"Miss Lu, is this your car?" Wang Chenchen mistakenly thought Zhou Luming's surname was Lu. "This car must be very expensive."
Zhou Luming didn't correct him. Instead, after fastening his seatbelt, he looked in the rearview mirror and said, "This car belongs to Miss Xu. I don't know the exact price, but it's probably a luxury car."
She had actually secretly checked, and this car model was estimated to cost three million. It has to be said that Xu Yan was a hidden rich woman.
Xu Yan didn't say anything, but instead looked down at her phone to find the address. After projecting it onto the car's navigation system, she said, "Let's go. Let's go to the nearest captain's house first."
Half an hour later, the SUV slowly drove into an upscale apartment complex. Following the registered address, they found the captain's home. His wife opened the door, and inside, a little boy, about six years old, was playing with Lego in the living room.
Upon seeing the guests, the little boy quickly jumped up and hugged his mother's leg, hiding behind her and looking at the guests timidly. His big, dark eyes were full of vigilance, and he even pouted as if he wanted to cry.
"Hello, my surname is Xu. I am an insurance investigator from Lejia Insurance Company. I am here to investigate and verify the policy details for claims processing. These two are my colleagues," Xu Yan introduced himself.
The captain's wife looked very young and dressed simply. You couldn't tell she was almost forty. She was wearing home clothes, long pants and long sleeves, only revealing a little bit of her wrists. Her hair was down and almost covered most of her face. She was not tall and was a bit thin.
After seating the three guests on the sofa, she went to the kitchen to bring them water. At that moment, Zhou Luming saw the little boy by the coffee table, holding a Lego car and hesitating, seemingly wondering whether to go back to his room. Just as she was about to tease him, the little boy cried out "Ah—" and ran away.
Zhou Luming's face darkened. She was always loved by everyone and admired by all, so why did the little boy treat her like a poisonous monster and despise her?
The little boy went even further, slamming the door shut and completely destroying Zhou Luming's confidence.
Zhou Luming stared at the closed door, her smile fading as she slowly stood up, her expression growing increasingly serious. She wondered if others had noticed, but the little boy seemed to have several old scars on his arm. These scars, varying in depth, didn't appear to be accidental, but rather deliberately inflicted repeatedly.
She turned around and met Xu Yan's gaze. Xu Yan's gaze had also been on the closed door. He turned back to look at Zhou Luming, and both of them had the same guess in their hearts—this child seemed to have been abused.
The captain's wife came out of the kitchen nervously when she heard the door close. When she saw that the three guests were still in the living room, she turned to look at the bedroom door and said apologetically to the others, "I'm sorry, my child is rather introverted and doesn't like to see people."
She brought out the tea, keeping her head down and avoiding eye contact with Xu Yan and the others. "If the claim goes smoothly, how much compensation will we receive?"
Zhou Luming strained to look into her eyes through the strands of hair that covered her cheeks. "If the claim is successful, you can receive 10 million yuan in insurance money."
The captain's wife's pupils dilated slightly, and her lips trembled. "I didn't expect him to have bought additional insurance. The airline used to buy it for him, and I heard that the maximum compensation is only 1 million."
"Wait—how do you know your husband bought another type of insurance?" Xu Yan looked at her warily. "We didn't mention this when we came in. We only told you from beginning to end that it would pay out 10 million."
"Ah?" the captain's wife said awkwardly, "This is my guess, because the previous insurance policy could only pay 1 million, but this time it can pay 10 million, so I guess it might be another compensation fee."
Xu Yan was skeptical. "Please find the relevant documents, including the insurance application, to assist us in the investigation. Once the investigation is complete, we will process the claim according to procedure."
"I'll go look for it. You guys have some water." The captain's wife turned the doorknob of one of the rooms. When she opened it, Xu Yan saw the furnishings inside. It was a study, and he guessed that the important documents were all in there.
Xu Yan didn't sit still. She stood up and looked at the photos hanging on the wall. They had made a photo wall here, which was full of family photos, including camping trips, soccer games, and activities at the children's kindergarten.
