Chapter 521: Chapter 521: Fruit Fragrance
Jenny left the interrogation room, leaving Xu Xiangbei alone in deep thought.
He knew he wanted to do something to clear his name, but with handcuffs on and trapped in the detention center, there was nothing he could do. The only way out was to confess and go to prison.
Just as Xu Xiangbei was at a loss and ready to head to prison, the interrogation room door opened, and Jenny stepped in, heels clicking.
Xu Xiangbei asked dejectedly, "How many days do I have to stay here? Or am I supposed to stay here for a lifetime?"
To his surprise, Jenny actually took out a key and unlocked his handcuffs.
Xu Xiangbei was startled, "Do you want me to escape? If I run, wouldn’t that prove I’m guilty? I wouldn’t be able to clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River."
Although she unlocked the handcuffs, Jenny’s expression was heavy, "I’m not someone to bend the law for personal gain. Unlocking the cuffs means you can really leave now."
Xu Xiangbei was a bit overjoyed but quickly filled with doubt, "What’s going on? Didn’t they say all the evidence was against me? Why let me go now? What tricks are you playing?"
Jenny looked exhausted and said helplessly, "Just go, Xu Xiangbei, enough with the nonsense. You don’t actually want to go to the detention center, do you?"
Xu Xiangbei felt a bit uneasy, "Where’s Ah Rong? I’m leaving, but why isn’t Ah Rong leaving with me?"
Jenny sighed softly and revealed the truth, "Ah Rong admitted to killing Lu Jingyun. She took the whole thing on herself, so it has nothing to do with you, and you can go."
The news was more heartbreaking than if he were declared guilty himself. The cigarette in Xu Xiangbei’s hand fell to the ground, and he rushed madly toward the adjacent interrogation room.
With his keen hearing, Xu Xiangbei had already heard Ah Rong’s voice in the nearby interrogation room.
The two officers handling the case initially wanted to stop Xu Xiangbei, but Jenny gave them a look, and they pretended not to see, allowing Xu Xiangbei to storm into the interrogation room.
Ah Rong’s short hair was neatly combed, and her face radiated a glowing smile. Seeing Xu Xiangbei not wearing handcuffs, she happily exclaimed, "Brother Xu, you’re free now; that’s great! Jenny didn’t lie to me. This plan actually worked."
Xu Xiangbei understood something, looking at Jenny reproachfully, "Did you make her confess? How could you do that? Once she admits it, she’ll never be able to clear her name."
Jenny forced a smile, "There was no other way, it was the only strategy to sacrifice the pawn to save the king. One of you had to stay here and take the blame so the other could go out and uncover the truth. I think it’s best if Ah Rong stays in the detention center and you go out."
The interrogation room suddenly became silent. Xu Xiangbei and Ah Rong understood that Jenny’s method, though unfortunate, was the right choice.
Grasping Ah Rong’s gentle, slender hand, Xu Xiangbei felt a pang of sadness, "Let me stay and bear everything, you go out, okay?"
Ah Rong smiled candidly, "The knife has both of our fingerprints. It’s better for one person to take the fall than for us both to go to prison. My life was saved by Elder Xu. Since I’m your bodyguard, my life is always ready to be sacrificed, so it’s best if I admit to killing Lu Jingyun. If you can find the truth and save me, that would be great; if not, I’m willing to take the blame and serve time."
Xu Xiangbei held back the sorrow in his heart, "Silly girl, how can you be so foolish? We didn’t do this; we don’t need to admit it. We have a clear conscience."
Ah Rong’s face showed a trace of a comforting smile, shaking her head, "Brother Xu, that’s how it should be, but reality is harsh. I’m not by your side to protect you anymore, so take care of yourself."
Xu Xiangbei bit his lip, his gaze incredibly determined, his voice infinitely gentle, "Ah Rong, don’t worry, I will definitely find the true murderer and rescue you."
Tears welled up in Ah Rong’s eyes as she nodded, "I believe you. I will always believe in you."
The once bustling luxurious cruise ship was now cold and deserted, with only a lamp lit in the corridor. The bleak and gloomy atmosphere occasionally stirred by a sea breeze, like a ghostly wind, sent chills down one’s spine.
Ever since Lu Jingyun died in the lounge, the Doris cruise ship had been docked silently at the harbor, and the staff on board had all left.
On Lu Jingyun’s bed, the white bedding still had a patch of blood. The vivid red blood soaked into the sheets—a ghastly sight, resembling a blooming hellflower.
It all happened so suddenly, everything was left as it was, even the cap of the bruising wine wasn’t screwed tight, and the whole room was filled with the pungent scent of the wine.
Amidst the acrid aroma, there was a lingering sweet scent, like cologne. Xu Xiangbei and Jenny both sniffed gently and noticed this scent.
Xu Xiangbei couldn’t hide his doubt, "Although Lu Jingyun was wounded, it was only a superficial wound. His Inner Strength was remarkable; my Iron Ball hitting him was nothing. Ordinary people couldn’t even approach him. If I’m not mistaken, he was killed up close by someone he trusted, stabbed in the heart."
Jenny affirmed Xu Xiangbei’s suspicion, "It should be a close-up stab to the heart, but I should remind you, even someone very close to him probably couldn’t kill him so easily."
Xu Xiangbei walked around the bed, very certain, "Even his son would have a hard time killing him. There are only two possibilities: one is that the killer’s skill was two or three times his, capable of a lethal stab; the other is that Lu Jingyun lost his ability to resist."
"Your words sound meaningless. Where would I find someone with martial arts two or three times stronger than his? If there is one, it might just be you."
Xu Xiangbei smiled wryly, "My skills are higher than Lu Jingyun’s, but not by that much. I think the second possibility is more likely."
After surveying the room, Xu Xiangbei’s gaze rested on the bottle of bruising wine by the bed.
He gently sniffed the bruising wine in the bottle, even licking the wine, feeling a numb sensation on his tongue. With his years of medical experience, he identified it as a wine for both internal and external use, internally promoting circulation and externally treating injuries.
Like a bolt of lightning in the dark night, inspiration struck him, and a gleam of excitement appeared on his face, "I understand now—I know how Lu Jingyun died. The root is in this bottle of bruising wine."
Jenny stared intently at the bruising wine, puzzled, "What’s so strange about this wine?"
Xu Xiangbei spoke confidently, "Besides ordinary bruising wine, did you smell anything else in this wine?"
After carefully sniffing for a moment, Jenny smiled, "This wine seems to have a fruity aroma. How interesting. Nowadays, everything has a fruity scent—soaps and shampoos—each with its kind of fragrance. Actually, we only need the basic function."
