Chapter 119 Interrogation

Chapter 119 Interrogation

The criminal investigation team of Shuidong County, where Shiliang Town is located, was currently occupied with another homicide case and short on manpower. Additionally, since Yue Lingchuan and the others were also from Pingjiang and had some understanding of the victims, the local public security bureau leader, after a brief consideration upon receiving the call, contacted Pingjiang and agreed to let them assist in the investigation.

The forensic team had already taken the victim's body back to the station, and Shen Qingye and the others had shifted their focus to interviewing the victim's family for more information.

Their first stop was Mother Song.

The moment she saw the child's body, Mother Song collapsed from emotional shock and was urgently transported to the scenic area clinic. The on-duty doctor examined her and determined she was not in serious condition, only needing proper rest.

By the time they arrived, Mother Song had already woken up. She lay on the hospital bed, turned to gaze out the dark window, motionless, radiating emptiness.

The group paused, and Shen Qingye pursed her lips before lightly knocking on the door. "Auntie Song," she called softly.

Hearing her voice, Mother Song slowly turned her head. Her face was pale, and her face had visibly hollowed in such a short time.

She stared at Shen Qingye for a long moment before her gaze finally seemed to focus. In a wavering voice, she said, "Oh, it's Xiao Shen."

Her voice was hoarse, utterly exhausted. "What is it?"

The elderly woman, who had been bright and energetic at noon, now appeared as though she had aged decades in hours. Shen Qingye ached for her and spoke gently, "These are officers from the local criminal investigation team. They're here to investigate and would like to ask you a few questions."

"Criminal investigation team," Mother Song said with a broken laugh. "So, my Jing Jing really was murdered, wasn't she?"

Shen Qingye said nothing, lips tight. Lu Yingzhuo stepped forward and softened his tone. "The truth of the matter still requires further investigation. We hope you can cooperate with our work so we can quickly identify the person responsible for Jing Jing's death."

Mother Song closed her eyes for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh. "Go ahead and ask."

Lu Yingzhuo entered the room, pulled up a stool beside her, and continued, "From what I understand, your family had lunch outside today, and after eating, you returned to rest around one o'clock, correct?"

Mother Song nodded. "Yes. Jing Jing woke up early this morning and got sleepy not long after lunch, so we decided to take her back for a nap before continuing playing."

Lu Yingzhuo asked, "Did she fall asleep immediately after returning?"

She shook her head. "No. She was already so tired on the way back that she dozed off in her father's arms. When we got back, her father tried to put her in bed, but that roused her, and she refused to sleep after that."

"We had to play with her a bit longer to tire her out. But around one, her mother got a sudden work call and had to leave, leaving just me and her father. We struggled for over an hour trying to get her to sleep, and she finally slept around three."

"After she fell asleep, I took a nap too. Over the years of taking care of her, I’ve developed the habit of napping..."

Mother Song's voice broke. If she hadn't taken that nap today, Jing Jing wouldn’t have been taken. If she had been more alert, she might have noticed someone entering the room...

Shen Qingye, sensing her distress, handed her a tissue and held her hand.

Yue Lingchuan, however, asked, "Are you certain... she fell asleep around three?"

Mother Song wiped her tears and sniffled. "I’m sure. It was so hard to get her to sleep, and I was exhausted too. I lay down, and before her father left, he remarked offhand that it was already three."

Shen Qingye and Yue Lingchuan exchanged glances before asking, "Qu Peiyun said that? Did you check the clock yourself?"

Mother Song replied, "Yes, I did. I was surprised it was already that late, so I checked the clock—it was three-oh-five at most."

Lu Yingzhuo drummed his fingers on his knee thoughtfully before continuing, "I’ve learned that your family situation is somewhat unconventional, isn’t it? The child carries Runing’s name?"

Mother Song nodded. "Yes. When the two of them got together, they discussed it. Runing is my only daughter, and I refused to let her marry away. So we agreed that if she ever had a partner, they wouldn’t debate traditions, but they had to live with us, and any future children would carry Runing’s name."

Lu Yingzhuo asked, "The father agreed to this?"

Song Runing's mother said, "Qu Peiyun has a mild temperament, and with an elder brother and a younger brother in his family, he wasn’t burdened with continuing the family line. Besides, they got along well at first, so he agreed."

Lu Yingzhuo asked, "What about later? How has their relationship been these past few years?"

Song Runing's mother fell silent for a moment before sighing slowly. "These past few years... Runing has been quite busy."

"Qu Peiyun has been taking care of the child at home. The two of them... one handles the outside, the other the inside; one is quick-tempered and strong-willed, the other softer and more easygoing. They managed... well enough."

Lu Yingzhuo asked, "Over these years, has Qu Peiyun ever shown any dissatisfaction with this arrangement?"

Song Runing's mother trembled as she raised her eyes, her voice choked. "Police Officer..."

"Qu Peiyun was truly wonderful—gentle and patient all these years, taking care of the child and the household. Even when Runing lost her temper or was out socializing too much, he never once lost his temper. He... he..."

"He was too good..." She covered her eyes with her hand, her voice breaking with despair. "Why him? How could it be him?"

Somewhere inside, she suspected. How could the child have been taken right from their own room without a sound?

But she didn’t dare to suspect.

She was afraid—afraid that she had misjudged him, afraid that their whole life together had been a lie.

Afraid that her ‘perfect’ son-in-law was really a monster in disguise.

Seeing her utterly grief-stricken expression, the others held back, at a loss for words. Shen Qingye tightened her grip on her hand and whispered in comfort, "The police are doing everything they can to find the truth. Perhaps..."

She opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to say that perhaps Qu Peiyun wasn’t the one responsible.

Song Runing's mother understood all too well. Her gaze was empty, fixed on the ceiling.

...

Leaving Song Runing’s mother behind, they went to find Song Runing herself.

Currently, both Song Runing and Qu Peiyun, as the parents of the victim, were under suspicion. Lu Yingzhuo had the police escort them away and place them separately in vacant rooms within the scenic area.

When they opened the door, Song Runing was sitting on the sofa, her gaze shifting toward them. "You're here."

Her face was ghostly pale, fragile as glass, her brows deeply furrowed. But her eyes still burned with a faint, stubborn light.

Lu Yingzhuo stepped forward and looked down at her. "Ms. Song."