The family of three inside looked happy and harmonious, a truly blissful family.
Xu Yan noticed Zhou Luming standing silently beside her and casually asked, "What are your thoughts?"
Zhou Luming hadn't smiled at all from the beginning. He straightened his expression and said, "You can tell from the pose in the group photo that she and the child are very afraid of this man. Also, her eyes were full of fear when we mentioned the captain just now. She looked very tense and nervous."
Xu Yan looked at the child's closed door, then at the study, and nudged Zhou Luming's arm, saying, "Go and take a look at that room." That room seemed very different, because according to the layout it should be the master bedroom, but the doorknob was covered in dust, and the floor near the door was also covered in dust, it was obvious that no one had been in there for a long time.
Zhou Luming grabbed Xu Yan's forearm. "Let's go together. I'm scared."
Chapter 17, Section 17 - Repair
======================
Faced with Zhou Luming's "affected mannerisms," Xu Yan couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Are you scared?
The mice have all flown to the sky.
Wang Chenchen stood quietly behind the two of them, her dark eyes fixed on them. Xu Yan saw Wang Chenchen's shadow reflected in the decorative painting on the wall, his brow furrowed, but he finally opened the long-sealed door to the master bedroom.
As soon as Xu Yan entered, he covered his mouth and nose. The air inside was stuffy and suffocating, covered in dust, and the ground was covered with dust. Every step inside would leave a footprint, indicating that no one had been inside for a long time.
Although the male homeowner has been missing for a long time, surely the female homeowner wouldn't keep the door closed and refuse to go inside? Judging from the appearance, no one has ever slept in this room. So where did the female homeowner sleep? Has she not stepped into this room at all for the past two years, and has she been sleeping outside the whole time? But why would she do that?
Is it nostalgia, or—fear?
The master bedroom has a balcony with floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Surprisingly, some clothes were drying on the balcony windowsill, including airline uniforms and men's shirts. In the center was a large bed, about 1.8 meters wide, with neatly made bedding but covered in dust. There was a large wardrobe against the wall, which, when opened, contained neatly arranged men's outerwear and shirts, as well as some ties, cufflinks, sunglasses, and other miscellaneous items.
On the bedside table was a photo of the captain with an airplane. The captain was about forty years old, around 1.8 meters tall, a mature, robust man with slightly dark skin. On the other wall was a wall-mounted television. Apart from that, the room was sparsely furnished, giving it a very simple and clean look.
"What did you figure out?" Xu Yan's brows remained furrowed.
Zhou Luming said sullenly, "I feel like I'm seeing a narcissistic, arrogant, and violent megalomaniac."
Why is he described as arrogant, conceited, and violent?
"The master bedroom should be the space where he lived with his wife, but the clothes hanging outside are all his clothes. He has been missing for two years, but he still has clothes from two years ago. There are no clothes for his wife or son. His wife is even afraid to enter the room. There is only a photo of him on the bedside table. There is nothing in the room that belongs to his wife. The wardrobe is also full of his personal belongings, with only one pillow. It is clear that his wife does not live in the same room as him. Their relationship is not good, and they may sleep in separate rooms."
Zhou Luming paused, and seeing Xu Yan nod in affirmation, he took a deep breath and continued, "As for violence... don't you think that when he mentions him to his wife, her eyes and expression are full of fear? More importantly, that child has many old wounds—I've seen these kinds of scars before; they're often left by long-term untreated injuries or repeated abuse. And he's very afraid of his father... A person who frightens both his wife and son is highly likely to have violent tendencies."
Xu Yan stared at Zhou Luming.
She is very good at reading people, and she seems to have a deep-seated aversion to domestic violence. This may be related to her living environment; the kind of life she led abroad has a significant impact on her current personality.
"Although I don't quite agree with your reasoning, I basically agree with your guess." Before Xu Yan could finish speaking, Zhou Luming suddenly cornered her against the wardrobe door and "wall-pinned" her. Caught off guard, Xu Yan's mind went blank for a moment. She only felt that the two of them were close, and her gaze involuntarily fixed on her pink lips, recalling the scene of her being forcibly kissed that day.
