Roses in Flames

"The deceased was female." Ye Yuntang's voice came through the medical mask. Her expression was calm and composed. "Based on the bone length, the deceased's height should be between 1.6 and 1.63 meters."

She put on double gloves and reached her fingers deep into the rotten tissue to find the key bone landmarks.

"Although the soft tissue is severely decomposed, the bones are relatively well preserved. The pubic symphysis groove has basically disappeared, showing signs of osteoporosis, but the epiphyseal plates have only recently closed."

She ran her fingertips over the bone, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly. "The age is estimated to be between twenty and twenty-five. Judging from the degree of decomposition of the body and the thickness of the cement seal on the wall, the time of death is conservatively estimated to be more than two years."

The technicians who had previously demolished the wall were all pale from the stench.

No one wanted to move forward even a fraction of an inch.

Their gazes fell on Ye Yuntang, who was wearing a black knitted long dress with a white coat over it. She was slender, with bright and aloof eyes, as if she had stepped out of a painting.

She crouched beside the highly decomposed corpse, her long eyelashes drooping, her face very close to the decaying body, her sterile gloved fingers precisely probing into the putrefied tissue.

There was no trace of disgust in her eyes, only respect and focus for the deceased.

"This new forensic pathologist is amazing! She's so beautiful and so professional..."

Xiao Lin had just finished making a phone call and asked the villa owner to come over.

Upon hearing the technician's words, he glanced at Ye Yuntang.

When she's focused on her work, she's aloof and composed; when she's flirting with others, she's a completely different person.

Not long after, the landlord rushed over.

He nearly fainted when he saw that someone had built a female corpse into the bathroom wall of the villa.

"Officer, my family owns many properties. I've always rented out this villa. Please don't suspect me."

Xiao Lin's expression was cold and sharp. "Bring out the tenant registrations and contracts for the past three years."

The landlord dared not delay and quickly took out the register and contract from his briefcase.

Xiao Lin flipped through and checked each page.

Mengmeng is the newest tenant, having moved in six months ago.

Before Mengmeng, there was a couple who ran a building materials business and rented the place for one year and three months.

Further ahead was a man named Ji Dawei.

Xiao Lin circled important information and asked Cheng Lei to investigate the suspected tenants.

After giving his explanation, Xiao Lin walked up to Ye Yuntang and asked, "Has the cause of death been determined?"

Ye Yuntang pursed her lips and shook her head. "There are no obvious open wounds on the body surface, and no ligature marks or cord marks were found on the neck. The soft tissue has dissolved too much, and there are no traces of mechanical asphyxiation visible to the naked eye."

She stood up, took off her gloves and put them into the evidence bag. "The specific cause of death will need to be determined after an autopsy and pathological examination in the lab."

……

Although Mengmeng was not suspicious, she was taken to the police station to give a statement.

The couple who were renting the apartment also came to the police station after receiving the call.

After interrogation, the couple was deemed not to be suspects.

The most suspicious one is Ji Dawei.

Cheng Lei handed the information he had gathered to Xiao Lin, "Boss, Ji Dawei was in a car accident on the same day he moved out of the apartment."

Xiao Lin looked down at Ji Dawei's detailed information.

Ji Dawei, male, from Daweishan, 51 years old, unmarried throughout his life, with no children.

The file photo was yellowed; the man had a thin face, high cheekbones, and deep-set eyes. His eyes lacked the honesty of a mountain dweller; instead, they revealed a calculating and ruthless nature.

Xiao Lin's deep black eyes fell on the kinship section.

"My nephew, Ji Chen?"

Cheng Lei nodded, "Yes, it's Ji Chen, the singer who has become very famous in recent years."

Have you contacted Ji Chen?

"I've contacted him. He's currently preparing for Ye Cheng's concert and will be over soon."

After Mengmeng finished giving her statement, Ye Yuntang asked Song Xuan to come and pick her up.

"I have to work overtime. Your aunt will be here later, so you can stay at her house."

Mengmeng hugged Ye Yuntang's waist, "Sister, don't tell Mom, I don't want to see her."

"I didn't tell her, don't worry."

Song Xuan arrived by taxi, and Ye Yuntang was about to put Mengmeng into the taxi.

Suddenly, a cool sports car drove up.

A trendy young man with a sapphire earring in his left ear got out of the car.

Mengmeng suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Her eyes widened, her face showing excitement and anticipation. "Brother, brother!"

