Chapter 9: Who Can Understand My Pain

If Lao Ma is a suspect, what could his motive possibly be? For money? As a long-time employee, he's well compensated by the Xu family. In fact, even some mid-level managers might not earn much more than he does. Besides, at his age, it hardly seems likely he still harbors many material desires.

Su Tianmu studied Lao Ma’s honest, steadfast figure, yet he could not detect the faintest hint of a murderer in him.

“Mr. Xu, how long has Lao Ma worked in your household? Has he always been responsible for driving your daughter?” Su Tianmu’s eyes lingered on the various photographs displayed in the living room—many of them taken when Xu Kexin was a child, some with Lao Ma standing faithfully by her side.

“Lao Ma? He’s been with me for ages, since before he got married, I think! His daughter is several years older than Kexin now…” Xu Li trailed off, then suddenly paused.

“Ah! I almost forgot—his daughter is gone too.”

Xu Li’s face grew somber as he spoke.

“She died? What happened? Was it an illness or…?” The news of Lao Ma’s daughter’s death struck Su Tianmu as a potential breakthrough.

“Yes, she was ill for a long time. Lao Ma tried everything he could to save her, spared no effort, but in the end, it was hopeless.” Xu Li’s voice was filled with regret for Lao Ma—a father’s pain he could now empathize with more than anyone.

So she died of illness. That hardly connects to the kidnapping and murder. Su Tianmu frowned, wanting to know more details.

“I never would have guessed,” he mused. “Lao Ma seems remarkably strong. When did his daughter pass away?”

“It’s been about two months, I think. We’ve been so preoccupied with Kexin’s situation lately, we haven’t had a chance to check in on him. Lao Ma is really the backbone of this household—I rely on him for everything, inside and out!”

Just as Su Tianmu was about to ask more, Xu Li’s wife entered the room.

She was an elegant woman, and if not for the melancholy etched on her features from her recent loss, she might easily have been called a great beauty. Though no longer young, the years had not erased the charm of her youth.

Xu Li’s expression softened at the sight of his wife.

“Jiahui, you’re just in time. Let me introduce you.” Xu Li gestured toward Su Tianmu. “This is Captain Su, in charge of Kexin’s case. And this is Xiao Wang.”

“Hello, and thank you so much for everything.” Liu Jiahui extended her hand with grace, her voice gentle as she greeted Su Tianmu.

“We haven’t prepared anything special—please join us for a simple lunch. I just sent Lao Ma out to buy some fresh vegetables. We haven’t been in the mood to eat lately, so there’s not much in the house.”

As she spoke, she sat down on the sofa.

“Why haven’t we done any shopping lately? Hasn’t Lao Ma always kept everything in the house well-stocked?” Xu Li seemed surprised by her words.

“You never think of others, do you? His family just went through an ordeal! He deserves some time to himself,” Liu Jiahui chided.

Xu Li, though recognizing his insensitivity, still sounded a bit dissatisfied. “Still, there should be standards. In this world, rules are what keep everything in order.”

No matter the situation, Xu Li’s character as a successful businessman always came through—forceful, but sometimes lacking in empathy.

Remembering there were guests present, Xu Li turned to Su Tianmu, a little embarrassed. “Captain Su, please excuse us.”

“Not at all. We’re the ones intruding. A simple meal is more than enough,” Su Tianmu replied.

Yet he, too, felt something off about Lao Ma, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. Both men had lost daughters, but Lao Ma’s face betrayed nothing of his inner state—perhaps a skill developed over years at Xu Li’s side, learning to conceal every emotion deep within.

Lunch was soon served, and at Su Tianmu’s invitation, Lao Ma joined them at the table.

“Lao Ma, could you tell us again what happened the day you went to pick up Xu Kexin?” Su Tianmu wasted no time.

Lao Ma glanced at him, his expression full of sorrow. He had watched the young lady grow up—how could he not be devastated by her disappearance?

“That day, I went to the school gate to wait for Miss, as usual. When her classmates came out and I didn’t see her, I went to the side entrance and waited there for a while, but still no sign of her. So I came back.” Lao Ma repeated his account. It matched what school staff had said, and the surveillance footage confirmed that Xu Kexin was among the last students to leave. She lingered at the main gate, took a phone call, and then walked toward the other side of the school—out of the cameras’ range.

The side entrance’s footage did show Lao Ma’s car parked there as he’d described.

After that, Xu Kexin vanished from the cameras. No one knew what she heard in that final call, nor who had phoned her.

Su Tianmu watched Lao Ma closely, but his seasoned face gave nothing away. Yet, as an experienced detective, Su Tianmu still sensed that this man wasn’t as simple as he seemed. There was something complex in the way he looked at Xu Li—more than mere loyalty.

It seemed time to call in reinforcements. Su Tianmu discreetly sent a message from his phone.

He ate a few more bites, then stood to take his leave. “Thank you for your hospitality, but there’s still much to do at the station. We won’t trouble you further.”

As the guests moved to leave, Xu Li rose and addressed Lao Ma. “See Captain Su and his colleague out, please. It’s not easy to catch a cab here at this hour.”

“No need, I just called a friend. She’s nearby and will pick me up any minute now,” Su Tianmu replied.

Seeing that Su Tianmu had arrangements, Xu Li didn’t insist. After a few polite words, he let Lao Ma escort the guests.

Perhaps recalling the events surrounding Xu Kexin’s disappearance, Lao Ma was noticeably less warm as he walked them out than he had been that morning—a somber expression on his face. Was he mourning his own daughter, or grieving for Miss Xu?

A car that had been waiting at the gate honked. It must be Xia Wuyou.

Su Tianmu glanced at Lao Ma, stepping aside so Xia Wuyou could spot him.

“Thank you, but there’s no need to see me off. My friend is here,” he said.

At that moment, Xia Wuyou came running up to the gate, calling out cheerfully, “Hurry up! I’ve been waiting forever!”

Lao Ma looked toward the sound. The instant he saw Xia Wuyou, his face changed dramatically. He exclaimed in terror, “You… how…?”