Chapter 282 - 166: Case Filed! [Ghost Messenger Case!]

’When you find something good, how can you keep it all to yourself?’

’You have to let the boss have a look!’

"It should be possible now."

Chu Linhai thought for a moment, a look of contemplation on his face.

This case looked simple. Just find the gap in the surveillance footage to solve it. Even after a four-month delay, the investigative method remained the same...

But if it had been anyone else... the case would have been impossible to solve.

Why?

Because of the pinhole camera!

These days, not even many beat cops know about this stuff, let alone criminal investigators.

And the hotel owner would never have handed over the video voluntarily.

Add to that the peculiar nature of Qin Zhong’s personal fetish... if it had been any other officer...

It’s like asking an ordinary person to fathom the depravity and perversion of a deviant... it’s naturally unimaginable.

"Twenty thousand... Hmm, I’d say it’s worth it."

Chu Linhai considered it, a smile spreading across his face.

Twenty thousand, when converted into credit, bonuses, and salary, was about equal to the cost of an entire team solving this case.

Xu Huo solved it in less than a day with only Li Jianye and Zhao Shui. It couldn’t have been a better deal.

However...

"Leave the video. You can go."

A strange glint flashed in Chu Linhai’s eyes.

’Leave the video?’

Li Jianye didn’t understand, but he was utterly shocked. At the same time, he was in awe of Chu Linhai’s tastes. He quickly backed out of the room.

As for why he was told to leave the video...

It wasn’t for his own viewing pleasure, of course.

The prosecutor’s office had been stonewalling for a full four months...

But now, they had evidence!

’You all love to see evidence, right? Well, this time, you’d better get a good, long look.’

’Watch it from start to finish, from the first second to the last. Don’t you dare miss a single frame!’

...

...

「Meanwhile.」

At Xu Huo’s home on Torch Road.

"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~"

As the knocking sounded, a response was heard from within.

"Coming, coming!"

A voice rang out from inside the door. Then, the door in front of him began to tremble, and before long, a thin crack appeared.

A single cowlick poked out.

Following right behind it were two pairs of slightly wary eyes, one above the other, peering out through the crack.

Xu Huo looked at the upper pair of eyes in the crack, meeting their gaze.

The next second...

"You’re back!"

The door was pushed open, revealing two figures, one tall and one small, in his sight.

"Huh? Xiao Xi, aren’t you going home to visit?"

Back inside, Xu Huo looked at Chu Xi beside him, feeling a little confused.

The New Year was almost here, but she still hadn’t gone home...

"I already went."

Chu Xi sat on the sofa and nodded.

Xu Huo paused. His nose twitched, and he subconsciously glanced at the guest room.

"Huh? Are you going to live here?"

He was a little surprised. Looking at the room, which had been tidied up and now looked fragrant and cozy, he could hardly believe this was his own home.

"Yep."

Chu Xi nodded again. She had been home, but she wasn’t planning on staying there.

Compared to six months ago, her personality had become a bit more cheerful. She seemed like an ordinary, if slightly quiet, young girl.

This made Mrs. Chu very grateful to Xu Huo, so she had agreed to this arrangement.

As for Xu Huo... before he could show his confusion, Chu Xi quickly spoke up:

"My dad said you can’t adopt a girl because the age difference isn’t big enough."

"So Niuniu can only be raised at my family’s house, but Niuniu doesn’t want to. She’s very shy around strangers, and there are too many people at my house. It scares her."

"So she can only stay here. But that violates what I just said, so..."

Chu Xi’s expression was calm.

She widened her eyes, looking at Xu Huo with utmost sincerity.

"I have to stay here to take care of Niuniu."

"Really?"

A doubtful look appeared on Xu Huo’s face. He felt like something was off.

What she said was indeed true. Xu Huo wanted to adopt several children, but he couldn’t.

Xiao Long and Xiao Hu were older and didn’t need adoption, while the age difference between him and the two little girls was restricted by law.

So, theoretically, if he were raising Niuniu and someone reported him, he’d have to spend a few days in jail.

But having Chu Xi here would prevent that.

"Really," Chu Xi said with a nod.

"I made a lot of food. Let’s eat together."

With that, she pulled Xu Huo to the dining table. It was covered with all sorts of delicious dishes, whetting one’s appetite.

Xu Huo fell into deep thought. After a long moment, he stopped overthinking it.

’Whatever.’

’What ulterior motives could a girl with autism have?’

’There’s nothing in this little dump of mine for her to covet anyway.’

He set his thoughts aside and began to eat slowly.

Seeing him stuff the delicious food into his mouth bit by bit, Chu Xi, who was sitting primly beside him, had a satisfied smile in her eyes.

She thought for a moment, then added:

"I washed all your dirty clothes. They’re on the balcony."

"The weather isn’t great, so they probably won’t be dry until tomorrow."

Xu Huo paused, then nodded.

"I also tidied up your room. Your blanket wasn’t suitable for winter, so I swapped it for a down comforter. The mattress was a bit sunken, so I replaced it."

"I paid the heating bill, restocked the vegetables, bought some fruit and put it in the fridge, and I also bought a toaster oven in case you get hungry at night..."

Chu Xi recalled everything she had done that day, one by one.

Xu Huo’s eyes gradually glazed over with confusion.

’Is... is this my house or hers?!’

’Also, did this little apartment really have so many problems? I never noticed...’

After listening for a long time, Xu Huo felt a bit awkward, realizing he hadn’t had a chance to get a word in.

A moment later, he seized a gap in her monologue, quickly interrupting to change the subject.

"By the way, where’s Chao Zi?"

"I haven’t seen him since noon yesterday."

"Wang Chao? He went to manage the downtown branch stores."

Chu Xi thought for a moment and replied.