Chapter 396: Family Ties and Betrayals

Chapter 396: Family Rank

“Deduction… It’s a success!”

Wang Dong and the members of Team Two eyed Xiao Yu.

Their looks mixed admiration with a touch of disbelief.

Team Two was left scratching their heads—the theory of a ‘ghostly’ culprit had been completely debunked.

It was definitely a human crime!

“What’s our next move?”

Wang Dong grinned as he glanced at his little rookie.

He was determined to use his pawn to the very end.

“How should I know?”

Xiao Yu scoffed inwardly. ‘I can talk the talk, but this case has completely exceeded my league.’

That’s just how people are.

When you first meet someone and the bond is shallow, it’s all about transactions—no free rides allowed.

But when you grow close like brothers, you develop real feelings and reduce all that tit-for-tat.

Take now, for example: Xiao Yu knew that Wang Dong was planning to mooch off him.

Just like he used to mooch off Wang “383”.

The question is, can anyone really mooch off us?

“One crate of special supplies—no more!” Wang Dong winced in pain.

“We’re all brothers here; saying that only hurts our bond,” he added.

Wrapping an arm around Wang Dong’s shoulder, Xiao Yu winked, “Deal!”

I’ve always had too soft a heart, always taking the hit for everything…

……

“All six victims were senior students at a certain university—each a fourth-year student!”

Wang Dong handed over the case files to his little rookie.

Xiao Yu began to skim through them…

Anyone who’s been to college knows that final-year students are usually off-campus.

Most universities follow a 3+1 model:

three years on campus and one year interning in the real world.

The six victims had just entered their fourth-year semester, busy with resumes and job applications…

Four of the boys shared one dorm, while two girls lived in another.

There was even a couple among them.

Typically, college dorms house four or six people, though sometimes there are even eight.

The four boys were in a six-person dorm, and the two girls in a four-person room.

Agents from National Security had even investigated the school’s dorms, both men’s and women’s.

They gleaned this information from the victims’ roommates.

The six victims were all close friends who often hung out together, dining and enjoying life.

Later, further investigation revealed from one of a female victim’s roommates that…

the roommate had once wanted to try her hand at acting and shoot a short film.

It was intended to be showcased at the graduation ceremony.

The female victim had insisted her roommate keep it a secret…

Up to that point, everything matched Xiao Yu’s deductions.

The six victims were indeed planning to film a video.

Disc Spirit?

“At least seven people were present at the scene!”

After reviewing the victims’ details, Xiao Yu rubbed his brow and said, “Find out—besides this tight-knit group of six, who else was really close to them?”

“None of the victims were from City J. So how did they learn about that haunted house at the crime scene?”

“Places like that are only well-known by the locals. As students, it’s highly unlikely they’d be privy to local legends.”

“We also need to check if any of the victims had made enemies—be it through relationships or social disputes. Murders like this never happen without a cause.”

“Finally…”

Xiao Yu furrowed his sword-like brows, “For now, list all the victims’ roommates as suspects!”

“Roommates?”

Wang Dong was astonished, “You think their roommates could be capable of this?”

“Absolutely,” Xiao Yu replied firmly.

He continued, “In college, spending three years in the same dorm means inevitable squabbles and even some salacious drama… even matters of the heart.”

At that moment, he recalled a case from his past.

A female college student had fallen for her roommate’s boyfriend.

She then secretly seduced him, leading to a forbidden tryst.

Her roommate eventually discovered the affair, and soon everyone knew.

In a mix of anger and humiliation, the girl one day spiked her roommate’s drink with chemicals.

She knocked her roommate out and pretended to escort her to the hospital.

In reality, she lured her roommate to a laboratory and murdered her.

Not only that, she used strong acid and chemical reagents to dissolve the body.

Only remnants of undissolvable bones remained, which were then taken out of the lab.

The body was later dumped off-campus…

At that time, Xiao Yu handled the case and apprehended the culprit in just three days.

Through his investigation, Xiao Yu found the case to be outrageously melodramatic.

It even involved polyamory, falling outs among best friends, and a notorious playboy—all tangled in one.

Sometimes, when dorm mates are close during college, everything is harmonious.

But when relationships sour, it can even escalate to murder.

Dormitory murder cases are alarmingly common…

……

Night.

After a long, exhausting day, Xiao Yu could barely keep his eyes open. He collapsed on his hotel bed and pulled out his phone…

WeChat…

Xiao Yu: “Stinky sis, you never even send a text. At least say goodnight?”

Mu Qingwu: “You told me before that goodnight means you’re off playing alone, so I assumed you were asleep.”

Xiao Yu: “Er… did I ever say that?”

Mu Qingwu: “Hehe!”

Xiao Yu: “Then is it possible that when you think of me, I’m thinking of you too?”

Mu Qingwu: “Got it—my little brother is thinking of me. Why aren’t you asleep? What do you want?”

Xiao Yu: “I want to throw a roundhouse kick!”

Mu Qingwu: “???”

Xiao Yu: “Sis, don’t you think our lives are just like an Ultraman series?”

Mu Qingwu: “Really? Then tell me, which Ultraman am I?”

Xiao Yu: “No way—I’m Ultraman, and you’re the little monster.”

Mu Qingwu: “Huh? Are you seriously confused about your own family status?”

Xiao Yu: “……”

Mu Qingwu: “Wait till your little brother gets back, and I’ll show you which one is Ultraman and which one isn’t!”

Xiao Yu: “Don’t be angry—do you believe in light?”

Mu Qingwu: “Crawl up, sis!”

Xiao Yu: “I just love it when you scold me—it feels so good!”

Mu Qingwu: “I suspect you might be a bit off. I really don’t feel like talking right now.”

Xiao Yu: “Then I want to hear you call me… call me while I’m asleep.”

Mu Qingwu: “???”

Xiao Yu: “The one with two words.”

Mu Qingwu: “Baby?”

Xiao Yu: “Not that.”

Mu Qingwu: “Sweetie?”

Xiao Yu: “Also not.”

Mu Qingwu: “Honey?”

Xiao Yu: “Is this on purpose?”

Mu Qingwu: “For many guys, a little intimacy can actually be appealing. I’m nothing like that—trust me, sis.”

Mu Qingwu: “Act like a grown-up.”

Xiao Yu: “Honestly, I miss you… miss baby…”

Mu Qingwu: “Baby actually kicked me tonight.”

Xiao Yu: “Tell him not to mess with mom—if he does, I’ll handle it.”

Mu Qingwu: “Mm.”

Xiao Yu: “See you in my dreams?”

Mu Qingwu: “See you in my dreams!”

After ending the chat, Xiao Yu smiled as he closed his eyes.

They had agreed—meet in their dreams later…

……

PS: It’s 7 pm. Little bro is asleep. Gentlemen, see you tonight!