Chapter 114: Outer and Inner (Third Update Requesting Votes)

Chen Shi said, “Even though we’re on opposite sides, I have to admit, that’s quite a move!”

“Thank you!” Han Le responded with satisfaction, “This trick, even a mystery writer wouldn’t think of it. If it weren’t for that darned eyewitness, I believe you wouldn’t have solved the case.”

“Not necessarily. Police solving a case and detectives solving a case are different concepts. The police investigate thoroughly, and the success rate for cases involving acquaintances is quite high.”

“Ugh, novels have misled me!” Han Le sighed dejectedly.

There was a thumping sound from outside; Lin Qiupu was reminding them not to make the interrogation too unserious.

Chen Shi cleared his throat. “So, you left at seven and turned off the power switch on your way out?”

“Yes, and I came back the next morning to turn it back on, to confuse the coroner about the time of death.”

“The stalker the neighbors mentioned, that was you?”

“Yes, but I wasn’t stalking. I was scouting. The place is especially noisy in the afternoons, and the residents aren’t home. Even if someone shouted, no one would notice. That’s why I chose that time,” Han Le explained calmly, almost eerily so.

The interrogation ended there. Lin Dongxue glanced at Chen Shi, signaling him to summarize.

Chen Shi said, “There’s nothing more to say. You’ll pay for your actions.”

“I don’t think it’s my fault. It’s all because of that promiscuous woman. If she hadn’t been so fickle, if she had given me a chance, would it have come to this? She deserved it, and so do I. I shouldn’t have been so blind to fall for her… I don’t understand why she never liked me or respected me. Miss, do you know why? Is it because I’m poor, ugly, or not tall and strong?”

“Uh…” Lin Dongxue whispered to Chen Shi, “Shouldn’t we be saying something profound now?”

“Say whatever you want.”

“I think you lack charisma,” Lin Dongxue said.

Han Le laughed uproariously, “Charisma? What a joke! When I confessed for the seventh time, she said the same thing. I knew it was just an excuse.”

“Not at all!” Lin Dongxue got excited. “From the first time I saw you, I felt you were a bit sleazy. Look at your teeth. Let’s not talk about alignment; you don’t brush them properly, do you? They’re covered in plaque and yellow. And you speak indistinctly, which is unpleasant. Look at your neck. Do you never wash it? Your fingernails are filthy too, it’s disgusting! And most importantly, you walk with a hunched back. Can’t you stand up straight? Have you done something shameful? Girls like handsome guys, just like guys like beautiful girls. But a sloppy handsome guy and a clean, ordinary guy? The latter is more attractive!”

Han Le was stunned, “These… these superficial things, do they matter?”

“If you can’t even get the outside right, who cares about your inside? Girls are emotional creatures. They won’t tell you the real reason, just that they don’t feel it or you’re not their type. I’m telling you now, no matter if you’re genuinely or pretentiously pathetic, if you look like a loser at first glance, you’ll never get the girl you want!”

Han Le stared wide-eyed at Lin Dongxue, then buried his face in his hands and cried, “Tingting, if you had told me earlier, I would’ve changed. Why did it have to come to this? Why…”

“Did I go too far?” Lin Dongxue asked Chen Shi.

“No, you made a valid point. Looks like I need to be more careful too.” Chen Shi laughed.

As they left the interrogation room, Lin Qiupu gave them a strange look. Chen Shi said, “The case is closed.”

“You two are banned from the interrogation room. You make the atmosphere too weird.”

Lin Dongxue stuck out her tongue and smiled.

Han Le was transferred to the detention center that day. The case was over. Lin Dongxue asked Chen Shi to accompany her on a walk. Looking at the clear winter sky, Lin Dongxue said, “Forcing love on someone indeed causes trouble.”

“Is Miss Lin going to tell a story?”

“You might laugh, but I had quite a few admirers in high school.”

“If I were in your class, I’d…” Chen Shi abruptly stopped.

“Would what?”

“Continue your story.”

“One time during a sports meet, the school building was empty. I went back to get something, and a classmate suddenly confronted me, angrily saying, ‘Lin Dongxue, why do you always ignore me!’ I was terrified. I hadn’t even talked to him before. He said he often watched me and smiled at me, but I never responded. Worse, he rolled up his sleeves, and I thought he was going to hit me. But he used a knife to carve my name on his arm… It wasn’t that extreme, just scratching the surface, but it was still shocking. He angrily said, ‘I’ve done so much for you. Why won’t you even look at me!’ I was so scared that I ran away. That guy resented me and often caused trouble for me… Until one day, my brother picked me up from school and beat him up.”

“Men often think women are indirect and love to play games. It’s because women are weaker, and these games are strategies to protect themselves,” Chen Shi said.

“Exactly!” Lin Dongxue snapped her fingers. “Do you know what I felt about that guy? Nothing. In that situation, trapped in the classroom, I was scared he’d kill me, so I ran.”

“If you brought him here now, he’d probably say, ‘Lin Dongxue is cold and heartless. I loved her deeply, but she ignored me!’”

“Just like this killer. He wanted too much and blamed the victim.”

“What do you think of me? Any flaws I should fix?”

Lin Dongxue sized up Chen Shi. “Your clothing style is a bit old-fashioned.”

Chen Shi, wearing a leather jacket and jeans, said, “I thought it was trendy!”

Lin Dongxue couldn’t help but laugh. “Uncle, check the trends before you claim to be fashionable!”

“And what about my inner beauty?”

“Hmm… If I said you were perfect, would you get conceited?”

“I’d call you honest.”

Lin Dongxue playfully punched Chen Shi, laughing, “You narcissist… What about me? Any flaws I need to fix?”

“None. You shine like a diamond sculpture.”

Hearing this, Lin Dongxue’s face turned red to the tips of her ears.