Dude, something's really wrong with your abilities.

Chapter 41 Truth or Dare

The results of the investigation by the five groups were quickly placed on Sun Tiemei's desk.

"Twenty-one students, I've questioned them all." The fat man slammed the list on the table. "Nobody remembers having anyone with them that day; everyone was terrified."

Chen Shi nodded: "It was expected. The murderer had the same idea, which is why he disguised himself as a student and blended in to escape."

Su Xiaohe added, "Even if you remember what he looks like, it's useless. Nobody knows what he really looks like now."

Sun Tiemei: "What conclusions has the technical department reached regarding the two Li Qians in the video?"

Su Xiaohe opened her notebook: "Team leader, the technical department compared the gait of the two Li Qians with her previous videos. The Li Qian who appeared on the 22nd did have an abnormality. Teacher Chen was right. The center of gravity of the person on the 22nd was higher when walking, the stride was two centimeters shorter, and the toes landed first when landing. The real Li Qian landed on her heels first."

Sun Tiemei nodded and turned to Chang Biao: "Then what was the time of Li Qian's death?"

"Xiao Shi's conclusion is correct. The time of death has been re-tested, and Zhuang Wen has developed a new cooling model that takes into account both the heat absorption of salt and the heat insulation of plaster. The corrected time of death is from the evening of the 21st to the night. The Li Qian who appeared on the 22nd is a fake."

A murderer lived one more day in place of the deceased.

Sun Tiemei closed the folder: "Pang Daqiang, Su Xiaohe, and Chang Biao, continue to follow Li Qian's lead. If the murderer wanted to become her, they must have had prolonged close contact with her. This is a breakthrough point. In addition, I will ask the intelligence department for help to increase the investigation efforts. Shapeshifters have never appeared in this city before. Let's see if Sun Du can find any clues about their sudden appearance."

Sun Tiemei looked at Chen Shi: "Chen Shi and I are investigating Zhu Dahai. Zhu Dahai has been active in the old industrial area in the east of the city for many years. He has simple social relationships. The people who can get close to him must be the people he often sees near the scrap yard. We need to investigate his activities in the last few days before the incident."

It was past 2 p.m. when the car arrived at the old industrial area in the east of the city. The owner of the scrap metal recycling station was squatting at the door smoking. After Sun Tiemei and her companion identified themselves, the owner led them into his office, which was actually just a slightly cleaner warehouse.

"Was there anything different from usual in the days before Lao Zhu's accident?" Chen Shi asked.

The boss thought for a moment: "He seemed to have a bit more money on him those few days. Old Zhu is usually very stingy, he wouldn't even buy a bottle of water. But he suddenly became generous those few days, buying two packs of good cigarettes and even buying me one. I asked him where the money came from, and he said he helped someone move some things, and they gave him the money. I asked him what he was moving that earned him so much, but he wouldn't tell me."

"Have you seen the person who asked him to move their things?"

The shopkeeper shook his head. "Never seen him. He usually sells what he finds to me, then squats on the curb across the street eating steamed buns. I didn't see anyone talk to him during those few days."

It was completely dark when they left the junkyard. Sun Tiemei started the car, and Chen Shi, sitting in the passenger seat, opened his notebook. Zhu Dahai's social relationships were practically nonexistent; he had few friends, let alone enemies. The killer probably chose him because he was too approachable. A man who spent most of his time squatting on the curb eating steamed buns wouldn't be wary of being given anything.

Just as he was about to say something, he caught a glimpse of a car headlight in his rearview mirror. A silver-gray sedan had been following them for several intersections, appearing at every turn, maintaining a steady speed and keeping a distance of about three cars.

"Team leader, that car behind us has been following us for several intersections," Chen Shi said.

Sun Tiemei glanced in the rearview mirror, turned on her turn signal, and slowed down by the side of the road. The other car also slowed down but didn't overtake her. Then, it suddenly turned into a narrow alley without streetlights, its taillights flashing briefly before disappearing into the depths of the alley.

"Is that car following us?" Chen Shi leaned back in the passenger seat, staring at the taillights of the silver-gray sedan in the rearview mirror. Sun Tiemei didn't answer, but turned the steering wheel and entered the next intersection. The car didn't follow; it continued straight.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it." Chen Shi adjusted the rearview mirror back.

"Not necessarily. Let's go back to the station first."

When they returned to the fifth group's office, Fatty and the other two were still there.

Chen Shi recounted how a car had been following them on the road, and the fat man was the first to stand up: "Following you?"

"It's not certain yet, just a suspicion."

Sun Tiemei: "Although the methods used in these two recent murders have been simplified, the social impact has actually escalated. If the perpetrator commits another crime, shouldn't the methods be escalated again?"