Xu Yan's heart pounded slightly, and he swallowed hard.
Zhou Luming curled the corners of his mouth and whispered close to Xu Yan's ear, "Don't move, don't look out the door. Wang Chenchen is watching our movements outside. Did you suddenly bring him here to investigate because you suspect him?"
Zhou Luming lowered his voice, his expression as relaxed as ever, "According to the current speculation, the Singapore Airlines plane disappeared for unknown reasons, and the captain is such a violent person. Coincidentally, he just happened to have a high-value insurance policy. Could it be that he deliberately crashed the plane as a form of revenge against society due to his mental illness? If he deliberately crashed the plane, would the insurance company not have to pay out?"
“If the pilot caused the crash, not only will he not receive insurance compensation, but he will also have to compensate the victims’ families as the main responsible party.” Xu Yan pushed Zhou Luming away with one hand, keeping a distance from her. “Wang Chenchen is indeed suspicious. What kind of method does a new employee of an insurance company have to sell four high-value insurance policies at once? Each insurance policy is not cheap, and the commission he can receive is not cheap either.”
Zhou Luming's mood instantly turned heavy. "If he really has to pay compensation, even selling this house wouldn't be enough... Then his wife and son won't inherit the insurance money, and they might end up with huge debts and lose this house..."
Xu Yan nodded, "That's a possibility."
"What are you doing in there?" The captain's wife came out of the study, holding some certificates in her hand, and asked with a worried look as she stood at the door.
Even with other people present, even without the male homeowner, she remained timidly outside the door, refusing to come in.
“Um—” Zhou Luming’s eyes flickered, “Miss Xu and I went to the restroom, but we went into the wrong room.”
"Please come out. You can use the restroom outside." The captain's wife placed the documents she was holding on the coffee table in the living room, her voice cold.
Wang Chenchen remained silent and sat back down on the sofa.
Xu Yan and Zhou Luming came out of the room, closing the door behind them. They returned to the living room, picked up their marriage certificate, household registration book, and ID cards, glanced at them, and then had Zhou Luming take photos for their records.
Xu Yan casually asked, "That room seems to have been unoccupied for a long time. Which room are you staying in now?"
The captain's wife stared at Xu Yan. "I haven't been in this room since he disappeared. I sleep in the second bedroom." She pointed to another smaller room, which was far from the master bedroom, almost diagonally opposite.
Xu Yan's gaze shifted to the study next to the second bedroom, where she had just taken out the documents. "May I go in and take a look?"
The captain's wife hesitated.
"This is part of an insurance investigation, and we hope you can cooperate," Xu Yan explained patiently.
The captain's wife glanced thoughtfully at Wang Chenchen, who nodded almost imperceptibly, and she finally agreed. At that moment, the door to the children's room opened slightly again, and the little boy was peeking out from behind it. Zhou Luming waved to him, trying to get him to come out and play with the child, but unfortunately, the boy was too wary. No matter how Zhou Luming tried to provoke him, he remained hidden in the room and refused to come out.
As Xu Yan entered the study, the captain's wife stood at the door, her eyes constantly glancing inside.
“Don’t worry, Miss Xu is the most meticulous and professional person I’ve ever met. She won’t touch your things.” Zhou Luming reassured the captain’s wife. “Has your child seen a doctor? I think he seems a bit too introverted. Perhaps he needs a doctor’s help. If needed, I can recommend a doctor I know.”
The captain's wife's frail body seemed to tremble slightly, and she hurriedly said, "Thank you, but it's alright, we have a doctor who has been taking care of us..."
The study wasn't large, but it was filled with books—some related to flight, others on psychology, and novels. A transparent cabinet held numerous awards, certificates, and licenses—the work of a veteran captain with decades of flying experience. Several books were on the mechanical principles of aircraft. Typically, captains are required to study these materials, but a basic understanding is sufficient, as aircraft maintenance and repair are handled by more specialized mechanics.
