All four interrogation rooms were filled with people, even Madam Qiu Sushan was involved.
In Interrogation Room No. 1, only three people were seated. Uncle Jiu rested his arms on the table, his head bowed, lost in thought or perhaps just blanking out.
A record book lay in front of Liu Jiaming, already filled with questions and answers.
Qiu Sushan pursed her lips, occasionally letting out a soft sigh.
Time passed, and Uncle Jiu grew uncomfortable sitting, his waist aching and his leg throbbing with pain, despite having been treated by forensic expert Xu. The pain pulsated through his temples as he recalled the chase—clenching his teeth and holding his breath, determined to catch up with Xi Ming even if it killed him.
Back then, he felt no pain, but now every muscle and bone in his body ached. Some places burned, others were sore; it was truly unbearable.
He let out a long sigh and suddenly tugged at the corners of his mouth.
He thought with a smile that was not quite a smile: At least I didn’t die.
“Uncle Jiu,” Qiu Sushan suddenly spoke up.
Lin Wangjiu came back to his senses, raised his eyes to look forward, and met Qiu Sushan’s obscure eyes. He gave a bitter smile and said, “Madam, go ahead and ask your question.”
“Did you really not push him, nor hit him?” Qiu Sushan asked somewhat painfully, as it was difficult to question a colleague she had worked with for so long.
The most distressed was Lin Wangjiu himself. He averted his gaze and chuckled ambiguously, his mouth curling down slightly as he gently shook his head, mumbling before meeting Qiu Sushan’s eyes again:
“I didn’t hit, nor did I push.”
After a few seconds of eye contact, he continued, “He tried to jump over the fence himself and didn’t make it. He fell and died tragically, tumbling down, crashing onto the ground like a lump of dead meat… After searching for him for half my life, to have him die like this, ha.”
Qiu Sushan remained silent.
A one-meter-high iron fence, even a ten-year-old child could easily climb over,
No one would die from failing to jump over it, something everyone knew.
“Did he fall at any point during the chase?” Qiu Sushan asked again.
“No, it was me who took a big tumble.” Uncle Jiu reached to scratch his thigh, accidentally touching the wound and grimacing in pain. He wanted to complain, but realized it wasn’t the time or place, so he simply closed his mouth and lowered his eyes to the table.
This night felt like a dream to him.
To have met Xi Ming again in this life, almost having the chance to ask those questions that haunt him in his midnight dreams.
But a man suddenly revived, then just as suddenly died.
The opportunity was fleeting, ultimately slipping through his fingers.
It was as if fate was playing a cruel joke, determined to knock Lin Wangjiu flat on his back.
Over the past few years, he had slowly climbed back up, resumed his role as a detective, and his life seemed to be getting better—perhaps just a momentary oversight or charity by fate. Now, fate had targeted him again, ready to take back those charitable gifts.
“Was there no other conversation between you?” Qiu Sushan continued to ask.
Uncle Jiu shook his head, he had been running so hard that it was difficult to breathe, let alone speak. All he could manage was to shout “Stop! Police!” which had already used up all his energy; he simply couldn’t say anything more.
“Okay, if you remember anything else, please report it immediately,” Qiu Sushan exhaled.
“Madam…” Uncle Jiu looked up.
“What?” Qiu Sushan faced him with a stern expression, looking up.
“…” Uncle Jiu gave an awkward smile and shook his head. Whatever he wanted to say, he swallowed it back down.
Uncle Jiu couldn’t go home that night; as per procedure, being a suspect, he had to stay in the police station for 24 hours.
Iron cell, iron bed, iron bars—Fang Zhenyue had specifically instructed the detention center to give Uncle Jiu an extra blanket, although he did not show himself to Uncle Jiu and left hurriedly.
Back in Team B’s office, Qiu Sushan was waiting for Fang Zhenyue.
She laid the statement on the table, her gaze fixed on him, “Every time you don’t want to be the bad guy, you make me do it.”
Fang Zhenyue gave a weak smile, pulled up a chair next to him, looking troubled and powerless.
“Do you believe Uncle Jiu?” Qiu Sushan crossed her arms and asked him.
Everyone at the police station knew how much misery Xi Ming had caused Uncle Jiu.
Once a passionate detective, ground down by disillusionment, he had eventually given up those most fervent things, seeing his job at the police station as just a nine-to-five. He was getting older, slowly not bringing up the past anymore, just waiting to retire.
