Chapter 30: New Witness

Chapter 30: New Witness

Yue Lingchuan, standing nearby, also looked surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Yuan Zhenghao was seeing someone else on the side, and Zheng Yudan still reconciled with him?"

Ms. Sun explained, "Actually, at first, Yudan was also resolute and didn't even want to see him. But he came every day, bringing flowers, clothes, and all sorts of gifts for half a month straight, and kept saying he would never do it again, crying and begging."

She let out a sigh, "Yudan may seem cold on the outside, but she's soft-hearted. Her stance had already started to soften during that period. Then, there was a heavy rainstorm, and the man came to see Yudan. When he couldn't see her, he waited downstairs for over two hours. Eventually, Yudan couldn't take it anymore and went downstairs to tell him to leave. But the man dropped to his knees and apologized, saying he hoped Yudan would give him another chance, sincerely, and even declaring he wouldn't get up unless Yudan forgave him, that he would kneel there until he died. Yudan had no choice, fearing something might actually happen to him, so she had to persuade him to go home first. The next day, he called Yudan, running a fever and babbling incoherently, saying he was sorry, not asking for her forgiveness, just hoping she would come to see him. Yudan couldn't handle it and even swapped shifts with me that day to go see him. After she came back that day, it appeared they had made up."

Shen Qingye furrowed her brow upon hearing this, growing more and more puzzled.

According to this, Yuan Zhenghao was truly deeply in love with Zheng Yudan, going to such lengths to gain her forgiveness.

But why? He shouldn't have lacked women around him, so why was he so fixated on Zheng Yudan? And if it was true love, why did he cheat on her when they were together?

Shen Qingye couldn't figure it out.

Yue Lingchuan asked again, "What happened after that?"

At this point, Ms. Sun also appeared confused, "Not long after, they split up again!"

Shen Qingye felt it was absurd, "They split up again? What caused it this time?"

Ms. Sun shrugged in resignation, "Who knows? All we know is that not long after they made up, one night after work, Yuan Zhenghao came to pick up Yudan to go out, and we didn't pay much attention. But the next morning, Yudan arrived looking pale and distraught."

Shen Qingye's heart skipped a beat, an inexplicable sense of foreboding rising within her.

Ms. Sun continued, "She was distracted throughout class that day, frequently lost in thought. We were all concerned about what was troubling her, but she wouldn't say anything when asked. Seeing her in such a condition, we hesitated to pry further. But after that, we never saw Yuan Zhenghao again."

Shen Qingye's expression darkened, "Yuan Zhenghao took her out? Any idea where they went?"

Ms. Sun shook her head, "How would we know? It's their personal business as a couple, we didn't pry too much. After that, Yudan appeared even more unwilling to bring him up, so we also kept our questions to ourselves."

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan exchanged glances, both looking grave, "Do you remember when that day was?"

"Probably... late November," Ms. Sun said uncertainly.

"That day was Xiaoxue (Light Snow)," Teacher Wu suddenly said, "It was snowing when we got off work that day. I saw the man come to pick up Yudan. When I got home, my mom said it was Xiaoxue, and the weather would get colder from then on. She even made dumplings for me, so I remember it clearly."

Xiaoxue...

Shen Qingye pondered silently, then asked, "After that, Yuan Zhenghao never came again? Did Zheng Yudan show any abnormalities?"

Ms. Sun shook her head, "No. As for Yudan... she just seemed off for a few days, even took a few days off. But when she came back later, she seemed to have returned to normal."

The two fell into deep thought for a moment before Yue Lingchuan stood up, "Alright, we understand."

He said, "If you remember anything unusual later, please contact us promptly."

The teachers quickly agreed and saw them off. After they drove away, the teachers exchanged bewildered glances.

·

"So, what exactly did Yuan Zhenghao take Zheng Yudan to do that night?"

In the Major Case Division office, a group of people gathered around a table, scratching their heads over a pile of documents on the table.

Luo Kaiyang said, "It definitely wasn't anything good."

"A man and a woman, and it wasn't anything good," Zhou Qiming widened his eyes, guessing, "Could it be... sexual assault?"

Jiang Cheng shook his head: "This doesn't add up."

"Yuan Zhenghao went to great lengths to seek forgiveness, even going as far as a self-sacrificial act, and Zheng Yudan forgave him. They were already officially a couple. When the time was right, wouldn't that kind of thing happen naturally? Why risk doing something like this?"

