Chapter 519: Missing
Chapter 519: Chapter 519: Missing
When she first encountered the mixed school of yellowfin tuna and bonito, Su Qing seized the opportunity while the school was still close. In three attempts, she caught a total of twenty-eight yellowfin tuna and over a hundred bonito. Later, she also caught a moray eel and some other fish among the coral reefs on the seabed.
Having caught quite a lot of seafood, Su Qing was in a wonderful mood and even had sweet dreams that night. However, when she woke up the next morning, she discovered the ship had stopped.
"What’s going on? Why have we stopped?" Su Qing asked, calling for her room steward, Jim.
Jim quickly replied, "Miss Susan, there’s been a situation on board, so we need to stop for a while. I apologize for any inconvenience."
Su Qing nodded and asked, "How long will it be?"
"I’m not sure about that yet," Jim said.
Su Qing frowned. "What happened?"
"A guest has gone missing," Jim sighed. "They were discovered missing during the night and still haven’t been found. That’s why we need to stop the ship for now. We might even have to launch speedboats to search the surrounding area."
Su Qing was startled. ’Someone actually went missing on the ship? And they’re sending out speedboats to search... Doesn’t that mean they suspect the person was thrown into the sea?’
Su Qing nodded without saying anything. ’If the ship has to stop, so be it. Someone is missing, and finding them is what’s most important right now.’
Jim continued, "By the way, Miss Susan, someone will likely be by to ask you some questions shortly. I just wanted to give you a heads-up so you aren’t alarmed."
"Who would that be?" Su Qing asked curiously. "The missing person’s family?"
"No, a private detective," Jim said. "This detective is very famous in Xiangcheng and happens to be on board. When the captain found out, he asked him to help investigate. After all, the person has been missing for half the night... I’m afraid..."
Jim trailed off, shaking his head with a sigh. ’It’s not looking good for them.’
Su Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. "Alright, I understand."
Just as they were speaking, there was a knock on the door. Jim quickly went to open it.
Standing outside was a man around fifty years old. "Hello, I’m looking for Miss Susan."
Jim turned back to Su Qing and said, "Miss Susan, this is the famous detective from Xiangcheng, Mr. Hua Zifeng."
"Please show Mr. Hua in." ’I didn’t expect this detective to come question me so soon,’ Su Qing thought. ’I was about to go get some breakfast.’
"Mr. Hua, this couldn’t possibly have anything to do with Miss Susan." Hua Zifeng had just nodded at Su Qing and was about to enter the room when Yarn hurried over from behind him, addressing the detective.
Su Qing froze for a second when she saw Yarn. "Who went missing?"
Hua Zifeng raised an eyebrow at her question. "So, Miss Susan already knows someone is missing? News travels fast."
Jim, who was standing nearby, quickly interjected, "Mr. Hua, Miss Susan noticed the ship had stopped and called me to ask what was going on. I’m the one who told her. We were just discussing it when you arrived."
Hua Zifeng merely gave a noncommittal nod in response.
"Miss Susan," Yarn said, looking at her with a resigned expression. "The person who’s missing is Angela."
"Miss Angela is missing?" Su Qing asked, looking at Yarn in surprise.
"Yes," Yarn confirmed with a nod. "Angela has a habit of eating a late-night snack. Her room steward went to deliver it around midnight yesterday, only to find the room empty. That’s when they realized she was missing."
Su Qing listened to Yarn, then turned her attention to Hua Zifeng. The detective was around fifty, with a piercing gaze that was now fixed on her, full of scrutiny.
Su Qing arched an eyebrow. "What’s this, Mr. Hua? Am I a suspect?"
"I’ve heard that you and Miss Angela had some friction," Hua Zifeng said, looking directly into her eyes. "A couple of days ago, you even laid a hand on her. Quite a few people saw it. It also seems there are some romantic complications involved. That’s why I’ve come today—to ask you a few questions."
Su Qing replied coolly, "You may ask your questions. However, I must ask you not to look at me as if I’m a criminal, Mr. Hua. I admit Miss Angela and I had a conflict a couple of days ago, but that incident is over. She came to my door looking for trouble, and I merely defended myself. Mr. Yan was present at the time."
"That’s right, I was there," Yarn interjected quickly. "Mr. Hua, like I told you just now, Miss Susan couldn’t possibly be involved in Angela’s disappearance. I hope you can hurry up with your investigation and identify the real suspect. Angela is in grave danger, and every moment we delay puts her at greater risk."
Yarn was extremely anxious about Angela’s disappearance. While he held no romantic feelings for her—and had, in fact, grown to resent her constant pestering over the last couple of days—she was still like a little sister to him, someone he’d grown up with. It was impossible for him not to be worried.
"Mr. Yan," Hua Zifeng said sternly, "Miss Susan had a conflict with Miss Angela, which naturally makes her a person of interest for the time being. Please refrain from interfering with my investigation. Otherwise, I might suspect you of deliberately covering for her."
"You—!" Yarn was left speechless.
Su Qing turned, sat down on the sofa, and addressed Hua Zifeng. "Go ahead and ask your questions, Mr. Hua. But I’ll repeat myself: even if you suspect me, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t look at me like a criminal."
"Forgive my forwardness," Hua Zifeng said coolly. "It’s a professional habit. It’s how I treat anyone who might be a suspect while I’m on a case. I ask for your understanding, Miss Susan."
Su Qing offered a faint smile and gestured to the sofa across from her. "Please, have a seat."
Hua Zifeng sat down, took out a notebook and a pen, and looked at Su Qing. "Miss Susan, did you or did you not have a conflict with Miss Angela a few days ago?"
"I did," Su Qing confirmed with a nod.
"Could you describe the circumstances in detail?" Hua Zifeng asked.
"Certainly," Su Qing said. "After boarding the Jixiang, I happened to be staying in the room next to Mr. Yan, and we met by chance. Because we had exchanged a few words, Miss Angela seemed to take issue with me. She came to my door that day to start trouble, and we had a minor conflict. After that, Mr. Yan dragged Miss Angela away. Both Mr. Yan and the guests in the adjacent rooms can testify to this."
Hua Zifeng meticulously wrote down her statement, then asked, "Then, forgive my forwardness, but is there in fact something romantic going on between you and Mr. Yan, Miss Susan?"