3.4 Unnatural memory

Only one day after the recording session was over, Xiang Li emailed the edited video over to Lan Xiao. Shu XinYi was honestly surprised, not only did he edited such a long video despite having a lot of work on his hands from his detective job, but the final cut was also edited really well. All the aspects needed for the video to look better in the final process were there. From uncopyrighted music to insync effects. It was worth being impressed about since it was not a half assed work, Xiang Li had actually put his effort in doing so.

The truth was that Xiang LI hadn't ever had this much fun in his life. From recording Xiao to helping him on set, every thing he did in the past few days was Intresting for him. The way Xiao talked about art and described his work off camera to him. The way Xiao would care more about the appearance of his art more then his own and his tied up hair would get all messy. The way Xiao asks him with dirty hands to roll his sleeves for him or reclip his hair.

Everything, everyday was becoming more and more interesting for Xiang Li. From the day he decided to become a detective he was always on edge, always vigilant. Although it was good to work as a detective, it felt suffocating and boring but because he had a purpose he didn't give up. As time went on he could only try different things to find his intrest, from becoming a bartender to a chef in his part time.

Apparently nothing worked, Although Xiang Li was above average at everything he did, but the emptiness in his heart never went away. Since the second trial was a day after, Xiang Li had to make new reports but he still prioritized editing the video. Watching the recording over and over again Xiang Li didn't realize when his breathing had slowed but his heart only raced faster and faster.

Looking at the different expressions on Xiao's face even on the laptop screen was enough for him. Almost unconsciously Xiang Li had started using his hands to release the knot in his pants. It was too overwhelming, he wanted to kiss Xiao and hold him, caress him. Make Xiao look at him with the same eyes as Xiao looks intently at his sculpture. Only look at him.

Xiang Li also imagined Xiao looking at Song XingCheng very carefully to make his sculpture. His heart burned at the thought, he wanted to scald every inch of skin on Song XingChen's body that Xiao had seen and touched. Where this strong obsession came from, Xiang Li didn't know. What he did know was that he wanted Xiao. Desperately.

Meanwhile Shu XinYi was evaluating Song XingChen, why did you murder Bai Jiao? It was true that from the 7 protagonists only XingChen was capable of being the murderer. The only two options after the 3 families were the detective and XingChen. The detective firstly had no murder motive, unless he was a serial murderer or a psychopath.

Secondly the detective had no way to murder Bai Jiao, Since he was attending a case at the time of murder. Song XingChen on the other hand was very mysterious, even in the story snow was able to tell, XingChen had a very mysterious background. 4 years ago his father died in an accident. He wasn't an actor back then but after his father died his assigned foster family recognized his talents and helped him become an aspiring actor.

Shu XinYi didn't know Song XingChen's personality well but he could be certain that he had a murder motive. What the motive was? Well Shu XinYi would find out sooner or later. The first thing Shu XinYi wanted to start the investigation from is XingChen's father's death, Since that was the the only major incident in his life. Then he will go to investigate his foster family and his career with the help of Lan Xiao's mother.

Shu XinYi didn't have time to see the response for the video after he uploaded and promoted it because he had to go to the trial. On the way to the court room he met Xue Yao. They said "Hey, XiaoXiao did you know that your lost sculpture was found at one of my Father's property. The construction site on Lihua Avenue, it was found there broken in several pieces." 

Shu XinYi asked Snow to verify, it was true that XingChen's sculpture had been found in Xue Fan's property. It will solidify the case against Xue Fan even more but it could also easily be seen as someone trying to frame Xue Fan. So what was Song XingChen's purpose for dumping his own statue after stealing it and it had to be in one of Xue Fan's places? What is Song XingChen aiming for? Does he want to blame Xue Fan for the murder or does he want it to be seen as someone trying to frame Xue Fan? What benefit does XingChen get in any of those situations?

One thing was clear that Song XingChen was the one who stole his own sculpture but why would he need to do that? Why steal it ? Was it that he didn't like Lan Xiao's artistry? Or was it necessary for XingChen to steal it to initiate the murder and fulfill his purpose for it? There were too many unanswered questions but Shu XinYi thought a thousand possibilities in his mind about what the answers may be.

