Simulated Crime, This Criminal Doesn't Seem to Be Acting-Chapter 75

People possess a sixth sense, which is particularly evident in those who are highly intelligent and a bit psychopathic.

This is a sense of danger encoded in their genes.

Almost at first glance, Ye Sangsang knew that the challenge of this instance would likely involve a game of wits with the other party.

The question was, would she outsmart them or fall short?

【The real test is here, a police inspection. I can't help but feel helpless, not knowing which side to support. Logically, I should side with the police and have Sangsang Ye arrested.】

【This doesn't seem like an ordinary traffic police; they're in plainclothes.】

【The leading policeman has a unique aura.】

The live-stream audience began heatedly discussing, with many noticing the anomaly and discussing the police Ye Sangsang encountered.

Ye Sangsang's gaze didn't linger on them, pretending not to recognize their police identity. She calmly pushed her cart and moved to the side, as the place was too crowded.

The policeman, however, scanned the room, pausing briefly on each person's face.

Ye Sangsang didn't draw much attention to herself.

She wasn't surprised, as she felt no guilt and showed no signs of avoidance or guilt-ridden expressions.

"Police, clear the area. We're going in to take a look," the policeman showed his credentials, waving it around to the crowd, then frowned and chased everyone out.

Another policeman did the same, and afterward, he set up a yellow police tape to keep onlookers and hotel staff at bay.

"Everyone, get out. Back away. Do you want your information left at the scene for the police to investigate?"

The policeman setting up the tape frowned at the curious onlookers.

Hearing this, the bystanders scattered like frightened birds, fearing getting involved.

In an instant, the area outside the room emptied.

But the makeup artist, her assistant, the bride's friends, and the hotel manager and staff were still there, filling the corridor with seven or eight people.

The manager looked as if he had constipation, knowing that a hanging suicide in his hotel would severely impact business. His boss would be furious.

He quickly pondered how to minimize the damage, reducing the impact and preventing news of the incident from spreading.

Ye Sangsang turned to leave, heading to another vacated room. She opened the door and quietly began cleaning.

The door remained open, and Ye Sangsang was keen to hear some gossip.

The room she was cleaning was directly across from the bride's room, the doors of both rooms open, only four to five meters apart. She could barely hear the conversation from across the way.

Whether or not she was the culprit, she'd want to hear details about the situation.

Even if someone noticed the door open, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Though if the voices were too low, she wouldn't be able to hear.

"I was about to clock out, just because we're nearby, they sent us here. I just want to sleep," one policeman muttered as he moved around.

The other policeman, with a deeper, more serious tone, reluctantly spoke, "Less talk, more work. Once we're done, we can rest."

"By the way, have you notified the forensic and trace evidence teams?"

"Notified them on the way. But you know, things have been busy because of that case... otherwise, it wouldn't have fallen to us..."

The muttering policeman sighed, though reluctantly, he remained professional in assessing the scene.

In the next room, there was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of movement, as they determined whether the deceased had died by suicide.

After someone died, the police needed to observe and inspect the scene to determine if it was suicide or homicide.

If it was suicide, there was no need to file a case; the family could simply obtain a death certificate and handle the burial.

Homicide was a different matter. It required filing a case, investigating, catching the murderer, and then proceeding with the standard death process.

Now, they were surveying the scene, making an initial judgment. The forensic and trace evidence teams would check if the person was already dead before hanging and if there were any signs of physical harm.

"The hanging is recent; the body is still warm," the talkative policeman touched the corpse, his tone tinged with curiosity.

The other policeman approached, "The neck was broken upon hanging, with signs of struggle, likely instinctive. The only suspicious part is the early morning hanging; typically, people are more vulnerable at night, while morning is when the mind is clear."

"Once the family arrives, we can ask about the deceased's situation."

"I checked, the doors and windows were all closed, and the door was locked upon entry. I see the hotel has surveillance; we'll check that to see who came and went, and that should give us the truth."

"If the groom has any defects, it's possible the bride couldn't take it and chose to end her life."

The two policemen discussed the matter in a matter-of-fact tone.

