Chapter 576: She... Changed!

Kang Mao actually went to Shencheng City!

This piece of information is very important to Chen Xiao.

Because from beginning to end, Kang Mao never mentioned that he went to Shencheng City!

Logically speaking, whether or not this was mentioned seemed unimportant.

But, where did Chen Xiao come from?

He never said he was from Dongzhou; he always emphasized that he was entrusted by someone to come to investigate the disappearance of Zhu Nianying in Shencheng City.

When these important factors are put together, and Kang Mao never mentioned he went to Shencheng City,

naturally, there becomes an issue here!

"Elder Huang, do you remember roughly when he went to Shencheng City?"

"It seems it was the year the incident happened, but I never saw him. Those days, Nianying was not very happy, so I asked her, and she said a friend came to see her."

"Originally, I was very wary of people from her hometown, but later she told me about her classmate named Kang Mao, and some others. Then I understood their story."

"Then why have you never told me about this?" Chen Xiao instinctively questioned.

Huang Zhao was taken aback and replied, "What’s there to talk about? It’s just a few kids, young and foolish, thinking they’ve encountered some romance."

Huang Zhao was just a Chinese medicine doctor.

Just because of his medical skills, Chen Xiao always regarded him as a very formidable, wise person.

But now Huang Zhao’s words suddenly made Chen Xiao realize that he still hadn’t been calmly handling things.

Huang Zhao was already at such an age.

Once people age, no matter if it’s their physical abilities or cognitive memory, it declines drastically.

A few kids’ entanglements, so many years have passed, it’s very normal he didn’t remember.

"I understand, Elder Huang. But there’s another question. During the years Zhu Nianying was with you, was she close to any boys... or anyone, regardless of gender?"

Chen Xiao felt that some things shouldn’t be asked too singularly.

People in this world are most intriguing.

So if a broader question can be asked, it’s better to ask it comprehensively.

"No, if she were in a relationship, I would definitely know! But not only haven’t I seen it, I’ve never heard her mention it either."

Huang Zhao was very sure about this.

This gave Chen Xiao a clue, responding, "Okay, I’ll hang up the phone first. If there’s any news on this end, I’ll inform you immediately."

"Alright, thank you, Mr. Xiaochen."

Chen Xiao didn’t say much more. After hanging up the phone, he returned to the canteen.

At this moment, Qian Zhu was eating.

As for the others, their faces were showing no appetite.

There’s no helping it, as Qian Zhu’s appetite was visibly not very good.

But she had a lot of work. If she didn’t eat enough, even a slight tremor could cause huge trouble.

Chen Xiao waited until Qian Zhu finished eating before his gaze fell on Kang Mao.

The latter initially paid no attention.

But after Chen Xiao watched for a while, he uncomfortably asked:

"Advisor Chen, is there something you want to say to me?"

"Did I ever tell you where I came from?" Chen Xiao asked with a smile.

Qian Zhu and Sun Ning instinctively replied, "Shencheng City, you’ve already said it, haven’t you?"

"Yes, I came from Shencheng City to investigate the disappearance case of Zhu Nianying in Shencheng City. But Mr. Kang, why didn’t you tell us about your trip to Shencheng City in the year of the incident to find Zhu Nianying?"

When Chen Xiao said this, Kang Mao’s face visibly changed.

Even Qian Zhu and Sun Ning looked at him in surprise:

"Old Mao, you went to Shencheng City to find Yingzi in 2000?"

"Kang Mao, why have you never mentioned it to us?"

When Qian Zhu’s last words reached Chen Xiao’s ears,

this question started to echo in Chen Xiao’s mind.

Indeed.

They were so close.

If Kang Mao went to Shencheng City to find Zhu Nianying, how could he not tell the others?

What was the purpose of Kang Mao concealing his trip to Shencheng City?

Or from another angle, what was he going to do that he didn’t want the others to know?

Thinking of this, Chen Xiao suddenly diverted from this very important topic and asked:

"Dr. Qian, Ms. Sun, let me interrupt. If Zhu Nianying had to choose between Li Hao and Mr. Kang, who do you think she would choose?"

This question seemed trivial compared to the concealment of Kang Mao’s whereabouts.

But if a keen person were to notice, Chen Xiao’s question was actually quite tricky!

And the result was as Chen Xiao expected; Qian Zhu and Sun Ning almost said in unison:

"Li Hao!"

Chen Xiao looked again at Kang Mao.

At this time, Kang Mao was frowning, meeting his gaze.

"Advisor Chen, your gaze towards me has changed, so if you suspect me of anything, you might as well say it outright."

"From a detective’s perspective, there is indeed something off about you right now. According to the information I have, some say you met with Zhu Nianying in Shencheng City that year. Zhu Nianying went missing in June, so how long before the incident did you go to Shencheng City?"

Chen Xiao asked, and Kang Mao took a deep breath: "I went during Labor Day in May."

"Why did you go?"

"I missed her."

"Why conceal it from your other friends? Were you afraid Li Hao would also go with you?"

Kang Mao couldn’t help but clench his fists, his expression a bit unsightly as he said:

"Of course, it’s inappropriate to conceal my visit to see her in terms of friendship, but merely inappropriate doesn’t mean I violated anything. On a personal level, do I have to tell my competitor where I go?"

"I had feelings for Nianying, and Li Hao often thought of her too. Whether in terms of family, looks, or now work, Li Hao and I are incomparable. In this regard, I always felt inferior."

"But where there’s a will, there’s a way. I missed her, so I went to find her. I wanted to use the opportunity of going alone to her to firmly bind our relationship together!"

"After all, my studies were quite good at that time, and I believed that after graduation, I would surely have a job that could support her well!"

Kang Mao seemed to reveal his thoughts.

This speech also brought Qian Zhu and Sun Ning into silence.

People’s hearts are often selfish.

Kang Mao didn’t want to mention it, perhaps he didn’t want to reveal such a selfish side to these good friends.

Because once said, even if others verbally said they didn’t mind, there might still be a shadow in their hearts in the future.

Chen Xiao had no interest in managing the relationships between them.

He was just seriously considering what Kang Mao confessed.

Logically, this speech was coherent.

It also made sense emotionally.

Yet in Chen Xiao’s mind, Huang Zhao’s provided photos of Zhu Nianying, along with those letters, emerged involuntarily.

Chen Xiao keenly noticed that there were indeed differences in those letters!

So, he asked Kang Mao again:

"When you went to Shencheng City and saw her, what did you discover? What did you feel?"

"She... changed!"