Mansion Mystery

A Shocking Surprise

He strolled past them, 'I'm sorry to keep you waiting', he apologized to Ji Hu who hid her ogling stare immediately, 'Now tell me, what happened?'

'Is he really going to ignore us after the hell he made us feel once he disappeared?', Dongmin criticized with a strong disapproval

Pouting, Liya gave Ji Hu a plastic smile, 'I'm sorry can you please wait in the next room?';, she pleaded with a charming laugh as Chen Fang just side eyed her, 'We need to...talk to Mr Zha here'

Ji Hu blinked as her long lashes gently fluttered which ignited Liya further, 'Ah of course', she allowed before taking herself and her mug to the room next to the kitchen followed by another officer

Once alone, the three looked at the silent man who instead of greeting them with his usual polite attitude, viewed them with unfamiliarity and quietness. 'Um Chen Fang?', Kaili began once more, 'The hell man?, aren't you going to say anything?'

He turned to Liya who was still shunned by his lack of response, 'I'm going to say this so listen carefully', he spoke with a low toned voice, 'I'm not talking to you all because I hate you. Far from that'

'So why-'

He held his finger up and the world stood still, 'It is time for us to go our separate ways', he explained, 'This group was fun while it lasted. But not everything lasts forever'

Left speechless, the others watched as he let out a soft groan and stood up straight, 'Now if you excuse me, I have a case to solve'

--

'Did he just walk out on us...FOR THE SECOND TIME?!', Kaili screamed in annoyance, 'Diu le lo mo'

Liya shot her a look as she quickly apologized, 'He's still going through it', she realized, 'But...he's wrong. The letter I got from SPADE specified someone in victim's family hired'

'Perhaps it's not the girlfriend but maybe his parents', Dongmin suggested, 'After all the victim seems like a real mamma and daddy's boy'

He gestured to a family portrait hung above a large money plant thriving beneath as its leave shot up towards the poised family of 4. 'That looks like his brother', Kaili pointed out at another similar skinned man standing behind what looked like the father, 'Maybe it was him'

'Well one thing's for sure, we're not leaving so soon', Liya decided, 'We're not letting him walk away, it's not going to be that easy'

--

The 3 followed JiHu's path into the next room to find her sitting opposite a focused Chen Fang who was scribbling down her views on paper, 'Oh it's you 3', she spoke with hurry, 'What are you still doing here?'

'Someone hired us', Dongmin answered witthout batting an eye, 'It was most likely the victim's family'

'So that means we're not going anywhere anytime soon', Liya determined, 'So please, repeat your statement. All authority needs to hear it'

She even stared death into Chen Fang's turned back, 'And do not worry, we won't get in your way whatsoever'

Ji Hu glanced at Chen Fang who simply closed his eyes and gave a small nod in return, 'Um, alright then', she stuttered, 'So I went out to this morning, I love to paint the morning sunrise and that's when I saw..'

She dazed into thin air as Chen Fang gave her a loud snap back to them, 'I saw Hao Ran', she confessed before turning away, 'He was just...there..in the pool'

Her peachy lips quivered, 'And and...he was floating', she continued, recounting the horror, 'It wasn't a natural kind but, a cold lifeless one'

'That's when I knew he was dead', she concluded, 'It was...'

When she trailed off for the second time, Liya couldn't help but stroke her back in sympathy, 'Death is hard', she soothed her, staring Chen Fang dead in the eyes, 'Losing someone is equally as hard'

He glanced away at her words before Dongmin spoke, 'Then you called the police?'

She nodded quickly, too quickly for Chen Fang's liking

'What time did you get up that morning?', he asked

'8am', she replied confidently, 'I have a routine everyday, it's always 8am rise, 11pm rest'

'That's very organized', he praised her, 'So walk us through your morning..before you encountered Hao Ran'

She took in a sharp inhale and composed herself first, then began recalling her experience, 'I woke up at 8am and examined the sky. The colors were perfect for a canvas piece I was thinking of painting so I got ready, put on a simple outfit'

'Then I headed downstairs and that's when I noticed something was off', she told them as she fixed her chocolate locks, 'Hao Ran wasn't eating breakfast. He always eats breakfast and then I give him a goodbye kiss before he heads to work. That morning...he wasn't there'

'Perhaps he went early'

She shook her head, 'Hao Ran may be a money minded man, but he had a schedule, a routine. He would stick to that work routine like it would kill him if he went off it'

'I see...'

'So I tried to call him, I didn't want him to miss work but he didn't pick up so I looked around...', she paused, 'And...that's when I found him'

They all sat in silence once more until she broke it, 'Yes then I called the police and just..sat there in shock.'

'How did you feel?', Kaili asked.

Her face flushed bright red, 'Of course I feel a bit sad!', she cried loudly, 'He's my boyfriend, he's been my Rannie for 3 years.'

Realizing her temper had seeped through, she cleared her throat, 'I'm sorry', she apologized, 'It's just...hard to grasp the fact that he's...gone.'

'I understand', Kaili began, 'I apologize for asking such an obvious question.'

Giving each other a knowing look, Liya gave her a sincere smile, 'Why don't you rest a while', she suggested, 'It's been an eventful morning.'

JiHu stood up slowly and agreed solemnly as another officer came to guide her away, 'Do you believe she's guilty?', Dongmin questioned

'Well, she's not exactly innocent', Kaili concluded, 'There's something suspicious about a girlfriend who doesn't shed a tear about their dead boyfriend of 3 years'.

Chen Fang looked at his notes deep in thought right as a melodic voice called out to them. 'Guys!', Himari yelled as she was about to enter the room, 'Woah, Chen Fang?!'

Her face twisted with surprise as he looked back at her, 'Himari', he greeted her casually as she sighed happily.

'The gang is back together?'

Instead of answering, they simply brushed past her as her face dropped in confusion, 'Not really', Dongmin whispered to her gently, 'It's complicated.'

Hanging her head in disappointment, she followed after them with a quick pace, leading them past another long corridor where a large glass door awaited them at the end, 'Huang Hao Ran was found here', she briefed them before sliding the door open.