Chapter 231 Meeting Familiar Faces Back at the Alma Mater (1/2)

Ning Tao had just arrived near the police tape and turned towards the direction of the voice, then a familiar face came into view. More than 50 years old, some crow’s feet and grey hair. He had recognized her instantly. That woman was called Xu Xingrong, a lecturer of the forensics specialization. She used to teach him anatomy, and had helped him a fair bit.

For her to appear there, Xu Xingrong was clearly involved with the case of the previous night. She was carrying a tool box, her eyes were red from either crying or a lack of sleep. She looked exhausted and downspirited.

“Professor Xu, it has been a long time,” Ning Tao greeted.

Xu Xingrong said, “I heard that you did not intern at the university hospital. What happened?”

Ning Tao forced a smile. “Some things are hard to explain, so forget it. Oh right, Professor Xu, are you here to assist with the police investigation at the crime scene? Are there any clues?”

Xu Xingrong shook her head. “The murderer’s counterintelligence ability is very strong. This is not the first crime scene; our student’s body was dumped here in the alley’s garbage dump, only after she was murdered. There is not a clue of the murderer on her.”

Ning Tao said in surprise, “I heard that the victim had been violated by the murderer, so there’s no way there are no traces of the murderer, right? Are there any of his fingerprints, DNA, or the murderer’s skin or hair?”

Xu Xingrong said, “Apart from anything belonging to the victim herself, there is nothing. The police’s procedural experts and I had combed the scene very carefully. Our conclusions are the same.”

At that moment, two police officers carried a body bag out of the alley. The crowd immediately avoided them like the plague.

A police officer wearing a pair of white gloves, covering his nose, followed behind the body bag. When he walked to the police tape, he glanced at Ning Tao who was standing outside the barricade speaking to Xu Xingrong. He paused in his tracks, and put down his hands from his nose. “Doctor Ning, what are you doing here?”

That officer was Wu Wenbo.

Ning Tao greeted, “Hello Inspector Wu. I’m back here visiting.”

Wu Wenbo seemed to have made a mental connection. “Oh, I had forgotten that you were a student here. Doctor Ning, is superintendent Jiang here too?”

That seemed to be his main point.

Ning Tao said, “No, she has returned to Beidu.”

Wu Wenbo looked much relaxed, but his expression was still serious. “Doctor Ning, I need to get back for a group meeting. Let me treat you to a meal after I’m done here. Let’s catch up.”

Ning Tao said, “Alright, Inspector Wu, go ahead and do what you need to.”

Wu Wenbo left.

Xu Xingrong was then surprised, “Ning Tao, when did you get acquainted with Wu Wenbo? He even wanted to treat you to a meal.”

To her, Ning Tao was only a hardworking and down-to-earth youth. It was already a shock to her that someone of a certain social status like Wu Wenbo was acquainted with Ning Tao, and it was even weirder that she had even heard that Wu Wenbo had intended to treat Ning Tao to lunch?

Ning Tao said, “I’m actually not that close with him. It’s because of a friend. He probably said that because of that friend.”

“I see,” Xu Xingrong bypassed the police tape. “You must be returning to school. We can walk together, and you’ll tell teacher what you’ve been up to.”

“Sure,” Ning Tao responded. He could also learn more about the case from Xu Xingrong. If it were in the past, he would definitely have avoided such incidents, and would never have to be proactively involved. However, since he was the owner of the Sky Clinic, who had the responsibility of upholding justice. How could he let such a serial killer slide?

Xu Xingrong spoke as they walked, “Actually, I’ve always thought highly of you. You’ve been so hardworking and persistent. Your hard work has also prevailed. Were you not granted an internship at the Affiliated Hospital of Shan City Medical University? Why did you not take it up?”

It was her second time asking that question.

Ning Tao had no intention to talk about it, but seeing that she was so concerned for him, he explained in the end. “Professor Xu, you know my case. I have neither money nor connections. I only knew that my placement was taken over by Yang Hai on the first day reporting to work. Someone in Yang Hai’s family is from the Public Health Bureau; his family is a dealer of medical equipment. His girlfriend is Tang Ling who is the daughter of the university’s student affairs in-charge Mr Tang. Have you understood now after what I’ve said?”

Xu Xingrong frowned. “So it’s because of this. Can anybody with money and connections think they can do whatever they want in today’s world? They’re bullies, it’s unfair to you.”

That world had never been fair. It was so difficult for children of poor families to excel. However, all those were a thing of the past to Ning Tao at the moment. He did not care anymore. He stopped by the God’s Will electric bicycle, and removed its stopper, then pushed it as he and Xu Xingrong headed towards the campus entrance.

“This is yours?” Xu Xingrong saw the God’s Will electric bicycle. Her eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Yup,” Ning Tao responded, while he was devising on how to get more information about the victim from her.

Yet Xu Xingrong had once again diverted the topic, “Ning Tao, do you need me to talk to the hospital to see whether there’s a chance for you to go back for an internship? I feel pity for such an excellent student like you not being able to stay in the Affiliated Hospital of Shan City Medical University for the internship.”

Ning Tao said, “Thank you, Professor Xu, but it’s okay. I’ve opened a clinic myself. I no longer intend to do my internship at a hospital.”

“You’ve opened a clinic? Where?”