Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 384: The Man in the Bar

Meanwhile, in Huangzhou City. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Do you often go to nightclubs?"

Sun Xiaojuan paused for a moment and suddenly looked up at Lu Chuan: "Officer, can I talk to you alone about something?"

Huh?

Zhang Hui, Zhang Lijun, and the others were slightly taken aback and turned to look at Lu Chuan.

What’s going on?

Is it easier to interrogate when you look handsome?

Or... does this woman know that the LM300 downstairs belongs to Lu Chuan?

Lu Chuan was equally confused. He wasn’t here to conduct interrogations.

Besides, why did Sun Xiaojuan want to talk to him alone?

Ahem.

"Ms. Sun, don’t worry, we’re all police officers. If there’s something sensitive related to Wang Lili, feel free to tell us, and we’ll keep it confidential."

But Sun Xiaojuan shook her head firmly: "This concerns my privacy. If it weren’t related to Wang Lili, I wouldn’t say anything, and I’m not obliged to either."

Then Sun Xiaojuan glanced at Lu Chuan again: "I only want to talk to him, and it can’t be at our workplace. You need to find me a safe place."

In that case...

Zhang Hui thought about it and figured it wasn’t a big deal. Sun Xiaojuan surely couldn’t eat Lu Chuan.

However, this matter needed to be discussed with Zhang Lijun.

The other party nodded directly, thinking it’s no big deal; she wouldn’t talk to him anyway.

Fifteen minutes later.

In the LM300.

Sun Xiaojuan was a bit dazed, looking at the luxurious interior of the car in amazement: "I know this car. It’s the same car our boss drives; he paid over a million extra for it. We all said anyone who buys this car is an idiot. Are police officers this rich now, using such a car for work?"

Ahem.

Could Lu Chuan say this was a case of private car for public use?

"Ms. Sun, let’s talk about Wang Lili. Rest assured, this is my private vehicle, definitely with no surveillance."

"Your private car?"

Suddenly, something called light flashed in Sun Xiaojuan’s eyes, which Lu Chuan didn’t miss.

This woman actually leaned toward Lu Chuan.

"You use your own car for official business?"

"Uh... let’s not talk about the car. What did you want to tell me?"

Sun Xiaojuan suddenly became a bit shy: "I... I suddenly feel embarrassed to say it."

Huh?

What’s there to be embarrassed about?

I’m a cop, not your husband.

"Ms. Sun, don’t worry; I promise to keep your privacy confidential."

"Uh... okay, but don’t hold it against me for this."

"..."

Why would I mind?

"Go ahead."

"It’s like this: Lili and I go to a nightclub about once a month..."

So, it turns out Sun Xiaojuan and Wang Lili do go to the nightclub for relaxation. No, actually, they do go to relax.

And it’s quite a liberating experience.

"Though Lili is married, her relationship with her husband is mediocre, and we often go out to have fun."

"By the way, I’m still single."

Sun Xiaojuan took the opportunity to lean a little closer to Lu Chuan, emphasizing the neckline of her already low-cut top.

"Sometimes, we would drink with good-looking men."

"You know, sometimes when we drink too much, um... we’ll go to my place to rest."

"You and Wang Lili?"

"Not just us; also, the people we drink with."

Oh.

Lu Chuan understood.

These two had quite the lively lifestyle.

"So, when you went to the nightclub that day, it was actually for..."

"Yes, it was planned. We meet once a month, and every month we take turns picking people."

"What’s ’taking turns picking people’?"

"It means this month I pick someone, and next month it’s Lili’s turn."

"On the day she disappeared, it was her turn to pick someone. When I came out of the restroom, I clearly saw the man flirting with her; he was quite handsome, her type, but she didn’t choose him."

"Later, she even said she felt unwell and left."

"That was the first time she broke the agreement."

"And then she disappeared."

Lu Chuan understood what Sun Xiaojuan meant.

"You mean that Wang Lili actually wasn’t feeling unwell that day. She also fancied that man, just for some reason didn’t tell you, and then met him privately?"

"I didn’t realize it at first and genuinely thought she felt unwell. It wasn’t until later when she went missing that I thought of this possibility."

"Have you told anyone else about this?"

Sun Xiaojuan shook her head: "How could I tell anyone about such a private matter? Plus, I didn’t lie to the police. It was just my suspicion. She genuinely said she was unwell and left. I had a couple of more drinks and was taken home by someone else."

Lu Chuan wasn’t overly concerned about who the other man was, as it didn’t seem to relate to Wang Lili’s disappearance.

But right now, the biggest possibility seems to be just as Sun Xiaojuan suspected.

That Wang Lili wasn’t sick that day but had a new target in mind.

So, is the man Sun Xiaojuan saw after coming out of the restroom the perpetrator?

That night, while drinking and in the taxi, Wang Lili kept looking at her phone. Was she contacting that person?

As Lu Chuan was deeply pondering, Sun Xiaojuan’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Officer Lu, your car is really hot."

Lu Chuan instinctively leaned back and promptly opened the car door.

"Yeah, it’s cooler outside."

It’s not the heat of the car, but rather the heat of your heart, I’d say.

As Sun Xiaojuan left, her eyes were filled with reluctance, even Zhang Hui noticed.

"Officer Lu, if there’s anything I can help with, give me a call anytime. I’m available 24/7."

In the car.

"You... are you much more handsome than me?"

Zhang Hui reluctantly took a selfie with his phone, comparing the photo with Lu Chuan.

In the end, he could only reach a frustrating conclusion; indeed, there was a significant difference.

Between people, yeah, some die of thirst, while others drown in plenty.

"Brother Hui, let’s not talk about this. Let’s discuss the case."

Lu Chuan chuckled wryly, 24/7 availability, as if he’s not 24/7 available too.

As a police officer, from the moment the phone was purchased and until it’s discarded, it’s never been turned off.

"I think the lead Sun Xiaojuan provided is crucial. The man Wang Lili flirted with at the nightclub could very likely be the person who lured her to the chemical plant."

"Why would someone bring her to a remote chemical plant in the middle of the night? If he wanted to sleep with her, why go there?"

Zhang Lijun was skeptical.

"Well... Sun Xiaojuan mentioned that sometimes when they were having fun, they would go outdoors instead of going home."

Oh gosh.

Sun Xiaojuan...

With such fair skin and good looks.

Truly, one can’t judge by appearances. What’s that saying, ’even peacocks screw parrots; the more colorful ones have uglier affairs.’

"What do you suggest?"

"I think we should investigate anyone who went to that nightclub on the day Wang Lili disappeared last year. See if there are any leads."

"Over a year ago, finding someone who went to the nightclub... wouldn’t that be difficult?"