Volume 1, Chapter 9: The Headless Female Corpse Is Actually...

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Bo Congnan spoke earnestly, genuinely believing there was nothing wrong with what he said. Jiang Ze looked at him incredulously. "How little do you really know her?"

Although I didn’t understand how Jiang Ze knew I liked purple, Bo Congnan’s attitude was truly disappointing. Back when he celebrated my eighteenth birthday, just a week before my exams, he secretly skipped classes. Without my father’s knowledge, he even took his private plane abroad to buy me this bracelet.

I still remember how he rushed back, windblown and weary, took the bracelet from his chest pocket, held it out before me, and said, "Xiao Zhiyi, happy eighteenth birthday!"

Those moments clearly existed—so why… why can’t he remember them?

I covered my lifeless heart, feeling an unbearable emptiness, as if a bullet had punched a hole through it, letting the cold wind rush in. I had accepted Bo Congnan’s betrayal, but I found it hard to accept him denying those shared memories.

Bo Congnan grasped Jiang Ze’s hand; inside a transparent sealed bag was the bracelet. He frowned deeply. "I am Shen Zhiyi’s husband. After all these years together, how could I not know what she likes?"

"This bracelet is ugly; she never liked it! Jiang Ze, I know you care about Shen Zhiyi, but there’s no need to lie to us!"

"I’m the one married to her. Our family affairs don’t need an outsider meddling!"

Jiang Ze was no pushover either. He grabbed Bo Congnan’s collar. "I may be an outsider, but I’m also a police officer. Ensuring everyone’s safety is my duty!"

"Bo Congnan, you truly don’t understand Zhiyi at all. All these years, you’ve been feeding her to the dogs!"

Bo Congnan’s eyes narrowed; his face fell completely. His best friend was arguing with him over a woman, and the anger he had suppressed for days finally erupted.

Just as the two were about to clash, Fang Lanru and Meng Xiangyi arrived, fashionably late.

The moment Meng Xiangyi stepped in, she said, "Congnan, Officer Jiang is only concerned for all of us. You shouldn’t be rude."

Meng Xiangyi had returned home at thirteen. Slowly, Bo Congnan moved from initial estrangement to following her around, calling her "sister" with a wagging tail. He listened well to her.

As soon as she spoke, his tone softened. "Sister Xiangyi, don’t misunderstand me…"

Meng Xiangyi ignored Bo Congnan and turned to Jiang Ze. "May I see the bracelet?"

Seeing her polite attitude, Jiang Ze relaxed and handed it over.

"Well? Isn’t it Zhiyi’s?"

Fang Lanru, upon hearing of my death, was not as calm as I had imagined. I even saw a hint of pity on her face.

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She asked Meng Xiangyi to confirm if this was indeed my bracelet.

Meng Xiangyi carefully examined the bracelet in Jiang Ze’s hand, then slowly said, "I think Zhiyi did have a bracelet like this…"

Bo Congnan couldn’t believe it. "What?"

He clearly remembered that Shen Zhiyi liked red, not purple. How could that be?

Shen Yikang and Fang Lanru almost spoke in unison. "Could it be that Zhiyi really was harmed?"

Meng Xiangyi tried to recall, "But… I remember Zhiyi was short on money for a while. She seemed to pawn quite a few things. This bracelet was sold long ago."

I always thought only I knew about this, but surprisingly, Meng Xiangyi knew too!

How did she find out?

I was indeed short on money back then, but the Shen family refused to give me any, and my own savings had nearly run out.

The daily salary of a racing commentator wasn’t much.

My relationship with Bo Congnan was deteriorating, so I was too embarrassed to ask him.

I had no choice but to sell some designer bags and jewelry to get by.

I never expected her to know.

But what she didn’t know was that I never sold this bracelet.

Because even before I died, though I had thought of leaving Bo Congnan and felt disappointment and resentment towards him, I never denied the love we once shared.

Meng Xiangyi never saw me sell the bracelet—why would she lie?

Suddenly remembering something, Bo Congnan said coldly, "Why was she short on money?"

Meng Xiangyi shook her head. "I don’t know. We’ll have to ask Zhiyi when she returns."

Fang Lanru snorted coldly. "What else could it be? It must be because of that seductive mother of hers."

Shen Yikang remained silent, cowed by the topic.

Clearly, the Shen family and Bo Congnan all trusted Meng Xiangyi’s words.

Jiang Ze asked, "I recall Zhiyi moved out after university. How do you know she sold the bracelet?"

Meng Xiangyi, like a big sister, said worriedly, "Since I came back, Zhiyi has been distant and cold towards Mom and Dad, barely speaking. I know she didn’t like me—I took away their love the moment I returned. She grew up spoiled, and no wonder she felt uneasy."

"I’m the older sister; naturally, I didn’t hold it against her. When I wasn’t busy, I’d check on her place and accidentally discovered she was secretly selling things for money."

I always knew Meng Xiangyi bore hostility towards me.

Yet I never expected that even after my death, she would fabricate such lies to deceive Bo Congnan and the Shen family.

I moved out after graduating university not for any other reason but because—

At the Shen household, Meng Xiangyi had taken all the love; she even subtly suppressed me. At that time, I often thought of myself as a failure, worthless.

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She was the "good child" in my parents’ eyes. Anything she desired ended up in her hands, even if it was something I loved most.

Over time, I avoided communicating with my family, reluctant to join family gatherings.

To escape the suffocating atmosphere, I rented a place near school after graduation and moved out of the Shen home.

Jiang Ze fell silent, staring at the bracelet, lost in thought.

Could it be that he was overthinking, and all this was just coincidence?

But seeing Meng Xiangyi’s confident expression, he found no words to refute her.

Jiang Ze said nothing and quietly put the bracelet away.

Fang Lanru hugged Meng Xiangyi tenderly. "You’ve suffered, my child. Shen Zhiyi had a temper. How could a broken bracelet prove something happened to her? She’s a troublemaker—she might be hiding somewhere right now, laughing at us!"

Although Shen Yikang felt heartache, he still sensed something was off. "It’s been so many days with no news. What if Zhiyi…"

Before he finished, Fang Lanru cut in sharply, "That’s just like you. You only worry about her and never care about Xiangyi!"

Shen Yikang was speechless.

Jiang Ze stayed out of the Shen family quarrel and turned to Bo Congnan. "Zhiyi’s been missing so long. Aren’t you worried at all? You can’t reach her anyway; why not report it to the police? They’ll find her quickly."

If Bo Congnan reported it, the Shen family would have to cooperate with the investigation, and Zhiyi could be found.

Bo Congnan’s tone was unpleasant. "No need to report it. Shen Zhiyi is fine! Sister Xiangyi said she sold that broken bracelet long ago!"

"I give Zhiyi plenty of money every month. She just reads and buys groceries at home. Why would she need so much money? That money is probably used for someone else!"

I smiled bitterly.

Meng Xiangyi’s words easily convinced him.

From his tone, he even suspected I was cheating and using his money to support a lover.

Bo Congnan gave me a bank card where he deposited money monthly.

But I never used it; that card still lies in the drawer of the dressing table in our marital home.

He never bothered to verify what Meng Xiangyi said.

"You—"

Jiang Ze was about to speak when a female colleague pushed open the door and called out, "Boss, there’s a new lead on the identity of the headless female corpse!"