Chapter 184: Gou Dan’s Testimony

Jia Xingyun said, “I’ll see them out!” and then closed the bedroom door.

Seeing a popular actor in the bed of a wealthy young man from Long’an City, Lin Dongxue was too shocked to speak. After a moment, she finally asked, “What is your relationship?”

“Any label you put on it is irrelevant and will only taint our relationship. So please, Ms. Lin, refrain from any assumptions. Once you leave this room, do not mention this to anyone. This is just my private life, and it harms no one,” Jia Xingyun replied.

Chen Shi raised his hand, “Sorry to interrupt. Can I use your restroom?”

Jia Xingyun looked disdainful, “Stop playing games. Want my DNA? The toilet is filthy. I’ll give it to you directly.”

“Mr. Jia’s cooperation is surprising,” Chen Shi said.

“Because I’m innocent. But in return, I want you to tell me what you’re suspecting me of,” Jia Xingyun replied.

“Do you have a cotton swab?” Chen Shi asked.

Jia Xingyun retrieved a swab, and Lin Dongxue took a sample from the inside of his cheek, placing it into an evidence bag. She then fulfilled their promise and explained the police’s suspicions to him.

“So you suspect I masterminded the kidnapping five years ago?” Jia Xingyun laughed, “I admire your creativity!”

“Suspecting everything is our job,” Lin Dongxue said, a bit irritated.

“Good job! Good job!” Jia Xingyun clapped, “Actually, I know who the mastermind is. If Ms. Lin is willing to have dinner with me, I’ll tell you.”

Lin Dongxue frowned, “Excuse me, aren’t you interested in men?”

“I appreciate all beautiful things,” Jia Xingyun smiled.

Chen Shi self-deprecatingly said, “I guess I’m not handsome enough.”

Jia Xingyun looked at him with disgust before turning his softened gaze back to Lin Dongxue, “Consider it?”

“If it’s not you, but you know, then it’s Lu Zhentong, right?” Chen Shi asked.

Jia Xingyun’s expression briefly faltered, “Impressive, impressive! You saw through my bluff.”

“Thank you for the valuable information. We won’t disturb you further,” Chen Shi said.

“If you spread today’s story, I will sue you!” Jia Xingyun warned as they left.

Going downstairs, Lin Dongxue said, “Is Lu Zhentong dead? What use would the evidence be then?”

“You need to think from Ji Chunma’s perspective. For five years, he’s been blackmailing Lu Zhentong, which is risky. Now that Lu Zhentong is dead and the police haven’t discovered anything, Ji Chunma rushed back to Long’an to destroy the evidence, thinking he could start fresh. But then…”

“Everything got exposed at this critical moment!”

“Is the last case over yet?”

“Still doing follow-up work.”

“Then also investigate Lu Zhentong’s finances.”

After going downstairs, the waiting officers eagerly asked if they found anything. Chen Shi said, “We made a mistake. He was with his girlfriend, and we interrupted. Sorry.”

Everyone sighed in disappointment. Chen Shi handed the DNA sample to Peng Sijue, “This is Jia Xingyun’s DNA. Compare it with Lu Zhentong’s.”

Chen Shi returned home around eight. Grandma Liu had finished eating and was asleep. Gou Dan was still engrossed in his game, and Tao Yueyue was reading a criminal psychology book from the shelf.

Tao Yueyue closed the book with a sigh, “Being an older sister is tiring. This kid has too much energy.”

Chen Shi lifted the dish cover and started eating the leftovers, “Did he talk?”

Tao Yueyue shook her head, “He’s been playing games all day. He seems happy but doesn’t talk much.”

“Want to go out?”

“Sure!”

“Take him along!”

“Alright,” Tao Yueyue’s enthusiasm waned.

After eating a few bites, Chen Shi went to Gou Dan, “Gou Dan, want to go for a walk with Uncle?”

Gou Dan shook his head and kept playing CrossFire, making shooting sounds with his mouth.

“Then Yueyue and I will go have ice cream. Be good and don’t wake your grandma… Yueyue, what kind of ice cream do you want?”

“I heard there’s a new flavor, a big cup of ice cream topped with thick chocolate syrup and sprinkled with chocolate chips.”

“Sounds delicious! I want a cup too!”

“And a big cola afterward, so refreshing.”

Their conversation tempted Gou Dan, who stopped playing and watched them.

Chen Shi patted his head, “Stay here, and we’ll be back soon.”

As they got ready to leave, Gou Dan ran over and tugged on Tao Yueyue’s clothes without saying a word. Chen Shi asked, “Don’t want us to leave?”

Gou Dan shook his head.

“Need to go to the bathroom?”

Gou Dan shook his head again.

“How can I know what you want if you don’t speak?”

Gou Dan hesitated, “Ice cream.”

“Put on your coat. Let’s go!”

They went to a nearby fast-food place. A chocolate sundae made Gou Dan’s eyes light up. Tao Yueyue said, “So simple to bribe him.”

“Stop mocking. Let’s get to business,” Chen Shi said, “Can you tell Uncle what you saw in that house that night?”

Gou Dan’s expression turned fearful, his eyes wide with fear, his mouth covered in chocolate syrup.

“Still can’t? Do we need a psychologist?”

“Let me try talking to him alone. Chen Uncle, you wait outside.”

Chen Shi stepped outside and watched through the glass. At first, only Tao Yueyue spoke. Gradually, Gou Dan started talking more and more.

After about half an hour, Tao Yueyue beckoned Chen Shi back inside. She whispered, “He told me. I recorded it.”

Chen Shi was pleased, “Shall we head home?”

Gou Dan shook his head and pointed to the play area. Chen Shi said, “Go ahead and play for a while!”

Gou Dan tugged on Tao Yueyue’s sleeve, “Sister, come with me!”

Tao Yueyue fibbed, “Sister is a big kid. Only little kids can play there. We’ll watch you play, okay?”

Gou Dan believed her and went to play.

Tao Yueyue took out her phone and played the recording. Gou Dan’s words were fragmented, interspersed with Tao Yueyue’s. The gist of it was:

That day, Gou Dan broke a white figurine. Wang Xifeng yelled at him. When he brought his grandma, the fragments were black. Wang Xifeng claimed it was a valuable antique. Because of her lie, his grandma hit him, making him furious. He smashed a bunch of cups on the table and ran away.

That night, they stayed in a cold, bright room. Gou Dan blamed the bad woman for everything. Since her house was nearby, he sneaked out while his grandma slept and went to the bad woman’s house.

He planned to take revenge but found the door ajar and a strong smell inside. The bad woman lay on the floor with wide-open eyes…