Obscuris Labyrinth

At this time, Liu Jiahao gently handed a cup of hot water to Zhao Yuxuan. The curling steam rising from the hot water seemed to bring a trace of warmth to this cold atmosphere. His voice was very soft, flowing into Zhao Yuxuan's ears like a trickling stream: "Zhao Yuxuan, I understand the grief and anger in your heart at this moment, but you have to calm yourself down first. Only in this way can you provide us, the police, with useful clues, and only then can we seek justice for your parents."

Zhao Yuxuan numbly took the water cup and took a sip with his head slightly tilted up. The hot water slid down his throat, but it didn't seem to make him feel warm. His hand holding the paper cup still trembled uncontrollably like a leaf in the wind. He knew that Liu Jiahao was right, so he tried his best to restrain his surging emotions and nodded slowly. His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Okay, what do you want to ask?"

Liu Jiahao looked at Zhao Yuxuan's blood - shot eyes and asked小心翼翼地 (cautiously) : "Think carefully. After your parents came back, were there any unusual situations?"

When Zhao Yuxuan heard this question, it was like a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind. A matter that he had previously ignored instantly rushed into his thoughts. It was as if he was suddenly hit by a powerful electric current, and he sprang up from the sofa. His eyes were full of horror and panic, and then he rushed madly towards the study upstairs. That ancient jade with strange blood - colored characters, the words said by the old man named Li Ruize, "ominous thing, the owner will suddenly die suddenly." All of these things were constantly playing in his mind like a movie. His heart was screaming: How could this be true? No, this can't be true! However, an ominous premonition spread in his heart.

When he rushed breathlessly to the study and lifted the carpet, he stood there blankly as if under a body - freezing spell. He saw that the floor tile had been broken, and there was a two - inch - thick steel plate mini - safe underneath. It had been pierced through with a large hole. This hole was like the gaping maw of a hideous giant beast, penetrating through the red sandalwood box, and the ancient jade that had been originally placed inside had disappeared without a trace.

He just stood there blankly, as if his soul had left his body. At this time, Liu Jiahao also quickly rushed to his side. Looking at the messy scene on the floor, Liu Jiahao frowned. While loudly ordering his subordinates to come up and survey the scene, he asked Zhao Yuxuan with concern, "Zhao Yuxuan, what was placed here?"

Zhao Yuxuan seemed to suddenly wake up from a nightmare. His eyes were instantly filled with the flames of hatred, and he suddenly roared: "It must be him. It must be him. He wanted that jade, so he killed my parents. I will kill him. I will kill him." His hands began to wave randomly, and he seemed to be in a state of madness.

Seeing this situation, Liu Jiahao quickly took a step forward and tightly hugged him. While trying hard to steady his out - of - control body, he anxiously said, "Who is he? What jade? Zhao Yuxuan, tell me quickly."

Zhao Yuxuan gritted his teeth, making a creaking sound. It was as if he suddenly remembered something important. He took a quick step to the desk and roughly opened the drawer where his father had put the note that day. The note with "Li Ruize" written on it appeared in front of him. He grabbed the note as if it were a life - saving straw, and his voice became a little distorted due to excitement: "It's him. It's him. He must be the murderer."

Liu Jiahao took the note and examined it carefully. At this time, several policemen walked in with steady steps. He then solemnly handed the note to one of the policemen. Watching the policeman carefully put it away with a special evidence clip, he then said, "Zhao Yuxuan, tell me this matter in detail."

Actually, Zhao Yuxuan was not the kind of person completely dominated by impulse. It was just that the series of changes that had occurred today were too overwhelming, like a huge mountain pressing on him, making it difficult for him to breathe, so he lost control for a while. At this moment, he took a deep breath, like a drowning man grabbing the last floating log, and once again tried hard to control his emotions. He began to tell Liu Jiahao exactly what had happened that night. He had always had a good memory and didn't even miss a single word that Li Ruize had said.

Liu Jiahao listened attentively while signaling the police officer beside him to record the conversation. After Zhao Yuxuan finished his account, he nodded solemnly and said, "Good. This clue is very important. Zhao Yuxuan, don't worry. We will start the investigation immediately. If this person is really the murderer, I will surely bring him to justice and restore justice to your family."

Zhao Yuxuan's emotions had gradually calmed down. He nodded slowly, with a tinge of gratitude in his voice: "Thank you."

At this time, Liu Jiahao looked at him sympathetically again. His eyes were like a warm spring, wanting to give Zhao Yuxuan some comfort. He said, "Zhao Yuxuan, there is one more thing that I think it is necessary to tell you."

Zhao Yuxuan's eyes were a little vacant, like a child lost in the dark. He asked feebly, "What is it?"

Liu Jiahao gently put his arm around his shoulders, like an older brother, and slowly sat down on the sofa beside him, saying, "Zhao Yuxuan, how much do you know about your parents' business?"

