Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife-Chapter 51: The Burning Love on the Photo Wall!
"She’s so beautiful!"
Lin Yao gazed at the photos hanging in the room, sincerely praising.
But Chen Xiao was stunned by the abundance of photos filling the room.
From the conversation with the store owner, both he and Lin Yao could tell that the owner’s feelings for Si Ying were filled with unrequited love.
Yet upon seeing the room’s setting, Chen Xiao inexplicably felt that this love ran quite deep.
The store owner felt a bit embarrassed: "Forgive me if the sight is laughable; these photos are all ones I took of her. Sometimes when she didn’t want to go home, she’d stay in this room."
"Later, when she disappeared, I put away her belongings and arranged these photos that I had taken of her in the room. Mm, these are her past life experiences."
Listening to the owner’s words, Lin Yao was deeply moved.
Only Chen Xiao seemed unable to grasp the significance behind these photos, and instead, he walked towards them step by step.
He examined each one carefully, looking very closely.
Because the store owner mentioned this was Si Ying’s past life experiences.
To investigate any connection between Si Ying and the Swallow Lane Fishbone Case, one must understand something from her life before she disappeared.
Chen Xiao scrutinized each photo, while the store owner did not prevent him, but rather began to introduce the largest photo hanging there.
"This photo was taken on Si Ying’s birthday the year before last; I wanted to celebrate it well, but Si Ying refused. She didn’t want a cake or any kind of ceremony, just sat by the moat watching the sunset. As the sun was about to set, I pressed the camera shutter."
"As for the ones beside it, those are moments I consider very beautiful with her."
Chen Xiao carefully looked at each photo and responded to the store owner, "Can I ask an inappropriate question?"
"As long as you feel it should be asked, go ahead. There’s no question more important than Si Ying’s life and death." The owner was very candid, seemingly guessing what Chen Xiao wanted to ask.
"Do you know her ex-husband?"
"Not well, but I’ve met him several times."
"After Si Ying disappeared, did you go looking for her ex-husband?"
"Yes, her ex-husband is still searching abroad."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao was surprised, and the store owner explained: "Not all divorced couples are estranged forever; some despite parting, still care for each other. Their separation wasn’t truly anyone’s fault; the main reason was that Si Ying couldn’t have children."
Chen Xiao understood: "From these photos and your narration, Ms. Si appears to be a very charismatic woman."
The owner smiled: "Indeed, everyone who interacted with her seemed to like her. That’s why her disappearance is very unsettling; she truly had no enemies domestically. If something happened to her in the country, who could have harmed her?"
Chen Xiao didn’t respond, continuing to examine the photos.
But as he continued, Chen Xiao suddenly noticed something wrong.
"Owner, have you moved these photos recently?" Chen Xiao asked.
The owner shook his head: "No, they were put up some time ago and haven’t been touched since."
"No, these photos have been moved recently!" Chen Xiao was certain, pointing out a mark and saying: "Look here, the glue mark on the photo’s bottom has raised in the middle. You use glue on the edges to attach most photos, right? Yet some are raised!"
The owner’s face changed; "You’re right, when I adhered these photos, it was all with edge-gluing, how could the center bulge? Even with summer heat potentially dissolving the glue, it wouldn’t flow to the center."
Confused, the owner said, Chen Xiao squinted: "Owner, can we take some of these photos down?"
"It’s doable, but it will take effort; I’ve put up a hundred or two on just this wall, varying in size."
"We’ll help you with it."
With that, Chen Xiao immediately called for Lin Yao to tear off those attached photos together.
Though it was meant to be collective work, for Chen Xiao, possessing the Power of Capture, there was no need to tear down all the photos.
He selected a few based on the glue marks, and when they were taken down, Chen Xiao spoke solemnly:
"It’s confirmed, all these photos have been tampered with, as the original wall glue marks have been scraped off and replaced."
The owner was incredulous: "That’s impossible; I’m in the shop every day, even sleeping next door at night. If someone scraped off the wall’s original glue, how could I not know?"
Chen Xiao turned to the store owner: "You’ve probably been sleeping very deeply these nights, haven’t you?"
The owner was dumbfounded, and Chen Xiao stopped Lin Yao: "Don’t tear them down, we can’t move anything here now."
Lin Yao was curious: "Who would come to tamper with these photos? Could it be... Si Ying is back!"
Chen Xiao ignored Lin Yao, knowing the person tampering with the photos was definitely not Si Ying, but someone trying to conceal vital information.
He again looked towards the wall; the photos were inconsistently attached or hung, and their content varied.
There were portraits of Si Ying alone, photos of Si Ying with the store owner, and even ones of Si Ying with others, sometimes taken within the store alongside other customers.
Thus, Chen Xiao suspected that one or two photos had likely been removed, especially the group photos!
If this suspicion is true, it implies that the person in the group photo is highly suspect!
Because they are concealing the fact they appeared with Si Ying!
While the store owner remained incredulous, Chen Xiao gravely stated: "Owner, we can’t disturb anything in this room now, even refrain from excessive movement ourselves."
"I understand, but did someone secretly enter my shop and drug me, then rearrange these photos?"
"Yes, that person’s purpose was likely to steal one or two photos. To avoid discovery, they even played the role of a meticulous painter, though leaving some trace behind!"
The owner nodded heavily, beginning to seriously scrutinize those photos.
But after a long examination, he grew frustrated: "According to you, the individual taking the photos likely wanted to cover up their appearance. However, so many photos exist, and so many people have taken pictures with her, I... I truly can’t recall who’s missing!"
Chen Xiao’s gaze tightened: "Then think differently, who have you allowed to view this room?"
"You two are the only ones who’ve come, I’m very certain!"
Chen Xiao frowned, unsure how to guide the owner further, until Lin Yao piped up:
"Could the person not have entered at all, rather searched the entire shop, and then drugged the owner so he slept deeply before tampering with the photos?"
Chen Xiao’s eyes lit up: "Finally, you’ve shown some wit!"
With that, Chen Xiao took out his phone and called Lin Xi.
"Honey, head over to find Zhang Xian immediately, and tell him... your husband has discovered an important clue!"