To some extent, this captain is exceptionally skilled and is among the most sought-after talents by various airlines in China. It's easy to imagine how highly he is regarded and how no one would question him or even say a harsh word to him at work.
On the large desk sat a desktop computer, a model airplane, and a blank notebook. There was also a small box of Vitamin C, filled with white pills, suggesting it had just been opened. Xu Yan secretly poured out one pill and put it away.
A key was inserted in the drawer under the desk; turning it revealed a small, built-in safe, but it couldn't be opened. Xu Yan looked up at the captain's wife waiting outside and asked, "What's the combination to the safe?"
The captain's wife shook her head. "I don't know. Only he knows."
You don't know the computer password either, do you?
"have no idea."
Xu Yan came out of the study, looked at the safe, and said, "We may need to find someone to break it open. There might be important clues inside for the claim. We hope you can cooperate with us."
The captain's wife nodded.
Zhou Luming and Wang Chenchen followed Xu Yan out, but Xu Yan hesitated and turned back, saying to the captain's wife, whose back was to the two people at the door, "Remember to check the things in the study again, there may be something missing."
The captain's wife looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Xu Yan said nothing more, went out, got into the car, and sat silently in the passenger seat.
The captain's wife hesitated before entering the study. There, on the previously blank notebook, were written a few neat characters and a number: Shanghai Anti-Domestic Violence Assistance Center, Mr. Xu: 137xxxxxxxx.
Upon seeing these words, the captain's wife covered her mouth and nose, tears welling up in her eyes.
Zhou Luming started the car and questioned, "Are we just leaving like this?" She couldn't let go of the captain's wife and her son.
"Let's go, we still have time to go to the next one." Xu Yan raised his wrist and glanced at his watch. "Isn't Zheng Xiaowei the one that's closest?"
She was asking Wang Chenchen.
Wang Chenchen was taken aback. "Yeah, her house is closer." Her eyes darted around, as if she had something on her mind.
Xu Yan stared silently at Wang Chenchen in the rearview mirror.
“Mr. Xu, do you think there’s a high chance the captain will take revenge on society? The more I think about it, the more I feel sorry for that mother and son. They have been suffering from domestic violence for a long time, and now they may not be able to receive insurance compensation. They may even have to buy a house to compensate other people. This is really unfair…” Zhou Luming couldn’t help but speak up and express his thoughts.
“My personal guess is it wouldn’t be him, because when he left, his clean uniform was still drying, and there were unfinished books on his desk. More importantly, someone as possessive and controlling as him wouldn’t just abandon his wife and son to die alone.” Xu Yan looked out the window calmly and said clearly, word by word, “At the very least, he would try to take them with him to another world.”
A silence fell over the car, and a suffocating atmosphere settled in, making everyone feel heavy-hearted.
"Why don't they escape?" It was Wang Chenchen who asked. The young man's eyes still held a touch of naiveté; perhaps he had just graduated and entered this complex society. But Xu Yan saw something else in his words and actions, and at the same time, he saw his inexplicable anxiety.
Zhou Luming gritted his teeth and said, "Because they have nowhere to escape."
"Why? They could call the police, ask friends and family for help, or seek assistance from the Women's Federation. Why didn't they report it?" Wang Chenchen pressed for an answer, her eyes revealing her determination.
Zhou Luming sneered, "I'll make a bet with you."
"A bet?" Wang Chenchen was taken aback.
“I bet they’ve already contacted all the agencies and departments you mentioned, and even tried other ways to get help, but in the end they can only come back and continue to depend on this man…” Zhou Luming gritted his teeth, angrily saying, “It didn’t solve the problem at all; instead, it emboldened that man…”
Xu Yan glanced sideways at Zhou Luming, whose expression was serious, and felt that she seemed particularly sensitive to this kind of thing and particularly prone to anger.
"Focus on driving," Xu Yan reminded him.
Zhou Luming gripped the steering wheel tightly.