The crime scene photos were taken from multiple angles and directions, capturing not only the deceased but also scattered evidence and the surrounding environment.
From the photos, it was learned that the victim, Zhuo Xuanya, had gone for her usual nighttime jog in the park near her home on the day of the incident. As such, she hadn’t carried a bag, only a phone, earphones, and a sports watch on her wrist. The watch face showed that she had been exercising for 32 minutes, from 9:42 PM to 10:14 PM, before her death.
Zhuo Xuanya’s body was found on a narrow path only two meters wide, far from the park’s main walkways. The nearest area with significant foot traffic was a pavilion about 40 meters away in a straight line, but the space between was densely wooded. Aside from the main paths, there were no streetlights, so her body wasn’t discovered until a passerby stumbled upon it by chance.
After reviewing the photos, Pang Le couldn’t help but remark, "You have to admit, Sha Junhao chose this location brilliantly. It gave him plenty of time to escape. If we didn’t already know this was premeditated, it really could pass as a random crime of passion."
Ji An nodded. "Initially, the case was treated as a standard homicide, but all leads went cold. Eventually, it was considered a crime of passion."
"How many entrances does this park have, Ji An?" Guan Xia asked.
Ji An retrieved a laptop from a nearby shelf. "There are four—one at each cardinal direction for residents’ convenience. Zhuo Xuanya’s home was closest to the south gate, and she usually entered and exited from there."
"Besides the main entrances, is there any other way in? Could someone climb over the walls?" Pang Le took the laptop from Ji An, suddenly curious.
Ji An thought for a few seconds before shaking her head. "I’ve been to the scene. The park is built against a mountain. Aside from the entrances, the slopes are steep and bare—no vegetation. It’d be nearly impossible for anyone to climb up unnoticed, especially since the surrounding residential areas are densely populated. The crime happened around 10 PM, when most people were home."
Pang Le nodded. "So we just need to check the surveillance footage from the entrances. We’ll definitely catch Sha Junhao."
Though all three were familiar with Sha Junhao’s appearance, Ji An still printed out clear headshots of him and placed one next to each laptop.
Pang Le didn’t start working immediately, instead studying the photo for a few more moments before diving in.
With three people and four entrances to cover, Guan Xia thought it unlikely Sha Junhao had used the south gate and took the north gate footage. Pang Le, on the other hand, believed he might have done the opposite and chose the south gate. Ji An, indifferent, picked the west gate at random.
As it turned out, Guan Xia and Pang Le were both wrong. It wasn’t until past 5 PM that Ji An finally spoke up. "Found him. On my end."
Guan Xia and Pang Le exchanged glances before rushing over.
Guan Xia first checked the timestamp in the top-left corner—September 12, 10:57 PM, just before the park closed.
Pang Le noticed it too. "Sha Junhao’s nerves are something else. He stayed in the park for over half an hour after killing her, leaving only at closing time."
Guan Xia was equally surprised, her mind racing. What had Sha Junhao been doing all that time? Had he lingered to observe whether anyone discovered Zhuo Xuanya’s body? Or had he hidden somewhere to contact Yuan Yue and inform her of the murder?
Her thoughts were cut short as the footage drew her attention.
The camera, mounted on a streetlight to the left of the park gate, provided clear visuals under decent lighting. Sha Junhao, dressed in a black T-shirt and casual pants, was walking alongside a group of young men, seemingly familiar with them. He even had an arm slung around one of them—a buzz-cut guy—grinning as they talked.
The buzz-cut guy was casually spinning a basketball on his fingertips, tossing it up and catching it with practiced ease, clearly passionate about the sport.
"He wasn’t alone?" Pang Le blurted. "Who are these people? Friends? Since when does Sha Junhao have friends in Yongquan City?"
"Not necessarily friends," Guan Xia said. "Sha Junhao was only 21 when this happened two years ago. Remember what Xu Nian’s team said about his background? His social connections were messy, mostly with people on the fringes. He’s far more cunning and mature than his peers. He stayed in the park after killing Zhuo Xuanya—maybe he played basketball to throw off suspicion."
"Good point," Pang Le conceded. "But that just makes him scarier. Playing basketball right after murdering someone? Was this really his first kill?"
Ji An interjected, "So far, there’s no evidence linking him to other homicides. But from what I’ve gathered, Sha Junhao likely fantasized about killing his father, Sha Guoliang, as early as his teens. He probably spent years refining his plan. Even if this was his first actual murder, mentally, he’d been preparing for a long time."
"Still, what a cold-blooded bastard," Pang Le muttered. Then, turning to Ji An, "Does this park have a basketball court?"
Ji An nodded firmly. "Yes, a big one. It’s usually crowded. If Sha Junhao deliberately mingled, blending in would’ve been easy."
"Well, case cracked," Pang Le said, stretching. "Xu Nian’s team already has solid evidence from the Yongquan City case, and now with this footage—even if it’s circumstantial—it’s enough to reopen the cold case."
Ji An agreed. "More than enough. I’ll contact Xu Nian’s colleague after dropping you two at the hotel, and we can book flights tonight."
Having achieved their goal on the first day, Guan Xia and Pang Le couldn’t help but grin. By this time tomorrow, they’d be back in their own beds. Funny how a single day away made them miss home.
With their work done, Ji An busied herself with wrap-up tasks while Guan Xia and Pang Le idly looked around.
