12th Break: List

"I have made a list of the people who own boats and pass by the river which you said was where your friend was last seen." Lin Ze said as he sat across Meng Xing and placed the list on the table.

Meng Xing wiped his lips before he picked up the paper. Qiu Liu's recent update about Xu Ran's case was that a beggar has seen Xu Ran next to the river just underneath the bridge, and so he told Lin Ze about it. Since this case was given to him by an official, Meng Xing naturally could also ask the official for a list. But, as to why he didn't…

Meng Xing looked at Lin Ze. "Thank you." He said as he looked at each name on the list, trying to see if he would find someone familiar.

Meng Xing could ask the official, but now that he knows Xu Ran's case is connected to Merchant Wen's case, there would definitely be some information that would be hidden from him considering how Merchant Wen's case was immediately closed. But for Lin Ze, sneaking in the confidential areas without being noticed is just a piece of cake.

Not to mention that Lin Ze is suspicious of Merchant Wen's case, even if it was hurriedly closed, but Lin Ze is a righteous man, Lin Ze would definitely pursue the case on his own, which is different from Meng Xing who has his hands tied by the emperor's order.

And so he would use Lin Ze to solve Xu Ran's case.

"No problem." Lin Ze nodded at him. "I have already asked the people living nearby the river, including the beggars, but they all haven't seen your friend." He said and took out the portrait which Meng Xing gave him.

Meng Xing looked at the portrait before he lowered his head. Naturally, he didn't give Xu Ran's portrait to Lin Ze. Not to mention that Xu Ran's portrait was already posted all around the capital after her parents handed it to the official to post it so that the people and the passersby would see Xu Ran's face and maybe recall if they saw her. Thus, Meng Xing gave Lin Ze a fake portrait, which was based on the face of a woman Meng Xing knows from his past life.

Meng Xing hummed in response. "So only the boats who pass by the river are the only ones left." He said and resumed looking over at the list of names. He really saw some familiar names.

"En." Lin Ze nodded. "I already went and asked some of them and their answer was negative." He said and poured his cup with tea before he drank it.

Meng Xing didn't speak as his gaze ran over the list of the names, looking which names were missing from the list that the official gave Qiu Liu before. In fact, Qiu Liu's blockheadedness is also an advantage since from the treatment of the person to Qiu Liu you would see who are sincere and honest and who are not.

Thus, Meng Xing had to use Lin Ze to get this list to figure out which people that they might have missed. In short, he and Lin Ze are on the same boat.

Meng Xing's eyes narrowed when he really saw some new names. "Which people have you not yet asked?" He asked Lin Ze so that he will have Qiu Liu to ask the people who Lin Ze already asked but they not yet asked before because some of them weren't on the list that Qiu Liu received.

Even if Lin Ze already asked these people, but aside from Meng Xing being unfamiliar with Lin Ze, whom he only recently met, Huichen has their own way of investigating.

"These ones." Lin Ze answered and pointed to a couple of names.

Meng Xing fortunately has a good memory and so he already memorized the names on the list. "I will go with you." He told Lin Ze.

Lin Ze pursed his lips. "I can go on my own." He spoke. "I just showed you the list to give you an update." He explained.

Meng Xing of course knows this, since he was a detective before. They have to send updates of the investigation to their clients or else their clients would think that they are lazy and slacking off. Of course, there are some detectives who are well-known and even if they have temper, it would be the clients who would have to change their attitude.

Unfortunately, Meng Xing is just a small-time detective. Though, he has some classmates who would refer clients to him, making him able to live for another month.

Ai, life is truly hard for adults.

"Just wait for me to give you the next update." Lin Ze said, pulling Meng Xing from his drifting thoughts.

Meng Xing looked at him. "I am already here, anyway. Wasn't it just asking people?" He asked and frowned, acting angry.

Lin Ze also frowned. "You don't know the people of the capital." He spoke. His expression is serious.

"Oh?" Meng Xing, who had been living in the capital for the last five years and even created a detective agency that knows each and every secret of the households, including the dishes that they like to eat, muttered as his brow raised.

What would Lin Ze, who was away from the capital for the last five years, know? Let's hear it, then.

"You would think that those gentle faces of the people, they are kind to you." Lin Ze spoke. "But, they are actually looking down on you, or that they are thinking on how to make profit from you." He told Meng Xing.

Isn't he just describing the merchants who are discriminating against poor-looking people? Meng Xing thought and wanted to roll his eyes. But, since he has to pit… ehem, 'ask help' from Lin Ze, he had to act.

"You! You… how can you say that?!" Meng Xing exclaimed as his eyes widened, looking at Lin Ze in shock.

Lin Ze coldly huffed. "You would think they are nice people because they are good to you, but - " he looked at him. " - they are actually ridiculing you." He told him. "This is the true face of the people living in the capital." He said.