Wei Zhengyi speculated: "Maybe Zheng Yudan is more conservative and doesn't want to be intimate before marriage?"

Shen Qingye said: "Then why did Yuan Zhenghao vanish without a trace after they were intimate?"

She looked at everyone: "He put in so much effort before, was it just to sleep with her once and then leave? If that's really the case, with so many women around him, why focus on Zheng Yudan alone?"

Luo Kaiyang scratched his head: "So what else could it be?"

"What really happened, probably only Zheng Yudan knows," Zhou Qiming leaned back in his chair, his eyes darkening: "But she's not talking, and she has a solid alibi."

"This is tough, really tough."

Wei Zhengyi suggested: "Why not bring her in for questioning again?"

"We could, but I doubt she'll be honest. What if she makes up another excuse on the fly? Who can tell if it's true or not?" Zhou Qiming pursed his lips, clearly dissatisfied with her constant lies.

"We've already exhausted all the leads we have. Not only haven't we found the killer, but things have gotten even more complicated," Wei Zhengyi said listlessly. After a moment, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Jiang Cheng: "By the way, Brother Jiang, any progress on your end?"

"I was just about to tell you," Jiang Cheng took out a few pictures and pointed at the printed suspect photos: "This person is heavily disguised, completely concealing his true appearance, so we can't get any useful clues. But there's one thing that further clears Zheng Yudan of suspicion."

"How so?" Zhou Qiming became interested.

Jiang Cheng pointed at the person's shoulders in the picture: "Look, this person's shoulders tend to curve inward. It's subtle, but there's definitely a slight hunch."

He looked at everyone and said: "Zheng Yudan has been dancing since she was a kid, so her posture is excellent. Normally, she wouldn't have this issue."

Wei Zhengyi leaned over to take a look and hissed softly: "You're right..."

Zhou Qiming stroked his chin and guessed: "Isn't it possible she was afraid of being caught and deliberately did this?"

Jiang Cheng said: "It's not impossible. But she can't keep up the act all the time. If she deliberately pretends while walking, that's understandable. But after killing someone and standing in a corner waiting for the right moment to leave, when no one is paying attention, she should relax a bit. But we've looked through all the surveillance footage, her posture is very natural, unchanged from start to finish. So either her ability to disguise is really strong, or she naturally has this problem."

Zhou Qiming couldn't help but say: "But someone like Zheng Yudan is in the minority, right? Most people have some posture problems to some extent?"

Unless they've been trained in the military or dance, most people have some minor issues with rounded shoulders or a slight hunch. That person's problem isn't very obvious, and with the cold weather recently, everyone was wearing more clothes during the interrogation. At first glance, it's hard to notice anything.

Jiang Cheng said: "That's why I said, we haven't found any useful clues."

Wei Zhengyi groaned and slumped in his chair: "Zheng Yudan, the most suspicious, isn't the murderer. So now we're back to square one? Do we have to go through all those people again one by one?"

Everyone started discussing, while Shen Qingye sat to the side, silently flipping through a statement, not saying a word.

Yue Lingchuan noticed her silence out of the corner of his eye and paused, then looked over and asked: "Found something?"

"Not exactly," Shen Qingye lowered her eyelashes and said softly: "I was just thinking, have we fallen into a fixed mindset?"

Yue Lingchuan raised an eyebrow: "How so?"

Luo Kaiyang and the others also looked over: "Xiao Shen, did you find another clue?"

Shen Qingye looked up at everyone and said: "What really happened that night, besides Zheng Yudan, there's one other person who knows best."

Wei Zhengyi was puzzled: "Who?"

Shen Qingye: "Yuan Zhenghao."

Jiang Cheng was momentarily stunned, then seemed to be deep in thought. Luo Kaiyang frowned: "But isn't he already dead?"

Shen Qingye looked at him and replied, "Yuan Zhenghao is dead, but there are others."

She pulled out the statement in front of her and laid it out for everyone to see, lightly tapping a specific spot with her finger: "Look, this is the statement from Liao Hongyuan and the others before.

"According to their account, at the end of November, Yuan Zhenghao brought Zheng Yudan to meet them—"

At this point, Jiang Cheng's eyes lit up as he understood: "End of November?"

