Red satin

Chapter 4

Who killed her?

“No, it was suicide,” Qin Jin said.

“How could it be suicide? She was perfectly fine when we came to the bar. How could she have committed suicide in the blink of an eye?” Yingqi asked, frowning.

A gentle male voice came from the side, saying, "Yes! Now that you're awake, may I take your statement?"

Yingqi looked up and saw the policeman who had just told them about Lanqi's death.

The man introduced himself: "My name is Lu Ziming, and I am the deputy head of the Major Crimes Unit. I hope you can cooperate with me to take a statement, okay?"

Yingqi nodded obediently.

After the statement was taken, Lu Ziming walked out of the ward. A woman chased after him. He turned around and saw Qin Jin—the woman with bright eyes who had bumped into him.

She ran down the white walkway, wearing a pink dress, her long hair gently tied up, tears still on her face.

She said, "I'd like to see Lan Qi. Can you arrange that?"

Lu Ziming stared into her longing eyes, speechless. Although he was nearing thirty and women had always pursued him, he had never found it so difficult to speak to a woman. This woman possessed a strange allure, drawing Lu Ziming's gaze to her again and again. He looked at her and nodded.

On the way to the hospital morgue, the atmosphere was icy. Qin Jin was devastated by the sudden death of her friend and was so depressed that she couldn't even lift her head. In order to break the silence, Lu Ziming told Qin Jin a little joke as the elevator descended.

"Once upon a time, a doctor was taking the elevator downstairs with a nurse after finishing his night shift. The elevator stopped halfway down, and someone tried to get in, but the doctor quickly closed the doors. The nurse asked him why, and the doctor said, 'Didn't you see? That person has a red thread wrapped around their wrist. All the corpses in our hospital morgue have red threads wrapped around their wrists.' Then the nurse held up her hand, showing the red thread, and asked the doctor, 'Is it this kind of red thread?'"

Qin Jin listened quietly, then suddenly raised her hand and said to Lu Ziming, "Is it this kind of red thread?" Sure enough, there was a bright red thread on her fair wrist, which looked very strange. Lu Ziming looked at the red thread and stepped back in shock. Qin Jin finally smiled and said, "I've worn a red thread since I was a child to ward off evil."

Lu Ziming told a ghost story, but Qin Jin tricked him instead. However, he felt a sweet warmth in his heart because he saw Qin Jin's smile. But that hard-won smile vanished without a trace after seeing Lan Qi's corpse.

Qin Jin was a strong woman, but when she saw Lan Qi's horrific corpse, her legs went weak and she collapsed into Lu Ziming's arms. When she saw Lan Qi's chest, she pointed to the bloody flesh that had lost its skin and said, "It's a bellyband, a red bellyband."

Yes, it was a red bellyband, but the red bellyband that Lan Qi was wearing had been taken off and was soaking at the bottom of the water bottle containing the eyeballs. That water bottle was still with the forensic doctor; the blood-red silk rippled at the bottom of the water, turning into wisps of illusion like a woman's long hair, while the four eyeballs floated and sank within the illusion, colliding with each other as if smiling.

"Did Lan Qi do all of this herself?!" Qin Jin asked, her face pale.

"yes!"

Qin Jin came to her senses. What a bloody scene it was! Lan Qi, who used to jump and laugh, the beautiful woman who called herself a fashion guru, had become a cold, lifeless corpse.

"Was she crazy back then?"

"Our analysis suggests that she was taking a shower when she suddenly fell ill, became mentally unstable, and caused this series of tragedies."

“But I’ve known Lan Qi for many years and I’ve never heard of her having a mental illness! And we’ve never noticed anything unusual about her either,” Qin Jin asked, puzzled.

"This is also the point we can't understand the most. All of Lan Qi's medical records show that she has no history of mental illness, and there is no such history in her family. Why would she suddenly become mentally unstable? Moreover, she and the diamond boss do not have any deep hatred. Our investigation also confirms that they got along very well when they entered the hotel! So, the clues end here."

