Though her colleagues remained skeptical, Rong Qian was convinced of the validity of the information. However, she wasn't sure if some parts of it were exaggerated.
"By the way, Rong Qian, how did you come across the name Shen Yi?" Chen Jia suddenly asked.
Rong Qian hesitated, unsure how to respond, and deflected, "Let's not focus on that for now. Can you find more information about him based on what we have?"
"Why not just contact this Shen Shuhuai directly?" Chen Jia suggested, clicking on the account's profile. "Look, the address is listed. Since he wrote the article, he must know more."
Rong Qian leaned closer. The profile picture showed a middle-aged man in his forties with a kind smile, suggesting a good-natured personality. The account's location was pinned to a luxury villa in the famous Hao Yuan Estate on Chengdong Road, a residence known to house only the wealthy and influential.
"Does he have any contact information?" Rong Qian asked.
Chen Jia nodded. "I can get it for you."
"Great, send it to me later. By the way, any updates? Has anyone come forward about the case since the news was released?" Rong Qian asked.
Chen Jia shook her head. "Nothing yet."
Rong Qian fell silent, her thoughts drifting. After a moment, she decided to visit the remains again. Zhang Hao, seeing her leave, followed her.
The skeletal remains had been found dressed in a suit and overcoat, complemented by a red scarf, indicating the incident had occurred in winter. Forensics had estimated the height at approximately 1.8 meters.
Rong Qian recalled Shen Yi's height—around 1.87 meters, significantly tall—but she still couldn't confirm if the skeleton belonged to him.
After lunch at the station, Rong Qian resolved to visit Shen Shuhuai's residence.
Given the strange nature of the case, she decided not to bring Zhang Hao along to avoid his incessant questioning. With her own thoughts in disarray, she had no energy to explain the situation to him.
Hailing a cab, she left her car at the repair shop—it had sustained serious damage to the rear bumper from the morning's collision.
By 2 p.m., Rong Qian arrived at Hao Yuan Estate. Guided by the address Chen Jia had provided, she stood before a luxurious villa.
She rang the doorbell and waited. Soon, a middle-aged man appeared—it was Shen Shuhuai from the profile picture. He wore glasses but bore no resemblance to Shen Yi.
Rong Qian had initially wondered if he might be Shen Yi's son, but the records showed that Shen Yi was unmarried. She dismissed the thought.
Shen Shuhuai opened the gate, studying her curiously. "May I ask who you are?"
"Hello, I'm Rong Qian, a detective," she said, presenting her badge.
After a quick glance, he invited her inside without hesitation.
The villa's grandeur left Rong Qian momentarily awestruck. The sprawling staircase reached to the upper floors, resembling a grand gallery. The polished maple wood flooring gleamed, reflecting the opulence of the interior.
Yet, despite the house's vastness, it appeared empty aside from Shen Shuhuai. Rong Qian asked, "Do you live here alone?"
Shen Shuhuai smiled, the deep wrinkles around his eyes softening his expression. "Yes, but it's not my home. I'm just looking after the place."
As he handed her a cup of tea, Rong Qian took a sip and asked, "Have you heard about the recent news regarding the accident?"
Shen Shuhuai nodded. "I've heard about it, but it has nothing to do with me."
"To your knowledge, has anyone from your family ever gone missing?" Rong Qian pressed.
Shen Shuhuai paused, taking a thoughtful sip of tea before replying, "Yes. My cousin, Shen Yi, disappeared years ago. He went missing at sea."
"You do know Shen Yi!" Rong Qian exclaimed, excitement sparking in her eyes. "His stage name was Wei Long, right? If you're aware of him, you must know why all records of him have been erased."
She had hoped this lead would finally unravel the mystery, but Shen Shuhuai shook his head. "I don't know much about him. When he went missing, I was just a teenager. Before he disappeared, he only asked me to look after his house."
Rong Qian was taken aback. "This is Shen Yi's house?"
"Detective Rong," Shen Shuhuai said, his gaze scrutinizing her. "You've asked about the accident and about my cousin. May I ask, who exactly are you?"
Rong Qian's tone turned solemn. "I'm a detective, as I've said. But the reason I'm here is that Shen Yi may be connected to the case and… possibly to me."
Her statement left Shen Shuhuai visibly puzzled.
"My cousin disappeared decades ago," he murmured, frowning. "And all records of him were wiped clean. No one should know he existed. How do you know about him?"
Rong Qian, sensing his genuine confusion, decided to recount her discovery.
When she mentioned Wei Long's films, Shen Shuhuai wasn't surprised. He, too, had some of Shen Yi's movie discs. However, what baffled him was how she knew Wei Long was Shen Yi.
Reluctantly, Rong Qian described the events of that morning.
Expecting disbelief, she was stunned when Shen Shuhuai's expression turned contemplative. "That explains why you seemed so familiar to me…"
"What do you mean? Have we met before?" Rong Qian asked, startled.
Without answering directly, Shen Shuhuai stood and retrieved a faded photo album from an upstairs room.
Flipping through its pages, he pointed to a photograph. "Look at this! Isn't this you?"
Rong Qian leaned closer, her breath catching.
The photo, old and gray with age, exuded a strong sense of history. It showed a woman standing in front of a vintage piano, dressed in a white blouse and work pants with a tightly cinched belt that accentuated her slender waist.
Her expression was serious, her brows furrowed, as she gazed off to the side with an air of worry.
Rong Qian didn't need a second look—it was unmistakably her.
"Mr. Shen, where did you get this photo?" she asked urgently.
"I found it among my cousin's belongings while organizing them. It's a very old photo. The piano in the picture was in his room," Shen Shuhuai explained.
For reasons she couldn't explain, the word "belongings" made Rong Qian uneasy.
"Are there other photos of me?" she asked after a pause.
Shen Shuhuai flipped through the album but shook his head. "No. I've seen this photo many times, which is why I recognized you so quickly."
"And who are the other people in these photos?" Rong Qian asked, her curiosity growing.
"Just some old acquaintances," Shen Shuhuai said, handing her the album. "Feel free to look, but please handle it carefully—it's fragile."
Rong Qian flipped through the pages, noting the strong historical resonance of the images. Most featured unfamiliar faces, with only a few of Shen Yi.
As she examined the album, Shen Shuhuai posed a theory. "Detective Rong, you mentioned traveling back in time because of a photograph. Could it be the photo itself caused this?"
Hearing such a suggestion from a middle-aged man was almost comical to Rong Qian.
She chuckled nervously. "You really think the photo made me travel back in time?"
Shen Shuhuai nodded earnestly. "My cousin's disappearance was never ordinary. Perhaps fate intended for you to uncover the truth."
Rong Qian sighed, half-joking. "You're not implying I had anything to do with your cousin's disappearance, are you?"
Shen Shuhuai shook his head, his gaze serious. "No, but I believe there's a deeper connection between you and him. And, Detective Rong, I truly think the woman in the photo is you."