Ye Yuntang glanced at the young man.

It looks somewhat familiar.

Ye Yuntang quickly realized that it was Mengmeng's idol, Ji Chen.

Mengmeng wanted to get closer to Ji Chen, but the tall bodyguards that Ji Chen brought stopped her.

"Brother, do you still remember me? A year ago, I almost jumped off a cliff, and you pulled me back."

As Ji Chen walked toward the police station, he glanced back at Mengmeng.

He stared at her for a few seconds, then, as if remembering her, a smile spread across his handsome face. "It's you, little sister. What a coincidence, we meet again."

"Brother, can I ask you for an autograph?"

"Can."

Mengmeng took a marker out of her bag, walked over to Ji Chen, and asked him to sign the back of her t-shirt.

After signing the papers, Ji Chen said to Mengmeng, "I hope you're happy every day."

Even after Ji Chen's figure disappeared from sight, Mengmeng still couldn't tear her gaze away. "Brother is so handsome and amazing! I swear I'll follow him for life!"

Woo woo woo.

Her brother's appearance healed the trauma she had felt from seeing the corpse that night.

Ye Yuntang had never been a fan of celebrities, so she couldn't understand the excitement Mengmeng felt when she met her idol.

Seeing Song Xuan get out of the taxi, Ye Yuntang nudged Mengmeng, "Your brother has been inside for half a day, you should go back with your aunt."

"Sis, why is my brother at the police station? Was he harassed by some obsessive fan?"

"Alright, hurry back, I have to go work overtime."

Song Xuan handed the insulated box she was carrying to Ye Yuntang, "Mom made pork rib soup for dinner. Take care of yourself while working overtime."

"I'll take good care of myself, Mom, don't worry."

After watching the taxi leave, Ye Yuntang went into the police station.

There was so much pork rib soup that even she and Xiaowei couldn't finish it all.

Cheng Lei came to the forensic lab to pick up some documents. Ye Yuntang handed him the remaining pork rib soup, saying, "Leizi, my mom made this. Take it home and drink it."

"Okay, thank you, Sister Yuntang."

Cheng Lei carried the insulated box to the office.

The box was opened, and a fragrant aroma wafted out.

"Damn it, Lei Zi, are you eating alone?" Song Che came over, glanced at the food container, and tried to take it away, but Lei Zi snatched it back with lightning speed.

"What Sister Yuntang gave me to eat, don't you dare get involved."

The others in the office started murmuring, "Lei Zi, do you have a crush on Forensic Doctor Ye?"

"Sister Yuntang is beautiful and kind-hearted, who wouldn't have a crush on her?" Lei Zi shamelessly replied.

The commotion grew even louder.

Xiao Lin was on his way to the meeting room when he heard the commotion in the office. He frowned slightly. "What's going on?"

"Boss, Sister Yuntang feels sorry for Lei Zi and only gives him pork rib soup," Song Che complained.

Xiao Lin glanced at Cheng Lei.

Cheng Lei felt a chill run down his spine. He walked up to Xiao Lin with the insulated food container in his arms. "Boss, would you like some?"

Xiao Lin's facial features were taut. "Haven't I ever had pork rib soup before?"

With a cold face, he strode away.

Cheng Lei, "..."

Is the boss on drugs?

……

In the reception room.

Xiao Lin poured Ji Chen a cup of tea.

"Mr. Ji, we asked you to come here because we want to know some things about your uncle, Ji Dawei."

Ji Chen sat opposite Xiao Lin, his stage aura gone, a hint of weariness in his eyes. He took a sip of tea and said, "My parents died early, and my uncle raised me single-handedly. Later, I left the mountains, signed with a music company, and gained fame. So I brought my uncle to the city to live a better life. I paid for him to rent that villa. He lived there for almost a year. Just then, my newly purchased villa was finished, so I asked him to move out and into my new villa. I never expected that he would get into a car accident."

Ji Chen pressed his hands against his forehead, his eyes turning red.

"I only have my uncle as a relative. After he passed away, I lived a lonely and helpless life in this world. Fortunately, I still have fans who encourage and support me."

Ji Chen looked up at Xiao Lin, his reddened eyes filled with confusion. "Officer, why do you suddenly want to know about my uncle's situation?"

Xiao Lin tapped his long, slender fingers lightly on his knees, his cold, hard features sharply defined by the light and shadow under the lamplight.