Chapter 541: Treasure!

Jiang Zi’s call caught Chen Xiao by surprise.

Even when Lin Xi asked who it was, Chen Xiao mentioned Jiang Zi’s name, making Lin Xi momentarily unable to recall.

Nonetheless, the phone was still ringing, and Chen Xiao did not bother explaining much as he answered the call first.

"Hello, Jiang Zi?" Chen Xiao asked somewhat redundantly.

Jiang Zi’s voice quickly came through from the other end.

"Hello, Mr. Chen. I’m sorry to disturb you."

Jiang Zi was very polite.

Judging by the tone, Chen Xiao didn’t feel like the other party was facing any difficult situation.

So he smiled and asked:

"No problem, why did you suddenly call me?"

Chen Xiao disliked beating around the bush, so he asked directly.

Jiang Zi was silent for a second before saying:

"It’s like this, Mr. Chen. You know about my relationship with Xiaohong. In the past, Xiaohong and I often exchanged letters. Recently, while reviewing the letters I exchanged with Xiaohong, I suddenly found one letter quite surprising."

"Oh? What does the letter say?"

"The letter contains a lot, mostly asking about my college life. Since graduating and entering the workforce, our communications have mostly been via text or phone calls."

"Initially, when I read the letter, I noticed only his concern for me, which led me to overlook one part. Now, upon rereading it, I feel like he had anticipated his fate."

Not to mention this special moment when Zhao Hai just got arrested.

Even under normal circumstances when Chen Xiao had nothing to do, after hearing Jiang Zi’s words, his curiosity would also be unstoppable.

"What does that part say?"

"I am already in Dongzhou now, and I brought the letter with me. I think it might be better if you could see it for yourself."

"I’m about half an hour from exiting the highway; tell me the location, and I’ll come find you now."

Quickly, Jiang Zi mentioned the location over the phone.

Coincidentally, Jiang Zi was near Swallow Lane.

And it was once on the same street as the beverage shop run by Xi Yian, the culprit in the Swallow Lane Fishbone Case.

Chen Xiao drove toward the address Jiang Zi provided.

Over half an hour later, they met at a cafe.

On seeing Jiang Zi again, Chen Xiao could instantly notice the changes in this woman.

Though Jiang Zi was slightly older than Chen Xiao, at this moment, Chen Xiao could tell that after Zhao Xiaohong’s death, Jiang Zi appeared much more subdued.

At first sight, Chen Xiao remembered she looked quite haggard due to Zhao Xiaohong’s death.

But her overall demeanor was still youthful.

However, now she seemed to have undergone numerous vicissitudes.

Jiang Zi stood up with a smile as soon as she saw Chen Xiao.

"Mr. Chen, Mrs. Chen, hello!"

Suddenly being addressed as Mrs. Lin, Lin Xi was momentarily taken aback.

As if the title was extremely unfamiliar to her.

In fact, few people addressed her this way in daily life.

Acquaintances usually called her by her name.

And those who weren’t familiar mostly called her Captain Lin.

But the Mrs. Chen title didn’t sound bad either.

"Hello." Chen Xiao and Lin Xi both responded, and all three sat down.

Jiang Zi handed over the menu: "I don’t know what you like, so I waited for you to order."

"You can order for us; the two of us don’t drink much coffee and aren’t picky."

Jiang Zi nodded, placed the order, and took out an envelope from her bag.

Regarding letters, Chen Xiao had a distant familiarity with them.

He took it from Jiang Zi’s hand.

From the envelope’s appearance, Chen Xiao knew the letter inside had been read many times.

Yet, no matter how many times it was read, the envelope was well-preserved without any damage.

He took out the letter inside.

As Chen Xiao expected, the fragile paper also showed no damage.

While Chen Xiao checked the letter, Jiang Zi spoke again:

"Since his death, I often have dreams about him at night."

"I remember about a month before the accident, we even planned to go hiking together around National Day this year."

"Often, in the middle of the night, I sit on the bed always feeling like he’s outside my door calling my name."

As Jiang Zi spoke, she silently stirred her American coffee.

As if her inner feelings were as bitter as the coffee in front of her.

Chen Xiao didn’t respond to her words but identified the part Jiang Zi found problematic.

[Jiang Zi, I often feel anxious lately.]

[I don’t know what’s happening to me; every day feels dazed, with no warmth from the sun.]

[Now, I’m eagerly anticipating the holidays. I want to go out; maybe then I can briefly let go of everything?]

[But what’s the difference between briefly letting go and self-deception?]

[Jiang Zi, you should understand me. The thing I dislike most is deceiving myself.]

[So, I think I should do something, or perhaps do something for myself.]

[Oh, by the way, remember when I mentioned I found a treasure? Next time we meet, I’ll show you the treasure, and you’ll see I’ve changed from before.]

Reading this.

Chen Xiao pondered what Zhao Xiaohong meant by the treasure.

He quickly felt that it must have been the knife Xiao Nian used for the murder.

That knife belonged to an elderly man named Uncle Huang in the nursing home.

Uncle Huang had great sword technique, and Zhao Xiaohong was once his apprentice.

But ultimately, Zhao Xiaohong died by that knife!

Chen Xiao thought and continued reading.

The following content was again the usual exchanges between friends, nothing that seemed peculiar.

Chen Xiao carefully placed the letter back in the envelope and asked:

"In this letter, the part about the treasure makes you feel something is wrong?"

Jiang Zi immediately nodded: "Yes, it wasn’t the first time he mentioned this treasure. Initially, I was curious and frequently asked him."

"Even over calls, I often brought it up. But no matter how many times I asked, he never explicitly told me, and eventually, I gradually forgot about it."

"Until recently, when I read the letter again, suddenly wondering what this treasure really was."

Chen Xiao did not speak; Lin Xi, who understood the case, couldn’t help but say:

"Could it be the knife Xiao Nian used for the murder?"

"I’ve thought about it, but it’s not. Because in other letters, he mentioned sword technique. During that time, he enjoyed playing with knives. So if it were the knife, he shouldn’t have hidden it."

As Jiang Zi spoke, Lin Xi frowned: "If not, what would it be?"

Jiang Zi smiled bitterly and shook her head, indicating her confusion.

Chen Xiao picked up the letter again, carefully reread it, when suddenly a bright idea struck him, his tone somewhat surprised:

"That treasure, could it be the same one Xiao Nian found?"