign girl to learn a foreign language. During the site inspection, the two made indescribable noises.

The Criminal Investigation Team was called in to perform an impromptu raid on this lewd affair. The most explosive moment came when the foreign girl, overly nervous, suffered a muscle spasm. They became locked together and couldn’t separate, eventually having to be carried away wrapped in a quilt and placed in an ambulance!

There was no wall that didn’t leak secrets; gossip spread fastest in this world.

Within a few hours, Zhang Xiao, the language learner, and Judge Zhang became the talk of Tianhai City, even earning the nickname “Red-Hatted Judge.” After all, when he was carried into the ambulance, his bald head was so flushed it looked like he was wearing a red bridal veil!

Zhang Xiao was well-connected. Despite such an embarrassing incident, his work was unaffected, and he was even promoted half a grade by year’s end.

With just over two months until the New Year, the actions of Zhang’s followers showed their arrogance, indulged in their small circle, indifferent to outside opinion, and blind to the stains within their own ranks.

My deep impression of this matter stemmed from the fact that the “Red-Hatted Judge” had mocked and sabotaged me many times in my past life.

As the nominal son-in-law of Xue Bin, whenever Xue Qiang caused trouble, I was the one who had to clean up to avoid disturbing Xue Bin. Whether it was rape or malicious injury, if it couldn’t be suppressed, the case would be handed to the court. I had to petition Zhang Xiao in those moments.

The humiliated Zhang Xiao, who had lost face due to being locked up with the language learner, developed a twisted streak. He often played cruel tricks on the son-in-law who came knocking: forcing drinks, slapping, even invading personal space became routine. He had done worse.

Now, reborn and directly involved in this major event, I was determined to deliver Zhang Xiao a grand gift—one that would make him infamous and utterly unable to recover.

“Daydreaming? Take photos!” Luan Jin’an said, pushing me gently.

I put a finger to my lips, signaling him to be quiet, then pressed a paper cup against the wall.

Luan noticed the strange rhythm next door and mimicked me, placing his own paper cup against the wall.

The sounds next door were intense and foreign, with rapid chatter. It did not sound like the voice of a virtuous woman.

Luan’s expression shifted from serious to sly. He tugged at me, silently mouthing, “Want to work overtime?”

I nodded immediately. This proposal was right up my alley. Even if Luan hadn’t suggested it, I would have volunteered. I wasn’t about to miss a chance to witness a sensational event that could shake Tianhai!

The two of us lifted our legs high and stepped lightly to the adjacent door. Luan drew his gun from his bag. I raised my fingers—three, two, one!

Luan’s face darkened as I kicked the door open.

Bang! The thin door burst open. We charged inside. Luan held his gun aloft and loudly commanded, “Don’t move! Police! Please show your ID…”

The figure on the bed, which had been writhing moments ago, froze instantly. The already flushed cheeks deepened in color, especially the somewhat bald head, which grew a warm, fiery red…