Chapter 13: Who are those two people?

Lin Rang is dead.

As soon as Yu Yan walked into the Company, she heard this shocking news.

“They say he died a terrible death, not even a complete corpse left. The Police are upstairs questioning people right now!”

“What happened? I just saw him yesterday—how could he be gone today?”

“Sigh, who knows. It’s creepy no matter how you look at it………………”

Yu Yan almost thought she’d misheard.

Lin Rang, dead?

So suddenly?

She put her things away and was about to listen some more when Chen Feifei walked over.

“Little Yu, do you have a moment?” Chen Feifei’s expression was grave. “The Police want to ask you a few questions……………”

Yu Yan was slightly taken aback. “Where?”

“In the Conference Room.”

“…Got it. I’ll go right now.” She quickly regained her composure, picked up her phone, and headed in the direction of the Conference Room.

Was it just a coincidence? She’d been dealing with the Police way too often lately.

Yu Yan arrived at the Conference Room, knocked on the door, and after getting the signal, pushed it open and went inside.

“You’re Yu Yan?”

The Police officer sitting at the table flipped through some files. His businesslike tone instinctively made people nervous.

It wasn’t the two officers she was familiar with before; it seemed unrelated to the previous Homicide.

Yu Yan nodded. “Yes.”

“What’s your relationship with Lin Rang?” The Police officer glanced up at her.

“Just coworkers,” Yu Yan replied. “We’ve spoken a few times, but we’re not close.”

“Is that so?” The Police officer’s eyes were sharp. “Then why have we heard that you’ve met with him alone several times recently, and that your relationship is… ambiguous?”

It had already gotten that far?

Yu Yan’s expression remained calm. “Those are just Rumors spread by Lin Rang. I have nothing to do with him. He’s the one who wanted something with me.”

“Do you have proof?”

Yu Yan said in confusion, “Didn’t you check his phone? The chat records should be clear, or you could check the surveillance footage.”

Hearing this, the Police officer exchanged a look with his colleague. “We’ve already checked the surveillance—there’s nothing suspicious. As for the phon—”

Yu Yan: “What about the phone?”

“Lin Rang’s phone was destroyed,” the Police officer said gravely. “Someone said Lin Rang privately messaged you yesterday. Is that true?”

Yu Yan thought for a moment, then took her phone out of her pocket. “We did chat in private, but it was only a few messages.”

“Here’s the chat record.”

She found her chat record with Lin Rang and slid her phone over to the two officers.

They took her phone, looked through it carefully, took some photos, then asked, “What do you mean by Rumors? What exactly happened between you and Lin Rang?”

Yu Yan answered without hesitation: “Just what it sounds like. He was spreading false Rumors about me and him in the Company. I confronted him when I found out. He denied it, and after that, I didn’t talk to him anymore.”

The Police officer: “Why would he spread those Rumors about you two? Did you do something?”

“Why so many whys?” Yu Yan frowned. “Because I rejected his advances and he got angry. Is that so hard to understand?”

The Police officer across from her seemed surprised by her sudden firmness, considering how gentle she looked, and was left speechless.

“Sorry, we just want to clarify things, that’s all. No other intention,” another female Police officer chimed in just in time. “So you didn’t see Lin Rang yesterday, right?”

“No,” Yu Yan replied, her tone returning to calm.

“All right, thank you for your cooperation.” The female Police officer handed her phone back.

Yu Yan put away her phone, nodded, and got up to leave the Conference Room.

The Police investigated in the Company the whole day. As Lin Rang’s supervisor and coworker, everyone in the department got called in for questioning.

Yu Yan was forced to hear a lot more detailed information.

Apparently, it was a passerby out for a morning run who found Lin Rang. His corpse was in pieces by the roadside, his head had rolled into the greenery, blood everywhere, which gave the passerby quite a scare.

There was no surveillance on that street.

Nobody knew how he died.

But the Police had already confirmed with Splendid Garden that Lin Rang had left the neighborhood alone at midnight and never returned.

Given that everyone had to show up for work half an hour early today, it was unlikely Lin Rang would go out at midnight just to clear his head.

In other words, he probably arranged to meet someone at that time and ended up being murdered, decapitated.

At present, the Police were focusing on why Lin Rang left so late and what happened after, but his phone was already destroyed, and there were no other witnesses at that hour.

The investigation would be very difficult.

Yu Yan didn’t care about any of this.

Lin Rang had spread nasty Rumors about her before. People like him dying was no great loss.

Still, this was already the second Homicide this month… Fuyin City really didn’t feel safe lately. She’d have to be more careful when going out from now on.

Night fell, and the streets were bustling with people.

Yu Yan followed the map to the Model Company office building, greeted the Receptionist, and was led to where He Shuliu worked.

As soon as she walked in, the lights dazzled her eyes.

“Yan Yan?”

He Shuliu’s voice rang out from a distance. Yu Yan raised her hand to shield her eyes, looking in the direction of the sound.

In the crowd, He Shuliu stood out with his tall figure, his eyes shining under the lights, staring straight at her.

Probably for the photoshoot, he was rarely dressed in a black suit, shirt unbuttoned to the second button, his tie loosely knotted, exuding a hint of casual laziness amid the abstinence.

The suit wasn’t fully tailored, but it fit him perfectly, showing off his broad shoulders and long legs to the fullest.

…He looked quite good.

Yu Yan pressed her lips together, giving a silent thumbs-up in her mind to the stylist.

“I’ll go over there for a bit,” He Shuliu told the staff gathered around, then strode straight toward her.

“What brings you here?” He stopped in front of Yu Yan, his eyes bright as he looked at her. “Tired?”

