Chapter 11 Shi Qiang_1

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Around 8 p.m., Cao Ge's rented apartment was still immersed in the "click-clack" of keyboard sounds.

"Thud Thud Thud!!!"

"Thud Thud Thud!!!"

Suddenly, the door was knocked awake.

Upon hearing the knocking sound, Cao Ge, who was at the computer desk, stopped the "click-clack" tapping of his hands, turned his head to look at the door, and called out, "Who is it?"

"Cao? It's me, Auntie Wang."

"Auntie Wang." Cao Ge frowned, then stood up from his computer chair, and while walking over, he said, "Auntie Wang, it doesn't seem like it's time to collect the rent yet..."

"Click~"

As Cao Ge opened the door, he found not just the landlord outside, but also two men and a woman - among them, two young ones were wearing police uniforms, the woman was pretty and young, and one of the men had a masculine face. He also recognized one person - the driver from this afternoon who had picked up Wang Miao.

"Is it Mr. Cao? We are from the local police station. We came to understand a little situation from you," said the young officer before the landlord could speak.

"Little Cao, I've asked, they are indeed police officers. You cooperate well, and just tell them everything you know," Auntie Wang chimed in.

Cao Ge's gaze swept over the three individuals, then stepped aside and said, "Then come in and talk."

"Officer, you guys talk, I won't disturb you," a middle-aged woman with curly hair said familiarly, smiling at the group.

"Sure, ma'am, you go ahead. We're going to talk with this comrade here," the young policeman politely said to Auntie Wang.

"Alright, then I'll be off," the landlord replied, and after speaking, she walked to the opposite side of the corridor.

After the landlord left, the four people entered the thirty-square-meter rented apartment.

After entering the room, the three officers stood in the middle of the house, carefully taking a glance around.

"I'm sorry for the mess. I've been a bit busy lately. I really haven't had time to clean up."

Cao Ge followed the gaze of the three officers, looking at the clothes carelessly thrown on his bed, along with the scattered instant noodle boxes and empty drink cans on the floor. He quickly walked over, picked them up, gathered them together, and made room around the small folding chair. He then said to the three, "Officers, please take a seat. I'll pour you some water."

Cao Ge quickly tidied up the trash that scattered about, then went over to the water dispenser, poured a cup of water for each person, and handed it to them.

"Thank you."

After placing the water on the table in front of them, Cao Ge turned to pull over his computer chair, then sat in front of them.

"What would you officers like to understand?" Cao Ge calmly asked.

Cao Ge's composure seemed to surprise the two young officers in uniform, a man and a woman, who had anticipated the investigation might be tough. They held their notepads, exchanged a surprised glance, then looked at the man who didn't quite look like a police officer, and finally back at him again. After a pause, they asked, "Mr. Cao, you don't seem surprised by our visit?"

Cao Ge looked at the male officer who had posed the question, then said with a smile, "Originally, I had no idea, but then I saw this big brother here. If I'm not mistaken, we met just this afternoon, right? With Professor Wang Miao."

"That's right, it was me," the burly man spoke up in response.

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Having received an affirmative response, Cao Ge smiled and turned back to the young officer, saying, "There you have it, these past few days I've only been in contact with the scientific community. Since you've come at this time, it must certainly be about something to do with the scientific community."

"You seem to take things rather easily," Shi Qiang said with a slight smile.

Cao Ge smiled in return but did not respond.

"Then let's talk about it, what do you know?" Da Shi stared into Cao Ge's eyes, asking in an unusually serious tone.

"Team Leader Shi!"

Seeing Shi Qiang using an interrogation tone as if addressing a criminal, the young officer immediately called out, signaling him to mind his approach.

After "chiding" Team Leader Shi, the young officer immediately turned to Cao Ge with a smile and said, "Comrade Cao, please don't take offense. Our Team Leader Shi means no harm, he's just very eager to find out about the scientific community. After all, this case is very important to us. We hope you can understand."

"It's fine, I understand," Cao Ge smiled and was not at all displeased with Shi Qiang's tone.

"Alright, then let us begin," said the young officer, glancing at the female officer seated next to him, signaling her to start taking notes.

"We're here because you've had contact with the scientific community, so we wanted to ask you about it," the young officer asked patiently.

"What's going on with the scientific community?" Cao Ge asked with feigned interest, appearing curious.

With every statement from the two of them, the female officer made a note.

Upon hearing Cao Ge's question, the young officer paused for a moment and looked back at Shi Qiang leaning on his chair. Seeing no reaction from him, the officer turned back and said, "Mr. Cao, over the past year, dozens of renowned scholars from both within our country and abroad have died mysteriously. Our investigations have determined that these scientists all committed suicide, but we've found that all of these scholars had contact with the scientific community before their deaths, which is why we've come to you to learn more."

"I am aware of the matter you're talking about. Such a large-scale suicide event among scientists is truly shocking and has caused a great stir in the scientific world; it is indeed incomprehensible. However, I'm curious, why have you come to me? I've only attended a scientific community meeting once and had no further contact with them," Cao Ge asked them curiously.

"Mr. Cao, our investigation is comprehensive, and everyone involved is subject to inquiry. We didn't come to you specifically, so please don't feel singled out," the young officer reassured him.

"Alright," Cao Ge nodded.

"What would you like to know?"

Seeing that the conversation had moved to the main topic, the young officer straightened up a bit and then asked, "We'd like to know, what exactly is the scientific community doing and what have you done within it? What have they told you? The more detail you can provide, Mr. Cao, the better."

"What is the scientific community doing? Hiss—"

"Is that question hard to answer?" Da Shi, seeing Cao Ge fall into thought, immediately leaned forward, his gaze piercing as he asked with a pressing urgency.

"Team Leader Shi."

When Da Shi appeared to be interrupting, the young officer immediately called out again.

"It's fine, officer," Cao Ge reassured the young officer, then indicated that he was okay.

After calming down the young officer, Cao Ge looked at Shi Qiang with a smile and said, "That question is indeed difficult to answer. I don't even know how to begin."

"Just say whatever comes to mind. Express all your thoughts and views," Shi Qiang gestured to the female officer to be ready to take notes, then continued with his inquiry.

"Since the officer has said so, then I'll share my views," Cao Ge said.