Qin Jin fell into deep thought. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, she asked, "Then why did she cut off her own skin?"

"That's why I asked you for your statements. I also really want to know why she cut her skin into the shape of a bellyband. Did she really like this bellyband?" Lu Ziming asked.

"Of course, didn't you see how much we like this red satin?" Qin Jin took out her own red scarf from her bag and held it up for Lu Ziming to see.

Lu Ziming took the scarf and was also captivated; the colors had a magical radiance that was impossible to look away from.

"Me, Lan Qi, Tang Shishi, and Ying Qi all have dresses made of this red satin. I never expected that Lan Qi would have this happen right after we put them on. This really makes us very sad!" As she spoke, Qin Jin's tears fell again.

Her tears dripped onto the red satin, shimmering with a dazzling light. She seemed a little lost in thought, picking up the scarf and sadly wrapping it around her neck, as if she could see Lan Qi playfully offering to help her wrap the scarf before they left for the bar. How happy they were then! Those good days are now in the past, never to return.

Before the scarf could even be wrapped around her neck, a loud shout rang out: "Qin Jin, Qin Jin!"

Tang Shishi rushed over and said, "Go and see Yingqi, she's suddenly talking nonsense."

Qin Jin said to Lu Ziming, "You go and take a look first. I'll stay in the morgue with Lan Qi."

Lu Ziming grabbed Tang Shishi and ran upstairs; the ward was up there.

Qin Jin sent Lu Ziming away because she felt that Lan Qi, lying on the morgue bed, looked very much like the woman who had just gone up to the thirteenth floor, especially from the side; they were practically identical. No wonder she felt the woman looked so familiar when she saw her in the elevator.

However, Lan Qi should have already died by then. How could she possibly appear in the elevator and even go to the thirteenth floor, which is inaccessible by elevator?

Qin Jin mustered her courage and walked to Lan Qi's side. Slowly, she pulled down the sheet covering Lan Qi's face, revealing two bloodied, mangled eyeholes. Qin Jin's heart pounded, but she still wanted to see clearly whether the woman in the elevator was indeed Lan Qi. Just then, Qin Jin suddenly saw Lan Qi's lips twitch, revealing a terrifying smile. She recoiled in horror, but it was too late. Lan Qi's hand gripped hers tightly, its coldness penetrating to the bone.

Qin Jin remained motionless, her mind blank.

Lan Qi sat up and covered Qin Jin's mouth with her cold, stiff hand. "Welcome to the thirteenth floor too." The smell of blood on her face went straight to Qin Jin's mouth, but her voice came out word by word.

Qin Jin shouted and stepped back, immediately bumping into someone.

The man hugged her tightly, and a gentle voice came: "It's alright, it's alright, don't be afraid."

Turning around, she saw Lu Ziming. He was worried and had come down to check on her. His eyes were questioning, as if he were asking Qin Jin why she was afraid.

Knowing she couldn't explain, Qin Jin had no choice but to drag Lu Ziming to see Yingqi.

They quickly arrived at Yingqi's hospital room. Yingqi buried her head in the blanket and refused to come out, trembling all over.

Qin Jin gently pulled down the blanket and called out to Ying Qi, "Ying Qi, Ying Qi, it's me, Qin Jin. Don't be afraid, what's wrong?"

Yingqi poked her head out, looked at Qin Jin, then screamed and hugged her, bursting into tears.

"Qin Jin, it's Lan Qi, I see her, it's Lan Qi."

Qin Jin hugged her tightly and advised, "Don't talk nonsense, you're seeing things."

Tang Shishi, standing helplessly to the side, said, "She was sleeping here, and while she was sleeping, she suddenly pointed to the bathroom and said there was someone inside, and that there was a pair of eyes through the crack in the door. It startled me. I looked and there was no one there. She said it was Lan Qi, and that's how she ended up like this."

