Early the next morning, Jiang Nuo received a call from the imperial capital police station.
They had identified the high school student's body. His family was very grateful to Jiang Nuo and wanted to meet him.
The final procedures also required Jiang Nuo to come in for further confirmation.
Cui Ming needed to go to the company to handle matters concerning the variety show today, so he could not drive him.
Jiang Nuo took his time hailing a taxi.
"To the police station, please. Thank you."
Perhaps because he had not slept well the night before, Jiang Nuo looked listless today, with a faint trace of fatigue between his brows. He closed his eyes to rest as soon as he got in.
"Sure thing, handsome."
The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, merely marveling at how handsome this man was, like a celebrity, before continuing to drive without giving it further thought.
But the other passenger in the front was clearly much more excited than he was!
The young woman repeatedly glanced back and confirmed that this was indeed Jiang Nuo.
Her eyes widened. When she heard that he was going to the police station, she could barely contain her delight.
She quickly took out her phone and tapped away.
Tian Tian Sweet Sweet: Karma really does come around. I have to go to the police station for a family matter, and who should I run into but Jiang Nuo, heading there too! It must be because of Tian Dong's death, or because he took his feudal superstitions too far! Let's see whether the police let him off!
Jiang Nuo had already been a trending topic over the past two days, and the young woman had previously been a major Tian Dong fan with plenty of followers on her account. Within minutes, her post had shot into the trending section.
But skeptical voices soon appeared in the comments.
God Nuo Bless Me: It used to be one picture and a whole pack of lies. Is spreading rumors getting so cheap now that you don't even need a picture??
Xu Tian felt secretly annoyed when she saw these skeptical comments. She cautiously glanced back again and raised her phone to take a picture.
The instant she pressed the shutter, Jiang Nuo opened his eyes.
His gaze was sharp and icy, enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
Frightened by his gaze, Xu Tian took several seconds to recover.
Jiang Nuo, however, reacted quickly. Habits really do trip you up, he thought, putting on a smile. "Would you like to take a picture of me?"
Brother Cui had said that if he ran into fans out and about, he had to treat them politely and never give anyone ammunition against him.
Now that they were facing each other directly, Xu Tian's frightened heart began beating again at the sight of Jiang Nuo's outrageously handsome face.
Fuck. Whatever else you said about him, Jiang Nuo's face was unreal.
Remembering his question, she instinctively nodded, not daring to say she was taking pictures to smear him.
She really is a fan.
Jiang Nuo's smile deepened. "Go ahead. You don't have to sneak around."
Xu Tian gave two awkward laughs and, as though under a spell, raised her phone, only to discover that she did not even need to adjust the angle.
"You're so good-looking," she praised sincerely.
She had completely forgotten that she had wanted to smear him.
"You two, handsome and pretty, we're at the police station!"
The driver called out as he turned the wheel and reversed.
Xu Tian stopped talking. She recalled why she had come. She had felt nothing much before, but the moment she saw the police station sign, an inexplicable emotion welled up.
As they entered the reception hall, a police officer immediately came over to guide them.
Then he led them to the same place.
Several people were in the room. Xu Tian hurried over to the most plainly dressed woman. "Mom!"
"Mom, stop crying."
"Tiantian... it really wasn't me. I didn't hurt him!"
At the sight of Xu Tian, the woman seemed to have found her pillar of support. She threw herself against her and wailed.
"What are you crying for? You know perfectly well whether it was you! The police will investigate too!"
The young man in a suit spoke irritably, his eyes bloodshot. He was supporting an elegantly dressed elderly woman whose eyes had already gone dull.
Jiang Nuo studied everyone in the room. A moment after the officer introduced him, he nodded in greeting, a polite but distant smile curling his lips.
"Mr. Jiang, thank you... thank you for finding our Tongtong's body. Otherwise-otherwise, this old woman would truly have spent the rest of her life in regret!"
The elegantly dressed elderly woman hurried forward, her aged face filled with sorrow, thanking him over and over.
Xu Tian stared at Jiang Nuo in disbelief. He was actually the person who had found Jiang Tong's body!
Remembering that she had thought Jiang Nuo had been summoned by the police for spreading superstitious rumors, Xu Tian lowered her head guiltily.
Seeing Jiang Nuo's puzzled expression, the officer explained, "The body you found belonged to someone named Jiang Tong. This is his grandmother, and this is his older brother."
"Six months ago, they reported that Jiang Tong had disappeared for no apparent reason. We couldn't find him. Only after comparing his DNA against the database did we discover that it was the same person."
"This woman is the Jiang Family's housekeeper, and currently the prime suspect in the case."
But this case was so bizarre that even the criminal investigation unit was at a loss.
After they reported it to their superiors, their superiors actually recommended bringing Jiang Nuo in to handle it.
Wasn't this complete nonsense?!
Noticing the officer's complicated expression, Jiang Nuo's brow shifted slightly. He ventured, "So you asked me here because...?"
"I've watched your show, and I've seen that livestream too. Tongtong's death was too strange. I hope you can help."
Jiang Zhong stepped forward and explained his purpose. "As long as you're willing to help, Mr. Jiang, money is no object."
[Side quest triggered: The mystery of the high school student's death]
Jiang Nuo: "..."
[Quest completion reward: 200 points]
Jiang Nuo looked up and solemnly shook his hand. "Of course, Mr. Jiang."
The officer did not keep them any longer. Orders from above said that this was not something ordinary people could resolve.
But before they could leave, a middle-aged man hurried over with two people following behind him.
One wore tattered Daoist robes, yet had a ruddy complexion and a luxury watch on his wrist.
The other was dressed ordinarily and looked like someone who would instantly disappear into a crowd, yet he faintly emanated an aura that cleared the mind.
"Mom, the person you found is so young. What could he possibly accomplish? These are two masters I asked someone to find. They're both very capable!"
"Daoist Priest Hu is a renowned practitioner of the mystic arts around these parts, and he's excellent at catching ghosts. Mr. Wang Ping is even more impressive. He's a member of the Hua Country Daoist Mysticism Association! An official organization!"
Jiang Zhong's tone was cold. "Uncle, what does this have to do with you?"
"Tongtong was my nephew, after all. And now the family is... I still have to help!"
Daoist Priest Hu stroked his beard and raised his chin as he looked at Jiang Nuo, clicking his tongue in disdain.
"Little boy, a few flashy tricks don't mean you can pretend to be a Daoist priest!"
Jiang Nuo nodded. "You're right. No need to introduce yourself here."
He ignored the man, but gave Wang Ping a few looks.
The Hua Country Daoist Mysticism Association. Brother Cui only mentioned it yesterday. The aura around this man really was different from an ordinary person's.
Noticing his gaze, Wang Ping came forward to shake hands.
"Mr. Jiang, I've long heard of you."
Jiang Nuo lowered his gaze to glance at his hand, then looked up with a beaming smile. "Hello."
Meanwhile, Uncle Jiang finally succeeded in persuading her, and Old Madam Jiang made the final decision.
"I invite all three masters to come to our home at dusk. Whoever resolves these supernatural incidents first and discovers the truth behind Tongtong's death will receive these five million!"
The officer beside them: ...
How annoying. Could you please not talk about this stuff in a police station!