Zhou Qiming muttered, "Whether it's according to Zheng Yudan herself or her colleagues, Zheng Yudan and Yuan Zhenghao broke up in early November, and Yuan Zhenghao probably begged her for about half a month before they reconciled. Until the end of November, that is, the day of Xiaoxue, Yuan Zhenghao took her out..."

Luo Kaiyang exclaimed, "So the day Yuan Zhenghao brought Zheng Yudan over, as mentioned by Liao Hongyuan and the others, could very well be this time?"

"That night, they were likely with Liao Hongyuan?"

Shen Qingye said, "From the time Yuan Zhenghao and Zheng Yudan reconciled to when they broke up, it was only a few days. In such a short time, both of them still had to work, so their leisure time shouldn't be much. Personally, I tend to think that these two accounts refer to the same time."

Wei Zhengyi abruptly stood up: "Then why don't we just summon them for questioning?"

Yue Lingchuan, however, shook his head in disagreement: "No."

Wei Zhengyi was puzzled: "Why not?"

Zhou Qiming tapped his head: "Think about it."

He said, "That night, Zheng Yudan must have encountered something bad, which is why she has been keeping it to herself. Since it's something bad, what do you think the probability is that they would admit it if you just go and ask them?"

Shen Qingye nodded in agreement: "Exactly, we don't have enough evidence at the moment. Asking too soon would only tip them off."

Wei Zhengyi sat back down, scratching his head in frustration: "Then what should we do? Not ask?"

Yue Lingchuan tapped the table with one hand, thinking for a moment, and said, "No, we should ask."

"But not directly."

He looked at everyone: "No need to bring them in, just call and ask where Yuan Zhenghao usually liked to go, where he usually took his girlfriend to meet them, and focus on asking if there were any dance halls or bars or the like."

He then looked at Shen Qingye: "Xiao Shen, you reach out to Yuan Zhenghao's parents and ask the same questions, see what they say."

Everyone agreed, and after a few phone calls, they reconvened shortly after.

Jiang Cheng was the first to speak: "Geng Haonan said that when they go out far, they usually go abroad to have fun, and when closer, they either play pool in the city or sing and dance. The places they frequent include the Oriental Dance Hall and the Night Paris Bar, and occasionally they check out new places that have just opened."

Zhou Qiming said, "Cui Bowen and Zhao Yongxin said pretty much the same."

Luo Kaiyang and Wei Zhengyi also got similar answers. Shen Qingye listened, her brow slightly furrowed: "Yuan Zhenghao's parents had a different take."

Everyone looked at her, and Shen Qingye said, "They said Yuan Zhenghao often went to a bar with Liao Hongyuan and the others, called Nightfall, going there at least two or three times a month. The place isn't very close, and they usually wouldn't get back until late at night, sometimes not even coming back at all."

"Nightfall?" Wei Zhengyi, ever the trendsetter, frowned: "What kind of bar is that? Never heard of it."

Luo Kaiyang guessed, "It's quite far from here... not in our district?"

Jiang Cheng calmly said, "The most crucial point is, they obviously frequent this bar, so why hasn't anyone mentioned it?"

Everyone fell into deep thought for a moment. Zhou Qiming thought for a while, then picked up his phone and made a call. Shen Qingye watched his actions, curious.

Yue Lingchuan explained to her in a hushed tone, "Old Zhou has a lot of friends from all walks of life, and he knows quite a bit about bars. He might be trying to get some information."

As expected, the call went through, and Zhou Qiming got straight to the point: "Hey, Shunzi, got a question for you."

"Yeah, yeah, Brother Zhou, what’s up?"

"Have you ever heard of a bar called Nightfall?"

"Nightfall?" Shunzi hesitated, "Hmm... sounds kinda familiar..."

Zhou Qiming continued: "Think hard, it’s probably not around here."

Shen Qingye had a sudden realization and blurted out: "It’s probably a higher-end bar, where the rich kids hang out."

Shunzi was first taken aback, then exclaimed in surprise: "Brother Zhou, you’ve got a female cop on your team now?"

Zhou Qiming nodded at Shen Qingye, vaguely acknowledging, and then said: "Think hard, is there a bar like that nearby?"

Shunzi chuckled: "Didn’t click at first, but if you mean a fancy bar where the rich kids go, I know one."

"It’s in Jiangdong District, opened a couple years back. It’s called Nightfall, but we just call it the Money Pit."

