Chapter 52 - 051: Suspicion

Words : 1266 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 52 - 051: Suspicion "I want to get into stock trading too. Can you teach me?" Jin Yunzhi looked at her with hopeful eyes. His slightly rounded cheeks carried a touch of cuteness amidst his delicate features. No one could bear to refuse him when he looked at them with such starry eyes. Yu Zhi curled her lips into a smile. "Sure." She happened to know a little about trading—it wasn't a big deal. Her straightforward agreement left Shi Wei momentarily surprised. Leaning against the sofa, he quietly observed Yu Zhi, a glimmer flashing through his deep, inscrutable eyes. He suddenly felt an intense curiosity about how many secrets she might still be hiding. Jin Yunzhi immediately grew excited. Hugging a throw pillow, his body leaned forward slightly. "Can I learn right now?" He had always acted on impulse, eager to immediately learn anything that piqued his interest. Now, hearing about how profitable stock trading could be, he felt as though millions were waving at him invitingly. Since she had nothing better to do, Yu Zhi pulled out her laptop from her backpack. She sat down on the carpet between the two of them. "I'll start by setting up an account for you." Yu Zhi opened her laptop, her fingers danced across the keyboard. Within seconds, a new page popped up on the screen. Pointing at the candlestick chart on the monitor, she began explaining to Jin Yunzhi: "This blue line, the M120, is the six-month average. The dark red M20 is the annual average. The yellow line, MA5, represents the five-day average..." Shi Wei watched her hands move deftly over the keyboard. The smile on his lips deepened as he closed his eyes, quietly enjoying the crisp, clear sound of her voice echoing in his ears, almost savoring it. Meanwhile, elsewhere— Xu Linchuan sat at a table, his fingers tapping against the surface in uneven but oddly deliberate patterns. His gaze carried an appraising sharpness as he stared at the man sitting across from him. "Do you know the deceased neighbor upstairs?" Yang Bin's face was unkempt with stubble, and his hair, almost to his shoulders, looked as though it hadn't been tended to in a long time. Whenever he lowered his head, his face was completely hidden by the messy curtain of hair. Facing Xu Linchuan's probing gaze, Yang Bin replied with striking composure, "I've seen them a few times." Xu Linchuan pressed on, "When did you meet? What did you talk about?" "I don't remember the exact times, but apart from greeting each other, we didn't talk about much else." "Where were you tonight?" "At home." Hearing this, Xu Linchuan said nothing, continuing to lock eyes with Yang Bin, searching for any flickers of emotion beneath his calm facade. Unfortunately, he found none. The man before him seemed entirely consistent in his demeanor, as if he spoke the absolute truth when claiming he and the deceased upstairs were mere acquaintances. Xu Linchuan pondered in silence for a moment, then stood up. "Mind if I look around your place?" He didn't have a search warrant, so permission was necessary. Otherwise, barging into someone's private home would constitute illegal trespassing. Yang Bin agreed readily and even generously guided Xu Linchuan on a tour around the apartment. The place was dimly lit—not only was the overhead lighting weak, but every single curtain was drawn tightly shut, giving the rooms a suffocating atmosphere. Xu Linchuan casually surveyed his surroundings. From details like the personal belongings scattered about, he deduced that Yang Bin was the quintessential recluse. As he strolled at an unhurried pace, he brought up a question as though in passing. "Do you live alone?" Yang Bin grunted in affirmation. "My parents prefer the countryside for retirement and don't want to live with me." "Nowadays, many seniors enjoy a peaceful life away from the city. It makes sense." "Yeah, they're always hoping I'll move back too." Xu Linchuan chuckled softly and shifted the conversation. "So, have you ever had a girlfriend?" "Someone like me... who would even consider it?" Yang Bin shook his head with a touch of self-mockery, a flicker of insecurity flashing through his eyes. "Don't lose hope. Maybe you just haven't met the right person yet." "Maybe." "..." The two chatted idly about random topics, eventually arriving at the kitchen. Xu Linchuan's attention was drawn to a conspicuous cardboard box on the countertop. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "What's inside that box?" Following his gaze, Yang Bin's expression remained neutral. "A friend gave me some chickens." As an afterthought, he added, "Want to take a look?" "Sure. It's been a while since I've seen live poultry," Xu Linchuan replied, stepping forward without hesitation to open the box. The moment his eyes landed on the two blood-soaked, lifeless chickens inside, he had to admit—he was startled. Especially when those blank, unseeing eyes seemed to stare back at him, it sent a chill down his spine. Yang Bin moved closer, a hint of apology in his tone. "I was just about to tell you they were dead so you'd be mentally prepared, but you opened it before I could." Xu Linchuan forced a smile and withdrew his hand as if unaffected. "Why not get rid of them?" It was the first time he'd ever encountered someone keeping dead chickens at home—especially ones with such haunting expressions. Yang Bin casually closed the box. "I don't know how to pluck them and haven't had the chance to take them to the market yet." Xu Linchuan feigned acceptance, though skepticism lingered. "I see." Subtly, he observed Yang Bin, a strong intuition welling up inside him—something about this man felt undeniably connected to the case. Yet, frustratingly, every move he made was flawless, leaving no room for doubt or mistakes. Xu Linchuan let out a quiet sigh, patting Yang Bin on the shoulder. "Thanks for cooperating today. I'll take my leave now." Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the slight tremor in Yang Bin's hands at the moment they made contact. Just as Xu Linchuan turned to leave, Yang Bin stepped forward to block his path. "You came by today just to investigate me, didn't you?" Standing against the light, his wayward hair obscured most of his face, making it impossible to discern his expression. "Apologies, it's just protocol that I have to follow," Xu Linchuan explained matter-of-factly. Yang Bin nodded. "I see." The two walked to the entryway together, where Yang Bin opened the door to let his guest out. "I won't see you off." Xu Linchuan maintained his polite demeanor with a faint smile. "No need. Thanks for your time." As the sound of the door closed behind him, silence reclaimed the apartment. Yang Bin leaned against the security door, breathing heavily as if he'd just emerged from water. Pressing a hand to his chest, he lightly patted himself, and his expression underwent a fleeting transformation. He peered through the peephole, holding his breath as he tracked Xu Linchuan's movements outside. Even as the man reached the elevator, Yang Bin stayed in place, waiting patiently. A few minutes passed, and Xu Linchuan reappeared, knocking on the door directly across from Yang Bin's. A flicker of something dark swept through Yang Bin's eyes. "So it's her after all." In the dim bedroom, cold laughter echoed, sending shivers through the oppressive air.

Chapter 52 - 051: Suspicion

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