Chapter 63: A Peculiar Predilection

As Hao Yingjun was glancing toward a room, Wang Zixuan seized him by the shoulder and shoved him against the wall.

Wang Zixuan said, “Behave yourself. You’ve got some nerve, trying to tamper with evidence.”

Hao Yingjun replied, “No, no, I wouldn’t dare.”

Wang Zixuan pressed on, “Still denying it? You even tried to slip away on your own.”

She dragged Hao Yingjun downstairs. “We’re going to get your brain checked right now, so I don’t have to keep watching you every day.”

Hao Yingjun clung to her arm, desperate. “Wait, wait, it’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! I’m investigating, really, I am.”

Wang Zixuan shot back, “Investigating, my foot. Get back with me now. Today, I’m not letting you off the hook.”

Hao Yingjun pleaded, “Wait, please, look over there.”

He pointed to the window, where the light inside cast the silhouette of someone with long hair. Without hesitating, Wang Zixuan kicked open the door.

“Ferrywoman on duty,” she announced as she entered.

Wang Zixuan searched for the suspect while Hao Yingjun quietly closed the door behind him and began examining every detail of the room. The table was littered with heaps of takeaway containers and rubbish. By the window stood a high-powered telescope. Hao Yingjun approached and peered through it, immediately spotting the window of Wang Beibei’s home. On the sofa nearby, Wang Zixuan discovered several balloons.

“These balloons look awfully familiar,” Wang Zixuan remarked.

She picked one up and sniffed it. The scent hit her hard.

“It smells exactly like the scene where the gas was released,” Hao Yingjun observed.

“What is this place?” Wang Zixuan asked.

Hao Yingjun replied, “Ma’am, I haven’t been here long, but based on my observations these past few days, you’re a pretty righteous ferrywoman.”

“Get to the point,” Wang Zixuan demanded.

“My deduction is this: the culprit this time is either Wang Beibei or the owner of this room.”

“Let’s hear your reasoning.”

As Hao Yingjun spoke, he edged away from the telescope. Wang Zixuan, after checking the room, also took a glance through it.

“Yesterday morning, at the jewelry store, I smelled the released gas. It was powerful, almost intoxicating, and carried a strong aroma of chive buns and garlic. Did you notice it?” Hao Yingjun asked.

Wang Zixuan shook her head. “I don’t make a habit of sniffing farts. Go on.”

“There’s an old saying: no matter how fine the perfume, it can’t mask the scent of chive buns and garlic. Think about it—a beautiful woman, the day before buying a diamond ring for a date, why would she eat chive buns and so much garlic?”

Wang Zixuan shot Hao Yingjun a look, curious what more he would come up with.

“So I deduced that the gas wasn’t from Wang Beibei,” Hao Yingjun concluded.

“What kind of ridiculous theory is that? Why can’t someone eat chive buns and garlic before a date?” Wang Zixuan challenged.

The air grew tense. Wang Zixuan stared him down while Hao Yingjun nodded with a smile.

“Let’s set aside common sense for a moment,” he said. “To make sure of the evidence, I went to the evidence room and took a sniff of Wang Beibei’s latest sample, just in case.”

“Hao Yingjun,” Wang Zixuan interrupted.

“Yes?”

“Tell me honestly, do you have some sort of strange fetish? Why are you so eager to smell farts?”

“Please, don’t mind these details. It’s all for the sake of the investigation. The key point is, the new sample didn’t have any scent of chive buns.”