Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: An Inside Job

The moment Lu Xingye saw it was Qiao Siyuan again, his expression soured. He stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Jiang Li.

Qiao Siyuan’s brow furrowed the instant he saw the man. ’Why did Jiang Li call him here too? What if he ruins my big plan?’

"Lili, what are you doing at the police station again? Did you get lost on your way home?

Come on, let’s go home. I promise I’ll never leave you by yourself again."

Qiao Siyuan stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Li’s hand, ready to pull her away.

His mother had even come over today. They had already agreed to make their move. If Jiang Li didn’t go back, it would ruin everything.

Wu Ming looked at the man who had just appeared and could clearly sense something was off about him.

"No, she can’t go back with you." Wu Ming grabbed Jiang Li’s other hand and turned to her. "Jiang Li, don’t you still want to help me find that pet?

Let’s go now."

With that, Wu Ming pulled Jiang Li by the hand and started walking toward the exit.

"Hey!"

Qiao Siyuan quickly chased after them. "Jiang Li, come home with me! I was even planning on taking you out to have some fun today."

Jiang Li glanced from Qiao Siyuan to Wu Ming. "Qiao Siyuan, you should head back first. I’ll be home tonight."

Without giving Qiao Siyuan another glance, Jiang Li let Wu Ming pull her into her low-speed electric car.

"Hey!" Lu Xingye cried out as he saw the two get in the car. ’I haven’t gotten in yet!’

"Lu Xingye, we need you for a minute!"

A colleague called out to Lu Xingye from behind, so he had no choice but to handle the matter first.

Qiao Siyuan watched Jiang Li leave. He had planned to give Lu Xingye a stern warning, but then he saw the man turn and walk deeper into the station.

Qiao Siyuan’s expression changed dramatically. ’Don’t tell me... that guy works at the police station?’

’How did Jiang Li get to know someone from the police? This could make things very complicated.’

In the end, Qiao Siyuan had no choice but to go back and discuss the matter with Chen Xiufang. If Jiang Li really knew people at the police station, they needed to adjust their plans as soon as possible.

In the car, Wu Ming looked at Jiang Li. ’That man didn’t seem like a good person at all. Jiang Li is so gentle and sweet; I can’t just stand by and watch her get scammed.’

"Jiang Li, is that guy really your boyfriend?"

"Ex-boyfriend. We still have some unresolved issues." Jiang Li glanced at Wu Ming’s account on the app; she already had two million followers.

The live stream from that night had been specially edited and circulated by content farms with exaggerated captions. Basically, every post about it was trending.

Jiang Li watched Wu Ming in the video. She had simply tossed a few leaves, recited an incantation from her practice, and then divined the location.

Then came the scene where the cat was found in the bushes. Its pitiful condition drew a wave of sympathy from viewers.

Jiang Li scrolled to Wu Ming’s profile page and saw just a few videos of her helping people find lost items and pets.

Wu Ming took Jiang Li to meet the snake’s owner. After confirming that the owner didn’t mind being on camera, Wu Ming started her live stream.

"Hey everyone, welcome! Today, we’re helping an owner find her lost little snake. As usual, this will be an immersive clue-finding stream, so I won’t be replying to the chat."

After speaking, Wu Ming mounted the camera.

Jiang Li glanced over curiously. ’Her setup is pretty professional.’

"My snake is a White Lady. She has red eyes, and there’s a bit of red on her head and tail. Here’s a picture of her."

The owner said, opening her photo album. It was filled with pictures documenting the little snake’s growth; it was obvious how much she treasured her pet.

[OMG, what a beautiful snake! I hope she finds her precious baby soon.]

[How are so many people watching this? Does anyone else think this is fake?]

Jiang Li glanced at the photo, and her pupils contracted. The image of the snake in the glass tank flashed in her mind. It looked exactly like the one in the picture, only with four legs attached to it.

"Okay. Do you have any of its favorite toys or any items it used frequently?"

Wu Ming’s usually cheerful, round face was now stern as she asked the question with utmost seriousness.

Jiang Li took out her phone and contacted Lu Xingye’s team, asking them to check the surveillance footage near the owner’s building for any suspicious individuals.

Wu Ming found a suitable spot and began her process, with Jiang Li observing from the side.

"Amitabha Buddha, may the heavens guide me!"

Wu Ming muttered under her breath, then tossed out the Copper Coins she always carried.

She studied their pattern on the ground, then tossed them a second time.

Wu Ming pressed her lips together, gazing at the high-end residential complex behind the owner. She’d heard a unit here cost several million, at least.

"Miss Fang, your snake is somewhere inside the complex."

Upon hearing this, Fang Ting quickly led Wu Ming into the complex.

As they entered, a man wearing a hat and mask, completely bundled up, passed by them on his way out.

Once inside, Wu Ming performed another calculation. "Strange... it’s gone. Now the reading shows it’s outside the complex."

Fang Ting suddenly eyed Wu Ming with suspicion. She was paying a high price for this service. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it, but she’d be a complete fool if this was all a scam.

The viewers in the live stream chat erupted with jeers and sarcastic comments.

[See? I told you it was fake. If she actually finds it, I’ll wash my hair standing on my head.]

[To the person above me: the standard dare is to eat crap upside down.]

[I watched the stream where she found the cat. I believe in her.]

Wu Ming turned to Jiang Li. "Jiang Li, do you have any thoughts?"

Jiang Li scanned their surroundings, then turned to ask, "Was Miss Xia, your client from last time, also from this complex?"

Wu Ming nodded. "Yes. And Miss Su, one of the cases you asked for my help with today, lives here too."

Jiang Li nodded in understanding. ’In that case, the suspect must be a resident of this complex.’

"The suspect probably saw your live stream and left with the snake just as we were coming in."

Wu Ming tapped her head. "Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?"

Jiang Li looked at Fang Ting. "Miss Fang, I’m afraid your snake might be... gone. I need you to prepare yourself for the worst."

The color drained from Fang Ting’s face. Her eyes instantly welled up, and she choked back a sob, unable to form words. "I... I... SOB... It’s all my fault. If only I hadn’t taken her downstairs that day..."

A motorcycle screeched to a halt at the complex entrance. Huo Qing dismounted, cursing under his breath.

"What’s the big rush? You think you’re some kind of master detective?"

"Jiang Li, what’s the situation?"

Lu Xingye ran to Jiang Li’s side. Fang Ting stared, speechless, at Huo Qing standing behind them in a full police uniform.

[WTF, a cop? The police got involved over a lost pet? Isn’t that a total waste of police resources?]

Xia Zhiqi, having received a call from the police, hurried down from her apartment with a girlfriend by her side. She stopped short when she saw Fang Ting.

"Miss Fang, what a coincidence."

"Miss Xia, Miss Luo."

After the brief greetings, Xia Zhiqi turned to Huo Qing. "Officer Huo, do you have news about that pervert?"

"Here’s the situation, Miss Xia, Miss Fang. It’s possible your pets were taken to be used in illegal experiments."

Lu Xingye stepped forward to clarify. "And that’s not all. We also suspect this is the case for Miss Su, another resident of this complex whose pet went missing."

Soon after, Su Yao also received the notification and rushed down from her apartment.

Seeing that everyone was present, Huo Qing announced, "The suspect in question may be involved in a homicide. We need all of you to come with us to the station to assist with the investigation."

Wu Ming’s excited voice suddenly rang out. "I’ve found it!"