Lu Ziming asked in a low voice, "Was she terrified?"

Tang Shishi sighed and said, "My cousin has never experienced anything like this before, so of course this kind of thing is a huge shock to her."

Yingqi collapsed into Qin Jin's arms and said to him, "It really is Lan Qi. She was sitting in the middle of blood, wearing a bodice with blood gushing out. Her eyes were gone. She was on the bathroom floor. I saw her. I really saw her!"

Shishi rushed over and said, "Oh my god! Wake up! Stop thinking about it! What if something happens to you?"

Qin Jin patted her on the back and said, "Don't think so much, it's all an illusion, it's not real. You need to relax."

Yingqi calmed down under the sedative and fell asleep with a frown.

Part Two of "Red Satin"

Chapter Six: Going Mad (1)

Lu Ziming offered to drive Qin Jin home. Qin Jin was too tired to refuse, so she got into the car. Qin Jin huddled in a corner of the car, trembling slightly, unable to accept the fact that her good friend was gone.

Her first meeting with Lan Qi was at a job fair at the advertising company. She was the interviewer, and as the newcomers came in one by one, none of them stood out. Only Lan Qi slammed her portfolio on her desk and said, "I don't have a diploma, but I'm the best." Later, she indeed proved her excellence. She excelled in every advertisement and attracted all kinds of clients. Sometimes, people thought she was too ruthless, but how could a single woman in this city who wanted to make it big expect so much?

Later, Qin Jin resigned, and the position naturally fell to Lan Qi. Originally rivals in the workplace, they became friends the moment Qin Jin stepped down. Rivals turned friends and became even closer because they understood each other very well.

The four of them lived such a stable and happy life, but now, apart from Lan Qi's departure, Ying Qi has run into trouble, and their lives are in chaos. Just a moment ago it was paradise, how did it turn into hell in the blink of an eye? She tried hard to think, when did the problem occur? How was their peaceful life shattered? But she had no clue, not a single clue.

Qin Jin could only bury her head in the back seat of the car, trying not to think about anything. However, her helpless appearance was seen by Lu Ziming, who was observing her in the rearview mirror. Lu Ziming had never felt such pain in his heart.

This woman, with just a smile and a gesture, could change his emotions and make him sad. Could this be the legendary love at first sight?

The car arrived quickly. Lu Ziming reluctantly saw Qin Jin downstairs. He wanted to ask her if she wanted to have dinner together, but then he felt that he was being too abrupt. Besides, there were still many strange things about this case, so he should go back to his office to look at some documents.

As Qin Jin watched the man drive away, she felt a deep sense of warmth.

Back home, as soon as she opened the door, a black lightning bolt flashed past, knocking the handbag from her hand. She looked closely and saw it was Blackie, the cute little black cat, its fur bristling as it stared at her leather bag, as if facing its greatest enemy.

She comforted Hei Bao, poured some cat food, and casually tossed her purse into a far corner before Hei Bao finally calmed down. It was already dawn, and Qin Jin, having tossed and turned all night, collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep.

When Qin Jin woke up, it was already dusk. Although she was sad, she was also very hungry because she hadn't eaten for a day and a night. She opened the window, intending to go to the restaurant across the street for a nice meal. As she was about to leave, Hei Bao pounced on her, meowing loudly as if wanting to go out with her. Qin Jin felt a warmth in her heart looking at the cute kitten; at least she had a cat to keep her company. She picked up the cat and went downstairs.

She went downstairs and walked towards the restaurant. When she reached a trash can, she thought of that day. The face of that hateful Ke Liang flashed into her mind again. Humph, she thought, "I'm dressed so beautifully today, and I'm holding a cat that looks as beautiful as a noblewoman. If Ke Liang sees me now, it will be quite amusing!"

