Chapter 572: A Different Approach: Romance?

When leaving the school.

Chen Xiao obtained the contact information of the girl named Qian.

However, Chen Xiao didn’t rush to contact her, nor was he planning to visit the homes of Zhu Nianying’s two sisters again.

After having Old Gui drive them to the town and choosing what they deemed the cleanest hotel to stay in, Chen Xiao began contemplating how he should communicate with Zhu Nianying’s classmates in a bit.

Traveling afar for communication cannot just be simple chatting.

Otherwise, it’s not only a waste of resources, but time is also a tremendous loss.

Chen Xiao thought.

He felt the first and foremost question to ask was whether Zhu Nianying had any contact with her after leaving Zhu Guan Town for Shencheng City.

Second: If not in contact with her, was she in contact with anyone else?

Third: Still about contact, but it needs to be around the time when Zhu Nianying had the incident.

After asking these three questions.

Suddenly, Chen Xiao realized that if he was on a call or meeting with that classmate, the communication might abruptly end.

Because it seemed he had no more questions to ask.

Chen Xiao understood that this awkward situation was due to his limited understanding of the whole matter.

All his understanding was still based on the information given by Huang Zhao.

But now, Chen Xiao could not continue like this.

Although it was his first day in Zhu Guan Town, West Origin City.

He felt he needed to find some new angles and ask some tricky questions to possibly trigger key information.

But what kind of questions would be considered tricky?

Zhu Nianying’s life was so simple; during school, it was all about learning and family.

After fleeing to Shencheng, it was just work.

With such a simple girl, Chen Xiao always felt there were too few aspects to the problem.

As he pondered, Chen Xiao furrowed his brow.

Suddenly, it seemed he realized he had overlooked a very important point of information.

Zhu Nianying was missing!

And she’d been missing for six years!

Before she disappeared, there was no deterioration in her relationship with her mentor, Huang Zhao.

She was still deeply invested in the study of traditional Chinese medicine!

So when considering any questions, Chen Xiao needed to treat this matter as a potential homicide investigation.

Returning to the homicide case, there always arises an unavoidable question—motive!

If Zhu Nianying was already dead.

Who would want to kill her?

What would the killer gain from her?

For what purpose would the murderer commit this crime?

Revenge?

Passion crime?

Murder for financial gain?

Zhu Nianying seemed to have no enemies.

As for financial means, as a girl studying traditional Chinese medicine with Huang Zhao, how much money could Zhu Nianying have?

Evidently, not much.

Passion crime!

Exactly!

Chen Xiao had never considered the possibility of a passion crime!

When the incident happened, Zhu Nianying was already twenty-one or twenty-two years old.

At that age, there may not necessarily be a relationship.

But the possibility of having a romantic relationship still exists!

However, neither from Huang Zhao nor from anyone else currently aware of her did it seem she had such entanglements.

However, in real life, not everyone who has a romantic partner will make it public!

Especially in this era.

Many people still prefer to be reserved and shy about their relationships, not wanting others to know.

So, could this direction of romance bring a breakthrough?

Chen Xiao was greatly moved at heart.

And at this moment, he picked up the phone and dialed the number of Zhu Nianying’s classmate, Qian Zhu.

"Hello, this is Qian Zhu."

After the phone rang for more than ten seconds, someone answered.

The other person’s voice sounded very young.

Chen Xiao started to introduce himself: "Hello, Dr. Qian. My name is Chen Xiao, and I come from Shencheng. I want to learn about your middle school classmate Zhu Nianying."

Upon hearing the name Zhu Nianying, the other end of the line fell silent.

After several seconds, she spoke with a somewhat dazed tone:

"You came for Yingzi? Is there any news of her?"

"No, I’m here to investigate her disappearance on someone’s behalf." Chen Xiao stated his purpose.

Qian Zhu acknowledged, saying: "Who commissioned you?"

"The mentor she apprenticed with while studying medicine in Shencheng."

"I think she mentioned him before." Qian Zhu murmured, and Chen Xiao keenly sensed the importance of this statement and quickly asked:

"Do you know who her master in Shencheng was?"

Qian Zhu: "Yes, after she left, we corresponded through letters. She knew what school I got into, so she wrote to me from there. In the letters, she mentioned she met a very kind old man who took her as his apprentice to learn traditional Chinese medicine."

"How long did your communication last? And when did you lose contact?"

Chen Xiao pressed further, but Qian Zhu became wary at this moment:

"I’m sorry, although you said you were commissioned to investigate Yingzi’s disappearance, I’m not sure about your identity, so I can’t answer your questions."

This answer surprised Chen Xiao.

But after the surprise, it also seemed reasonable.

After all, Qian Zhu was an educated person.

Naturally, such a person’s alertness would be stronger compared to those with less education.

Seeing the other party’s response, Chen Xiao had no choice but to reply:

"Alright, I should be able to arrive in West Origin City tomorrow morning. Dr. Qian, would it be convenient for a meeting then?"

"Not in the morning, I have to work then. You know a doctor’s job is very busy, maybe at noon!"

"Sure, I’ll wait for your call then."

Chen Xiao said, but just as the other party was about to hang up, Chen Xiao quickly added:

"Oh, Dr. Qian, I heard from your middle school teacher, Teacher Luo, that during your school life, there was a group of top five students studying together, right?"

"Did Teacher Luo tell you about this as well?"

"Yes, I would like to ask if you still have contact with the other three students?"

Regarding this question, Qian Zhu seemed to be considering whether she should say more.

Finally, she replied: "Yes, the four of us are still in contact, and we occasionally discuss Nianying’s matters."

Then, Qian Zhu added:

"Actually, the four of us once went to Shencheng to look for her, after hearing that an old man had gone to her village looking for her. It was from that point we confirmed she truly was missing, so that summer we went to Shencheng."

"Did you find anything there?"

Chen Xiao couldn’t help but feel a bit hopeful.

Unfortunately, on the other end of the line, Qian Zhu sighed deeply:

"No, it’s as if she suddenly vanished from this world. There’s no trace to be found, nor did she leave any clues for those searching for her."

"We often ask each other if she’s... really still in the world?"