Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

"Officer Zhao, is Qin Hao left-handed?"

Zhao Shuo stared at her and nodded dazedly.

Jiang Li looked at the others excitedly. As if trying to recall something, she gestured with both hands. "I just suddenly remembered—in the dream, I think I committed the crime with my left hand."

Jiang Li gave her left hand a little shake.

"So, does that mean it really was Qin Hao?" Zhao Shuo asked, looking at Jiang Li excitedly.

Jiang Li didn’t want to make any guarantees. "They’re both left-handed. I can’t be one hundred percent certain it was Qin Hao."

"Zhao Shuo, get ahold of yourself," Zhou Tiancheng said, giving Zhao Shuo a resigned look.

Zhao Shuo scratched his head and sat back down. It was just that Jiang Li had never been wrong before.

While they were discussing, Xu Yong finished his call with the airport and walked over. "Captain Zhou, the airport representative said Qin Hao bought a ticket for that day, but he never boarded the plane."

Lu Xingye started piecing the clues together. "If that’s the case, then we can make a bold inference.

"Qin Hao fell in love with He Ming while they were together. But then something happened, their secret got out, and he left the country.

"He only came back after learning He Ming was getting married. He returned, saw He Ming and Kong Zhen’s wedding, and couldn’t accept it. So he started staking out the area and stalking them."

As Lu Xingye spoke, he pulled up the surveillance footage from the Garden District. He started comparing body types, trying to figure out who was actually at He Ming’s house that day.

"There were no signs of forced entry at He Ming’s place. The person who got in was either an acquaintance or a locksmith."

Another officer who had been to He Ming’s house added, "Speaking of locksmiths, the day we went to He Ming’s, the property management office had to call one for us."

Zhou Tiancheng immediately looked at him. "Do you remember the number?"

"I do. I grabbed a business card at the time. Heh heh, old habits."

Zhou Tiancheng took it, glanced at it, and handed it to Zhao Shuo. "Go there in person. Don’t tip him off."

Zhao Shuo nodded. A thought seemed to strike Lu Xingye, and he stood up. "I’ll go with you."

The two of them left together.

Ji Qinghe looked at Jiang Li beside her. "Jiang Li, are you staying home for the New Year?"

’If you don’t mind, we could celebrate together.’

"Oh, Officer Ji, Xiao Ji said he’s taking us to his home for the New Year. It’s already been decided."

Ji Qinghe nodded. ’Miao Anji is so fond of Jiang Li, and I heard he has a grandmother who dotes on him. Nothing bad should happen.’

"You sit here for a bit. There are snacks in the cart. We have to get back to work now." Ji Qinghe pointed to a newly stocked snack cart nearby and smiled at Jiang Li.

"Xingye bought all those snacks. If there’s anything you don’t like, just tell him, and he’ll get something different next time."

Jiang Li stared blankly at the snack cart for a moment, then gave a slight tug at the corner of her lips. "Okay."

...

At Jiang Li’s house, Miao Anji was casually watching "The Adventures of the Little Carp" on TV.

Suddenly, the Gu Worm in front of him stirred. Miao Anji’s gentle expression instantly turned cold, and he glanced toward the front door.

He grabbed the remote, shut off the television, and stood up to go outside.

As he reached the entrance, he immediately spotted a Gu Worm by the door and crushed it under his foot.

Miao Anji walked toward the right. "Come out."

JINGLE JINGLE~

Miao Jiangling emerged from the shadows, leaning on a staff. The silver ornaments on it chimed pleasantly, but she radiated an oppressive aura.

Miao Jiangling’s wrinkled eyes sharply scrutinized Miao Anji, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. Her old, hoarse voice rang out, "Miao Anji, you dare place a Gu on me? You’re courting death."

Miao Anji nonchalantly crossed his arms, his face impassive as he looked at her. "Granny Miao, if you don’t want to die, you’ll play along with me.

"If, however, you refuse to be sensible..."

