Page 16

Second-generation Zhao, on the other hand, looked perfectly normal. After speaking, he continued searching for evidence elsewhere, wearing the delighted expression of someone thinking, I did so well. The boss will definitely praise me. His retreating figure looked remarkably like Basketball Qiao's. Who knew how he had caught it from him?

Zhen Liu began searching Second-generation Zhao's room for evidence. In this setting, the wealthy second-generation heir lived in a suite, probably the largest master bedroom in the entire villa. Honestly, it was rather strange that the victim, Ying De, had not chosen this bedroom—a room that could so clearly proclaim how different he was now.

Like Basketball Qiao, Second-generation Zhao had brought a huge amount of personal belongings despite only staying at the villa for two days. Zhen Liu spotted the game console Second-generation Zhao had mentioned before, its controller and main unit still connected to the television.

In Zhen Liu's world, machines like these had long since become antiques, and he did not really know how to operate them.

In the end, Lawyer Jin helped open the game records. According to what they showed, the console had indeed been in use around dawn. Second-generation Zhao seemingly had not lied about that.

Compared with the disorderly mess of Basketball Qiao's room, Second-generation Zhao's room had been arranged with meticulous care, exquisite in every detail. Every casually placed item was a luxury good. Luxury goods for the poor were everyday necessities for the rich. The game's attention to detail was truly extraordinary, as though someone named Second-generation Zhao had genuinely once existed in this world.

His hobbies, every little fragment of his life, had been perfectly recreated before their eyes.

Zhen Liu also found the phone Second-generation Zhao had accidentally left behind. It was password-protected and could not be opened for now. All he could see was the lock screen: a family portrait of three, presumably a childhood photo of Second-generation Zhao with his parents.

Everyone in the photo was smiling happily. Still, perhaps Zhen Liu was overthinking it, but Second-generation Zhao did not look all that much like his parents.

And Second-generation Zhao's choice was rather... old-fashioned. At least, it was not something someone his age, living a life of indulgence, would do. No matter how much a young person treasured family, would they really want to use a family portrait as their phone background? If someone said this phone actually belonged to Second-generation Zhao's father, Zhen Liu would believe it.

After they finished searching the occupied rooms on the second floor, they found a large entertainment room beside the stairs.

Soundproofing materials, lavish decor, and every kind of entertainment equipment imaginable: game consoles, a billiards table, and Zhen Liu even saw an indoor golf simulator. He successfully found dark bloodstains on one of the golf clubs. This was very likely the source of the victim's blunt-force injury to the head.

The entertainment room was a common area, and it was right at the edge of the floor. Anyone could have come here, taken something away without alerting the other guests on the second floor, then returned it unnoticed.

Doctor Zhen and Professor Lu lived on the third floor, along with an unused guest room.

Whether Lawyer Jin was trying to repeat his old trick or had simply decided he had nothing left to lose, after going upstairs, he once again proactively asked the two people beside him, "Do you need me to wait outside while each of you goes in and tidies up first?"

Zhen Liu answered by directly pulling open the door to his room at the very end of the hallway. "Make yourselves at home."

Zhen Liu's frankness made Lawyer Jin glance at him. The only reason Zhen Liu dared to do this was because his character's method of committing the crime was difficult to guess. If he had been afraid of being discovered, he would have followed along back when Second-generation Zhao and Basketball Qiao teamed up.

Even if they really found some clues, Zhen Liu felt that it would work more to his advantage. With everyone having made a move, if he appeared too innocent, he would certainly attract even more suspicion. Better to expose himself from the start.

Professor Lu showed a certain degree of displeasure at others entering his room. It was not because he was afraid of them searching for evidence, but simply because that was his character's personality. He had strong boundaries and disliked others invading his private space. Therefore, before they went in to search, Professor Lu entered first to tidy up.

In accordance with their earlier agreement, Lawyer Jin examined Doctor Zhen's room in front of Doctor Zhen, then searched Professor Lu's room in front of Professor Lu. After that, he could not wait to suggest splitting up.

Professor Lu looked rather pleased, though what he said to Zhen Liu was, "It seems the two of us aren't particularly welcome to Lawyer Jin."

Zhen Liu neither agreed nor disagreed, but he had to admit that he felt relieved after Lawyer Jin left. He did not know why. When he had teamed up with Professor Lu, he had felt nothing in particular, but after Lawyer Jin was added, everything felt off. It was just like during the holidays, when too many strangers suddenly crowded into the house and left one feeling a little at a loss.

Lawyer Jin headed straight for the attic, while Zhen Liu and Professor Lu went to another empty guest bedroom on the second floor.

Professor Lu even reminded Zhen Liu, "Aren't you staying behind to tidy up your room first?"

Doctor Zhen was a clean freak. With people constantly coming and going through his room, he absolutely wouldn't be able to stand it.

For a moment, Zhen Liu was unsure whether this came from Professor Lu's concern for Doctor Zhen within the game, or a reminder from the player portraying Professor Lu to avoid going out of character as much as possible. Still, Zhen Liu had his own interpretation of the role. "Someone will definitely go in later anyway. There's no point tidying it up. I won't be sleeping there again."

Doctor Zhen had already decided not to sleep that night. Once this unpleasant affair ended tomorrow, he would go home and clean thoroughly.

Only when they entered the empty guest bedroom did Zhen Liu realize that Second-generation Zhao and Basketball Qiao had been extremely restrained when searching his and Professor Lu's rooms. At least they had maintained the appearance of tidiness. The unoccupied guest bedroom, however, had suffered horribly, as if bandits had swept through it. Even the heavy Simmons mattress had been flipped over.

The two could only struggle to find somewhere to stand. Professor Lu said again, "Do you need me to help tidy up the room first before you start searching for evidence?"

[It's definitely love!]

[Wow, he's so considerate? When will my boyfriend learn from him?]

[This relationship came a little suddenly, but... I'm in!]