Chapter 579: The Witness

A police car arrived at the school and took Liu away after a brief conversation. In a classroom by the window, a boy chewed on his pen, lost in deep guilt.

Liu, the janitor, and Lin’s father were questioned separately. The police asked them to recount every detail of seeing Lin Xiaoxiao on October 1st. All three said she seemed the same as usual.

The police then showed them photos of Ling Shuang and Lin Xiaoxiao. Ling Shuang wasn’t a hiding criminal; she was a scholar who rarely went out. Only Chen Shi and Gu You knew her as an “old friend.”

The three didn’t recognize Ling Shuang’s photo but easily identified Lin Xiaoxiao’s.

Throughout the questioning, Chen Shi and Gu You observed from outside. Gu You said, “They’re mentally sound now, with only the altered memories in their minds, which they’ve rationalized.”

“We should have guessed this earlier!” Chen Shi said in frustration. “Not just ‘Black Honey’ members, even us ‘interns’ can plan a crime leaving no traces; it’s basic training.”

“You’re no ‘intern.’ If you were a criminal, you’d be as skilled as Zhou Tiannan. It’s always easier to destroy than to create, hence the saying ‘the devil is in the details.’ Don’t be too discouraged.”

“Is it appropriate to discuss this here in the police station?” Chen Shi checked behind him. “By the way, I hope you don’t mind me asking, are you and Old Peng seeing each other? It doesn’t seem like it.”

“Our relationship? If you must define it, we’re just like-minded bedmates. We both dislike complicated romantic entanglements. We find this arrangement suitable. You might want to try this rational approach to love.”

“No thanks! I’d get killed!” Chen Shi waved it off.

After a moment of silence, Gu You whispered, “If normal methods can’t deal with Zhou Tiannan, have you considered using what you’ve learned?”

“I’ve thought about it, but I can’t.”

“If Zhou Tiannan were to die unnaturally one day, would you investigate the case?”

Chen Shi looked at Gu You for a long time and said, “I hope that day never comes. Zhou Tiannan must be arrested, tried, and pay for his crimes.”

After the questioning, Lin Qiupu called everyone to the meeting room. Peng Sijue said, “We’ve investigated, but there’s no evidence of an intruder.”

Lin Qiupu said, “There’s no progress with the witnesses either. I think this case has hit a dead end.”

Everyone felt disheartened. Before Chen Shi joined them, it wasn’t unheard of to announce a “suspension of investigation” for cases that couldn’t be solved. Now, facing this situation again was frustrating.

Lin Dongxue stood up and said, “Why not directly ask Ling Shuang for an alibi?”

Lin Qiupu spread his hands. “We have no right to question her. The entire case has no evidence linking her to it, at least not on the surface. Assuming her involvement is just a hypothesis. The police can’t investigate based on a hypothesis alone. It’s like someone getting killed by a thrown knife on the street, and we go find a knife-throwing magician and accuse him. It sounds absurd, doesn’t it?”

Lin Qiupu’s words were true, leaving Lin Dongxue feeling helpless as she sat back down.

Looking around, Lin Qiupu hoped someone had an idea, but even Chen Shi looked defeated. Lin Qiupu reluctantly announced, “I’ll give you all one more day. By this time tomorrow, if there’s no new lead, we will suspend the investigation!”

That evening, as school ended, Wei Zengmarie stayed behind for duty, and Tao Yueyue walked home alone. As the crowd of students dispersed, she walked down a busy street, heading for the bus stop.

She heard footsteps behind her and glanced back to see the boy who had been following her. She quickened her pace.

The boy sped up too and called out at a corner, “Tao Yueyue, I need to talk to you!”

Tao Yueyue stopped and looked at the unfamiliar boy. She slowly moved under a supermarket’s surveillance camera, fear controlling her actions. “Stay there and talk!” she commanded.

“I don’t mean any harm. I really have something to say!” The boy looked distressed.

“Speak!” she demanded.

The boy pulled out his phone and read out a number. “This is my WeChat. Add me. I can’t talk here.”

Skeptical, Tao Yueyue added his contact. He messaged her from ten meters away, “Your dad is a detective, right?” “I saw them take Teacher Liu away this afternoon. They got the wrong person. I know who the real killer is!” “But I’m scared. I don’t dare speak out!”

Tao Yueyue replied, “Send me a photo of your ID.”

The boy found this amusing but complied. Tao Yueyue emailed his information to herself with a message: “This boy, Cao Rui, claims to have important information. If I disappear, investigate him!” She added, “Uncle Chen, I love you!”

She set the email to send in three hours.

Pointing to a fast-food restaurant across the street, she said, “Go there, let the camera capture your face, and sit by the window. I’ll join you.”

“I’m really not a bad person,” Cao Rui said awkwardly.

“Hurry up!”

Five minutes later, Cao Rui waved from a window seat. Tao Yueyue joined him. He had ordered two drinks. “Don’t be so nervous. I’ve never seen anyone as cautious as you. I’m in my school uniform. How could I be a bad guy? I didn’t know if you liked Fanta or Coke, so pick one.”

Tao Yueyue pushed both drinks aside, taking out her own water bottle. “Just tell me.”

“The killer is Teacher Yan!” he whispered. “I reported it, but the police are so dumb. Why did they take Teacher Liu?”

“The language teacher?”

“Yes. I heard him arguing with Teacher Lin, then a bang, and everything went silent. I was terrified… Later, I saw him carrying a big bag downstairs, with blood on it!” Cao Rui confessed, trembling. “Do you know how scared I’ve been in his class? I can’t even look at him. When he calls on me, I feel he knows something… I was too scared to speak up, afraid of revenge. But I wanted to help, so I made the anonymous call. Why aren’t the police investigating?”

“The police need evidence.”

“Don’t they catch bad guys without evidence?”

Seeing his sincerity, Tao Yueyue said, “Do you know? The police already know who killed my mom, but without evidence, they can’t arrest him. Even if they did, the court would release him.”

“Really? Your mom…”

“That was a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Cao Rui looked out the window, frustrated. “I wish Long’an had a Batman!”

Tao Yueyue took a sip of the Coke and smiled. “I like Batman too.”