Deep down, Uncle Jiu must have deeply hated Xi Ming, the informant who provided false information, crushing a man’s dreams and taking away his trust in others.
What kind of feelings and actions such a nemesis, who had changed his life, could evoke, was hard to say.
Qiu Sushan dared not believe Uncle Jiu’s innocence, nor dared to disbelieve it.
She looked at Fang Zhenyue, as if hoping he would give her an answer.
Fang Zhenyue looked up, meeting Qiu Sushan’s eyes, and smiled gently, “I believe Uncle Jiu.”
“…” Qiu Sushan pursed her lips, “To what extent do you believe? Believe that person was Xi Ming? Believe that Uncle Jiu never touched Xi Ming?”
Fang Zhenyue didn’t speak, just clenched his molars and braced his broad jaw, making his handsome face look even more angular, resolute, and stern.
Qiu Sushan sighed softly, “Then let’s prove it one by one.”
If Uncle Jiu’s innocence couldn’t be proven, not to mention the retirement fund that was 80 times the monthly salary for integrity, even a smooth retirement would be in question.
Before leaving Team B’s office, Qiu Sushan turned back, “I’ll hold back the lab results from the forensic department. After 24 hours, when Uncle Jiu goes home, then the results will be released.”
“Thank you, madam.” Fang Zhenyue stood up to see her out.
“No need to thank me, prove your thoughts.” Everyone hopes Uncle Jiu is innocent, and so does she.
….
Jiayi and Gary re-questioned the three eyewitnesses, whose statements were basically the same as during the initial hearing.
As they sent the three witnesses away, Gary said goodbye to Zhao Zhicheng. Jiayi and Zhao exchanged glances, but she pursed her lips and kept a straight face without speaking.
Zhao seemed to understand Jiayi’s reaction and provocatively curled up one side of his mouth, tilting his head and asking with a cheeky grin, “What’s the matter, madam?”
Jiayi watched Zhao’s retreating figure until he turned the corner out of the police station, then she gritted her teeth and said, “Sooner or later, I’ll make you tell the truth.”
“You mean Zhao Zhicheng hasn’t been truthful?” Gary turned to ask Jiayi.
“Uncle Jiu didn’t go into detail.” Jiayi replied softly before heading back to Team B’s office.
She walked over to clean the whiteboard as the documents lay on the desk. Just then, Fang Zhenyue walked back in.
“How is it?” Fang glanced at the statements on the table and turned to Jiayi.
“It’s the same. Zhao Zhicheng insists he saw Uncle Jiu pushing someone.” Jiayi furrowed her brows, her expression solemn.
Gary looked at Jiayi’s serious face and then at Fang’s stern expression, feeling inexplicably that these two were becoming more alike.
Fang took a breath and wrote two lines on the whiteboard:
【Eyewitness Zhao Zhicheng】
【Victim Liu Fuqiang】
Liu Jiaming, who had just returned from a stakeout at the forensic department, immediately said:
“Sir Xu found atherosclerotic plaques, proving that Liu had coronary artery disease.”
“Based on staining of the victim’s fingers and dental tests, he had a severe smoking habit. This would also aggravate his coronary condition.”
“Based on the evidence found on Liu, we know he was a night security guard in the Hung Hom Baishana community, so he also had issues with staying up late.” Jiayi added.
“Yes, the victim likely had severe health problems due to staying up late, smoking, and other issues.”
“Intense running could have been a trigger, along with emotional agitation, leading to a myocardial infarction, but to determine the exact cause of death, we still need to observe the coloration of the lesion after 6 hours and conduct in-depth biopsy tests.”
Liu Jiaming paused, recalling before continuing:
“At the same time, we found multiple impact injuries on the victim’s head and shoulders, likely caused by a fall. But we can’t fully confirm if these were caused by the fall at the death scene.”
“That is to say, we can’t rule out that the victim had a physical altercation with Uncle Jiu before his death.” Fang’s brows tightened even more.
“Yes, Sir Xu said that all the tests done so far can’t prove whether the victim first fell and then had a heart attack, or had the attack first and then fell.” Liu Jiaming nodded, his tone growing heavier, then he looked at Jiayi, “It now depends on what the eyewitness says.”
“…” Jiayi shook her head.
“Damn it.” Liu Jiaming slapped the door frame, grinding his teeth at those delinquent kids who wished all cops would fall into misfortune.