Everyone exchanged glances, and Zhou Qiming asked: "Why’s that? Is it a mess inside?"

Shunzi said: "Nah, it’s not a mess. Actually, it’s one of the stricter bars around, hardly any fights. We call it the Money Pit ’cause the prices are sky-high. A single drink can run you tens or even hundreds of bucks."

"I’ve been there twice. The place was packed with luxury cars—hundreds of thousands, even some brand-new supercars from overseas. It was insane. But the prices were way too steep for me, so I stopped going."

Zhou Qiming asked: "You know who runs that place?"

"Of course, everyone knows it’s the Liao family’s youngest son." Shunzi said: "Anyone who’s in the know around there knows. Otherwise, how’d they pull in all those rich kids, run such a hot spot, and keep trouble away?"

The Liao family?

Zhou Qiming frowned deeply: "Where’s it at? Can you give me the exact address?"

Shunzi said: "Oh, it’s on North An Street in Jiangdong District. You can’t miss it—huge sign, opens around 8 PM."

"By the way, Brother Zhou, why the interest? Another case?"

Zhou Qiming said: "Something’s up, we gotta check it out. Thanks, I’ll buy you a drink sometime."

Shunzi laughed: "Brother Zhou, no need to be so formal, just happy to help!"

Zhou Qiming exchanged a few more pleasantries with him, hung up the phone, and then looked at everyone: "That bar’s Liao Hongyuan’s place, but he dodged talking about it. Something’s fishy. Boss, should we go check it out now?"

Yue Lingchuan said: "This time, we’re just scouting. Too many people will stick out." He glanced at the time and decided: "It’s getting late, everyone who’s off should head out. Tonight, just me and Lao Zhou will go."

Luo Kaiyang and the others didn't insist, just said: "Got it, boss. Keep us in the loop if anything goes down."

Shen Qingye had already promised her mother she would come home for dinner tonight, and besides, what Yue Lingchuan said made sense, too many people in such a place would just be a burden, so she agreed as well.

·

When it was time to clock out, Shen Qingye didn't linger, said goodbye to everyone, and left directly. When she got home, she found Shen Linyue already waiting there.

Both were a bit surprised to see each other.

Shen Linyue said: "Oh, you actually came back?"

Shen Qingye was a bit speechless: "I said I’d come back for dinner. Did you think I’d bail?"

"That's hard to say," Shen Linyue said nonchalantly. "Your dad back in the day used to say that a lot, but he rarely followed through."

Shen Qingye smiled and leaned closer to her. "I’m not like Dad. What could possibly be more important than Mom?"

Shen Linyue couldn't help but chuckle, glancing at her sideways. "If your dad heard that, he'd definitely give you a good scolding."

Shen Qingye raised her eyebrows. "Let him try. I’ve got Mom to protect me."

"Oh, stop it, I won’t bother with you," Shen Linyue said, her eyes filled with laughter. After a bit more teasing, Aunt Chen called them to dinner.

At the dinner table, Shen Linyue asked, "Is the case wrapped up?"

"It’s not that easy," Shen Qingye sighed. "We haven't identified a suspect yet. We've found some leads, but the follow-up might be tricky to handle."

"How so?" Shen Linyue asked, surprised. She knew her daughter well and it was rare for her to find something difficult.

Shen Qingye said, "If I'm not mistaken, if this case is dug deeper, it's probably tied to those well-connected young men."

Whether it's the Liao family, the Geng family, or the Zhao family, they're all influential families in Pingjiang City. If something is really uncovered later, those families won’t just stand by.

Shen Linyue said dismissively, "So what? You have your captain to handle it, after all."

Shen Qingye stopped mid-bite. "Our captain?"

Shen Linyue looked up, reminding her, "Think about it for a moment—what’s his surname?"

What’s his surname?

Yue Lingchuan, Yue…

Shen Qingye blinked. "The Yue family in the provincial capital?"

Shen Linyue picked up some food and smiled at her. "Don't worry, your captain isn't someone to be messed with."

Shen Qingye suddenly understood.

...

Yue Lingchuan and Zhou Qiming grabbed a quick meal at a random restaurant before driving to the bar in Jiangdong District that Shunzi had mentioned.

It was exactly eight o'clock, and the night had fully set in. The bar's lights flashed, and patrons came and went, making the place look lively.