While he was sitting in court Shu XinYi kept trying to think of the answers but was unable to come at a conclusion. He watched blankly as the judge questioned and the people answered. Shu XinYi went to the beginning, the first day he entered the world, the day of the murder. The only question Shu XinYi wanted to find an answer to right now was, how was Bai Jiao murdered? Until now everyone is just focusing on who is the murderer but they are missing the answer to this simple question.

Shu XinYi recreated the crime scene in his mind space. The people the paintings, everything. Shu XinYi had a very unnaturally accurate memory. He was able to remember even minor details like the shape and color of a hairpin thanks to Snow. He walked around his mind space looking at the unmoving people. Then he walked towards Bai Jiao. The man was standing close to XingChen's sculpture. The sculpture was holding a piccolo in his hands and had it in it's mouth. Wearing an ancient attire it seemed like a beautiful god  who was playing a peaceful tune for the flowers to blossom.

Shu XinYi walked closer to the statue and looked carefully... Ah so this is how you did it. Shu XinYi thought. XingChen's sculpture was never in the art gallery to begin with. It was XingChen himself, who stood in place of his own sculpture. Shu XinYi could tell for two reasons, firstly because Lan Xiao never imitated reality fully. Even if he made human sculpture's there would be something unreal about it. One time Lan Xiao was asked by a man to make his sculpture normally, but he still made the sculpture have a cracked hand that looked like it would turn to dust if touched, the buyer was really angry as he thought Xiao had broken the sculpture in making and Lan Xiao didn't deny it and even accepted the half payment just because of his art style of not imitating reality fully.

The XingChen sculpture he was standing in front of was very amazing but it was too close to reality there was nothing exceptionally unreal. So Shu XinYi could tell that the sculpture had changed and maybe the original sculpture had something extra in it that XingChen was unable to copy, when he made himself into a sculpture. Maybe the difference was really small so even the meticulous and detail oriented, XingChen didn't bother to perfect it. The second reason was the piccolo in his mouth, the murder weapon.

With it XingChen pretending to be a mannequin had blown the poison pill, stored in the piccolo, directly into Bai Jiao's mouth efficiently. Then came the escape, for XingChen to escape as a statue wouldn't be that difficult after the crowd had gathered around the body, as Shu XinYi had seen in the recording. Once the crowd had hidden the sculpture from the camer's and the people's view, as they were all focused on the body. XingChen then went to the washroom to change and then escaped with all the people with the mask on. Since XingChen didn't enter through the door but through the storage rooms, with no cameras and only one guard, he wouldn't be on the guest list.

Shu XinYi opened his eyes, even if he knew how the murder was executed there was no way for him to prove it to the court right now. There was no evidence of XingChen being involved in any way. Atleast it became clear to Shu XinYi how the murder had taken place. Two things Shu XinYi had noted. Not only did XingChen plan this murder very well but Shu XinYi had the intuition that he had been planning this murder for a long time. It was 4 months ago that Song XingChen had suggested Lan Xiao in a friendly way to make his sculpture so maybe he had started planning from then on. 

He needed more information, Shu XinYi looked around the court and the trial was still going on. Shu XinYi had looked at the whole room, only purposely avoiding the spot that Xiang Li was standing in. Even though Xiang Li hadn't given him any hopes but Shu XinYi's heart couldn't help but beat faster when he was around him. Only god knew how much Shu XinYi wanted to hug him and latch his body around Xiang Li to let him have his way with him, but he controlled because he didn't want to hurt himself if reality proved different. If he kissed Xiang Li and didn't feel that familiar spiritual sense flowing through him as it did with Leo and LiFeng, then his heart would really feel crushed. 

He really liked that feeling and he liked that person even more. So if Xiang Li was not that same person, he won't be able to love him because he is not that person . 

In the second trial, the evidences against Xue Fan were piling up. Not only had the sculpture been found on their property but Xue Fan, who had never traded poison before, had only a month ago started to trade the poison that killed Bai Jiao. Although Xue Fan did a ton of illegal stuff, he had always maintained his "out of sight, out of mind" behavior. So never was he imprisoned for anything.

