Chapter 144: The Real Culpri (2/2)

“She will be gone for quite a long time…” remarked Xiaotao. “Is she going to turn herself in?”

I thought for a while and suddenly realized something.

“There’s no difference in the punishment received for killing four people as opposed to five people, is there?” I asked.

“No,” answered Xiaotao in shock. “You’d be sentenced to death in both cases. Wait, are you suggesting that she’s going to kill that florist?”

“It’s very likely,” I said. “Let’s go find her now! Maybe we can still save her life!”

Xiaotao called the officers who were still at the station and asked for the florist’s address. We immediately rushed there and was greeted by a beautiful young woman who asked us, “How may I help you?”

Dali stared at her with his jaw hanging low and his eyes bulging out.

Xiaotao glared at him and showed the woman her badge. Then she roughly explained the whole situation to her. At first, she vehemently denied any association with Cheng Yahui. She was happily married, she insisted. But when she heard that she might be killed, her tone changed and she reluctantly admitted to having an affair with Cheng Yahui.

Xiaotao ordered a number of police officers to covertly surround the shop and we stayed in the shop under the guise of being her customers. The protection of the florist was not top priority—what was more important was to lure the murderer out to her.

The process of waiting was very boring. Bingxin looked around the shop and told me, “Song Yang-gege, I really like this white rose. Why don’t you buy me one?”

“You’re shameless, aren’t you?” Xiaotao sneered at her.

Bingxin stuck out her tongue at Xiaotao and replied, “It’s none of your business! I was just joking anyway!”

“Song Yang,” Xiaotao said to me, “it’s my birthday next month. I don’t want you to spend too much money on the present, so a single red rose will do.”

Bingxin was shocked and cried, “Why would he buy you a red rose? Only boyfriends or husbands gift red roses! Don’t you have any common sense?”

“Who cares?” Xiaotao snorted. “I like red roses and I want him to buy me one.”

“You… You’re abusing your authority! My dad will hear about this!”

“Is that all you can do? Crying to your dad? How childish!”

They stared each other down in anger. I was caught in the middle and it was getting really awkward.

“Maybe I can buy each of you a rose?” I suggested.

“No!” they both yelled.

“You guys really are police officers, aren’t you?” asked the florist.

“That’s rich, coming from you!” snapped Xiaotao. “You and your messy private life!”

“It’s not like I have any illusions about Dr. Cheng,” replied the florist. “I never felt real affection for that bastard. My married life is just so dull that I have to find someone to relieve my boredom, that’s all.”

I was surprised at how openly she discussed the matter.

“I wouldn’t mind if she finds me to relieve her boredom,” Dali whispered to me.

The florist overheard that and winked at Dali and said, “You look quite delicious, young man. You can come and chat with me whenever you’re free!”

Dali nodded eagerly and said, “Sure! I—”

I cut him off with a loud cough and glared at him.

At around noon, the florist said, “You’ve all been working very hard. I’ll order takeaways and we should all have lunch together!”

“Awesome!” cried Dali.

Xiaotao glared at him and told the florist, “No, thank you. We’re still on duty.”

The florist then ordered takeaway for herself. Once the food arrived, she tore open the packaging and was about to devour her food when I shouted, “Stop! Please let us check the food before you eat it.”

“Oh, I’m sure the food is fine!” said the florist. “I order their food every day, so I’m sure they wouldn’t do something so stupid like poisoning their own customer!”

“Today’s different,” I insisted. “Please let us check the food!”

We took samples of the food. Sun Bingxin opened her little box and started testing them. After a while, she confirmed that the food was safe.

“Ah, now the food has gone cold!” the florist complained.

After finishing the meal, she was about to light a cigarette when I stopped her again and said, “Wait! We have to check that too!”

“When will it end?” she sighed.

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