Yu Hanjiang called his colleagues at the Criminal Police Station, and they quickly arrived at the scene and cordoned off the backstage area. Meanwhile, since there were tens of thousands of audience members at tonight's concert, in order to prevent news of Liang Ting's death from spreading and causing panic and a more serious stampede, Yu Hanjiang decided to conduct a secret investigation backstage and allow the concert to continue.
Yun Lan arrived at the scene with Ye Qi. Upon seeing Liang Ting's body, her expression turned extremely grim. After all, Liang Ting was a guest she had personally invited, and now he had died at the concert. How was she going to explain this to Liang Ting's family and fans?!
Yu Hanjiang walked up to her and asked, "Miss Yun, what were you doing backstage while Ye Qi was singing at the main stage? Did you see anyone suspicious?"
Yun Lan snapped out of her daze, clenched her fists, and her lips trembled uncontrollably: "I... while Teacher Liang was singing on stage, I was in the dressing room next door, finalizing the makeup and hair with the five members of the girl group. By the time they finished changing, Teacher Liang had already finished her song. I went to the corner to meet Teacher Liang, and at that time, there were many people surrounding her asking for autographs..."
Ye Qi nodded in confirmation: "That's right. When Teacher Liang went backstage, many staff members surrounded her and asked for autographs. She signed for everyone, and I got one too. Then I went on stage to sing."
Yu Hanjiang asked, " Did Teacher Liang go straight back to the lounge and not go anywhere else?"
"I don't know. After Ye Qi went on stage, I stood at the corner on the east side…" Yun Lan pointed with trembling fingers to the corner at the end of the corridor, where the concert stage could be seen through the gaps. "I wanted to hear Ye Qi sing two songs. It was his first time performing on such a big stage, and I was afraid he would mess it up. As for where Teacher Liang went afterward, you'll have to ask Sister Chen."
She turned to look at Sister Chen, Liang Ting's manager. Sister Chen immediately said, "I took Teacher Liang to the break room and asked her if she wanted to change her clothes. She said she had a headache and didn't want to change yet, and wanted to be alone for a while, and told me to go do my own thing. I had an upset stomach, so I went to the restroom. When I came back, I saw her... she was lying on the floor."
At this point, the manager's face grew increasingly grim. Her eyes were red and she was almost crying, her voice trembling with emotion: " Teacher Liang was perfectly fine all day, how could she suddenly..."
Yu Hanjiang interrupted her: "On your way to the restroom and on your way back, did you see anyone in the hallway?"
Sister Chen said, "When I went there, I saw Zhao Yuxin, Ye Lan and Qin Huanhuan in the restroom, and I greeted them; when I came back, I saw Yun Lan and Ye Qi."
Yun Lan said, "Yes, just now, after Ye Qi finished his performance and returned backstage, we met Sister Chen in the corridor."
Yu Hanjiang looked at Ye Qi, who immediately nodded in confirmation.
Yu Hanjiang raised his wrist to check his watch, frowning slightly: " When Liang Ting went backstage, you went to the restroom, and you only came out after Ye Qi left the stage. That means you stayed in the restroom for fifteen minutes?"
Sister Chen looked embarrassed: "I've been constipated lately."
Yu Hanjiang: "..."
If she was constipated, spending ten minutes or more in the restroom was normal, provided she wasn't lying. The manager looked nervous and was trembling, whether from fear or guilt, it was hard to tell. Her testimony still needed to be verified, since she only encountered people on her way there and back, and there were eyewitnesses. Whether she came out of the restroom during those 15 minutes was something no one could prove for her.
Yu Hanjiang took out a notebook from his pocket and quickly jotted down the suspicious points in her testimony.
Next, Yu Hanjiang went to ask the backstage staff and celebrity assistants one by one.
The backstage area of the stadium has a U-shaped structure. Because the staff's lounge and Liang Ting's dressing room are far apart, and they can also go to the restroom via another route, it is difficult for them to know what is happening at Liang Ting's place. This also means that there were no witnesses when Liang Ting had the accident.
There are more than 20 staff members in the back office, as well as more than a dozen security guards.
Yu Hanjiang checked one by one, and after asking around, no one knew what had happened in Liang Ting's dressing room, nor did anyone see any suspicious people in the corridor. These staff members could all provide alibis for each other.
When 505 Girl Group was singing on stage, most of the staff chatted and gossiped in the lounge, while the rest watched the girl group's performance from the corner. When Ye Qi went on stage to sing, because Ye Qi sang so well, a group of people rushed to the corner to listen to her sing.
