Pristine Darkness

Chapter 40

The investigation into Ke Qian and the animation murder continues, while Luo Lang appears once again, sparking off a 'cute' moment between our main couple. What do you think of Luo Lang, though? Ding Mo doesn't usually introduce side characters carelessly . . . hmmm . . . we'll have to wait and see.

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Translator: shl

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Who was it, hiding behind Ke Qian?

Who was it, who cherished such hatred for the animation studio members?

Who was it, who could engineer such a meticulous and cool-headed series of murders, and then push the survivors to the point of a nervous breakdown?

Moreover, was this person's killing spree not yet at an end?

Xu Sheng and Wen Xiaohua were already under police protection. As for this person, there were absolutely no clues to his or her existence.

"No, Ke Qian never told us about any other friends," Wen Xiaohua said.

"But . . . during that time, he always went out by himself. When he returned, he seemed very happy," Xu Sheng added.

"Didn't you ever ask him what he was doing? Or who he was meeting?" Fang Qing asked.

Xu Sheng and Wen Xiaohua bowed their heads. "We didn't ask."

——

The black Cherokee sped along the highway. Bo Jinyan's side profile was extremely calm as he said, "There are two possibilities. A lover, or a close relative."

Jian Yao was slightly surprised. "Relative? According to the information on Ke Qian, his paternal grandfather passed away a few years ago, and he has no other close relatives."

Bo Jinyan nodded. "However, we can't rule out any possibilities, so we should still visit his old hometown. That person was familiar with the animation community, as well as everyone's habits. Xu Sheng and Wen Xiaohua have already confirmed that Ke Qian had a set of Jiang Xueran's apartment keys that year, in order to facilitate rehearsals. This also means that Ke Qian would have told that person of the keys' whereabouts. The two of them would have told each other everything, and Ke Qian would have trusted that person absolutely. They would have been as one person.

Ke Qian's personality is sensitive and fragile, and his social skills are poor. That person should have appeared on the scene shortly before Ke Qian's disappearance. Any earlier, and there would be no reason for the animation studio members to be unaware of that person. It is highly unlikely that an ordinary person would be able to become someone's bosom friend in that short period of time, and especially not in Ke Qian's case.

However, if love or familial relations are involved, it would be possible."

Jian Yao nodded, thought briefly, then said, "What's more, with Ke Qian's character, the reliance on friends is very strong. If he had really made such a good friend, firstly, he would not have any need to hide this person from the animation studio members; secondly, his reliance on them should have diminished. In truth, where the investment venture was concerned, it's not as if he couldn't have done it without the others. However, when he obtained that investment, he was still concerned about what each of the others thought, and he deeply desired their fellowship. He was even willing to exchange that sum of money for their attention and companionship. This just goes to show, whatever relationship that person had with Ke Qian, it was unable to take the place of friendship."

Bo Jinyan smiled slightly. "Well done."

"Love . . . hmmmmm," Jian Yao sighed. "Is it love?"

Bo Jinyan did not answer her. Instead, he said, "That angel investment that Ke Qian obtained is actually very suspicious. We did not find any relevant investment documents in his home, and, according to what he said, the money was for him to use as he wished. Usually, angel investors do not proceed in this manner. It's just that Jiang Xueran and the others have no real-world experience, and did not notice anything peculiar."