Chapter 22: If I was not afraid of him while he was alive, why should I fear him now that he is dead?
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After Xing Hao and the others searched the scene, they took the owner and the staff back to the police station, leaving some of the detectives behind to question the people who had been at the hotpot restaurant.
They questioned not only the diners, but also everyone in the neighboring shops and rooms above, below, and beside the restaurant—asking whether anyone had noticed, smelled, or heard anything unusual.
After all, this was a murder case, and any useful testimony could become the key to solving it.
The three groups went their separate ways. At first, the owner refused to admit anything. Even after being brought to the police station, he continued shouting that he had been wronged.
It was only after learning that they had found the body hidden inside the freezer that he had no choice but to confess.
The corpse belonged to one of his employees. Relying on his excellent cooking skills, the employee had threatened to leave for another restaurant unless his wages were increased. That restaurant was a rival of his employer’s, and in a fit of rage, the hotpot owner had killed him.
Afterward, business began to decline.
That was when he came up with the idea of transforming the restaurant. The body was difficult to dispose of, and after seeing some news online, he had acted on impulse and somehow ended up with what he had now.
At first, he had never imagined that business would become so good. The longer the broth simmered, the richer it became, and the more fragrant the hotpot tasted. His restaurant grew increasingly popular. Since no one had discovered anything for so long, he became bolder and bolder.
He had never expected that a single oversight would expose him today.
He had thought he had covered everything perfectly, yet they had still found the body.
If the police had not found it, he could have denied everything to the very end and claimed that he had no idea where it had come from. Without evidence, it would have been difficult for the police to convict him. Once he returned, he would have found a way to dispose of the corpse, and the case would have become impossible to resolve.
But he had never imagined that they would find the body so quickly.
The discovery had caught him completely off guard, yet it had also brought him a strange sense of relief.
So, after learning that the police had found the corpse, he confessed immediately, without putting up even the slightest struggle.
After Sang Ye and the others finished answering questions, they left.
Yao Yao was unusually quiet all the way home.
Sang Ye glanced at her. “Are you still feeling upset?”
Yao Yao turned slightly toward her and asked in confusion, “Sister Sang Ye, how could that owner have such strong nerves? He used something like that to make soup every day. Wasn’t he afraid at all? And he kept the body in the freezer, looking at it every day. Wasn’t he afraid its ghost would come after him?”
Sang Ye did not know how to explain it. After a moment, she said, “Maybe he thought that if he wasn’t afraid of the man when he was alive, why would he be afraid of him after he died?”
Yao Yao burst out laughing. “After this, I don’t think I’ll ever dare eat hotpot again. What if I find some other bizarre thing in it?”
Sang Ye teased her with a smile. “You never know. You might find a set of dentures in it next time.”
Yao Yao smacked Sang Ye in exasperation. “Sister Sang Ye! You’re awful! Are you deliberately trying to stop me from eating hotpot?”
Sang Ye nodded. “Yes. So hurry up and think of something else to eat while there’s still time.”
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Yao Yao did not hesitate. “Then let’s go to that new Cantonese restaurant up ahead—the one we saw on our way here. I only ate a little before throwing it all up. I have to eat something to make up for it!”
Sang Ye readily agreed. “All right, all right.”
After walking a few hundred meters, they reached the new Cantonese restaurant ahead.
Since it was evening and the restaurant had only recently opened, business was booming. The establishment had two floors, yet by the time they arrived, only one table remained vacant—because the previous customers had just finished eating and left.
They ordered a pot of seafood congee cooked in a clay pot, along with plenty of other dishes.
The two women left the restaurant with their bellies round and full.
Their dinner gathering had finally come to a close without further mishap.
* * *
The next morning, Sang Ye rose early and prepared cat food for dozens of cats, as she had promised them before.
She packed the food into a large bag and carried it to the agreed-upon location.
As soon as Sang Ye arrived, a large group of stray cats darted out from every corner.
“Meow~”
“She’s here!”
“Did Dragon Overlord really tell the truth when he said she would bring us cat food?”
An orange cat that Sang Ye had fed many times licked its lips. “Don’t worry. She’ll definitely bring cat food!”
Another cat said, “Of course it’s true. Even before she promised to make us cat food, she used to feed us. Now that she’s given her word, she’ll certainly keep it.”
“That’s right! She’s a wonderful person!”
Then one particularly observant cat said, “She’s carrying a bag. Maybe the cat food is inside?”
The group of stray cats chattered excitedly among themselves.
Sang Ye heard every word and could not help laughing as she beckoned to them. “Come on over. Your cat-food delivery has arrived.”
She crouched down, opened the bag, and took out the individual portions one by one, arranging them in several rows so the cats could eat more easily.
When the stray cats saw that Sang Ye had truly prepared food for them, the rich aroma immediately lured them over.
Each cat received its own container, and the food was still warm.
None of them could bear to lift their heads while eating.
“Meow… so delicious…”
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Sang Ye smiled and gently stroked the nearest cat. “Eat slowly. If you like it, I’ll bring you more tomorrow.”
A cat with black fur around its nose gazed at Sang Ye with round, shining eyes. “Really?! There’ll really be more tomorrow?”
Sang Ye nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”
At once, the cats began exclaiming, “The boss was right!”
A larger cat continued eating while staring at Sang Ye. “She really seems to understand what we’re saying. But she isn’t a cat, is she?”
Hearing this, the cat beside it glanced at Sang Ye curiously. “It is a little strange. But as long as she gives us food, that’s all that matters!”
Then it said to Sang Ye, “If something like this happens again, you can come find us!”
“That’s right! If you can’t find us, just have the boss come looking for us.”
Sang Ye asked, “Who is your boss?”
The cat in front of her answered without hesitation, “Dragon Overlord.”
Sang Ye was somewhat curious. “Why did you choose him as your boss?”
The orange cat from earlier replied, “Because we once promised Dragon Overlord that if he could find us food and make sure we had enough to eat every day, we would recognize him as our boss. He found us cat food for an entire month, so he became our boss!”
Their thinking was very simple: whoever kept them well fed was their boss.
The other cats chimed in together. “That’s right!”
Hearing the explanation, Sang Ye could not hold back her laughter. So that was how their boss had earned the position.
She had assumed that the little white cat had become their leader because he was exceptionally good at fighting.
After waiting for the kittens to finish their cat food, Sang Ye cleaned up the rubbish and then carried the remaining portion to the clinic.
Yao Yao had arrived early that day, and the clinic door was already open.
The inside had also been cleaned thoroughly.
Because Sang Ye had spent time preparing the cat food and feeding the cats, she arrived somewhat late. Yao Yao had already finished her work and was taking a break.
Hearing the sound, Yao Yao looked up and saw Sang Ye entering. She immediately jumped to her feet, eager to share the news.
“Sister Sang Ye, you’re finally here! You have no idea what happened yesterday!”
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