Chapter 8: Tracing the Source

After the initial rounds of investigation, Su Ye and Wang Peishan emerged as the prime suspects. Yet, to settle the case, unequivocal evidence was still required.

Following the "Valentine's Day Murder," Su Ye's days at the magazine grew increasingly difficult. Everyone knew of her conflict with Wang Meiqi, and most believed she was somehow involved in the murder, so they deliberately kept their distance.

Su Ye herself fared little better. Since Wang Meiqi's death, nightmares haunted her relentlessly. Each night, she awoke terrified, sweat-soaked from the horrors in her dreams.

A notification chimed on her phone as she rose from bed, her dark, heavy circles under her eyes betraying another sleepless night.

“Darling, how did you sleep last night? I’m so worried about you. Call me when you wake up!” read the message.

Su Ye glanced at the text, then set the phone back on the table. This man truly was clingy! She smiled knowingly, deciding not to reply immediately—to let him feel the sting of anticipation.

She rose from bed, silk pajamas cascading over her slender form. Morning light streamed into the room, tracing the alluring curves of her body.

She picked up a hairpin from the table, and with a casual gesture, swept her dark hair into a graceful bun atop her head, embodying the image of a seductive yet languid beauty.

“Don't worry! I slept well. Miss you!” Su Ye prepared herself a cup of coffee, took a sip, then finally replied to his message.

But the image of Wang Meiqi, poisoned after eating chocolate at the office, lingered. The sight of blood trickling from her lips as she suffocated, her agony etched into Su Ye’s mind, would not leave her.

Those wide, staring eyes haunted her every night, jolting her awake in terror and sweat.

“Don't blame me, I never meant for this to happen!” she whispered in anguish, shaking her head as if to dislodge Wang Meiqi’s memory.

...

“Su Ye purchased chocolate online, and Wang Peishan has access to sodium cyanide at his company,” said Xiao Wang, jogging to keep pace with Su Tianmu, discussing the case as they went.

Perhaps because Su Tianmu was tall and long-legged, and always walked briskly, Xiao Wang struggled to keep up whenever they were together.

“Find out who received the chocolate Su Ye bought. Also, conduct another sweep of Wang Peishan’s company to check for any sign of cyanide leakage.”

“Yes, Chief Su.”

The police station bustled with people, faces drawn with solemnity.

It was late autumn; the temperature swung between extremes morning and night.

Su Tianmu had added a green sweater over a black shirt, lending him an air of calm gravitas.

As Miao delivered some documents, she caught sight of him, captivated by his austere appearance.

“Well! Chief Su can be quite fashionable, huh? If you still don't find a girlfriend, don’t blame me for making a move—ha ha!”

Miao departed in a swirl of laughter, swaying her hips deliberately, leaving Su Tianmu staring after her, speechless.

“Exactly! I think Chief Su is even more attractive than the so-called successful men in magazines!” Xiao Wang, arriving just then, chimed in.

A sharp gaze flashed his way.

Before Su Tianmu could respond, Xiao Wang, sensing danger, conjured an excuse and fled the office.

With the hubbub gone, Su Tianmu finally enjoyed a rare moment of calm.

Indeed, his grandmother often urged him to bring home a girlfriend, threatening him with her health—claiming that if he didn’t settle down soon, she might not have much time left.

He shook his head, smiling wryly, thinking fondly of his lively grandmother.

Ah, with her formidable presence—she could silence a room full of men with a single meeting—how could she claim to be frail?

His grandmother was the chairwoman of the region’s largest food conglomerate. Having founded the company herself from nothing, her authority was absolute.

Yet, since Su Tianmu wished only to be a police officer, free of interference, he kept his family background secret. No one but himself knew he was a bona fide golden heir.

“Should I find a girlfriend?” For the first time, Su Tianmu seriously considered the question.

“Forget it—too much trouble. Maybe when Grandma won’t take no for an answer.”

He settled the matter in two seconds.

The phone buzzed—Xia Wuyou was calling.

Hmph! She picked the perfect moment—just as he was enjoying some peace.

“Yoyo, what’s up?” The name slipped out, startling both Xia Wuyou and himself.

He hurriedly corrected, “Miss Xia, what can I do for you?”

Only he knew how flushed his face was—a blessing there was no one nearby.

“Oh, well...” Xia Wuyou, oblivious, ignored the slip.

Relieved, Su Tianmu wiped sweat from his brow.

It turned out Xia Wuyou’s gossip squad had made a new discovery. Not quite new, but finally matched to the right person.

Though colleagues whispered that Su Ye had landed a wealthy benefactor, none knew his identity. After meticulous deduction, the “experts” realized the chocolate Su Ye bought was gifted to Ding Wei, the president of the organic glass company.

Su Tianmu frowned—the previously overlooked Ding Wei had re-entered the investigation.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wang’s sweep of the pigment company yielded preliminary results.

From source to endpoint, the enterprise’s hazardous materials protocols were rigorous. Comprehensive systems governed storage, production, transport, usage, and disposal; under normal conditions, leaks were impossible.

Therefore, unless sabotage occurred, sodium cyanide would not be released during routine operations.

However, as general manager, if Wang Peishan truly wanted to obtain dangerous materials, he would have many avenues.

Thus, Wang Peishan remained suspect, and now Ding Wei surfaced as a related figure. Who was the killer?

At this point, motive became the key. If both Su Ye and Wang Peishan bore grudges against Wang Meiqi, could Ding Wei also be a suspect?