Chapter 951: Cai Zhengkai’s Testimony

After a while, Lin Dongxue returned with a box of condoms. Tao Yueyue raised an eyebrow, and Lin Dongxue said, “Why are you surprised? This stuff is really durable and can hold a lot of water, better than a balloon. Did you know that? In the wild, it can be used as a water bag.”

“Okay, another piece of useless knowledge learned.”

“Should we fill it with water in the bathroom?”

“Sister Lin, I think the experiment can wait because I noticed something…” She pointed to the dummy’s ankle, “This part has been tied with something. This shouldn’t be a mark left from filming. Do you remember how the screenwriter reacted when we asked for this dummy? He seemed a bit unnatural.”

“Of course, I remember.”

“When are the fingerprint experts coming?”

“They’re far away, so probably around noon.”

“Let them check this dummy too.”

“Alright, I’ll have them bring some other props for experiments as well…” Lin Dongxue shook the condom in her hand, “Great, I bought it for nothing. The hotel charges a lot for a box of these.”

“Save it for your next reunion with Uncle Chen!”

“You know too much!” Lin Dongxue laughed and poked Tao Yueyue’s forehead.

“What’s next?”

“We need to verify Cai Zhengkai’s testimony again. If he still doesn’t want to talk, we may need to summon him.”

“We can start with his agent.”

“Absolutely!” Lin Dongxue smiled.

They put the dummy back in the room and found Cai Zhengkai’s agent. Since there was no work today, the agent was in the restaurant drinking coffee and making phone calls. Seeing the police, he gestured for silence, ended the call quickly, and asked, “What’s up, officer? More questions?”

“I want to know more about Cai Zhengkai’s argument with Xiao Ai last night.”

“Can you sit down? It’s quite stressful talking while standing.”

“You can stand up and answer.”

The agent sipped his coffee and said, “I’ve already told you. Zhengkai was in his room all night. What could he argue about with Xiao Ai? They’re not even on the same level. Would Zhengkai care about that clown?”

“Please respect the deceased!”

“Alright, alright, respect for the dead. Zhengkai didn’t see Xiao Ai last night. That’s it.”

“Where is Mr. Cai now?”

“He’s in the gym. He’s very conscious about his physique and goes running every morning.”

“If you don’t tell the truth, I’ll have to exercise my power to summon Cai Zhengkai.”

“Summon? You mean bring him to the station?”

“Yes.”

The agent made a helpless gesture, “Come on, Zhengkai is a public figure. If he goes to the station, our company’s stock will fluctuate.”

“In the eyes of the law, everyone is equal. I just need the truth. If you refuse to talk, I’ll have to use force.”

The agent put his fist to his mouth, contemplating, “May I excuse myself for a moment?”

“Where to? Consult with Mr. Cai? I’m a police officer, not a journalist. I need to know what happened last night, nothing more.”

“I… I’ll call him.”

The agent dialed his phone. Lin Dongxue sat down, not across from the agent, but at another table, waiting. Tao Yueyue noted these details, learning that police should maintain distance from the subjects of their investigation.

The agent spoke tensely into the phone, then hung up and said, “He’ll be here soon. Can I get you something to drink? My treat.”

Lin Dongxue shook her head, “No need.”

A few minutes later, Cai Zhengkai arrived, freshly exercised, his cheeks flushed, breathing heavily, and wearing a sports shirt with a towel around his neck.

Sitting down, he greeted, “Hello, Tao Yueyue. Hello, Officer Lin. What’s this about?”

“Gathering information.”

“I already talked about it last night.”

The agent winked, “Zhengkai, just tell the truth. Otherwise, Officer Lin will take you to the station, and your fans will go crazy.”

Cai Zhengkai looked at his agent, then at Lin Dongxue, his face rich with expressions. He said, “Yesterday afternoon, I was pricked by a needle. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I remember Xiao Ai laughing at that time. Just based on that, I could tell he did it. I was so mad, I wanted to kill him!”

“Zhengkai, don’t say such things!” The agent tried to stop him.

Cai Zhengkai ignored him and continued, “I was filled with rage, so I put on my costume and grabbed a knife, heading out. Guess what I did? I used that rage to immerse myself in the role of Zhou Xiao, pacing up and down the corridor. Tao Yueyue saw me during that time…”

Tao Yueyue nodded, “I already mentioned that.”

“I’m obsessed with acting. I want to store all my emotions for future roles. I probably paced until 9 PM, then I saw Xiao Ai storming down the stairs and kicking over a trash can on the sixth floor. We locked eyes, and he shouted, ‘Get lost, has-been.’ I called him a ‘bastard.’ Xiao Ai shoved me, and I was so mad I wanted to stab him. We argued, no need for details, right…”

“Please, share the details.”

Cai Zhengkai recounted their exchange, full of insults, “…Finally, he said, ‘Just wait, I’ll make sure you can’t shine in the movie.’”

“What did he mean?”

“Changing the script! The scum! He’s known for altering scripts to his liking, not the first time. I knew he’d have the screenwriter cut my scenes. What else does he have besides that? Damn the capitalist constraints! This movie will be trash! I swore I’d never take another role like this. Then I went to a bar to drink away my sorrows. A fan asked for my autograph, and then I got a call from my agent about Xiao Ai’s fall, so I rushed over.”

Tao Yueyue whispered to Lin Dongxue, “Xia Xiaolou said he didn’t return to his room after catching someone cheating. If that’s true, the screenwriter was the last person to see him.”

Cai Zhengkai asked, “Am I no longer a suspect, officer?”

Lin Dongxue avoided answering directly, “Please don’t leave the hotel today. Our forensic team will collect everyone’s biological samples later.”

“I’ll fully cooperate!”

Leaving the restaurant, Tao Yueyue recalled, “Last night, when I ran into the screenwriter on the stairs, his face was flushed, just like Cai Zhengkai’s… But the screenwriter’s breathing wasn’t heavy.”

“Which staircase?”

“Between the second and third floors.”

“A flushed face… People blush when they’re nervous. Why would someone be nervous? Blushing happens when blood rushes to the head…” Lin Dongxue pondered.

“Wouldn’t turning your head down also make you blush?” Tao Yueyue suggested, “I think I understand. He was looking for something down there!”