Chapter 7: The Trail Grows Cold

Wang Bo's words were riddled with inconsistencies, but since there was no clear evidence linking him to the kidnapping, all they could do was probe and hope he revealed a flaw himself.

Su Tianmu, after hearing his explanation, did not immediately refute him.

“I’ve heard you were disciplined yourself. You used to be a branch manager, but now you’ve been demoted, is that right?”

Wang Bo paused at Su Tianmu’s words, then quickly regained composure.

“Yes, I used to be a branch manager. But if the company needs me to do anything, I’m more than willing to comply.”

He tried to gloss over the subject, unwilling to discuss the disciplinary action.

Su Tianmu noticed the change in his expression—a mixture of helplessness and a trace of resentment.

Why would he resent Xu Li?

According to Xu Li, Wang Bo was demoted because of a serious mistake of his own, and Xu Li had shown him leniency. Shouldn’t he be grateful instead?

“But what I’ve learned is that you should have been dismissed. The chairman kept you on out of consideration for your particular circumstances. Is that so?” Su Tianmu pressed on, leaving Wang Bo no room to dodge.

Wang Bo’s voice rose, agitated.

“That’s not how it is! He’s not so kind. It wasn’t about my family situation—he just didn’t want to be criticized for getting rid of a veteran like me, so he didn’t fire me outright!”

He lowered his head, his expression heavy.

“I joined the company at its inception. Back then, there were just a few dozen of us, starting from nothing, working hard together. We suffered, but we were happy.”

“But things changed. The company grew larger, stronger. Now, whoever has money is in charge. Those who just invested later on—what have they done for the company? Without us, there wouldn’t be a company now.”

Su Tianmu listened to his grievances against the company and Xu Li, analyzing his mood.

“So, you resent the company and Xu Li, right? That’s why you planned to kidnap his daughter, as a way to vent your anger. And if you could get a hefty ransom, all the better.” Su Tianmu abruptly steered the conversation toward the kidnapping and murder.

“What? What did you say?” Wang Bo looked up sharply, shocked.

Clearly, Su Tianmu’s words startled him.

“How could you think that of me? Yes, I resent Xu Li, but I’d never resort to murder! I have children myself—how could I possibly do such a thing?”

Wang Bo denied it vehemently.

“Then how do you explain your movements during that period? Don’t tell me you were just video-calling your son again—do you think we’d believe that? Especially that afternoon, the day Xu Kexin disappeared!”

Su Tianmu was stern.

“That afternoon… Well, it’s because…” Wang Bo knew he couldn’t hide any longer. He confessed everything he’d tried to conceal.

After Xu Li became chairman, he focused entirely on the company’s growth, favoring whoever brought benefit, forgetting the camaraderie of those who helped found the company. As the company and society advanced, the old guard fell behind, their contributions overlooked. With heavy family burdens, Wang Bo began selling company secrets for quick money, even after his demotion.

That afternoon, he spent a long time meeting with representatives from a rival company. If needed, they could testify on his behalf.

Seeing Wang Bo’s embarrassment, Su Tianmu felt a twinge of sympathy.

As a fellow man, perhaps he could relate to the feeling of being dismissed.

But with this final suspect ruled out, the trail went cold once again. Had they been looking in the wrong direction? Yet, based on Xu Li’s account, there shouldn’t be any other groups with opposing interests.

...

“Of course we’re looking in the wrong direction! Look—when the victim’s soul appeared to me, I sensed a fear mixed with shock and surprise, as if she saw something unimaginable.”

When Su Tianmu reported the progress of the case to Xia Wuyou, she was certain their investigation had missed the mark, wearing a look that seemed to say, “Why didn’t you come to me sooner?”

Su Tianmu glanced at her sheepishly, much like a student awaiting a teacher’s verdict.

“Then tell me—where should we focus now?” He blinked his big, captivating eyes at her. Perhaps only before Xia Wuyou could he shed his armor and show his true self.

Xia Wuyou looked at him, quickly averting her gaze.

She, too, was only human, not immune to the charms of desire. But in such a serious moment, she couldn’t let herself be swayed by his looks. She had to live up to her ‘Detective Holmes Wuyou’ persona.

“I think we should start with the people closest to Xu Kexin. Judging by the circumstances of her death, it must have been someone she knew—no, perhaps someone very close to her.”

Xia Wuyou appeared solemn, analyzing carefully.

“Look. Her clothes were not disheveled when she died, her face was clean, and even her hair was only slightly messy, likely from her final struggle. So, during the three days she was held captive, she wasn’t mistreated. That means the kidnapper didn’t originally intend to kill her—it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. And for a girl her age not to be harmed in any way, it suggests the killer cared for her.”

It had to be said, Xia Wuyou’s analysis was truly impressive.

Seeing Su Tianmu’s stunned expression, Xia Wuyou tossed her elegant bangs and gazed into the distance, as if communing with her inner detective.

“Clap, clap, clap…”

A round of applause!

Su Tianmu applauded her from the heart. All this time, he’d relied on her supernatural abilities to solve cases, but this time, her deductions surpassed even his as a professional officer. Instantly, Xia Wuyou’s image grew in his eyes.

“It’s a real shame you’re not a police officer,” Su Tianmu said, his gaze at Xia Wuyou now tinged with deeper affection.