Miao Anji looked with amusement at the small snake coiled around his wrist. He suddenly pinched its vital spot, and the snake, in agony, constricted tightly around his pale hand.

Miao Jiangling’s expression changed drastically. She suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood, pointing a trembling finger at Miao Anji.

"You... you... you actually fed my Life Gu to this creature!"

Miao Anji’s clear laughter rang out. "As expected of Granny Miao’s Life Gu. I’ve found it to be very useful."

Miao Jiangling clutched her chest, gasping for a long moment before recovering. "Miao Anji, let it go... I... I’ll do as you say."

A smirk touched Miao Anji’s lips. Only then did he release the small snake, soothingly stroking its head before lifting his gaze to glance at Miao Jiangling.

"What are you doing here?"

Miao Jiangling gripped her staff tightly, her eyes filled with unconcealed fury. "You burned down the village’s Gu Storage. What do you think I’m doing here?"

Miao Jiangling glared at Miao Anji, her fury barely contained. ’I can’t believe he’s so vicious at such a young age,’ she thought. ’He burned down the village’s Life Nest and even dared to place a Gu on me.’

’If the clan elders hadn’t discovered it in time, I really would have been fooled by this brat.’ The thought of the loving grandmother-and-grandson act they had staged made her feel sick to her stomach.

But she had to admit, Miao Anji was truly the Chosen Saint Master; his Gu Technique was even superior to her own.

"Oh, so you’ve come to settle the score, have you? It’s just a nest of bugs. I burned it because I felt like it." Miao Anji looked at Miao Jiangling with contempt, a flicker of hatred in his eyes.

’I didn’t expect Miao Jiangling to break my Gu so quickly,’ he thought. ’I figured it would last until I could bring Sister home.’

Miao Jiangling lowered her eyes, a sinister thought forming. ’Miao Anji just got to the city; he definitely doesn’t understand its rules. In that case, there’s no need for him to ever return to the village.’

"If you dare blow my cover, I’ll make you wish you were dead," Miao Anji said before turning and heading for the house.

Miao Jiangling stared at the villa, her gaze shifting back to Miao Anji a few times. She hadn’t expected him to be living in such a nice place.

’The kid’s luck is surprisingly good.’

Miao Anji reached the front door, then stopped abruptly and turned back to Miao Jiangling. "What? Don’t tell me you expect to move in with me?"

Miao Jiangling looked at Miao Anji. "Am I not supposed to?" ’Didn’t he tell me to play along with him?’

’Living together would make it easier for me to make my move.’

Miao Anji looked at Miao Jiangling and suddenly laughed. "In your dreams. This is my Sister’s house."

Miao Anji then went inside and shut the door right in Miao Jiangling’s face.

"Hey!" Miao Jiangling stared at the closed door, suddenly at a loss. Her savings wouldn’t last more than a few nights in the city.

Miao Jiangling suddenly remembered the "Sister" Miao Anji had mentioned. ’It seems I can start with her.’

Miao Jiangling stood there for a moment, then turned and left, leaning on her staff.

Inside, Miao Anji only relaxed after sensing that Miao Jiangling was gone.

He looked at the chat history on his phone. After his last video call with Miao Jiangling, every subsequent conversation had been a one-man show.

Miao Anji opened the chat and deleted the entire history. Tossing his phone aside, he leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought.

’If Sister finds out about this, she won’t like me anymore, will she? Sister likes good kids.’

Miao Anji stared ahead, his expression unreadable. ’If worst comes to worst, I’ll just kill Miao Jiangling. If Sister asks, I’ll just say she died.’

’No, no, that won’t work. Sister said not to break the law.’

Miao Anji shifted positions several times, but after racking his brain, he couldn’t come up with a perfect solution that would satisfy everyone.

...

Zhao Shuo and Lu Xingye quickly returned, dragging someone with them. Zhao Shuo’s face was a little bruised.

"Let me go! You’ve got the wrong guy!" the man shouted, still struggling despite being in handcuffs.

Lu Xingye held a cigarette butt that had been collected as evidence.