They had never been to the corridor where Liang Ting's dressing room was located.
One of the assistants from 505 Girl Group said, "The place where we listened to the music was far away from Teacher Liang's dressing room, separated by several walls. Besides, the fans' screams at the concert were too loud. We really don't know what happened to Teacher Liang!"
Everyone was nervous when asked the questions and started discussing among themselves: " What happened to Teacher Liang?" "She was fine when she came off stage and even signed autographs for us..." "Why are the police asking about Teacher Liang? What happened?"
Yu Hanjiang did not tell these people about Liang Ting's death, but only instructed them that if they remembered anyone who had entered Teacher Liang's dressing room that day, they should tell him immediately.
A helpful security guard said, " Teacher Liang is such a big star, we don't dare to bother her. The only people who can enter her dressing room are probably her makeup artist, stylist, assistant, and manager!"
A girl next to her added, "There are still 5..."
The members of the girl group 05, Ye Qi, and their manager —all the celebrities—are in the west corridor, chatting amongst themselves. We can't get through there.
Yu Hanjiang was certainly aware of this as well. Given Liang Ting's status, ordinary staff members at the concert wouldn't dare to disturb her rashly, and the number of people who could enter her dressing room was limited, making them the prime suspects.
Yu Hanjiang looked at Sister Chen: " Where are Teacher Liang's makeup artist and stylist?"
"I didn't see them either." Sister Chen turned her head in confusion. "Does anyone know where Xiao Su and Ah Kim went?"
"They said they were too hungry and wanted to order takeout. I guess they're eating it in the break room over there," Tony, the hairstylist who was blow-drying Ye Qi's hair, replied with a smile.
Yu Hanjiang walked around the corner and arrived at the lounge on the north side. This was a place for makeup artists and stylists to rest. He pushed open the door and sure enough, he saw a man and a woman sitting on the sofa wolfing down their food, with two boxed lunches in front of them.
Seeing Yu Hanjiang walk in with Xiao Lou, Shao Qingge, and Ye Qi, the blond stylist dropped the chicken leg he was eating with a "thud" to the ground, then hurriedly reached out to pick it up, asking with a puzzled look, "What's going on? There are so many people?"
Yu Hanjiang showed their police ID to the two men and asked in a low voice, "I'm a police officer investigating a case. I need your cooperation. Where were you while Liang Ting was performing on stage?"
The two looked at each other, then stared at each other in bewilderment.
Yu Hanjiang frowned and looked at the two of them: "Do you need me to repeat the question?"
The female makeup artist, Xiao Su, shivered under his cold gaze and immediately said, "Officer! We were so busy today that we didn't even have time to eat. The takeout we ordered arrived just as Teacher Liang was about to come on stage. I asked Teacher Liang if she wanted to change her look after the performance, and she said no, and told us to go eat first. So we came to this lounge to eat."
Blonde stylist Kim immediately nodded and said, "That's right, we've been eating and chatting here the whole time. What happened? Why are there police at the concert all of a sudden?" He looked at Tony, who was also a stylist. Tony's face was pale, and he came over and whispered, " Teacher Liang seems to be in trouble. I just heard a scream..."
Yu Hanjiang then asked the makeup artist, " Did Liang Ting bring her own cosmetics today?"
The makeup artist nodded: "Yes, she's a germaphobe and she's used to bringing her own cosmetics; she doesn't use any of my stuff."
Yu Hanjiang: "Are you her personal makeup artist and stylist?"
Sister Chen said from the side, "Xiao Su often does Teacher Liang's makeup. Ah Kim was hired temporarily this time. His master used to do Teacher Liang's styling, but his master had to go abroad this time, so he was asked to fill in. After trying out the styling, Teacher Liang was very satisfied and kept him."
Ah Kim pretended to be shy and smoothed her hair behind her ear, saying, "I've styled many celebrities before, and this is my first time working with Teacher Liang. Teacher Liang is super easy to talk to."
Xiao Lou: "..."
Some stylists in the entertainment industry always exude a "sissy" vibe, almost always making a effeminate gesture when they speak. These two, Tony and Kim, are quite effeminate.
Having seen all sorts of people, Yu Hanjiang calmly asked, "During the styling process, was Liang Ting's mood a little off?"
The makeup artist said, "No, she even joked with us and seemed to be in a good mood."
Yu Hanjiang: "Has she received any messages from others, or answered any phone calls?"
The makeup artist looked at Sister Chen: "She changed into a dress and it's inconvenient for her to bring her phone. I think Sister Chen is keeping her phone, right?"
