Chapter 88: Dinner Party Fingerprints
Uncle Huang took Jiang Li and the others directly to Huang Nianci’s house, a Western-style villa that had seen some years. When they arrived, Huang Nianci was already waiting at the door.
"Since our benefactor has arrived, let’s get going."
Ji Qinghe and Qin Shu looked at Huang Nianci, their eyes filled with amazement. ’What a graceful woman.’
Jiang Li nodded and got into the car with Huang Nianci.
After getting in the car, Ji Qinghe gave a few more instructions.
"Jiang Li, you’ll observe from the shadows on this one. Don’t make a move. Let Qin Shu be the one to approach Li Ergou."
Jiang Li listened to Ji Qinghe and thought about what Li Ergou was like. ’If Qin Shu goes, the Gu Family might not let anyone get close to him.’
To maintain his persona, Li Ergou definitely wouldn’t be fooled easily.
"Officer Ji, what if Forensic Doctor Qin doesn’t get a chance to get close to Li Ergou?"
"What? You don’t trust your big sister’s charm?" Qin Shu crossed her arms. At five-foot-seven, with a white dress and black hair, she exuded a cool, mysterious aura.
The tips of Jiang Li’s ears turned slightly red. "No, it’s not that. Li Ergou has to maintain his persona, and at such an important event like a charity gala, I’m just worried..."
Ji Qinghe pondered for a moment. "How about this: Jiang Li, if Qin Shu fails, you go with Miss Huang to meet the Gu Family."
Jiang Li nodded. "Okay."
When they arrived at the charity gala, Jiang Li paused as she was getting out of the car. She turned to look at Qin Shu. "Forensic Doctor Qin, do you know how to do makeup?"
Qin Shu instantly understood what Jiang Li meant. She took out her cosmetics and applied some makeup on her. The look was a bit heavy, but as long as no one looked too closely, they wouldn’t recognize her.
"Let’s go."
After entering, Ji Qinghe and Qin Shu split up, while Jiang Li stayed by Huang Nianci’s side.
"Boss Huang, a pleasure to meet you."
Seeing Huang Nianci, many people from the crowd gathered around to greet her. Huang Nianci smiled, nodded in acknowledgment, and then led Jiang Li to a private booth.
"The Gu Family is here."
Jiang Li looked out the window. Mr. and Mrs. Gu walked in with Li Ergou, a group of bodyguards trailing behind them.
Seeing this entourage, Ji Qinghe frowned. It seemed getting close to Li Ergou alone would be difficult.
Jiang Li was about to speak to Huang Nianci when she suddenly saw a person enter after the Gu Family. She went stiff, her fists clenching tightly.
’He actually came!’
The gala began. Holding a glass of wine, Qin Shu discreetly observed Li Ergou’s every move.
"Mom, Dad, you two go ahead and mingle. You don’t have to worry about me," Li Ergou said with a smile, looking at Gu Huacheng.
Gu Huacheng glanced around, then lovingly stroked his head.
"Zisheng, if they come to bother you again, just have the bodyguards throw them out."
"Okay, Dad. I’d like to rest by myself for a bit."
Gu Huacheng looked at Gu Zisheng and didn’t insist, leading his wife in Huang Nianci’s direction.
’I didn’t expect the Huang Family to actually show up.’
After Gu Huacheng left, a flash of irritation crossed Li Ergou’s eyes. ’Damn it, don’t tell me I really forgot to bring that thing back with me that night!’
’It was all because of the heavy rain that night. It made it hard to see clearly.’
Li Ergou took two quick sips of water, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to rest.
Ji Qinghe, having changed into a waiter’s uniform, hid in a corner and spoke quietly, "Xiao Ye’s method has affected Li Ergou."
"But he has five bodyguards with him. We have to wait for now."
Zhou Tiancheng’s voice came through the earpiece. "Got it. Be careful."
Qin Shu inconspicuously moved to a spot a short distance behind Li Ergou.
’I remember the details of that day. The real Gu Zisheng, in an attempt to prove his identity, had gone to the hospital for a paternity test.’
