Chapter 308: Chapter 307: Identifying the Killer

The High Mountain White Stripes Fish puffed his cheeks, trying hard to recall: [He looked quite tall, not very fat, with somewhat long hair that covered his eyebrows in the front.]

[The glasses frame was black.]

[He was wearing a black top, blue pants, and shoes like the ones the officer next to you is wearing.]

Xu Ying glanced at Ji Xuehui’s police boots.

Xu Ying relayed the suspect’s characteristics described by the High Mountain White Stripes Fish to Ji Xuehui.

"Wow, several male researchers in Lin Qing’s company fit this description from the little fish, don’t they?"

Ji Xuehui thought of the male colleagues they encountered at Lin Qing’s company during their investigation. Their attire was typically like this for people in STEM fields.

But the exciting part was that at least they had narrowed down the suspect range, and the culprit was most likely a colleague of Lin Qing’s.

"However, considering the strangulation marks on Lin Qing’s neck, it’s highly probable that the one who killed her was male."

Ji Xuehui took a sharp intake of breath: "Can you ask the little fish if they’re open to traveling remotely?"

"We’ll take her to Lin Qing’s company to identify the suspect."

Xu Ying nodded and said to the High Mountain White Stripes Fish, "Little fish, are you willing to go on a business trip?"

"Going on a business trip means accompanying us to the victim’s company to identify the man you saw that day, who got scared of you."

[Ah, do I have to leave Ice Lake...] the High Mountain White Stripes Fish bubbled and found itself in a dilemma.

"Don’t worry, little fish. We humans have special cooling tanks that can simulate the environment of Ice Lake," Xu Ying coaxed, "And you’ll be fed on time every day, so you don’t have to worry about being eaten by bigger fish. You’ll have an entire water area to yourself~"

"And it’ll only be a few days. Once the suspect is identified, we’ll send you back home."

Xu Ying’s words made the High Mountain White Stripes Fish very tempted. After discussing it with its family, it ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation: [Little Xu Station Chief, I want to go on a business trip with you~]

Xu Ying was delighted, "Great! We’ll start preparing the cooling tank for your stay right away~"

The Zheluo Fish wagged its tail and asked, [Little Xu Station Chief, has this fish’s testimony helped you?]

"Yes, thank you all for helping us find a witness! Next time, I’ll bring fish food to see you when I come!" Xu Ying happily waved to Grandma Zheluo Fish.

Grandma Zheluo Fish looked at the High Mountain White Stripes Fish group seriously and said: [Indeed, since you’ve helped Little Xu Station Chief, we’ll fulfill our promise.]

The High Mountain White Stripes Fish group seemed especially excited, their tails creating ripples on the water surface with their wagging. [Leader, are you really telling the truth?]

Grandma Zheluo Fish widened her eyes: [Yes, with Little Xu Station Chief as a witness to our promise, you can rest assured. You’ll have immunity from being eaten in the future.]

Xu Ying was puzzled: Immunity from being eaten?

It sounded like some restaurant’s special event.

Then she listened to Grandma Zheluo Fish solemnly promise to the High Mountain White Stripes Fish group: [When we Zheluo Fish meet you again, we won’t eat you, and if you encounter trouble from other fish, you can seek our help too.]

Oh, so immunity from being eaten meant this. This wasn’t a special event; it was a ’pardon’ event.

Xu Ying couldn’t help but laugh: "As expected of Grandma, you keep your word! You’re a model among fish, an exemplar!"

Grandma Zheluo Fish was flattered by Xu Ying’s words, her mouth curling up proudly, [Of course~]

[Aren’t you going to recover the body at the bottom of Ice Lake? Let the recovery crew follow us.]

Xu Ying nodded quickly: "Okay!"

The recovery personnel, in diving gear, followed the Zheluo Fish group into Ice Lake. About half an hour later, they recovered Lin Qing’s body.

While placing the body into a body bag, the recovery personnel couldn’t help but remark, "Wow, with these fish leading the way in the lake, it’s really efficient and safe!"

"Normally, this kind of recovery operation takes at least two hours. In winter like this, staying in such cold water for several hours is sheer torture."

"Little Xu Station Chief, these fish were nudging our feet with their tails, reminding us of entangling waterweeds and whirlpools."

...

Xu Ying laughed as she popped the bubbles coming from Grandma Zheluo Fish, "Grandma Zheluo Fish, humans think you’re amazing and so smart!"

The Zheluo Fish group heard Xu Ying’s words and wagged their tails excitedly, causing endless ripples on the water surface.

A Snow Mountain express courier, the Golden Eagle, delivered a portable cooling tank from the aid station, so Xu Ying didn’t wait long by Ice Lake.

Xu Ying opened the portable cooling tank, and the "witness fish" High Mountain White Stripes Fish, waiting by Ice Lake, was already eagerly anticipating.

[I’m going to live in a big mansion!]

Small fish don’t usually construct fixed nests, generally spending the night randomly among aquatic plants or rock crevices.

Now, being able to live in a mansion undisturbed by enemies, the High Mountain White Stripes Fish was overjoyed. It willingly entered Xu Ying’s fishing net and then leaped into the icy waters of the cooling tank, starting to swim joyfully.

Xu Ying watched the happy little fish in the tank with a smile, then looked up at Ji Xuehui: "Shall we now have our witness fish identify the suspect?"

Ji Xuehui glanced at the time; it was a little past 11 in the morning: "Sure, let’s have lunch on the way down the mountain. It’ll take another hour and a half to drive to Lin Qing’s company."

*

2:20 in the afternoon.

West Mountain Pharmaceutical Research Company, located in an industrial park near Tianshan Mountain.

Xu Ying jumped off the tall SUV, opened the trunk, and carried down the cooling tank.

She put on a hat and mask and walked into the company entrance with Ji Xuehui; along the way, many people looked at them curiously.

"The police are here again?"

"Have they found any clues this time?"

"I hope they catch the killer soon. Just thinking that there’s a murderer among my colleagues gives me goosebumps."

"Lin Qing was just a bit antisocial; she didn’t offend anyone, so why did this happen to her..."

...

Ji Xuehui had already communicated with Lin Qing’s company manager in advance.

The manager had already gathered all male employees in the company who wore glasses, had a balanced build, had long bangs, and weren’t particularly short into the office.

In the office, nine male employees looked toward the uniformed Ji Xuehui and the hat- and mask-wearing Xu Ying with confusion and anxiety.

"Officer Ji, everyone’s here," the manager said, handing Xu Ying and Ji Xuehui two cups of hot tea.

Xu Ying accepted the tea with thanks.

The cooling tank had a transparent window panel, allowing the witness fish to see the looks of these employees.

Xu Ying held up the cooling tank, allowing the witness fish to compare these people’s appearances.

[Not him.]

[Not him either.]

...

Xu Ying walked past the nine employees one by one with the cooling tank.

[Little Xu Station Chief, I’m not sure if I might be remembering wrong, but the person I saw last time isn’t among these people!]

The witness fish bubbled, finding itself in a bit of a quandary.