“Let’s wait until Sanfu brother checks Liu Fuqiang’s situation.” Jiayi still held onto hope. She stood up, took a deep breath to calm herself, and poured a cup of hot water for everyone.
Everyone then held their thermos cups, silently sipping water while waiting for Sanfu.
Half an hour later, Sanfu returned with a pile of information and the deceased’s wife.
Fang Zhenyue and Gary went to interrogate Mrs. Liu. Jiayi and Liu Jiaming stood outside the interrogation room, peering through a small window.
Mrs. Liu claimed she didn’t know who Xi Ming was at all. When she married Liu Fuqiang, he was already a security guard in the Baishana community.
At that time, Liu Fuqiang was not only the nighttime security guard for Baishana but also a well-paid senior guard, owning a 600-square-foot apartment in the Baishana community, fully paid without any loans.
Mrs. Liu worked as a cashier in a restaurant, and together with Liu Fuqiang’s salary, the couple lived quite comfortably.
The only regret was probably that after many years of marriage, they remained childless. Another thing was that Liu Fuqiang was not one to enjoy life; he slept during the day and worked at night, and even on his days off, he was reluctant to go out shopping or have fun with Mrs. Liu.
The couple had hardly ever visited a park over the years, and Liu Fuqiang seldom left the Baishana area.
“To hide his identity and avoid detection by the police,” Liu Jiaming muttered.
Jiayi shared the same thought; this was probably why Xi Ming had vanished without a trace for so many years.
One reason was that he obtained a Baishana property and a new identity by betraying Uncle Jiu and providing him with false information. He changed his appearance, erased his fingerprints and identity, and completely severed ties with his past self. Another reason was his mole-like existence, living day in and day out for decades, avoiding sunlight, not forming new social connections, not indulging in pleasures, and not going out—all to remain ‘invisible’ in society.
But why would Xi Ming reappear in Sham Shui Po?
When Fang Zhenyue asked if Liu Fuqiang had any chronic diseases, all the detectives inside and outside the interrogation room held their breath.
But to everyone’s disappointment, and even anger, after a few seconds of contemplation, Mrs. Liu actually answered that Liu Fuqiang was in good health, with no major or minor ailments.
When asked if he had recently experienced any discomfort in his heart or similar symptoms, Mrs. Liu outright denied it.
That was clearly a blatant lie. Since the forensic examination had identified a lesion, it indicated that the condition had been ongoing for a long time.
As the wife of Liu Fuqiang, it was impossible for her not to be aware of her husband’s health.
Director Fang Zhenyue clenched his jaw, having realized that Mrs. Liu had probably figured out the implications before coming. If the police concluded that Liu Fuqiang died from a natural disease, then there would be no one responsible for his death. However, if Liu Fuqiang’s death was not due to illness, Mrs. Liu might frame someone else to seek compensation. Now, that scapegoat was clearly Uncle Jiu.
In the face of interests, people always choose the narrative that benefits them the most.
Justice and honesty suddenly seemed worthless.
Gary solemnly warned Mrs. Liu that obstructing police work and providing false evidence could lead to a prison sentence of up to 7 years.
Although Mrs. Liu hesitated for a few seconds, she still insisted afterward that what she said was true.
Director Fang Zhenyue averted his gaze, unwilling to look at Mrs. Liu any longer, and walked out of the interrogation room. He then told Jiayi, “Go and ask madam for a search warrant; we must visit Liu Fuqiang’s home.”
Jiayi turned around to call Qiu Sushan, who had just gotten home. After picking up the phone, she immediately logged onto her computer and emailed a request to quickly apply for a search warrant from the court.
At the police station, after Gary had interrogated Mrs. Liu, everyone reviewed the various aspects of the case. There wasn’t much else to be done today.
Director Fang Zhenyue organized the work for the following day, checked the time, and then called it a day.
Everyone went together to the detention area to say goodbye to Uncle Jiu, leaving with a sense of unease.
…
The next morning, Jiayi got up very early. Before leaving the house, she went back to her room to find her library card.
In the morning, she planned to ask Sir Xu about the specific circumstances of the deceased, Liu Fuqiang, and during the lunch break, she wanted to visit the library to find some books related to coronary heart disease to gain a deeper and more systematic understanding.
“Big sister, will Uncle Jiu be okay?” Knowing about Uncle Jiu’s situation, Jiaru, while handing Jiayi a scarf as she left, couldn’t help but express her concern.
“He will be,” Jiayi gently patted her sister’s head, forcing a smile, “All the innocent will be fine!”