“I didn’t take the shuttle bus today, so I just thought I’d come see you.” Yu Yan asked quietly, “Are you still shooting? Otherwise I can wait for you outside?”

“No need.” He Shuliu answered quickly, as if afraid she really would go out. “The shoot is already over. Just wait for me a few more minutes.”

“Oh……” Yu Yan nodded, half-understanding. “Is that the Photographer? He seems to be calling you.”

He Shuliu turned to glance at the Photographer who was beckoning him, a flash of impatience in his eyes.

“I’ll go over for a moment,” he said to Yu Yan softly.

Yu Yan nodded and sat down on an empty bench nearby.

Seeing she had no intention of leaving, He Shuliu finally relaxed and returned to the studio area.

The staff immediately crowded around again, many of them young and beautiful women. He Shuliu handled them with ease, showing none of his usual cold and moody demeanor.

So he could be sociable when he wanted, and do it very well.

Yu Yan felt a bit reassured, but also a faint, indescribable sourness in her chest.

Maybe she was just hungry.

She gently rubbed the edge of her phone, refocused, and started searching for nearby restaurants.

He Shuliu listened absentmindedly to the Photographer’s endless chatter, but his gaze never left Yu Yan.

When he saw her look down, her attention no longer on the studio, his polite smile vanished, replaced by a cold impatience as he glared at the Photographer.

“Are you done?”

“Huh?” The Photographer was startled by his sudden change of expression. “Yes, but we should exchange contact info so it’s convenient for next time…”

Before he could finish, He Shuliu was already striding away without a backward glance.

He walked quickly, deliberately avoiding anyone who tried to approach, his back radiating an aura of ‘keep your distance’—the earlier warmth was completely gone.

The Photographer was dumbfounded.

…What’s with this guy? How can he change faces so quickly?

Yu Yan was browsing restaurant reviews when a long, clean hand suddenly covered her screen.

“Yan Yan,”

He Shuliu leaned down a little, his dark, soft hair brushing in front of her eyes. “It’s done. Shall we go?”

“So fast?” Yu Yan looked up and saw he’d already changed back into his own clothes.

“Fast?” He Shuliu blinked. “I think it was already slow.”

Yu Yan looked around. The staff had dispersed, but a few still kept sneaking glances at them, whispering together about something.

Maybe they thought she didn’t belong here?

After all, she wasn’t an employee.

Yu Yan didn’t think much of it. She stood up and said, “Let’s go then.”

The two of them left the Company building, but instead of going straight home, they headed to a nearby Shopping Mall.

It was said there was a Seafood Restaurant here that was quite good, so Yu Yan decided to try it.

It was rush hour, and the Shopping Mall was packed. Luckily, the Seafood Restaurant Yu Yan wanted had plenty of seats, so they didn’t have to wait in line.

After picking a spot and ordering, Yu Yan leaned over to He Shuliu and said, “I’m going to the restroom.”

He Shuliu was straightforward: “I’ll go with you.”

“No need, you stay here and keep the seats. I’ll be right back.” Yu Yan didn’t give him a chance to get up, grabbing her bag and leaving.

He Shuliu’s gaze followed her tightly.

Only after she walked out of the restaurant did that intense feeling of being watched finally fade.

Yu Yan subconsciously touched her chest—this guy’s separation anxiety had really gotten worse, hadn’t it?

She let out a long sigh, putting it out of her mind for the moment, and followed the signs to the restroom.

The Shopping Mall restrooms were just as crowded.

Yu Yan finally squeezed out and was about to return to the Seafood Restaurant when two strangers suddenly blocked her way.

“Hi, are you local?”

A woman with long, wavy hair spoke politely.

Yu Yan took a closer look. The woman had striking features, exquisite makeup, and gave off an elegant vibe.

“Sort of,” Yu Yan replied. “Is something wrong?”

“Great!” The curly-haired beauty smiled happily. “My brother and I are from out of town and don’t know the area at all. Could you tell us if there are any nice hotels nearby?”

Yu Yan was a little suspicious. “Didn’t you book ahead?”

“We did, but this idiot somehow didn’t manage it, so I came for nothing—he’s just hopeless.” The beauty shot a glare at the man beside her, who looked aggrieved but didn’t argue.

Yu Yan followed her gaze to the man.

He was quite handsome, but the two didn’t really look like siblings—more like peers.

“Sorry, I’m not very familiar either. You’d better check online.” Yu Yan apologized and was about to leave.

“Wait, don’t go!” The curly-haired beauty quickly stopped her.

“We don’t want to bother you, but both our phones are out of battery. If you like, I’ll pay you—could we borrow your phone to look it up?”

Yu Yan sighed to herself.

She wasn’t the helpful type, but the woman was so sincere, and a beauty at that—it’d be awkward to refuse.

She took her phone out of her bag. “You don’t have to pay, but I need to eat, so I can’t let you take too long.”

“Thank you! You’re so kind and beautiful!” The woman was truly grateful, and after taking the phone, expertly opened the search app.

To be safe, Yu Yan watched from the side and searched for nearby hotels together.

The beauty’s brother remained silent, but his gaze occasionally lingered on Yu Yan.

Once they found a hotel, the beauty thanked her sincerely. “Really, thank you so much! Let me give you a little present?”

“No need,” Yu Yan smiled gently. “Go book your hotel. I need to go eat too.”

Seeing she insisted, the beauty didn’t push it.

She dragged her silent brother away, smiling and waving at Yu Yan as they left.

Yu Yan withdrew her gaze and was about to turn toward the restaurant when a tall, imposing figure suddenly blocked her path.

She looked up and saw He Shuliu’s long, pale neck.

“Yan Yan,” He Shuliu narrowed his eyes, scanning the bustling crowd, “who were those two?”