The two exchanged a knowing glance and didn’t rush in. They waited until 8:30, when the crowd peaked, before getting out of the car.

A doorman was welcoming patrons outside the bar. The two pretended not to know each other and walked in one after the other.

The red and green lights inside flashed, dazzling the eyes. The booming music was energetic, and many young men and women were grinding to the beat.

Yue Lingchuan scanned the room, taking in the layout. He wasn't in a hurry and instead sat down at the bar, casually ordering a drink.

The bartender's movements were flashy and complex, putting on a show. Soon, he slid over a glass of amber liquid and said with a smile, "Your brandy, sir, enjoy."

Yue Lingchuan picked up the glass, took a slow sip, and then praised with satisfaction, "Tastes good."

The bartender grinned. "You’ve got good taste, sir. We don’t skimp here—you get what you pay for."

Yue Lingchuan glanced at him, chuckled, and pulled out a hundred-yuan bill, slapping it on the counter. "Good talk. Here's your tip."

The bartender's eyes lit up instantly, his smile widening. He quickly spouted a few more compliments, his attitude sincere and pleasing.

Yue Lingchuan replied half-heartedly, his black shirt clinging to his tall and powerful frame as he leaned lazily against the bar, radiating an effortless charm. His striking features naturally drew the attention of many young women, who eagerly tried to strike up conversations with him.

However, Yue Lingchuan showed little interest and politely brushed them off. The bartender, noticing this, couldn't help but chuckle, "Hey, handsome, you here alone? No date tonight?"

Yue Lingchuan glanced at him, "What, is this a couples-only bar?"

The bartender laughed, "Nah, just making small talk. But with so many people approaching you earlier, and some quite beautiful, didn’t any of them catch your eye?"

Yue Lingchuan scoffed, "I’ve seen my share of women. Those? Nothing special."

He paused, then added with a hint of nostalgia, "But that woman Master Yuan brought last time—now she had something special."

"Ah, so that’s why you weren’t biting. You’ve already got your sights set on someone," the bartender teased, then curiously asked, "So, who’s the lucky lady?"

Yue Lingchuan frowned slightly, "You know, the one who’s just the right height, fair-skinned, long hair, stunning."

The bartender laughed, "That’s not exactly narrowing it down. Every woman Master Yuan brings fits that bill. And Master Liao and the others? They never bring anyone less than stunning."

Yue Lingchuan's eyes flickered, but he feigned regret, shaking his head, "You wouldn’t get it. If you saw her, you’d know she’s in a league of her own."

"Ah, love’s got you blind. I wouldn’t get it," the bartender said, then added, "But hey, you don’t strike me as your average guy, and you’re tight with Master Yuan... If you’re really into her, why not just ask him straight up?"

Yue Lingchuan looked serious, "That’s not cool. A brother’s girl is off-limits. What kind of person would I be if I did that?"

The bartender waved his hand dismissively, "What ‘brother’s woman’? Master Yuan cycles through women like it’s nothing. If you ask him, he might not even recall her name."

Yue Lingchuan hesitated, then shook his head, "Nah, I can’t do that. It’s not right."

The bartender smirked, "If you play the saint, you’ll never get the girl."

Yue Lingchuan sighed deeply, picked up his glass, and downed the drink in one go.

Seeing his gloomy expression, the bartender leaned in and whispered, "But if you’re really into her, there might be a workaround."

Yue Lingchuan looked up, "How so?"

The bartender said, "If you're worried about offending Master Yuan, you could ask Master Liao or the others. They'd definitely know."

Yue Lingchuan's eyes lit up, "That makes sense." But then he frowned, "Wait, if I ask Master Liao, wouldn’t Master Yuan find out? What’s the difference?"

The bartender just chuckled, saying nothing.

Yue Lingchuan narrowed his eyes, "Wait, do you know something?"

The bartender shrugged, "You’re giving me too much credit. I’m just a bartender. What do I know?"

Yue Lingchuan studied him for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "A bartender? With so many people coming and going every day, there’s nothing you don’t know."

He pulled out five hundred-dollar bills and slowly slid them across the counter.

The bartender glanced at the money, then shook his head with feigned reluctance, "Ah, I’m not trying to deceive you. Those young masters, they always stay in the private rooms. How would I have access to them?"

"No, no, really, I can't help."