For experienced cops, dead bodies were commonplace. A potential suicide didn't stir much emotion.

After they finished talking, the trace evidence team arrived.

The forensic examiner checked and removed the body from the twisted sheet used as a noose. The others began searching for fingerprints on chairs, glass, and the bed to determine if a second person had been present.

The sound of a camera shutter echoed continuously.

The outer suite was inspected with the same meticulous professionalism.

The onlookers didn't disperse, though their phones buzzed incessantly.

Calls were made to the bride and groom's families, the hotel's owner, and others.

The loud chatter of calls made it hard for Ye Sangsang to hear some details.

【I'm most curious about why Zhong Jia would kill Yan Jiaojiao. They seem like people from two different worlds. Was it jealousy over Yan Jiaojiao's happiness, or some ridiculous love triangle?】

Me too. Zhong Jia's voyeurism in the banquet hall felt like an ugly duckling looking at the beautiful world of a swan.

【Zhong Jia was caught, right? It all comes from her confession, so was it out of jealousy?】

The live-stream discussion was boiling with excitement. A murder at the start of the case was incredibly thrilling.

But whether Zhong Jia was truly evil was hard to say. Some cases don't particularly choose vicious individuals.

They often carry a delicate cautionary tone, similar to "everyone is evil."

Ye Sangsang didn't listen for long before she heard cries of grief.

"Waaaah, my daughter, my daughter! How could she die! What should I, her mom, do now!" The shrill voice wailed, filled with unbearable sorrow over her daughter's death.

Accompanying her were many relatives and friends, roughly a dozen people.

Such drama was impossible for ordinary people to ignore.

Moreover, this was a scene Zhong Jia had specifically wanted to see.

Ye Sangsang immediately moved to the door, slightly leaned out to see the scene outside without exposing herself too much.

A well-dressed middle-aged woman was crying so hard she nearly fainted, clutching the arm of what seemed to be her husband. Tears flowed endlessly.

The man she clung to also looked devastated, staggering and being supported by those around him, seemingly unable to accept his daughter's death.

"My daughter, she wouldn't commit suicide! She must have been murdered!" The woman sobbed, addressing the police as they emerged.

The family's arrival meant the police had to question them.

Upon hearing the woman's words, the policeman frowned and said, "Calm down. Speak slowly."

They then moved to another room to ask questions.

Ye Sangsang's gaze swept over the couple's faces, then moved to the others.

After their arrival, the groom also appeared, accompanied by four or five others.

He was deeply saddened and shocked, rushing in to see Yan Jiaojiao but was stopped by the police, who stated that the scene was still under investigation and he would have a chance later.

The groom reluctantly complied.

Ye Sangsang watched, then frowned and closed the door.

It was odd; she hadn't received a mission to kill them.

Did that mean she only had a grudge against Yan Jiaojiao?

Thinking about it, Ye Sangsang wondered if this instance was this easy?

Considering the need for perfect performance, it seemed there was more to it.

Ye Sangsang subconsciously clenched her fist, pounding her lower back, which ached painfully.

Her young body was enduring heavy strain.

Ye Sangsang returned to cleaning.

Because the police had started inquiring about the situation, she couldn't hear anything and had to prepare for them coming to question her.

After all, she was one of the people who had entered the room.

After a long interrogation, while she was cleaning the fourth room, the police came to her door.

To her surprise, the two officers questioning her were the first ones who had arrived.

Their stern faces and unsmiling expressions gave off a palpable sense of pressure. Under such pressure, most people would find it hard to maintain their composure and lie convincingly, lasting only a short while before breaking down and confessing everything.

Ye Sangsang was startled for a moment, looking at the two policemen in front of her and putting down the rag in her hand.

"What do you want? I still have work to do!"

Her voice was timid and self-deprecating, tinged with fear, as she knew that getting involved in a murder case was not a good thing.

The stern-faced police officer was named Chen Shu, with rugged features. Seeing Ye Sangsang's reaction, his expression softened somewhat and he asked, "Don't be afraid. We just want to ask a few simple questions. It won't take too much of your time."

"Alright..." Ye Sangsang agreed.

