The door lock wasn't simply tampered with. Metal reinforcements and glue had been applied to the door and door frame. It couldn't be opened without some tools.
But judging from the extent of damage to the door lock, it was highly likely that the simplest method— brute force— had been used.
Tan Linyuan's gaze remained calm as he more or less acknowledged it.
"Quite strong," Liang Yi commented meaningfully before entering the study.
He paced around the study for a while, feeling the walls and then the bookshelves. His expression gradually changed from his usual nonchalant demeanor to one of solemnity and coldness.
"Linyuan, there's something wrong with this room."
...
Outside the villa, the police had already arrived.
Not only did Liang Yi call the police, but the guests who had fled the Shen family's villa in a hurry also called the police without prior agreement.
Apart from safety concerns, most of them just wanted to see the Shen family stretched thin.
Some said there was someone inside holding a pregnant woman hostage, while others said there had been a dispute. Multiple reports had been made about the same location.
In any case, all these people had to be taken to the police station for statements.
While several policemen were collecting evidence, Tan Linyuan and Liang Yi walked down from the intersection.
The leading policeman, surnamed Li, knew Tan Linyuan. He nodded as a greeting.
"Captain Li, there's a missing woman. Could you please register her first?" Liang Yi craned his neck over, looking uncharacteristically serious. "It's suspected that she was kidnapped and imprisoned. This is a criminal case."
"Missing?" Captain Li frowned as expected. He had thought it was just an ordinary civil dispute before coming here.
But now that someone was missing, it wasn't that simple.
In the end, Captain Li ordered that all the members of the Shen family be taken back to the police station for statements one by one. They would discuss further after comparing the statements.
"Mr. Tan, Young Master Liang, could you please come with us?" Captain Li was respectful to the two of them. "After all, you two are witnesses. We need your testimonies."
But it was obvious that they didn't seem ready to leave.
Liang Yi immediately understood. He showed his usual laid - back young master's attitude to Captain Li. "Captain Li, it's just following the rules. We're just ordinary citizens. We can understand."
"That's great," Captain Li said with a sigh of relief and nodded. "Please cooperate with our work. Get in the car first."
"But the person hasn't been found yet," Liang Yi shook his head. "The kidnapped woman I mentioned just now hasn't been found."
"Our people have searched inside and out. There's no sign of the missing woman you described in this villa," Captain Li hesitated for a moment and then said, "You can come back to the police station with us and confront the father - and - son of the Shen family about their statements."
Tan Linyuan didn't have time to waste.
"There are so many people in the Shen family. It will take time to interrogate them. Please arrange us last, Captain Li," Liang Yi said casually. "Our time is also very precious. You can understand, right?"
Captain Li fell silent.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford to offend them. It was just that the identities of these two were one more noble and special than the other. They weren't the kind of people who would delay things to evade guilt.
But the rules were the rules, and no exceptions could be made for anyone.
At this moment, Tan Linyuan spoke up. "We'll come to the police station to find you in two hours."
It was a promise.
It not only told Captain Li that he didn't intend to leave immediately but also reassured him that he would show up at the police station on time for the investigation.
After this, if Captain Li continued to insist, it would be disrespectful.
Captain Li sighed and chose to compromise. "Please come over earlier. Let's understand and cooperate with each other."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work," Tan Linyuan replied indifferently.
Soon, the police cars drove away, and the Shen family's villa returned to tranquility.
The festive decorations were in a complete mess. The once - clear sky had now turned gloomy, and the cold wind howled through the villa like a desolate courtyard.
"Let's go back and take another look," Tan Linyuan lowered his eyes, his voice cold and harsh. "If we can't find Nan Yu today, I'll have someone tear this villa down."
Liang Yi shrank his neck timidly and didn't continue to joke around.
He had worked with Tan Linyuan for many years. Although he sometimes talked back and mocked him on ordinary days, he didn't dare to disobey him the moment Tan Linyuan got serious.
On normal days, he would have started mocking Tan Linyuan for being unrealistic by now, but not this time.
Because Liang Yi knew that Tan Linyuan would really do it.
Back in the study, Liang Yi scanned the room and began to examine it carefully.
If this was a secret room, there were only three ways to hide someone: in the walls, the floor, or the ceiling.
To open the secret room, one needed to find the right mechanism.
Otherwise, from the outside, it would just look like an ordinary room.
Liang Yi inspected everywhere but found no clues.
Finally, he found a hollow part in the wall. Excitedly, he smashed it open with something, only to find nothing inside.
"So they set up a false mechanism to deceive me, huh?" Liang Yi spat in anger and turned around to look for other clues.
Tan Linyuan watched Liang Yi bustling around. His heart was never at peace.
The longer he couldn't find Nan Yu, the more anxious and panicked he became.
The room was stuffy. He walked to the window to get some fresh air.
Although the window could be opened, it was sealed with a thick layer of metal strips criss - crossing outside, like an iron net.
The gap that could be reached was only wide enough for three male fingers.
Tan Linyuan's expression remained unchanged. He thought this must have been the Shen family's long - prepared plan.
They had locked Nan Yu in this room and blocked the window to prevent her from escaping.
Just as he was about to look away, his eyes casually caught something, and his pupils suddenly darkened.
There were dark rust marks on the smooth, black metal bars.
It was a brand - new iron net that hadn't been exposed to the elements. Where did the rust come from?
He leaned out to take a closer look at the marks. Liang Yi turned around and saw Tan Linyuan with most of his body outside. He rushed over in a panic and grabbed him. "What are you doing! Do you want to jump off the building?"
Tan Linyuan gave him a disdainful look.
Even if he wanted to, this window was too small for a three - year - old child to pass through. How could he really jump?
He just wanted to confirm whether the rust was actually... bloodstains.
He reached out and touched it, rubbing his index finger and thumb together. He quickly determined that it wasn't rust but dried blood.
The bloodstains were symmetrical, and there were also some on the other side.
It could be inferred that someone had struggled here, accidentally cut their finger, and bled.
"Do you think it could be classmate Nan?" Liang Yi also sensed something was wrong. "Wasn't she the only one locked up here?"
He really knew how to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Tan Linyuan was on the verge of losing control. He took a step back, his eyes filled with a cold killing intent. "Can you find her or not?"
"Give me some time..." Liang Yi said helplessly. He turned to look at the window again and clicked his tongue. "It looks like it's going to pour heavily again this evening."
Outside, dark clouds were gathering.