Yue Lingchuan, well-versed in such games, smiled, "You’re being too modest. At the very least, you know their preferences. Things outsiders would kill to know—you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?"

The bartender chuckled, lowering his head.

Yue Lingchuan continued, "I don’t often connect with people, but today, I feel like we’ve hit it off. Let’s cut to the chase, brother."

He pulled out another wad of cash, pressed it down with both hands, and quietly slid it over to him, whispering, "If this really works out, you won't be left out of the rewards."

The bartender looked at the thick stack of cash, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. After a moment, he put down the drink he had just mixed and, under the pretense of adjusting the drink, slowly slid the money toward himself.

He flashed a knowing grin, "Since you've put it that way, I can't keep holding back from you."

He pocketed the cash, feeling its heft, and his smile grew more genuine. "Honestly, I don’t know much about Master Liao and his crew. After all, they're rich second-gen heirs, those young masters. How could I possibly get close to them? But here's the thing..."

Yue Lingchuan pretended to be impatient, "But what? Spit it out!"

The bartender gave him a sly wink, "But I do know someone who might know something about this."

Yue Lingchuan's interest piqued slightly, but he kept a confused look on his face, "Might?"

"Don’t rush me," the bartender said. "She’s been with Master Geng for about two or three years. Now and then, Master Geng would bring her out to have fun. And luckily, I’m on good terms with her."

Yue Lingchuan was skeptical, "She actually knows?"

The bartender sighed, "Whether she knows isn’t the point. The point is, if she asks Master Geng, it won’t look suspicious. After all, women getting along and hanging out isn’t unusual, right?"

Yue Lingchuan hissed, rubbing his chin, "Makes sense."

He then asked eagerly, "Where’s she now?"

"Why the rush?" the bartender said. "Here’s the plan: I’ll give you her home address, and you can go see her tomorrow. But..."

He grinned again, making a cash gesture, "Whether she’s willing to help is another matter."

Yue Lingchuan smiled knowingly, "Don’t worry, I know the drill."

·

The two left the bar and walked a distance before getting into a car.

Zhou Qiming asked, "How did it go, boss?"

Yue Lingchuan took out a piece of paper and briefly explained the situation, "What he said makes some sense. We’ve been focusing too much on those closely related to Yuan Zhenghao, but we might have overlooked the possibility of a third party being involved."

Since it was a friends' gathering, was it really only Yuan Zhenghao who brought a companion?

Zhou Qiming looked at the address on the paper: Room 306, Bihua Apartment, 132 Tanning Road, Su Yunfang.

"Indeed, even if she doesn’t know, we can follow this lead to find others."

If Zheng Yudan and the others were reluctant to speak due to their close ties with the deceased, then these people might not have as many reservations.

"What about the bar?" he asked again.

Yue Lingchuan glanced back, his expression stern under the streetlight, "Leave it for now."

He had a feeling there was more to this.

"When we have enough evidence, we'll deal with it all at once."

...

The next morning, as Shen Qingye arrived at the station, she saw a familiar jeep parked by the roadside. Yue Lingchuan and Zhou Qiming got out first, followed by a young, beautiful woman in her twenties.

Shen Qingye's gaze lingered on the woman for a moment. Before she could greet them, Yue Lingchuan noticed her first, his eyes lighting up.

"Xiao Shen, you came just in time."

He instructed, "Bring the suspects' photos and information to the interrogation room."

Shen Qingye hesitated briefly, knowing that there was a lead, and quickly responded, "I'll be right there."

·

When Shen Qingye entered the room, she saw a woman sitting lazily on the interrogation chair, yawning:

"Officer, you brought me here early in the morning. Can you now tell me what this is about?"

Shen Qingye glanced at her but remained silent, quietly taking a seat next to Zhou Qiming, grabbing a pen and notepad to prepare for taking notes.

Yue Lingchuan said, "We're investigating a murder case and need your cooperation."

"Murder?" Su Yunfang's expression changed slightly, then she smiled, "What does that have to do with me?"

"Just be honest with us."

Su Yunfang leaned back in her chair and nodded slowly, "Go ahead."

Yue Lingchuan got straight to the point, "How do you know Geng Haonan?"

Su Yunfang paused for a moment, then slowly raised her eyes, looking at them and chuckling, "Officer, you're quite entertaining."

