My Roommate Is a Detective Episode 9 Recap
> My Roommate Is a Detective Recap
After Qiao Chusheng discovered the noodle shop downstairs was leaking, Lu Yao suddenly realized he had forgotten to turn off the tap in his own room. He and Bai Youning rushed upstairs, finding water flowing everywhere, even into Bai Youning's room, much to her exasperation. When Qiao Chusheng arrived, Lu Yao, observing the water's direction, had a sudden epiphany, finally understanding the unique method the killer used to murder Li Hengli and Section Chief Zhou.
Lu Yao later returned to the belfry and confronted a charlatan, accusing him of spreading rumors about the belfry bringing bloodshed. He challenged the man to tell his fortune. The charlatan, admitting he was a fraud, begged Lu Yao for mercy, but Lu Yao pressed him for the source of the "reversed arch taboo" rumor.
The charlatan explained that the sidewalk was shaped like a bow, with its vertex pointing directly at the belfry's main gate, creating the "reversed arch taboo." He then urged Lu Yao to go up the belfry to see for himself. Lu Yao later paid the charlatan for a past kindness when the charlatan had given him food.
Meanwhile, Qiao Chusheng's patrol officers investigated the alleyways near the belfry, discovering that many residents complained about the belfry blocking sunlight, particularly a few households that received no light at all. Qiao Chusheng decided to investigate this himself. From the top of the belfry, Lu Yao confirmed the charlatan's theory, which led him to identify the violinist as the murderer. When challenged by the violinist and other witnesses who doubted the claim, Lu Yao explained his theory.
He described the street garden's sidewalk as a maze, with the belfry as its center and flower beds as exits. He revealed that after daily construction work on the belfry, cleaners from Lidun Soap Factory used a special soapy water to wash away dust. This soapy water, when mixed with blood, created an unbalanced surface tension, directing the blood flow.
Lu Yao further explained that the killer manipulated this flow by using the consistent positions of street artists and hawkers, who habitually placed their stalls to block certain forks in the sidewalk.
He then revealed that the violinist's changing position on different days (from the west side to the middle) caused the other vendors to adjust their own positions, thereby changing which forks were blocked and thus altering the blood's path to different flower beds where the victims' bodies were found. Lu Yao used sketches from a daily painter in the garden to prove the violinist's shifting position.
The violinist, cornered by the evidence, admitted his motive was to demolish the belfry because it blocked his dying wife's view of the sunset. Lu Yao then revealed that his wife had passed away that very morning, making his actions tragically futile. The violinist stated that even seeing the sunset for a single moment was worth the cost.
Later, Lu Yao frantically tried to borrow one hundred silver dollars for a stock investment, as the next market trend was less than three days away. He approached Yun Jie, who teased him by offering to lend him the money only if he kissed her or danced with her.
Just then, Bai Youning, a core member of the Fudan Drama Club, burst in, feigning tears and dramatically accusing Lu Yao of being a heartless scoundrel who had abandoned her and their unborn child. Yun Jie, embarrassed, quickly left. Lu Yao was left speechless and exasperated, while Bai Youning was secretly pleased with her convincing performance.
Lu Yao later expressed deep regret, lamenting that if he had obtained the one hundred silver dollars, he could have made enough profit to buy the entire apartment building, as his chosen stock had soared in value. Bai Youning then presented her first movie script, which she had written based on their past cases.
She described the protagonist as a beautiful and graceful female reporter who solves cases, with Lu Yao reduced to her driver and sidekick who eventually dies protecting her. Lu Yao vehemently objected to his portrayal and demanded half of the script's earnings. Their argument was cut short when Qiao Chusheng arrived, announcing a new case. A father and son had discovered a female body while fishing by the river.
It was confirmed that the deceased had gone missing five years prior, and local villagers believed she had been taken by the river god to be his bride. Bai Youning eagerly pressed for details, but Lu Yao, still annoyed, refused to share any information with her. Mr. He, the deceased's father, came to Qiao Chusheng to report the case.
He explained that five years ago, he had taken his daughter, He Qingyi, to his villas in Jinsha Bay for a vacation. One night, around ten o'clock, she went for a walk alone and tragically fell into the water. A servant later told him that he had seen a young guy in blue clothes appearing near the villa around the time of the incident.
Mr. He, who owned all the surrounding properties, found this suspicious and led a search team to chase the young man, but he vanished at a crossroads. Mr. He dismissed the local rumors that his daughter had been taken by the river god to be his bride, but Lu Yao inquired about the legend's origin. Mr. He explained that it dated back to the Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty, when the area was prone to severe floods.
