The Vanishing Lover

"I don't know how she obtained it,"

"The most likely possibility is from Li Yang. Li Yang has no brains; anyone can easily fool him. Xu Ruyi could easily manipulate him to act against me. Getting a photo from him would be as easy as turning her hand. Please go ask him about the photo. Even if he tries to hide it, he won't be able to,"

"If not Li Yang, then it was a colleague at the firm. Qi Min had many copies of that photo printed. She would definitely give one to any colleague who asked. Therefore, I implore you to spend a bit more time screening the firm staff again. You will surely find something, and then you will understand I really haven't been lying,"

Qin Guan looked at Old He, pleading sincerely.

Old He's gaze was icy cold, the corners of his mouth lifted in undisguised contempt and mockery. Old He kept his arms tightly crossed. His expression, his posture—every signal screamed his utter lack of trust in Qin Guan. He was only tolerating him because of his job.

Qin Guan lowered his head—Stay calm. Ignore his attitude. Focus solely on the facts themselves, on Xu Ruyi herself. Only then can I untangle what that bitch has done.

"Anyway, Xu Ruyi obtained the photo behind Qi Min's back,"

Qin Guan continued to reason.

"I haven't figured out her original purpose for getting the photo, but I understand its role in this case now,"

"The photo, Qi Min's signature perfume, Qi Min's distinctive phone ringtone—these were specially tailored for me,"

"Me, returning to the crime scene a second time, suddenly smelling that familiar scent, hearing that familiar ringtone, then entering the room and seeing Qi Min's photo—and, of course, that stocking—these details piling up in a short span of time, even the strongest mindset would crack,"

That day, Qin Guan had indeed cracked.

He was barely holding onto calmness in the room. The moment he saw Qi Min's body in the suitcase, he completely collapsed and fainted.

When he woke up, his emotions were almost entirely shattered.

"This was Xu Ruyi's goal,"

Qin Guan took a deep breath. "She wanted a single, fatal blow. To have these clear clues swarm over me, binding me, making me emotionally collapse, reduced to nothing but wailing and proclaiming my innocence—just like I was doing a few days ago. As long as I remained in that broken state, she would win completely,"

"Because your investigation wouldn't care whether I cried innocence or not. You only look at the evidence. Solid evidence means closing the case quickly, handing it over to the procuratorate, proceeding with the judicial process," Qin Guan said.

Old He pursed his lips noncommittally, uncrossed his arms, and started to rise—he really couldn't stomach listening to this man's nonsense anymore. The case was ironclad with evidence. What was there to argue about?

"I know you don't believe me,"

Qin Guan looked up. "Your doubt is normal. Lakeside Charm Hotel wasn't the hotel I booked for the business trip. Qi Min booked it privately. To be precise, when Qi Min booked that hotel, even I didn't know. So how could Xu Ruyi have known in advance? If she couldn't have known in advance, how could she have set her trap early? How could she have bribed staff and installed a camera?"

Old He's turning footsteps stopped.

This was precisely what he was thinking right now.

He turned his head, staring intently at Qin Guan—this question was the most crucial one.

"I know this question is vital. I've thought about it for a long time," Qin Guan met the other's skeptical gaze frankly. "There's only one explanation: long before Qi Min and I went on that trip for our tryst, she had already laid her trap. And she was tracking me. Tracking me all along, completely aware of all my movements,"

"To achieve this, first, she needed technology. She must have installed cameras in my study. It's highly likely she installed tracking or information-sharing software on my phone as well,"

"My phone is in your possession. Besides checking my communications with Qi Min, please, I implore you, take it apart! Inspect it meticulously!"

Qin Guan spoke each word deliberately.

Old He's lips tightened. He said nothing—he genuinely had never considered dismantling Qin Guan's phone to look. There had been no need.

"Secondly, Xu Ruyi needed people,"

"I know you mentioned last time that Xu Ruyi was always at home during that period, never left the city. Her daily life, apart from being with the child, was being with the child,"

"Because, she had accomplices,"

Qin Guan stared fixedly into Old He's eyes—success or failure hinged on this. He had to plant genuine doubt in this man, so he would truly investigate thoroughly.

Only by investigating in the direction he indicated could they tear off that bitch's true mask.

"She had accomplices. This has always been my firm belief. She definitely had accomplices. She couldn't have done it alone,"

"Starting from the moment I got off the plane, when that 'I know what you did' card was placed on my car, she was no longer acting alone,"

"Her accomplices were my family's nanny, Feng Xiangping, and her son, Xiao Zhi!"

Qin Guan lifted his head, his expression and tone fiercely resolute, pressing down on Old He's doubts. "Placing the card was done by Xu Ruyi herself. Auntie Feng is barely literate, has no sense of direction; she couldn't navigate the complex airport parking lot to find the target. It's also highly unlikely Xu Ruyi would send Xiao Zhi just for such a trivial matter,"

"However, tracking me—that must have been Xiao Zhi. Installing tracking software on my phone—that was definitely Xiao Zhi! What Xu Ruyi couldn't do, Xiao Zhi could! Xiao Zhi wasn't just her helper; he was her accomplice!"

Old He finally opened his mouth.

But before Old He could voice his question, Qin Guan raised his hand. The handcuffs clanked with determination. "I know what you want to say. Xiao Zhi was at school. There are people who can confirm he was at school during the time Qi Min went missing. But, what about before the incident?"