Chapter 59: Truth

Chapter 59: The Truth

At this point, the case was not entirely closed. Shen Qingye and the team split up to gather more clues from various sources, including neighbors, drinking buddies, and colleagues of the deceased Li Jinguo, to enrich the case file.

The next day, everyone gathered to exchange the information they had collected, going through the case from start to finish.

"Li Jinguo had boasted to his drinking buddies multiple times, claiming that Ren Fangyao was becoming more beautiful and that he would definitely have his way with her someday, not letting anyone else have her."

"Neighbors also confirmed that Li Jinguo had frequently berated Yang Xilan, and the local police station had records of their complaints. They had some impression of this family."

"Some of Li Jinguo's female colleagues also mentioned that he often told crude jokes and liked to discuss inappropriate topics with them, always giving them suggestive looks. However, since he never acted on it, they were repulsed but couldn't do anything about it."

"At the time of the incident, someone heard Ren Fangyao's cries for help, which is supported by witness testimony."

"The forensic team also conducted an examination of Li Jinguo's body. Apart from the wounds on the back of his head and chest, there were no other injuries. No abnormal substances were detected in his blood, ruling out the possibility that Yang Xilan and her daughter had drugged him before killing him."

"The market vendor also confirmed that Yang Xilan had indeed gone shopping at around 4 p.m. that day. Bloodstains matching Li Jinguo's were found on the kitchen floor and sink at their home. This confirms that the weapon had been cleaned and wiped, intentionally leaving only Yang Xilan's fingerprints, which aligns with her claim of wanting to take the blame for Ren Fangyao."

Yue Lingchuan summarized, "So, it's now confirmed that Li Jinguo indeed had the intent to assault Ren Fangyao. At the time, Yang Xilan was out, and he had the key to Ren Fangyao's room, providing him with both the opportunity and means to commit the crime. Moreover, someone did hear Ren Fangyao's cries for help—his attempt to commit the crime is confirmed."

Zhou Qiming added, "Li Jinguo was tall and robust. Without being drugged, it would have been difficult for Ren Fangyao, a young girl, to kill him, especially from the front. But if Li Jinguo was in the act of assault and not paying attention, it's possible that Ren Fangyao, in a moment of panic, managed to strike him—so her actions were, at most, self-defense."

Jiang Cheng further explained, "Moreover, Ren Fangyao only stabbed him once. After Li Jinguo lost his ability to move, she did not continue to attack, which does not constitute excessive force in self-defense."

Wei Zhengyi also said, "Although the likelihood of a single stab being fatal is low, it could just be a coincidence and cannot be used as evidence of premeditated murder. After all, in a moment of panic, one could stab anywhere—who's to say it couldn't strike the heart?"

Luo Kaiyang added, "That dress can't be considered evidence either. She has the right to wear what she wants. Even if it's odd for her to suddenly wear a dress for no reason, it doesn't prove anything."

Shen Qingye said, "So, based on this, can we essentially conclude that Ren Fangyao acted in self-defense?"

Yue Lingchuan replied, "That's our assessment, but the final decision will depend on what the prosecutor's office determines."

Zhou Qiming said, "The outcome will likely be similar."

Wei Zhengyi said, "Then let's hurry up and complete the paperwork, quickly transfer the case to the prosecutor's office, so as not to delay the girl's college entrance exams."

Everyone rallied their energy and worked diligently for two days to prepare all the necessary materials.

On the day the case file was transferred to the prosecutor's office, Ren Fangyao was also moved to the detention center.

Shen Qingye observed her from outside, and Ren Fangyao halted in her tracks.

Shen Qingye said, "Stay in the detention center for a while. As far as I know, your school's leadership has already reported to higher authorities, trying to expedite the prosecutor's review. You probably won't be there for long."

Ren Fangyao smiled gently, "Thank you, Officer Shen."

Shen Qingye replied, "No need to thank me. I'm just doing my job."

The staff nearby was already urging her to move, so Shen Qingye took a few steps back, "Go ahead."

Ren Fangyao walked forward, and just as she was about to go downstairs, she couldn't help but look back at Shen Qingye.

The weather outside was beautiful, the sunlight casting a hazy glow on her.

She didn't know if this perceptive policewoman had guessed something, but she looked at her for a while longer before finally turning her head back.

As she walked toward the car, Ren Fangyao suddenly remembered the night of the New Year.

Ever since her mother remarried Li Jinguo, Ren Fangyao had stopped looking forward to the New Year.

Li Jinguo has two brothers, and his parents are still alive. Every New Year, the entire family gathers together. For her, these gatherings meant noise, chaos, sarcastic remarks, and her mother having to serve the whole family.

They despised her for not being talkative, for living off them, and for her mother being a "barren woman." She had to endure bullying from her peers and scolding from the elders, without any chance to fight back.

But it was Li Jinguo's alcoholism and poor health that caused her mother's pregnancies to fail; it was his frequent beatings that led to her mother's multiple miscarriages. He never allowed her to go to the hospital, instead just buying some anti-inflammatory medicine from a small clinic downstairs, leaving her mother in poor health for years, unable to do heavy work or even dare to mention divorce. She had a scholarship for high school and didn't cost him a single penny—

He was the one who owed them, so why did they view her and her mother as parasites draining the Li family's blood?

Ren Fangyao thought she had grown accustomed to it. She thought this would be the last time. After her college entrance exam, she would secretly apply to a school far away from Li Jinguo, and she could finally free herself and her mother.

But all her hopes were shattered that day.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Li Jinguo's sister, Li Jinhua, came back to her parents' home. She had a son who was also in his final year of high school, but his grades were not good. She had always resented Ren Fangyao, who consistently ranked at the top of her class. That day, for some reason, she got hold of the city-wide exam rankings and, in front of Li Jinguo, exaggerated how well Ren Fangyao had done, saying that their family would have a college student, and that Ren Fangyao should not forget her family when she became successful.

Ren Fangyao remained expressionless, just quietly eating. Seeing this, Li Jinhua became even more displeased and sarcastically remarked that Ren Fangyao wasn't a Li by blood, so even if she succeeded, it wouldn't benefit the Li family. She also said that Ren Fangyao might turn out to be an ungrateful traitor, running away with her mother someday, leaving the poor relatives behind...

Li Jinguo's face turned extremely grim. He said, "What's the point of a girl going to college? It's just a waste for some other man. I've already done more than enough by supporting her through high school. Dream on if she thinks she's going to college!"

At that moment, Ren Fangyao's mind went numb. She realized that she might never escape Li Jinguo.

That night, after Li Jinhua left, Li Jinguo got drunk and locked them in their room, beating them mercilessly. He yanked her hair and yelled, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you really planning to run away?" Her mother cried and pleaded, but he slapped her aside. He said, "Don't even dream of leaving me. You'll never escape. If you try to run, I'll break your legs! No matter where you go, I'll find you! Divorce? Don't even think about it! As long as I'm alive, you'll stay by my side. Even if I die, you'll have to be buried with me!"

Ren Fangyao felt numb, as if she couldn't feel any pain.

She looked at her mother, who was crying and begging, at the furious Li Jinguo, and listened to his words. Suddenly, she realized how foolish she had been to think that she could escape him by simply staying away.

Li Jinguo would never let them go.

Ren Fangyao had never been so clear about this before.

The only way she and her mother could truly be free was if... Li Jinguo died.

The sound of the car door closing brought her back to reality. Ren Fangyao leaned against the window, looking at the grass by the roadside. She suddenly noticed that among the green, there were tiny yellow flowers scattered here and there.

It dawned on her that spring had arrived.

Spring had come...