Her slender fingers twirled her long hair, her movements effortlessly graceful, "Since you've found me, you must already know about our relationship. Why ask again?"

Yue Lingchuan's expression remained unchanged, "It's part of the procedure. Just play along."

"Fine," Su Yunfang shrugged helplessly, "Geng Haonan is my boyfriend. Does that answer your question?"

Yue Lingchuan nodded and continued, "Do you often go to Nightfall Club?"

At the mention of Nightfall Club, Su Yunfang's eyes flickered slightly, then she replied indifferently, "Yes, why? Is drinking suddenly against the rules?"

Yue Lingchuan didn't answer her question but continued, "Who else is usually there?"

Su Yunfang rolled her eyes, "There are quite a few. Who are you asking about?"

Yue Lingchuan tapped the table, "Don't overthink it. Just tell us what you know."

Su Yunfang pouted, "Alright."

"Men, when they drink, who else would they be with? Just his buddies and that crowd. Like Master Yang, Master Qiu, Master Yuan, Master Liao—always different each time."

Shen Qingye listened and took notes while Yue Lingchuan continued, "Anyone else?"

Su Yunfang was puzzled, "Like what?"

Yue Lingchuan said, "At their get-togethers, is Geng Haonan the only one who brings a girlfriend?"

"Oh, you mean that," Su Yunfang said casually, "Of course not. Guys like them, bringing women when they drink is pretty normal, isn't it?"

Yue Lingchuan didn't argue about what was normal or not, just continued, "What do you usually do during these gatherings?"

Su Yunfang paused her hair-twirling, "We do a lot of things, things you'd expect and things you wouldn't." She dragged out her words, slowly raising her eyes, her gaze playful, "What are you curious about, Officer?"

"What do I want to find out?" Yue Lingchuan looked at her for a moment, then suddenly retorted, "The point isn't what I want to know—it's what you want to tell us."

Su Yunfang's smile faltered. "I don’t get what you’re saying, Officer."

Yue Lingchuan leaned back. "What’s on your mind?"

"Let me put it bluntly."

"What are you afraid of?"

His words were vague, like clouds and mist. He seemed to hint at something but kept it under wraps, unwilling to break through the final barrier.

Shen Qingye put down her pen and looked up at her.

Su Yunfang’s breath caught as she stared at him for a long time without speaking.

"Let me take a guess," Yue Lingchuan drawled. "They go through girlfriends like water. Since you've been able to stay by his side for so long, you’ve got to be pretty sharp."

"Do you know why we brought you in?"

Su Yunfang pressed her lips together.

"You know why," Yue Lingchuan pressed, cutting her off. "But you just don’t want to say it."

"Is it because you’re involved and worried about getting dragged into this?" He shook his head. "No, that’s not it. If that were the case, you wouldn’t have said those ambiguous things from the start."

Su Yunfang swallowed hard, her tongue darting to wet her lips.

Shen Qingye watched her expression closely, her eyes narrowing. Yue Lingchuan continued, "You’re scared—scared that if something happens to Geng Haonan, your life will fall apart. Even more scared that once the truth comes out... he’ll retaliate against you."

Su Yunfang remained silent for a long time before finally pulling her lips into a weak smile. "Officer, you’ve got quite the sense of humor..."

"You know whether I’m joking or not," Yue Lingchuan replied.

Zhou Qiming chimed in, "Let me remind you—the Geng and Liao families might be big fish in Pingjiang, but in the provincial capital? They’re small fry."

"We didn’t bring you here for nothing—we’ve got the evidence," Yue Lingchuan added. "If you play ball, your testimony could help you. But if you keep this up, we have other ways."

"You’re smart. You know what’s at stake."

The interrogation room fell silent. Su Yunfang’s hand, clutching her hair, tightened until her scalp hurt, but she didn’t let go.

Yue Lingchuan and the others weren’t in a hurry, just quietly watching her.

After what seemed like an eternity, Su Yunfang finally let out a breath, her hand dropping weakly. "Can you really promise that Geng Haonan and the others will pay for this?"

"I can only guarantee that if they broke the law, they’ll face legal consequences," Yue Lingchuan replied.

Su Yunfang leaned back in her chair, the deliberately charming smile she had put on earlier completely gone. Her eyes lowered, and she sighed softly. "I didn’t lie to you. They play a lot, and they play dirty."

"We’re not just their girlfriends—we’re their toys."