Chapter 500: A Father’s Lies

Chen Shi interrupted him, saying, “Mr. Zhang, your son was just a teenager at the time, and you told him this?”

Father Zhang chuckled, “Yes, I told him exactly that. Our family isn’t particularly well-off, so all our hopes and resources were pinned on him. I taught him many principles from a young age, telling him to strive to be the best. So when I heard he was involved with this girl, I was very shocked. Young people are often impulsive and don’t think things through, so as parents, we must guide them.”

“Did you ever meet Yan Qilin?”

“I did. His mother made him bring her home for a meal once. I could tell she was an uncultured and unrefined girl, just a wild child. I personally found her very distasteful and did not want my son to be influenced by her.”

Chen Shi nearly sighed. This greasy middle-aged man was only saying what he wanted to say, completely ignoring everything else.

He changed the subject, “How does Yan Qilin compare to Xiao Ran?”

Father Zhang’s enthusiasm increased, “They are worlds apart. Xiao Ran’s father and I have been colleagues for many years. He has a great method for educating children. Xiao Ran has always been well-mannered, knowledgeable in arts and culture, and although she’s not proficient in everything, she has many interests. Xiao Ran and Jinlei have been playing together since they were little. I’m not against young love. If it were with someone like Xiao Ran, I would accept it. You might not know this, but they are together now. Xiao Ran takes care of Jinlei every day, which makes me very relieved. I visit them regularly, and Xiao Ran often updates me on Jinlei’s condition.”

Chen Shi interrupted again, “But Xiao Ran didn’t do well in her college entrance exams. She only got into a third-tier university.”

“That might have been an off day,” Father Zhang said nonchalantly.

Lin Dongxue interjected, “Is Xiao Ran’s father still working at the bank?”

“He was transferred to the headquarters as a manager last year,” Father Zhang said with a smile.

Indeed, this man’s approval of a girl depended entirely on her parents’ status. His view of women was entirely based on their association with men of status.

Chen Shi said, “We’re not here to listen to your educational philosophies. I hope you can be honest and save everyone some time.”

Father Zhang laughed, “You must be joking. I’m not being honest?”

“When Zhang Jinlei wanted to sever ties with the family for Yan Qilin, you eventually compromised and secured her a special admission slot at a university. Is that true?”

“I don’t know who you heard this from…”

“Your son.”

The smile on Father Zhang’s face froze like a wax mask. He waved his hand vigorously, “There’s nothing more to say about that. How is it related to the case? Let’s talk about something else.”

Lin Dongxue couldn’t stand it anymore, “Mr. Zhang, have you seen what Zhang Jinlei is like now? The girl’s death had a huge impact on him. He hasn’t recovered from the shadow of it, developing depression and attempting suicide multiple times. He takes antidepressants daily. But you speak so lightly of it. No matter how much you boast about your educational philosophy, to us, your parenting is a total failure.”

Father Zhang looked embarrassed but still forced a smile, “It’s all in the past. The person is gone. What’s the point of reopening old wounds?”

“This is our job.”

“Yes, it’s your job, but you should also consider the impact on others. There’s an old saying that family scandals should not be aired in public. Frankly, this is my family’s matter. What does it have to do with you? Sorry if that sounds harsh. Have some tea!”

He was met with two cold faces. Chen Shi was curious to see how long he could keep up this facade.

Father Zhang put his hand in his pocket, and his phone suddenly rang. He took it out and answered, “Ah? What… The client is already there? I’ll be right there!” Then he turned to Chen Shi with an apologetic smile, “Sorry, I have business…”

Chen Shi snatched his phone, glanced at it, and said, “That was an alarm, wasn’t it? Mr. Zhang, if you refuse to say anything, we can continue this conversation elsewhere.”

“No, I haven’t broken any laws. Why would you take me in?”

“You never actually secured a special admission spot for Yan Qilin. That was just a stalling tactic. Your detailed knowledge of her father suggests you contacted him privately. You must have tried everything to break them up!”

Chen Shi dropped this bombshell, causing Father Zhang to break out in a cold sweat. He quickly tried to cover it up with a smile, “That’s quite an accusation. As a parent, I only want my child to be happy. Even if I didn’t support it…”

Chen Shi raised his voice, “Is it possible that after all your efforts to separate them failed, you took extreme measures, making you a murder suspect?”

Father Zhang slumped into his seat, sweating profusely. “Officer, you can’t just throw around accusations like that. I’ve lived a law-abiding life, never done anything heinous.”

“Really? Should I call a friend at the disciplinary commission to audit your bank? Let’s see how innocent you really are.”

This intimidation had a significant impact on Father Zhang, who finally showed signs of yielding. Swallowing hard, he said, “No need for that. I’ll cooperate.”

“Let’s talk about the summer of 2013.”

“That summer… That summer…” Father Zhang’s eyes glazed over. “My son had just finished his exams and scored over 600 points, but he applied to third-tier colleges. I was furious and threatened to disown him. He ran away without looking back.” He pounded his chest. “My heart was breaking. I had raised such an outstanding boy, and he was willing to cut ties with me for a little brat. I cried that night. I used every connection I had to try and make him reconsider, but he was stubborn. Those days, I was a wreck, drinking every night and fighting with his mother.”

Tears welled up in Father Zhang’s eyes as he recalled the painful past. “I didn’t understand why the heavens were punishing me. I did everything for him! With the deadline for college applications approaching, I had no choice but to agree to let them be together. I promised to get her a special admission slot at a top university. In reality, I was lying. She only scored over 400 points. Even if I spent everything, I couldn’t pull enough strings to get her into a top school. It was just a stalling tactic. But how long could it last? When the acceptance letters came, Jinlei would know it was a lie. He would leave again and not go to college. I couldn’t take that blow again. So, I went to her house. I planned to bribe them to break up. Her father took my check, but that drunkard couldn’t control his daughter. They stayed together.”

Chen Shi listened, feeling pity for him. He couldn’t control his own son but expected another parent to control their child.