"I want to ask, while you were cleaning the room next to the bride's, did you hear any unusual noises?"

After saying this, Chen Shu's gaze fixed on Ye Sangsang's face, observing her expressions and movements.

Ye Sangsang knew this was to check if she was lying.

However, in her world, there was no such thing as feeling guilty for lying because she lacked moral sense and fear. Therefore, lying didn't come with many emotional disturbances.

She remained calm and composed, tilting her eyes upward as if in thought, and after a moment, she slowly shook her head.

"I didn't hear anything," she added after a pause, "Although the hotel's soundproofing is not very good, and you can hear conversations through the door, you can't hear anything through the walls."

Chen Shu watched her, his gaze less wary and more gentle as he said, "Thank you for the reminder. Have you met the bride before? How would you describe her temper?"

"I haven't met her, but I heard Zheng Rong mention before I knocked on the door that the bride's temper seemed pretty good, and she would honestly say she sleeps very deeply."

Ye Sangsang spoke the truth as she knew it, providing a fair assessment.

Since this case didn't seem to have any direct connection to her, the police asked a few trivial questions, such as her work hours, and then left.

Ye Sangsang continued wiping the table, feeling as though she was spending her entire lifetime cleaning in this simulation.

The hotel had a one and a half hour lunch break, after which they gathered to eat the staff meal provided by the hotel.

It was then that Ye Sangsang learned that each floor had about sixteen to seventeen rooms, with two people responsible for cleaning them.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

The hotel was a three-star establishment, with around a hundred and twenty rooms, and over a dozen cleaners, as the lobby and other areas also required cleaning.

What's more, she had switched floors with another cleaner just last month.

Given that booking a hotel for a wedding banquet required at least a month's advance notice, it meant that Zhong Jia had planned this for a long time, finding a reason to get close to that room to carry out her murder plan.

Thinking of the 22-story height, Ye Sangsang couldn't help but admire Zhong Jia's courage, as in reality, such a narrow space could easily lead to a fatal fall.

The staff meal at the hotel was pretty decent. By sitting around and chatting a bit, one could get a general idea of everyone's background.

Zhong Jia was among the youngest.

Usually, if someone had a decent appearance and demeanor, they would be assigned to guest room service or work at the hotel's banquet hall or restaurant front desk.

Cleaning work was very tiring, and young people with good looks wouldn't normally take on such jobs.

Zhong Jia had been here for about a year, and what could be deduced was that she wasn't deliberately waiting for Yan Jiaojiao. Instead, her life was truly difficult, and it was just a coincidence that she saw Yan Jiaojiao's name.

From these small details, one could see what Zhong Jia's life was like and truly understand the kind of personality this situation would shape.

Worry, fatigue, and physical pain, along with mental strain, all converged on this person.

For Ye Sangsang, it was a bit difficult to portray this.

Because this kind of suffering was more common than her previous experiences.

Standing in front of the mirror, she unconsciously frowned, her lips pressed tightly downward, her eyes blankly staring into the glass.

At just 24 years old, fine wrinkles had already appeared at the corners of her eyes.

She tilted her head slightly and saw a strand of white hair.

[I don't know why, but seeing this scene always makes me feel sad.]

[It feels like someone who has been steeped in suffering. Judging from her appearance, people would believe she's 35 years old.]

[Prematurely gray hair, even from the perspective of her being a murderer, her life seems very bitter.]

While the live stream viewers discussed this, Ye Sangsang had already returned to work.

She worked very diligently.

In fact, she could see her mother's shadow in Zhong Jia.

Even though their living environments were vastly different, she could feel the similarities, that sense of persistence.

For Zhong Jia, it was persistence in revenge, while for her mother, it was persistence in raising her well.

Both were long-term endeavors that required unwavering determination.

There are prompts when skipping timelines, generally indicating whether there is relevant plot.

If there is relevant plot, a prompt will appear indicating that it cannot be skipped. If you insist on skipping, the task evaluation will decrease, and you may not understand what has happened.

So Ye Sangsang only skipped parts of it and then waited for her shift to end.

The manager began to gather everyone for a meeting.