"Team leader, do you mean he's going to target us this time?" Chen Shi asked.

"That's possible, and I always have a feeling that he was coming for us from the beginning."

"Then everyone needs to be careful, shapeshifters can transform into anyone." Su Xiaohe looked up. "Theoretically, it's not impossible for him to be sitting among us right now."

Suddenly, the fat man slapped his thigh: "I've got an idea! Let's play truth or dare. If someone can't answer, there's definitely a problem."

"This is not the time to play around," Sun Tiemei said.

"Boss, let me finish. The shapeshifter can change its face, its voice, and it can mimic your walk, but it doesn't know what you're thinking, right?"

Sun Tiemei was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay, but since it was your idea, you should answer first."

The fat man hesitated for a moment, but Chen Shi had already spoken. "Fatty, what's the worst thing you've ever done to me since we were kids?"

Daqiang held back for a while. "Do you remember that guy named Erpang in the alley when we were kids? He always beat you up. Let me tell you, if he ever corners you again, just say my name, and he definitely won't dare to touch you."

"Yes, I reported it the next day. Then he beat me even harder, saying it was because I mentioned Pang Daqiang that he wanted to beat me a few more times."

The fat man turned his face to the other side: "Back then, those two brothers were chasing and beating me up. As soon as you mentioned my name, they knew you were one of my men, and after beating you up, they couldn't be bothered to beat me up anymore."

Chen Shi: "..............."

Yes, that's exactly what a fat guy would do.

After the fat man finished recounting his despicable act, he immediately turned to Chen Shi: "It's my turn. Tell me, what do you think of our team leader?"

Chen Shi put down his water glass and shrank back half an inch onto the sofa: "Change it."

"Tell me the truth, don't try to fool me, just say it."

"I'm not going to say it. Go ahead and kill me, kill me."

Everyone nodded in unison. Yes, it was Chen Shi.

Chen Shi: "..............."

Chang Biao turned to Su Xiaohe: "Xiaohe, in our group, who do you admire the most?"

Su Xiaohe was silent for a moment: "To tell the truth?"

"Um."

"From the bottom of your heart?"

The fat man urged her to hurry up.

"I envy Fatty. He can speak without thinking, eat a lot, and be unhygienic..."

The fat man glared at her, thinking, "I never expected you to be like this, Su Xiaohe."

Finally, it was Chang Biao's turn. Su Xiaohe asked, "Brother Biao, what's the happiest thing you've ever done in the bureau?"

Chang Biao's lips curled into a sweet smile: "Of course it's to cheer on Xiao Shi's run, you know...?"

Chen Shi interrupted from the side, "Brother Biao, please don't say it."

Then the group quieted down. It was Sun Tiemei's turn next, but everyone looked at each other and no one wanted to be the first to speak.

A wisp of cold air condensed at Sun Tiemei's fingertips. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"No need for that, boss. No one else in the world can do this ice-type ability. It's absolutely true." The fat man's flattery was very convincing.

But when everyone heard this, they thought, "Yeah, using superpowers to prove yourself? What's the point of telling the truth? This fat guy is really despicable."

Chen Shi looked up and saw Wang Jianlou huddled in the corner. He had disliked this snob dog for a long time and was determined to teach it a lesson this time.

"Have you forgotten that there's still one team member?" Chen Shi gestured towards Wang Jianlou with his lip. The dog immediately had a bad feeling and quickly stood up.

"You little rascal, you're so shameless, do you think people will turn into dogs?" the fat man laughed and cursed.

"That's not necessarily true; we'll have to try." Today, Chen Shi is going to show everyone the true colors of snobs.

"But Xiao Shi, you can't talk when you're picking up bargains."

"If you can't play Truth or Dare, how about we make it wag its tail in front of everyone? Let's see how loyal it is to each person."

Wang Jianlou walked up to Sun Tiemei first, wagging his tail like a propeller, with a fast and rapid rhythm, he was simply the best of the best when it came to licking someone's boots.

The fat man said, "Alright, alright, next one."

Chang Biao squatted down and opened his arms. Wang Jianlou walked over, wagging his tail rhythmically, neither too fast nor too slow, and even rubbed his head against Chang Biao's knee.

When it was Su Xiaohe's turn, Wang Jianlou walked over, shook his head three or four times, very politely, as if to say hello. Su Xiaohe nodded and said thank you.

When it reached the fat man, Wang Jianlou paused for a moment, flicked its tail tip, and then... just once.

But the fat guy was clearly not the worst off.

The dog completely ignored Chen Shi and went straight to Sun Tiemei's feet, lying down again.

Chen Shi was so angry he laughed.