Pristine Darkness

Chapter 32

In this chapter, it's Fang Qing and An Yan who take centre stage as the investigation continues. Being this close to young people and their dreams gives Fang Qing pause, while An Yan has an interesting encounter. Not only is he given unexpected information, has the young lady in question caught his attention as well? Only time can tell . . .

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Translator: shl

Editor/ Proofreader: Anks

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Walking out of the interrogation room, a mixture of excitement and shock surged in Fang Qing's chest. Subconsciously, he really wanted to find someone to talk to.

He leaned against the corridor wall, lit a cigarette and took out his mobile phone.

It had already been a day since he sent the flowers. She had neither called nor texted him.

Fang Qing listlessly finished his cigarette, then walked out into the bright sunlight.

They were in the middle of an investigation, so he had to focus.

Fang Qing's team visited the animation park again. Due to the lethal poisoning case, the animation exhibition had been suspended. However, there were still quite a number of people in the exhibition hall packing up, dismantling the display stands and so on. It seemed that the exhibition would be held again on another date.

Fang Qing had never been to something like this before. He was surrounded on all sides by young men and women in the flush of youth, walking around wearing strange costumes. On the surface, they looked so bright and dazzling, brimming over with individuality, and with a somewhat unrestrained air. It seemed as if they cared for nothing except how they expressed themselves on stage.

However, the hearts of Fang Qing and the other criminal investigators were also stirred. When they walked backstage, they saw the young people with their headgear and costumes off. Their makeup had not been removed, but many of them were wearing cheap T-shirts and sitting with lowered heads on plastic stools or on the ground, eating a less than appetising packed lunch.

This is a very contradictory group of people.

When they are performing, it is as if the very essence of their personality is set free and on display for the whole world to see, as if they, as a generation, are fearless.

When they return to reality, they are only insignificant shells, nothing out of the ordinary, wearied by life, and indistinguishable from the rest of the crowd.

The purpose of today's visit was to conduct further investigation, and also to confirm Bo Jinyan's speculations.

Fang Qing found a cosplayer whose exhibition booth was next to that of Yueying Animation Studio. He was a big, tall, unfriendly youth.

"Did you know the people from Yueying Animation Studio?" Fang Qing asked.

The youth, who was currently standing in front a mirror removing his heavy armour, replied, "I've seen them a couple of times. But I don't know them well."

"How many of them were there?"

"I didn't pay much attention. Four or five."

"When the murder occurred yesterday, did you notice anything unusual?"