Having a meeting right after work caused the live stream to explode with complaints.

Because it was too realistic, whether it was in a physical setting or a full-simulation, these darned bosses always waited until after work to announce a meeting, and it would always take a long time.

Among the crowd, one could clearly see expressions of reluctance.

The room manager lowered his voice and said, "I know you're all not happy about it, but something happened, and we have no choice."

"Today's meeting is mainly to tell everyone, don't spread what happened in the hotel. If it gets out of hand and no one comes to stay, everyone's job will be at risk. It's not easy to find work now, so I hope you all watch your mouths..."

The room manager kept talking endlessly.

This issue and that issue, taking a full hour before finally announcing the end of the meeting.

Ye Sangsang felt a kind of torture even when skipping time.

Rubbing her head, she changed out of her work clothes, said goodbye to her colleagues, and began her commute home.

Her body was filled with a sense of exhaustion, feeling as though even breathing was a struggle.

[Hahaha, so real, this full-bodied work exhaustion.]

[Seeing this state, I thought of myself.]

[Sang Sister's current situation in this simulation is an unprecedented level of suffering.]

Following the game system's arrow prompt, she slowly walked home, to an old, decrepit bungalow.

But before she even entered, she heard the loud snoring, clear even through the door.

Ye Sangsang had been prepared for this.

Zhong Jia had been married for quite some time, according to the timeline, for about six years.

That meant she had gotten married at the age of eighteen.

However, due to certain circumstances, she and her so-called "husband" did not have any children.

Perhaps it was due to the age difference back then, and later, when they reached the appropriate age, they never formally registered their marriage, merely living together as husband and wife in name.

She reached out and pushed the door open.

The old bungalow was rented, and although it was dilapidated, it was all clean and tidy, with bricks in the yard neatly stacked.

Stepping up the single step led to the room they rented. Pushing open the rust-covered green-painted iron door, the first thing that greeted her nose was the smell of beer and the stench of a man's breath.

She took a step back, as the smell was unbearable.

The lights hadn't been turned on yet, and the snoring stopped when she opened the door.

Then came the sound of stumbling footsteps, accompanied by the "tinkling clang" as beer bottles on the ground were knocked over.

It was now 9:30 PM, and the white streetlight outside illuminated the entire yard and a corner of the bungalow.

The light entered the house from behind Ye Sangsang, so she couldn't see the movement inside clearly.

Seeing someone stumble over, she instinctively took a step back, a natural reaction for someone with Zhong Jia's personality.

But before she could react, the person inside reached out, grabbing a handful of Ye Sangsang's hair and yanking her in.

A sharp pain shot through Ye Sangsang's scalp.

“You filthy whore, do you really enjoy working at the hotel that much? You came home an hour late, did you take the opportunity to sleep with someone else?” His voice was filled with extreme rage, yanking at his hair as he forced Ye Sangsang into the room. “Slut, did he fuck you good?”

“Ah! I’m talking to you!”

He reached out with a broad hand, swiftly aiming to strike Ye Sangsang across the face.

That slap, if it landed, could result in anything from redness and swelling to tinnitus, a perforated eardrum, or even a concussion.

【Ahhhhh, I’m so angry!】

【This is so terrifying! Why do the cases in *Crime Files* feel like scenes from a horror movie?!】

Sister Sang, please give him a taste of his own medicine! I absolutely hate people who deliberately harm others!

As the barrage wished, Ye Sangsang reached out and caught his hand, her bony fingers clenching tightly around his wrist.

Her frail grasp unleashed a shocking amount of strength, threatening to crush his wrist.

“You filthy bitch, you dare to resist!” His breath reeked of alcohol and foulness.

Ye Sangsang recoiled at the stench, her expression turning grim.

With her other hand, she tightly gripped the hand that had been yanking her hair.

“Let go.”

No elaborate threats were needed. A simple statement of her demand sufficed. The man didn’t back down because of her words; he did so because of the threat to his life or property.

In the dark room, the two faced off in a standoff.

The man gritted his teeth, trying to break free from Ye Sangsang’s hold, but he couldn’t.

