Accidental Hero: The Rookie Who Outshines the Force - Chapter 50

“Listen carefully, kid. At the scene, observe more, learn more, and follow Officer Su’s instructions. Don’t do anything reckless!”

Before leaving, Zhao Han, his mentor, reminded Lu Cheng.

The two had come together. Zhao Han couldn’t go to the crime scene himself, but Lu Cheng got lucky and could.

Yuan Jie, standing nearby, looked green with envy. He couldn’t stay in Sanliqiao for even a moment—having Lu Cheng around was like a ticking time bomb for his own frustration.

Lu Cheng nodded. Reckless? Him? He had always been the model of diligence and discipline.

Chen Weimin waved his hand in front of Qin Mian with a teasing grin. “Hey, Captain Qin, stop ogling our Lu Cheng. I know what you’re thinking—trying to poach him. Forget it!”

Qin Mian chuckled lightly. “Did I say I wanted to poach him?”

“You didn’t say it, but you’re thinking it.”

Chen Weimin snorted. Lu Cheng was a prized asset now, and he had to keep an eye out.

Qin Mian gave a noncommittal smile. “Maybe he’s prized in your station, but here, we’ll see if he’s truly qualified.”

“Don’t waste your time. He’s not cut out for criminal investigation. Yuan Jie is the real deal—a top-notch forensic student. You can focus on him instead.”

Qin Mian raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Even giving up on your own apprentice?”

After all, Qingshijing Station had once tried to exchange two top graduates for Lu Cheng. Even an apprentice, sometimes you had to let go.

Chen Weimin thought to himself: Lu Cheng will stay at Sanliqiao, no way he’s leaving.

“He’s only here for training. A criminal investigator wouldn’t stay at a station anyway,” Chen Weimin continued.

Qin Mian smiled. “Hmm… I might just take both.”

Chen Weimin bristled. “Are you even human?!”

Chen Weimin, Zhao Han, and the others returned to Sanliqiao to organize the investigation work, leaving Lu Cheng to accompany Su Qingwu directly to the crime scene.

Qin Mian took three officers to the dumping site to re-examine footprints and search for the murder weapon.

“Ride shotgun.”

Su Qingwu climbed into an SUV with two young CID officers, Xiao Zheng and Xiao Hu.

Lu Cheng gave them a nod and obediently took the passenger seat.

Xiao Zheng and Xiao Hu exchanged glances, silently thinking, “Captain Su, we’re not blind, right? Your boyfriend is here, of course we can’t sit shotgun.”

The vehicle was silent. Su Qingwu, focused and professional, gave no hint of casual chatter. Even Lu Cheng was treated strictly as a fellow officer—no flirting, no side conversations.

At the scene, the forensic team was already checking bloodstains.

Su Qingwu and the team donned gloves and shoe covers, entering the apartment.

Lin Xiaoman lived alone in a two-room flat—one bedroom and one storage room.

She worked as a front desk clerk at Royal TVK. Her ex-boyfriend, Wu Hao, was unemployed and a street wanderer. Though they had broken up, they still met occasionally.

At the time of the crime, they had a confrontation. Wu Hao’s fingerprints were found on Lin Xiaoman’s bag. From the motion traces, it appeared Lin Xiaoman had swung the bag at Wu Hao, and he had blocked it, leaving prints.

A man’s shirt button was also discovered, matching one from Wu Hao’s clothing according to photos on Lin Xiaoman’s phone.

The argument escalated. In a fit of rage, Wu Hao struck Lin Xiaoman’s head with a blunt object, likely a crowbar or hammer.

CCTV at the alley store showed Wu Hao fleeing at 7:55 p.m., but returning later to dispose of the body by Binjiang.

For the second trip, he didn’t use the main door—he climbed through the window, taking an unlit path that avoided cameras.

Su Qingwu hypothesized that Wu Hao returned late at night to transport and dump the body.

Because it was a crime of passion, he likely panicked. The murder weapon would either be left at the scene or at the dumping site, disposed of carelessly.

The team split up to re-examine the apartment and search for the weapon, while also checking for overlooked clues.

Lu Cheng swept dark corners under the bed and behind the sofa with a bright flashlight.

He thought it unlikely they’d find anything of major evidentiary value here, but thoroughness was key.

Over an hour passed. Xiao Zheng and Xiao Hu shook their heads, finding nothing new—same as yesterday.

Seeing Lu Cheng still searching, Su Qingwu asked, “Trainee, any discoveries?”

Trainee?

Xiao Zheng and Xiao Hu exchanged puzzled looks. Is that… a nickname for a couple?

Lu Cheng shook his head. “Not yet.”

Su Qingwu instructed Xiao Zheng to double-check the areas Lu Cheng had just examined.

“Uh…” Xiao Zheng glanced at Lu Cheng, then obeyed, “Understood.”

Lu Cheng’s brow twitched. Su Qingwu didn’t trust him?

Qin Mian had allowed Lu Cheng to participate in the field investigation, signaling confidence in his abilities. But as this was his first case, any oversight would reflect on both of them. Su Qingwu needed to be certain.

Still, Lu Cheng couldn’t help feeling a bit distrusted. He was a trainee, yes—but if Captain Qin sent him, it was a clear vote of confidence.

Huh. So she doesn’t trust me, the prodigy?

You could check a hundred times, but my one sweep is enough.

[Trace Clues lv2] activated.

Ten minutes later, Xiao Zheng rechecked—still nothing. Su Qingwu nodded in acknowledgment.

At that moment, Qin Mian’s call came through. Su Qingwu answered.

“Xiao Su, any progress at the first crime scene?”

“Report, Captain Qin. No new findings, same as yesterday.”

“Alright. Head to the dumping site. Weapon’s missing, probably need to dredge the river.”

“Understood.”

Just as Su Qingwu was about to hang up, Lu Cheng shouted from the window area, “I’ve got a discovery!”

Su Qingwu, Xiao Zheng, and Xiao Hu all turned instantly.

Even Qin Mian heard Lu Cheng’s voice over the phone. “What did you find?”

Lu Cheng had been checking the area where the suspect had climbed out to escape. Su Qingwu had already examined it, but he double-checked, unwilling to leave anything to chance.

And indeed, he found something.

The old wooden-framed window had a hook at the corner for securing it, known as a wind latch.

Peering closely, Lu Cheng noticed a faint green glow.

[Trace Clues] triggered!

Leaning in with his flashlight, he discovered a fingerprint.

If it were Wu Hao’s, it wouldn’t trigger the green glow—his prints were already all over the apartment.

This was the killer’s fingerprint.

Wu Hao wasn’t the murderer?

Could it really be true?

Lu Cheng’s heart raced. This case… had a twist.