Chapter 5: Leniency for Confession, Severity for Resistance

Lin Qiupu stared coldly at Chen Shi, who returned the look with a smile. “Look at the eight characters behind me,” Lin Qiupu said. “Read them out loud!”

“Leniency for confession, severity for resistance… Did I pronounce that right?”

“You’re not the first uncooperative suspect I’ve dealt with, and you won’t be the last. Do you really think…”

“Watch your words, Captain Lin. I’m a suspect, not a convict. I’m still a legal citizen! Detaining and interrogating me without evidence is itself illegal!” Chen Shi retorted, standing his ground.

“No evidence?” Lin Qiupu snapped, furious. “Let me refresh your memory. On September 11, at 2 a.m., a woman named Gu Mengxing got into your car. According to messages she sent her boyfriend, you harassed her verbally during the ride. The next day, her body was found by the river, showing signs of rape and murder. Can you honestly say you’re completely innocent?”

Three pairs of eyes bore into Chen Shi, whose face briefly showed a flicker of surprise before returning to normal.

“Yes, I did have a pretty female passenger that night. I dropped her off at the Fengzhi Lin Hotel. My dashcam can prove it,” Chen Shi said calmly, knowing that the truth would be his best defense in this situation.

“Where was the pickup point?”

“Near a barbecue stall by Shihouzi Road. I was waiting for passengers there for about two hours.”

“Why were you there so long?”

“I fell asleep!”

“As far as I know, the route from Shihouzi Road to Fengzhi Lin Hotel passes by the crime scene,” Lin Qiupu stated.

Chen Shi rolled his eyes and smiled wryly. “Go check my dashcam footage.”

“That can be faked.”

Chen Shi burst out laughing. “What truth do you actually want? When I tell you something, you don’t believe it. When I offer evidence, you say it’s fake. You want me to take the fall so badly, like it’s some kind of blind date—just picking someone who seems suitable?”

“Watch your language!” Lin Qiupu snapped coldly.

“As an innocent citizen, being dragged here, not given food or water, insulted and pressured to confess—expressing a bit of dissatisfaction, is that so wrong?”

Lin Qiupu glared at him with disdain, picked up the phone, and spoke a few words. Lin Dongxue asked, “Did you verbally harass that female passenger?”

Reciting as if from memory, Chen Shi said, “According to Chinese law, verbal sexual harassment includes lewd remarks, sharing explicit stories, jokes, or literature. By that definition, I didn’t harass her. It was just casual conversation.”

“Don’t twist the concept. Did you or did you not harass her?”

“You’re the one confused. To you, what counts as harassment—casual conversation? Asking for contact details? Inquiring about her family? Or legally defined sexual harassment?”

Lin Dongxue was momentarily at a loss for words. She shifted her approach. “From what I know about you, you seem overly enthusiastic with female passengers, especially single women at two in the morning. I find that highly inappropriate.”

“That’s just your opinion. First, I talk a lot. Second, I like women. Third, I’m single. Is chatting with a young, pretty passenger such a crime? Just now, in the car, did I say anything inappropriate to you?”

Lin Qiupu turned to Lin Dongxue. “What did he say to you?”

Lin Dongxue brushed her hair aside and answered slowly, “Just casual conversation.”

Chen Shi pressed on, “As a single man, I believe it’s reasonable, lawful, and appropriate to chat with women anytime, anywhere. I’m in my cab almost 24/7. If I don’t talk to passengers, I’ll go crazy!”

Lin Qiupu slammed the table. “Stop dodging the issue! The fact remains, the victim rode in your car, you harassed her, and she was raped and murdered on the way to her destination!”

Scratching his neck, Chen Shi replied, “Put it that way, it does sound logical. So, got a cigarette?”

The three officers exchanged glances. Asking for a cigarette usually meant a confession was coming. Lin Qiupu walked over and handed him a Red Pagoda Mountain cigarette, just about to light it when Chen Shi said, “No, no. You have two packs, right? One for suspects and one for yourself. Bring out your Chunghwa. Who are you trying to fool?”

“You…!”

“You think I can’t tell? You reek of Chunghwa.”

Lin Dongxue stifled a laugh. Annoyed, Lin Qiupu reluctantly pulled out a pack of Chunghwa, lit one for Chen Shi, who exhaled contentedly, then waited for a confession. But all Chen Shi did was blow smoke.

As the cigarette neared its end, Lin Qiupu urged, “Ready to talk?”

Staring at the ceiling, Chen Shi began, “Thirty years ago…”

“Why’s he talking about thirty years ago?” the recorder muttered.

“Thirty years ago, on an autumn night, a dog was run over in front of your house. The next day, you were born!”

“You!” Lin Qiupu stood up, slamming the table. “How dare you insult an officer! Do you want to die?”

Flicking away the cigarette, Chen Shi retorted, “Did I say it was cause and effect? Did I?”

Lin Dongxue covered her mouth, stifling laughter. Lin Qiupu fumed while the recorder was left puzzled on how to document this.

Chen Shi continued, “What you said earlier is all true, I admit. But putting them together doesn’t make them connected events. That’s basic logic. Without clear evidence, these are just isolated incidents!”

“Fine! Fine!” Lin Qiupu was livid.

Lin Dongxue thought to herself, this guy isn’t like other criminals who evade and argue. He’s been addressing the facts directly, and he’s not entirely wrong. With such a meticulous mind, he might not be the culprit…

Feeling ashamed for doubting herself, Lin Dongxue glanced at Lin Qiupu’s angry face.

There was a knock on the door. An officer brought in the dashcam analysis results. Lin Qiupu glanced at the report, exchanged a few words with the officer, then dismissed him.

Waving the papers, Lin Qiupu said, “Your so-called evidence isn’t in your favor…”

“Stop bluffing!” Chen Shi said impatiently. “You’re out of tricks, aren’t you? That night I only had one passenger. Where else would I have gone?”

Seeing his ploy exposed, Lin Qiupu looked sheepish. “Who are you calling a donkey?”

“Didn’t you learn Chinese? Am I calling you names? ‘A donkey at its wit’s end’ is an idiom. Should I say Captain Lin is out of tricks? Since when did ‘donkey,’ a hardworking, intelligent animal, become an insult? Apologize to all donkeys!”

Lin Qiupu was red with anger. For the first time, a suspect had humiliated him so. It was time to get serious.

Lin Qiupu picked up the phone and raised his voice, “Xiao Wang, turn off the cameras!”