Villagers, influenced by a Taoist's prophecy, sacrificed virgins to the river god, and the floods subsequently receded, establishing the enduring legend. He Qingyi had disappeared at the very site where these ancient sacrifices took place. Lu Yao promised to return He Qingyi's body to him after the autopsy. As they spoke, Lu Yao observed Mr. He's suspicious behavior, noting his defensive posture, leaning back slightly, and continuously rubbing his hands.
Lu Yao prepared to go to the crime scene, but Qiao Chusheng, who was busy receiving a British official from the Municipal Council, assigned Big Guy Kan to accompany Lu Yao. Lu Yao, dissatisfied with Big Guy Kan's intimidating appearance, was reassured by Qiao Chusheng that despite his looks, Big Guy Kan was a loyal and honest man. Accompanied by Big Guy Kan, Lu Yao followed a set of tracks to a train station.
The old stationmaster recalled seeing the young guy in blue clothes five years ago. The young man had purchased two tickets for an eleven o'clock departure but inexplicably left at ten o'clock, disappearing entirely. He had left a heavy suitcase at the station. Lu Yao instructed the stationmaster to open it.
Inside, they found a note signed "River God," addressed to "Detective Lu," stating that his "girlfriend" (Bai Youning) was in the River God's custody and giving him three days to solve He Qingyi's murder, or the River God would marry her. Lu Yao immediately rushed back to the Police Station. At the Police Station, Qiao Chusheng confirmed that Bai Youning had been kidnapped from her home, evidenced by broken glass found on the living room floor.
He expressed panic, but Lu Yao, unwavering, vowed to find her within three days. He insisted on performing He Qingyi's autopsy himself, recognizing it as the sole clue to finding the perpetrator. During the autopsy, Lu Yao discovered extensive old bruises on He Qingyi's body, indicating long-term abuse. Her leg muscles showed severe atrophy from prolonged malnutrition, and her dull complexion suggested extended confinement.
He also noted recent, irregular cuts on her legs, consistent with being scratched by sharp vegetation, likely from running through a forest. Based on these findings, particularly the presence of freshwater aquatic plants on her body, Lu Yao deduced that He Qingyi had been held in a remote, densely vegetated area with a freshwater source, not far from Jinsha Bay.
He concluded that she had managed to escape, sprained her leg in the process, and was then recaptured, evidenced by wrist bruises. The killer, in a panic, had drowned her in a nearby freshwater river before dumping her body in the sea to conceal the crime. However, ocean currents had unexpectedly washed her back to Jinsha Bay.
Armed with Lu Yao's detailed findings, Qiao Chusheng dispatched all available patrol officers to search the identified area for a small cabin or prison that could house one person. They eventually located a small wooden cabin, which had a foul smell, and "Xu Yuan" carved into a wooden board. Lu Yao immediately concluded that Mr. He must know this individual. Lu Yao confronted Mr. He at his residence, relentlessly pushing him to reveal the truth.
He vividly described the five years of torment He Qingyi had endured: imprisoned in a tiny, shabby cabin in the woods southwest of Jinsha Bay, fed moldy and stinky pig food, and subjected to endless torture. Overwhelmed, Mr. He finally broke down, confessing that Xu Yuan, a notorious street punk, had coveted Qingyi and constantly spread malicious rumors about her.
To escape the pervasive gossip, Mr. He had taken Qingyi to the seaside villa, but Xu Yuan had abducted her and subjected her to unspeakable cruelties. Lu Yao then inquired if Qingyi had been pregnant, which Mr. He vehemently denied. Lu Yao requested to search Qingyi's room, where he discovered a note with the words "River God's Bride." Recognizing Bai Youning's distinctive handwriting, Lu Yao realized the kidnapper had been in Qingyi's room and left the note.
Just then, Salim arrived, confirming that Qiao Chusheng had uncovered Xu Yuan's identity. Salim further elaborated that Xu Yuan lived on Yong'an South Street, a neighbor of the He family. His father was a butcher, and Xu Yuan himself was a well-known punk who had been arrested multiple times for fighting. He was despised by his neighbors, and after Qingyi's disappearance, he became the primary suspect but vanished without a trace.
The ensuing harsh rumors reportedly led to his parents' deaths from anger, and his sister subsequently left to live with distant relatives in Ningbo. Lu Yao concluded that Xu Yuan was undoubtedly the one who had kidnapped and abused He Qingyi, and that by leaving the note, he was now challenging Lu Yao. Lu Yao requested a strong man, not Salim, to return to the crime scene with him.
