SFTD -Chapter 312 Missing Memories (Part 4)

“Heh, calling me like that still feels awkward. Weren’t you the one who used to call me ‘Beauty Chu’ every other sentence?”

“Go on then, what do you want from me?”

After Chu Menghan exposed Xu Biao’s little scheme, he scratched his head with an embarrassed grin.

“Calling you ‘Beauty Chu’ used to be fine, but now it has to be ‘Director Chu.’ Otherwise it’s really disrespectful. Alright, I won’t joke around—let’s get to business.”

“Last night when you all went out for dinner, Wang Xuchao didn’t leave with you. Now he’s been implicated in a murder case. All the evidence is stacking heavily against him. But I can tell that Hai Zi is trying hard to find evidence to clear him. I want you to talk to him.”

Chu Menghan immediately stood up, narrowing her eyes as she gripped the phone tightly.

“Stop beating around the bush. If you’re going to say something, say it clearly—what exactly happened?”

Xu Biao then described everything that had happened at the scene in detail. The more Chu Menghan listened, the tighter her brows furrowed. Regardless of whether Wang Xuchao was the murderer, he was currently the prime suspect. Zhou Hai’s approach—starting from a presumption of innocence and working outward—didn’t fit his usual style at all.

“Alright, I understand. Make sure you thoroughly search the scene. Don’t miss a single corner.”

Without waiting for Xu Biao to respond, she hung up directly.

Xu Biao held the phone, stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

He was worried Zhou Hai might be getting too fixated on this case. The evidence might not yet be “ironclad,” but it was already close to a dead end. If Zhou Hai insisted on clearing Wang Xuchao’s name, unless evidence was altered, it would amount to dereliction of duty. Xu Biao would never allow Zhou Hai to go down that path.

He refocused and quickly organized everyone for a grid-style search. All dust on the floor was lifted for imprint collection. Aside from footprints from security and the first responding officers, they discovered a drag mark and a scuff mark outside the second bedroom, extending from the kitchen.

Xu Biao walked to the kitchen entrance. Seeing the inspection board on the ground, he immediately understood—Zhou Hai had already been here.

He waved Zhang Wenqi over.

“Wenqi, process this kitchen doorway area. See if you can find fingerprints, smear traces, hair, or skin particles.”

Zhang Wenqi immediately got to work. Not long after, he found a long, fine strand of chestnut-brown curly hair. From the color, it clearly matched the victim’s hair.

Other than that, nothing else was found. Xu Biao’s expression grew increasingly serious.

No trace of a third person meant even the last shred of hope was gone.

“You all continue. Don’t miss the upper floors either. I’m heading back to the center to check on the autopsy progress!”

Xiao Liang, Da Liu, and Zhang Wenqi all understood the seriousness of the situation. News that Wang Xuchao was a suspect had already spread quickly. If they couldn’t find anything, his suspicion would only deepen. They immediately resumed work.

Xu Biao drove back to the center and rushed straight into the first autopsy room.

Inside, Fengzi and Zhao Xinli, along with a trainee from Team Three, were conducting the examination. Zhou Hai was not in the room.

Xu Biao was still not in protective gear, so he did not approach the autopsy table.

“How’s it going? Any findings?” he asked.

Fengzi looked up and rolled his eyes.

“Are you trying to rush us to death?”

“The autopsy isn’t finished yet, but we can confirm the cause of death is mechanical asphyxiation, and there are no signs of sexual assault.”

Xu Biao nodded.

“Extract everything possible. We need to find third-party DNA on the body. Otherwise, Wang Xuchao is really finished this time.”

Fengzi and Zhao Xinli both understood the severity and immediately continued their work—stomach contents, cardiac blood, hair, fingernail scrapings… everything that could be collected was taken.

The trainee carried a large tray upstairs for lab submission.

Xu Biao left the autopsy room and went to Zhou Hai’s office on the second floor.

The door was locked. Empty inside.

For Zhou Hai to leave without telling anyone—that alone made Xu Biao increasingly uneasy.

He quickly dialed Zhou Hai’s number.

No answer.

He called again.

Still no answer.

Not in the office. Not answering the phone. Where had he gone?

Xu Biao suddenly felt a chill creep up his spine.

Had Hai Zi gone off on his own?

At that moment, Xu Biao’s phone rang again—Chu Menghan calling.

He immediately answered.

“Hello? Are you with Zhou Hai?”

“Why isn’t he answering his phone? It’s either busy or unreachable. What exactly is going on?”

Xu Biao was breathing heavily, sweat forming on his grip.

“I’m not with him. He said he’d return to the center after the scene. But when I got back, he wasn’t in the autopsy room or his office. I’ve called him repeatedly—no answer. I have no idea where he is.”

Chu Menghan fell silent instantly.

No idea where he is?

Xu Biao suddenly thought of something.

“Do you think he might’ve gone to the Criminal Police team? Did he go see Wang Xuchao?”

Chu Menghan shook her head after thinking from Zhou Hai’s perspective.

“No. There’s no point in seeing Wang Xuchao now. You said he remembers nothing.”

“Then—”

“Could he have gone to that Old Soldier KTV from last night?”

---

At the same time, in front of Old Soldier KTV.

Zhou Hai and Xiao Liu got out of the car and waited briefly. A small Polo car pulled up behind them. Xiao Hu arrived, escorting a thin middle-aged woman. From Xiao Hu’s respectful demeanor, it was clear he greatly respected her.

Zhou Hai quickly stepped forward. Xiao Hu introduced her:

“Teacher Cheng, this is Zhou Hai, deputy director of our forensic center.”

“Hello, Teacher Cheng. Sorry to trouble you this time.”

Teacher Cheng nodded calmly.

“Everyone is busy. Let’s not waste time. Take me to the surveillance footage.”

People in technical fields tended to be straightforward. Zhou Hai was naturally fine with that. Xiao Liu led them into the KTV.

Previously, he and Zhou Hai had already reviewed the footage here once. They quickly located the video from last night. However, due to equipment limitations, they couldn’t export it, so they had to analyze it on-site.

The four of them went upstairs to the surveillance room. The security guard stepped aside. Xiao Hu sat down and quickly located the clip: Wang Xuchao leaving the private room, then being stopped by a woman in red.

He rewound and slowed the playback.

Teacher Cheng adjusted her thick glasses and held a voice recorder.

“Play at 0.8x speed. Start.”

The video began.

A woman in the adjacent room stepped out, glanced at Wang Xuchao twice, then called out.

Female voice: “Are you Wang Xuchao, Brother Wang?”

Wang Xuchao paused, turned around, and looked at the woman in red, thinking for a moment before recognizing her.

Male voice: “You’re… the younger sister of Yu Xiurong, Xiuhong, right?”

Female voice: “Brother Wang really has a good memory… you still remember me…”

“My sister’s case… thank you for your help. I really don’t know how to thank you.”

Male voice: “Don’t think too much. I didn’t actually help much in that case. I still feel a bit guilty. It was a case in my jurisdiction, and leaving it unresolved has been troubling. Don’t dwell on it too much. If new evidence appears, we’ll investigate properly. Even without your sister’s connection, I won’t give up the investigation.”

Female voice: “Mm… I actually… still need your help—”

At this point, she brushed her hair back, and her mouth was blocked from view.

Xiao Hu switched to another camera angle.

“This one—can we see it?”

Teacher Cheng watched again and shook her head, looking at Zhou Hai.

“That sentence can’t be seen.”

Zhou Hai frowned slightly.

“Forget it. Let’s continue watching.”