Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Jiang Li watched as Huang Nianci turned around. Her features were gentle and graceful, and she exuded the air of a well-bred lady.

She gave her a slight bow. "Forgive me for the poor reception, Benefactor. Please don’t take offense."

"No, no, that’s not necessary, Miss Huang. I came to ask you for a favor," Jiang Li stammered, momentarily flustered.

On the way over, she had learned a bit about the Huang Family. They were a philanthropic family going back a century—undoubtedly good people. Besides, Huang Nianci seemed like an elder to her; she couldn’t bear being treated with such deference.

Huang Nianci smiled gracefully and gestured for her to take a seat.

"What can I help you with, Benefactor?" Huang Nianci asked as she poured her tea.

Jiang Li picked up the cup and took a sip. "Miss Huang, I... thank you for sending the gold."

"Wealth is merely a worldly possession. Without you, Benefactor, I fear the Huang Family would not have survived this centennial tribulation. Please, if you need something, just ask. If it is within my power to help, I will spare no effort."

Huang Nianci looked at Jiang Li with a smile. ’Two hundred years ago, our Huang Family cultivated into human form. A century ago, guided by a great master, we began performing good deeds to accumulate merit. But the master said that after a hundred years, our family would face another trial.’

’If we could not find a benefactor to help us, I feared a century of good fortune would be for naught.’

’But unexpectedly, the heavens did not abandon the Huang Family. She met Jiang Li, which led to the matter of seeking a blessing in her dream.’

’Once this trial was over, as long as the Huang Family did nothing wicked, our future would be secure.’

"Miss Huang, are you on good terms with the Gu Family?"

Huang Nianci nodded. "Our relationship is adequate."

Huang Nianci studied Jiang Li. ’The Gu Family has a son, Gu Zisheng. He’s handsome and kind-hearted. Could it be that the Benefactor has taken a fancy to that boy?’

"It’s like this, Miss Huang..."

Jiang Li explained the whole situation to Huang Nianci.

"Miss Huang, have you noticed anything unusual about Gu Zisheng? Or... Miss Huang, would you be able to help get a sample of Gu Zisheng’s fingerprints?"

Hearing her request, Huang Nianci was inwardly shocked. "For the past year, the Huang Family’s fortunes have been low, and I’ve been focused on finding a benefactor, so I haven’t paid much attention to the Gu Family’s affairs."

"But I do know that child, Gu Zisheng. He would never throw his weight around to bully others. He’s kind-hearted, devoted to his parents, and very bright. He’s a good kid."

Huang Nianci thought of the child who used to follow her around, calling her "Aunt Huang," and her heart filled with pity. "If things are truly as you say, Benefactor, then I will not stand by and do nothing."

Listening to Huang Nianci, Jiang Li found herself hoping that her own suspicions were wrong.

"Benefactor, the Huang Family has a secret technique..."

Jiang Li quickly cut her off. "That won’t be necessary, Miss Huang. We have our own methods for this. It’s not worth the risk for you."

’They’ve spent a century accumulating merit through good deeds. I can’t let them suffer some kind of backlash for breaking the rules on my account.’

"Very well. The Gu Family happens to be hosting a charity gala. You can attend with me, Benefactor."

Huang Nianci’s favorable impression of Jiang Li grew even more. ’As expected of our benefactor, to be so considerate.’

"Okay. I’ll be in your care then, Miss Huang."

Jiang Li took out her phone to message Lu Xingye and the team. [Miss Huang says the Gu Family is having a charity gala, and she’s going to take me.]

[How are preparations on your end?]

Lu Xingye: [I’ve already had someone leak the news that we found the weapon.]

Jiang Li glanced at her phone. Still no word from Zhou Tiancheng or Zhao Shuo.

"Miss Huang, when is the gala?"

"Six o’clock tomorrow evening. I will have Uncle Huang pick you up then, Benefactor."

"Okay, I’ll be heading back then. Please, don’t see me out."

Jiang Li let out a long sigh of relief after she left. Looking back for a moment, she thought, ’The Huang Family must have suffered a great deal to get to where they are today.’

Jiang Li took out her phone to hail a ride, but she suddenly noticed she was quite close to the City Hospital. She decided she should go see Zhou Zihang’s grandmother.

Jiang Li walked for a bit, entered the hospital, and began searching the inpatient ward.

