HH Chapter 65

After sending Guo Xiaofei away, Cheng Ye and his team turned back and re-entered Guo Jiayi’s room. On the surface, everything seemed fine. When they moved into the kitchen, Fang Yuan was the first to speak: “The first time I saw the stuff here, it was already a mess, and now it’s still here. It’s probably crawling with bugs by now.”

“It is,” Pei Qinghuai interjected, as he picked up some rotting vegetables and tossed them into the trash can.

Fang Yuan glanced around the kitchen, clicking his tongue in disapproval: “You really don’t know what you might find until you start looking.”

“Alright, stop looking around,” Cheng Ye said as he emerged from Guo Jiayi’s live streaming room after giving it a once-over. “We don’t have a warrant for this. What we’re doing right now is illegal.”

Just then, Cheng Ye’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at Fang Yuan and answered the call.

“Captain Cheng,” Chen Xiaonuan’s voice came through, “Guo Jiayi was already dead when they brought him in. They suspect it was caused by poisoning and an allergic reaction.”

“Understood,” Cheng Ye sighed heavily as he pocketed his phone. “He’s dead. Let’s keep investigating.”

“Dead?” Fang Yuan asked in surprise. “How did he die?”

“Poisoning,” Cheng Ye replied.

Fang Yuan removed his hands from his pockets and stretched his shoulders. “Let’s get to work.”

Guo Jiayi’s apartment had three bedrooms and two living rooms. Only the room he used for streaming was accessible; the other two were locked. Cheng Ye frowned and dialed a number.

“Liu Qi, come up and unlock these doors.”

In a couple of minutes, Liu Qi arrived with his tools. “Captain Cheng, which doors?”

“These two,” Cheng Ye indicated.

“No problem, I’ll take care of it.”

Liu Qi grinned as he squatted down to work on the locks. In no time, the locks clicked open. Inside was a small bedroom, clearly unused for a long time. A thick layer of dust covered the white nightstand, and an old wedding photo of Guo Jiayi and a woman hung on the wall.

Cheng Ye walked over to the curtains and pulled them open.

“Whoa…” Cheng Ye exclaimed, stumbling back a few steps. Those standing behind him also recoiled, feeling a chill run down their spines.

On a small recessed shelf was a large black-and-white photo, wrapped in white cloth strips, leaving only a pair of dark, piercing eyes staring straight ahead.

“Thanks a lot, Captain Cheng,” Fang Yuan muttered, still shaken.

After a few seconds, Cheng Ye took a deep breath and stepped out of the room, feeling like he had just returned to the land of the living.

“Captain Cheng, the other door is open too,” Liu Qi said, glancing nervously at the eerie black-and-white photo.

Cheng Ye nodded and opened the other door, revealing a pitch-dark room, quite different from the others. This room had no windows and was cluttered with several shelves. Cheng Ye fumbled for a moment before finding the light switch, which cast a dim yellow glow over the room.

“I’m heading back downstairs,” Liu Qi said.

Cheng Ye acknowledged with a nod and ventured further inside.

The room was filled with an assortment of bizarre clothes and several dog bowls scattered on the floor. They had seen no dogs during their previous visits, but these bowls showed signs of use, some even containing a thick porridge-like substance.

“What were you doing in my room?” a small voice suddenly asked from behind. Guo Xiaofei stood there, holding onto Yan Ya’s hand, staring straight at Pei Qinghuai.

Hearing the commotion, Cheng Ye had Fang Yuan bag the items on the floor before stepping out. “Is this your room?” he asked.

“Yes,” Guo Xiaofei replied, puzzled and sniffling. “Dad said I should stay here because Mom doesn’t like me.”

Guo Xiaofei’s innocent face looked up at Cheng Ye. Yan Ya, realizing the awkward timing, squatted down with a smile: “Xiaofei, how about I take you to the park? Let’s not disturb your dad’s friends while they’re working, okay?”

Guo Xiaofei shook his head, looking like he was about to cry. “No, it’s time for bed. Dad will be upset if I don’t sleep now.”

“Your dad won’t be coming back today,” Pei Qinghuai said, crouching down to meet Guo Xiaofei’s eye level. “He asked us to take care of you today.”

Guo Xiaofei seemed doubtful but responded, “I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m in fifth grade.”

Pei Qinghuai gently wiped the dust off Guo Xiaofei’s face and asked, “How old are you?”

Guo Xiaofei blinked and thought for a moment. “I should be 10 years old.”

“What do you want to eat?” Pei Qinghuai asked. “This sister will take you to eat, just as your dad told us to take good care of you.”

Yan Ya, noticing that Guo Xiaofei didn’t look like a 10-year-old, frowned slightly but quickly resumed smiling. “I’ll treat you. What would you like to eat?”

Guo Xiaofei swallowed hard. “But Dad doesn’t allow it.”

“How about we go secretly? I promise not to tell your dad,” Yan Ya suggested, extending her pinky for a promise.

“Really?” Guo Xiaofei asked.

“Really.”

After sending Guo Xiaofei away, Pei Qinghuai stood up and headed back to the room. Passing through the living room, something on the shelf caught his eye.

“What did you find?” Cheng Ye asked, sealing evidence in a bag.

Pei Qinghuai put on gloves and picked up items from the shelf: “Mercurochrome and iodine solution.”

“What’s up with those?” Fang Yuan asked.

Pei Qinghuai placed the bottles into an evidence bag, explaining, “Mixing these two creates mercury iodide, which can be toxic through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. In large doses, it can be lethal. But with this amount, it shouldn’t be fatal.”

Cheng Ye, thinking out loud, asked, “What about allergies?”

“Allergies?” Pei Qinghuai responded.

“Yes,” Cheng Ye said. “Chen Xiaonuan mentioned that Guo Jiayi also had an allergic reaction.”

Pei Qinghuai nodded. “That could explain it. Let’s check the bathroom.”

“What are you thinking?” Cheng Ye asked.