Volume One, Chapter 13: The Death of the Dancer (06)

Afterward, Lao Cui and I confirmed the venue of the coming-of-age celebration and planned to verify it in person.

When we learned it was at the Junyue Hotel, Lao Cui and I exchanged glances.

On the same day, in the same place, the son was holding his coming-of-age celebration while the father was entangled with another woman. The thought suddenly made me feel a wave of nausea.

We hurriedly spent a day visiting Chen Muqing’s relatives and friends, then went to the hotel to question the staff. They confirmed that on September 27th, Chen Muqing indeed held her son’s 18th birthday celebration at the Junyue Hotel.

The celebration was private, and it was said that the Li couple had deliberately kept the event under wraps. Yet, many notable figures from the entertainment industry were present.

Li Huai appeared briefly but left within an hour, making an excuse to depart hastily.

Chen Muqing managed everything throughout the event. After the banquet ended, she personally saw off the last guests, which was around one or two in the morning. This was backed by surveillance footage and eyewitnesses.

Once everything was over, the driver took her back to her suburban villa, where she remained indoors. The housekeeper could testify to this.

The housekeeper said the mistress had drunk heavily that night and vomited all over the floors, sofas, and bathrooms. She complained, “It took me hours just to clean up.” After finally tidying her up and escorting her to the bedroom, the mistress kept fussing and cursing the master all night.

We checked Chen Muqing’s bank records; there were no large transactions recently. We also obtained her recent call logs from the telecom company, and there was nothing unusual. This ruled out the possibility of her hiring a hitman.

Think about it—she had endured so many years; if she intended to act, she would have done so long ago. Moreover, if she wanted to get rid of Li Xiaole or the child in her womb, she would have done both at once, so yesterday’s incident seemed unnecessary.

Recalling her overly theatrical display, the only sincere part seemed to be her son.

Thus, the scenario where the father was killed by the mother did not align with a woman like Chen Muqing—restrained and self-interested.

As for Li Xiaole, she was pregnant and had every opportunity to leverage that to advance her position. So what motive would she have to kill her benefactor? Though for now, she remained the prime suspect.

This was confirmed during subsequent questioning of Li Xiaole. Her period hadn’t arrived that month; a pregnancy test showed two lines. She immediately contacted Li Huai, planning to ask for money and resources to terminate the pregnancy.

Regarding why she only sought money and never considered leveraging her pregnancy for power, she said, “That bastard Li Huai never cared that I was pregnant, always forcing himself on me. Leveraging my pregnancy—I never dared to think of that.”

It seemed many things had happened, leading Li Xiaole to see Li Huai for what he truly was—a ruthless man who would leave at the drop of a hat. Advancing her position was impossible; getting even a little help was already fortunate.

I fell asleep with these questions swirling in my mind, but inside my body, another presence worked through the night. I seemed to vividly see another person—not Li Xiaole, not Chen Muqing—driving a knife into a man’s body.

When the killer turned around, I saw my own face—grim and fierce, eyes alight with excitement.

Startled, I woke up in a sweat, my whole body drenched and uncomfortable. I got up, took a shower, and then returned to sleep.

The next day, the image investigation department informed me that they had reviewed the hotel footage and contacted guests but found no useful clues.

I decided to watch the footage myself. I arranged with the colleagues in charge of the surveillance to prepare it, and as soon as I arrived, I began reviewing.

After about five or six hours, my eyes were aching. A colleague watching with me suggested I rest while he continued.

Feeling a sharp sting in my eyes, I agreed to take a short break and return afterward.

The next moment, a very familiar figure appeared.

I rubbed my eyes instinctively. It was him—no doubt about it.

To my surprise, Lin Chi appeared in the footage.

I watched that segment repeatedly to confirm, and feeling puzzled, I asked my colleague if Lin Chi had been questioned.

The reply was that during the surveillance review, a phone inquiry was made, and Lin Chi said he was there to receive a client.

His company confirmed there was indeed a client booked at that hotel. Surveillance on the floor where the client stayed captured the entire reception meeting.

I sped up the footage. Based on the length, there should have been five or six more hours, but the total video for that day was only about 17 or 18 hours. The missing parts included the area around Li Huai’s room.

My colleague said they had asked the hotel, which explained the videos might have been lost because the storage was full and older footage hadn’t been cleared in time.

I wondered if the surveillance had been tampered with.

I planned to search elsewhere for clues and decided to return to the crime scene for another look.

Back at the office, ready to head out with my bag, I overheard colleagues talking.

Then I learned that Chen Muqing’s verdict had been delivered—she was only detained for a few days.

I was stunned. Given her crimes, she should have faced years behind bars.

The prosecutor’s office reported that the court, upon receiving our agency’s transfer of the case, filed charges against Chen Muqing for intentional injury and obstruction of official duties.

During the trial that day, midway through, the judge summoned Li Xiaole, the victim, to testify. For some unknown reason, she shouted, “Chen Muqing didn’t hurt me; she’s innocent!”

The judge removed Li Xiaole for disrupting court order. Meanwhile, Chen Muqing’s renowned lawyer seized the opportunity to argue for acquittal on both charges.

Was this blatant, shameless lying under broad daylight?

Eventually, we learned that Chen Muqing had her lawyer send a message to Li Xiaole during a visitation: “I don’t mind sitting in jail for a few years, but you—do you still want to work in the entertainment industry?”

In the end, Li Xiaole took the money.