Ye Sangsang wanted to increase the pressure, but unbearable pain overwhelmed her body, forcing her to maintain the current state and unable to do more.

As time passed, her lips began to pale, and cold sweat drenched her forehead.

From her waist to her entire body, every inch was engulfed in excruciating pain.

Yet, with her stamina still at 10, she could endure.

【Something feels off.】

【Could it be a limitation of the game system? But that doesn’t make sense, there were no restrictions before.】

Sister Sang looks like she's in agony. You know, my Sister Sang managed to escape, even after being beaten and stabbed – how much pain must it take to reach this state?

The livestream’s audience quickly picked up on the issue and began discussing it.

In the darkness, the man didn’t notice this anomaly; he only sensed that Ye Sangsang was resisting him, and he couldn’t act at will, which made him furious.

Hearing Ye Sangsang’s demand to let go, he narrowed his eyes and immediately released her.

He also pushed her away.

Ye Sangsang was prepared, but the pain in her body made her unable to resist, causing her to slam into the cabinet in the room.

“Hiss.”

She couldn’t help but inhale sharply from the dislocating agony that threatened to consume her, numbing her nerves and leaving her defenseless.

She instinctively reached out, grabbing the corner of the low cabinet to steady herself.

Seeing this, the man assumed Ye Sangsang had been hurt by the impact and smirked.

“You still dare to resist me? Today, I’ll beat you until you know who’s in charge of this house!”

He didn’t pick up the beer bottle but directly kicked at her.

In the past, a simple kick would have been enough to make her collapse and endure his blows.

Ye Sangsang had anticipated his continued attack, dodged, and quickly crouched to pick up the beer bottle that had rolled to her feet.

The pain made her tremble, but it didn’t dampen her resolve to fight. She had no intention of being half-beaten to death.

The battle was about to erupt. Seeing Ye Sangsang pick up the beer bottle, the man rushed forward without hesitation, intent on firmly gripping her neck.

In his eyes, this frail woman had no guts to retaliate, or else she wouldn’t have let him beat her for so many years.

But he was wrong. Ye Sangsang directly smashed the beer bottle against the cabinet, using the broken end with its sharp edge to aim at his abdomen.

She couldn’t resist much, but she knew how to make lethal moves.

As his hand reached her neck in the darkness, her jagged beer bottle pierced toward his abdomen.

Even in autumn, facing a broken, sharp beer bottle didn’t feel good.

“Ah.”

Before he could tighten his grip, the sharp pain in his abdomen made him stumble back, clutching it instinctively.

He cautiously looked at the wound, finding that the bleeding wasn’t too severe.

“Bitch! You’ve got some nerve, daring to resist!”

His eyes were bloodshot as he angrily accused her.

It wasn’t about the depth of the wound but the fact that she had dared to challenge his dominance in the household.

His gaze darkened as he glared at Ye Sangsang, ignoring the injury and preparing to charge forward.

However, the next moment, Ye Sangsang swiftly raised the broken beer bottle, its jagged end just a few centimeters from his eye.

The man abruptly froze, his pupils constricting.

If he hadn’t stopped in time, his eye would have been gouged out.

Only then did he truly realize how ruthless the woman in front of him could be.

He retreated, stepping back involuntarily.

Ye Sangsang walked over and found the light switch.

With a “click,” the room was illuminated.

Ye Sangsang’s gaze fell on the man.

He clutched his abdominal wound, his messy, greasy hair piled on his head. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with an ordinary face and a sinister expression that made him deeply uncomfortable.

His triangular eyes brimmed with fury and readiness to fight.

Like looks described the heart; this was a man who liked to bully and be violent toward those close to him.

“Don’t provoke me, or I’ll stab you to death in the middle of the night.”

Ye Sangsang’s tone was calm, as if she were just casually mentioning killing a chicken.

The man narrowed his eyes, noticing her painful state and the sweat soaking her body. Slowly, fear crept into his expression.

Of course, he didn’t want to back down just yet, at least not before preserving a few seconds of his male pride.

However, he didn’t dare to push further, as the person in front of him seemed to have transformed.

From her voice, he could sense a strange calmness, a hint of lunacy.

