SFTD -Chapter 105 Where Did the Tadpoles Go? (Part 2)

Fengzi nodded. “Yes, I took the photos.”

As he spoke, he opened the computer beside the autopsy table. On the large LCD screen next to him, all of the deceased’s X-ray images appeared. Zhou Hai gestured with his fingers, signaling Fengzi to flip through the scans continuously.

On the skull images, they found a surgical site at the temporal region—a clear linear healing mark. It was caused by an object with a right-angled edge. Combined with the old abrasions and bruises on the deceased’s legs, Zhou Hai immediately understood.

“This fracture is more than two years old. Did the deceased fall before, maybe down stairs?”

“From the external examination, the cause of death is drowning. However, the skull injury was inflicted while she was still alive. We can’t rule out the possibility that this blow caused her to fall into the water.”

“Where did Captain Huang go?”

Fengzi shrugged. “After they sent the body over, they immediately went to verify the victim’s identity. They didn’t expect the family to arrive so quickly.”

“We brought the body back, but Captain Huang hadn’t returned yet. Director Pang sent Team Leader Liu down to take a look. He said it looked like an accidental death and that we could just sign it off and hand it over to the family.”

“Then he hurried off with a few others. As for Deputy Forensic Doctor Ding, when he saw the family coming to claim the body, he brought people over.”

Fengzi curled his lips. “They’re trying to take the body! If we hadn’t come back in time, I think they would’ve started fighting. Don’t worry, I already took photos in advance so they can’t twist the story. This case was brought back for review by Brother Liu. If they’re unhappy, they can go complain to him!”

Zhou Hai took off his gloves and mask. “Alright, I’ll talk to the family.”

He walked out of the autopsy room. Fengzi followed like a bodyguard.

The elderly couple had already calmed down. They stood holding each other’s hands tightly, staring at the ground. When they saw Zhou Hai come out, they quickly stood up.

“Officer… was it really an accident?”

Zhou Hai nodded and led them into a nearby interview room. Fengzi closed the door and poured them some water.

Zhou Hai then took the camera from Fengzi and showed partial photos of Zhang Miaomiao.

“I know this may make you uncomfortable, but I need to explain everything clearly.”

“According to our examination, Zhang Miaomiao was someone who regularly ran and exercised, and she had professional coaching.”

“About two years ago, she suffered a fall injury—likely from stairs or a narrow elevated place—damaging the right temporal region of her skull, here above the ear.”

“She underwent a craniotomy at the time. Judging by the depressed fracture pattern, bone fragments likely impacted the brain. Injuries in this area can sometimes cause significant personality changes.”

“Additionally, based on her dental occlusion, she appears to be a highly competitive and easily anxious person. Her work pressure must have been very high. She also had severe suppurative tonsillitis that went untreated for a long time, indicating a lack of rest.”

“You two were aware of all this, correct?”

The couple froze in shock, exchanging glances. Zhang Miaomiao’s father immediately wrapped his arm around her mother’s shoulder as tears burst from his eyes.

“This officer is very professional…”

“He’s trying to convince us. I just checked the legal provisions—if it is suspected homicide, police can perform an autopsy directly without family consent. They’re doing this already. It’s not easy for them. Let’s agree.”

Mrs. Zhang nodded silently, her shoulders trembling.

Zhou Hai held Mr. Zhang’s hand. “I will speak for your daughter. Everything I just said is also to show you our capability. Trust us—we won’t let the murderer go free.”

“This is the best closure for Zhang Miaomiao.”

The couple bowed deeply. “We’re entrusting our daughter to you.”

Zhou Hai quickly helped them sit down. “Zhang Miaomiao didn’t live with you, right?”

Mr. Zhang sighed. “We got married a year after her mother passed away. Miaomiao was only in sixth grade then. We thought she would accept it, but she reacted strongly and argued with me. In anger, I slapped her.”

“After she entered middle school, she chose to live at boarding school. Her grades were excellent, and she was later admitted to a top law university.”

“We didn’t understand at first, but later realized she was trying to escape my control and avoid seeing us.”

“After her master’s degree, we didn’t even know where she worked.”

“Until a friend involved in a property dispute met her at Dongnan Yuanding Law Firm. That’s how we found her. I went to see her a few times, but every visit ended badly. She wouldn’t even give us her phone number.”

“Until that accident—she argued with her ex-boyfriend Li Liqun and fell down the stairs. My sister happened to be her attending doctor and called us.”

“During her recovery, I realized she had changed. She was no longer the aggressive, sharp-tongued lawyer. She even said thank you to me. My daughter had come back.”

“After that, although we didn’t live together, we talked every week. She would come home once a month. Our relationship improved. Just two days ago, my wife even suggested transferring both of our houses into Miaomiao’s name.”

“Who would’ve thought something like this would happen…”

Fengzi leaned over with his notebook.

“Uncle Zhang, who is this Li Liqun you mentioned?”

Mr. Zhang sighed and opened his WeChat contacts, handing a phone number to Fengzi. The profile picture showed a man with extremely short shaved sides, an “X” design carved into the hair, and a small tied ponytail on top—very trendy.

“This is Li Liqun’s contact. He even called me last week, wanting to visit our home, but I refused.”

“Li Liqun is a fitness coach at Tiandi Huayi Fitness Center. Miaomiao’s interest in fitness probably came from him.”

“But he has a terrible temper. Miaomiao’s last accident happened when they argued—he accidentally pushed her down the stairs.”

“Even though Miaomiao didn’t pursue it, he kept harassing her—and us.”

“Where did that previous accident happen?”

Mr. Zhang looked at Zhou Hai firmly. “In the emergency staircase of her law firm. If it had been somewhere else, who knows if anyone would’ve even discovered it.”

Zhou Hai narrowed his eyes, surprised.

“You mean Li Liqun didn’t take her to the hospital?”

Mr. Zhang shook his head. “That’s exactly why we dislike him. His temper is too foul.”

Mrs. Zhang hesitated, as if she wanted to say something.

Zhou Hai softened his tone. “Auntie, please feel free to say anything.”

Mrs. Zhang clenched her fingers tightly. “Miaomiao… seemed to be in love recently. Over the past year, she dressed much more gently than before. She used to only wear professional suits.”

“Last New Year’s Day, when I cleaned her house, I found many bright and beautiful clothes in her wardrobe—things she never used to like.”

Women are often more sensitive to this. Seeing Mrs. Zhang’s cautious expression, Zhou Hai felt a pang of emotion. A woman who never had children, who finally gained her stepdaughter’s acceptance—only to end up burying her.

“Do you know who her current boyfriend is?”