The living room of this house had been converted into a simple office, but it was clear that the original decor had been carefully thought out. The color of the sofa and the hues of the paintings on the walls harmonized warmly, creating a cozy atmosphere. The only slightly jarring element was a square clock hanging above the TV wall—gold and white, which still matched the overall aesthetic, though it stood out since few people hung clocks in their homes these days.
Pang Le followed Guan Xia’s gaze and noticed it too. She couldn’t help but turn to Ji An and ask, "Sister Ji, was this house originally decorated by Zhuo Xuanya’s father? Why is there a clock here? I haven’t seen one in years."
Ji An, busy with her work, glanced up briefly and replied, "Zhuo Mingyan bought this place after hearing about plans for a large shopping mall and subway nearby—hoping it would appreciate in value. But the project was relocated a few years later, and selling it would’ve been a loss, so he decided to either live here or rent it out. According to him, Zhuo Xuanya and Yuan Yue decorated it together. Their old home had a clock like this, so they probably kept the habit and hung one here too. Why?"
Guan Xia and Pang Le had only asked out of curiosity, but just as they were about to look away, the system interface suddenly triggered, flashing onto the screen without warning.
Text rapidly appeared, and after a moment of surprise, Guan Xia focused intently on reading it.
You are being questioned by the police. Suddenly, you remember—on June 15th at 3:23 PM, while entering this house with a friend, you vaguely sensed being watched. Unable to find the source, you dismissed it. But the feeling lingered for hours afterward. Cautiously observing your surroundings, you finally noticed something unusual about the clock on the wall. You realize someone has hidden a surveillance camera behind it. You decide to inform the police.
As Guan Xia processed the words on the screen, a chill ran down her spine. This house was the temporary base for Ji An and the others investigating Zhuo Xuanya’s death. The camera was positioned directly above the meeting table—meaning every discussion about the case over the past two years had been under someone’s watchful eye.
Guan Xia didn’t even need to think hard to guess who had installed it. There was no second possibility besides Yuan Yue.
The shift in Guan Xia’s expression was too obvious—one moment curious, the next frozen in alarm. Pang Le noticed immediately, scanning the room warily before asking, "What’s wrong?"
Guan Xia took a moment to steady herself before forcing a calm tone. "It’s nothing. I just remembered I might’ve left the AC on at home. Who knows how much the electricity bill will be."
Pang Le had left for the airport with Guan Xia that morning and knew the AC was off, but she played along with an understanding look. "Oh, right. I left first, so I didn’t turn it off either. Want to text your neighbor to shut it for you?"
Guan Xia feigned resignation. "Guess I have to. Hopefully, they’re home."
With that, she strode back to the meeting table, snatched her phone, and typed rapidly.
Pang Le stayed close, her expression turning horrified as she read the message.
After sending it to Ji An—thankfully, her phone was on silent—Guan Xia waited until Ji An casually glanced at it mid-task before announcing, "It’s getting late. Let’s grab dinner, head back to the hotel, and then I’ll head out."
Pang Le responded quickly, "Yeah, lunch was rushed. I’m starving."
"Alright, Pang Le, turn off the lights. I’ll close the curtains," Ji An said, shutting her laptop. "Let’s hurry before traffic gets bad."
Pang Le practically leaped to the door, flipping the switch and plunging the meeting area into darkness, save for a sliver of light from the kitchen.
Ji An pretended to grumble about Pang Le’s speed as she fumbled toward the window. Meanwhile, Pang Le retreated toward the dining area, pulling out a small device she’d bought online to detect hidden cameras. Sure enough, a tiny red light flickered at the top edge of the clock.
Ji An didn’t delay—she yanked the curtains open seconds later, and Pang Le stashed the device, casually saying to Guan Xia, "Too lazy to walk back. Grab my bag for me? Let’s eat—my stomach’s growling."
Guan Xia obliged, swiftly collecting their bags and joining Pang Le at the door. Ji An followed, and the moment they stepped outside, Pang Le couldn’t contain herself.
The door slammed shut, and Pang Le immediately hissed, "What the hell? A camera in a place like this? Did Yuan Yue plant it? That means she heard everything we just discussed."
One second, things had been going smoothly; the next, this shocking twist. Guan Xia instinctively scanned for more cameras before whispering back, "Zhuo Xuanya and Yuan Yue decorated this place together. Who’d expect her to install surveillance? Now I’m wondering if their old home had one too."
But another worry gnawed at her. Their discussions had repeatedly mentioned Sha Junhao. If Yuan Yue had been remotely monitoring them, she’d know they were closing in on the truth. She might flee—or take drastic action.
"Sister Ji," Guan Xia began, but Ji An was already ahead of her, murmuring urgently, "I’ll contact the Yongquan City police. Guan Xia, call Xu Nian. We can’t wait for more leads—we need to arrest her now."
Pang Le caught on. "We mentioned Sha Junhao just now. She’ll run."
Guan Xia and Ji An didn’t wait—they dialed in the elevator, relieved when the calls connected.
As soon as Xu Nian answered, Guan Xia said, "Xu Nian, things have changed. Yuan Yue will likely flee—or worse."
Guan Xia didn’t voice her suspicions. She still didn’t know Yuan Yue’s motive for killing Zhuo Xuanya, but whether it was out of jealousy or something else, in the current situation, fleeing wasn’t the only possibility—there was also a chance she might harm Zhuo Xuanya’s parents. Of course, that was the worst-case scenario.
Xu Nian stayed silent for a couple of seconds, then responded decisively, not bothering to ask for details. "Alright, I’ll arrange for someone to book our flights right away. We’ll head to Fu’an City as soon as possible."