Just then, Hei Bao in her hand suddenly pounced onto the trash can. Qin Jin was startled and called out to Hei Bao, but Hei Bao had already disappeared into the trash can. She could only sigh and go forward to rummage through the trash, hoping to find the mischievous kitten. As she was concentrating on rummaging through the trash, a pair of white sneakers appeared in front of her. The worst thing had finally happened: the white sneakers were swaying to a 2/2 beat.

Qin Jin smiled bitterly to herself, looked up, and sure enough, saw Ke Liang's irritating face, looking completely nonchalant, with a straw in his mouth and a bottle of cola in his hand.

His eyes were fixed on her, and he called out to her, "Qin Xiaomi."

Qin Jin immediately lowered his head, pretending not to hear.

That hateful voice continued: "Qin Xiaomi."

Passersby stopped and glanced at her.

A warm hand patted her shoulder like a snake.

She jumped up and saw Ke Liang. She could only smile awkwardly and say, "What a coincidence, I run into you again, haha!"

Ke Liang seemed very happy: "Yes, what a coincidence! I also live nearby!"

Qin Jin stammered, "I... I have something to do, I'll go first, I'll contact you later."

She was about to slip away when, unexpectedly, Ke Liang asked, "How much did you pick up today?"

Good heavens! No way, this hateful guy actually thinks he's a garbage collector. Doesn't this outfit make him realize his noble status?

She looked down at herself and was shocked by what she saw. She was covered in wrinkled, dirty cotton clothes. The night's ordeal had crumpled her once-precious garments into a mess. And she hadn't even combed her hair before looking for the cat; no wonder Ke Liang had mistaken her for a garbage collector. She suddenly felt deflated, thinking Ke Liang was her nemesis. Every time she saw him, nothing good came of it, and it always happened when she looked her worst. And that guy seemed to be smugly admiring her. Hmph, what's so great about him? Just a pair of worn-out sneakers and a tracksuit, looking like he'd just gone to play basketball. She didn't expect a delinquent to enjoy basketball, but it was probably some kind of three-on-three free-for-all. Better not look.

Ke Liang was beaming with pride, his face glowing. He said excitedly, "Xiao Mi, it's so great to meet you. How about I treat you to something to drink?"

Qin Jin took a few steps back. She began to regret giving up Taekwondo, a wise activity that could be used at any time, when she was young.

Ke Liang took another step forward and stretched his finger upward, a move that was practically a carbon copy of the old scoundrel harassing the pitiful flower girl.

Fortunately, Hei Bao jumped out of the trash can at this moment. Ke Liang was startled and withdrew his hand. Hei Bao carefully examined Ke Liang from the lid of the trash can. Seeing Qin Jin's panicked look, Hei Bao suddenly jumped up and pounced into Ke Liang's arms. Its movements were very fast, like lightning. Qin Jin almost cheered.

But what happened next didn't make Qin Jin happy at all. Hei Bao seemed to be very affectionate and kissed Ke Liang's lips. It wasn't biting, but kissing. It licked Ke Liang's fair face with its little red tongue. Ke Liang was so frightened that he screamed and dared not move.

Hei Bao looked at Ke Liang as if he had seen a long-lost lover, while Ke Liang screamed, "Cat, cat, take the cat away from me!"

Qin Jin smiled and forcefully pulled Hei Bao off, holding him in her arms, while Ke Liang was covered in cold sweat, still maintaining that cool pose.

Qin Jin said, "So you're afraid of cats."

Ke Liang gave a wry smile and pretended to be nonchalant, saying, "Who's afraid of cats? I just don't really like furry things."

Qin Jin laughed loudly because she saw a bead of sweat slowly falling from Ke Liang's face.

She laughed wildly, picked up Hei Bao, and left. It was so satisfying! Hei Bao seemed to look at Ke Liang, who was frozen in fear and unable to move, with lingering reluctance.

In the restaurant, Qin Jin was still thinking about the funny scene from earlier when her phone rang.

"Hello, Qin Jin, I am Lu Ziming."

Hello, is there anything I can help you with?