Chapter 790: The Worst Father

“Is it illegal to burn your own money?” He Jingjing frowned.

Song Lang didn’t expect someone to be unaware of this common knowledge, but He Jingjing hadn’t even finished middle school, so it wasn’t surprising. He deliberately exaggerated, “Of course it’s illegal, and the punishment is severe.”

He Jingjing was shocked, her eyes widened, face pale, unable to speak for a moment.

“Then again, is this million yours?”

“Yes… It was given to me by He Taiyang.”

“This lie isn’t very clever. We’ve already contacted the bank and traced this batch of money. The money you burned matches the serial numbers. Moreover, you probably didn’t know, your dear father helped himself to a few bills first to buy booze and cigarettes. We found money from that same batch near his residence, with his fingerprints on it.”

“What… batch of money?”

“Miss He, if you had some education, this crime might have been more perfect. Both the money you burned and the money Li Qiang spent, we can trace them back to the source. They’re from the funds He Taiyang withdrew. Li Qiang is the person who met He Taiyang that night. Any thoughts on that?”

He Jingjing gritted her teeth. Finally, she relented, saying, “Li Qiang killed He Taiyang!”

“Why? Didn’t Li Qiang get what he wanted, the money?”

“Li Qiang is still a man with pride. He felt terrible that his own daughter was being used by an old man. He cried and apologized to me several times in secret. He even said if he had the chance, he would kill He Taiyang to let me live my own life. I’m just in my twenties. Other girls my age are happily dating boys, but I had to sleep with an old man, call him father in public, and be his mistress in private. My life had no hope, all because of Li Qiang. That night, when He Taiyang went to meet him alone, it was the perfect opportunity for Li Qiang to kill him!”

“And the knife stuck in He Taiyang’s back, why was it the one usually carried by He Jun?”

“How would I know?” He Jingjing exaggerated.

“And how did you know about Li Qiang killing someone, and how did you end up with a million?”

“Li Qiang came to see me on the night of September 2nd, shortly after you left. He told me everything. I was scared, it was murder after all. But he said he wore gloves and shoes a size bigger than usual. Li Qiang and He Taiyang rarely interacted, so the police wouldn’t suspect him. The crucial thing was the money in that box. If the police found it, it would be disastrous. I suggested handling it myself. Originally, I planned to keep it in a safe until things settled down, but that didn’t seem safe. After He Taiyang died, He Jun sneakily stole money from the safe multiple times. I had nowhere else to hide it and couldn’t let He Jun find out, so after much thought, I just set the money on fire. It seemed the safest option!”

Song Lang nodded coldly. “You made Li Qiang’s motive sound so natural, but both of us know Li Qiang. Would he regret selling his daughter? In fact, he has been consoling himself, thinking you’re happier with He Taiyang. A rotten person wouldn’t suddenly regret, because they don’t reflect!”

“In your eyes, everyone is rotten, right!” He Jingjing angrily retorted. Song Lang knew she was starting to deflect with anger to cover her guilt.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Song Lang said. “Do you know how I see it? The knife you stole from He Jun and gave to Li Qiang for the murder plot, the motive you supplied him with, Li Qiang agreed to kill for money. Once He Taiyang was dead, you, his ‘adopted daughter,’ became the sole legal heir. He Taiyang wasn’t a billionaire, but his estate was enough for Li Qiang to pay off his debts and secure you for life. As for He Jun, perhaps you thought your nephew would threaten your inheritance or just be a convenient scapegoat. He Jun has a criminal record, and it’s widely known he had conflicts with He Taiyang. The knife was also his usual carry, making him the ‘perfect’ suspect in the eyes of the police!”

“It’s all about money in your eyes. People can give up everything for a little cash! I wasn’t involved in murder. I didn’t know anything before September 2nd. You can ask Li Qiang yourself!”

Suddenly, Song Lang realized a critical issue. Whether He Jingjing was a co-conspirator depended entirely on Li Qiang’s confession. But Li Qiang, as her biological father, wouldn’t drag his own daughter into a murder charge.

Song Lang made a call, instructing them to detain He Jingjing and bring Li Qiang in. He devised a cunning plan, having both pass each other in the hallway to apply psychological pressure on Li Qiang.

As they sat in the interrogation room, Li Qiang’s face turned pale, his legs trembling non-stop. Song Lang steadied himself on the table and sternly said, “Tell us, what did you do on the night of September 2nd? I know you’re under immense pressure now, telling the truth would be a relief for you.”

“I… I didn’t kill anyone!” Li Qiang nervously uttered even the lie.

Under Song Lang’s pressure, Li Qiang eventually confessed to killing He Taiyang. As for the motive, he explained that he saw He Taiyang and his wife arguing that day. He Taiyang had hit her with an ashtray, causing her to collapse and die at the hospital.

Using this incident as leverage, Li Qiang extorted He Taiyang. While He Taiyang managed funeral arrangements and dealt with Li Qiang, the pressure was overwhelming. He constantly haggled with Li Qiang, who initially demanded four million but settled for five hundred thousand. During those days of negotiations, the two old friends exchanged all the nastiest words imaginable.

This incident deeply humiliated Li Qiang. Why should He Taiyang still act arrogant after killing his wife and sleeping with his daughter every day? Because of a couple of measly dollars!

So he pretended to agree to the million-dollar ransom and planned to kill He Taiyang that day to end his happiness.

Throughout the process, Li Qiang’s story was fluent, except for one detail he couldn’t explain: the knife. He claimed he stole it from He Taiyang’s house and didn’t know whose it was. That excuse didn’t hold up because until September 1st, the knife was still with He Jun. Did Li Qiang steal it and commit murder the same day?

Song Lang speculated that both He Jingjing and Li Qiang had planned how to handle the police. In the end, Li Qiang took full responsibility to ensure He Jingjing could still inherit He Taiyang’s wealth.

No matter how bad Li Qiang was as a father, he still had some sense of responsibility. He firmly stood by his statement, promising never to change his story.

Song Lang said coldly, “Li Qiang, I know you’re lying to protect your daughter, who was involved in planning the murder.”

Li Qiang smiled with relief. “I’m not a good father, but at least let me compensate her in the end!”