Chapter 777: I Handle the Outside, You Handle the Inside

Lin Qiupu stared at the lamb skewers in his hand, feeling excited. This was a late-night snack, courtesy of his senior.

They had just left Taiyang Pawnshop, and Song Lang had ordered some simple snacks at a nearby barbecue stand. However, he didn’t start eating; instead, he sat there smoking, staring at the small bowl inside the evidence bag.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Captain?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“I’m not hungry. This is for you, as a reward for working over ten hours straight on your first day. How do you feel about being a cop now?” Song Lang replied.

“I feel pretty lucky. On my first day, I got to handle such an interesting case. Reality is truly stranger than fiction,” Lin Qiupu said.

“What do you think about this case?” Song Lang asked.

“The curse is definitely fake!” Lin Qiupu asserted.

“I don’t believe in curses either. They have no logical basis,” Song Lang agreed.

“Then, is this extortion?” Lin Qiupu inquired.

“Of course, it is. For example, if I told you this lamb skewer was poisoned and you had to pay me a hundred bucks for the antidote, even though the skewer wasn’t poisoned, and you still paid up, that would be extortion. Taking advantage of someone’s fear, whether through lies or truth, is extortion! Lin, investigate this bowl thoroughly. Visit other pawnshops in the city too,” Song Lang instructed.

“Is that really necessary? I think He Jingjing might be lying,” Lin Qiupu suggested.

“Do you think homicide detectives only deal with murder cases? The person who made this video is guilty of intimidation and extortion, and probably other crimes too. If you find him, it’ll be your credit. You could even use the reward money to treat your sister to a nice meal. Don’t you want that?” Song Lang asked.

Lin Qiupu suddenly understood, “Thanks, Captain!”

Song Lang took a sip of beer and smiled. Lin Qiupu ate a bit and then said, “Captain, I have some thoughts. Could He Jingjing have a motive to kill? With He Taiyang dead, she inherits everything.”

“I suspect He Jingjing too,” Song Lang said.

Lin Qiupu felt excited, thinking he had his mentor’s approval. But Song Lang continued slowly, “But not because of the inheritance. Whether He Taiyang died naturally or accidentally, she would still inherit. Unless you can prove she urgently needed a large sum of money and her father wouldn’t give it to her, that would be a motive for murder.”

“Then why do you suspect her?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“I suspect her because she appeared before me. Everyone who appears before me, I compare to the profile of the real culprit and eliminate suspects one by one. Suspicion is normal. I always start by assuming someone is guilty and then prove they are not. For instance, who discovered the body first?” Song Lang explained.

“A passing girl,” Lin Qiupu said.

“You should verify if she was really just passing by or lied to you. She needs a clear alibi to be excluded from the suspect list, not just because she ‘looks’ innocent,” Song Lang instructed.

“Oh!” Lin Qiupu quickly jotted this down.

“He Jingjing and He Jun are a couple,” Song Lang suddenly said.

“Aren’t they supposed to be cousins?” Lin Qiupu asked, surprised.

“Have you ever been in a relationship?” Song Lang asked.

“Once,” Lin Qiupu stammered.

“These two stand very close to each other, with no sense of personal space, and they even touch each other casually. Do you touch your sister’s waist?” Song Lang asked.

Lin Qiupu shook his head vigorously, “I’d get killed!”

Song Lang nodded, “They’re not just cousins; they’re lovers. You need to investigate if they’re plotting something. How did Mrs. He die? Does He Taiyang really trust He Jun? These things need to be checked out. Investigating is like playing Minesweeper; you uncover the truth piece by piece until you find the key clue.”

Lin Qiupu hurriedly noted down these insights.

After finishing his beer, Song Lang tossed the car keys to Lin Qiupu, asking him to drive back to the station. He wanted to check the autopsy results. Lin Qiupu was already feeling sleepy and realized Song Lang was a night owl.

“Captain, I don’t know how to drive,” Lin Qiupu said awkwardly.

“What? A cop who can’t drive? Why didn’t you say so when I was drinking beer? Take driving lessons during the October holiday!” Song Lang said, exasperated, rubbing his forehead.

They ended up hiring a driver. On the way, Lin Qiupu started to doze off, pretending to be deep in thought, but his snores gave him away. Song Lang chuckled at the sight.

Lin Qiupu woke up to find it was already morning. He was lying in the back seat of the car, covered with a blanket. Sniffing the blanket, he felt a surge of excitement, thinking Song Lang had covered him.

He neatly folded the blanket and left it in the car. After straightening himself in the glass reflection, he urgently needed to use the restroom. Not knowing his way around the police station, he wandered until he saw a lit room with glass doors. Inside, Song Lang and Peng Sijue were having coffee and breakfast. Song Lang was spinning in a swivel chair like a playful child.

“Captain!” Lin Qiupu greeted.

“Awake? I couldn’t carry you, so I let you sleep in the car. Want some breakfast?” Song Lang asked.

“No, I haven’t brushed my teeth… Did you stay up all night?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“I’ll sleep after the morning briefing. I must be a vampire in my past life, feeling extra energetic at night. As for him…” Song Lang pointed at Peng Sijue, “He’s an alien who doesn’t need sleep.”

“Can you show some respect for me in front of the rookie?” Peng Sijue retorted.

“How am I disrespecting you? Even though I handle the outside and you handle the inside, I’ve always respected you, my dear inside man,” Song Lang joked.

Peng Sijue pointed at Song Lang, telling Lin Qiupu, “This guy is incorrigible. You should request a transfer to another team before he corrupts you!”

Lin Qiupu chuckled, enjoying their banter. He admired their close relationship, even wondering if they had grown up together.

“Take a look at this,” Song Lang handed him some papers.

It was the forensic autopsy report, full of dense text and professional jargon, making Lin Qiupu’s head spin. He tried to sound knowledgeable, “There seem to be many questions about the deceased.”

“Haha, it’s simple. The knife hit the aorta, and the knife was pulled out and reinserted. Forensic reports can be long-winded. You need to learn to read them,” Song Lang explained.

“Don’t mislead the rookie!” Peng Sijue frowned, “A body can provide a lot of information. The forensic’s job is to record it, but not all of it is useful for solving the case.”

“I understand,” Lin Qiupu nodded, standing there, feeling his bladder about to burst.

“Why are your legs shaking? Did you catch a cold?” Song Lang asked.

“No… I need to use the restroom…” Lin Qiupu said, embarrassed.

“Haha, you’re too shy! Go ahead!” Song Lang laughed.