By the time Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing arrived at the crime scene, night had quietly fallen. Though the festive atmosphere of the wedding had only just been shattered, their focus had already shifted from celebration to determination. The wedding decorations still lingered faintly in their minds, yet the case before them served as a stark reminder that duty could never be left behind.
"Shen Wei, what's the situation?" Lu Chenzhou headed straight to the command center and immediately asked when he saw Shen Wei waiting nearby.
"The case involves a young woman who was brutally murdered. The scene is very complex." Shen Wei flipped through the documents in her hand, her brows furrowed and her tone grim. "The victim was the heir to a prominent local business association. When the body was discovered, it was already cold, and no apparent murder weapon was left behind."
"Any suspicious clues found?" Su Wanqing followed closely behind, her expression calm, eyes sharp as blades sweeping over the scene.
"There were no signs of a struggle, but there are some strange traces," Shen Wei continued, pointing to a small fragment on the ground. "This is a piece of a battery, likely a component from some high-tech device. There are also faint traces of liquid that seem to be related to a chemical substance."
Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing exchanged a glance. With their years of experience, they quickly recognized that this wasn't just a simple murder case. The battery fragment and chemical traces hinted at a more complex background.
"Alright, let's split up," Lu Chenzhou instructed decisively. "Wanqing, you come with me to investigate the victim's background. Shen Wei, continue searching the scene, especially that battery fragment. Lin Shen, check the surveillance around the area."
"Understood." The team immediately dispersed and got to work.
Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing entered a room that had already been sealed off by the police. The victim's personal belongings were scattered around. A few seemingly ordinary business books sat on a shelf in the corner. The room was simply furnished but carried a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
"What was the victim's name?" Su Wanqing confirmed the identity from a document she was reading.
"Li Ruolin, just twenty-six years old," Lu Chenzhou replied, picking up a family photo from the desk. In the photo, Li Ruolin's smile was radiant, as if her life had never known turmoil. But now, that life had ended in an instant.
"A business association heir? Looks like there's quite a bit of hidden conflict behind this," Su Wanqing said with a frown, her gaze drifting out the window as if deep in thought.
"I suspect her death is tied to her family background and internal strife within the business association," Lu Chenzhou said thoughtfully. "If we start with her family connections, we might uncover more clues. Let's first talk to her family and the association members."
They quickly made their way to the Li family residence. On the way, Lu Chenzhou pulled out his phone and called Shen Wei. "Shen Wei, have you found any more clues about that battery fragment?"
"Yes, we've identified something crucial," Shen Wei replied over the phone. "The fragment is from a battery used in a high-end security system—most likely part of an electronic lock. It could have been how the killer gained entry to the house."
"Good. That's a lead worth pursuing." Lu Chenzhou hung up, a clearer direction forming in his mind.
At the Li residence, the butler greeted them. The house was filled with a heavy atmosphere; the family members looked deeply shaken. Li Ruolin's mother had red-rimmed eyes and was holding a childhood photo of her daughter, clearly in emotional turmoil.
"May I ask if you could tell us a bit about Li Ruolin?" Lu Chenzhou asked gently, breaking the silence. "Was she having any trouble recently?"
Li Ruolin's mother lifted her head, her eyes full of grief and confusion. "Ruolin was always such a good girl. She had her own company and had been busy with the association lately. But she did seem to be facing some difficulties... though we didn't know the details."
"Difficulties?" Su Wanqing pressed gently. "Could you elaborate?"
"Yes... there's been some discord within the association recently. Her role as heir made her a focal point of attention. Her relationships with her uncle and cousins became increasingly strained," her mother said, pausing with a complex look in her eyes. "Once, she even told me she felt like someone was watching her."
Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing exchanged a glance, quickly realizing the complexity of the situation. Li Ruolin's death likely stemmed from a power struggle within the business association—perhaps even involving her own family.
"We'll need to speak with her colleagues and the association's members," Lu Chenzhou said seriously. "Thank you for your help."
Back at the scene, after intense investigation and deduction, they finally found a breakthrough. Analyzing the electronic devices at the scene, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing discovered that the victim's phone had received a call on the day of the murder—from a high-ranking member of the business association. The contents of that call were highly suspicious.
At the same time, a text message on her phone caught their attention. It mentioned a massive business transaction—one that concealed a potentially illegal money laundering operation.
Further investigation revealed that Li Ruolin's cousin, Zhang Dong, played a central role in the transaction. Tensions between him and the victim had been escalating. After a detailed analysis, Lu Chenzhou identified the prime suspect: Zhang Dong, a high-level figure within the business association.
They wasted no time and launched a manhunt. After a tense pursuit, Zhang Dong was successfully apprehended. Under police interrogation, he eventually confessed: driven by a power struggle and personal gain, he had orchestrated and carried out Li Ruolin's murder to seize control of the business assets she held.
The truth was finally revealed, and the murderer brought to justice. Standing at the crime scene, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. Though the wedding had been interrupted, they knew they had fulfilled their duty—protecting justice and uncovering the truth.
"Another emergency case, solved just in time." Su Wanqing looked at Lu Chenzhou with a small smile, her tone finally relaxed.
"At least we faced it together," Lu Chenzhou replied, gently taking her hand, his eyes full of resolve.