Chapter Thirty-Six: Someone Has Been Here

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Returning to the hotel, Han Duoduo went straight to the window and used her binoculars to observe Room 802. Through the bedroom window, she could see someone lying on the bed. The upper body was obscured; only two legs were visible. Due to the curtain of rain, the view was blurry, making it impossible to tell whether they were a woman’s legs or Yang Yongli’s.

“This morning, they had a fierce argument in the bedroom. It got pretty heated—they even started fighting,” Han Duoduo whispered to Yan Ming, who stood beside her. “And do you know what happened after the fight? They did that sort of thing.”

“That sort of thing… what do you mean?” Yan Ming looked puzzled.

“You know, the thing between a man and a woman.” Han Duoduo flashed a mischievous smile.

“Oh… I see.” Yan Ming coughed lightly and leaned back. “Can I take a look?”

“There’s nothing to see.” Han Duoduo gripped the binoculars more tightly, fixing Yan Ming with a serious look. “Trust me.”

Yan Ming paused, feeling a strange sense of unease.

Just then, Yin Nian suddenly called out from outside, “Someone’s been here!”

Han Duoduo and Yan Ming hurried out to find Yin Nian standing in the living room, her expression grave.

Han Duoduo quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yin Nian’s voice was tense. “Someone’s been in here.”

Han Duoduo glanced around. “Who?”

Yin Nian walked to the window and lifted the curtain. “I don’t know, but I’m certain someone entered.”

Han Duoduo followed her. “How can you tell?”

Yin Nian pointed to a suitcase by the wall. “I remember clearly, when I was zipping up my suitcase this morning, two strands of my hair got caught in the zipper. I was in a rush and didn’t have time to deal with them. Just now, when I tried to open the suitcase, the hair was gone. That means someone must have entered while we were out and opened the suitcase.”

Han Duoduo went over to inspect the zipper. “Are you sure?”

Yin Nian replied solemnly, “Absolutely sure.”

Afterward, Yin Nian and Yan Ming searched under the bed, inside the closet, and in the bathroom, but found nothing.

“No footprints, no traces left behind,” Yan Ming said. “If you really feel someone’s been here, we can ask the hotel staff.”

Yin Nian quickly called the hotel lobby to inquire. She learned that after they left in the morning, the room had remained closed and had not been opened.

Prompted by Yan Ming, Yin Nian requested to check the surveillance footage. The staff informed her that such a request required the manager’s approval, and as the manager was not present, she would have to wait until later; they promised to notify her once the manager returned.

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At that moment, Han Duoduo’s voice rang out, “Come here and look!”

Yin Nian and Yan Ming approached. On the floor, in the gap of the suitcase’s back zipper, two strands of hair were caught—slightly yellow at the tips, about half a meter long, resembling Yin Nian’s hair.

Han Duoduo turned the suitcase over and asked, “Was it the front or the back?”

Yin Nian frowned slightly. “I think it was the front…”

Han Duoduo spoke softly, “But it could have been the back, right?”

Yin Nian sat on the sofa, rubbing her temples. “I really feel like someone’s been in here…”

Han Duoduo sat beside her, taking Yin Nian’s hand and gently stroking it. “You probably didn’t sleep well last night and have been busy all day. Maybe you’re just tired, or too on edge. Why don’t you get some rest?”

Yin Nian closed her eyes, then suddenly remembered something. “Let me show you the paper ball Granny Yang gave me.”

Yan Ming was crouched by the suitcase, taking photos. “What’s wrong?” Yin Nian asked, walking over.

“Nothing…” Yan Ming glanced at Han Duoduo behind Yin Nian, then put his phone away.

Yin Nian opened her suitcase and searched, but couldn’t find the paper ball. After a moment’s thought, she took her handbag from under the pillow, opened a small plastic bag from a hidden pocket, and produced the paper ball.

She handed it to Han Duoduo. “This is it.”

Han Duoduo unfolded it. It was a quarter of a newspaper page, obviously torn by hand, the edges jagged and uneven. There were no special markings. The front showed an interview with an entrepreneur; the back featured a few jokes and some job ads.

“There’s nothing marked on it,” Han Duoduo remarked after examining it.

“Check the date,” Yan Ming suggested.

“The date… looks like it’s from about half a month ago,” Han Duoduo said.

“Roughly when Granny Yang was admitted to the hospital,” Yan Ming mused, resting his chin in his hand. “The message she wanted to convey must be hidden in the content here. We’ll have to analyze it line by line.”

“Big-shot lawyer, you take over. Just looking at this makes my head spin.” Han Duoduo handed the newspaper to Yan Ming.

Yan Ming accepted it and read carefully. The interview was filled with empty official jargon; the jokes on the back were stale and unremarkable. He couldn’t discern any hidden clues.

Perhaps the information was hidden in the context of the full newspaper? Lost in thought, Yan Ming tried searching online for the complete edition.

Yin Nian, feeling truly weary, sat on the bed and prepared to nap.

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Han Duoduo poured a glass of water for Yin Nian. Yin Nian drank most of it, exhaled deeply, and lay back on the bed.

Han Duoduo tucked her in and gently stroked her hand. “Sleep… I’ll keep an eye on things.”

Yin Nian slowly closed her eyes.

Yan Ming glanced over inadvertently and saw the scene, feeling a strange sense of discomfort, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

After Yin Nian fell asleep, Han Duoduo went to the living room and poured a glass of water for Yan Ming.

“Attorney Yan, are you thirsty? Have some water.” Han Duoduo sat beside him on the sofa, leaning in slightly. “Have you figured anything out yet?” she asked softly.

“Not yet. I’m trying to find the full edition to compare.” Yan Ming picked up the glass, then set it down again. “It should be this one.”

He opened the digital version of the newspaper and pored over it, but found no useful information.

“Maybe it’s just a coincidence?” Han Duoduo remarked.

“Given the circumstances, it doesn’t seem like one… But what exactly is hidden here?” Yan Ming ruffled his hair, at a loss.

“Don’t worry, take your time. The more anxious you are, the less you’ll remember.” Han Duoduo offered him the water. “Here, drink some.”

“Thank you…” Yan Ming glanced at Han Duoduo. She seemed gentler, smiling at him warmly, though he still felt something was slightly off. He took the glass and sipped.

“Attorney Yan, I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you so dedicated to helping Yin Nian? What you’re doing now is far beyond what a lawyer would normally do. You’re even helping us tail Yang Yongli. If word got out, or if you were discovered, it could damage your career. I’m just curious.”

“Well… at first, I felt it was unjust for Yin Nian to be slandered after saving someone. I wanted to help clear her name. As things developed, I became invested in uncovering the truth myself. And Yin Nian offered to pay me for the extra work,” Yan Ming smiled and shrugged, “but I didn’t accept. I believe friends can help each other in ways that go beyond money.”

“Oh… so you and Yin Nian are friends now?”

“I suppose so,” Yan Ming took a deep breath. “When people work together toward a common goal, they become friends. Many of my clients end up as friends, and Yin Nian is no exception.”

“I see… You really are a good lawyer. Yin Nian is lucky to have met someone like you.” Han Duoduo’s words were genuine. She lifted her own glass. “Here, have some water.”

Without much thought, Yan Ming took the glass and drank it all in one go.