’But he’d forgotten that the real Zhou Zihang was at the hospital. That’s how the paternity test was faked. I also managed to get a sample of Gu Zisheng’s hair, allowing me to pass off my own results as genuine later.’
’I knew I couldn’t let Gu Zisheng live, or he’d eventually ruin everything.’
’Chen Yongwei lured him to the swimming pool under the pretense of helping him. I showed up intending to kill Gu Zisheng to silence him, but it still took a lot of effort.’
’I had also carefully selected that lake. It was very deep, a place the locals avoided. It wasn’t a tourist spot, either—a good place to dump a body.’
’I beat Gu Zisheng until his face was unrecognizable, a mess of blood and flesh. I dumped his body into the lake and prepared to leave.’
’But as I was about to drive away, my headlights suddenly illuminated Gu Zisheng’s head floating by the shore.’
’I didn’t dare linger, so I fished it out. After checking that no other tissue was left behind, I drove away.’
’I remember taking the murder weapon from the yacht with me. Where the hell did those cops find it?’
Gu Zisheng opened his eyes, suddenly feeling the need to go to the restroom and wash his face to calm down.
"I’m going to the restroom. You don’t need to follow me."
Gu Zisheng got up and walked toward the restroom. Qin Shu raised an eyebrow and followed him.
"Miss Huang, long time no see." Gu Huacheng stepped forward to greet Huang Nianci.
"Mr. Gu, long time no see," Huang Nianci replied with a slight smile.
Jiang Li looked at Gu Huacheng and his wife, Liu Ting. Liu Ting was trailing absently behind her husband.
’Why have I been feeling this tightness in my chest lately, and so listless?’
"Mrs. Gu, has something happened recently?"
Huang Nianci stepped forward, stroked her hair, and looked at her with sympathy.
Liu Ting sighed helplessly. "I don’t know what it is. I’ve been so distracted lately, and my heart feels flustered."
Hearing her words, Jiang Li pressed her lips together. ’Her biological son died a horrible death while the murderer has taken his place and stolen everything. His spirit must be restless.’
’It must be the bond between mother and child.’
Gu Huacheng patted her shoulder comfortingly. "It’s probably because you’re exhausted from everything with Zisheng. Don’t overthink it."
"We watched Zisheng grow up. It’s impossible that he would knowingly break the law."
Liu Ting nodded. "I know." ’Who knows my own son better than me, his mother?’
Something was pressed into Jiang Li’s hand. She glanced at Huang Nianci, then turned and left to find Ji Qinghe.
In the restroom, Qin Shu paid close attention to Li Ergou’s movements. He washed his face and came right out.
Qin Shu quickly went in. She checked the faucet handle, took out her tool, and thought, ’Talk about an easy get.’
"Got it."
After saying that, Qin Shu turned and left through another exit.
Jiang Li walked over to Ji Qinghe and nodded at her. The two of them then left one after the other.
Wu Jianzhang, who was in the middle of a conversation, paused and glanced toward the entrance.
"Professor, is something wrong?" his assistant next to him asked quietly.
Wu Jianzhang snapped out of it and shook his head. ’I must have seen things. Jiang Li has no power or connections. How could she possibly appear at such an important event?’
"Is there any news on Jiang Li?"
"Not yet, Professor. Our resources are limited. Unless... we spend a lot of money to hire a private investigator."
Wu Jianzhang frowned at this. He was a renowned master of Chinese medicine, a titan in the medical world. If people found out he was going to such great lengths over someone like Jiang Li, he would be utterly humiliated.
"It’s fine. I have a way," Wu Jianzhang said with a sudden smile. ’If I can’t do it, does that mean no one else can?’
In the car waiting outside, Jiang Li handed the strands of hair from Liu Ting to Qin Shu. "This is Gu Zisheng’s mother’s hair."
"Good. I got Li Ergou’s fingerprints too. Let’s head back to the station first."
After they returned, Jiang Li sat to one side, waiting anxiously for news.
Time ticked by. Zhou Tiancheng and Lu Xingye had organized all the evidence they’d collected. All they needed now was the key piece.
Qin Shu and a few others were also rushing to process it.
An unknown amount of time passed before Qin Shu finally walked out of the forensics lab.
Everyone instantly shot to their feet.