Chapter 772: Ling Shuang Revealed

“Why did you kill Chen Fengde, and who ordered it?” Lin Qiupu interrogated the man in the interrogation room.

“I was just doing my job for money!” he replied.

“Who hired you?”

“Haha, if I tell you, I’m dead.”

Chen Shi received a call and hurried to the station, where the interrogation was in progress. He asked Lin Dongxue, “Did you catch him?”

“The prison is quite enclosed, so after questioning each inmate, we managed to get some clues. This guy here…” Lin Dongxue pointed to the interrogation room. “He caused a small accident in the factory to divert attention and then killed Chen Fengde, hiding his body inside a machine. He later sneaked back to chop off Chen Fengde’s hands, dismembered the body, and disposed of it in a chemical drum, using chemicals to clean the scene so the dogs couldn’t detect anything. We suspect he had accomplices, but he won’t confess to anything.”

“Quite professional! What was he in for?”

“Robbing a convenience store. He only stole a few packs of cigarettes and was imprisoned six months ago. We suspect he did it on purpose. This guy could be a professional hitman, who infiltrates prisons to kill inmates because his record shows other inmates mysteriously died when he was incarcerated before.”

“Anyone connected to someone like him must be formidable!”

“I suspect that the mysterious helper, with their high fees, sophisticated methods, and proficiency in hypnosis, might be…”

“Yes, I’ve thought of that person too. We’ll settle that score later. I need to see Miss Gu. I promised to tell her the truth.”

“We’re wrapping up the case today. Join us for dinner tonight, and bring Miss Gu along.”

“Will do.”

Chen Shi visited Gu You’s counseling office. Upon hearing the truth, Gu You couldn’t hold back her tears. She said, “In a way, this is good. It gives some closure. His body…”

“It’s with Lao Peng. Once the autopsy is complete, you can take it for a proper burial.”

“Burial means forgetting, right? I used to want to forget my father, the murderer, but now I want to remember him forever. I’ll make his ashes into an hourglass and keep it here, to see every day.”

“I support you. Family should not be forgotten.” Chen Shi walked to the window, looked outside, and then turned back. “I have something else to tell you.”

“Hmm?”

“During my hypnotic dream, the dream person inexplicably accused me of killing Zhou Tiannan. Now that I think about it, there’s more to it. The person who hypnotized me believed I killed Zhou Tiannan. Who would think that?”

“Ling Shuang!?”

“Highly skilled, proficient in hypnosis, elusive, and knows I am Song Lang. Who else but Ling Shuang?”

“Not surprising. They need to make a living too, so they occasionally take jobs. As a police officer, you’re bound to cross paths with them. It’s a game between you and them.”

Chen Shi returned to his chair, spreading his hands. “I can’t tell Dongxue. It involves my real identity. I can only tell you. But I have a question. How did you know I am Song Lang? Moving next to me was no coincidence, right?”

Gu You smiled. “Let me keep some secrets. I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

Chen Shi chuckled. “Alright. By the way, I need a small favor…”

Leaving Tianchuan Psychological Counseling, Chen Shi picked up a passenger on his way. It was an older man in a trench coat and hat, smoking a cigar. Chen Shi reminded him not to drop ash on the seats.

The car smelled strongly of smoke and alcohol. Chen Shi asked, “How much did you drink at lunch?”

“Can’t help it, socializing!”

“Yeah, socializing is tough.”

“Exactly, to make money, we all wear masks to please clients… Young man, we all wear masks, you and I alike.”

Chen Shi glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing himself as Song Lang, and the smirking person behind him was Zhou Tiannan.

“Wearing a mask for too long, you can’t tell if it’s a mask or your real face!” Zhou Tiannan spoke, but with a woman’s voice, as Chen Shi woke from his dream.

He opened his eyes and grabbed the wrist of the person standing by his bed. In the darkness, he could only make out a silhouette—a long-haired woman in black, grinning with gleaming teeth.

“Ling Shuang!” Chen Shi called out her name.

“Tsk tsk, Song Lang, you’re as sharp as ever. Using yourself as bait to lure me?” Ling Shuang said calmly.

“Not just that!” Chen Shi smirked and pulled out handcuffs from under his pillow, cuffing her wrist to his. He had borrowed them from Lin Dongxue earlier with a dubious excuse.

In the afternoon, Gu You hypnotized him to wake instantly upon hearing “Zhou Tiannan.” He suspected Ling Shuang would come again because she hadn’t figured out who killed Zhou Tiannan, and he was a prime suspect in their eyes.

Instead of passive defense, he chose to go on the offensive.

Seeing the handcuffs, Ling Shuang’s smile faded. She said, “I have a question for you. As Song Lang, but always playing Chen Shi, where is the Song Lang in your heart? Does he ever wake up?”

“That’s your goal, isn’t it? To drive me mad and make me kill myself.”

“We don’t want you dead. Without you, this city would be boring. A game without an opponent is no fun. Song Lang, the real fun is yet to come!”

“Stop with the mind games!”

Suddenly, Ling Shuang produced a knife. Chen Shi tensed. When she stabbed, he caught the blade, slicing his palm open. Blood gushed out.

Ling Shuang quickly pulled the knife back. Her aim wasn’t to kill but to sever Chen Shi’s left thumb to remove the handcuff.

Then, she let out a scream, bending over in pain. Gritting her teeth, she cut off her own thumb like peeling a carrot, and then she dashed towards the window, breaking through and escaping. Moments later, the sound of a car starting could be heard below.

Chen Shi looked at the severed thumb on the floor, amazed at her ruthlessness. He wrapped his wounded hand in a pillowcase.

Tao Yueyue, in her pajamas, stood at the bedroom door. Chen Shi smiled weakly, “Thank you for saving me.”

“Sorry, Uncle Chen. Your favorite peeling knife is gone.”

“Come here!”

Calling Tao Yueyue over, Chen Shi patted her head. “You really went all out.”

“Who was that?”

“You stabbed her without knowing who it was?”

“She was hurting you. I was scared… Should we call the police?”

“No, we better not. This is complicated…” Chen Shi fell into deep contemplation. When they finally capture Zhou Xiao and Ling Shuang, his secret will be out. Running away isn’t a solution, but how could he confess?

Once a secret is out, there’s no turning back!