He had a bad feeling that she might really do as she said.

Ye Sangsang surveyed the surroundings, realizing it wasn’t the single room she had assumed, but two rooms.

She walked into the room without beer bottles, finding it clean and tidy, free of the scattered bottles and foul odor elsewhere.

The pain eased slightly, and she entered, closing the door behind her.

There was a metal bolt on the door, which she locked securely before lying down on the bed with relief.

She was truly about to die from the pain.

These copies weren’t known for smooth sailing.

First, there were troublesome police officers, now her abusive, nominally husband.

What a fulfilling day!

Ye Sangsang lay on the bed, taking a long while to recover as the intense pain gradually faded.

Once ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‍she felt better, she got up, trying to find painkillers, but found none.

She searched for any hospital check-up forms but found nothing.

Was there an underlying illness from before, neglected?

Or was it purely due to excessive fatigue, causing body aches?

The pain seemed a bit too much, though.

Unable to find anything, Ye Sangsang began dealing with the gloves, shoe covers, and hood she had brought out.

She anticipated that the police officer, Chen Shu, would notice something was off by tomorrow. She had a strong intuition about the mindset of such people; even without many flaws, they would sense something was amiss.

If these items weren’t disposed of by then, it would be an admission of her involvement.

The best way to get rid of them would be to burn them.

But Zhong Jia hadn’t done that. Instead, she had hidden them in a very discreet location.

Ye Sangsang held the items, contemplating.

Was Zhong Jia trying to relive the moment occasionally?

Some murderers did that, keeping the tools of their crimes, smiling wistfully whenever they saw them.

After some thought, Ye Sangsang dismissed the idea.

She felt Zhong Jia’s motive was different.

Revenge and killing due to mental instability were quite distinct.

Still, Ye Sangsang carried out the task, enjoying the experience of solving this puzzle.

To avoid the pain, she decided to buy a box of painkillers on her way to work tomorrow.

As for going to the hospital, the extra trip would likely disrupt the progress of the mission.

Rushing around in a panic would only cause her frustration.

Moreover, her intuition told her it wasn’t necessary; if it were, the case narrative would have likely mentioned it.

Not going meant either it was beyond help, or she already knew as much herself.

It either doesn't matter, or it's harmless.

For Ye Sangsang, it doesn't make a difference either way.

After skipping the timeline of the evening, Ye Sangsang welcomed the morning.

Her energy had improved significantly, and even the soreness in her lower back, which had been causing her discomfort, wasn't as intense anymore.

However, to avoid being tormented by the pain, she still decided to buy a bottle of those old-fashioned white painkillers.

The store clerk had recommended them, saying they not only alleviate pain but also treat inflammation caused by colds. Many people purchase this brand.

Ye Sangsang pocketed the medication and stepped into the hotel as the morning light bathed her path.

She had a meeting after her shift, and there was also a morning meeting scheduled.

But before the meeting could commence, she first encountered Chen Shu.

Undoubtedly, he met her expectations.

Ye Sangsang was curious about how he had uncovered something amiss.

After all, there were no lingering traces at the scene, and the outward-facing windows were occasionally opened, so there were no suddenly new marks left by recent access.

There were numerous footprints in the suite, with many people having entered.

Yet, he singled her out.

A bit of tension crept into her. If she were discovered, could she reset and execute the crime more flawlessly? That way, she could challenge herself again!

For Ye Sangsang, resetting was nothing significant.

What truly mattered was the thrill.

Ye Sangsang masked her anticipation and looked at the person across from her. "Is there something I can help you with, Officer Chen?"

"Not really," Chen Shu replied simply, his gaze on her radiating coldness. "It's just some follow-up work I need to do. I've already notified your department's housekeeping manager, and I need you to assist me by opening up some rooms."

Ye Sangsang pretended not to notice, glanced at the housekeeping manager who nodded at her, and with a mixture of fear and apprehension, she agreed.

Acting in cooperation with the police, Ye Sangsang didn't use a cart.

Instead, she changed into her uniform, collected a set of room keys, and led Chen Shu to the elevator, heading to the twenty-second floor.

