Chapter 2565: Dear Detective, Chapter 17

John fell into silence again, his head still buried.

After a long time, so long that Jin Chen thought he wouldn't answer, he finally spoke in an extremely low, hoarse voice, as if he had exhausted all his strength.

"Vincent was born of my father's concubine… that greedy, base woman! She gradually grew dissatisfied with the money and status she had… she seduced me! She seduced me into taking my first puff of opium!"

John's shoulders trembled violently, a bone-deep hatred, "Count Olga, my father… he would never allow his heir to be tainted by such scandal."

"When I was seventeen, he announced in front of all the family members that the twelve‑year‑old Vincent… would become his next heir… because I could no longer free myself from this damned thing at that time!"

He suddenly raised his hand and slammed it hard onto the sofa armrest.

Jin Chen listened quietly, his heart slightly moved.

The distorted hatred and the unspeakable, warped obsession bred by drugs and jealousy gave rise to John's such complex psyche.

So that's how it is, Jin Chen thought, Vincent's charm is truly great; even under such intense hatred, it could still warp John's feelings.

"Oh… this is truly a sorrowful past." Jin Chen's voice gentle, "Let us first calm down, Mr. John."

"Returning to the most crucial question just now, why did you lie to me and Detective Alreik? That night you climbed up to Vincent's study window—what was your purpose?"

John slumped, head tilted back, his vacant gaze fixed on the elaborate carvings on the ceiling, his trembling hand clenched tightly.

"He refused to see me… that night I went to find him, merely wanting to get Qiaoshuya away from him! I told him, Qiaoshuya's family is deeply entangled in the gang conflicts of Beiya'er City; they approach the Olga household solely for our wealth! Yet he simply wouldn't believe me… and we had a huge argument over it…"

His voice choked up, he covered his eyes with the back of his hand, as if unwilling to recall that night's quarrel.

In the study, Vincent pressed John down from behind; he was much taller than his brother, so doing so was effortless.

Vincent met John's eyes filled with pain, lowered his body to look at him, "Could it be that you, elder brother, are doing this for my sake? For the family's sake? John, you look at me, don't you have any selfish motive? It's your jealousy that forces you to say these things; how can I accept that?"

"John, you cannot drive Qiaoshuya away, nor can I."

…

Jin Chen's pen tip quickly recorded; upon hearing the last sentence, he suddenly lifted his head and looked at John.

"Cannot? Was that what he said? He used 'cannot,' not 'didn't want' or 'wasn't willing'?"

John was stunned by this subtle wording issue, "…… yes, he said it was 'cannot.'"

Jin Chen nodded thoughtfully, closed his notebook, and refocused his gaze on John.

"So, deep down you believe the murderer is Qiaoshuya Kleichen."

"…… yes." John was amazed at the other's perceptiveness; mentioning Qiaoshuya, his face again showed a twisted hatred, "Why couldn't it be him? He doesn't love Vincent at all! He only sees profit! And his ever‑present manservant…… huh! Manservant! Who would believe that if you said it out loud? That Silas is just a completely weird person! I've personally seen him several times, Silas always sneaks out of the main house at midnight…… I don't know what he's up to."

Jin Chen listened silently, soaked a handkerchief in cold water, and handed it to John, whose face was streaked with tears and sweat and whose expression was listless.

"Wipe your face, Mr. John." His voice remained calm, "I've disturbed you enough for tonight."

——

Standing in the cold moonlight, Jin Chen drew several deep breaths, letting the night wind blow away the scent clinging to him.

【Really a headache.】Ling Gun Gun remarked, 【John looks tormented enough by hatred and drugs, not like the real culprit.】

Jin Chen walked slowly down the quiet street, indicating his agreement.

【I also lean toward it not being him, though he did give us plenty of clues.】

He only has a chance to avoid Alreik's death if he finds the true culprit before Alreik does.

Upon reaching a street corner, Jin Chen stopped.

Here sit or lie a few ragged little beggars; night is the only time they can get a brief rest.

Jin Chen walked over and gave each child two pennies, needing them to do something.

The children clutched the rare copper coins and nodded in agreement.

After doing all that, Jin Chen then returned to the round‑tube room.

He took a bath, changed into comfortable sleepwear, Bukegang Port was preparing to rest, when he heard the sound of Alreik returning from downstairs.

Jin Chen's hand, about to lift the blanket, paused; he focused his attention, listened for a few seconds, then still got up, threw on an outer robe, and went out.

Something felt off.

Jin Chen gently pushed it open, smelled blood, and saw Alreik standing with his back to the door at the washbasin, brows tightly furrowed, using cold water to rinse the ferocious wound on his arm, the skin slightly turned up.

Blood flowed down his arm and dripped into the basin.

Alreik sharply heard the door opening, swiftly turned his head, and deliberately hid his injured arm behind him.

"Xilier?" the particular cold aloofness of Alreik at night, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Jin Chen's eye color darkened, soon overwhelmed by full worry, his blue eyes shimmering with moist light, reflecting the lamp, appearing extraordinarily moving.

"I'm worried about you, Alreik…"

"Get out." Alreik cut him off, tone cold and hard.

At this moment he clearly had little patience left to deal with and soothe.

Jin Chen wasn't annoyed either, "Let me help you apply the medicine, okay? I'll leave after I put it on."

He reached out his hand to touch Alreik's arm.

Alreik's gaze grew even more impatient, "I said I don't need it!"

But Jin Chen grabbed his wrist.

Alreik lowered his head, that nameless fire in his chest seeming to be blocked, he grew more irritable, clicked his tongue, turned his head, stiffly, "…… then hurry up."

Jin Chen appeared so gentle and patient.

He dried Alreik's arm with a clean soft cloth, sat beside him, cleaned the wound, and applied ointment.

This excessive quiet, on the contrary, made Alreik feel somewhat unaccustomed.

He was used to Xilier being around, always finding topics to talk about, or saying somewhat clumsy yet sincere words.

Now this silent Xilier made him feel…… a bit strange.

His gaze involuntarily fell on Jin Chen's lowered eyelashes, and his mood inexplicably gradually calmed.

Alreik suddenly spoke, his voice softer than before, "Xilier."

Jin Chen slowly lifted his eyes, quietly gazing at him.