Amoung all the people present, Shu XinYi could tell that there were only few people who found it absurd that the quiet and meticulous, Xue Fan, would commit a murder like this in broad daylight. There was some media presence outside the court as well. Although the court tried to keep this investigation and the proceedings private, it still involved the matter of 3 most influential families. Many people just wanted to know the situation so they could buy and sell the right shares and benefit themselves.

It would greatly profit a lot of people, even in the sub branches of the Xue Family, if Xue Fan was arrested for murder. So it was not a surprise that public was eager to believe that Xue Fan should be the killer. The set up evidence also played a significant part in making their perspectives shift.

Shu XinYi walked out of the court in conclusion that Song XingChen wanted to blame Xue Fan for Bai Jiao's death. The question was.. Why? Even though the judge had filed no charges today. It could be seen that Xue Fan would, more likely then not, be charged for the murder.

"Snow, please tell me you know where Song XingChen's foster home is." Shu XinYi asked while he was in his car.

"X city, district 2. house number 428. In the world background it is mentioned that after his father died 4 years ago in a car accident. He lived with the neighbors family. Both XingChen and his neighbor's were working class men. The neighbors owed XingChen's father a lot of favors and the father was a good man who never asked for anything in return, so they were very keen when they adopted his son. They took care of him like their real family and even helped him achieve the dream of becoming an actor."

"Anything else about what happened 4 years ago worth noticing?" Shu XinYi asked.

"4 years ago, the 3 families had better relations then they do now. After some sort of incident, they broke their friendly terms with each other. Also the day Lan Xiao broke his leg, was also 4 years ago. From Lan Xiao's perspective it says "That day father was really angry. My leg didn't hurt a lot but I was scared of father that day so my body was trembling. Father broke Gege's violin and slapped him. I was really sad that day. I don't know why father was so angry but I wish he wasn't."

4 years ago something happened, but what? XingChen's father died in an accident. Was it really an accident? Shu XinYi rushed to his room as soon as he went home. Lan Cheng was not home and mother was at the company. There was only a servent at home who was making dinner.

Shu XinYi opened his laptop and searched about all the road accidents that took place 4 years ago in May, that is also when Lan Xiao had his accident. A particular article interested Shu XinYi, it said

"Zhou Xian, The head of the Zhou family died in a tragic accident last week. This may also be the end of the already drowning company started by Zhou Xian. After going bankrupt and being unable to pay the debt, all his assets were sealed. With the life insurance money and after selling all his assets, the board members of the company are finally debt free and they are preparing to shut down the

company. His only family, his child who is also the next heir of the Zhou family has gone missing. Even after a week of investigation the child is still not found. Will this really be the end for the Zhou family?"

Was it really "a tragic accident" that killed Zhou Xian? There is obviously more to the story. Shu XinYi visited the online stockmarket and reviewed the information of the 3 families from 4 years ago. It seemed that around that time the 3 families weren't doing very well. The Lan family was still in prosper but still you could see the difference if you compared to the previous rate. The worst one was the Xue family, that had the lowest share rating of their career for 3 straight months.

Simultaneously the share price for the Zhou company was rising at that time. It was easy to see a pattern of what had went on 4 years ago. Zhou Xian did stuff similar to Xue Fan, buying and selling illegal goods, just that, he did it under the protection of a formed import export company. So he was more successful than the Xue family. The Bai family was not directly effected but it definitely got affected by the winds.

Once the Zhou company stocks went out of market and the company was disbanded, the stocks of the 3 families gained their original momentum. It is really shocking that people didn't make this connection before for the Zhou Xian case but it was really probable that the 3 families worked together to not let the case effect them

So it is highly possible that Bai Jiao and Xue Fan played a major role in bankrupting the Zhou company.

Also, because the 3 families had good relations back then, Lan Xiao's father may have also been involved and helped them. Later, the car accident in which Zhou Xian died may also be planned by them but Shu XinYi had a gut feeling that they did not involve themselves in the accident.

In fact it may be that the trust the 3 families had with each other, also broke seeing how sinister each of them were in the matter of some profit. So after they manged to bankrupt the Zhou company, it is highly likely that the 3 families parted ways and refused to involve with each other or with the Zhou Company anymore. So the accident may just be an accident or maybe it wasn't but the 3 families played no role in it.