This elevator was a staff-only elevator, and since it was still early morning and the morning meeting hadn't dispersed, no one else was around. Thus, the two reached the twenty-second floor in no time.

Stepping out of the elevator, Ye Sangsang eased up, relaxing the tension she felt.

Such a reaction is typical when facing the police, even if one isn't engaged in any illegal activities. It's a natural response to feel some degree of apprehension.

"You usually get here by 6:40 am, don't you? Have a ten-minute morning meeting, then get ready to start work?" As they exited the elevator, Chen Shu inquired naturally, his tone not accusatory but rather aiming to establish a more amicable rapport.

Ye Sangsang understood. This was the moment he officially began his interrogation.

"Yes, during this time, we mainly clean the rooms that were vacated last night, to prepare for guests who will check in around noon. In the afternoon, we clean the rooms that were vacated from the morning check-in until the checkout time, ensuring the whole floor remains in clean condition."

She thought for a moment, continuing, "On normal days, except during holidays, there's only one or two rooms to clean in the morning."

"It must be exhausting, working over ten hours a day," Chen Shu said, shifting focus to show concern.

Ye Sangsang remained silent for a moment. "What job isn't tiring, especially for those of us without qualifications or a background."

Chen Shu apologized.

At that moment, Ye Sangsang turned to him and asked, "Are we opening the room where the incident occurred yesterday?"

By this point, they had already reached their destination.

Chen Shu shook his head, pointing instead to the room Ye Sangsang had cleaned the day before. "Is that room vacant? If no one's taken it, open that one."

Ye Sangsang recalled her work duties, then nodded and picked up the radio attached to her belt, inquiring with the front desk if anyone had booked that room.

After a while, the front desk confirmed no one had.

Ye Sangsang signaled to Chen Shu and swiped her card to open the door.

The room was exactly as it had been after her cleaning the previous day.

Chen Shu entered, and Ye Sangsang followed behind him.

[This guy is terrifying. Obviously, my Sangsang has no suspicion, yet he chose to check this room.]

[I wonder who's more capable.]

[I enjoy watching it. Whether it's one or the other, I want to see.]

He looked around, his gaze lingering on the walls, the windows, and the window sills.

He even opened the window and pushed it out to take a look.

Ye Sangsang stood blankly by the sofa, her expression somewhat distant, seemingly deep in thought and not paying attention to Chen Shu's actions.

If she were the culprit, one would expect some nervousness, at least involuntarily tightening up.

"Do you think you could accept marrying a relatively unattractive man, if he had wealth and intellect?" Chen Shu asked.

Ye Sangsang was pulled back from her wandering thoughts and looked at him. After hearing the question, she nodded decisively, frankly stating, "Yes, I would."

Chen Shu stared at her intently for a few moments before stepping out first, saying, "Let's go out. Let's check the scene next door. I need to confirm if anything was left behind. Given the circumstances, I feel this was a murder case."

"Oh?" Ye Sangsang expressed surprise momentarily before regaining her calm.

Chen Shu looked back at her. "As you said, if life can be endured, why commit suicide for an end to it? Therefore, I don't think it was a suicide. It must have been murder."

"Then, who killed her? Was there some deep-rooted grudge?" Ye Sangsang asked calmly.

Chen Shu shook his head. "That's my dilemma. While the bride may have upset some people, those were minor issues, not amounting to murder."

"Even small issues can have big consequences! What if it was someone petty?"

Following Chen Shu, Ye Sangsang used her card to unlock the door next door, speaking sincerely.

She found it somewhat amusing. Despite suspecting her and wanting to catch her in a slip-up, he engaged in such behavior.

Was he still uncertain?

After all, which police officer discusses a case with a housekeeper?

She expertly swiped her card, and the door clicked open.

Looking at the yellow police tape, Ye Sangsang didn't step inside.

Chen Shu entered, surveying the area thoroughly. After a detailed examination, he walked to the door with his hands in his pockets.

Another police officer then rushed in hurriedly, holding a piece of paper.

"Chen, we detected it. There were extremely small traces of a drug residue at the corner of her mouth, confirmed to be an anesthetic."