"Grandma, your body will heal faster if you’re in a good mood. Don’t you worry, your grandson will be fine."

Jiang Li saw a man pushing the wheelchair of Zhou Zihang’s grandmother, Wang Yufeng.

Wang Yufeng looked at the man beside her, her face wreathed in smiles. "Yes, yes, okay. Grandma will listen. I’ll listen to my grandson."

Jiang Li frowned in confusion. ’Didn’t they say Zhou Zihang had no friends other than Gu Zisheng? Who is this man?’

"Excuse me, do you know who that is?"

The nurse glanced in the direction she was pointing. "Oh, him? That’s Chen Yongwei, a dermatologist here. He’s an excellent doctor. The lines of patients waiting to see him are always long."

"So what’s his relationship with Zhou Zihang’s grandmother?"

The moment she asked, the nurse fell silent, a wary look on her face. ’Not this Zhou Zihang business again,’ she thought. The police had already been in and out several times a day because of him.

"Hmph. That Zhou Zihang is an ungrateful brat. He barely ever comes to see his own grandmother. Doctor Chen felt sorry for the old woman, so he keeps her company and takes her out for walks whenever he has a spare moment."

"I see. Thank you."

Jiang Li followed them for a while. After the walk, Chen Yongwei pushed the old woman back to her room.

Staring at the room, Jiang Li froze for a second. ’Isn’t this the room Gu Zisheng was in when he had his fever?’

Jiang Li snapped a photo, then quickly turned and found a secluded corner to message Zhao Shuo.

Zhao Shuo was stunned. [Are you sure? When we went, she wasn’t in 202, she was in 305.]

Jiang Li sent him the photo. [This Chen Yongwei is a dermatologist. He’s very close with Wang Yufeng. A nurse told me that Zhou Zihang rarely visits her.]

Zhao Shuo, who had just gotten back to the station, felt his brain short-circuit. All that hard work investigating, and it turned out they’d been fed false information!

Looking at the hospital surveillance footage in his hands, he was determined to find out who was lying.

Zhou Tiancheng and Lu Xingye came over when they heard the news. Looking at the messages from Jiang Li, they began to review the case from the top.

The surveillance footage Zhao Shuo had brought played on a loop on the large screen.

"Wang Yufeng was admitted a year ago. Based on these surveillance clips, the old woman’s reactions don’t look like someone with Alzheimer’s."

"Moreover, if you compare these two clips, it’s obvious. A year ago, Wang Yufeng was absolutely doting on Zhou Zihang."

"But later on, she became rather aloof and dismissive toward him. They even argued at one point."

"And now look at her attitude toward Chen Yongwei. Doesn’t it look exactly like how she treated Zhou Zihang a year ago?"

When the three scenes were compared, the difference was stark.

"I suspect Wang Yufeng is faking her illness! She knows exactly who her real grandson is."

The team fell into pensive silence at Zhao Shuo’s words. The addition of another suspect made the whole case that much more complicated.

Zhou Tiancheng had someone bring Chen Yongwei in for questioning.

"What’s your relationship with Wang Yufeng?" Zhao Shuo asked, studying Chen Yongwei. There was nothing obviously out of place about the man’s face.

"Doctor and patient. A few times, I was so busy I forgot to eat, and Aunt Wang was the one who gave me food."

"So I’m a little kinder to her. Is there a problem with that?"

"Then why does Wang Yufeng call you her grandson?"

Chen Yongwei met Zhao Shuo’s gaze. "Officer, Wang Yufeng has Alzheimer’s. She can’t clearly remember her own grandson. If you went to see her, she’d probably call you ’my dear grandson’ too."

"All I did was show her a little kindness. Are you really dragging me in here just for that? Isn’t that a bit rash?"

"Is that so? Wang Yufeng was admitted a year ago, and you transferred to the City Hospital not long after. What a coincidence."

"Doctor Chen, we’ll need you to cooperate with a forensic test."

Zhao Shuo cut right to the chase as Qin Shu walked in.

"If it will prove my innocence, I’ll agree," Chen Yongwei said, reaching to pull a hair from his head.

Qin Shu stopped him. "Whoa there, Doctor Chen. No need to be hasty. We don’t need your hair."

A sharp grin spread across her face. "We want your fingerprints!"