Sister Chen hurriedly took out her phone, entered the password to unlock it, and handed it to Yu Hanjiang, saying, "When the concert just started at 8 pm tonight, Xie Yuan called. Teacher Liang was changing clothes and couldn't answer the phone, so I answered. Xie Yuan asked me to tell Teacher Liang to go straight home after the concert. He's prepared dinner and is waiting for Teacher Liang and the kids to have a late-night snack together."
Yu Hanjiang nodded: " How is Xie Yuan and Liang Ting's relationship?"
Sister Chen said, "They are a model couple, and they have been very loving for ten years of marriage."
Yu Hanjiang's gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the Manager. Yun Lan said, "When 505 Girl Group returns backstage, let them continue singing. Don't tell them about Teacher Liang for now. There are too many audience members at the concert; we can't cause panic."
Yun Lan nodded with a pale face: "I understand... the concert will proceed as scheduled."
Yu Hanjiang said, "I will continue the investigation here. After the concert, I will have the five girls come to me to give their statements." He looked at the security captain next to him and said, "The entire backstage area has been surrounded by our colleagues from the Criminal Police Detachment. No one is allowed to leave. If anyone asks why, just tell them that there is a criminal case that needs to be investigated. We hope everyone will cooperate."
The security captain nodded: "Yes, Captain Yu, we will definitely cooperate."
Yu Hanjiang led Xiao Lou, Shao Qingge, and Ye Qi to an empty lounge.
Ye Qi asked nervously, " Captain Yu, is there a conclusion?"
Yu Hanjiang took out paper and pen and drew a floor plan of the entire site on his notebook, marking the directions—
A——North——D——
West B——E East——
C——South——F——
The backstage layout is roughly as shown in the diagram. There are three rooms in the west corridor. Room A, near the northwest corner, is a large suite that serves as 505 Girl Group's dressing room and lounge. Room B, about five meters down the corridor, is a VIP room where Liang Ting's dressing room and lounge are located. Room C, at the southwest corner, is Ye Qi's lounge.
All the celebrities are on the west side of the corridor.
There is a restroom on the north side and the south side, and there is also a tea room nearby. Just now, the makeup artist and stylist were eating takeout in the tea room on the north side.
In the corridor on the east side, sections D and E are the rest areas for staff and security guards.
Area F in the southeast corner is the passageway from backstage to the concert venue. From here, you can see what's happening on the main stage. When Liang Ting and Ye Qi were singing, many staff members crowded here to watch.
Yu Hanjiang pointed to the distribution of the rest rooms and said, " Liang Ting's VIP room is in position B, and the staff rest room is in position E. The corridors on the east and west sides are not connected and are separated by two corners, so it is indeed difficult to hear the sounds on the other side. In addition, it is inconvenient for staff to directly enter and exit Liang Ting's dressing room, so it is unlikely that these staff members committed the crime."
Yu Hanjiang paused his pen on the west corridor and said, "The murderer should be in this area. Excluding Xiao Ye, the only people who can easily enter Liang Ting's dressing room right now include the five people from 505 Girl Group, the Manager." Yun Lan, Sister Chen, and Liang Ting's makeup artist and stylist. Since Yun Lan has an alibi, the remaining individuals are only the five members of the girl group, and Liang Ting's makeup artist and stylist.
Ye Qi was startled: " Captain Yu, are you saying that the murderer is among these seven people?"
Yu Hanjiang nodded: "Pay attention to a few details. The makeup artist said that Teacher Liang is a clean freak and is used to bringing her own cosmetics. So it's hard for toxins to be in cosmetics. It's more likely that the water is poisonous. We found a thermos and an opened Mineral Water bottle on site. The water in them had been drunk. Now it's winter. When Liang Ting is thirsty, what would she choose between warm water and cold water?"
Xiao Lou took out a thermos cup from a sealed plastic bag as evidence and said, "She drinks warm water, so the poison must have been put in Liang Ting's thermos cup."
Yu Hanjiang said, "Yes, we can confirm this by taking it back for testing. The murderer poisoned the victim after arriving at the scene today."
Shao Qingge asked in confusion, "Why wasn't the poison administered beforehand?"
Yu Hanjiang said, "The murderer couldn't control when Liang Ting drank the water beforehand. If she drank it on the way and died in the van, there would be very few suspects who had contact with Liang Ting, making it easier to identify the murderer. Therefore, the murderer chose to poison her at the chaotic concert venue to better create an alibi for herself."
He put down his pen and said decisively, "Let's wait until the girl group finishes their song and ask these girls first."
******