Zhao Yuxuan shook his head blankly and said in a low voice, "They never told me."

Liu Jiahao sighed softly and said, "There is some very bad news."

In fact, Zhao Yuxuan had vaguely guessed something in his heart these days. He looked at Liu Jiahao and asked, "Is there something wrong with my parents' company?"

Liu Jiahao said with a solemn expression: "It is in a very bad situation, Zhao Yuxuan. Your parents have gone bankrupt."

Zhao Yuxuan was shocked when he heard this news. His lips trembled slightly as he said in a lost voice, "What? Bankrupt already?"

Liu Jiahao nodded very affirmatively. That nodding motion was like a heavy hammer hitting Zhao Yuxuan's heart. He said, "Yes. We have already received the preliminary news. Your parents' company had been in trouble several years ago, and the business situation was getting worse and worse. They had just been struggling to hold on. One year ago, in order to save the company, they took a desperate gamble and borrowed a large sum of money from the bank to process toys for sale in the UK. But they were too eager to sell and turn over their funds. As a result, they were deceived by an Englishman named Li Yifei and didn't receive a single penny. Now, besides owing money to the bank, they also owe money to more than a dozen toy factories. Some time ago, these factories jointly sued in the court. The court has already passed the first - instance judgment and is preparing to seal up all your family's property. I really didn't expect such a thing to happen. Zhao Yuxuan, I know this kind of blow is hard for you to bear, but it has already happened. You can only face it bravely. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me and see if I can help you."

At this moment, Zhao Yuxuan's heart felt as if it was being stabbed by countless needles, and he suddenly burst into tears, crying very sadly.

He was not crying because he was about to lose everything, but for his parents. His heart was full of remorse. No wonder his parents had been spending less and less time at home in recent years, like busy migratory birds, always coming and going in a hurry. No wonder it had been so hard to see their happy smiles. Those smiles were like the warm sun in winter, becoming increasingly rare. It turned out that they had poured almost all their efforts into the company that had been on the verge of collapse for most of their lives, but his parents had never mentioned it to him and hadn't cared about his extravagant spending. He remembered all the exhortations his parents had given him. No wonder his parents cared about whether he could find a girlfriend who could share joys and sorrows with him. No wonder his father had said that day that he didn't know what he could leave to him in this lifetime. During the years when his parents were struggling hard, he had only been living a life of dissipation, like a dandy who only knew how to enjoy himself, chasing girls and squandering money. He had never thought about where the money came from, nor had he shared the pressure and inner sorrow his parents had endured.

Zhao Yuxuan was plunged into endless shame and self - blame, like being stuck in a dark mire, unable to extricate himself. But what could he do? His parents had passed away and could no longer know his remorse and regret, and such remorse and regret would be like a heavy yoke, accompanying him throughout his life.

Just then, the mobile phone in his arms suddenly rang. The ringtone sounded extremely harsh in this silent room. He picked it up and saw that it was Chen Shihan calling.

As soon as he answered the phone, he heard Chen Shihan's somewhat coquettish voice, which was like a cheerful little bird singing: "Hello, Yuxuan. Didn't auntie say that we should come to your home for dinner? I'm already out of class. Come and pick me up. Let's go buy some fruits together."

Zhao Yuxuan was silent for a long time, like a silent statue. His throat seemed to be choked by something. After a while, he said slowly, "Shihan, something has happened at my home."

Chen Shihan asked in surprise, "Something happened? What happened?"

Zhao Yuxuan's voice was very low, as if coming from the bottom of a deep valley: "My parents were killed."

There was an exclamation from Chen Shihan on the phone immediately. That exclamation was like a bolt of lightning cutting through the night sky: "Killed? How could this be? What on earth happened? Where are you? I'm coming over."

Zhao Yuxuan said, "I'm at home right now, Shihan. It's no use for you to come. Just wait at school. I will come to tell you."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Seeing that Zhao Yuxuan began to calm down under such a change, there was a look of relief in Liu Jiahao's eyes, like seeing a sapling standing tenaciously in the wind and rain. He nodded and said, "Zhao Yuxuan, this case is very strange. Your home is really no longer suitable for people to live in, and it will soon no longer belong to you. You'd better go to your girlfriend's place. Maybe you will feel better there. I will inform you of any progress in the case. By the way, if you think of any other clues, call me immediately."

As he was speaking, he handed over a business card. That business card was like a symbol of hope.

Zhao Yuxuan took the business card without saying another word and walked silently downstairs. His steps were very heavy, and each step seemed to step on his own heart. At the moment when he left the villa, he couldn't help but look back again. That home, which used to be full of warmth and laughter, now looked like a ruin in his eyes, and his heart was ice - cold. His home had been destroyed so suddenly.